Defending the First Amendment since 1911
PROPOSITION
RESULTS Prop 1: Finance buffer areas adjacent to military installations In Favor 55.19 % Against 44.80 %
Volume 99, Issue 29
04
Fun with beards
WEDNESDAY
NOV
www.UniversityStar.com
No Shave November ushers in a manly month of abstaining from trimming. See story page 5
And then there were two Coppoletta and Thomason head to runoff
Prop 2: Regulate how homestead ad valorem taxes are calculated In Favor 68.23 % Against 31.76 % Prop 3: Provide uniform standards for appraising property In Favor 65.52 % Against 34.47 %
VS.
Prop 4: University fund to assist emerging research universities In Favor 56.65 % Against 43.34 % Prop 5: Single appraisal review board for adjoining entities In Favor 61.82 % Against 38.17 % Prop 6: Authorize the Veterans’ Land Board to issue bonds In Favor 65.67 % Against 34.32 % Prop 7: State Guard officer or member may hold other civil office In Favor 73.09 % Against 26.90 % Prop 8: Authorize the state to contribute to veterans hospitals In Favor 74.82 % Against 25.27 % Prop 9: Protect the right of the public to access public beaches In Favor 77.03 % Against 22.96 Prop 10: ESD board members’ terms may not exceed four years In Favor 73.06 % Against 26.93 % Prop 11: Limits on power of eminent domain In Favor 81.15 % Against 18.84 % —With 98 percent of precincts reporting at press time.
Jake Marx/Star file photo Lisa Marie Coppoletta, Place 5 candidate
By Dj Nutter News Reporter City Council hopeful Ryan Thomason was three votes shy of avoiding a runoff with Lisa Marie Coppoletta Tuesday night. “When you are three votes shy of 50 percent and others are in the 20s, you are obviously in the better position,” Thomason said. Thomason carried 49.9 percent of the total vote, needing only 0..1 percent to clinch Place 5. Coppoletta, Thomason’s opponent in the unscheduled runoff, came in second with 26.2 percent. Shaune Maycock’s chances for election ended last night, as he received 23.91 percent. Early voters were largely in favor of Thomason — 54.13 percent, more than his opponents combined. Thomason said he does not believe irregularities will be found if the electronic
Ryan Thomason, Place 5 candidate
ballots are re-counted. He said there is a possibility a few votes trickling in from over seas could make the upcoming runoff unnecessary. “A few years ago there was a recount and it did change one vote,” Thomason said. “This is certainly a scenario where one vote could change things.” Thomason said he has the next few days to work with the City Elections Office in figuring the runoff date. He said setting a runoff without a “finalized vote” could delay when voters are able to recast their ballots. “I spoke with the elections office earlier tonight,” Thomason said. “They said it would be five to 10 days (before the rerun date is finalized).” Thomason said a rerun is “another month of campaigning,” and will require immediate re-grouping. He rallied supporters at his victory par-
Clay Thorp/Star photo
ty at Jay’s Bistro on The Square last night. Thomason said he was worn out from campaigning and disappointed in the close margin which kept him from victory. Coppoletta initially said she would not have a watch party due to a 20-year family tradition of watching the results at home. Plans were changed when supporters showed interest in hosting her first election watch party. She joined supporters at a private watch party at Wake The Dead off Ranch Road 12. Coppoletta said the runoff gives her further opportunity to continue fighting for “strong governance.” “I want to thank all my supporters for their love and hard work,” Coppoletta said. “I think (San Marcos) is a beautiful town, and I want to keep it that way.” see RUNOFF, page 3
Thomaides takes Place 6
Incumbent takes 35 percent lead over Garcia, Fuller By Chase Birthisel Assistant News Editor
Incumbent John Thomaides won City Council Place 6 with 1,228 votes — 63.36 percent of the total. Thomaides ran against Monica Garcia, who received 560 votes accounting for 28.9 percent, and Anita Fuller, who received 150 votes with 7.74 percent. “I think it proves we have a broad base of support, and the citizens believe in the ideas put forward in the campaign,” Thomaides said. “We didn’t leave any stone unturned. I’m so proud of the effort of the team.” Thomaides said his campaign was successful because of his past experience. “You have to have ideas and prove to the citizens you can back those ideas,” he said.
