11 02 2006

TOURNAMENT TIME

SENIOR MUSICIANS SHINE

Music majors display their talents after years of hard work in culminating recitals

Texas State weekend site of SLC soccer championship

SEE TRENDS PAGE 7

SEE SPORTS PAGE 14

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

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NOVEMBER 2, 2006

THURSDAY

VOLUME 96, ISSUE 30

Election’s office accepts late voter registration applications

By David Saleh Rauf The University Star The Hays County Elections Administrators’ office received more than 200 voter registration applications Oct. 11 from a Texas State student that were more than a month old, exceeding the allowable deadline by weeks.

Joyce Cowan, Hays County Elections Administrator, said a deputy student registrar delivered 200 to 300 voter applications that had been filled out in August and September.

“I’m not sure who it is. I don’t know who did it,” Cowan said.

“I don’t know whether it was a

Democrat, Republican or ASG. I just know by appearance that it was someone on campus. Again, what was given to us were student cards.”

Cowan said the Texas Election Code allows deputy registrars to submit registration applications on Oct. 11 if they were filled out Oct. 10. According to the election code, deputy voter registrars must submit registration applications to the county registrar’s office within five days of their receipt.

“I know everywhere I go and deputize, I tell them they’re supposed to be brought in within five days of registration,” Cowan said. “It kind of bothers me and

upsets me that someone brings in cards that are a month to even 45 days old. I have a problem. If you can’t do it right or you won’t do it right, or I won’t go up and deputize.”

Virginia Flores, Hays County deputy voter registrar, accepted the voter registration applications without verifying the student’s name or status as a registrar. Flores said the deputy registrar did not identify herself or the organization that compiled the applications.

“When the deputized person came in to drop them off, she didn’t give us her name or anything. She just said she was here to drop them off. It wasn’t until

after she left that we checked the date,” Flores said. “I didn’t ask what her name was. She said she was deputized and was just dropping them off.”

Flores said the office usually follows procedures that verify a person’s identity and status as a deputized registrar. She said the number of deputized registrars prevented the office from verifying the students’ status.

Cowan said the applications that were turned in late will still be accepted.

“Those individuals were inputted into the system and they are eligible to vote in the election,” she said.

Cowan said approximately

2,200 voter applications were turned in on time through campus registration initiatives.

Cowan’s office received a complaint Oct.12 from a Texas State student about the Associated Student Government’s voter registration techniques.

Cybele Hinson, agriculture senior, filed a complaint with the Hays County Election Administrators office, saying two ASG representatives came to her class and encouraged students to change their voter registration location from their hometown to Hays County.

“I find it very unethical that they’re in there doing that,” Hinson said. “They were en-

couraging students to change their address to San Marcos with no regard as to whether or not that was what they were going to consider their permanent residence once they graduated.”

Hinson said the ASG Senators were targeting students who do not consider San Marcos their permanent residence, citing the Chris Jones campaign as an example of similar tactics.

“He couldn’t have gotten elected had it not been for the campaigns going on at Texas State,” she said. “They’re getting them to vote in this county when they should not be voting See VOTING, page 4

ASG executive officers defend ‘conflict of interest’ position

By David Saleh Rauf The University Star

Cotton Miller/Star photo LET IT FLY: Freshman QB Bradley George passes the ball at Wednesday’s practice at Bobcat Stadium. George hopes to lead the Bobcats to a win against rival Nicholls State in Thursday night’s home game. See SPORTS Page 14

Electronic, paper ballots raging controversy this election season

By Georgia Fisher The University Star Vickie Karp isn’t exactly smiling about Election Day. “I think it’s going to be a train wreck — a meltdown. It’s going to be the biggest mess we’ve ever seen in U.S. elections,” Karp, an Austin-based realtor, activist and public opponent of electronic voting machines, said. “Democracy is being stolen.”

As national chair of the Coalition for Visible Ballots, Karp helped spearhead a parallel paper ballot program last November and is currently promoting her and co-editor Abbe Waldman DeLozier’s new book, Hacked!

High Tech Election Theft in

America.

The public has not always been receptive to her and her colleagues’ work, but people are beginning to listen, said Karp, who is regularly televised and conducted 12 radio interviews last week.

“Up until very recently, the reaction was incredulous — pretty much disbelieving, accusations of conspiracy theory, that sort of thing … but now people are starting to get the picture, take action,” she said. “With some people it really strikes a chord, like, ‘elections are being stolen and I have to do something about it.’”

Hand-counted by volunteers from rights group VoteRescue,

Today’s Weather

Mostly Sunny 67˚/43˚

Precipitation: 10% Humidity: 45% UV: 6 High Wind: NNE 13 mph

the parallel paper ballots provide a supplement to electronic votes in some districts.

Karp said they garnered positive responses last year.

“We’ve had a very positive response from most people. A lot of them came out of the booths upset, confused — they had an innate sense there was something wrong, that ours is not a transparent system. (With the parallel paper ballots) they’d say ‘OK, this is a refreshing change.’”

Though VoteRescue can’t demand a recount via the parallel elections, it uses them to spread awareness and gather data. Karp said volunteers will be present See BALLOT, page 4

Two-day Forecast Friday Partly Cloudy Temp: 68°/ 51° Precip: 10%

Saturday Few Showers Temp: 72°/ 60° Precip: 30%

Associated Student Government executive officers say there are no conflicts of interest or ethical violations involved with members of a profit political consulting firm who also participate in student government.

Kyle Morris, ASG president, and Amanda Oskey, ASG vice president, said the fact that members of the consulting firm McCabe, Anderson and Prather (M.A.P.) have not exerted any influence over ASG and are outside political consultants involved in student government is not a problem.

“At the end of the day, I haven’t lost an ounce of sleep over any of this,” Morris said. “I feel as though I have executed my responsibilities as the student body president in a completely ethical manner. When it comes to ethics regarding this issue, I feel that myself and Amanda have both acted ethical.”

M.A.P. co-founder Sam McCabe, mathematics sophmore, was appointed ASG czar of student voter registration by Morris this fall and served as campaign manager during Morris’ bid for election last spring. M.A.P. cofounder Jude Prather, public administration senior, is also ASG’s political adviser. M.A.P. contractor Eric Heggie, international studies senior, is an ASG senator and M.A.P. co-founder Jordan Anderson, Texas State alumnus, is a former ASG president.

Representatives from the League of Women Voters and American Student Government Association don’t agree with Morris’ assessment on the conflict of interest issue.

Raul Salazar, executive administrator for the state office of the League of Women Vot-

ers, said having members of ASG being paid by an outside political firm, and the fact that seven of the 10 candidates who addressed ASG this semester are clients of that entity, does not give the appearance of balance.

“I sense a conflict of interest,” Salazar said. “If ASG wants to remain a credible organization and they are giving candidates opportunities to address students, all candidates in that race should be invited.”

W.H. Oxedine, American Student Government Association executive director, said the fact that M.A.P. is made up of so many ASG members presents an inherent conflict of interest, and it should be focusing on other issues.

“Particularly for state institutions, I think it’s bad practice for student government to sponsor political speeches,” he said. “To have complete balance is very difficult. I think it’s inappropriate for whatever party it is to have the bully pulpit without the other having the chance to respond, particularly in a state institution.”

ASG is not chartered by the ASGA. M.A.P. is a bipartisan firm.

Its members have said they will deliver the student vote for candidates from either party who could best serve the student body. McCabe said appropriate steps were taken to prevent a conflict of interest.

“I’m sworn by an oath not to use this position in any unethical way,” McCabe said. “As of right now, this position is pretty much dead. The voter registration drive is done. Once you are deputized to vote, you swear an oath saying you will not persuade a person to vote in a certain way.”

Morris said M.A.P. is within its bounds and members are

simply using their political savvy and inside knowledge to help clients in a manner that is in no way inappropriate. He said M.A.P. acts as a “lobbying firm,” and the best lobbyists are former legislators.

“This is not abnormal in our society,” Morris said. “Tom Delay will make a fortune as a lobbyist.”

Delay, a former U.S. Representative from Houston, was chastised by the House Ethics Committee three times in 2004. In 2005, a Travis County grand jury indicted him on two counts of criminal conspiracy, and earlier this year he gave up his House seat after his former deputy chief of staff pleaded guilty to corruption charges as part of the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.

Wesley Mau, Hays County chief deputy district attorney, whose opponent Sherri Tibbe addressed ASG Oct. 9, said most people would agree that a legislator should not be involved in issues that a lobbying firm is interested in.

“It would, of course, be the same thing if there was a legislator who was a high-ranking employee of a lobbying firm,” Mau said. “ I don’t have any problem with the idea of a lobbying group made up of students that lobbies to students.”

Mau said the issue would be if one of those students is directly involved with the legislative body, or the ASG. “If he’s directly involved with them and he is lobbying and using his position to enhance his lobbying efforts, then where do you draw the line as to the ethics on that?” Mau asked.

McCabe, Anderson and Prather all said their organization is not a lobbying firm beSee CONFLICT, page 3

FEMA to fund low water crossing warning system

By Paul Rangel The University Star Hays County will be receiving a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

The $600,000 grant will be used to fund an early-warning system that will alert citizens of low-water crossings in the event of a flash flood.

“This will help us more than what we’re doing now,” said County Judge Jim Powers.

“When you get to the bottom of it, this will help us save lives more efficiently and effectively.”

The county began working on the project in December 2005 and was notified in mid October that it would be receiving funds from FEMA. Brad Bailey, county coordinator, said the county would have to put forward a contribution towards the project.

The county has not yet received the contract from

Inside News ..............1-5 Trends .............6-8 Crossword ....... 12 Sudoku ............ 12

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

Comics ............ 12 Opinions .......... 10 Classifieds ....... 12 Sports ......... 13,14

FEMA. Richard Salmon, grants administrator, said the county should receive the contract within the next two months.

Plans for the project have already begun, but development will not begin until early 2007.

The system would provide the public with immediate access to alerts of various lowwater crossings throughout See FLOOD, page 4

To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2006 The University Star

PAGE TWO The University Star

Thursday in Brief

November 2, 2006

Early voting schedule for general and special elections Hays County Elections Administration Office 401-C Broadway St. San Marcos (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

San Marcos City Hall 630 E. Hopkins St.

San Marcos (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

HCISD Administration Office 21003 Interstate-35 Kyle (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Performing Arts Center

979 Kohler’s Krossing Kyle (5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)

Wimberley Community Center 14068 Ranch Rd. 12 Wimberley (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

— Courtesy of Hays County

News Contact — David Saleh Rauf, starnews@txstate.edu Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System

Helping the community THURSDAY The Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference will be held in the LBJ Student Center. For program schedule, visit http://repconference.binghamton.edu.

A “Résumé Basics” workshop will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. in The Writing Center, Flowers Hall, Room G-09 Sukyi Douglass-McMahon, Writing Center résumé specialist, will be offering her advice free of charge

320. There will contemporary worship, relevant teaching and prayer. Everyone is welcome.

For more information call (512) 557-7988 or e-mail mail@texasstatechialpha.com.

Students interested in becoming involved with the community, making business connections and learning leadership skills can attend the Students in Free Enterprise at 4:15 p.m. in McCoy Hall, Room 113.

The Organization of Student Social Workers will meet at 12:30 p.m. in the Health Professions Building, Room 234.

Overeaters Anonymous will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland St. For more information call (512) 357-2049.

Simple Silent Sitting Group will meet from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Campus Christian Community Center.

Texas State Football will play Nicholls State at 7 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium

An on-campus Alcoholics Anonymous meeting will be from 5 to 6 p.m. For more information call the Alcohol and Drug Resource Center at (512) 245-3601.

The Tennis Club will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at the tennis courts on Sessom Drive, behind Joe’s Crab Shack. All skill levels are welcome. For more information e-mail the Tennis Club President Chris Harris at ch1282@txstate.edu.

Every Nation Campus Ministries is now meeting in at 7 p.m.

Centennial Hall, Room G-02.

There will be free food, fellowship and an inspiring message.

