10 22 2009

Defending the First Amendment since 1911

INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEWS Pages 1-4 Speaker highlights Internet sites as ‘hate speech incubator’

Volume 99, Issue 25

22

THURSDAY

OCT

www.UniversityStar.com

For full coverage of Mass Comm Week, including full video of panels and recaps visit txstatemcweek.com

Author discusses right-brain thinking

By Chase Birthisel Assistant News Editor

An author of a New York Times best-seller spoke to a split crowd last night.

Daniel Pink, author of the ASG leadership claims common experience book favoritism was not motivation A Whole New Mind, drew a for appointments crowd at his presentation at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The Evans Auditorium, OPINIONS which housed the event bePages 5-6 cause of bad weather, quickly filled to capacity. Students Companies abuse pink ribbon arriving to the presentation to attract consumers were directed to the LBJ Ballroom, where video of Pink Trauth open-door meetings was streaming live. Students should be better advertised crowded into the ballroom, but some found the situation frustrating.

Students said they could not TRENDS hear the presentation and the event was overcrowded. OthLights, charity, fashion! ers were required to stay until the end of the speech, at which Entrepreneur measures time they could swipe their success in social networking, student ID’s as proof of attenhappiness dance.

Todd Tribble, undecided Tricks for cheap Halloween freshman who watched from outside the ballroom doors, costumes said writing his required paper about the presentation Band of Heathens at Glade would be difficult.

Outdoor Theatre “I can’t hear anything,” Tribble said. “I think they could Student performs song about have held this at Strahan with crush better results.”

Lilien Hester, pre-internaA Bobcat to Know: Ashley tional studies freshman, said Flores university personnel should have taken the freshman class into account before changing the location.

“I think it’s kind of ridicuDIVERSIONS

Page 13

SPORTS Pages 15-16 Women’s soccer battles Lumberjacks, Bearcats

Lindsey Goldstein/Star photo GUEST SPEAKER: Daniel Pink, author of the book A Whole New Mind, spoke to students Wednesday at Evans Auditorium as part of this year’s Common Experience.

lous,” Hester said. “A lot of people are just sitting out in the halls until it’s over.”

Pink spoke to students about the changing times and how students can adapt.

Pink said he wanted to give students a preview of his next book, Drive.

“A Whole New Mind argued we’re moving from a world of left-brain to right-brain abili-

STI screening

Cameron’s Commentary: Neither the sports teams nor the car companies are doing well in Detroit

By Clay Thorp News Reporter

Bobcats face 0-6 Northwestern State Demons

74°/47° Isolated T-Storms Precipitation: 30% Humidity: 61% UV: 5 Moderate Wind: NNW 13 mph

Friday

Mostly Sunny Temp: 72°/46° Precip: 0%

Saturday

Mostly Sunny Temp: 74°/54° Precip: 10%

don’t work.”

Pink said one of the major failures in schools is the impersonal attitude. see PINK, page 3

Students share universal Health center police code, ‘risk safety’ may offer free

Volleyball takes on Nicholls State Thursday in Strahan

Today’s Weather

ties. So the logical question after that is how do we foster these abilities?” Pink asked. “A lot of the ways companies and schools try to bring out these abilities, science shows they

Kayla Hartzog/Star photo SECRETS REVEALED: The “secret” police code that is meant for exclusive use by law enforcement to enter local apartment complexes is known by students and residents.

By Lora Collins News reporter The code police use to enter apartment complexes is no longer secret.

Howard Williams, San Marcos police chief, confirmed officials use a single code to get into local apartment complexes in case of emergencies.

However, he said the code is frequently passed around.

“Periodically we have to change them because often times people who work in these apartment complexes may let someone know what the code is,” Williams said. “Or they will write it down and leave it out somewhere and someone finds it. Next thing you know half the town knows the emergency gate codes.”

Section 503.6 of The City of San Marcos fire code requires apartment complexes to provide a working emergency code to police and fire officials.

Complexes are not allowed to change the code without permission.

Williams said changing the code is a hassle because of time and money. He said it is inevitable students know the code, but it becomes a problem when apartment officials give it out.

“Whether or not people who live in the apartment complexes are giving out the code, they shouldn’t know what the code is,” Williams said. “They should know their gate code, but they shouldn’t know what the emergency gate code is necessarily.”

Brian Hawthorn, property manager at The Sanctuary Lofts apartments, was not aware there was a universal police code used at the apartments. Hawthorn said the code has been the same at all apartment complexes since 2006 when he began working there.

Sanctuary Lofts does not keep

records of how many times the emergency code is used.

Williams said students using the code at friends’ complexes is a concern.

“It certainly can reflect upon the safety of the students,” Williams said. “The purpose of the controlled access gate is to keep people out who don’t live there.”

Williams said students are given back-up codes at some complexes in case a keypad or gate clicker malfunctions. Jahcel Glover, biochemistry freshman, said he knows the code but never gives it out.

“The fact somebody knows the code should be alarming,” Glover said.

Glover was not aware the code came from the police.

He said the code spread in his apartment through word of mouth.

“I heard it from a friend,” see CODE, page 3

Free sexually transmitted infection screenings could become available at the Student Health Center.

Students and faculty have begun calculating the financial costs of providing free STI screening following a grievance brought to ASG Sen. Colter Ray, University Relations Committee chair.

Shanna Shultz, Bobcat legislative intern, is in charge of researching the possibility of free STI screenings.

“If students approve an increase in their medical service fee of $8 to $10, that would pay for the testing,” Shultz said. “But the free testing needs to be coupled with education toward a responsible sexual lifestyle.”

Other students say the university should educate students about STIs and sexual health.

The Student Health Center currently provides testing for $75 for most STIs. The testing

includes screening for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis.

The Health Center also provides a herpes blood test for $65. The test does not include the cost of medicine.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services’ Web site, teens and young adults have the highest rate of STIs. Approximately 63 percent of STIs occur each year in persons under 25 years old. Three million of those are teenagers.

One in every four females of the same age group in 2008 had or previously had a STI. The Student Health Center conducted 4,635 STI tests for the fiscal year of 2009 at a total cost of $96,360. Chlamydia was the most prevalent of those with 140 positive results.

“I don’t know if (students) realize how expensive free testing would be,” said Dr. Emilio Carranco, director of the Student Health Center.

Carranco said it would repsee TESTING, page 3

Apartment shooting sends man to hospital

San Marcos police arrested two San Antonio men after a home invasion at University Heights apartment complex Tuesday night that left one man shot.

The residency had seven people in it at the time of the crime, two of which were residents, one Texas State student and one alumnus. The victim is in the University Medical Center at Brackenridge in Austin and in stable condition.

Police arrested the suspects, Michael Wilson, 23, and Justin Pickaree, 19, after a foot chase following the break in. Commander Terri Nichols said police are trying to determine why the suspects chose the residents’ apartment, but “there does not appear to be a relationship at this time.”

Two handguns were found at the apartment complex, which police said the suspects threw away during the foot chase.

— Staff report compiled by Scott Thomas and Allen Reed

Page Two

2 - The University Star

STARS OF TEXAS STATE

Senior Mandi Mawyer defended the goal for the women’s soccer team Sunday afternoon. Mawyer, the league-leader in goals-against average, was able to make all five stops in overtime. The team tied the game against Southeastern Louisiana 0-0.

— Courtesy of Texas State Athletics

Thursday, October 22, 2009

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

ON THIS

DAY IN

HISTORY

TWO WHEELING: Paul Tober, biology freshman, zips to class on a scooter.

CRIME

BLOTTER

Oct. 12, 1:22 a.m.

Public Intoxication/7eleven 1797: French balloonist An officer on patrol Andre-Jacques Garnerin observed a suspicious made the first parachute vehicle. Upon descent, landing safely further investigation, from a height of about the individual and 3,000 feet. passenger were found 1920: Dr. Timothy Francis to be intoxicated. One individual was arrested Leary, the American for public intoxication and psychologist and writer the other was arrested for who advocated the use public intoxication and psychedelic drugs, was possession of marijuana, born. both were transported 1934: Bank robber Charles to Hays County Law Enforcement Center to “Pretty Boy” Floyd was await a court date. shot to death by federal agents at a farm in East Oct. 12, 2:37 a.m.

Liverpool, Ohio.

Public Intoxication/ Aquarena Springs Drive 1962: President John F. An officer on patrol Kennedy announced an observed a vehicle air and naval blockade parked at a traffic light of Cuba, following the Bobby Scheidemann/Star photo discovery of Soviet missile blocking traffic. Upon further investigation the bases on the island. individual was arrested for public intoxication 1968: Apollo 7, with and transported to Hays astronauts Wally Schirra, County Law Enforcement Donn Fulton Eisele and Center for further R. Walter Cunningham Atlantic fiction issue. aboard, returned to Earth. processing.

O’Brien’s short stories have appeared

Book reading, signing given by awarded author Author Tim O’Brien will give a reading and book signing, Nov. 3 at 3:30 p.m. in the Alkek Library. Both events are free and open to the public.

The reading will be on the seventh floor of the library, in the Wittliff Collection. The event is co-sponsored by the Therese Kayser Lindsey Series and the Texas State English department.

O’Brien is the author of Going After Cacciato, winner of the 1979 National Book Award in fiction. His book, The Things They Carried, was named by the New York Times as one of the 10 best books of 1990. O’Brien has received the Chicago Tribune Heartland Award

in fiction, and was a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

The Lake of the Woods was named

by Time magazine as the best novel of 1994. The book received the James Fenimore Cooper Prize from the Society of American Historians. The book was selected as one of the 10 best books of the year by the New York Times. His other books are If I Die in a Combat Zone, Northern Lights and The Nuclear Age. His two recent books, Tomcat in Love and July, July were national bestsellers.