Today’s Weather
78°/49° Sunny Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 54% UV: 6 High Wind: ENE 4 mph
Thursday
Thomaides held his watch party at Palmer’s Restaurant and Bar, where citizens came to show their support. “He has been a strong, independent voice in the council,” said Dianne Wassenich, executive director of the San Marcos River Foundation. “He makes sure to question everything so it doesn’t just get the rubber stamp.” City Councilmember Gaylord Bose, Place 2, arrived to show his support for Thomaides. “He probably understands the commuter rail better than anyone I know,” Bose said. “He was also one of the leading people to get money to do the Wonder World Drive extension.” Thomaides said in a previous interview he plans to continue working on issues such as traffic, economic development, bicycle paths and transparency. see PLACE 6, page 3
Out of the running
Sunny Temp: 77°/50° Precip: 0%
Friday
Sunny Temp: 75°/52° Precip: 0%
Allie Moncrief/Star photo BLOWOUT: John Thomaides celebrates his victory of City Council Place 6 at Palmer’s Tuesday night.
Shaune Maycock
Monica Garcia
Anita Fuller
Place 5 Candidate
Place 6 Candidate
Place 6 Candidate
23.91%
28.90%
7.74%
Page Two
2 - The University Star
STARS OF TEXAS STATE
Senior linebacker Joe Bell has been selected as the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Bell recorded 10 total tackles Saturday against Stephen F. Austin after he totaled 15 total tackles with five solo stops and 10 assisted tackles. He also forced a fumble on Texas State’s 19-yard line and the Bobcats recovered the ball for the first of three turnovers forced.
— Courtesy of Texas State Athletics
Texas State University – San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
ON THIS
CRIME DAY IN BLOTTER HISTORY 1842: Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd in Springfield, Ill. 1880: The first cash register was patented by James and John Ritty of Dayton, Ohio. 1922: The entrance to King Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered in Egypt. 1924: Nellie T. Ross of Wyoming was elected the nation’s first woman governor.
TRIUMPHANT PRACTICE: Ryan Buel, music studies freshman, practices his tuba Tuesday outside of the Music Building.
Bobby Scheidemann
Gault Site archaeologist joins Texas State faculty Michael Collins, archaeologist and director of the world-renowned Gault archaeological site in Central Texas, has joined the faculty of the department of anthropology. Collins, who will hold the post of research professor, will continue his research on the Gault site through Texas State. The Gault site is the world’s largest Clovis period excavation, and Collins has been conducting work there since 1998. It is estimated more than 60 percent of known Clovis artifacts have come from the Gault site, which covers an area the size of four football fields near Florence. Until recently, Clovis technology was believed to represent the Americas’ earliest human inhabitants, having arrived in the hemisphere from Asia by walking across the Bering Land Bridge between 11,000 to 8,000 B.C. However, recent discoveries at Gault and elsewhere, of stone artifacts predating Clovis, have convinced most archaeologists that a culture existed in the Americas at least 500 to 1,000 years before Clovis, possibly arriving by boat and
on foot. Collins has received a $214,000, twoyear grant from the National Science Foundation to continue his pre-Clovis excavations, which will involve Texas State anthropology students and archaeologists from around the world. “If we find what we think we’re going to find, it will change American archaeology. We may start talking about the Florence Culture or the Gault Culture coming before Clovis,” said Clark Wernecke, executive director of the Gault School of Archaeological Research, an educational outreach program begun by Collins to further understanding of the Gault project’s significance. The Gault School offers public workshops and volunteer opportunities involving participants in excavations and lab work. The Gault project’s Clovis-era discoveries have changed archaeologists’ ideas about Clovis culture, as well. Whereas the people utilizing Clovis technology have been thought to be nomadic mammoth hunters, excavations at Gault show that they were established as hunters and gatherers, like the cultures
