10 27 2009 by The University Star

Defending the First Amendment since 1911

INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEWS Pages 1-4 First Transit increases lap numbers during peak hours The Office of Auxiliary Services has added additional times to five major routes. Fewer faculty members taking developmental leave

OPINIONS Page 5

Letter to the Editor: President responds to open-door day criticism

TRENDS Pages 6-7 Ceramic artists display work at annual festival ‘Hide and Seek’ isn’t only game for children Powder Puff football teams compete for championship

DIVERSIONS Page 9

SPORTS Pages 10

Bobcats claw Colonels, Lions: The Bobcat volleyball team defeated Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana Thursday and Saturday. Women’s soccer ties for season title Bobcats prepare for homecoming against Lumberjacks

Today’s Weather

73°/50° Sunny Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 56% UV: 6 High Wind: WNW 8mph

Wednesday Mostly Sunny Temp: 80°/64° Precip: 10%

Thursday

Partly Cloudy Temp: 76°/51° Precip: 10%

Volume 99, Issue 26

TUESDAY

OCT

www.UniversityStar.com

See the interviews with two San Marcos City Council Place 6 candidates at UniversityStar.com

Early voting has low turnout By Chase Birthisel Assistant News Editor Early voting in San Marcos has had a low turnout, said Hays County elections administrator Joyce Cowan. Texas State held early voting Wednesday through Thursday in the LBJ Student Center. Cowan said the number of votes cast at Texas State, which has a student body of more than 30,000 people, on those days were 55 and 76, respectively. She said for the first-four days of early voting 488 people casted ballots in San Marcos. San Marcos voters are choosing City Council Members in Place 5 and Place 6. Eleven proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution are also on the ballot. Cowan said the 11 proposed amendments are not bringing voters to the polls. The propositions most likely to bring voters are 2 and 3, which involve property tax, she said. Cowan said she is slightly critical of candidates running for election. “With six candidates and 488 votes,” Cowan said, “that is like 70 or 80 people each one of them could have brought out. That’s not a lot.” ASG President Chris Covo said the student government did not arrange an early voter registration drive like in years past because of midterms and other obligations. He said elections immediately after a

Ben Rondeau/ Star photo EMPTY VOTING LINES: The early voting lines were short Thursday in the LBJ Student Center. Out of the thousands of students registered to vote, only a small percentage cast a vote on campus for early elections.

presidential election tend to dramatically decrease in number of voters. “Candidates understand that, and that is just the way it

is,” Covo said. Covo said the candidates have been visible in the city through debates and talking to students. He said voter fatigue

is often the reason for the low outcome. “We’re going to be working through homecoming,” Covo said. “Hopefully we’ll get more

students registered and to vote in the general election.”

By Billy Crawford News Reporter

said. “We currently have a strategy in place to be able to give $150,000 each year in scholarships by 2012.” Currently, Stelos Alliance offers scholarships of $5,000 and $1,000. Stelos Alliance will look to hold fundraising concerts and other events to increase the amount of each scholarship to $15,000 annually. The idea for Stelos Alliance began in 1988, when a memorial scholarship was started in the honor of Bill Hogue, a friend of both Poston and Keller who was killed in Austin weeks after his graduation. “For nearly 20 years Bill (Poston) headed the Hogue Memorial Scholarship by himself,” Keller said. “And then one day we got together and said ‘You know, this isn’t enough. We can do more,’ and so Stelos Alliance was born.” The scholarships that Stelos Alliance offers are directed toward students who are already

enrolled and have proven themselves to be active within the student body and community, unlike other scholarship organizations on campus. “We know there are students out there with a capacity for leadership that need financial aid in order to be a leader on campus,” Poston said. “I would hate to see someone not be able to be a leader because of financial constraints.” Poston said he could relate. While attending Southwest Texas State, Poston worked the graveyard shift in a hotel to pay his tuition. “I believe the leadership experiences I had when on campus provided me with opportunities after graduation that I wouldn’t have enjoyed otherwise,” Poston said. “That’s the sort of experience that we want to be able to support for students today.”