This summer, his essay, “Telling Tales,” on the craft of fiction appeared in The

in Esquire, Harper’s, Atlantic, Playboy, Granta, Gentleman’s Quarterly, The New Yorker and in several editions of The O. He received the National Magazine Award for his story “The Things They Carried,” which was also selected for inclusion in the Best American Short Stories of the Century, edited by John Updike, in 1987.

Contact Michael Noll at 512-568-6637 or via e-mail at mn19@txstate.edu for more information.

– Courtesy of University News Service

2001: Washington postal worker Joseph P. Curseen died of inhaled anthrax.

Oct. 12, 10:40 a.m.

Sexual Assualt, Agrravated/Pleasant Street Parking Garage A student reported to a police officer she was sexually assaulted by an unknown male. The case is under investigation.

— Courtesy of New York Times

— Courtesy of University Police

1979: The U.S. government allowed the deposed Shah of Iran to travel to New York for medical treatment.

Library Beat

Alkek celebrates fourth annual archives month

October is National Archives Month, and on Friday the Wittliff Collections and University Archives at the Alkek Library will co-host a panel of representatives from area archives who have undergone recent building projects, as well as a shelving/space planning expert and an architect. A tour of the newly renovated Wittliff Collections and recently constructed University Archives, and a catered, hors d’oeuvres reception will follow.

The event is part of Texas State’s fourth annual Archives Month celebration and is designed to help demystify the process behind renovating and building new gallery, storage and staff space for a library, archives or museum. Each panelist will give a short presentation about a recent project, followed by a moderated discussion. There will also be time for questions and/or comments from audience members.

Panelists scheduled to speak are: Mark Boone, Architect, Bailey Architects Inc.; Troy Menchhofer and Daryl Miller, Southwest Solutions Group; Laura Saegert, Archivist, Texas State Library and Archives Commission;

Eric Shoaf, Assistant Dean for Administration, University of Texas-San Antonio Library.

The panel starts at 2 p.m. at the Wittliff Collections on the library’s seventh floor, with the tour following at 4, and the reception at 4:30. All activities are free and open to the public. Panel or tour attendance is not required to attend the reception. Guests are asked to RSVP to southwesternwriters@txstate.edu or 512-245-2313.

This is an exciting time for archives at Texas State. Expansion of the Wittliff’s Southwestern Writers Collection reading room and Southwestern and Mexican Photography Collection galleries has just been completed, and construction of the University Archives storage, research and exhibit space on the fifth floor is near completion as well.

The fall Wittliff Collections exhibitions are now open: The Lightning Field: Mapping The Creative Process; A Certain Alchemy and Fireflies, photographs by Keith Carter; Nueva Luz/New Light: Recent Photographic Acquisitions; and Lonesome Dove Revisited.

–Courtesy of Alkek Library

Water restrictions ease with recent rainfalls San Marcos Stage 1 drought restrictions were lifted yesterday following recent rains that have resulted in improved aquifer levels.

San Marcos returns to year-round water conservation rules, which are in effect at all times unless a drought response stage has been declared. Year-round rules allow residents to use sprinklers any day except during the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The J-17 index well level, located in San Antonio, measured 662.5 feet above mean sea level (msl) for the last 10-day average.

The Edwards Aquifer Authority lifted Stage 1 restrictions last week.

San Marcos has been under drought restrictions since April because of lack of rainfall and resulting low aquifer levels.

The year-round rules have the following provisions. Waste of water is prohibited.

Irrigation with sprinklers are prohibited during daytime hours between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Athome car washing is allowed any day and at any time but must be done using a hand-held bucket or hose equipped with a positive shutoff device.

Charity car washes are prohibited. Use of nonrecirculation decorative water features including fountains and ponds is prohibited. Irrigation with hand-held bucket, hand-held hose, soaker hose or drip irrigation is allowed at any time. Other uses such as filling swimming pools, washing impervious surfaces and foundation watering are allowed.

Full text of water rules is available on the City of San Marcos Web site.

Please contact Jan Klein, Water Conservation coordinator, at 512-393-8310 for more information.

– Courtesy of City of San Marcos

unive r s i tys ta r. c o m

News

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The University Star - 3

Speaker highlights Internet ASG claims ‘favoritism’ was not sites as ‘hate speech incubator’ motivation for appointments

By Billy Crawford News Reporter Brian Cuban spoke to Texas State students and faculty Wednesday about how hate speech has connected itself to the Internet and social networking sites.

Cuban, a Dallas attorney and brother of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, got national media attention in May when he wrote the executives of Facebook requesting Holocaust denial groups be removed from the social networking site.

“I’m not an activist,” said Cuban after the lecture. “The issue has personal relevance to me and I’m just trying to do what I feel is right.”

Cuban pointed out while the First Amendment protects hate speech in public forums, it does not apply to private entities such as Facebook, Myspace, Youtube or Twitter.

Cuban also offered multiple examples of how hate groups and sites serve as an “Internet hate incubator,” increasing the possibility of violent action.

Pink

Cuban explained how online hate speech could have been a factor in multiple hate crimes, such as James von Brunn’s murder of a security guard at the Holocaust Museum earlier this year.

“My opinion is without the hate speech incubator, James von Brunn (wouldn’t) commit what he (did) at the Holocaust Museum,” said Cuban. “You can build up hatred on Facebook and then walk out the realworld door and kill someone.”

Taylor Thompson, recent Texas State graduate who attended the lecture, said Cuban made valid points.

“I would definitely say a lot of these hate groups should be taken down,” Thompson said.

Aside from bringing up valid arguments for the removal of hate groups on social networking sites, Cuban spoke to the audience about the First Amendment’s application to hate speech and the Internet.

“I didn’t realize the difference between private and public (forums),” said Dara Quackenbush, senior lecturer in the School of Mass Com-

continued from page

munication and chair of Mass Comm Week. “Media law is not keeping up with the Internet and this presentation highlights that.”

Cuban’s spoke about what type of online speech is protected by the First Amendment.

“I think (Cuban) opened the door for a lot of students in what they can and can’t do online,” said Chuck Kaufman, senior lecturer in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

“I think it will make it easier for students to know they can be held accountable for the things they publish online.”

Cuban said the best way to limit hate groups or hate speech is to speak up. He noted that most social networking sites respond to issues when a large number of complaints arise, so reporting hateful groups and sites will usually cause action.

“The fight against hate speech can be incubated just as easily as hate speech itself,” Cuban said. “If one person goes online and reports a hate group and gets it taken down, it’s all worth it.”

1

“I think to the extent that classes should be much smaller with much more interaction and feedback,” Pink said.

“I think it would be better to give students more autonomy over what they do.”

Pink accredits his success to persistence.

“I discovered long ago I was

never going to be the smartest or most talented person,” Pink said. “I realized if you work really hard and take some risk, you can make up for that.”

Diann McCabe, senior lecturer in the University College, said she, along with six faculty members, decided to make A Whole New Mind the Common

Experience book.

“Everyone relates to the book, because these ideas are relevant to the economy and the world we live in,” McCabe said. “We have so long undervalued the right-brain traits that it’s time to see we need right-brained thinking to solve the problems we face.”

resent a cost of $222,880 per semester if 10 percent of male and female students (1,722 females and 1,358 males) utilized the free testing once. The current medical service fee of $53 would have to be raised $4 to cover the additional costs, Carranco said.

Carranco said the number of Texas State students who tested positive or admitted to having an STI are lower than national averages for the same age group.

However, the university “could do more” to educate students about sexual health issues.

“There is a breath-taking level of ignorance ... and silence around sexual health issues,” said Dr. David Wiley, professor in the department of health, physical education and recreation. “Children are not educated in public schools about sexuality very much (because) it usually follows abstinence only sex ed.”

Abstinence only sex education teaches students that not having sex is the only 100 percent sure way to not contract an STI, Wiley said. This forgoes instruction on the proper use and effectiveness of condoms as well as healthy relationship counseling for heterosexual and

homosexual students who may be sexually active.

Wiley said teens and young adults are not shown the value of regular screening and testing, nor are they shown where to get such services.

“Students are being infected with Chlamydia and the first time they’ve ever heard the word is when they are being tested for it,” he said. “That’s a crime.”

Wiley and his colleague, Kelly Wilson, assistant professor in the department of health, physical education and recreation, conducted a two-year study on sexual education in Texas public schools.

They said the study showed students were presented with barriers to a responsible sexual lifestyle, including misleading information on the effectiveness of condoms and other scare tactics.

“There are a lot of fear and shaming messages given to students all the way from middle to high school,” Wilson said.

“When you couple the fear and shame with the cost of testing, students are much less likely to go and get screened.”

Wiley and Wilson agreed providing free STI screening

would remove barriers associated with students reluctant to go in for screening. The university needs to educate students about responsible sexual practices, including possible presentations to students and parents at “Paws Preview” and orientation.

“I believe there could be more of a campaign toward awareness of STIs and sexual health education on campus,” said Brittany Rosen.

Rosen, health education graduate student, is president of Aida Sigma Gamma Delta Chi, a national healthscience organization focused on teaching and research of health education issues.

“It would be a huge advantage to our students to have (free STI screening),” she said.

Rosen added such an endeavor would not come easily to Texas State.

“It would be very progressive for Texas, obviously.”

Wiley “Students are being infected with Chlamydia and the first time they’ve ever heard the word is when they are being tested for it,” he said. “That’s a crime.”

