10 25 2007

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CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN

Cycling club headed to North Carolina for mountain bike nationals SEE SPORTS PAGE 14

SUBURBIA

Play discusses American dream, opens Thursday SEE TRENDS PAGE 9

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

OCTOBER 25, 2007

THURSDAY

VOLUME 97, ISSUE 28

Campus security cameras one step closer to fruition By Scott Thomas Assistant News Editor Cameras monitoring students in The Quad and other privacy issues were addressed during Wednesday’s Faculty Senate meeting. Jeb Thomas, access services supervisor for the University Police Department, said the camera system is being reviewed at the vice-presidential level and would probably be initiated. “Our main goal is to keep everyone’s dignity,” Thomas said. “No one wants to live under a microscope.”

Thomas said the proposed locations would be part of the LBJ Student Center, Strahan Coliseum’s parking lot and the area of The Quad designated for free speech. “Some faculty had expressed concern about having camera surveillance over the free-speech areas,” said Faculty Senate Chair William Stone, criminal justice professor. “And it’s an issue of balancing the interests of campus security and safety versus the rights to free speech.” Tyler Ferguson, Associated Student Government senator, at large, was in attendance for

Thomas’ presentation. “I think that campus security is really important, especially in the wake of Virginia Tech, (but) that there’s a fine line between having a secure campus and infringing on someone’s civil liberties,” Ferguson said. “And I think that we need to be really careful when implementing this camera system to make sure students’ civil liberties and their privacy is protected.” Ferguson said it is possible ASG could discuss the issue in the future. Thomas portrayed an active camera system as a useful tool

in law enforcement. He offered an anecdote of three laptop thieves that were captured when they were caught with stolen property on the San Jacinto Hall elevator camera. “You would be surprised how a 10-second flash on a camera can make a case,” Thomas said. Thomas further said the cameras would not constantly be monitored and accessed only when necessary. He said the footage would be stored for 30 days, then automatically purged unless archived. “We aren’t going to hire someone to zoom in on everyone’s

face in The Quad,” he said. Thomas said access to the monitoring system would be restricted, but gave no specifics. He said other security policies could come in the future, such as doors with electronic locks controlled from UPD headquarters and cameras in classrooms with audio and visual equipment. “Most universities since Virginia Tech have been looking at lockdown solutions,” he said. “Security is like an onion; there are layers of defense.” Thomas said cameras will be placed at the Round Rock campus because UPD’s presence there is

not constant. Currently, the policy has not been signed by the university president, and will not go into effect until then. “Once we get up and running, this system is going to grow,” Thomas said. Ferguson discussed the ASG resolution he authored which encourages the university to include gender identity and expression in the non-discrimination policy. “I want (Faculty Senate) to join us and endorse this,” Ferguson said. “(To) make sure everyone enjoys the university as much as I do.”

College Republicans strive for concealed campus Minority retention rates

cause worry for Texas State By Jackie Baylon News Reporter

Spencer Millsap and Monty Marion/Star photo illustration CONCEALMENT CONCERNS: The Texas State College Republicans, along with national organizations, support the repeal of the campus handgun ban that prohibits carrying concealed weapons on educational premises.

By Scott Thomas Assistant News Editor Citizens with a license to carry a concealed firearm should be allowed to carry it on college campuses, the Texas State College Republicans and others across the nation said. To lobby citizens and legislators for a repeal of the campus handgun ban, students are

marching with empty holsters this week. The protest is supported by organizations such as the National Rifle Association and Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. College Republicans Chairwoman Traci Adams said in an e-mail the organization supports the position, but declined to comment further. Currently the state law prohibits

citizens from carrying a firearm onto educational premises — public or private — as well as courts and poll places on Election Day. A citizen in Texas must be at least 21 years old and receive a license from the state to conceal a handgun. “We feel that individuals who have undergone the training, testing and background checks required to acquire a handgun license would show discretion

and good judgment on college campuses,” said Scott Lewis, media coordinator for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. “The only people you’re disarming are the good guys.” Lewis used the Virginia Tech massacre as an example for support of the repeal. He said Cho See GUNS, page 4