By Lori Jones News Reporter

make sure that there is a philanthropy program up and going and that the officers in place are doing their job.” The requirements include each member maintain at least a 2.25 GPA. The PIKE fraternity has a 2.80 GPA average said Alistair Laing, PIKE public relations head and management sophomore. “Normally, we do an event once each semester,” Laing said. “We’re trying to give back to the community.” Laing said each member “must get” 20-service hours. The PIKE fraternity members are holding a basketball tournament to raise money for muscular dystrophy Nov. 6 in the Student Recreation Center. Laing said the organization adopted a highway and will participate in a cleanup day in November.

see VOTING, page 4

SMPD hinders Stelos Alliance offers scholarships, trust with students, opportunites to student leaders ASG leaders say By Bianca Davis News Reporter

A bill was read stating the disapproval of recent San Marcos Police Department actions at Monday’s ASG meeting. Sen. Matthew Posey, political science senior, authored the bill to show public disapproval of the city’s decision to allow film crews of the upcoming G4 show Campus PD to accompany ride-alongs with the San Marcos Police Department. Posey said SMPD did not properly inform the public prior to allowing the filming. He said students informed him there were cops with cameras, and upon further investigation, discovered no one within the university knew anything about it. “There was very little information disseminated to the university and it was just an act by San Marcos Police De-

partment,” Posey said. “It was an act made without any consultation with the university whatsoever.” ASG President Chris Covo said members of Achieving Community Together should have informed university officials. Not informing the university, he said, goes against what ACT represents. “They knew this was going on and they never told anyone,” Covo said. “No university officials, no UPD officers, no students. That doesn’t coincide with what we’re trying to do with Achieving Community Together and with the community and the relationship we’re tying to build.” Posey said the decision not to communicate with the university hinders the bond A.C.T. is trying to create. “To go out and do this sort of thing really hurts our trust with the city,” Posey said. “A lot

Gordon Taylor assumes many roles. He is the founder of a new student organization, the chief of staff for the Associated Student Government as well as a member of Student Foundation and Black Student Alliance. Taylor’s multiple leadership roles, however, might not have been possible were it not for a gift he received last spring. Taylor received a scholarship from a non-profit organization started by Texas State alumni. Bill Poston and Melinda Keller started Stelos Alliance in June 2008 with the intention of offering 10 full-year scholarships to Texas State student leaders. “Our mission is to support exceptional student leaders and make it easier for them to pay for their education,” Keller

see ALLIANCE, page 4

Pi Kappa Alpha members closer to IFC charter A former Texas State fraternity expects to complete the colonization process early next semester after a five-year suspension for hazing. The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, also known as PIKE, completed two of three phases in the process of obtaining a charter. “We are not considered initiated members,” said PIKE President Myles Burnett, history senior. “As soon as we finish phase three, we will be considered official Pi Kappa Alpha members.” The national chapter will recognize the PIKES when they finish phase three and attain a charter, Burnett said. “The phases are more of a checklist to make sure we’re Allie Moncrief/Star photo doing everything right,” Burnett said. “Phase three is a THEY’RE BACK: Members of Pi Kappa Alpha performed at the Oct. 20 Homecoming talent show on. lot of paper work. We have to

see FRATERNITY, page 4

Page Two

2 - The University Star

STARS OF TEXAS STATE

Senior nose tackle Garrett Hood recorded the first sack of his two-year career at Texas State when he pinned Northwestern State’s quarterback, Paul Harris, for an eight-yard loss. The Bobcats won 20-17 over Northwestern State at Turpin Stadium Saturday night. — Courtesy of Texas State Athletics

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

ON THIS

DAY IN

HISTORY 1787: The first of the Federalist Papers, a series of essays calling for ratification of the U.S. Constitution, was published in a New York newspaper.

1858: Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, was born in New York City. 1880 Theodore Roosevelt married Alice Lee. 1914 Author-poet Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea, Wales. 1947: “You Bet Your Life,” starring Groucho Marx, premiered on ABC Radio.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

CRIME

BLOTTER

Oct. 19, 12 a.m. Disorderly Conduct/San Jacinto Hall A student was causing a disturbance at the location and was asked to leave by a police officer. A report was made of the incident. Oct. 19, 1:07 a.m. Assault — Contact/ Arnold Hall B A student reported to a police officer she was assaulted by a nonstudent. The nonstudent was arrested for assault by contact and issued a criminal trespass warning. The nonstudent was transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center and is awaiting a court date.