that spread across the continent a few thousand years later. “This is a whole new way of thinking about what is still recognized as America’s earliest culture,” Wernecke said. Jon McGee, chair of the anthropology department, said the Gault research complements the faculty’s research interests and the department’s Center for Archaeological Studies. “The work will draw national and international scholarly attention to Texas State and bring outside scholars to campus,” McGee said. “Undergraduate and graduate students will be able to participate in field research at the Gault site, gaining valuable hands-on training and experience. Students will also be able to take part in laboratory research, including M.A. thesis projects.” “Texas State is creating a vital center of research and education in Texas archaeology,” Collins said. “I am really excited to become a small part of that development.” — Courtesy of University News Service
Deadline approaches this month
Supple Folk Music Series presents for Bobcat Tube video contest Crooked Still from True Blood The Office of University Marketing is introducing a Central Texas
version of Cannes Film Festival: the Bobcat Tube Video Contest. The office is looking for videos to be part of our own Texas State Crooked Still, the alternative bluegrass band whose music features prominently in the wildly successful HBO vampire series event, as well as the official university site on YouTube. In three minutes or less, present “A Slice of My Life at Texas True Blood, will bring high-energy sound to Texas State Saturday. State.” A panel of judges will pick the top three videos and honor The performance will be held at 8 p.m. in the Glade Outdoor the producers with prizes and adulation on the maroon carpet at Theatre on campus. Admission is free. The show is part of the the Bobcat Tube Film Festival later this semester. Jerry and Cathy Supple Folk Music Series, co-sponsored by The winner of the Golden Bobcat Award for the best video also Century Tel. will have an opportunity to produce more videos about the university, Crooked Still formed in Boston in 2001 and developed a genrefrom man-and-woman-on-the-street interviews to documentaries, bending sound from the combination of five distinctive talents who and have them posted on the university YouTube site. are not content to limit themselves to any one project or style of Third place prize is an iPod nano, second is a 3G iTouch and music. Crooked Still is the main band for these talented players, first place will receive a Sony Handycam DCR SX40. but all are involved in other projects. Each individual contribution The contest is open to all Texas State students, staff and faculty. is enriched by the multidimensionality of their creative wellspring. Be sure to read the rules, which can be found at www.umktg. The band has released four albums: Hop High (2004), Shaken txstate.edu/videocontest.html. Entries will be accepted until by a Low Sound (2006), Still Crooked (2008) and the most midnight on Nov. 22. recent, Live (2009). To submit, upload it to your personal YouTube page and e-mail the In the event of rain, Evans Auditorium will be the alternate link to socialnet@txstate.edu with entrant’s name and the name of venue. For more information, visit the Encore Series website at video or submit the video as an attachment to socialnet@txstate.edu. www.encoreseries.txstate.edu or contact the events coordinator Any style of production, from mockmentary to animation, is at 512-245-3501. welcome. Just remember to use good taste and stick to the topic: A Slice of My Life at Texas State. — Courtesy of University News Service Entries will be judged on originality, adherence to the theme, technical quality and positive representation of Texas State. — Courtesy of the Office of University Marketing
1942: During World War II, Axis forces retreated from El Alamein in North Africa in a major victory for British forces commanded by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. 1955: Baseball Hall of Famer Cy Young died at age 88. 1956: Soviet troops moved in to crush a revolt in Hungary. 1979: The Iranian hostage crisis began as militants stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran. 1980: Ronald Reagan won the White House, defeating President Jimmy Carter. 1995: A Jewish extremist assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin after speaking at a peace rally in Tel Aviv. 1997: Hundreds of thousands of men attended a Promise Keepers rally at the Mall in Washington, D.C. 1999: Aaron McKinney, one of two men who beat gay college student Matthew Shepard and left him to die on the Wyoming prairie, avoided the death penalty by agreeing to serve life in prison without parole and promising never to appeal his conviction. — Courtesy of New York Times