The Rock - Praise & Worship will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel of the Catholic Student Center.

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship will hold its weekly meeting at 8:30 p.m. in Old Main, Room

FRIDAY The Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference will be held in LBSC. For program schedule visit http://rep-conference. binghamton.edu.

The Central Texas LifeCare nonprofit pregnancy resource center will host its 17th-annual fundraising gala at Texas Old Town in Kyle, located at 1205 Roland Dr. An all-you-can-eat buffet will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the main program starts at 7:15 p.m. Music will be provided by the Kyle Family of Austin.

For more information call Terry Williams at (512) 396-3020.

Texas State women’s volleyball will play SFA at 4 p.m. at Strahan Coliseum.

Go to www.UniversityStar.com and click on contact to view calendar and Stars of Texas State submission policies.

On this day...

1889 — North Dakota and South Dakota were admitted into the union as the 39th and 40th states.

Jennifer Williams/Star photo Bernice Triesch, healthcare administration senior and University Community Involvement officer, and Nancy Tunell, international studies senior and director of Bobcat Build, explain Bobcat Build to Terissa Kelton, mass communication sophomore, in The Mall in front of the LBJ Student Center Wednesday.

CRIME BL TTER University Police Department Oct. 28, 1:24 p.m.

Verbal Disturbance/Lantana Hall A police officer was dispatched in regard to a verbal disturbance. This case is under investigation.

Oct. 28, 1:49 p.m.

Burglary of Habitation/Lantana Hall A student reported to a police officer that their wallet had been stolen from their room. This case is under investigation.

Oct. 29, 2:21 a.m.

POM/PODP/Sterry Hall A police officer made contact with four students for a traffic violation. Upon further investigation, one student was arrested, given a citation for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and transported to HCLEC to await ministration.

Oct. 29, 11:47 a.m.

Burglary of Motor Vehicle/ Blanco Parking Garage An officer was dispatched when a student reported items missing from his vehicle. This case is under investigation.

Crime stoppers: UPD: 245-7867, SMPD: 353-TIPS

1986 — The 12-by-16-inch celluloid of a poison apple from Walt Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was purchased for $30,800.

1992 — Magic Johnson retired from the NBA again, this time for good because of fear of his HIV infection.

Library Beat Leading Texas novelists will discuss latest books at Southwestern Writers Collection The Southwestern Writers Collection will host Sarah Bird, Elizabeth Crook and Stephen Harrigan Nov. 9 on campus in celebration of its 20th anniversary exhibition, Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection.

These three leading Texas novelists — all with archives housed in the SWWC — will discuss their work and processes, take questions from the audience and sign their latest books.

The evening begins with an exhibit/author reception from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The program begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session and book signing. Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collec-

tion shows off the breadth and depth of the holdings, whose roots reach deeply through historical, academic, journalistic and literary ground into that of contemporary popular culture. The “greatest hits” of the permanent archives are on display, including the 1555 edition of Cabeza de Vaca’s La relación, a songbook handmade by an eleven-year-old Willie Nelson, John Graves’ paddle from his trip chronicled in Goodbye to a River, original materials from King of the Hill and the making of Lonesome Dove, Cast Away, A Perfect Storm and more. The exhibit runs through Dec. 15.

Access exhibit hours online at www.swwc.txstate.edu, or call (512) 245-2313.

— Courtesy of Alkek Library

NEWS

Thursday, November 2, 2006

The University Star - Page 3

CONFLICT: ASG constitution, code of Faculty concerned about ethical, legal laws do not address ethical concerns issues of candidates addressing classes CONTINUED from page 1

cause it does not have a license and does not conduct business at the capitol. They said M.A.P. is a paid political consulting firm.

“I don’t know if we can call ourselves that (a lobbying firm),” Prather said. “We’re not involved in any kind of lobbying. At the state level, you have to have a lobbying license, and we’re not at the level. We’re more of a public relations, consulting firm. We hope to get into lobbying, but we haven’t done any kind of lobbying yet.”

Jeffrey Gordon, philosophy professor, said a conflict of interest could exist if M.A.P. associates used their position in ASG on behalf of their candidates.

“The question is whether we want to tempt people to violate their oath,” Gordon said. “It does seem to me being paid by a candidate would offer fairly substantial temptation for someone in that role.”

Of the 10 candidates who have addressed ASG this semester, seven are M.A.P. clients.

Only two of their opponents, Anna Martinez Boling, candidate for 428th district court and Liz Sumter, candidate for Hays County Judge, have addressed ASG. Of the seven M.A.P. clients who spoke to ASG, one did so before he hired the firm, another spoke during the public forum segment of the meeting and a third, Mayor Susan Narvaiz, regularly speaks to the senate.

“We’ve done our best to accommodate every single candidate who’s wanted to come speak to us and not a single candidate has been turned away,” Morris said. “When candidates come to Associated Student Government, whether they’re M.A.P. or not M.A.P. makes no difference to me.”

Morris and Oskey said their policy is not to contact candidates to speak at ASG meetings.

However, they contacted Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, and invited him to speak before senators at an Oct. 16 ASG meeting. Oskey, who presides over the ASG agenda, did not contact Rose’s opponent, Jim Neuhaus, State Representative District 45 candidate, to address the group.

“It would have been advantageous to have been able to address ASG and give them Pat-

rick Rose’s views and then my views,” Neuhaus said. “The ASG has a responsibility to the entire school and if that’s the case, I think they have a responsibility to show both sides.”

Oskey said ASG is not a forum for debate, and if politicians want to speak to the senate, the onus is on them to contact her and get put on the agenda.

Ryan Thomason, candidate for City Council Place 6 and opponent of M.A.P. client John Thomaides, was unsuccessful in his attempt to get placed on the agenda.

“The way it happened it made it kind of difficult to point fingers and say ‘Wait a minute, you are putting the screws to us here,’” Thomason said.

Lisa Hanks, Thomason’s campaign coordinator, said she sent a Facebook e-mail to Oskey, requesting that Thomason be put on the Oct. 9 ASG agenda. Her request was never facilitated because of a “miscommunication.”

“I sent her the message assuming that we were going to get on the agenda the 9th (of October), but she forgot about the message and went ahead and made the agenda already had other people booked on there,” Hanks, international studies senior, said.

Oskey disagrees, saying she did not receive the Facebook message until after the agenda was already set.

“I know I did not get the Facebook message until after the fact,” Oskey said. “Then she told me whenever I talked to her on the phone that she forgot to contact me to make sure. I’m not going to put someone on the agenda and confirm them without a confirmation from their party.”

Neuhaus and Thomason were scheduled for the Oct. 23 ASG agenda, the same day as the League of Women Voters Candidates Debate.

“That was the day I was invited, and of course I couldn’t make it,” Neuhaus said.

Thomason said the fact that he did not address the ASG caused him to lose student votes.

“I know for a fact I did, because I had an ASG member walk up to me outside the poll on early voting and say, ‘I know a lot more about John Thomaides because he came and spoke to us and I haven’t heard

from you,” Thomason said.

“However, many people were in that meeting were directly affected, because they got to hear him but they didn’t get to hear me.”

Ted Hindson, political associate science professor and former ASG adviser, said past ASG administrations pro-actively contacted both sides.

“Historically if we invite one candidate, we invite them all,” Hindson said. “For example, if a professor in a classroom invites the Democrat he has to invite the Republican. Now they don’t have to both come, but as long as the invitation is out, that’s the only fair way to do it.”

Morris refutes the claim, saying there is nothing suspicious about the process of candidates addressing ASG this semester.

“Anybody can come speak to ASG,” Morris said. “They have that right. Nobody is actively inhibited anyone from coming to ASG. If anyone feels they have been inhibited, that’s there own fault.”

Student Regent Frank Bartley said this is not an issue for the Board of Regents and would not intervene unless the administration brought it to the group’s attention.

Despite conflict of interest concerns, ASG advisers said no action will be taken by the administration.

“Like with anything else, if there’s a formal inquiry or compliant that comes forward, then based on what the alleged charges are, we act appropriately from that point,” said Vince Morton, associate dean of students and ASG co-adviser. “One of the things that we don’t want to do is do something illegal ourselves. If we’re saying this is something ethically challenging, but not illegal, that’s why I have to ask the question, ‘What are the charges?’ Right now, I think it is more or less a conversation.”

The subject of conflict of interest is not addressed anywhere in ASG’s Constitution or Code of Laws.

By Nick Georgiou The University Star Ethical and legal issues relating to political candidates using class time to speak to students has become a topic of discussion among faculty and staff.

“Certainly the classroom cannot be used as anything that even smells like political advocacy,” said philosophy professor Jeff Gordon.

Associated Student Government senator and international studies senior Eric Heggie ignited the discussion Oct. 14 when he sent an e-mail to 19 professors asking them if State Representative Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, and district attorney candidate Sherri Tibbe could speak to their classes.

Robin Cohen, assistant English professor, said she was initially inclined to say yes, but the more she thought about it, the more ethical concerns she had. She urged other faculty to “proceed with great caution.”

“After all, we have all been warned not to use state computers or e-mail accounts for political purposes, so presumably using classroom space and time for partisan purposes would be illegal as well,” Cohen said in an Oct. 15 e-mail response to Heggie and the other professors contacted. “Aside from legal issues, surely fairness and objectivity would require that the opposing candidates be given equal time.”

Bob McLean, biology professor, echoed Cohen’s sentiments.

“University administration and legal issues aside, my credibility and ethical stands with my students (and anyone else) is very important to me,” McLean said in a series of e-mail exchanges between the professors and Heggie.

Heggie said his only goal in having Tibbe and Rose speak to classes was to better include students in the political process.

“I do not know why their opponents have not contacted you about doing the same, but you are free to invite them to speak to your class as well,” Heggie said to the professors.

Cohen, a Democrat and Rose supporter, said she is disappoint-

ed that a state representative and a candidate for district attorney cannot see the legal and ethical implications.

“It pains my yellow-dog Democrat soul to say this, but perhaps ‘their opponents have not contacted (me) about doing the same’ because they have a better grasp of these problems,” she said.

According to university policy and state law, it is illegal to use state resources, such as the university e-mail system, for the purpose of political lobbying or campaigning. Because Heggie sent the e-mail to professors using his university e-mail account, legal issues were raised.

University attorney William Fly said the law is vague when applied to students. He said because Heggie did not address the capacity in which he was sending the e-mail, it is hard to determine his intentions. He said the e-mail sounded like an innocent request to engage students in the political process.

“It would raise concerns, but (it’s) not an illegal activity or conflict of interest,” he said.

Everything depends on context, Fly said.

“If the purpose is to just learn more about issues of the day or political process, it’s probably OK if it’s related to course content,” he said.

Heggie said he selected classes based on size, not the type of class.

Last spring, the district attorney’s office questioned Heggie about the forged signatures on the Austin Community College petition. Then last month, Heggie’s open support of Republican candidate Judge Jim Powers resulted in his resignation as president of College Democrats. Heggie is also contracted by the political consulting firm McCabe, Anderson and Prather (M.A.P.) to work on Tibbe’s campaign. M.A.P. and Heggie are open supporters of the Rose campaign.

While Gordon was skeptical of Heggie’s e-mail request, he appreciated Heggie going to classes to register students to vote. Gordon said when Heggie came to his class to register students, the process was transparent and impartial.

Although M.A.P.’s niche involves finding new ways to approach apathetic students, former ASG president and M.A.P. cofounder Jordan Anderson said contacting professors to speak to students is something the firm has not attempted.

One of the professors to accept Heggie’s request was English professor Rebecca Bell-Metereau.

“I think that it’s good for students to have a chance to speak to political candidates as long as people say anybody from any party can come and as long as it doesn’t take up that much class time,” Bell-Metereau said.

Bell-Metereau said she invited Tibbe because her job as an attorney was relevant to their study of films involving criminal justice.

Heggie and the professors agree that a politician reaching out to students is a good thing, but the majority of the professors Heggie e-mailed said the classroom is not the place for candidates to speak to students, especially if the discussion has nothing to do with course content.

