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TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS
www.UNIVERSITYSTAR.com
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 25, 2005
RALLY
VOLUME 95, ISSUE 25
ASG passes bill opposing marriage amendment
Texas Constitutional Amendment
FOR
CIVIL RIGHTS
By Clayton Medford News Reporter Associated Student Government debated legislation that states their opposition to the highly controversial Proposition 2, the proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution that defines marriage as the “union of one man and one woman.” The standing-room only meeting contained an emotional testimony and was heavily punctuated by applause. The legislation, authored by accounting senior and Sen. Jeffery Moody, states that “the passing of this proposition would segregate the homosexual community by not allowing them the same rights given to heterosexuals … thereby exhibiting state sponsored discrimination.” Moody made clear that his legislation focused on discrimination, not just gay rights. “This is not about gay rights; it’s already illegal for gays to be married,” Moody said. “(Proposition 2) says that everyone who has fought and died has done so for everyone, except these people.” Among the nearly 20 guests
Brynn Leggett/Star photos
Students gather in The Quad to protest Prop. 2
A self-proclaimed “coalition” of students held a rally in The Quad on Thursday to speak out against Proposition 2, a proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution recognizing marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman. Members from the College Democrats, Lambda of Texas State, American Civil Liberty Union at Texas State and Activists for Sexual Minorities gathered by The Stallions to educate people about the proposed constitutional amendment and to increase awareness about early voting, which began Monday. Dubbed by many as “the gay marriage” amendment, the controversial proposition strictly defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The state already prohibits same-sex marriage, and civil unions and civil marriages from other states are not recognized in Texas. Up for vote on Nov. 8, the issue has created a hotbed of discourse over morality and homosexuality. The purpose of the rally in The Quad was not to debate questions surrounding sexualorienta-
By Alysha Nicole Hernández Special to The Star Around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 26 Laredo high school students boarded a white charter bus and headed to Texas State. During their four-hour bus ride, some snoozed while others sleepily watched movies. Upon arrival, the troop of students trudged up Texas State’s campus to Old Main, ready to learn about university-level journalism. The students and their instructor, Mark Webber, visited the campus as part of Mass Communication Week, hosted annually by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The students’ visit was made possible by a grant obtained on the part of the department of mass communications. The $9,000 grant from the Texas State Office of Equity and Access helped bring the VMT students and various speakers
See RALLY, page 4
Conservation association Family Justice Center to offers job opportunities, provide many services for internships to students San Marcos crime victims Career Services to host fair By Andrea Gonzalez Special to The Star A call to help our struggling environment is coming from the Student Conservation Association, the nation’s oldest and largest provider of conservation service opportunities. Texas State alumnus Alfredo Chavez of the SCA will be presenting information on these internships from 4 to 5 p.m. today at the LBJ Student Center, Room 3-7.1 for students interested in the diverse opportunities available.
“This is a great opportunity if you are interested in the environment,” said Karen Julian, assistant director of Career Services. The SCA provides a variety of internships that last for different times. Some recent assignments have included surveying fish populations in Alaska, mapping geysers at Yellowstone National Park and protecting the sea turtles at South Padre Island. In exchange for your time and effort, SCA provides housing, a living stipend, academic credit, education awards, insurance and travel to the project site. Summer internships See JOB, page 3
Today’s Weather
Sunny 75˚/ 41˚
Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 34% UV: 7 High Wind: NNE 4 mph
By Katherine Kennedy Special to The Star The creation of the Family Justice Center, a central location for victims of violent crimes to go for help, is in the works after being approved by the San Marcos City Council in July. The Family Justice Center is slated to be built in The Village, a cooperative project of local nonprofit organizations, businesses, government, religious and civic institutions. “An environment will be provided for victims of crime and their family members to receive services outside normal law enforcement,” said Dan O’Leary, San Marcos city manager. “The
Family Justice Center is designed to allow victims to access social service agencies.” Multiple services will be provided for crime victims at the Family Justice Center, rather than having to seek help at several different locations citywide. “Crime victims have to meet with several people including detectives, counselors and prosecutors at multiple locations in Hays County,” said San Marcos Police Department Sgt. Penny Dunn. “The Family Justice Center will provide a safe place for victims to meet and take care of business related to their case and receive referrals to organizations
Wednesday Sunny Temp: 77°/ 51° Precipitation: 0%
Thursday Showers Temp: 74°/ 51° Precipitation: 50%
Inside
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS
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to Mass Communication Week. It is part of the university’s initiative to make Texas State a Hispanic-serving institution. “The whole idea is to get the kids writing and learning the basics of news stories, photography and editorials, so they will have a respect for what it takes to get news and report news,” said Webber, journalism and photojournalism instructor at the Vidal M. Trevino School of Communication and Fine Arts. Throughout the day, Mass Communication Week mentors led the students around Texas State. They toured KTSW, The University Star, residence halls and TxTv, the campus television station that airs “Bobcat Update.” Kristen Hennessey, public relations junior, was a Mass Communication Week mentor. She guided students around KTSW, See MENTOR, page 3
Courtney Addison/Star photo High school students from Laredo visited Texas State on Wednesday and Thursday for Mass Communication Week. The students attended sessions and toured campus media outlets such as Bobcat Update.
See VICTIMS, page 3
Two-day Forecast
See ASG, page 3
Texas State students mentor aspiring high school journalists
By Andi Beierman Special to The Star
TOP: Representatives from many organizations gathered with posters in The Quad on Thursday encouraging students to vote against Proposition 2, the “gay marriage” amendment. The group told students they can be opposed to gay marriage and still vote “no” on Nov. 8. ABOVE: Student Sen. Jeff Moody reads an Associated Student Government resolution he authored opposing Proposition 2 during the rally by The Stallions. The legislation passed Monday evening.
on hand to comment on and support the passage of Moody’s legislation was John Bush, undecided sophomore and president of American Civil Liberties Union at Texas State, referred to Proposition 2 as a “step back in the struggle for freedom in America” and said that it “attempts to add blatant discrimination to the bill of rights of our great state.” Also taking advantage of ASG’s open forum to give her support to the legislations was Sabrina Jennings, sociology junior and president of Activists for Sexual Minorities. Jennings shared with the senators and guests her personal account of discrimination in Texas. When Jennings and her common law wife of two years moved to San Marcos, Jennings was forced to live on campus, since her common law union was not officially recognized by the school as an excuse to live off campus. Currently, marriage is a valid reason for exemption from the mandatory on campus living requirement at Texas State. Jennings called it “demeaning to have to prove my relationship
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