Testing

continued from page

1

By Bianca Davis News Reporter Associated Student Government officials say recent selections for appointed positions were not influenced by personal or organizational affiliation.

Three out of six of the directors of the newly-created tailgate committee are members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Michael Flowers, athletic liaison and a member of Phi Delta Theta, said the fraternity encourages its members to be involved.

“Phi Delt, since I’ve been here, has made a transition from being a fraternity that has revolved solely around social events to a fraternity that revolves around cultivating leaders and being involved in the university,” Flowers said.

“So when you see a whole bunch of Phi Delts that are involved, it’s because that’s the type of membership we recruit.”

Flowers said he did not have time to go through a selection process when choosing ASG tailgate committee members.

“It was simply a lack of time, when we started organizing this it was a couple of weeks from the first tailgate, so I didn’t have time to sit down and make out applications for everything,” Flowers said. “But I went out and found the people who I thought I could trust that would do the best for right now and who would do the right thing for the future of the organization to make it fair for everybody.”

Aaron Villalobos, tailgate adviser, said tailgate committee appointments have proven effective.

“I’m really impressed with the progress we have seen considering how little time we had to develop the infrastructure and planning we had in regard to the community feedback and the administration,” Villalobos said.

He said lack of time was the key factor in establishing the organizational structure.

“We got to a point where we

Code

knew what we needed to do,” Villalobos said. “We were just way past the date to get the majority of the infrastructure in place.”

ASG President Chris Covo said he gave full authority to Flowers to select individuals to serve on the committee.

“This is the (committee’s) first year so these (appointments) weren’t based on the applications,” Covo said. “Michael picked people, and he has the authority to do that, who he thought could get the job done first so they can develop this.”

Organization leaders agree the future selection process will be chosen through an application process.

“After football season is over, they’re going to sit down and go over all the applications for next year so that hopefully this doesn’t happen again,” Covo said. “But it was the first year it happened. It was fast. It was already happening before it went to the senate and made official.”

Covo said bringing the legislation to the senate was a way to establish the committee’s permanence.

“They needed to institutionalize it so next year there has to be an application process,” Covo said. “The application process is going to be fully marketed, it’s going to be on the front page of the university (Web site) so everyone will know, and it’s going to be marketed to the business school in particular. It’s going to be completely different next year.”

ASG Sen. Fidencio Leija abstained from voting on the legislation affirming senate support because he said representation was narrow.

“In order to create a balance of powers, I don’t see an appointment process for all of those positions being diverse enough to represent the whole student body,” Leija said.

Flowers said the system was not created to foster favoritism.

“We’re not going to be here forever so why would we do anything in organizing the committee to allow corruption

continued from page

said a Texas State student, who requested anonymity.

“She graduated two years ago, but she was dating a cop and he told her.”

The anonymous student said she “uses the code all the time” and never thinks twice about safety.

“I have also used it at The Villas and The Zone,” she said.

The University Police Department has access to the emergency code and uses it when assisting the SMPD. UPD Capt. Ricky Lattie said the apartment codes need close

in the future,” Flowers said.

Jordan Johnson, tailgate committee chair, said the first year of the committee served as a means to establish structure for future groups.

“What we have done is established a functional organizational structure,” Johnson said. “We’re laying the framework for this organization to work in the future.”

The idea to create a committee to oversee tailgate came as a result to fill a void left by SACA during the summer.

“SACA took care of tailgate last year and over the summer no one was really sure what was going to happen with who was going to take over tailgate,” Johnson said. “So Athletic Liaison Michael Flowers came up with an idea to establish a committee, and what we have is a bunch of students who really care about this university that are on this committee.”

Kyle Lamb, tailgate treasure, serves as the treasurer for Phi Delta Theta and is IFC vice president of finance. Lamb said he was appointed because of prior experience.

“I am (also) the treasure for ASG and seeing as the tailgate committee is a section of the ASG,” Lamb said. “It was just kind of natural for me to be placed into the finance position for that committee.”

Covo said he appointmented Flowers and Lamb with good reason.

“I appointed Michael Flowers because he has a personal relationship with the athletic administration and it worked out perfect,” Covo said. “And then I appointed Kyle Lamb because he had been treasure of IFC and Phi Delt and he knows how to do it.”

Lamb said Phi Delta Theta promotes leadership.

“We take pride in our ability to cultivate leadership and if it just so happens that we are all student leaders then so be it,” he said. “And as long as it is the best for the students and the best for the school. I guess its not really my position to say who can and can’t.”

1

monitoring.

“It’s almost a necessary evil they have a universal code,” Lattie said.

Preston Herrington, manufacturing engineering sophomore, said his apartment, which he refused to name, does not use the gates. He said he has seen emergency personnel use a code to get in when the gates were down.

However, he did not know it was an emergency code.

“If it’s your code you should keep it to yourself and if you have friends come over you

should go down there and get them,” Herrington said.

Williams said the codes cannot be kept from everyone, because at least one person in the apartment office needs access to it. He said the codes will be changed frequently, because they are simple security systems.

“It’s not like these are super secret code numbers.” Williams said. “There are usually only four numbers in a code.

How difficult can it be to figure one out eventually?”

news

4 - The University Star

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Vending machines City Council appoints radio station task force may offer card readers

By Dj Nutter News Reporter

By Michael Barrett Special to the Star Buying from vending machines on campus might not mean scouring in your pockets for change for much longer.

A bill proposed by ASG Sen. Tommy Aguilar, a member of the Student Relations Committee, would mandate the addition of card readers on more vending machines in residence halls.

“They have card readers at Blanco Hall, but that’s the only hall that does that,” Aguilar said. “I’m talking with John Root (director of Auxiliary Services), so we’ll see what happens there, as far as how that dorm’s doing. In a month’s time, he’ll get me the results and we’ll see if we can’t have something going with San Jacinto or Arnold.”

Aguilar said he got the idea for the bill after a student spoke with him about the subject.

“I want to, one day, see all the dorms have this kind of swipe,” Aguilar said. “That way, students don’t have to worry about finding late night change.”

Aguilar said he does not have plans for this to be campus-wide.

“As of right now, I’m thinking about the residence halls,” he said.

The University of Texas and Texas A&M have a similar setup to Texas State, in which some on-campus vending machines are equipped with card readers, according to their respective Web sites.

According to Lela Williams, Division of Housing and Food Service at UT, all 105 vending machines in their dorms are equipped with card readers.

However, Williams said there are not plans to install the readers on vending machines elsewhere at the UT campus.

“The wiring on the machines is very expensive,” Williams said in an e-mail.

Members of City Council appointed seven volunteers at Tuesday’s meeting to function as a collaborative task force for the city’s radio station, KZOS-FM 92.5.

Kenneth Bell, San Marcos Fire Marshall and Emergency Management Coordinator, said the task force will directly affect the station’s success.

Council members were given the opportunity to nominate volunteers and voted for seven from the list of nominations.

The KZOS task-force will consist of Brad Rollins (seven votes), Peter Baen (seven votes), Steve Warren (six votes), Shane Scott (six votes), Rebecca YbarraRamirez (six votes) Dan Gibson (four votes) and David Childress (four votes). Specific duties will be delegated to members of the taskforce in a few weeks.

Bell said members of the

task force will address short and long-term plans for the station’s operation. Other missions include devising characteristics for programming and clarifying processes for emergency response.

Council members gave $40,000 to fund Bell’s project.

He said unused funds will be awarded back to the council.

“The task-force’s main mission, frankly, is to develop a program that corresponds with the license,” Bell said.

“The rules of a task-force are different, and (those appointed) look like they’ll be able to knock it out.”

Additionally, council members dabbled in the idea of reversing their current unpaid positions into jobs receiving financial compensation.

Voting 4-3, the issue was pushed to next meeting’s agenda as discrepancy in the proposal caused further discussion. Mayor Susan Narvaiz, one of the three who voted against instating a salary, said

the city’s continual growth is expanding the duties of public service.

City Councilmember Kim Porterfield, Place 1, said a proposal was submitted last summer to pay the mayor $2,000 annually, and councilmembers $1,000. Tuesday’s meeting proposed adjusted figures — mayor, $750 and council members, $500.

Porterfield said she ran for City Council understanding the position would not include a salary. She said allotting money to pay the council during the current economic lull is not appropriate.

Other cities pay their council members, but Porterfield said the community of San Marcos should be involved in the discussion before proceeding.

She said current council members should receive money only upon re-election, if the council approves the proposal at the next meeting.

Porterfield said compressing the figures to $50 a meeting for council members, and

$100 a meeting for the Mayor would sway her to possibly favor the amendment.

“The time you’re away from your family is more of a burden,” Porterfield said. “I mean, my daughter just has her patches stapled to her Girl Scout vest.”

Salary was a topic of discussion at the League of Women Voters debate Monday for prospective City Council candidates for Place 6. Candidates running expressed what they felt about City Council pay.

“I definitely would support (a salary base) in the future,” said Anita Fuller.

“But I would not go beyond the proposed amount.”

Monica Garcia said the idea of pay should be discussed with the citizens.

Incumbent John Thomaides kept his promise made at LWV debate by making the third vote against the proposal Tuesday.

“It is not what I signed up for,” Thomaides said.

ASG discusses more time between classes

By Heidi Morrison News Reporter It is the second semester since passing time between classes was reduced from 15 to 10 minutes.

The ASG University Relations Committee members are researching the possibility of returning to a longer walking

the scheduling, as a whole, for the university.”

Schultz, political science junior, said the freshmen retention rate is 75 percent.

“With our high influx of students, Texas State is at its record number of students this year,” she said. “So in order to accommodate all of these students, we had to add classes. In order to

“And the information I’ve received around campus is that people don’t like to go to early classes.