“Even though I value immensely getting students involved in the political process, I’m not willing to sacrifice my class time for it,” Gordon said. “I would have given extra credit had he arranged a debate between any two candidates outside of class.”

Gordon and Cohen said it is more appropriate to give students the choice of hearing a candidate speak outside of a classroom.

“Any place on campus where their attendance is voluntary, then I think it’s fine,” Cohen said. “But to impose that on a class full of students who have no choice of being there is unethical.”

Angela Murphy, assistant history professor, agreed with Cohen’s position.

“I think if politicians want to campaign in schools, then setting up in a public arena as opposed to a classroom would be more appropriate,” she said.

Heggie maintained his request for candidates to speak to classes was not for partisan purposes.

“We were just trying to reach out to students and make them better aware of what issues are af-

NEWS

Page 4 - The University Star

Thursday, November 2, 2006

BALLOT: Hart InterCivic machines VOTING: Student complains about ASG campaign tactics audited by security company CONTINUED from page 1

on election day this year.

“We’ll be set up in locations where there are a high number of registered voters,” she said.

Karp said failure with electronic voting machines occurs locally as well as nationally, and leaves many questions unanswered.

“As just one example, in the 2004 presidential elections in Travis county in Austin and Harris county in Houston — when people were trying to vote a straight democratic ticket, when they went back to review their ballot — the presidential vote had switched from Kerry to Bush,” she said. “And the question is, how many people had that happen but didn’t go back and review their ballot to see so they could change it back?

And we’ll never know that. How many votes did Bush get that way in 2004?”

Hart InterCivic is the Austinbased distributor of voting machines used in 100 Texas counties.

The company’s machines are employed in Hays County, and are what San Marcos residents use to cast their ballots.

Hays County Elections Administrator Joyce Cowan expressed satisfaction with the system, known as eSlate.

“I’m not getting complaints,” she said.

Cowan said she trusts electronic votes are accurate in Hays County, as well as the people using them.

“I believe in our system,” she said, “and I believe in our residents. I see that your vote is counted, and I believe that it is here.”

Cowan said its unlikely the machines in town would be hacked.

“There’s not a reason (or representative) we want to get elected bad enough to go to jail for,” Cowan said.

Hannah Vargas, Texas State alumna, worked as a technical troubleshooter for Travis County elections from October 2004 to November of last year. She said voters’ anxiety about the

Hart machines was often lifted when they learned how to operate them.

“Some people have heard that you can hack into the system, but if you’re using ours it’s not at all accessible by the Web. People just wanted to make sure they knew how to use it, and once they knew how, they felt safe,” Vargas said.

Vargas said she has faith in the system’s hardware and software checks.

“Things were tested again and again; it was always very thoroughly checked — the machines as well as the programs. You’re going to find the most errors when things aren’t checked,” she said. “But ours were.”

Vargas said she believes her own vote is safe.

“I feel like my vote is safer when it’s recorded electronically, rather than on paper. And here you have everything gathered in one spot that hopefully can’t be tampered with,” she said.

Nonetheless, Karp said, a hand-counted paper system is better because it offers hackers fewer opportunities.

“We know paper isn’t a perfect system either, but there are only about five or six ways to attack a hand-counted paper ballot election as opposed to about 40 or 50 ways … identified with an electronic election. There are just so many points of vulnerability because of software, because of the handling of software, because of memory cards that have been lost or stolen or replaced with bad intentions.”

Josh Allen, a representative for Hart InterCivic, said that unlike other companies’, Hart’s machines do not use memory cards and are certified secure.

“Hart is regulated by state and federal governments,” he said.

“They’ve been independently audited by Symantec (information security company), and … received certifications for both security and quality.”

He said they are on a private network, unconnected to modems or the Internet.

Yet a private network does not make for a foolproof system,

Karp said.

“These machines are daisychained together at the polling place, and you can put a virus in one machine and it spreads from machine to machine, and you can hack an election that way,” she said. “So there are a number of things that can happen.”

Like all voting machines, those from Hart InterCivic do not provide voters with a receipt of their voting record. No machines in existence do. Voters using eSlate software can verify their ballot was cast, but cannot verify its content.

“You don’t print a record of what you voted on the eSlate machine, the only thing you get is a piece of paper with a number that’s a number on a machine,” she said. “There is no paper record, period.”

But Hart InterCivic does have software for a Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail, which according to the company’s Web site, “allows the voter to review a paper summary of the ballot cast on eSlate.”

It just hasn’t been implemented in Texas.

Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail would first need certification from Secretary of State Roger Williams, Allen said, as well as customer input.

“The secretary of state has not certified any VVPAT option in this state,” he said. “And the second issue is with (lack of) customer requests.”

Allen said there could also be issues with printer use.

Employees at voting booths would need “all kinds of training,” he said, and have to know what to do “if there are technical problems — if you run out of paper or if the printer stops printing.”

Though lack of a paper trail may abuse citizens, Karp said, they shouldn’t be too disenchanted to cast a ballot.

“I definitely think they should still vote; I understand why people may feel discouraged, but if they’re voting, people can observe the experience. Vote and get noticed — apathy is what got us here in the first place.”

CONTINUED from page 1

in this county.”

Cowan said one of the ASG representatives was Eric Heggie, international studies senior. Heggie is an ASG Senator, contractor for the political consulting firm McCabe, Anderson and Prather (M.A.P.) and a Hays County deputy registrar.

Heggie said Hinson is simply threatened by the idea of students voting.

“It’s like a broken record,” Heggie said. “A lot of people don’t like the fact that students vote or are allowed to vote.”

Despite the recent issues with on-campus voter registration, Cowan said she will continue to get the university involved

in the electoral process but will review the process by which she deputizes registrars.

“I’m not ignoring this. I will visit with the university and with the state,” she said. “I want things done right. Everything she put in the letter I can’t say is incorrect. I will look into it.

If anything is illegal, we would want to get it stopped.”

FLOOD: State, federal support granted to low-water crossing system CONTINUED from page 1

the county. Salmon said Hays County is in flash-flood alley and has nearly two hundred low-water crossings. The information may be accessed online, through radio podcasts and on television.

The system will also give the Emergency Operation Center the capability to issue a reverse 911 call. This is an automated system that places calls to either a specific area or countywide, providing a warning message to residents about dangerous conditions.

There are different types of systems that may be placed at several locations. Some are solar-powered lights that begin to flash a certain color when the water is rising and then flash red when the water level is too dangerous to cross.

There are also different types of gating systems that can be placed to prevent drivers from crossing, Salmon said.

The system will be monitored from the EOC located near the county jail. Powers said this is a secure location that monitors weather patterns and can alert citizens of various disasters such as tornados, fires or floods.

Currently, officials are notified by the National Weather Service or by surrounding

counties when floods are heading toward Hays County.

“The problem with this is that we find out after it has started to flood,” Bailey said.

“This new system will alert us before it happens and we can take proper actions.”

During the event of a flash flood, the Citizen Emergency Response Team and county workers are called in to set up barricades and turn on lowwater crossing alerts.

“The problem with our current system is that we are having to send people to set barricades and turn on alerts.

In some cases these people are having to actually cross these dangerous areas to do this,” Powers said. “This will give immediate notification and is best for all-around safety.”

Powers and Bailey both said their goal in making people aware of these dangerous areas is to give alternative routes.

They said they have concerns for people who are not from the area and are unaware of the flooded-prone areas. Bailey said they may not know many of the roads dip and they could drive right into them.

Support has come from many different places. Congressman Henry Cuellar helped with the grant application as well as taking the proposal to the federal level and lobbied for

the grant. State Representative Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, also helped get the state to back the proposal.

Powers said that with the help of various groups and officials, the county is getting both state and federal support for this grant and setting a precedent for the importance of the system in the county.

During the past thirty years, Hays County has undergone various projects to help eliminate the dangers of flash flooding.

In the 1970s, some of the worst floods hit the area, and in the 1980s, a plan to construct dams had been put into place.

The dams are located just outside San Marcos and some are higher than 100 feet.

Salmon said they have various spillways and different caverns that also make a good recharge zone.

“After the flood of 1998 and 2001, the dams had some renovations done,” Bailey said. “It’s surprising how many people are unaware that they are even there even though they’re so close.”

Bailey and Salmon said several locations have been surveyed and 40 high-traffic/low-water crossings have been chosen for the first alert systems.

NEWS

Thursday, November 2, 2006

The University Star - Page 5

International consortium speaks at Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference

By Bradley Childers The University Star The smooth rhythm of Mexican cumbia music filled the cool air as students walked through The Mall near the LBJ Student Center, occasionally stopping to check out the booths various organizations have set up as part of the third annual Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference.

Erica Reyes, athletic training senior, and her Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority sisters can’t help but dance as they soak up the festive atmosphere surrounding the event, which is being held on campus Monday through Saturday.

Mayor Susan Narvaiz, who attended the conference Wednesday evening, said the event coming to Texas State is a huge opportunity for San Marcos and the university.

“It’s very exciting to have people from all over come to our city and our university,” Narvaiz said.

The REP is an interdisciplinary forum featuring speeches, papers, discussions, panels and workshops with a goal of fos-

tering dialogue on issues related to racial and ethnic transformation of places. Scholars will be coming in from around the U.S. and elsewhere in the world including Nigeria, Paris, Latin America and Australia. Scholars from the University of Texas, the University of Maryland, and the University of Glasgow, Scotland, among others will be leading sessions and panels.

Students from 62 different universities will be coming to Texas State to take part in the conference.

A crowd of about 150, consisting mostly of students from Hernandez Intermediate and Sealy Elementary schools, gathered outside LBJSC Wednesday morning to start the conference with a performance by the San Marcos High School Mariachi Band. In blue and silver “traje de charro,” the traditional mariachi garb, they serenaded the audience with a soulful melody.

Carlanne Rios, a fifth grade student at Hernandez Intermediate School, gave a short speech about diversity along with her classmates after the performance. She said she felt

Health center will offer flu vaccines on campus

By Alex Hering The University Star The Student Health Center will administer flu immunizations in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom from noon to 5 p.m. or while supplies last on Tuesday.

Mike Wilkerson, health education coordinator for the Student Health Center, said a delay with Avantis, the manufacturer of the vaccines, has caused shipments of the immunizations to arrive later than expected.

“Normally, we order 1,700 shots for the campus community, but there is a delay this year,” Wilkerson said. “We will have at least 600 immunizations on Nov. 7. There is still a possibility of running out, but we are more confident than before that we can meet the needs of the campus community.”

Wilkerson said even though there was a shortage of flu shots last year, this year there will be plenty of immunizations available for students.

“There is not a shortage this year,” Wilkerson said. “It’s a delay but not a shortage. Everyone that wants a shot will be able to get one.”

Lauren Ortega, who received the flu shot at the student center last year, said it was not an upleasant experience and she waited in line for 20 minutes.

“The staff was really friendly,” Ortega, management sophomore, said. “When I got to the nurse, it took about oneand-a-half minutes.”

Nikki Weekley, respiratory care senior, said the influenza virus is aerosolized, meaning the virus can travel in small particles through the air.

The virus can be contracted through hand-to-hand contact, coughing, sneezing and other personal contact.

“The flu shots are recommended to health care professionals, people 65 years of age or older, caregivers of children under the age of five, HIV/ AIDS patients, people with chronic health conditions or chronic respiratory conditions and organ transplant patients,” Weekley said.

Wilkerson said pregnant women will be required to

here is not a “T shortage this year. It’s a delay

but not a shortage.

Everyone that wants a shot will be able to get one.”

— Mike Wilkerson Health Education Coordinator for the Student Health Center

make an appointment with a physician before they can receive the immunization. Individuals with egg allergies or who have had a condition called Guillain-Barré should not take the shot, he said.

A common misconception, Wilkerson said, is that individuals think the immunization can cause them to contract the virus.