Oct. 19, 3:23 a.m. Welfare Concern/San 1967: Expo ’67 closed in Allie Moncrief/Star photo Jacinto Hall Montreal. WORTH THE WAIT: Texas State students wait in long lines for the newly opened Panda Express. A nonstudent reported to the police she was 1978 Egyptian President concerned for a student. Anwar Sadat and Israeli ec eat Prime Minister Menachem Police made contact with Begin were named winners the student and there were no concerns. A report was of the Nobel Peace Prize. made of the incident. Throughout each school year the Halloween’s trademark treat- candy. Bring tournament at 9 a.m. Saturday before the 1997: The Dow Jones Texas State Golf Course offers several your costume and enjoy the Halloween Homecoming football game. industrial average tumbled Oct. 19, 4:49 p.m. opportunities for students, faculty, staff atmosphere. Prizes for this tournament include a Medical Emergency/LBJ 554.26 points, forcing the and community, to relax and play golf. “It is pretty popular between the father gift bag, golf towel and T-shirt, hats, golf Student & Visitor Center stock market to shut down In conjunction with the usual weekly and son or father and daughter teams. balls and sunglasses, along with tickets to A student reported to for the first time since events such as 2-for-1 Wednesday and Also, we tend to see buddies get together the football game and free golf at Onion a police officer she fell the 1981 assassination Texas 2-Man Thursday, two additional golf on the golf course from the San Marcos Creek, Vaaler Creek, The Bandit and while walking up the attempt on President events will take place this last week of community before they go to the football Landa park courses. stairs and injured her Ronald Reagan. October. game,” said Ryan Zimmerman, assistant For more information please visit www. head and ankle. The The Halloween Golf Event will be at director at Texas State Golf Course. campusrecreation.txstate.edu or call the 7 p.m. Thursday for a Halloween golf Whoever you decide to bring will Texas State Golf Course at 512-245-7593. 2002: Dallas Cowboys student was transported game. Glow in the dark balls are available certainly ensure a great Halloween running back Emmitt Smith to Central Texas Medical along with night golf equipment, food and weekend at the Homecoming Golf — Courtesy of Campus Recreation Center for a medical broke the NFL career evaluation. rushing yardage record of 16,726 held by Walter Payton. (Smith finished his Oct. 19, 10:45 p.m. Public Intoxication/ career with 18,355 yards Benjamin Alire Sáenz and Carmen illustrators and publishers to produce children’s books include A Gift from Aquarena Springs Drive rushing.) Tafolla will be honored with the Tomás books that authentically reflect the lives Papa Diego, Grandma Fina’s Wonderful While on patrol, a police Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book of Mexican American children and young Umbrella and A Perfect Season for officer observed a 2002 Luiz Inacio Lula da Award during a series of events beginning adults in the United States. Dreaming. He is a professor of creative Thursday at Texas State. The Tomás Rivera considers works in writing at the University of Texas-El Paso. Silva was elected president nonstudent jump out The award is for books published in two categories: “Works for Older Children/ In The Holy Tortilla and a Pot of Beans, of a vehicle while in of Brazil in a runoff, 2007 to 2008, and marks only the second Young Adult” and “Works for Younger Tafolla humorously examines hypocrisy, motion. Upon further becoming the country’s time in the history of the Tomás Rivera Children,” with each category under prejudice and other modern myopias by investigation, the student first elected leftist leader. Award two authors’ works have tied for the consideration in alternate years. This weaving the story of a magical tortilla’s was arrested and cited honor. year’s winners were nominated as “Works spiritual mission with those of a heart for public intoxication 2004 The Boston Red Sox A public reading featuring both authors for Older Children/Young Adult.” More transplant patient’s bedside marriage, the and transported to Hays won their first World Series will be held 1 p.m. Oct. 29 in the LBJ than 40 books published in 2007 and blessing of a handful of dirt and a crossCounty Law Enforcement since 1918, beating the Student Center ballroom on campus. The 2008 in this category were considered for dressing street person. Center and is awaiting a St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 in event is free and open to the public. this year’s Tomás Rivera Award. Living and writing in her hometown court date. Game 4. Texas State President Denise Trauth will He Forgot to Say Goodbye is the coming- of San Antonio, Tafolla has cultivated a

R B Playing Golf with family, friends ensures memories this Halloween

Sáenz, Tafolla honored with Tomás Rivera children’s book award

host an invitation-only luncheon Oct. 30, at which she will present the authors with their awards. Events will continue Oct. 31 at the Texas Book Festival in Austin at the Capitol Building with a programming session featuring Sáenz and Tafolla. Sáenz won for He Forgot to Say Goodbye, and Tafolla won for The Holy Tortilla and a Pot of Beans. The Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, established at Texas State in 1995, is designed to encourage authors,

of-age story of the unlikely friendship that develops between Ramiro Lopez, a teen dealing with his brother’s drug addiction in a working-class Mexican-American barrio of El Paso, and Jake Upthegrove, a misfit with anger management problems from the affluent West Side. With little in common, the two discover the one thing that unites them is their abandonment by their respective fathers. Sáenz is an American Book Awardwinning author of poetry and prose for adults and teens. His published bilingual

reputation as a folklorist of the ChicanoMexicano community. Her work has been recognized at the Texas Book Festival, UCI National Literary competition and Wellington International Poetry Festival. Her children’s books include That’s Not Fair!: Emma Tenayuca’s Struggle for Justice/ No es Justo!: La Lucha de Emma Tenayuca por la Justicia, What Can You Do with a Rebozo? and Baby Coyote and the Old Woman. — Courtesy of University News Service