People don’t want to get up at 7:00 a.m.”

-Shanna Schultz, Bobcat Legislative Intern period between classes.

ASG Sen. Brice Loving, marketing senior, said he was concerned when the time change was initially implemented in fall 2008, but found there was no feasible solution.

Texas State courses were not meeting the required number of classroom hours, which meant five minutes were taken from walking time and added to class.

“When the schedule was re-designed two years ago, it came to our attention that our Tuesday/Thursday passing time, which was and had been 15 minutes, was actually incorrect,” said Michael Heintze, vice president for Enrollment Management and Marketing. “It didn’t give us enough contact minutes in the classroom to be perfectly in line with regulation. We moved the Tuesday/Thursday passing time to the same that had been in place for many years on Monday/ Wednesday/Friday.”

Some students say they are having trouble getting from one class to another in 10 minutes as a result.

“I have a class in the education building and then in Supple,” said Gracie Gleeson, education sophomore. “And that’s really far and sometimes I’m late.”

Shanna Schultz, Bobcat legislative intern for the University Affairs Committee, is investigating the issue and looking at possible solutions to better accommodate students.

“What I’m trying to figure out is if maybe we could offer slightly earlier classes,” Schultz said. “And the information I’ve received around campus is people don’t like to go to early classes. People don’t want to get up at 7 a.m.”

The increase in enrollment was a factor in the decreased walking time.

“The more students we accept at the university and the larger our enrollment is, the more classes we need to offer,” Loving said. “So cutting down that (walking) time is best for

add classes, we had to cut back time between classes.”

The issue continues to be brought up in ASG grievance sessions and meetings.

“If this is an area of interest and concern for students on campus, then we need to take a look at it, and we will,” Heintze said.

Loving said he thinks the problem may be more majorspecific and has alternative suggestions.

“One of the solutions I would recommend would be changing the way the department chairs book classes,” he said. “If the department chair knows a lot of their majors take classes in this building, they might want to take into (consideration) where the classes are actually located by making them closer.”

Loving also suggested better communication with faculty members.

“I think professors are willing to work with students if they are experiencing timetravel issues,” he said.

Schultz said reverting back to a 15-minute passing period would likely result in cut classes, most likely the upperlevel courses.

“People don’t like that trade off,” she said.

Heintze said longer class days would be a result.

“Pushing more minutes into the passing time will mean the last class period of the day gets pushed further into the evening,” he said. “That’s one of the things that will occur.

There’s no way around that.”

However, Heintze said the grievance will be thoroughly reviewed.

“There’s a process that this would have to go through,” he said. “The first thing is how we would fit all those things together to make the day work out. The committee would want to assure itself the plan can function.”

Heintze said the issue will be brought before the Class Scheduling Committee at their next meeting.

Opinions

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Trauth open-door meetings should be better advertised

By Tristan Watson Opinions Columnist Students who want to have their concerns addressed about certain things at Texas State may not always have the time to attend an ASG meeting, or have the opportunity to voice their issues through its open-door policy.

Sometimes attending these ASG meetings can be as interesting as watching paint dry. Giving students another outlet to raise concerns was needed. University President Denise Trauth took two hours on Wednesday Oct. 14 to hear students’ concerns in her office. According to an article in Oct. 15 issue of The University Star, only four students attended.

The turnout suggests there wasn’t proper advertisement.

Posting fliers in various buildings around campus was not adequate to give students the chance to speak with President Trauth. I believe restricting the amount of advertisement was a strategic and methodical plan by university leaders to limit

the amount of students who would ultimately participate.

Why? There may have been numerous issues raised by individuals. In an effort to preserve President Trauth’s time and busy schedule, limited promotion of the oneon-one conference with the president was given. The fact President Trauth only lent a listening ear for two hours doesn’t satisfy the student body and concerns individuals may have had.

I certainly do not recall any advertisement in the form of fliers anywhere, and I’m not naïve enough to believe a mix-up in dates was the reason for the low turnout. Four students out of 30,000 is peculiar and leaves questions to ponder.

Did the president really want to meet with individuals? President Trauth needs to hold another conference with adequate advertisement.

She said “the issues tend to be different every year, but often there is a theme that runs through concerns students have.” Issues discussed during this session ranged from a gamer convention, student center improvements, smoke-free campus and parking issues. Students who do meet with President Trauth should not waste her time advocating or voicing concerns about inconsequen-

tial things, such as a gamer convention.

Students should be raising issues like the rising tuition costs, devoting more space to relieve overcrowded dorms and classrooms, extremely high textbook prices, and making university food more fit for consumption by replacing Chartwells.

Students need to bring concerns to President Trauth that matter.

President Trauth must realize there are more issues to be raised than those presented to her by the four students she met. Her meeting with these students didn’t even touch the surface of concerns that need to be addressed.

According to the same article, President Trauth said, “the event could have been advertised more,” I give accolades to President Trauth for taking time and opening her office to students to hear concerns. With more advertisement, President Trauth should meet with students again.

Students who don’t take advantage of this opportunity do not have a right to complain if they are not willing to take active steps to see improvements on things he or she feels strongly about. A second meeting should take place, and hopefully changes will be made.

The University Star - 5

CAMPUS

PULSE

University President Denise Trauth opened her door on

Wednesday Oct. 14 to hear students concerns but only four people attended. What would you talk to President Trauth about?

Emi Furuya, pre-communication design senior “I think the food and the administration for the residential halls would be a good issue to address to the president because when I used to live at the dorms we didn’t have many options. And now that Commons is closed I think people are limited on what they can eat and dine. And also the parking space in parking lots are pretty limited so I think that’s another issue we can address to the president.”

Lina Maraqa, legal studies graduate student “I think the three big topics the president should know about is first of all more food options on campus, more buses and even consider to give in-state tuition waivers to more students.”

Maria Valdez, accounting senior “I think President Trauth should take a look at the library hours again and think about expanding them for the full year because that would really help a lot of the students.”

Angel Prangner, marketing freshman “A big concern I have is about advertising about different events on campus. Since I’m a freshman, I really don’t know that many people. So sending out e-mails would be great to know more about what’s going on on campus.”

Helen Keller statue a symbol for the disabled

By Kathi Wolfe Progressive Media Project

(MCT)

People petition against Wal-Mart Supercenter

By Ellen Ruppel Shell Fredericksburg (Va.) Free Lance-Star NEWTONVILLE, Mass.

— Richmond, Va., residents joined with preservationists last month in filing a legal objection to the proposed construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter within firing range of the Wilderness Battlefield. About 30,000 American soldiers were injured or killed on that field 145 years ago. We hope no blood will be spilled in the eventual outcome of the skirmish, but the stakes are still high.

On one side are the buffs, historians, concerned citizens and celebrities who argue the Civil War landmark is sacrosanct and vulnerable.

“The Wal-Mart project would irrevocably harm the battlefield and seriously undermine the visitor’s experience,” declaimed Zann Nelson, president of Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield.

On the other side are WalMart executives. They counter that the intent is to boost the region with hundreds of jobs, hundreds of thousands of tax dollars and an unbeatable shopping experience.

Neither side of this dispute is likely to see the world through the others’ eyes. The addition of another 130,000 square foot Wal-Mart to a region already cluttered with the stores will bring significant collateral damage.

Wal-Mart boasts of having

the lowest possible prices on the widest selection of goods, thereby offering convenience and value.

A few years ago Massachusetts Institute of Technologytrained economist Emek Basker decided it was time to examine that claim. She engaged in a study of WalMart stores located near 165 cities across the United States. What she found was Wal-Mart offers low prices, but not on everything it sells. Basker found Wal-Mart prices were actually higher than average for the region on one-third of its stock.

Equally interesting on those lower-priced items is the average savings was 37 cents, with about one-third of goods carrying a savings of no more than two cents.

Research for this study concluded prior to the ongoing recession. Thanks to which Wal-Mart — like most retailers — was forced to reduce its prices further to keep the customers coming. It did so by aggregating the power of millions of individual consumers to gain leverage over its suppliers, the folks who actually manufacture and deliver the goods. The nation collapsed into its worst economic downturn in generations earlier this year and former Wal-Mart CEO H. Lee Scott Jr. couldn’t have been more pleased.

“In my mind there is no doubt that this is Wal-Mart time,” he gloated. “This is

the kind of environment that Sam Walton built this company for.”

When the nation is in pain, deep discounters like WalMart gain. They do not have to innovate to gain profit share; they simply squeeze their employees and suppliers a bit harder. The power to wring cost out of bargainbasement goods is what makes Wal-Mart so appealing to consumers, and the leverage to do so while maintaining record profits is what makes Wal-Mart so appealing to company executives and investors.

Naturally, these “everyday low prices” are not plucked out of thin air — they come at a substantial cost to most of us. What might one day be called the “Wilderness Battlefield Wal-Mart” will bring jobs, but not necessarily the sort our Civil War ancestors fought to protect.

Wal-Mart is fairly secretive about its pay scale, but it is clear most members of its rank-and-file work force do not earn enough for a solid middle-class life. Often these workers require supports in the form of subsidized health care and even food stamps, and the taxpayers foot the bill. We’ve been asked to believe that low prices on T-shirts and toilet paper and hamburger compensate for these poverty-level wages, but we know in our hearts they don’t.

My eyes teared up on Oct. 7, when I, along with other blind and visually impaired people, felt the statue of Helen Keller that was unveiled in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

I was moved by the statue’s depiction of Keller, age 7, standing over the pump (made famous by “The Miracle Worker”) at the moment when she learned the meaning of language.