“A lot of people think that the flu shot got them sick and I have heard people say, ‘Oh, I’m never getting that shot again; I got it (and) then I got sick,’” Wilkerson said. “The reality is that they were probably sick before they got the vaccine. We don’t use a live virus to make the vaccine anymore, so you are not going to get the flu from getting the flu shot.”

Wilkerson said response time to the vaccine might also make it seem as though the vaccine is making people feel sick.

“It does take about two weeks to build up an immune response, so if I was already ill before I got the shot or if I get ill somewhere in that window period of two weeks before my immune system is ready to combat it, then I might get the flu,” Wilkerson said.

The shots will be available to all students, faculty, and staff for $20. If immunizations run out Tuesday, Wilkerson said students, faculty and staff who want an immunization can make an appointment with the Student Health Center by calling (512) 245- 2167. To schedule an appointment online, visit www.healthcenter. txstate.edu.

really happy she could present her speech.

“I just wanted to read what I wrote so I could let other people know what I think about the world being different,” Rios said. “It doesn’t matter who’s different because we can all be friends no matter what.”

Hernandez Intermediate School students created the poster board-sized pieces of art displayed outside The Lair food court. The students took tours of the campus Wednesday.

Lawrence Estaville, geography professor and local organizer of the event, said this conference is focused on students.

“You’re our future,” Estaville said. “Whether it be San Marcos, Texas or the world, as we’re getting smaller and trying to understand situations around the world, we need our students to think about these issues — to consider them and to be a part of the conversation.”

Some of the sessions are “Latin American Themes,” “Adjustments of Underrepresented Students to University Life” and “Asian Ethnic Settlements.”

Michael Heintze, associate

vice president for enrollment management, said this is one of the most significant conferences at Texas State.

“The focus is very timely,” Heintze said. “In a world that’s becoming increasingly diverse, the issues of race, ethnicity and place are more important. Being able to discuss those issues in way that helps us learn and interact with each other is also important.”

Cynthia Corral, biochemistry junior and vice president of the Latino Student Association, said the conference is a great opportunity to make students aware of events in the community and the world.

“This also gives Hispanics a voice. It’s great that the conference is at Texas State this year,” she said.

Estaville said this is a time in the university’s history that diversity can be celebrated .

“This university is not only going to be a great research and learning institution, but it’s also going to be a great university in a sense that people are included and diversity is celebrated,” Estaville said. “Diversity is beautiful.”

Jennifer Williams/Star Photo DIVERSITY: San Marcos High School juniors, Michael Bolanas, Konstntin Belysheu and Christa Castro make their marks on the Diversity Canvas Painting project, which will later be displayed in the LBJ Student Center with a plaque listing all participants.

TRENDS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Thursday, November 2, 2006 - Page 6

happeningsof the weekend Thursday Cheatham Street Warehouse Texas Renegade Lucy’s San Marcos Benjy Davis Project The Triple Crown King Slim Blues

Friday Cheatham Street Warehouse The Gougers Lucy’s San Marcos The Warblers, Foscoe Jones, Green Mountain Grass The Triple Crown Robbie & the Robots, Buttercup, Moonlight Towers

Trends Contact — Maira Garcia, starentertainment@txstate.edu

Saturday Cheatham Street Warehouse The McKay Brothers Lucy’s San Marcos Cari Hutson Band CD Release, The Subtle Creeps The Triple Crown Word Association, Zeale 32, Justborn

Celebrando Día de los Muertos Editors note: This is the second installment of a two-part series on Día de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday celebrating the deceased.

By Maira Garcia The University Star There is more to Día de los Muertos than a skeleton, flowers and of course, the dead.

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, has common traditions throughout Mexico, but more specific customs are observed in different regions.

Psychology professor Roque Mendez, who presented a Philosophy Dialogue on Day of the Dead, said he has traveled throughout Mexico and traditions vary.

Banquets are a major part of Day of the Dead, which are typical in most celebrations, but where they are placed and how the family chooses them varies, Mendez said.

“I remember seeing in-house banquets in Mexico. Sometimes family members would stay over at gravesites,” he said. “Others would have in-house banquets and altars, but they would not necessarily go out to the gravesite.”

Altars, central to Day of the Dead, are essentially shrines to deceased loved ones displaying portraits, icons, crucifixes, marigolds and plenty of skeletons.

While these basic elements are integral to the Day of the Dead altar, one thing is certain: The dead are just as choosy as the living.

Very specific items that were used by the now-deceased during life are placed throughout the altar in an attempt to personalize and provide a detailed view of what the person enjoyed.

“We encourage students to bring pictures, mementos and art specific to their loved ones,” said Orquidea Morales, psychology senior.

Morales is the vice president of the Mitte Honors Student Association, which constructed a Day of the Dead altar in Lampasas Building which houses Mitte Honors. Michelle Sotolongo, studio art senior, helped Morales with the altar and explained how Day of the Dead traditions differ.

“There are certain elements that make celebrations unique.

It varies with town folklore,” Sotolongo said.

One Day of the Dead tradition unique to the state of Oaxaca, Mexico is the “tapete,” a sculpture made of either sand or flowers and painted with dry pigments. Tapetes are usually placed over the grave or tombstone of loved one and depict religious art or skeletons.

The Mexic-Arte Museum located in downtown Austin featured a tapete in their 23rdannual Día de los Muertos exhibition. The tapete was dedicated to Luis Jiménez, the famous Hispanic contemporary artist and University of Texas professor who died suddenly in an accident in July.

Holiday customs vary per region Monty Marion/ Star photo LARGER THAN LIFE: A sandcrafted, oversized version of Luis Jimenez’s Baile con la Talaca lies on the floor of the MexicArte Museum in downtown Austin. The exhibit celebrates Día de los Muertos.

See TRADITIONS, page 7

Common Experience hosts Beat writer, poet Hettie Jones

By Leah Kirkwood The University Star Hettie Jones walks the beats of an activist, poet, author and editor.

Jones was a founding member of the Beat Movement in the 1950s. She will be on campus to share her works and experiences with students and faculty this week.

Reagan Pugh, Common Experience student coordinator and English sophomore, said Jones’ visit ties in with this year’s “Protest and Dissent” theme because she is a white woman who married a black man, LeRoi Jones. When the couple married in 1960, interracial relationships were looked down upon.

“She was heavily involved in civil rights and that kind of action,” Pugh said.

LeRoi, who wrote poems under the name Amiri Baraka, later became involved with the black separatists movement and filed for divorce, which Pugh referred to as “reverse discrimination.”

“LeRoi ironically ended up divorcing her on the premise that she was white,” he said.

Jones decided not to reclaim her maiden name, Cohen, because she felt more comfortable in the black community than she did in the Jewish community.

Jones arrived at Texas State on Wednesday, and Mitte Honors and Common Experience will host an event on Thursday in her honor.

“We will do our best to recreate the San Francisco-coffeehouse feel from the Beat generation in the Mitte Forum in Lampasas, where there will be an open-to-the-public lecture, performance (and) Q&A with Hettie,” Pugh said.

Heather Galloway, director of the Mitte Honors Program, said Jones’ visit will concentrate on her published works and the Common Experience.

“We’re going to have music the first hour, and Hettie Jones is going to read from her poetry and talk about the Beat generation and hopefully discuss topics relating to our Common Experience theme of ‘Protest and Dissent,’” Galloway said.

Jones has published poetry collections entitled Drive and Aliens at the Border. She also co-wrote No Woman, No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley with the widow Rita Marley.

Galloway said Jones was initially invited to speak to Steve Wilson’s honors class called The Beat Generation. The class read Jones’ memoir How I Became Hettie Jones this semester.

“Beat literature in general argues a writer should live the kind of life they are writing about,” Wilson said.

Wilson said Jones is an example of commitment to a philosophy that differs from societal norms.

“She and her husband had to represent social values when they walked down the street,” Wilson said. “Think of the amount of courage that took in the ‘50s and ‘60s.”

Although Jones was influential to the Beat generation, her poems were first published 20 years after the movement ended.

“It took her a long time to feel confident enough about her work to publish it,” Wilson said.

✯ Monty Marion/Star photo PERSONAL TOUCH: Most Día de los Muertos altars include personal items of the deceased, such as the hat placed on this skeleton to make it more closely resemble the departed.

FYI

The event begins at 5 p.m. with jazz music and a coffee reception. Jones will arrive at 6 p.m.

School of music seniors prepare for recitals

By Jeffery D. Hooten The University Star For many people, standing in front of a large group as the center of attention can be both exciting and terrifying, but for music majors it simply comes with the territory.

All music majors are required to perform a recital their senior year, and a handful of recitals occur this semester — most of them in the Music Building recital hall.

“Senior recitals are a culmination of four or more years of work on instrument or voice,” said Lucy E. Bloor, academic adviser in the music School of Music.

Bloor said that music majors are expected to perform several pieces that display not only their ability but also their understanding of the entire background of their instrument. This means doing songs from a variety of time periods and for vocalists, doing songs in various languages.

“You don’t play the music of Bach the way you play a piece by Debussy,” Bloor said.

For this reason, senior recitals are something that music majors start

preparing for as much as a year ahead of time.

“Some people think of a recital like a gourmet meal with appetizers, a meaty main course and a dessert,” said Wallace Stanley, music senior, who plays trombone.

He referred to the different types of pieces that might be played in a typical recital.

“Many people use their recitals to make their graduate-school audition tape,” Stanley said. “You want to put your best foot forward.”

Music majors have had one-onone lessons with a professor from the department every week since their entry into the School of Music. Their instructor plays a big role in helping them prepare for their senior recital, as well as for a life in the field of music.

“I think that’s one thing that makes music different from other degrees,” Stanley said. “It’s like having a test every week.”

Ian Davidson, associate professor in the School of Music and the personal instructor for oboe students, said that he tries to develop a sense of individuality in his students during the one-on-one instruction.

“I don’t want clones of me,” Da-

vidson said. “They need to be what I call free-standing artists.”

Davidson explained that by “freestanding artists” he means that his students should be capable of thinking for themselves in terms of what to play, how to interpret their music and how to perform it.

Davidson also said that he views senior recitals as a type of right of passage for music students.

Besides the one-on-one lessons and the hours of practice they put in every week, music majors also spend a great deal of time playing in various ensembles. Stanley, for instance, said he plays in the Jazz Ensemble as well as other groups.

Addie Benavides, jazz studies senior who plays trumpet will be performing her senior recital at George’s.

She said music majors also pursue lessons outside of the university.

“Any time that you hear someone around that’s really good, you’re an idiot if you don’t try and get lessons,” Benavides said.

Music majors try to incorporate all of these experiences into their senior recital and in a way that’s enjoyable to listen to.

Benavides said that for her, making sure that people have a good time at her recital is very important, especially since she is not playing in the traditional recital-hall setting.

“I tried to pick a lot of pieces that have something in common — a backbeat or groove,” Benavides said. “I like things that make people want to shake their hips and move a little.”

Benavides also described what drove her through 13 years of playing to this point in her education — her love for music, especially jazz and Latin music.

“I love a lot of different types of music, but you can find something in all of them through jazz,” Benavides said.

✯FYI A complete calendar of upcoming recitals and other events can be found on the Music Department’s web site at: www. finearts.txstate.edu/music/index.html

Karen Wang/Star photo TRUMPET TRIUMPHANT: Addie Benavides, jazz studies senior, looks over sheet music Tuesday evening in her home in preparation for her senior recital Nov. 21 at George’s.

TRENDS

Thursday, November 2, 2006

✯

TRADITIONS: Artist, professor honored through Día de los Muertos art

Basic Sugar Skull Recipe

(1 large skull) Ingredients: 2 1/8 cups (452 g) granulated sugar 2 rounded teaspoons meringue powder 2+ teaspoons of water plastic skull mold

CONTINUED from page 6

Directions: Place the meringue powder and the sugar in a bowl large enough to mix the ingredients by hand.

Add the water and mix with your fingers until the mixture feels like moist beach sand. Add extra water just a few drops at a time.

Pack the mold firmly and scrape the open part of the mold smooth.

Invert mold onto cardboard and let skull dry for five hours.