2005: White House counsel Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination to the Supreme Court after three weeks of criticism from fellow conservatives. — Courtesy of New York Times

Oct. 19, 11:21 p.m. Medical Emergency/ Intramural Fields A student reported to a police officer she injured her ankle while playing sports. She refused medical transportation. —Courtesy of University Police Department

News

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The University Star - 3

First Transit increases lap numbers during peak hours By Clay Thorp News Reporter Following student concerns of not enough trams, especially during peak travel times, the Office of Auxiliary Services has added additional times to five major routes throughout San Marcos. The increased service on routes which include Bobcat Stadium, Campus Loop, Aquarena Springs, Blanco River and Post Road, went into effect Oct. 14. “Once we learned there were some over-loads on the system, I met with Bill Nance (vice president of Finance and Support Services) and Joanne Smith (vice president of Student Affairs) to review some immediate actions we could take to add services within the tram system,” said Robert Gratz, Special assistant to University President Denise Trauth. “We knew a considerable pressure point was late afternoons, so there were additional routes added then.

We are continuing to monitor housing patterns and class scheduling patterns to accommodate any student needs.” The shuttle system, under the direction of manager Paul Hamilton, has not added to the number of buses in the fleet, but has increased the number of times a bus makes a certain route. “For the most part, we don’t need to increase the number of buses sitting in a yard at Wonderworld to increase the number of service laps per day,” Hamilton said. Hamilton has increased service laps on Monday through Thursday from 553 - the number of laps during the Fall 2008 semester - to 602 and Friday’s 325 - from Fall 2008 - to 336 laps. “The average price of a bus is $250,000. We don’t need to increase student fees to pay for another bus when we can just add service laps to account for an increasing student population,” Hamilton said. Texas State currently holds

a contract with First Transit Inc, who provides licensed bus drivers and a dispatch staff who coordinates daily travel. The contract, signed in 2006 and set to expire in 2013, has cost the university “around $3 million a year,” Hamilton said. At the university’s current rate of growth, this could increase to $3.5 or $3.6 million per year, Hamilton said. Since 2004, student enrollment at Texas State has increased by 15.1percent. In that same time frame, however, Hamilton has increased service capacity by 13.1 percent — a two percent gap. “We’re growing at almost the same rate as student enrollment,” he said. To fill any possible gap in service capacity, Hamilton has applied for and received a grant for an additional two buses. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has signed off on the proposal and delivery of the two additional buses is expected in 6 to 8 months, Hamilton said.

In the mean time, Hamilton’s advice to students, especially those who travel between 3:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m., is to

expect a crowded bus. “Any transit system is going to be packed at peak times,” he said.

Twenty percent of students have never ridden a public transit bus of any kind, Hamilton said.

a small tree stump to his presentation to show the senate what he intends to research. “He (a fellow researcher) has invited me to come and visit his lab,” Butler said. “He is able to find the same kind of information using this new technique using tree ring cores which spares the tree and yet still has the same kind of information for dating things like avalanches.” Jennifer Battle, professor in the department of curriculum and instruction, is requesting developmental leave for fall 2010. Battle said she needs to focus on the final chapter of a book she is writing. “I’m looking to get developmental leave so I can concentrate on the project of writing a book on the Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s book award that I have been director of for 15 years,” Battle said. Battle wants to find a new publisher. She used the example of the publisher for

the Coretta Scott King Award for African American children’s literature. Willard B. Stouffer, political science professor, said his developmental leave would focus on tax changes. Stouffer said he wants to continue his research on Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations to finalize the chapters of a book he is working on. He said he hopes to complete the book by January 2011. Stouffer said there are seven million millionaires in America and said they should have single tax brackets. “I think the social security tax is unfair,” Stouffer said. “I think the income tax is unfair because it basically makes the top rate a tax on the upper middle class and not the very wealthy,” Stouffer said. “If they paid two or three or four percent more I think we could make a dent in the national debt and pay for the forming healthcare system.”