I’m proud that the bronze likeness of Keller, who became blind and deaf at the age of 19 months, is the first statue of a disabled person to be placed in the capitol.

What I find most inspiring about Keller isn’t the story of her childhood but her passion for and work toward justice and equality for everyone.

“Today, we recognize her as that child, but also as the woman she became: politically active and a standard bearer for the great causes of her age and of ours,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at the statue unveiling ceremony.

Keller, who lived from 1880 to 1968, defied the low expectations that our country has historically had of people with disabilities.

She graduated from Radcliffe College in 1904, wrote many books, traveled the world and worked to improve living conditions for disabled people.

When I think about Iraq War veterans who are returning home with disabilities, I recall Keller’s visits with soldiers wounded in World War II. Keller, like most of us with disabilities, didn’t believe that we should be pitied. Disabled veterans “do not want to be treated as heroes,” she said. “They want to be able to live naturally and to be treated as human beings.”

Keller worked for 44 years with the American Foundation for the Blind, but her social concern was far from limited to people with disabilities.

“My work for the blind ... has never occupied a center in my personality,” she wrote.

“My sympathies are with all who struggle for justice.”

Throughout her life, Keller opposed racism.

“It should bring a blush of shame to the face of every true American,” she wrote to the vice president of the NAACP in 1916, “to know that 10 million of his countrymen are denied the equal protection of the laws.”

Keller was also an early feminist, speaking out on the rights of women to get an education and to work. She was an advocate for birth control.

And Keller, whose books had been burned by the Nazis, was one of the first to decry the horrors of the Holocaust.

At a time when unions were even less popular than they are now, Keller said the labor movement “is essential for democracy.”

At the height of McCarthyism, she spoke out against the House Un-American Activities Committee. Though it never conducted a full investigation of Keller, the FBI kept a file on her.

People in this country and around the world will be touched when they see or hear about the newly unveiled statue of Helen Keller.

I hope her statue will inspire all of us to work for justice, not only for people with disabilities, but for everyone.

(MCT)

Opinions

What’s your Opinion?

Send your thoughts to staropinion@txstate.edu

Thursday, October 22, 2009

6 - The University Star

Disease does not take breaks the main

point.

B reast Cancer Awareness Month is a beautiful time of the year.

Students and organizations are in The Quad seeking donations, handing out ribbons and trying to educate people on a disease that has claimed millions. It is beautiful to see diverse people united on a single issue.

The fact was perfectly illustrated at the Bobcat football game Oct. 10 when players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans were encouraged to sport the color pink as part of their uniforms and outfits.

But what happens when Nov. 1 rolls around? People will wake up, probably still dressed as Steve Irwin, Dog the Bounty Hunter or a cute French maid, and will be less concerned with breast cancer awareness and more concerned about who they may or may not have kissed the previous night.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month goes a long way toward educating people on the disease and raising support for those battling it, but awareness and support should not be confined to one month out of the year.

Breast cancer affects people 365 days a year. Disease does not take vacations.

According to an article in the Oct. 14 issue of The University Star, members of the sorority Zeta Tau Alpha distributed self-examination shower cards to residence halls.

“It’s very alarming. One

in eight women are affected with breast cancer,” said Erin McCracken, assistant philanthropy chair of the sorority, in the article. “I make sure I educate the sorority. We all have statistics we know. So they can educate other girls if they visit the booth or anything.”

One in eight women means nearly 2,000 people on our campus will be diagnosed with breast cancer. It would be a sad waste if all those self-examination cards went unused.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation, based out of Dallas, is one of the driving forces behind education and support for the fight against breast cancer. The foundation’s Web site offers visitors opportunities to join the fight against the disease.

The Web site does not disappear at the end of October.

It is in operation 12 months out of the year so get involved. Make a commitment to donate a certain amount of your monthly income (or the allowance your parents give you) to a charity that supports those fighting a disease. Or better yet, find someone who is battling it or has an affected family member and support them.

The name “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” might be a bit misleading. People should be aware of the disease as much as they should of the dangers of drunk driving.

Awareness of a life-threatening illness should not be restricted to one month.

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

Lack of community college causing social stratification

By Robert Beckhusen Opinions Columnist Some thoughts on the City Council debate Monday.

I was glad support for building a community college found a strong consensus. The combination of low land costs and rapid population growth has had Austin Community College eying San Marcos for

years. It hasn’t happened, partly because of opposition within San Marcos but also by a wounding forgery scandal that sank one of ACC’s petition drives. It was enough for State Rep. Patrick Rose to call it a “traumatic experience for San Marcos” in the June 11, 2006 issue of the San Marcos Daily Record.

But ACC’s people make a pretty good case for it. In the March 16 issue of the San Marcos Mercury, the college’s president, Stephen Kinslow, told a skeptical Chamber of Commerce that Texas State will most likely not be able to service the parts of the city’s growing Hispanic population with limited English skills.

Board members insisted the university, combined with

retail jobs (such as those at Prime Outlets), were enough to keep the economy afloat.

I interpreted Kinslow’s remarks, essentially: if you don’t let ACC in here, you’re going to have a city comprised of university students and others, and an underclass without easy access to college subsisting on menial retail wages. You should really consider if this is what you want.

On another topic, I particularly liked Anita Fuller’s support for investing in mixed-use buildings while preserving historical sites.

I like the way she thinks.

For wanting to cut down on sprawl and promote walkable neighborhoods, and wanting to bring the city back to a human scale (much of the

city is scaled for cars, with little passive human pilots), then that would be a fine way to do it.

Monica Garcia, Fuller’s rival in toppling incumbent John Thomaides for the Place 6 seat, supports building parking garages along Austin lines.

Thomaides, correctly, warned against constructing garages due to their exorbitant cost.

Parking garages cost millions, and people park their cars in them. That’s all they do. That’s the investment.

If you’re running a city and people need a place to park because otherwise the streets will clog up, then you build them.

But San Marcos isn’t Austin, and the problem isn’t close to Austin’s monumental trou-

bles. I’m tempted to say we’re experiencing “sprawlitis” or “Austinitis”—the delusion Austin solutions can be applied to San Marcos problems.

I heard a student telling a class he watched people circling a parking lot outside a gym for the closest place to park. Say, I’m going to the gym. Ah! You mean I have to walk an extra 50 feet?

The lesson here is people will always complain about parking. You could cover the planet in concrete and there would still be problems.

Not to misrepresent her position. Fuller, like her competitors, supports a parking garage if the money can be found. But I liked how she pointed out adequate parking does exist, and citizens need

to know where to find it.

Thomaides suggested improvements in pedestrian infrastructure and bike lanes. These are good ideas, but Fuller’s approach is the more radical one. I mean that in the finest sense: from the Latin radix, or root, meaning she gets to the root of the dilemma.

Again, small town problems. Students here may find certain topics a bit dull, but I’ve grown to appreciate the quiet, with conflicts that don’t reach an uncomfortable temperature. They will affect your day-to-day life more than you think, I assure you.

stores, merchandise and even organizations on campus trying to collect money for associations.

I have to say I am very proud of the organizations on campus that took a part in breast cancer awareness month. I personally received some very helpful information and of course a pink ribbon pin and button.

It is hard to imagine people abusing this logo and using it for their own profit, but it does happen. When walking into a grocery store, for example, it is no longer enough to assume products displaying the pink ribbon will benefit breast can-

cer. Because the pink ribbon logo is being exploited in order to increase sales, the consumer now has to do some research about their products of choice.

For example, Swiffer Sweeper is one product that used the Breast Cancer Ribbon to attract sales. The truth is according to a Procter & Gamble spokeswoman, the company will only make a $0.02 donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation if a consumer uses a coupon from Procter & Gamble’s brand saver coupon book, which was distributed Sept. 27 in newspapers. Without the coupon, the limited

edition pink packaging on the Swiffer is simply designed to draw awareness to the cause.

Sad isn’t it?

Also a lot of products hide a cap in donations with fine print. According to the Daily Finance Web site, the packaging of another product, Herr’s Whole Grain Pretzel Ribbons, proclaims a portion of its sales will be donated to breast cancer awareness and research programs. But there’s an asterisk accompanying that statement, which leads to a caveat that Herr’s caps its donation at $15,000.

According to an article on

the Newsweek Web site, not all pink-ribbon fundraising is equal. Some companies donate a percentage of their revenues to breast-cancer research organizations. Others set a minimum dollar amount, a maximum dollar amount, or both.

It is hard enough as college students trying to decide what charities and organizations to donate money to, especially with our pockets being stretched as it is. It is difficult to walk through The Quad with money jars clanking as you walk by. It does not seem right that as we try to help

charities and organizations, we still have to deal with researching if our spare money is actually helping and contributing to what it claims.

Regardless of whether it is fair or not, it is out there and consumers everywhere must face it with every purchase. As college students we must be resourceful and aware. It is our job to know where our donations are going and if they are benefiting the organizations we wish to sponsor. If in doubt read the label.

—Robert Beckhusen is a pre-mass communication sophomore

Companies abuse pink ribbon to attract consumers

By Ammie Jimenez Opinions Columnist The pink ribbon logo is recognizable to virtually everyone who knows anything about cancer. Awareness is a big deal and throughout the month of October the color pink floods

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Trends Thursday, October 22, 2009

Bublé’s Win

Michael Bublé’s Crazy Love is No.1 for the second week with 203,000 copies sold, according to billboard.com. Bublé’s placement is before The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack at No. 2 with 115,000 copies. The soundtrack was introduced before its original date six days early to combat leaks.

A Bobcat to Know

The University Star - 7 “She said be innovative and take the initiative to do something different from everyone else.”