Oct. 23, 3:02 a.m. Criminal Mischiefunder $500/Blanco Hall A nonstudent reported to a police officer university property was damaged. The case is under investigation. Oct. 23, 6:27 a.m. Medical Emergency/ Comanche Hill Apts A student reported to a police officer he injured his ear. The student was transported to Central Texas Medical Center for a medical evaluation. Oct. 23, 6:28 a.m. Medical Emergency/ Burleson Hall A student reported to a police officer she was feeling ill. The student was transported to Central Texas Medical Center for a medical evaluation. Oct. 23, 8:21 p.m. Criminal Trespass: Property, Building, or Aircraft/Bobcat Stadium A nonstudent was arrested for criminal trespass and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center and is awaiting a court date. A report was made of the incident. Oct. 23, 9:25 p.m. Criminal Trespass Warning/Bobcat Stadium A nonstudent was involved in a physical disturbance. The nonstudent was issued a criminal trespass warning. Oct. 24, 1:40 a.m. Public Intoxication/ Moon Street While on patrol, a police officer made contact with a student acting suspiciously. Upon further investigation, the student was cited and arrested for public intoxication. The student was transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center and is awaiting a court date. — Courtesy of University Police Department
News
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The University Star - 3
Security cameras considered for Runoff future construction projects
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Maycock said his defeat is both bitter and sweet. Maycock said he and his wife woke up on Election Day with food-poisoning. He still continued “business as usual” and moved his watch party to be with John Thomaides at Palmer’s Restaurant Bar. Maycock was 2.29 percent away from overtaking Coppoletta. “I do not think anything really went wrong,” Maycock said. “I do think we need to focus more on getting people
Place 5 By Rachel Nelson News Reporter An alleged sexual assault Oct.12 in the Pleasant Street parking garage has sparked security concerns on campus. “Just some areas and buildings,” ASG President Chris Covo said in a tweet two days after the alleged assault. Covo said the incident did not initiate the camera increase. Plans to implement more security cameras have been in the works for a couple of years, he said. Jeb Thomas, supervisor of Access Services at the University Police Department, said security cameras are not required in the Master Plan, but are included in the construction standards for all projects. “These are the standards we send to builders and contractors,” Thomas said. “They come up with a customized plan for what video surveillance installations are needed.” Thomas said the construction standards were updated last year to include cameras. “With any building, a lot of that is determined by funding,” Thomas said. Thomas said a building’s use and security concerns factor into the need for cameras. Thomas said camera installation costs range depending
on the type of camera, mounting options and power needed. “We don’t have network connections in parking lots or (the) power,” Thomas said. “It’s not just the cost of the camera, it’s the cost of the infrastructure to be able to see the video and record it.” A project is underway to put cameras in entrances to existing buildings and is being completed by Network Installations, Thomas said. Thomas would not disclose how many cameras exist on campus or where they are located. He stressed video cameras are not monitored by the dispatch office at all times because “there’s just too many of them.” However, the office does watch the monitors in response to reported problems and can review documented footage. “Just because there’s a camera doesn’t mean there’s an actual human watching it at that time,” Thomas said. “I want people to have the appropriate expectation of why the cameras are there. They need to have the appropriate understanding of what a camera does for them security wise.” Charlene Berger, exercise and sports science senior, said she feels safe on campus be-
cause her dad equipped her with pepper spray. She said she was not completely surprised to learn there are no cameras in the Pleasant Street garage. “It is a parking garage and cameras may help with theft prevention as well as safety, but it is costly to place that technology everywhere,” Berger said. Thomas said construction on the new Matthews Street parking garage will include camera installation. “The older garages are going to be more difficult to install cameras because they were built when you didn’t have a lot of network infrastructure in garages,” Thomas said. Covo said he feels additional security cameras will benefit campus theft and robbery cases while also providing peace of mind. “I think it will be better for the university, especially help parents feel at ease and students who may feel like they can’t protect themselves,” Covo said. Thomas said the university continues to consider camera usage in the future. “It’s definitely going to be an ongoing project over years as money is available,” Thomas said.