Decorate with icing and other items.

Source: www.GourmetSleuth.com Image courtesy of www.art4antioch.com

Southwestern Writers Collection hosts graduate students’ poetry, fiction readings

By Laura Jamison The University Star Armed with metaphors, passion and rhyme scheme, the master of fine arts graduate students delivered their poetry and fiction in the Southwestern Writers Collection Wednesday.

Ann-Marie Irwin, an alumna of the MFA program, founded the poetry and fiction readings three years ago, and they run once a month at 5 p.m. Wednesday. There are currently about 60 students in the program and five share their work at each recital.

Evelyn Lauer, a second-year MFA graduate student and the reading series coordinator, said sharing her work with colleagues is important.

“In our program, poets do not have a lot of opportunity to hear fiction writers and vice versa.

This gives us a chance to hear work that we would not normally have in our classes,” Lauer said.

John Wagner, a second-year fiction writer in the MFA graduate program, evoked laughter from the audience as he gave life to his story about an odd and broken family.

“It’s funny because poets get this noise that’s like ‘umm,’ but they don’t really do that for fiction. They laugh. Laughter makes me feel good about my work because it shows the audience is engaged,” he said.

Wagner imitated his characters with a slight “Michigan” accent.

“Your heart beats a little faster, and you really have to focus on the words,” he said after the reading.

Collin Bayless, a first-year poetry student in the MFA graduate program, shared his fiction titled “Restoration.” The prose focused on a man attracted to a younger girl with a physical

n our “I program, poets do not

have a lot of opportunity to hear fiction writers and vice versa. This gives us a chance to hear work that we would not normally have in our classes.”

— Evelyn Lauer reading series coordinator

The University Star - Page 7

Sylvia Orozco, executive director of Mexic-Arte, said Jimenez made significant contributions to art and it is through art that she chose to remember him.

“Every year we do an altar, or an ofrenda, to a someone. It was Celia Cruz one year; this year it was Luis Jiménez,” Orozco said.

“He was a visual artist and our friend, which made it even more important for us. So it’s both a family thing, because he is within our family, and then it’s about promoting Latino/Chicano art.”

The tapete, a facsimile of one of his prints, was created by Santa Barraza, art professor at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and Oaxacan artist Eloy Jiménez.

Jiménez said the tradition of making tapetes is an ancient tradition passed down by ancestors.

He noted the unusual nature of the tapete he helped create.

“This type of tapete isn’t typical because it is so large. The customary tapete is small and is made over the graves of the deceased in the cemetery,” Jiménez said.

While large tapetes aren’t typical, they have been made before

to show demonstrate the detail and work that it takes to create one.

“In the city of Oaxaca specifically, it is a long-held tradition to make tapetes on a much larger scale so people could see how these sculptures are made at gravesites,” he said. “The tapetes started to become more artistic, but without losing their authenticity.”

Jiménez said he and Barraza worked quickly to create the tapete in about 24 hours.

“It was a very intense project.

We are used to creating traditional tapetes that have figures dancing or other customary images seen in Oaxaca and that we plan out. But this was different,” he said. “I feel, for me, it was the first time I made something like this for someone special and feel very pleased.”

Barraza said she discovered the art of tapetes through a study abroad program she helped create at A&M-Kingsville. A friend of hers, who is an artist in Oaxaca, invited Barraza to attend a ceremony honoring the artist’s deceased father.

“What they do in Oaxaca is for nine straight nights they cel-

ebrate and honor the deceased person. She built a sand painting in the house and they actually had godparents for the sand painting,” Barraza said. “They had these beautiful candles that were about (five feet) big. They pray for nine nights and then on the last night, the godparents — usually if it’s a female it’s a godmother and male a godfather — take baskets, destroy the sand painting and place it in the baskets, which they bury with the deceased person because it is a way of sweeping the soul into the underworld.”

The art of constructing tapetes takes simple materials, but it is the sculpting and painting that are time consuming.

“It’s like when you sculpture sand on the beach. You wet the sand and mold it. While it’s still wet, we put the dry pigments on top,” she said.

Mexic-Arte celebrated the life of an artist in a way fitting to Day of the Dead.

“Luis Jiménez was really a wonderful person and I had the pleasure to meet him and the pleasure to know him as a visual artist and friend. He will be greatly missed,” Barraza said.

✯ Pan de Muerto Ingredients: 5 - 6 cups of flour 1/2 cup of sugar 2 packets of dry yeast 1 teaspoon of salt 1 tablespoon of anise seed 1/2 cup of milk 1/2 cup of water 1/2 cup of butter 4 eggs Directions In a large mixing bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups of flour, yeast, salt, anise seed and sugar. Mix thoroughly.

In a small pan, heat the milk, water and butter nearly to a boil.

Stir the warm liquid into the dry mixture until thoroughly blended.

Mix in the eggs and add remaining flour gradually as needed until the dough is soft and not tacky.

Knead the dough on a floured board about ten minutes.

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl in a warm environment. Cover it to prevent drying. Near sea level, the dough should rise for about 1-1/2 hours until it has doubled in size.

Remove the dough from the bowl and press it into a circular shape, adding additional molded or sculpted shapes of bones or a skull to the top. Let the sculpted bread rise for an additional hour.

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Bake for 40 minutes, until golden brown.

After baking, sprinkle lightly with confectioner’s sugar topped with colored sugar (which may be sprinkled on to make a design). You may also want to add a glaze (shown below), which will help hold sugar in place.

Glaze for Pan de Muertos David Racino/Star photo THE MASTERS: Creative writing graduate student Collin Bayless reads from his poem “The Words are Coming” during a master of fine arts reading Wednesday evening at the Southwestern Writers Collection in Alkek Library.

handicap.

“I think we are full of imperfections and stories help us deal with imperfections and being human in an imperfect world,” Bayless said.

Erin Feldman, a second-year poetry student in the MFA graduate program, said it was her first time to read and that she hopes it is a learning experience.

“I enjoy listening to other students because I learn from them … it is a good way for undergraduates who are interested in writing to get a feel for the writing program here and to learn about different styles,” Feldman said.

Feldman generally writes about mother-daughter relationships, but hopes to branch out in the future.

Michele Miller, marketing and media relations coordinator at the Southwestern Writers Collection, said they planned to host the recital at the collection in order to inspire the next generation of writers.

“What is a better way than to have the next generation to read in the Southwestern Writers collection? The collection is already

blazing the trail for the new folks. You can see the path in this exhibit … this showcase shows things that are now famous,” Miller said.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup fresh orange juice 2 tablespoons grated orange peel for zest Directions: Mix sugar, orange juice and grated orange peel in a saucepan. Boil two minutes.

Brush glaze lightly on bread.

Sprinkle colored sugar on fresh glaze.

Source: Houston Institute for Culture Web site Image courtesy of members.lycos.com/entradas

TRENDS

Page 8 - The University Star

Thursday, November 2, 2006

Philosophy Dialogue Kent State students experience focuses on Día de New York fashion ideals los Muertos

By Carol Biliczky Akron Beacon Journal

By Jessica Sinn The University Star Every year during Día de los Muertos, indigenous peoples of Mexico invite the dead to eat, drink and be merry with the land of the living. This traditional Mexican holiday stems from a unique blend of customs and rituals practiced by various cultures.

Wednesday, the Philosophy Dialogue Series featured a lecture on Día de los Muertos.

Psychology professor Roque Mendez explained how the holiday�s traditions originate from an infusion of ancient Aztec and European beliefs and rituals.

Mendez said that in Mexico, people believe death is not the end. It is believed that the dead continue to exist as they journey through the realm of the afterlife and still connect with the land of the living.

“According to old Mexican beliefs, the dead are never really gone,” Mendez said. “Death, according to many, does not remove someone from their family, either physically or spiritually.”

Mendez said that Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day, is the day for the dearly departed to communicate, interact, comfort and break bread with the living. He said that this is not a somber holiday; it’s a time to celebrate a reconnection with dead loved ones.

“On this day, the dead are believed to return to earth to rejoice with their families,” Mendez said. “Family members are told not to cry and are encouraged to be happy because the souls of their loved ones are returning.”

Mendez said that according to the ancient Mesoamericans, the

dead are not removed from their families. Also, the attainment of the afterlife is established on how someone died, not on how they lived.

“People who died on a sacrificial stone, in war or while giving birth, would go with the god of war and the god of the sun, known as ‘the Hummingbird of the South,’ or Uitzilopochtli,” Mendez said. “It was believed that their souls would return to earth as butterflies or as birds.”

Mendez emphasized that not all Día de los Muertos traditions come from the Aztecs. Ancient European tribes contributed to the widespread tradition of food offerings for the dead. According to Mendez, the European Celts celebrated the dead by offering lavish banquets.

“I want to emphasize that the idea of the dead being with us is not unique to the Aztecs,” Mendez said. “The Celts celebrated the festival of Samhain, the Celtic lord of the dead. The druids would wait for their dead relatives and provided feasts for them during the harvest time.”

According to Mendez, “trickor-treating” stems from the ritual of giving alms (food and money) to the poor, which was developed by the Catholic Church in Europe.

“The Catholic Church stamped out the practice of setting aside food for the dead.

Instead they encouraged giving food to the poor,” Mendez said.

“Beggars would walk the street and ask for ‘alms for the soul.’”

Les Adams, business management junior, said that he chose to attend this dialogue because he’s interested in learning more about Mexican traditions.

“I don’t know much about the topic, but I’m very interested to hear more about cultural celebrations.”

For years, Kent State University fashion students spent a few whirlwind days each spring ogling designs and scooping up exotic fabrics in New York City.

Now KSU has taken a step forward with a satellite campus in the Big Apple. It is believed to be one of the few programs of its kind nationwide, KSU Fashion School director Elizabeth Rhodes said.

“New York is like a textbook,” she said. “Students don’t have to live in New York forever, but they need to read the book thoroughly.’’

Fashion is one of the hot programs at Kent State. Enrollment has tripled to 950 students since Rhodes became director in 1994.

“These are high-profile programs,’’ said Tim Chandler, dean of the KSU College of the Lew Stamp/Akron Beacon Journal Arts. “You need to keep ahead FASHION SCHOOL: Jocelyn Simms, senior design student at the Fashion School at Kent State of the game.’’

He believes the semester in University who attended the campus extension in New York last year, works on her senior project New York — formally called Oct. 20. the NYC Studio Experience — will further boost enrollment while improving the quality January to May. take classes, including mens- whelmed.’’ and breadth of instruction.

The university is renting a wear design under designer R. Moffatt fits the bill of the But it wasn’t easy to get off renovated building at 315 W. Scott French and color fore- typical KSU fashion student the ground.

39th St. in the heart of the Gar- casting under Margaret Walch, — from Ohio, with little or no Administrators spent five ment District, or Fashion Cen- head of the Color Association, experience in New York City, years developing the program ter, as it’s called now. which is in the same building as enrolled in merchandising. and coming up with funding to The 3,000 square feet has the NYC Studio.

That is the largest and most help bankroll it. KSU alumna a computer lab, lecture room In addition, many will get popular program in the FashLinda Allard, the retired design and workroom with sewing internships and part-time jobs ion School, Rhodes said. director for Ellen Tracy fash- machines, model forms and the that they can parlay into fullThe other major, fashion deions, gave $1 million for an en- like. time positions when they grad- sign, is limited to 90 freshman dowment and $300,000 in cash KSU students stay at the uate. each year, who compete for to get it operating. Other bene- nearby New Yorker through a Student Courtney Moffatt admission through drawings, factors also contributed. nonprofit company called Edu- of Dublin, Ohio, landed an sewing and an essay, in addiThe program launched softly cational Housing. Cost for a de- unpaid internship working 24 tion to conventional academic last spring with 25 junior fash- luxe double room is $8,000 per hours a week at Versace, where requirements. ion students who volunteered student per semester, according she said she showed collections As for KSU administrators, for the inaugural semester. It to its Web site. to buyers and photographed they have goals of their own. was a rocky start, given that While Kent found it hard to collections.