— Ashley Flores

Texas State senior creates two Latino television programs

By Brittany Bemis Assistant Trends Editor

Bobby Scheidemann/Star photo TELEVISION GURU: Ashley Flores, electronic media senior, has created two bilingual television shows.

Ashley Flores has a penchant for pot-bellied pigs and creating television shows.

Flores’ time at Texas State has included becoming senior advisor to the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, interning at NBC Universal and creating two bilingual television shows.

Flores, electronic media senior, said the organizations at Texas State provided her with valuable opportunities.

“Through networking at National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Chicago conference, I met some NBC people, and from there through the National Student Exchange I was able to live on Long Island and commute to my internship,” Flores said.

Living in New York and working on projects like Nightly News with Brian Williams, The Today Show and Peacock Production might seem appealing, but Flores said appearances could be deceiving.

“I got some insight into the

news field and decided I really don’t want to do that,” Flores said. “It’s not what it looks like on TV. It is not as glamorous as you think, but it was a great experience, and I got to see what goes on behind the scenes.”

While at NBC, Flores said she met different professionals, but one stood out in her mind.

“I got to meet with someone who hires all of the main news anchors for the NBC affiliates, and I asked her what I could do to stand out and become a news anchor,” Flores said. “She said be innovative and take the initiative to do something different from everyone else.”

Flores said she debated starting a podcast or a blog, but she wanted something that catered toward Latinos.

“There is a huge lack of Latinos in the media, and whatever Latinos we do have, we are not represented in a good light,” Flores said. “I got together with another friend and just went for it.”

Flores created La Bella Vida and Latina Living, which she said are more talk shows than news.

Audrey Cuellar, pre-mass communication sophomore, said she met Flores through the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

“She is very persistent and constantly thinking about ideas,” Cuellar said. “I worked with her on her TV shows and she was always coming up with ideas for it. She knows what she wants and she won’t stop until she gets it.”

Amanda Sandoval, pre-communications studies junior, met Flores in a high school film class.

“We used to battle each other to see who knew more (about film),” Sandoval said. “Three words to describe her would be courageous, strong and caring.”

Flores said one of her interests outside of media is potbellied pigs, which began at a San Antonio rodeo.

“I saw the pigs there and I thought they were so cute,” Flores said. “I saw an episode of The Today Show on mini pigs, and that is when I decided I wanted to get one.”

world,” Vaynerchuk said about the Internet. “You’re getting experience and you’re learning, and it doesn’t cost anything.”

Cindy Royal, assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communcation, led a discussion with Vaynerchuk on a variety of topics ranging from his beginnings as a poor immigrant from the former Soviet Union to his future goal of buying the New York Jets.

Despite Vaynerchuk’s lucrative business endeavors, his sentiments on happiness were not measured by the amount of money he makes.

“I don’t understand why peo-

ple want ‘stuff’,” Vaynerchuk said. “I know so many sad millionaires — I don’t understand why people think that’s the game.”

Vaynerchuk said the reason he is successful is because he loves the process of what he does rather than working for a payoff.

Vaynerchuk fielded questions from the audience after the discussion, many of whom were unaware of his success prior to the presentation.

“The presentation was awesome,” said Adison Thompson, pre-mass communication sophomore. “He was very interactive

with the crowd and spoke to our generation specifically.”

Vaynerchuk met students after the presentation in the lobby to continue discussions and sign books.

As the meet and greet came to a close, Vaynerchuk made a phone call. He learned Crush It! will rank second on next week’s New York Times’ bestseller list, losing the No. 1 spot by 300 books.

“300 books? I could have easily sold 300 more books,” Vaynerchuk laughed into his phone.

No one in the crowd argued with him.

Entrepreneur measures success in social networking, happiness

By Patrick Berger Features Reporter Gary Vaynerchuk looks rather unassuming. Dressed in a casual blue button-down shirt and jeans, he may as well have been sitting in the audience during Wednesday’s Mass Comm Week presentation in the Alkek Theatre.

However, once Vaynerchuk took the stage, an inconspicuous appearance gave way to a passionate intensity that both captivated and educated a full auditorium on the potential success found in social networking.

“I fundamentally believe the Internet itself is the most underrated resource in our society,” Vaynerchuk said.

A self-taught wine expert and entrepreneur, Vaynerchuk revolutionized the wine industry by utilizing social media networks, like YouTube and Twitter, to spread the word of wine.

“The first time I saw the Internet in ’94, I was in a dorm with some buddies who were trying to pick up chicks on it,” Vaynerchuk said. “Within five minutes, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can sell stuff on this.’”

Videos from Vaynerchuk’s Web site, tv.winelibrary.com,

made him an Internet sensation and attracted attention from both online viewers and media outlets like The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine and CNN. According to his Web site, Vaynerchuk was able to increase the revenue of his wine business, Wine Library, from $4 million to more than $50 million annually.

Vaynerchuk’s recently released the book, Crush It!, a personal account of ways to harness online resources to “cash in on your passion.”

“You are living with the resources that are changing the

Trends

8 - The University Star

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Band of Heathens at Glade Outdoor Theatre Student performs song about crush

By Jovonna Owen Features Reporter

Students sat under the stars Tuesday night for an evening of “Uniquely Texas” music.

They were treated to the sounds of The Trisha’s and The Band of Heathens at the Glade Outdoor Theatre.

People of all ages turned out to dance, wave glow sticks and burn incense.

The concert was funded by students through Student Service Fees. The Stars of Texas Music Legacy is an annual event organized by Gary Hartman, Center for Texas Music History, and Richard Cheatham, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

The Trisha’s, an all-female group — none of them actually named Trisha — opened for The Band of Heathens.

Kent Finlay, owner of Cheatham Street Warehouse, sat in the second row at the concert.

Hartman said Finlay is like a “father figure” to him.

“He is one of the most decent human beings you could ever possibly meet,” Hartman said. “He is a very talented songwriter and musician, but

venues as great as the Glade Outdoor Theatre.

“Some places don’t have a music scene, and here we have this vibrant music scene,” Finlay said. “Sometimes some of you take it for granted, and you shouldn’t. It’s just absolutely wonderful. We can have nights like this here in October when we can come and sit outside and listen to some of the best music in the whole world.”

Colin Brooks, Band of Heathens guitarist and vocalist, Bobby Scheidemann/Star photo said they were lucky to have LIVE MUSIC: The Trisha’s began a night of music by opening for the Finlay and Cheatham Street Band of Heathens at the Glade Outdoor Theatre.

Warehouse in San Marcos.

“It was the first place I played you almost wouldn’t know that “I was going to say there was because he spends so much of a young Texas State student in Texas when I moved down his time helping promote other back in the ’70s,” Hartman said. here,” Brooks said.

Robert Rydeen, political musicians.”

“George Strait really got his start science senior, said it was great Hartman said Finlay is a true over at Cheatham Street too.” living legend.

Finlay introduced the Band to be a part of The Stars of Texas “He’s had all sorts of of Heathens, currently ranked Music Legacy.

“Both bands are amazing,” legendary musicians get their number two on the Americana Brooks said. “Good vocals — start at Cheatham Street,” Music Association Chart.

Hartman said. “There’s a whole “If you want a definition for and all the instruments are bunch of folks — Randy Rogers, roots Texas music, it’s the band awesome.”

Brooks said he was not a Terri Hendrix, Willie Nelson and of Heathens,” Finlay said. “All Jerry Jeff Walker — all kinds of of them are wonderful on their huge fan of country music, but people played there.” instruments and they have great the live concert helped him to Finlay interrupted and said he songs. They’re the epitome of appreciate country music more.

“I just went to ACL, and it’s forgot a very famous alumnus. roots Texas music.”

“Don’t leave out George Finlay told the crowd they nice to keep that going with live (Strait),” Finlay said. should think about how music, especially Texas (music),” Hartman chimed back in. lucky they are to have music Brooks said.

to embarrass him,” Ryan said.

“But I don’t really care about embarrassing him now because Sarah Ryan has guts. he said it was kind of creepy.”

Ryan, English freshman, Murray went on the stage wrote a song about a classmate after much encouragement she had never talked to in from the audience and Ryan’s her psychology class. She friends. performed it Tuesday in front of “I didn’t know they were a packed Evans Auditorium at going to bring him on stage, the Homecoming talent show. and I didn’t find out until like Ryan said the song was half an hour later, because I was about figuring out how to talk already in the dressing room,” to someone in an awkward Ryan said. “My friends were setting. sitting behind him and said they “It’s all true, except I don’t had to drag him up there.” necessarily want to be his The song was written with the girlfriend — it’s just exaggerated. intent to remain anonymous, It’s not all literal,” Ryan said. “It’s Ryan said. based on thinking he’s really “I wasn’t planning on ever cute, and it is kind of awkward telling Murray it was him,” Ryan to be in Centennial or a big said. “I just thought maybe he class with 400 people and say would be there and infer that it ‘hello.’” was him. I didn’t plan on telling Tuesday was the first time him, or I thought maybe by that Ryan performed a song for a time I’d be friends with him.” subject.

Ryan said “I don’t know her friends I don’t really care convincedher I’ve ever played someone a about embarrassing to audition song that’s him now because he for the show. about them “I just untilyesterday,” said it was kind of heard about Ryan said. “Or creepy. it, and it was at least for a right at the Sarah Ryan, English freshman guy anyway.” point when I Ryan said she introduced thought he was really cute and herself to Dillon Murray, English I wrote the song,” Ryan said. “So freshman, in class the morning the girls in my dorm told me to before the talent show. try out, and they kind of forced “I said ‘I wrote a song about me into it.”