“The other thing that is really attractive about this new package is (it) also includes graduate student employees,” Mandziuk said. The assistance program covers 3,379 benefit eligible employees. To be eligible, an employee must be at least half time, which would include graduate teaching assistants and research assistants. Mandziuk said the Counseling Center does not provide services to faculty. Annie Kidd, Counseling Center administrative assistant, said they get six calls a week from faculty requesting services. “The work life piece of it is important as well because it not only connects potential employees to resources in the area but worldwide,” Mandziuk said. The advantage program originated at the UT Health Science Center in Houston with vice president, Sherry Wilson. Wilson moved the UT Health Science Center to San Antonio where she continued to add to the program. Wilson was not available for comment. John McBride, director of Human Resources, said Wilson is trying to make the program more universal. “Now they are trying to do a similar program in Central Texas,” McBride said. He said the program will be personalized under the Texas State system if it is brought to campus. “If Texas State were able to secure this program you wouldn’t see that, we would have our own Web site, our own identification,” McBride said. Trevino said she has a developed Web site for the current Texas State work-life program. “We have built a Web site of campus resources and community resources and centralized them,” Trevino said. “Ours is a work life program, and what we are trying to purchase is
employee assistance program which we don’t have.” The new work life and employee assistance program would be provided through the UT advantage provider. The package would include five sessions of mental health counseling for employees and or members of their household. Masters level therapists provide the consultation call at no charge to the employee. “If they had a teenager who was having trouble, the five sessions could be used by the teenager,” Mandziuk said. The package includes unlimited free calls to a 24/7 toll-free call line. Free legal and financial consultations will be available by phone for 30 minutes each session. Users can also access up to 8,000 articles and tip sheets with searchable databases for childcare, eldercare, legal, financial and others. Mandziuk said this will help recruit new faculty and staff who are worried to leave elderly parents or grandparents in another state. Mandziuk said the therapist will call the faculty member back within six to 12 hours with referrals. The Presidential Work Life Advisory Council is waiting on the President’s Cabinet to make a decision regarding the extension of the work-life program. Mandziuk said the team is hopeful. McBride said the program would take between 60 to 90 days to kick off once approved. “We would have to use that period to publicize what it is, how to use it and let our people know it is there,” McBride said. McBride said the main benefit of the program would include attracting more faculties. “One of the benefits would be in the recruiting and retention of faculty as well as staff, and that is why the work-life task force actually recommended it,” he said.
Possible increase in benefits for employees, staff, grad students By Lora Collins News reporter Faculty, staff and graduate student employees may see an increase in the benefits of the work-life program. The current program, headed by Human Resources, offers advantages such as new employee orientation, group insurance, retirement programs, leave administration, employee records and fringe benefits calculations. The Presidential Work Life Advisory Council is comprised of members from a multitude of departments from communication studies to human resources to modern languages. Members dedicated time to form the Work Life program headed by Rose Trevino, coordinator from human resources. Roseann Mandziuk, council chair, said the university has an opportunity to expand its program to include an employee assistance program. Mandziuk said the council presented the University of Texas advantage employee assistance program to the Faculty Senate, Staff Council and President’s Council for Women and High Education one year ago. She said each one endorsed the program. “We sent the initial recommendation for this program to (Provost Perry) Moore in December,” Mandziuk said. “In February myself, Rose Trevino, John McBride and Michelle Moritz made a presentation to the president’s cabinet.” Mandziuk said the council is waiting on approval of the program proposal from the President’s Cabinet. The employee assistance program previously would have cost $1.91 per employee. She said the UT advantage program came back with a cheaper proposal. The package now costs $1.56 per eligible employee, totaling $69,994.08 annual costs to Texas State.
involved and figuring out the importance of elections.” Maycock said it is frustrating mobilizing constituents when the majority stay home on Election Day. Out of 28,883 voters, 2,049 votes went to the polls. Thomason said students are sometimes unreliable to make an appearance at polling locations. “If (students) want to have a voice, they really need to vote,” Maycock said. Thomason said he is simi-
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larly surprised by candidates’ inability to bring out larger numbers to the polls. “There was about $20,000 spent on less than 2,000 votes,” Thomason said. “So that’s $10 per voter.” Maycock said in a previous interview he would support Thomason over Coppoletta. — Reporting contributed by Clay Thorp and Amanda Givens
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Thomaides was the only incumbent the race and has served on City Council since 2003. Thomaides is the owner of a local water treatment equipment company and serves on the Executive Committee of the Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council. Garcia said the race was a positive experience. “I worked as much as I could because this is my first time,” Garcia said. “I met a lot of great people and made some really great friends.”
Garcia held her watch party at Tres Hermanas, where supporters gathered to receive election results. Lvenia Mercano, who helped with the campaign, spoke at Garcia’s watch party as the crowd was shown the final results. “It’s all good,” Mercano said. “We’ll get them next year.” Garcia said she is unsure about running in the future. “I am not going to rule anything out at this point, but I don’t know if I can say one
way or the other,” Garcia said. “I am not discouraged by (the lost).” Out of 28,883 registered voters, 2,049 showed at the polls — about 7 percent. Anita Fuller did not answer calls for comment election night.