In comparison, 25 faculty members applied for the fall 2009 developmental leave. The Faculty Senate allowed applicants five minutes to present their developmental leave plan at the Wednesday meeting. Developmental leave presentations used to be made each semester. However, in 2008 Provost Perry Moore requested the senate take applications annually. Bill Stone, senate vice chair, said the senate used to receive 13 to 17 applications each semester. “It may simply be because of the fact that we are on a one year cycle and it is harder for faculty to plan in advance, and it could just be that the faculty are busy with their classes,” said Stone, criminal justice professor. Feakes and Stone said faculty members are afraid of leaving their departments. However, Stone said faculty are not allotted time to focus on research.

“The real fact of life is when you are trying to do your research agenda and teach all your classes, you are really frequently so busy that you don’t get a chance to sit down and think ahead,” Stone said. Applicants are expected to present a clear and concise description to the senate of their intentions upon taking developmental leave, Feakes said. Stone said the presentations have been clear so far. “The proposals that we have the most trouble with is when you read it you can’t tell what the person wants to do,” Stone said. “So far I think we have had very good luck with that.” To be eligible, a faculty member must be employed full time, have tenure, and have worked at least six years at Texas State. The policy and procedure statement 8.02 defines “A faculty member as (someone who has been employed) “at least six years of service since his or her last

Development Leave, and who have submitted the report(s) from previous leave(s).” Faculty members cannot apply for developmental leave while serving on the Faculty Senate. Feakes said faculty requesting leave rarely fall out of the guidelines. “We are judging to make sure they are following the guidelines which is that it must be a personal enhancement,” she said. Stone said developmental leave applicants are almost guaranteed a spot. “As a rule they don’t change it,” Stone said. “Once the senate has made a recommendation, the deans, provosts, and the regents go along with it.” Stone said the number of applicants has ranged from 30 to 32 in some semesters. Feakes said she wants the application numbers to increase. “We don’t want anyone to feel intimidated to apply,” Feakes said.

Star File Photo

Fewer faculty members taking developmental leave By Lora Collins News Reporter The Faculty Senate has seen a drop-off in applicants for developmental leave according to Chair Debra Feakes. Faculty Developmental leave applications are due annually Oct. 15. The leave allows faculty to take a full year off with a 50 percent pay cut or a semester off with full pay. Applicants take developmental leave to focus on specific research objectives. David Butler, professor in the geology department, is requesting leave to focus on his research of the sampling of Traumatic Resin Ducts in rings of trees affected by avalanches. Butler said he wants to study at the Laboratory for Dendrogeomorphology in Bern, Switzerland. Butler said he has worked with tree rings in the past but uses crosscuts to measure the effect of avalanches on tree growth. Butler brought

4 - The University Star

news

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Opinions

The University Star â€“ 5

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The University Star 601 University Drive Trinity Building, Room 101 San Marcos, TX 78666 Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708

Editor In Chief.........................................................Amanda Venable, stareditor@txstate.edu

Copy Desk Chief..............................................Claire Heathman, starcopychief@txstate.edu

Office Manager...............................................Emily Gerngross, starclassifieds@txstate.edu

Letters.....................................................................................................starletters@txstate.edu

Web Editor............................................................Scott Thomas, starwebeditor@txstate.edu

Media Specialist.....................................................................Matt Lynch, matty@txstate.edu

News Editor........................................................................Allen Reed, starnews@txstate.edu

Design Editor......................................................Anthony Reynolds, stardesign@txstate.edu

Advertising Coordinator.....................................................Jodie Claes, starad1@txstate.edu

Trends Editor...........................................Ashley Dickinson, starentertainment@txstate.edu

Art Director...........................................................Michelle Oros, starartdirector@txstate.edu

Publications Coordinator..........................................................Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu

Opinions Editor.............................................................Brett Thorne staropinion@txstate.edu

Sales Manager.................................................................Krystal Slater, starad2@txstate.edu

Publications Director.............................................Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu

Photo Editor......................................................................Sara Strick, starphoto@txstate.edu

Marketing................................................................Samantha Manley, sm1299@txstate.edu

Sports Editor....................................................................Lisa Carter, starsports@txstate.edu

Account Executive.......................................................Marissa Alonzo, starad3@txstate.edu

Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com

The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State UniversitySan Marcos published Tuesday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with a distribution of 8,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright Tuesday, October 27. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief.