They signed a lease that alchairs and lighting didn’t get attract busy fashion designers She also juggled 18 credit lows them to grow the studio there on time and computers to the university, there are fewer hours — a full load is 15 or 16 space as the program grows. didn’t work at first. scheduling roadblocks in New — and worked part time at a And Chandler, hopes to make Now all the pieces are in place York, so designers and other in- nearby Express clothing store. the space available to students for another semester of 35 to 40 dustry professionals can come “I was kinda surprised how in Kent’s music, art and theater students next spring. Kent is on to students, Rhodes said.

I fell in with the routine of the programs, who also could bensemesters, so “spring’’ means This spring’s students will city,’’ she said. “I never felt over- efit from toeholds in New York.

TRENDS

Thursday, November 2, 2006

The University Star - Page 9

Vallejo performance to support discussion at Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference

By Charlotte Almazan The University Star For its third-annual show, the Stars of Texas Music Legacy series has invited singer/songwriter Lavelle White and Latin rock band Vallejo to perform Friday on behalf of a combined agenda.

The Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference, which began Wednesday and continues through Saturday, will include the Stars of Texas Legacy concert to promote the theme of contemporary diversity.

Lawrence Estaville, geography professor, played a central role in bringing the conference to Texas State. The Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference is an interdisciplinary event focused on generating discussions based on diversity and equality issues.

“They were thinking of the West Coast, but we talked them into coming to Texas. We want to emphasize to our students and the community that Texas State is interested in diversity,” Estaville said.

Photo courtesy of www.vallejomusic.com The Legacy Series moved its showcase to coincide with the conference LOCAL FLAVOR: Vallejo will play the LBJ Student Center at 9 p.m. Friday as part of when members of both organizations the third-annual Stars of Texas Music Legacy series.

recognized a commonly occurring theme.

“This year, when we found out they were doing the Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference, Estaville called me, and … we just decided to pair them up,” said Gary Hartman, director of the Center for Texas Music History at Texas State.

When Richard Cheatham, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, and Hartman first worked together, their goal was to promote music diversity. “(Cheatham) and I have put on several musical events on campus. Typically, we try to bring an established veteran coupled with an up-and-coming band,” Hartman said.

Now that the Legacy Series has paired up with the conference, its mission has strengthened beyond music appreciation.

“This is the first time we’ve taken two different bands from two different ethnic backgrounds,” Hartman said.

“For the conference, they wanted to represent ethnic diversity. We thought we would try it.”

The concert will conclude a dining

Thursday

Saturday

Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide From the Wittliff Gallery’s major collection of Iturbide’s work, the exhibit includes self-portraits, portraits, famous works and never-before-exhibited images by one of Mexico’s greatest photographers. The show coincides with publication of the ninth volume in the Wittliff Gallery Book Series from the University of Texas Press.

The exhibition is located in the Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern and Mexican photography on the seventh floor of Alkek Library.

Exhibit hours: Monday/Tuesday/Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday/ Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Call (512) 245-2313 for more information.

Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide

Carole Greer — 10times3 Exhibit This exhibit is a retrospective and celebration of art and design professor Carole Greer’s 30 years at Texas State. Greer will retire at the end of the Fall 2006 semester.

The exhibit is located in Gallery II of the Joann Cole Mitte Art Building.

Gallery hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday/ Sunday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call (512) 245-2664 for more information.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Mari Omori — Sculptural Installation A native of Japan, Houston artist Mari Omori makes sculptural installations that revolve around the notions of identity, self and cultural memory through a variety of materials and media.

The exhibit is located in Gallery I of the Joann Cole Mitte Art Building.

Gallery hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday/ Sunday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call (512) 245-2664 for more information.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Philosophy Dialogue: Capital Punishment Lecturer: Rudy Perales, Philosophy Dialogue student Time: 12:30 p.m.

Location: Psychology Building, Room 132 Hettie Jones Activist, editor, poet and author Hettie Jones, a founding figure of the Beat Movement of the 1950s, is best known for her memoir How I Became Hettie Jones, which chronicles her years with former husband Amiri Baraka and her own growing desires as an artist. The event will include live jazz music and a reception at the Mitte Honors Coffee House before Jones reads from her works and speaks to the audience.

Time: 5 p.m.

Friday Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection: A 20th Anniversary Celebration Carole Greer — 10times3 Exhibit Mari Omori — Sculptural Installation Philosophy Dialogue: What is Life? A Biological Perspective Lecturer: Jonas Rosenthal, Texas State alumnus Time: Noon Location: Psychology Building, Room 132 Stars of Texas State Music History Legacy Series: White and Vallejo Lavelle White and Vallejo will perform in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom in conjunction with the Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference.

White’s roots are in the blues, gospel, funk and R&B. She has been inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame. A striking blend of modern rock grooves, potent guitar work, Latin percussion and soulful lyrics has made Vallejo one of the most popular bands to hail from Austin.

Time: 8 p.m.

Only 9 more University Star’s left this semester!

Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection: A 20th Anniversary Celebration Carole Greer — 10times3 Exhibit Mari Omori — Sculptural Installation Senior Recital Kim Beene, student of Adah Toland Jones, performs on flute in the Music Building recital hall. Call (512) 245-2651 for more information.

Time: 2 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

Bobcat Ball LAMBDA of Texas State will host a charity drag show at Gordo’s on The Square. The theme is Heaven & Hell for Sinners & Saints. Professional performer Kelly Kline will host, and the show features Texas State’s own Brian Emmanuel as Eva Divine. The event benefits OutYouth Austin, which is faced with financial troubles and on the brink of closing. Call (512) 663-9424 for more information.

Time 9:30 p.m.

Tickets: $6 for 21 and up, $8 for under 21

Sunday Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Carole Greer — 10times3 Exhibit Mari Omori — Sculptural Installation

Monday Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection: A 20th Anniversary Celebration Carole Greer — 10times3 Exhibit Mari Omori — Sculptural Installation CASA Ceramics Sale The Ceramic Arts Student Association will hold their semester sale.

Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: LBJ Student Center Mall Philosophy Dialogue: Philosophy of the Novel Lecturer: Robert Tally, English professor Time: 1 p.m.

Location: Psychology Building, Room 132 Percussion Ensemble and PASIC Drum Line Students from the Tuesday/Thursday percussion class will perform with the drum line in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom. Call (512) 245-2651 for more information.

Time: 8 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

Tuesday Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection: A 20th Anniversary Celebration

event at the LBJ Student Center, with White performing at 8 p.m. and Vallejo following at 9 p.m.

“With our dining event … we have themed them accordingly. Friday night, the evening with White, will fit right in perfectly with our themed dinner,” Estaville said.

As a member of the Austin Music Hall of Fame, White established her music career by performing roots and blues. The music veteran said she looks forward to entertaining the crowd at every performance.

“I don’t need much influence as long as I’ve been in it,” said White. “I’m singing for the audience. I’m not singing for myself. I’m singing for the people I’m here to entertain.”

When describing White, Hartman emphasized that she is a dynamite, soulful blues singer. As for her pairing with Vallejo, Hartman explained that it was their youthful Latin influence that placed the band on the bill.

“Vallejo. They are a young, up-andcoming band. It’s hard to peg their music because they are not a Tejano band. They are a Latino band,” Hartman said.

Carole Greer — 10times3 Exhibit Mari Omori — Sculptural Installation CASA Ceramics Sale Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: The Quad Philosophy Dialogue: Essential Poetics Lecturer: Jacob Kidd, English graduate student Time: 12:30 p.m.

Location: Psychology Building, Room 132 The Rocky Horror Show Is everyone ready to do the time warp again? This campy, cult classic immortalized on film is coming to Texas State as a live performance. Join Brad and Janet as they stumble into the strange world of the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, that sweet transvestite who is cooking up his latest creation, Rocky. Rocky Horror is an audience-participation musical that pays kitschy homage to 1950s sci-fi B-movies with a winking nod at the sexual revolution. The musical, written by Richard O’Brian and directed

by Jay Jennings, will be performed at the MainStage/Theater Center. For mature audiences. Call the theatre and dance departmental office at (512) 245-2147 for more information.

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10 general admission, $5 for students Percussion Ensemble and Steel Drum Band Genaro Gonzalez will direct students from the Monday/Wednesday percussion class performing with the band in Evans Auditorium. Contact (512) 245-2651 for more information.

Time: 8 p.m.

Tickets: $2 general admission, $1 for students Jazz Night at George’s Time: 9 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public

Wednesday Ojos Para Volar/Eyes to Fly With: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide Treasures of the Southwestern Writers Collection: A 20th Anniversary Celebration Carole Greer — 10times3 Exhibit Mari Omori — Sculptural Installation CASA Ceramics Sale Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: LBJ Student Center Mall Philosophy Dialogue: Augustine’s Confessions as Literature and Philosophy Lecturer: Dean Geuras, philosophy professor Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Psychology Building, Room 132 The Rocky Horror Show SACA Movie Night The Student Association for Campus Activities hosts a screening of Invincible at the LBJ Amphitheatre.

Time: 8 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

Music Lecture Series Joe Stuessy, director of the school of music, will present the lecture “An Analysis of the ‘Love Duet’ from Merry Mount Suite by Howard Hanson” in the Music Building recital hall. Call (512) 245-2651 for more information.

Time: 8 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

TRENDS/DIVERSIONS

Page 10 - The University Star

Thursday, November 2, 2006

RIX’S

✯Star Comics

TECHNOLOGY FIXES

MySpace, Facebook battle for popularity in fickle young-adult market In an act that must thankful the fickle have made pedophiles young-adult marand amateur metal bands ket is swinging in a worldwide issue moans of direction less predwoe, staff writer for The atory. At least FaceWashington Post Yuki Nobook looks good. guchi wrote Sunday that MySpace looks MySpace might finally be like it’s hosted on BILL RIX going the way of Xanga Tripod. Better yet, Star Copy Chief and Friendster. Although it’s the Gruene of Google Trends doesn’t the Internet. Gently report that MySpace on the resisting W3C standards since whole is on the decline, as of 2003. The interface is suiting, late it’s been spiking harder I guess, for Avril Lavigne and up and down. Facebook is still Bowling for Soup videos. But dwarfed by the News Corporareally, how many green-fonttion-owned social networking on-black-background Web site, but the buzz is the two are pages can you look at? And the trading places. A ton of college videos? Come on. They are emstudents already use Facebook, bedded as Flash. Blue Gene/L, but recent improvements to an IBM supercomputer, can’t the site, such as the ability to scroll smoothly down the averupload poorly shot video, write age MySpace page. depressing notes that no one What’s the next Facebook, will read and add “Shares” will though? In a year or so, after only up the ante for the battle everyone realizes that Facebook at hand. is as lame as MySpace, where Facebook is aggressively gowill people turn? One of my ing after MySpace, and while I hopes — of which there are find displeasure in both of the many — is that people might Web sites, I can’t help but be just up and realize that, hey,

Web sites dedicated to social networking are inherently antisocial, so why not stop using them altogether? Their ostensible purpose is lost purely by their existence.

What are these sites, anyway, other than a glorified Web log? Sure, you add photos and video, but that’s nothing an FTP client and a WYSIWYG HTML editor can’t fix. Google’s Blogger lets you link to other sites, which is similar to adding friends on Facebook or to the “Top Friends” area on MySpace.

Dotcoms are easily come by, and some service providers offer ad-free space for less than a quarter a day.

I’m not that dense, though. I know any site that lets teenagers and young adults act in a flagrantly duplicitous manner and upload photos of themselves with a traffic pylon on their head will go gangbusters.

It’s only a matter of time before the next big (read: stunningly bad) thing will come along and unseat Facebook.

SU DO KU Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3-by-3 box contains every digit from one through nine inclusively.

Yesterday’s solutions:

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OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

onlineconnection Do you think students who are paid by candidates should be involved in on-campus political organizations? Go to www.UniversityStar.com to vote in our online poll. Results will be published in Thursday’s issue of The University Star.