The retention of minority college students is a persistent, nationwide problem. Retention and graduation figures over the last 40 years have not improved despite efforts put into providing programs and support services to help retain students. According to the Center for the Study of College Student Retention, it is particularly true for Hispanic students. The study reported 68 percent fail to reenroll at a university in consecutive terms while 48 percent of Caucasians do not return. “Demographic information shows that the minority population in the United States is growing at a faster rate than the majority,” said Alan Seidman, editor of The Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory and Practice. “It is imperative that educational institutions find ways to help improve retention rates for all students, but particularly minority students.” Amaury Nora, director of the National Center for Student Success at the University of Houston, said Hispanic students are dropping out of college for many reasons. “The degree of academic under-preparedness for college, the lack of a social support system like family and community and inadequate financial aid information and awards are but a few of the reasons why Hispanic students leave college before graduation,” Nora said. According to the Texas State Institutional Research Office,

695 first-time and full-time Hispanic freshmen enrolled in fall of 2006. Only 72 percent of those students reenrolled. The university’s Hispanic retention rate was down 3 percent from the fall of 2005. Transfer students, those in pursuit of an associate’s degree and part-time or graduate students are excluded from the calculation of retention rates. Nora said some theories have provided findings that can be used to help improve retention rates among minority students. He said one of those theories focuses on the notion of student engagement, both in and outside of the classroom. “The more that Hispanic students are brought into the academic and social life of the university, the higher the chances for student retention,” Nora said. Seidman, executive director of the Center for the Study of College Student Retention, said in a report the institution, if it wants students to be successful, must be willing to provide programs that will help them become more involved. “For intervention programs and services to be successful, they must be powerful enough to effect change,” Siedman said. Jennifer Beck, director of retention management and planning at Texas State, agreed. “It is not only about offering a whole variety of things for students to be a part of, but then also promoting the programs and encouraging the students is See DECLINE, page 4

Scheduled power outage affects 33 buildings By Allen Reed News Reporter On the heels of last week’s campus blackout, another power outage is scheduled for Saturday from approximately 5 a.m. to midnight. Thirty-three buildings on campus will be without power and seven will have limited or no air conditioning. Joe Ellis, facility management work control supervisor, said there are two reasons for the outage this weekend. It was originally planned as part of the cogeneration expansion, a routine utility development to keep up with campus growth. Ellis said they would be adding new equipment to produce additional utilities. “The city of San Marcos Elec-

trical Utility will be here on Saturday to de-energize some circuits,” Ellis said. “They will then relocate these circuits for the COGEN expansion.” The second reason, Ellis said, is because of a major circuit feeder that failed Oct. 16, causing a campus blackout that, for some buildings, lasted from approximately 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. “This outage is not just planned, but necessary,” Ellis said. “Rather than have a planned outage and then another planned outage, we’re going to do them both at once. The failed feeder makes this procedure more urgent.” Last week’s power failure further caused the list of affected buildings to change. The day before the power failure,

Today’s Weather

Mostly Sunny 73˚

Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 60% UV: 7 High Wind: NNW 14

a campuswide e-mail was sent discussing Saturday’s planned power outage. But things changed the next day when there was a fault in a major circuit, cutting off power throughout half of campus. Ellis said this unexpected outage resulted in a last-minute change of plans for facility operations. “When that damage occurred last week, it completely changed our plans,” Ellis said. “Instead of being able to prioritize buildings, we now have to turn off buildings associated with that underground circuit.” Some students who live in the affected dorms are concerned about the blackout. Ty Halford, computer science freshman and Bexar Hall resident, said he is concerned with everything

Two-day Forecast Friday Sunny Temp: 78°/ 46° Precip: 0%

Saturday Sunny Temp: 77°/ 50° Precip: 10%

from the visibility in his dorm’s stairwells to his grooming appliances. The most pressing issue for Halford is how he will procure food. “The food in my refrigerator is going to be ruined,” Halford said. “I’m going to have to buy new milk and new cheese. My microwave won’t work either and the stoves in the dorm are all electric. Harris is also going to be closed because of the power outage, and I don’t know what I’m going to eat.” For specific information, students can consult the Oct. 19 campuswide e-mail concerning the power outage. Students livGreg Richards/Star photo illustration ing in residence halls should IN THE DARK: Power will be cut to 33 Texas State buildings Sathave received an additional email from Rosanne Proite, di- urday starting at approximately 5 a.m. for upgrades and repairs to the campus power system. Electricity is expected to be restored at rector of residence life. midnight. For a list of the affected buildings, see News page 4.

Inside News ..... 1,2,3,4,5 Opinions ............ 6 Trends ..... 7,8,9,10

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

Diversions ........ 11 Classifieds ....... 12 Sports ......... 13,14

To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2007 The University Star


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10 25 2007 by The University Star - Issuu