Trends 6 – The University Star

process color

The King Continues

Michael Jackson will have a new single released Oct. 12 entitled “This is it” by Sony Music Entertainment. The song will feature backing vocals by his brothers and is part of an album that corresponds with a future film chronicling Jackson’s final days of rehearsal.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Trends

The University Star - 7

8 - The University Star

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

c ro s s w o rd

diversions

The University Star - 9

Thursday’s Puzzle Solution

sudoku Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk TOday’s sudoku solution

Classifieds

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.

Classifieds Contact – starclassifieds@txstate.edu

Help Wanted

!BARTENDING! UP TO $300/DAY. No experience necessary. Training Provided. Age 18+ OK. (800)9656520 ext. 157.

ATHLETIC, OUTGOING MEN FOR CALENDARS, GREETING CARDS, ETC. $100-200/hr., up to $1,000/day. No exp. needed, (512)684-8296. EARN EXTRA MONEY! Students needed ASAP, earn up to $150/ day being a mystery shopper. No experience required! Call 1 (800) 722-4791.

Help Wanted

PART-TIME FRONT DESK CLERK WANTED WITH A SMILING FACE! Must be able to work flexible hours, sometimes nights. Duties will include answering phones, reservations, typing, credit card and key machines, guest services. Math and Sales skills necessary. Need computer literate enthusiastic person. Must be willing to do some motel laundry. We have a non-smoking work place. Applicants must have a clean criminal record. Must indicate salary desired and any medical conditions. Apply in person at Americas Best Value Inn, 15101 IH 35 (Exit 220), Buda, TX 78610.

Help Wanted

STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in San Marcos. 100% FREE to join. Click on surveys.

SUNDANCE PRINT AND COPY IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE POSITION. Computer skills w/ graphics software experience a plus. Apply in person at Sundance Print and Copy, 651 N. Bus. IH-35, New Braunfels. (in the MarketPlace Shopping Center)

Personals

$5,000 PAID. EGG DONORS. +Exps. N/Smokers, ages 19-29, SAT>1100/ ACT>24/GPA>3.0 Reply to: info@eggdonorcenter.com

Personals

TIRED OF COMMUTING EVERYDAY? Looking to sublease 4BD/4BA apartment within 5 miles of campus at The Edge! For more info., please call (713) 412-6378.

Wanted

NURSE AIDE TRAINING. Registering for classes. Contact Comfort Connection Nurse Aide Training (512) 392-4663.

SEMEN DONORS NEEDED! $150 per specimen, healthy college students age 18-39. For application go to www.123donate.com

news

4 - The University Star

Alliance

continued from page

Stelos Alliance is now working with Margarita Arellano, dean of students, to launch a Leadership Institute this spring. This will be a co-curricular organization, not affiliated with any specific college on campus, which will offer courses that encourage leadership and service. “A lot of students have the burden of having to pay for college and still balance being ac-

Fraternity “Every fraternity seems to have a negative connotation, and we try to break that,” Liang said. “We don’t want to be the typical frat guy.” Roland Bassett, PIKE member and finance sophomore, said the alumni will put forth money toward a house for the organization. “We can’t get a house until we get a charter,” Bassett said. “It’s an incentive to get stuff done, but right now our main focus is getting a charter.” The alumni will choose the

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Voting

continued from page

tive in the student body,” said Gordon Taylor, finance senior. “The Stelos Alliance gives students the opportunity to give back because someone gave to you. They’re always trying to help our students and this institution.” Taylor said that the financial assistance he received from Stelos Alliance allowed him to hold his current student-leadership positions.

Poston and Keller hope to extend Stelos Alliance to campuses outside of Texas State. “Our vision is to make Stelos Alliance a platform of support for not only student leaders across the state, but across the nation,” Poston said. “Our goal is to make sure that no student leader has to sacrifice their leadership because of financial constraints.”

property for the house, Bassett said. “It’s a pat on the back to our alumni who really got us going again,” Laing said. “They are the ones who petitioned the IFC (Interfraternity Council) to get us back on campus.” Laing said a majority vote was taken among other campus fraternities as another requirement to regain recognition at Texas State. “The fastest time for any colony to be recognized by a national chapter is 10 months,”