Thursday, November 2, 2006 - Page 11

*This is not a scientific poll

Opinions Contact — Emily Messer, staropinion@txstate.edu

T

he San Marcos Animal Shelter is overrun with unwanted animals and understaffed with employees and volunteers needed to help the animals find possible homes.

The result is the euthanization of 1,325 animals from August 2005 through August 2006. Officials estimate that number will soon double as the city accepts unwanted animals from the rest of the county.

Next week, The University Star will publish a story that examines the euthanization process at the San Marcos Animal Shelter. The reporter collected 21 pages of notes and contacted more than half a dozen experts in the field regarding euthanasia practices.

Elaine Wood, American Humane Association shelter services manager, said the only method of euthanization the organization advocates is lethal injection. During the process, the animal is held and caressed rather than being placed in a box. Therefore, some see the practice as more humane.

Two years ago, the San Antonio ExpressNews ran an exposé on the city’s pound, which, at the time, put to sleep more cats and dogs per capita than any American city. The results the Express-News found were grim.

Animals were unlikely to find a home and the pound did little to attract volunteers, create animal rescue initiatives or take on more humane practices of handling animals.

The newspaper also highlighted a model animal shelter in San Diego, Calif. The shelter had heaps of volunteers who contributed a total of 13,000 hours the previous year. San Diego also chose to euthanize animals only through lethal injection.

San Antonio and Austin have done away with carbon monoxide chambers, establishing community standards of the euthanization of animals. However, San Marcos has not adopted these standards.

When procedures are properly followed, gassing is a humane choice of euthanization, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. But some advocates say lethal injection is the most humane way to euthanize animals. The city has the ability to provide lethal injection but does so only on limited occasions.

The county and the city have struck a deal in which the San Marcos Animal Shelter is already accepting all unwanted animals around the county. In 2007, the animal shelter will be receiving funds for expansion. Once the shelter has trained more staff members, it plans to transition into lethal injection.

The San Marcos Animal Shelter could euthanize less unwanted animals if residents take proactive measures. Pet owners have a responsibility to get their animals spayed or neutered.

The numbers of people at the shelter are also paltry. The animal services staff is comprised of 12 employee spots, two of which are vacant.

Volunteer efforts are necessary. A city or student initiative to help establish an adoption outreach program with the shelter would be a much-needed action.

San Marcos has the chance to adopt community standards and create a friendly atmosphere for its animals.

SHELTER SOLUTIONS

Zone law applies to all residents I have read the articles and letters in The University Star’s last four newspapers and I would like to try and address some of the concerns the students have about the R1 or SF6 single-family residential zoning.

This is not a new zoning law. It has been around for at least 30 years. It is not a law that is unique to San Marcos; most cities have zoning laws.

The purpose of zoning laws is not to segregate people but to give people a choice of where they want to live and how they want to live. Every subdivision has deed restrictions that state the same thing as the zoning law.

I bought my house in the Castle Forest subdivision because it had a deed restriction saying it was singlefamily and the zoning law backed it up. College students are welcome in our neighborhood if they want to live by the deed restrictions and the zoning laws, just like the rest of us in the neighborhood.

We are not asking the college students to do anything we are not willing to do ourselves. And there is no animosity between us and the students who are living by the same rules. Civilization is made up of rules and we cannot pick and choose which rules we will adhere to and which ones we will ignore without consequences.

There is room in San Marcos for all types of people, and I hope through education we can all learn to live together in harmony. The single-family rule is that a family and one unrelated person can live in the home. Multifamily allows for more people in a home, duplex, condo, or apartment.

Residents can decrease number of euthanized animals

Sherri Bilson Castle Forest neighborhood representative Editor’s note: The University Star did not receive letters to the editor from Oct. 8 to 25 because of a technical problem through the online letters system. Additional letters will be published on www.UniversityStar.com.

Think you have something to say? Log on to www.universitystar.com and click on the letters link to read old letters and submit new ones.

Online Poll Results Candidates and ASG

W Pat Stark/Star illustration

THE MAIN POINT

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 University-San Marcos Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State UniversitySan Marcos.

BET not only television network that degrades women The other day I was hanging out with a friend, and we were flipping through the channels. The TV ended up on Black Entertainment BRANDON SIMMONS Television. My Star Columnist friend was disgusted with choice.

He told me how horrible BET is. He told me how bad the shows are. He told me the content is not really deep and the videos are degrading to women.

But what about shows like The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Flavor of Love and magazines like King, FHM, Stuff?

What about society in general? I usually hear this about BET and have always been amazed at the blame the network takes for all the programs people view.

BET is also catching a lot of flack for its content being bland and not exciting. Some people believe BET is stuck in a rut with its programming.

“All they do is show music videos,” said Tony Bowler, a business administration junior. “You think they would show stuff that’s going on in Africa, politics, (shows for) black business owners and more things than music videos.”

Well, surprisingly to its critics, BET

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does show more than music videos.

In fact, the network does not show many videos. During its regular daily program schedule, which is 20 hours, the network shows approximately six hours worth of videos. Considering one of those shows, 106 and Park, is a repeat from the day before, the time is even less. The rest of the time is filled with original series and syndicated sitcoms.

Some of those series include the BET Awards, College Hill and recent reality shows that feature recording artists DMX, Keyshia Cole, and Lil’ Kim. The Lil’ Kim reality show entitled Countdown to Lockdown pulled in some of the biggest ratings in the network’s history along with the BET Awards, which is one of the highest-rated awards show in television history. Even though the regular news show was cancelled, the network has still managed to give the news in a manner similar to MTV, which is to show some news briefs at certain time spots within the hour.

As a network of entertainment, it not only uses television shows and news pieces for its content but also videos, which some viewers believe have disparaging images.

“As the president of an organization that specifically aims to combat and dispel the stereotypes of black women,

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I find the videos offensive because women are treated as property,” said Mallory Banks, president of Black Women United and communication design junior.

Yet these women do have a choice.

Another part of the videos is not just the images of women, but the stereotypical images that seem to be shown about black people overall.

“If I lived in Utah and never encountered a black person before and I had cable watched BET, I would probably assume that black women were gold diggers and would do anything for money, black men are rappers and potheads (and) that they are angry deadbeats,” Banks said.

Deadbeats can be found on any TV network. Just watch The Maury Show or any other daytime talk show. On the paternity test episodes, the women are perceived as unfaithful or promiscuous. You can see shows such as Fear Factor, in which people will give up their safety, along with their common sense, all for a chance to win some money that will not be much after taxes.

BET has its faults, but there are plenty of shows on other networks plenty of times worse. It’s one thing for music videos to degrade women, but what about television shows? Take Flavor of

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Love. Flavor Flav is not even a rapper, but a hype-man who has a house full of women he picks from to be someone he can “kick it” with. Flavor Flav is creating a negative image of not only black men but all men and bringing embarrassment to his long-time rap group Public Enemy, which focused on social issues.

“He is kissing one girl one minute and chasing another girl and telling them ‘I love you,’” said Robert Pennon, Black Men United president and finance junior. “It’s basically objectifying him as a pimp.”

BET is as good as any network or just as worse. They are all after ratings.

You would expect BET, MTV and VH1 to all do the same thing because they are owned by the same company (Viacom) ever since Bob Johnson sold BET in 2001.

“It’s black TV, but it’s not owned by us,” said Pennon. “We have a say, but it all comes down to the corporate office.”

People need to write to the corporate offices of television networks and voice their opinions. But don’t just complain about BET as one network when the problem is all over television. It is all Bad Entertainment Television.

Brandon Simmons is a pre-mass communication sophomore

hat do you think of the Associated Student Government Think you have something to not say? contacting Log on to www.universitystar.com and click on the letters candidates from link to read old letters and submit new ones. both sides of a race to speak at their meetings?

There’s nothing wrong with it

57% They should contact candidates from both sides

42% Not sure/I don’t know

1%

Results compiled from The University Star Web site online poll. This is not a scientific survey.

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SPORTS

Thursday, November 2, 2006

The University Star - Page 13

SOCCER: Conner looking to add Football teams celebrate 8th fourth conference title to collection annual ‘Battle for the Paddle’ CONTINUED from page 14

three conference tournament championships during her tenure, in 1999, 2001 and 2004.

The coach recognized a simi-

larity in attack styles between her last champion and this season’s squad.

“The three-front drive was an option attack in 2004,” Conner said. “It puts teams on their

heels when we are penetrating the runs and it gives our team confidence. We’ll just go with our same formation with short passes and try to get in behind the defense.”

Deleigh Hermes/Star file photo TOURNEY TIME: Freshman forward Lindsay Tippit fights for control during a recent game. The soccer team has decided to take on Northwestern State as its opening game for the Southland Conference Tournament at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.

Soccer falls short of expectations, potential JAVIER GONZÁLEZ Guest Columnist

We’ve all heard the idea that education doesn’t just take place in the formal classroom setting, but everywhere. If that is any indication of the Bobcat soccer team, as seen from their season, then they haven’t really learned anything at all.

The players know by heart how to attend classes. They also know how to pay attention in them. But classes can take place anywhere these days. Among those is the Bobcat Soccer Complex, the host of this season’s Southland Conference Tournament.

Last time I attended classes, I paid so much attention that I can describe every detail of them, from the restless attention span of the students to the monotone voice of the professor to what actually was lectured on rather than what the syllabi said.

Somehow I don’t think the women on the soccer team have that same attention span.

Maybe that is because of the idea that they don’t believe the soccer pitch is a classroom.

Maybe they haven’t seen the commercials of collegiate student athletes stressing, “Every time we step onto the court,

class is in session.” Or maybe they haven’t really learned how to perform at the college level.

During Homecoming weekend, I witnessed a really bad showing of a soccer game against Northwestern State. The game was also tabbed as Senior Day, when one would think the team would want to play better in what could have been the last home game of the seniors’ careers.

Yes, they won the match — 10 in overtime. Yes, they played one of their rivals, which, regardless of the occasion, would make any team bump up the desire to win. But the fact remains that they still played Bobcat soccer.

Whether you are a student or a Texas State sports fan who watches the soccer team on a regular basis, it is worth mentioning that the same less-thandecent brand of soccer that takes place week in and week out at the Bobcat Soccer Complex is what those fans have to settle with for roughly 90 minutes.

It probably would not have mattered if the women were playing for the NCAA Championship of Division I-A women’s soccer or the FIFA Women’s World Cup — they still cannot seem to break away from the tendencies that hinder their game.

As students of the game, the team has a certain style it is coached to play. But one must ask if the players are indeed paying attention to that request when they don’t play to their potential or in line with the coach’s direction.

I’ve even talked to Coach Kat Conner about some of this and, if she were to read this, I guarantee she would agree with most of it.

There are several different aspects of the beautiful game of soccer that our women could use to improve their own. I’ve seen them employed properly with European soccer players; they know how to use the pitch with its size and their team’s formation of play properly as well as possess the ball with smooth, fluent and momentum-building passes.

They also know when to take on-target and accurate shots if they know they can hit them to score. These are among the factors of play that the majority of the women’s soccer team never seems to employ.

Here, fans must bare witness to passes in the air with little or no control and no real thought of possession in mind, with attacking-based plays used more often than needed. I don’t think I can ever recall a team having an attacking frame of mind and still play well for the whole 90 minutes.

Texas State soccer could be grand. It could be fantastic. It could be wonderful, wonderful soccer to watch. Only it’s not.

If you’re looking for the reason behind that, unfortunately I cannot give it to you. I’m only a thoroughly devoted fan and player who has attended his classes, paid attention and knows what to look for in a soccer match. One can only hope the women’s soccer team will do the same this weekend.

By Jacob Mustafa The University Star At first, it was just a few hours. The delays kept coming as the Texas State Bobcats ate extra pre-game meals until they were told that this game, their Homecoming game, would be cancelled.

Then they found out why.