By Beth Brown Special to the Star
Texas State has not completely eliminated yet despite working with the Recording Industry Association and the law. “It’s certainly a more convenient thing, having streaming video for music,” McElroy said. “But whether it stops the problem of illegally downloading, it doesn’t.” Students who violate copyright laws can receive fines up to $250,000 and jail time. IT administrators may disable computer access for those students until the illegally downloaded material has been removed, as well as monitor the computer in the future. “We’ve had a very, very small amount of (repeat offenders),” McElroy said. “And I mean very small, like less than three.” Corbett Consolvo, Senior Information Security analyst, said Texas State has a much smaller digital footprint than other universities. When administrators see an influx of Digital Millennium Acts, they have a plan. That plan includes awareness programs, devoting Internet pages to deterring and explaining what qualifies as an illegal activity, and sending emails every semester which keep students aware of the risks. Illegal downloading on campus causes bandwidth issues. Spikes in streaming contentaffect bandwidth, which is not
as much a legal issue as it is a problem with the speed of the campus network. “It hasn’t been a really terrible impact, but we can tell a difference,” Consolvo said. “We’re starting to see we’re getting closer to our cap. So we’re starting to investigate what to do next to beef up our infrastructure.” McElroy said she will rely on being proactive to face bandwidth challenges. She maintains illegal downloading on campus will not end without educating the students about the risk. “We have taken a much practiced role in making sure we do our due diligence to make sure we educate students,” McElroy said. “Rather than the convenience, we feel like that makes the biggest impact.” The students ultimately decide whether or not to illegally download, but with video streaming Web sites available for free, some don’t see the need. Laura Butler, undecided freshman, is depending less on illegally downloading because of the streaming Web sites. “It’s a lot easier to get a hold of new music and shows now,” Butler said. “There will always be more resources that pop up to get free entertainment that won’t require downloading illegally.”
— Reporting contributed by Beth Brown and Hollie O’Connor
New technology makes illegal downloading a lesser worry
Students can stream music, movies and television shows instantaneously and without charge. With such Internet resources, some say the era of illegal downloading could be coming to an end. Liz Kennedy, deputy director of communications at the Recording Industry Association of America, said students are taking advantage of new technology to avoid illegally downloading. “Due to the efforts of the music labels, fans today can find music on their favorite social networking pages like MySpace or Facebook and enjoy music videos on YouTube,” Kennedy said in an e-mail. “Ultimately it’s encouraging students today are aware of the law.” The association works with colleges and universities to monitor peer-to-peer online trafficking and illegal exchanging of entertainment. If the association catches unauthorized downloading, they send a Digital Millennium Copyright Act complaint to the campus, which includes the IP address of the computer involved. Kennedy said thousands of alerts are sent across the country every week, notifying universities and colleges of students who are using programs like Limewire, BitTorrent and Ares. Kennedy said streaming Web sites such as YouTube, Pandora and Hulu, combined with officials’ hands-on approach to deterring illegal downloading have resulted in a successful decrease in the crimes across campuses nation-wide. “Many schools have employed their own approaches to curbing music theft and seen positive results,” Kennedy said. “The most successful anti-music theft approaches are those that are comprehensive and employing a combination of tools — educational programs, legal online options and technological tools that prevent misuse of the campus network.” Lori McElroy, IT Chief Security Officer, said it is a problem
universitystar.com universitystar.com universitystar.com universitystar.com universitystar.com
Lindsey Goldstein/Star photo SECURING CAMPUS: More security cameras around campus could be in store for Texas State.
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Opinions
What’s your opinion? Send your thoughts to staropinion@txstate.edu
4 – The University Star
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
San marcos may be home to community college the main
A
point.