Burnett said. “We started the process under a year ago, so we are right on track to be one of the top colonies in the country.” Burnett said the PIKE members will participate in an initiation ceremony next semester when phase three is complete. “We will really be able to become brothers and learn what our letters mean,” Burnett said. “The guys have been working Ben Rondeau/ Star photo hard to get to where they are EARLY BIRDS: Students discuss campaigns and early voting for CIty Council election for now, and we can’t wait to join Places 5 and 6. the rest of the country.” Mandy Domaschk, College dents were unable to vote be- The Quad Thursday advocatDemocrats president, said cause they were unregistered. ing students vote at LBJ she wishes ASG and the Col“I had hoped that ASG Domaschk said low turnouts lege Republicans were more and the College Republicans for non-presidential elections proactive in influencing stu- were going to be doing more are normal. She said people dents to register. of that,” Domaschk said. “It’s see the impact federal issues “We registered 70 voters in a non-partisan race, so it’s have, but ignore city issues. The Quad on the last day (to reg- something that we could have “Sometimes city issues can ister) alone,” Domaschk said. really come together on.” effect them even more than However, she said many stuCollege Democrats were at federal issues,” Domaschk said.

continued from page

ASG

COFFEE BREAK: Kara Hedlund, pre geography and environmental studies senior gets a cup of hot coffee at Paws N’ Go. Allie Moncrief/Star photo

continued from page

of emotion came out of that. Thinking we’ve got this cooperation, this tie, then all of a sudden learning that without informing us at all whatsoever, they behind our backs came through with this new idea to show us on nationwide television in a negative light.” Posey said the show will not aid in breaking barriers between the students and the community. “It goes against the whole idea that we’re cooperating, that we’re trying to develop this welcoming, warm community to put a TV camera in the squad cars,” Posey said. “Which (this) is not going to

do anything, its not going to stop crime, its not going to develop any sort of program that is going to make kids not want to do anything.” Covo said the bill serves as a means of official representation on behalf of the students. An official letter will be sent to all members of City Council from the City Council Liaison Committee. “This is to show that on behalf of the student body as a whole, that we don’t understand,” Covo said. “That we don’t think this was a good thing for us especially since we didn’t know what was going on.” Posey said the effects of Campus PD could be severe.

“If one person watches that and decides not to come to Texas State for it, that hurts our retention,” Posey said. “If one employer sees that after considering one student, that affects the future of that student.” ASG officials said the San Marcos Police Department will not be depicted in a negative light, and the students will see the ramifications. “The university is going to look bad, the students are going to look bad, and we’re going to have to cope with that,” Posey said. “The San Marcos Police Department is going to leave with whatever benefits they acquire.”

Opinions

What’s your Opinion?

Send your thoughts to staropinion@txstate.edu The University Star – 5

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

San Marcos Police Department exploits students the main

point. A new television show

is looking to make Texas State students into reality stars. If accepting the possibility of hurting or even killing another person does not stop drunk driving, maybe being caught on video will do the job. The “ooh’s” and “ah’s” uttered in response to drunken idiots on shows like COPS could soon be said about Texas State’s students. According to an article in Wednesday’s issue of The University Star, camera crews for the upcoming G4 series Campus PD have teamed with the San Marcos Police Department to capture students and their interactions with officers on film. In the article, Howard Williams, SMPD police chief, said he was assured Campus PD’s intentions was not to make students look bad. But is it possible to look good on camera while dealing with law enforcement? All footage is susceptible to being aired during the show. Those video taped have the option to give permission to have their faces shown, if not, they will be blurred — the lesser of two evils. Therefore recognizable cars, voices and areas of San Marcos and Texas State will be shown across the nation. If the camera crews get 100 hours of tape, it will only take 30 minutes of bad footage to be creatively edited in a way that

poorly reflects on students. Perhaps the exploitation of students is legal, but it’s not moral. For a university trying to rid itself of a pesky “party school” reputation, humiliating its students on camera for peers, prospective applications and fellow Texas institutions to see is a step backwards. It appears SMPD will go to great lengths for “good publicity,” even if it is at Texas State students’ expense. Worse still, SMPD did not notify university officials about the filming. It was not until students and community members drove past cars being bombarded with cops and camera crews that word spread about a possible TV show being filmed. This is unacceptable. Luckily, University Police declined to work with Campus PD camera crews when they were approached by the producers. UPD deserves recognition for respecting students’ privacy. Sure, this opportunity may do well for the SMPD, but what good will it do for the targeted students? Only embarrassment, humiliation and shame will come from this TV show. The SMPD should be ashamed of themselves and actions should be taken by the City Council. The City of San Marcos and the university have come together to build partnerships such as the “Achieving Community Together” campaign — exploiting students might not be the best way to do that. 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.