In 1998, one of the worst floods in San Marcos history destroyed homes, businesses and Texas State’s campus, inducing the cancellation of a Homecoming game against Nicholls State. The make-up of that game created a rivalry between the two schools for the “Battle for the Paddle”, the annual game that is being played Thursday in which one of the two programs walks away with the aforementioned paddle, which Nicholls State currently holds.

A few current Texas State staffers, including Coach David Bailiff, are holdovers from the 1998 team. Bailiff ’s own memories of the day begin by leaving the campus.

“Well, we heard it was going to rain pretty badly. Half the staff stayed to visit, and the other half left to go home,” said Bailiff, a defensive coordinator at the time. “I left.”

Bailiff went to his house, which rests on a hill and was mostly unaffected, and came in to work the next morning greeted by an unusual sight.

“There were pumpkins everywhere, all over the street,” said Bailiff, who was seeing the remains of a pumpkin stand set up for Halloween season.

“I thought to myself, ‘Someone vandalized the pumpkin stand!’”

Wide receivers coach Travis Bush was a player for the Bobcats at the time and remembers all of the delays to the game and its subsequent cancellation, including the anxiety that came with it.

“It was hard, because you prepare all week and then it’s just gone,” said Bush. “You have this mental lock that starts about Thursday, but then it was cancelled.”

His feelings about the situation were not only of disappointment; he was also worried about the massive amount of people who usually come to a Homecoming game, including his own loved ones.

“There was a huge concern, cause our families are coming and all of these people are going to try and be there,” Bush said. “Personally, I was alright.

The power went out while I was stuck in a girls’ dorm, so it worked out OK for me.”

Bush’s former teammate and current co-worker, cornerbacks coach Jason Washington, remembers his experiences in the flood well. He feels lucky that he had his black Honda Accord that led him to friends at Hillside Ranch for the night and was away from his residence hall.

“I was fortunate to have those guys, because it was not just about football at that point,” said Washington. “It was about the safety of the individuals.”

The actual volume of the flood amazed him, never having seen anything like it.

“It was amazing how it just kept on raining and kept on raining and kept on raining,” Washington said.

Whenever the rain was over

and the two schools conferred over whether they should play this game, they ultimately decided on a later replacement game. Washington vividly recalls his first reaction to the idea of a make-up game, a game that would be known as the first “Battle for the Paddle”.

“We heard there might be one (make-up game), and honestly, we got really excited,” said Washington. “And that’s what I know now, that this would start a tradition, this ‘Battle for the Paddle’.”

Seven years later, Bush’s primary concern is the upcoming game, which he calls a “grudge match” he thinks can only help increase the importance of this conference game. As the Bobcats look forward to Thursday’s chance to reclaim the paddle, Washington concurred with Bush in the notion that this is more than just a game, but perhaps for different reasons.

“I think it symbolizes a lot to everyone,” said Washington. “I think it brought a lot of people together; the team and this football game helped the town get through that chaos.”

t was “I amazing how it just kept

on raining, and kept on raining, and kept on raining.”

- Jason Washington cornerbacks coach

SPORTS

bearkat beating

THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Volleyball emerged victorious Wednesday night, defeating Sam Houston in a comefrom-behind, five-game contest at Strahan Coliseum. Texas State jumped ahead with a dominating performance in game one, winning 16-30. Sam Houston then took the next

Thursday, November 2, 2006 - Page 14

two games and led 29-27 in the fourth period.

Texas State was able to reel off four straight points to regain control, the last two on kills from Emily Jones. The Bobcats finished the match with a 15-12 win in game five. Go to www.UniversityStar.com for the full story.

Sports Contact — Chris Boehm, starsports@txstate.edu

Playoff hopes hinge on beating Nicholls State

By Nathan Brooks The University Star Texas State’s conference championship hopes are hanging on by a thread heading into Thursday’s “Battle For the Paddle” against Nicholls State.

The Bobcats are technically alive in a wide-open Southland Conference race, but the team knows the road to repeating as champions is going to be difficult.

“We put ourselves in a bad situation by losing last week,” said Chase Wasson, senior wide receiver. “So now we have to win out and see what the other teams do.”

In the 42-year history of the SLC, no team has won a conference championship with two losses, but that all could change this year with three teams currently sitting at 2-1 in conference action. The Bobcats, 2-2 in SLC action, are not far behind McNeese State, Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin, but they are going to need a lot of help to get back to the top.

The Colonels are also still alive in the conference race with a 12 mark in league play and a 3-5 record overall.

Both teams are working on short rest after playing games last Saturday, which only adds to improbable odds facing both teams in their run at defending the crown they shared last season.

“Normally, we give the guys Sunday off,” Bailiff said. “They were really sore, but we had to practice Sunday night because of the Thursday game time.”

Nicholls State is coming off a 44-0 victory over Assumption College Saturday. The Colonels registered 520 yards of total offense under freshman quarterback Zack Chauvin, who made his first collegiate start against the Division II team.

Chauvin threw for 114 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to 90 yards on the ground.

“He was very consistent,” Bailiff said. “They’ve been dealing with a lot of turnovers, and he didn’t have any. I would bet they’ve found their quarterback after the way he handled himself in his first start last week.”

The Thibodaux High School standout is the third starting quarterback the Colonels have used this season in an attempt to get their vaunted triple option offense going after scoring a total seven points in their previous two games against Northwestern State and Sam Houston State.

Despite the fourth-ranked rushing offense in the country at 235.6 yards per game, Nicholls State has struggled with turnovers and scoring this season.

The Colonels have lost 20 fumbles and are averaging only 18.1 points per game this season.

“There is added anxiety this week because they run an option offense,” Bailiff said. “It is such a rare offense, but we’ve had a good week of practice and we have good retention from last year when we played both them and Georgia Southern.”

Nicholls State will look to a stable of running backs to help Chauvin against the Bobcats’ second-ranked run defense. Michael McLendon leads all rushers with 360 yards on 7.5 yards per carry Cotton Miller/Star photo in his first season with the team PADDLE PRACTICE: Freshman running back Alvin Canaday runs drills during the football team’s Wednesday afternoon practice at Bobafter transferring from Pearl Rivcat Stadium. The Bobcats take on Nicholls State 7 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium. er Community College.

On defense, the Colonels are amongst the best in the conference, ranking first in scoring terceptions, and three pass break “They are very solid, defensive- injured his thumb in last week’s normal receiving duties. defense allowing 20.9 points per ups. ly,” Bailiff said. “But we are going game.

Bailiff said his team’s success game, and second in total deNicholls State will face off to do what we do. On a short “I broke my thumb on the first lies in its ability to stop the Colofense surrendering only 289.5 against the league’s top passing week, you really can’t change a play of the game,” Wasson said. nels’ ball-control offense. yards per game. offense in Texas State. The Bob- whole lot.”

“So this week has been really “Nicholls State will always have Nicholls State also has the top cats are looking to rebound from This week the team will re- tough on me, but I’ll be ready to a high-ranked defense because of pass defense, led by senior safety last week’s disappointing per- tain the services of wide receiver go.” what they do offensively,” Bailiff Toney Edison, who leads the formance against Northwestern Chase Wasson, second on the Wasson will also handle punt said. “Teams will lose a lot of posteam with 42.5 tackles, two in- State. club with 20 receptions. Wasson returning duties as well as his session time.”

State Farm Southland Conference Soccer Tournament set to begin Thursday

By Carl Harper The University Star Despite the football team’s troubles, playoff fútbol is still coming to San Marcos.

The Southland Conference Tournament starts Thursday at the Bobcat Soccer Complex and Texas State enters as the fifth seed. The team had the option to pick which game time it wanted to play as the host school and

✯

elected to play 4:00 p.m. against Northwestern State.

In 2005, the Demons hosted the tournament, knocking the Bobcats out in the second round 3-1 on their way to being crowned as post-season champions. Now the Bobcats are looking to return the favor.

“Last year we lost at their place twice, once during the regular season and then in the tournament,” Assistant Coach

Megan Ramey said. “We are looking to completely switch last year’s story.”

The Lady Demons enter the post season with a 4-3-1 record, good for fourth in the SLC. The winner of the game will play the No. 1-seed Southeastern Louisiana Lions at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

The Lions hold a record of 50-3, with one of those ties coming to the Bobcats back on Oct. 8 when neither team scored a

FYI State Farm Southland Conference Soccer Tournament Schedule: Thursday Game One: Northwestern State vs. Texas State — 4 p.m.

Game Two: Stephen F. Austin vs. McNeese State — 6:30 p.m.

Friday Game Three: Game One Winner vs. Southeastern Louisiana — 4:30 p.m.

Game Four: Game Two Winner vs. Texas-San Antonio — 7 p.m.

Sunday Championship Game — Game Three Winner vs. Game Four Winner — 1 p.m.

goal.

The Bobcats last played the Lady Demons on Oct. 22, in a Senior Day game that featured high intensity and brutal beatings from both sides. Senior forward Kim Phillips, who leads the team with seven goals, knocked in the winning score in overtime to end the match 1-0.

“This game will once again be the battle of the wills between both teams because Northwestern State will be trying to revenge their loss,” Coach Kat Conner said.

Texas State was able to shut down Northwestern State’s offense in the game by out-shooting the team 20-6. Erin Hebert, who leads the Demons in goals and shots, was credited with three shots, while Lauren Miller, third on the team in shots, recorded one. Senior defender Marliese Latiolais was named the SLC Defensive Player of the Week heading into the tournament, after becoming the first player in Lady Demon history to record a goal, assist and save

in the same game during a 7-1 win over Nicholls State.

“It’s going to be a war,” Phillips said. “Everybody has to come ready to play. We will have that home-crowd advantage. We play there day in and day out for practice and games so it’s an advantage for us.”

The Bobcats are 5-3-1 at the soccer complex compared to 07-1 away from it.

“Our field allows us to spread the game out and use our speed,” senior defender Ashley Brown said. “Any other team in our conference hates playing here. To have the tournament here for our senior year is more than anything that we could ask for.”

Brown recorded five shots with one assist in the regular season.

Senior forward Natalie Holder led the Bobcats in goals for 2005, but was only able to find the back of the net once this season, during an exhibition game against St. Mary’s. The goal ended up being the game win-

“T

his game will once again be the battle of the wills between both teams because Northwestern State will be trying to revenge their loss.”

- Kat Conner women’s soccer coach

ner in a1-0 victory at home.

“With our field and our fans, it’s in our hands to win it,” Holder said. “We dominated the whole game last time we played (Northwestern State). The team needs to come out with an attitude that is ready to win.”

Conner has led Texas State to See SOCCER, page 13

NBA Predictions The University Star

With NBA basketball underway, sports staffers let loose their opinions on the upcoming season. See if your inner eye is aligned with these “experts.”

NATHAN BROOKS

Northwest champ Pacific champ Southwest champ Atlantic champ Central champ Southeast champ Western Conference champ Eastern Conference champ NBA champ MVP Rookie of the Year

Denver Phoenix Dallas New Jersey Detroit Miami Phoenix Detroit Detroit Dwayne Wade Brandon Roy

JACOB CALBILLO

Denver Phoenix Dallas New Jersey Detroit Miami San Antonio Miami San Antonio LeBron James Brandon Roy

CARL HARPER

Utah Phoenix San Antonio New Jersey Chicago Miami San Antonio Miami San Antonio Kobe Bryant Brandon Roy

RICHARD LOPEZ

Denver Phoenix San Antonio New Jersey Chicago Miami Phoenix Chicago Chicago LeBron James Adam Morrison

GABE MENDOZA

Denver Phoenix San Antonio New Jersey Detroit Miami San Antonio Chicago San Antonio LeBron James Brandon Roy

JACOB MUSTAFA

Minnesota Phoenix San Antonio New Jersey Chicago Miami San Antonio Cleveland Cleveland LeBron James Randy Foye

GORDON TAYLOR

Denver Phoenix San Antonio New Jersey Chicago Miami San Antonio Chicago San Antonio LeBron James Adam Morrison

WILLIAM WARD

Portland Golden State New Orleans New York Milwaulkee Atlanta Portland Atlanta Atlanta Pavel Podkolzine Chris Quinn