The trio was personal with you and now it’s in the talent Appearing at the talent show the audience, making their local presence apparent and show. If you want to go, then go, came as a surprise to Ryan, who proving they have built a and if not it’s cool,’” Ryan said. did not think she would get to loyal fan base. “‘I’m not trying to freak you out, perform.

A few people from the I just think you’re cute.’”

“I was sick at the time of the crowd danced to polkaRyan said Murray seemed a audition. I didn’t think I would influenced songs, but for the little “freaked out.” make it,” Ryan said. “But I told most part, the atmosphere “It was a little awkward, but I the judges the story and I guess was casual and relaxing. tried to make the best of it, and they thought it was funny.”

Most of their songs were he came,” she said.

Ryan flipped the guitar over instrumental, but Falletta Ryan said she told Murray his after the song to show her phone did grace the audience with name was not going to be in the number on a note reading, “Call a beautiful, jazzy cover of Billie Holiday’s “Oh, What A song. me.”

Little Moonlight Can Do.” “I thought (the song) was just “And he didn’t call me, but I definitely recommend going to be called ‘Boy from that’s okay, because I already picking a Tuesday night at Psychology,’ but they named the wrote a song about another Tantra for a study date at song Dillon in the program. I boy,” Ryan said. least once, if not every week. felt so bad because I didn’t want

Tantra Coffeehouse offers more than beverages

Kassie Kitchen Trends Columnist Tuesday nights at Tantra Coffeehouse are home to a trio of young jazz musicians and a refreshingly diverse crowd eager to watch.

Albanie Falletta and Django Porter alternate between lead and rhythm on their acousticelectric guitars while Jesse

Dalton slaps a stand-up bass.

The band, mostly instrumental, started with a classic swing, big-band feel, and as I looked around the yard, no empty seats could be found.

People poured in as soon as the music began.

The charming threesome played an interesting rendition of contemporary jazz from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. under the coffee house’s white tent.

The atmosphere was perfect for a night of studying or simply a cup of coffee and relaxation.

Anne Ruthstrom, pre-geography senior, enjoys Gypsy Jazz Night and tries to attend every Tuesday after work.

Some songs had a more bluesy, soulful sound that would impress Louis Armstrong. However, the musicians still maintained an exotic sub-sound. Porter’s musical experience and talent were shown in his meticulous solos, especially during “In the Still of the Night,” which echoed through the yard. The notes were almost eerie combined with the cool night breeze.

I could tell Falletta and Dalton were following Porter’s lead in a few of the songs. They allowed him to set the tempo, and they would mutate to compliment his sound pattern.

By Bianca Davis News Reporter

”

”

trends

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Lights, Charity, Fashion!

Prime Outlets host runway show for charity

Brittany Bemis Assistant Trends Editor The latest styles will be out in full force Saturday night at Luxe 2009: The Fashion Benefit.

Models will be marching down the catwalk while simultaneously raising fashion IQ’s and money for charity from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fashion Benefit, hosted

by Prime Outlets-San Marcos, gives attendees a chance to see designer goods for the cost of a $10 ticket.

The scheduled master of ceremony is celebrity stylist Mark-Alan Harmon, who, according to the Prime Outlets Web site, dressed Hollywood stars and was featured on Style Network, E! and CNN Showbiz Tonight.

Allison Finchum, general manager of Coach, is excited

about supporting a charity.

She is selling tickets to support River City Ballet, a pre-professional performing arts organization.

“This event provides local charities with the opportunity to raise funds and awareness,” Finchum said. “Last year, there was only one charity sponsor, but this year they were able to grow the list of charities involved.”

Finchum said she is most looking forward to the raffle.

“One lucky person will have the chance to win a $500 shopping spree,” Finchum said. “I think it is going to be a really nice evening. It will be fun to all get together.”

Finchum said the proceeds from her portion will help the winter show by River City Ballet.

Sarah Hadley, fashion

merchandising junior, is an intern at Prime Outlets-San Marcos and added the Texas State Fashion Merchandising Association to the list of charities involved. Hadley, Texas State Fashion Merchandising Association president, said her job is more like a marketing internship because of the work entailed.

“I help out with different events like trunk shows, pulling clothes and stuffing bags — all kind of things,” Hadley said. “(Prime OutletsSan Marcos) has never had an intern before, so they contacted the school, and I ended up applying.”

Hadley said she thinks the event will bring prestige to the San Marcos area.

“It is a full-scale fashion event, and you don’t always find that in San Marcos,”

in before Halloween,” Martin said.

Martin said central themes should be expected this Halloween.

“Pirates are the most popular costumes,” Martin said. “Many people also come in looking for Roman and Greek themes.”

Costumed Occasions carries “sexy” costumes such as “Racy Chick” and “Game Official,” which are more “risqué” versions of a racecar driver and referee.

“The whole sexy girl costume thing is the best part of Halloween,” said Paul Tilton, psychology junior.

Brittany McFalls, Spanish junior, plans to dress as Charlie Chaplin for Halloween. McFalls said she sees sexy and naughty costumes as the trendiest.

“Someone could make a sexy nun costume and girls would be buying it,” Mcfalls said.

Tilton said media continues to have an enormous impact

on costumes because people are interested in being a familiar character.

“Movies and television play a big role in sales,” he said.

McFalls said there are assured characters she sees commonly every year, but agreed media makes an impact.

“The Twilight series and vampires are really in right now,” McFalls said.

Amy Rames, marketing communication specialist for Goodwill, said the Central Texas region has around 300,000 shoppers during Halloween season.

“One-third of the annual revenue at Goodwill comes from the month of October,” Rames said.

People search for alternative ways to dress up rather than buying a specific costume because creating one can be expensive.

“A lot of people like to put together something unique, such as a prom dress covered in

Hadley said. “Fashion shows of this magnitude aren’t really common here, so I think the chance to get out there and see the new styles is going to be a whole lot of fun.”

Hadley said she is looking forward to seeing designs provided by Neimen Marcus Last Call.

“Because I am a fashion major, I love the high-end designers and seeing their clothing,” Hadley said. “To me, it is like seeing art pieces.

They have a whole array of different fashion designers.”

Hadley said her favorite designer is Marc Jacobs.

“He is so creative, and he takes risks and sometimes he is criticized for creating these outlandish designs,” Hadley said. “But I admire that he is so out of the box, he just keeps making amazing clothes.”

Tricks for cheap Halloween costumes Miranda Serene Features Reporter

Texas State students are increasing their imagination to save some cash this Halloween season.

The dress-up holiday is quickly approaching and costumes are in demand.

Consumers this year are expected to spend an average of $35 on a Halloween costume, according to the National Retail Federation’s survey. Thirty-three percent of the nation will dress in costumes and 30 percent will attend a Halloween party. More than 60 percent of them will be between 18 and 24 years old.

San Marcos offers several hot spots to buy Halloween costumes. J.T. Martin, employee at Costumed Occasions, has worked in the industry for 13 years.

“We are open year-round, but we get the most people

blood,” Rames said. “Goodwill has inexpensive choices.”

Tilton enjoys making his costumes with things he already owns.

“It’s best to get creative and keep it cheap,” Tilton said.

RossHuffman,urbanplanning junior, said he always tries to find something innovative and he has experience when it comes to building costumes.

“You can take a big foam egg-crate and make full body costumes very cheaply,” Huffman said.

Huffman said people can cover the foam with colored felt and it looks great, adding he used this technique twice before.

“One year I used the foam to go as a marijuana plant,” Huffman said.

Huffman said some of the best costumes he has seen are simple yet funny.

“I saw a gangster Gumby one year and it was a hit — it was only a $10 costume,” Huffman said.

UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

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rates & policies Cost-25¢ per word (1-6 days); Cost-20¢ per word (7+ days); Deadline-2 business days prior by noon All classified ads must be paid in advance, unless credit is established. Classified ads will be edited for style purposes. We do our best, but please check your classified ad for accuracy. Any corrections to your ad must be made by the second day of publication. As a free service to you, all classified ads will be published on-line on our web site at www.universitystar.com. However, since this is a free service, posting is not guaranteed. While The University Star attempts to screen ads for misleading claims or illegal content, it is not possible for us to investigate every ad and advertiser. Please use caution when answering ads, especially any which require you to send money in advance.

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Thursday, October 22, 2009

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Thursday, October 22, 2009

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Volleyball takes on Nicholls State Thursday in Strahan

By Eric Harper Sports Reporter The Texas State volleyball team suffered a three-point loss in the fifth set to drop its last home match against Central Arkansas Oct. 14. The Bobcats will return to Strahan Coliseum to take on Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana Thursday and Saturday.

Nicholls State has an overall record of 9-12, 3-4 in the Southland Conference and is tied for third in the East Division. The Colonels have recorded upset wins against Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State but have lost their previous two matches against Lamar and Sam Houston State.

Nicholls State has recorded a 2-5 record on the road and have been outhit by an average of .199 to .189 per match overall.

Texas State has won 29 of the 37 matches against Nicholls State in the history of the series.

Coach Karen Chisum said the Bobcats must play hard

to match the energy of the Colonels.

“We have to be prepared to work,” Chisum said. “Nicholls State is a blue-collar team.

They just outwork people.”

Southeastern Louisiana was ranked 11th in the SLC preseason polls. The Lions got off to a quick start in SLC play with wins over Nicholls State and Northwestern State.

Since then, the Lions have lost their last five matches and now stand at 6-12 overall, 2-5 in the SLC. Southeastern Louisiana has a 4-5 record in eight road matches this season. The Lions have been outhit by an average of .189 to .133 per match overall. Texas State has taken 29 of 37 matches from Southeastern Louisiana, including a nine-match win streak over the Lions.