Juan Ramirez/Star Illustration

L2E

Letter to the Editor President responds to open letter Dear members of The University Star editorial board:

Let me begin by thanking you for the constructive suggestions offered in your recent open letter to me. In that letter, you expressed concern about the fact my open-door days for students are currently scheduled twice a semester, and you argued more opendoor days are needed. I appreciate your suggestion and will make some changes in how open door is structured and advertised. Having said that, I want to stress the importance I give to the elected student government on this campus. As I explained to the reporter who visited with me

during my last open-door session, even when a student brings a concern to me in these meetings, the outcome is generally pursued in consultation with elected student leaders or with the appropriate administrative officers on campus. For example, I have shared your open letter with Associated Student Government and have received comments and suggestions. You also commented on the need for doing more to let students know about the dates of student open doors. You correctly observe that, in the past, I have relied on posters placed around the campus and stories published in the student

newspaper to assure students are aware of these events. For this fall’s open door, we posted 200 posters across campus. I have decided to increase that number to 300 posters for the spring 2010 open door. My only concern about your suggestion of a reminder to students via e-mail is that I also hear regularly from students who believe the university sends them too much e-mail. Before I add to the e-mails students already receive, I will take an intermediate step to assure an announcement of the next student open-door event is carried as a news story on the university Web site. You also noted my office in the J.C. Kellam building may

be inconvenient for student access. You may be correct that a venue such as the LBJ Student Center or a room in the Alkek Library would be more convenient for students, but I also know many students who come to the open door enjoy the opportunity to visit the office of the President. Open door is the only real opportunity most students have to visit this office. The number of students who took advantage of the open door was articulated as a concern. To address this concern, during spring 2010, in addition to the two traditionally scheduled opendoors, I will introduce a new opportunity for students to

meet with me. I do not agree with the implication in your open letter that the best way for students to become involved in the decision-making process at Texas State is to attend a student open-door session with me. Involvement in the decision-making process is much more likely to result from participation in student government, service on university committees, or involvement in student organizations. I also disagree with your implication student open-door sessions should serve as my primary vehicle for connecting with students. I attend an ASG meeting at the beginning of

each semester, and I meet on a monthly basis with the ASG president and vice president. Each year I host receptions for student groups such as the Student Foundation, international students, student organizational leaders, etc., in my home as another way of connecting with students. Finally, I attend numerous student events on campus during which I meet students. Thank you, again, for your constructive suggestions about improvements in my student open-door sessions.

seven, Pennsylvania has four, while Texas, the second largest state in the nation only has three. On Nov. 3, Texans have the chance to change that. A Texas Constitutional Amendment called Proposition 4 will be on the ballot. The goal is “to enable our emerging research universities in Texas to achieve national prominence, this amendment would establish a new National Research University Fund.” The amendment will not cost taxpayers anything. A dormant account called the Texas Higher Education Fund will be redirected to this effort.

However, only seven other Texas universities will be eligible to compete for these funds and Texas State is not one of them. The University of Houston, University of Texas-Dallas and University of Texas–Arlington would potentially be aided in reaching Tier 1 status. University of Texas–San Antonio. University of Texas—El Paso, University of North Texas and Texas Tech would also receive funding potentially. But the effort still warrants attention from Texas State students. It gives our university officials and student gov-

ernment a greater incentive to increase efforts and meet Tier 1 criteria. That should be the only goal of those parties, because while a football stadium goes up, other universities get closer to becoming Tier 1. The students will be affected even if Texas State does not directly participate in the research fund. If Houston, Dallas, San Antonio or El Paso all receive increases in research funding for their universities, the city economies will grow as well. Part of the current problem is there is brain drain from Texas to other Tier 1 universities

for undergraduate and graduate degrees. If a Texas State student has another chance at entering a Tier 1 university for grad school in a city that will see job growth and economic benefits, I am all for it. The decision to vote “yes” for this ballot is an obvious one even for Texas State students. The effects of Prop 4 give more students a chance to go to a Tier 1 university and provide boosts to the local economy. What is important for us though, is it gives the university one solid goal to achieve. Texas State certainly meets the “high-quality facul-

ty” requirements, but not the research spending, amount of doctorates awarded, endowment funds or even student grades. Texas State might have the chance to compete as well if we let other universities have the chance to compete for Tier 1 status. I too might have been disappointed to see Texas State was not one of seven schools Prop 4 would affect. But it means too much for the state, its universities and the future of Texas State to ignore.

Sincerely, Denise M. Trauth University President

Proposition 4 gives Texas State students goal for growth By Luis Baez Opinions Columnist Everything is bigger in Texas – but not necessarily in a good way. According to Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Susan Combs, Texas is ranked 49th in the nation for SAT scores and 36th for graduation rates among high school students. Our Texas Legislature has one of the longest vacations any representative can ask for. It gets more perplexing. California has nine nationally recognized research institutions, New York has