Chisum said despite the Lions being one of the weaker teams historically, they have shown promise at times this season.

Chisum said the Bobcats can-

not overlook the match.

“We have to respect them and play hard,” Chisum said.

Texas State goes into the weekend with a 10-12 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the SLC. The Bobcats are tied for fifth in the SLC and third in the West Division.

Chisum said this weekend’s matches are critical for the Bobcats to try and compensate in the SLC race.

The Bobcats have won seven of nine matches at Strahan Coliseum this season. Texas State is hitting .191 per match overall.

Amber Calhoun, sophomore middle blocker, leads the Bobcats and ranks fifth in the SLC with a .291 attack percentage.

Chisum said with the standings close and the season going into the final stretch, the Bobcats are placing high importance on all of their matches.

“Every match is the most important match going forJake Marx/Star file photo ward,” Chisum said. “We have TEAM HUDDLE: The Bobcat volleyball team will take on Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana to prepare for each match as 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Strahan Coliseum. if it’s our last.”

They had to adapt to a different surface and played a high, intense game of 110 minutes.”

Texas State has three remaining home games to try maintaining its undefeated conference record. The Bobcats have already faced Southeastern Louisiana, the second-best team in the Southland Conference. Their final three games are against Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State and Texas-San Antonio, which are third, fifth and fourth in the SLC, respectively.

Texas State faces off against

the SFA Lumberjacks Friday.

The only team SFA has lost to this season is Southeastern Louisiana.

SFA has the most balanced team in the conference with four players totaling 12 or more points and 51 percent of their shots being on target this season.

Sam Houston State comes to town Sunday and brings another threat onto the West Campus Soccer Complex. The threat is midfielder Kirby Zak, who has six goals and eight assists on the season. The Bearkats took

Women’s soccer battles Lumberjacks, Bearkats

By Cameron Irvine Sports Reporter

Public Service Announcement courtesy of The University Star.

The Texas State women’s soccer team returns to action Friday with a perfect record still intact. The Bobcats came home with a tie Sunday despite inclement weather and a strong opponent.

“After Friday’s game, I was happy as the players overcame not just our opponents, but also the environment,” said Coach Kat Conner. “Of course I wanted the win (Sunday), but I was extremely proud of our players.

Southeastern Louisiana to overtime as well, but fell 2-3.

Britney Curry, junior forward, is first in the SLC with 15 goals in 16 games. Erica Michaud, sophomore forward, is tied for fourth in the SLC with seven goals overall.

Michaud said the Bobcat offense, after posting zero goals in Sunday’s match, will be itching to put any number beside zero on the maroon and gold board this weekend.

“To score, it takes a lot of effort and you must never give up,” Michaud said. “When I get

inside the 18-yard box, one thing is on my mind and that is to score. When teammates score, it makes me want to score even stronger.”

The Bobcats have had the No. 1 record in the SLC since the opening weekend of conference play, which, according to Curry, has left a big target on their backs.

“I know there’s going to be a fight going into every match because we are the team to beat,” Curry said.

One factor that could help the Bobcats win is the fans. Texas

State fans lead the conference in attendance for the year, averaging 427 per game.

“We are definitely glad to be home, but have our work cut out for us, as each team coming in is a threat,” Conner said. “We will need to work on our rhythm so we can keep possession and find the seams to get in behind.

I hope to see the students, faculty and staff come out and support these young women as they battle for a championship right here at home.”

Games are slated for 7 p.m.

Friday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Sports 16 - The University Star

DOUBLE-DOUBLES

Seven women’s volleyball players have at least one double-double this season going into tonight’s game against Nicholls State. Jessica Weynand, senior outside hitter, and Shelbi Irvin, junior setter, each have five. Brittany Collins, senior setter, has recorded four, Melinda Cave, junior middle blocker, has three and Mo Middleton, junior outside hitter, has two. Caleigh McCorquodale, freshman setter, and AJ Watlington, junior right-side hitter, each have one.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Sports Contact, Lisa Carter – starsports@txstate.edu

Bobcats face 0-6 Northwestern State Demons

By Keff Ciardello Sports Reporter The Texas State Bobcats and the Northwestern State

Gary Hardamon/Northwestern State University Photographic Services OVER AND DONE: Northwestern State quarterback John Hundley sustained a season- and careerending injury to his right hand.

Demons have more in common than a game against each other Saturday. Both teams witnessed seasonending injuries sustained to a key offensive player this season.

For the Bobcats, it was Karrington Bush’s, junior running back, torn ACL, TCL and MCL. For the Demons, it was a fractured bone on the right thumb of senior quarterback John Hundley.

The MCL Bush tore is the same ligament that kept him out the first four weeks of the season, leaving some fans speculating whether or not Bush’s injury could have been prevented.

MCL sprains usually take three to four weeks to heal, according to webmd.com.

The Bobcats waited four weeks before bringing Bush back onto the field and, in his return, he rushed the ball nine times for 82 yards.

Bush is the only Bobcat running back to have con-

secutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, despite coming off the bench for half of those games.

Bush’s career would be over and he would never have another 1,000-yard season had this happened 10 years ago. However, thanks to advances in medicine and rehabilitation practices, he could be back as soon as next season if his injury is cared for properly.

According to webmd.com, rehabilitation is the most important — yet too often neglected — aspect of severe ligament reconstruction surgery. Bush will take at least 16 weeks to recover from the injury if his rehabilitation is handled properly.

Unfortunately for Hundley, this season-ending injury is also a career-ending one.

Hundley injured his hand after he smashed it on a defender’s helmet during his follow through on a pass. He remained in for five more plays, but the pain forced

him to leave the game.

Hundley started for the Demons the past two seasons, gaining 1,719 passing yards and throwing 10 touchdowns in 14 games. He holds the Demons’ record for most completions in a game when he went 29 for 44 against Stephen F. Austin last season.

The Bobcats and Demons share a strategy for how they will replace their fallen stars, using two players to fill the now vacant position.

“We will have to get some people to step up, which Alvin Canady (junior) and Frank Reddic (freshman) have done this season,” said Coach Brad Wright.

The one-two punch of Canady and Reddic was put on display with success earlier in the season when Bush was first injured. The two players have combined for 444 yards and nine touchdowns on the season.

The Demons will replace Hundley with junior Tyler Wolfe

Cameron’s Commentary

and freshman Paul Harris.

Wolfe will more than likely get the start because of his numbers and experience on the field, as he has started three games and has thrown for 448 yards. Wolfe had 307 of those yards come in his first start against North Dakota.

Harris came in to relieve Hundley after his injury against McNeese State (Wolfe was injured as well). Harris rushed for 78 yards off three carries, including a 21-yard touchdown. He attempted five passes, completing two for 19 yards.

Northwestern State is one of two teams in the Southland Conference without a conference win, the other being the Bobcats’ last opponent, Nicholls State. The Demons are the only team in the SLC that has yet to win a game with a 0-2 conference record, 0-6 overall. Northwestern State is ranked last in the SLC while the Bobcats are in the sixth spot.

Austin Byrd/Star file photo OUT OF THE GAME: Bobcat Karrington Bush, junior running back, has a torn ACL, TCL, and MCL.

Northwestern State will host the Bobcats at its homecoming game 7 p.m. Saturday.

Neither the sports teams nor car companies are doing well in Detroit

By Cameron Irvine Sports Columnist Let’s look at the City of Detroit and its five major franchises.

The Detroit Lions were the worst team in NFL history last year. It took a No.

1 quarterback, who is now hurt, to get the Lions their first win in two years over Washington which can’t score a touchdown to save its life or career (Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell). They have been the most pathetic football franchise in the last five years and we all get to worship them on Thanksgiving, thank goodness.

The Detroit Tigers have been stable as of late. But just last month, they blew a huge lead in the American League Central Division to the Minnesota Twins, stumbling out of the playoffs on the final game

in the regular season. Oh, how the Motor City Kitties have fallen.

Then there is the Detroit Pistons who decided it would be a good idea to bring in Allen Iverson (an old ball hog) and replace him with their team captain Chauncey Billups. Billups proved last year there was nothing wrong with him by putting up career numbers in Denver.

However, there was something wrong with the Detroit Pistons as a whole. The Cavaliers swept the Pistons. They followed the sweep by doing absolutely nothing in the off-

season except hiring another dumb coach to take them to their fate, one-and-done in the 2010 NBA playoffs, or worse.

The Detroit Shock WNBA franchise that won three championships in the last six years is moving to Tulsa and getting out of the Motor City because of the “tough economic times.”

It’s as if the Red Wings have just fallen into the glory of sports in Detroit. However, as ESPN tells us on a daily basis, by showing only one hockey highlight every hour, is that no one cares about hockey

anymore and soccer has taken over as the fourth major sport (which, some would agree, it has).

Detroit sports are a mess.

But what is not a mess is Texas State Athletics. All teams competing at the moment are .500 or better in Southland Conference play and women’s soccer is still without a loss in the SLC. Football won in Thibodaux, La. for the first time in this decade and volleyball continues to impress the rest of its division, in which only one loss did not stretch to five sets.

All of this Drive to the FBS

might distract us a bit from the fact we don’t need to start playing better teams because we’re winning now. Now is the time people should be embracing our sports teams — not in four years or however long it takes them to get 15,000 people into those stands. We have good, highpowered weapons of victory on our side, but instead, we look to the future. I am a competitor and all I care about is winning, which is what we are doing now. Therefore, I am happy. I just wish everyone could see the fortune we have in front of us.