rt students are striking deals for classes, housing is beyond capacity and students are being stalked for parking spots. According to the Oct. 29 issue of The University Star, officials will tighten admission when the university lacks adequate resources to provide for students. Sure, more students are admitted than actually attend, but the reality is more individuals are enrolling at Texas State. Art students postponing graduation and sophomores allowed to live off campus are proof. So one has to ask, are there really enough resources? Certain students may be attending Texas State because they were not accepted by their first choice. However, San Marcos is becoming home to more students because of what the university community offers. Texas State has been said to give attendants the “big university” feel, yet keep the “hometown” atmosphere. According to the Oct. 28 issue of The Star, Texas State officials are going to offer courses at the Alamo University Center in San Antonio as early as next fall. Furthermore, City Council members are in agreement on the idea of establishing a community college within the city limits, maybe in collaboration with Austin Community College. Both could benefit residents and the university. People who wish to enroll at Texas State but are unable to because of finances could attend either the Alamo center or the community
college in San Marcos. Officials have proposed tuition raises and fee hikes to make up for the increase in population. The revenue collected from these costs would help raise the adviserto-student ratio and boost financial aid for applicants. A community college in San Marcos could bring balance to the tuition hikes and the overcrowding taking place on campus. Not only will financial restraints be less of an issue but students graduating from high school may find an easier transition by attending a community college before entering a university. They will be able to learn college isn’t grade school all over again and this will ease first-year confusion and frustrations for freshmen. Community college and admissions go hand in hand here. University officials could offer students who attend one of these community colleges scholarship opportunities or guaranteed acceptance. The community colleges could alleviate resource stress. If more students are transferring credit for core classes, then less could be offered at Texas State and funding could be reallocated to other deserving academic areas or faculty pay. Officials must realize registering for classes should not be one of the worries college students have to face.
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 University-San Marcos.
Zack Ashburn/Star Illustration
Night permits could create more revenue By Kaycee Toller Opinions Columnist I remember when I first discovered the widespread myth parking services officers do not give tickets at night was completely untrue. My printer had broken at about 10:30 that night so I decided to run up to the library to print my paper that
was due the next morning. I parked in a nearly empty lot, and returned to my car 20 minutes later to find a little orange envelope under the windshield wiper. After pleading and pouting to the folks at Parking Services, I was directed to the Web site, which states, “There are no ‘After Hours’ when the parking rules do not apply. Permits are required 24 hours a day and the rules are enforced at all times.” I rode my bike to school for the rest of the year, but riding late at night is not always a fun experience,
especially if it’s cold. ASG senators had an idea for night time-only permits that could solve transportation problems for students who want the convenience of taking a car at night. Unfortunately, from the looks of the less than supportive comments from university officials in The University Star last week, this may be a difficult task for ASG senators to accomplish. Currently, there are no “after hours” for campus parking lots, no matter how many empty spaces or how late it is. Officers work all hours of
the night to make sure no car misses the opportunity to get a little orange ticket on its windshield. Parking lots at night are teases. You see tons of empty spaces, but have to park in The Square or a friend’s apartment and walk to campus to avoid forking over a $30-plus fine. There’s no reason for the university to not make money by allowing students to use these empty spaces at night. Students who ride the bus or a bike during the day would not be willing to pay for an $85 commuter permit for the times they need to
go to campus at night for meetings or study groups. These students may be more likely to pay a smaller price for a permit that offers a convenient and safe way to get to campus at night. Parking Services officers could ticket vehicles with night passes if they remain in the parking lot after a certain time in the morning, since they patrol at 7 a.m. anyway. The university would be allowing safe, reliable transportation at night by adding permits. Individuals who want to park on campus
between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. help make money from otherwise unused spaces. There’s no real reason for the university to not look into allowing a cheaper permit with limited hours. In last week’s news article about the possible permits, ASG Senator Colter Ray said the idea for night permits was discussed last year. Let’s hope students don’t have to wait another year for a convenient and safe way to get to campus at night.
immersed into a completely different environment. They are required to take on new challenges on top of those encountered when facing war. University communities should not only work to make veterans feel welcome on campus, but they should also provide adequate services and support for the new students. According to the university Counseling Center Web site, during the 2006 to 2007 academic year there was an unexpected increase of veterans enrolling at Texas State and other universities. Of those prospective students, between
11 and 17 percent of those soldiers were estimated to need medical attention because of certain issues such as posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. Students may not recognize the stress veterans are dealing with in relation to schoolwork and social life because of a lack of understanding. Students may thoughtlessly ask questions about their war actions, not thinking about the impact it could have on the former soldier. Yes, soldiers should be honored and recognized, but we should not dwell on their experiences in war.
It is important to see them as fellow classmates. The Counseling Center Web site offers guidance to faculty and staff on how to assist troubled veterans. However, the site lacks information for students who may know a former soldier. As students, veterans do not only associate with professors and other members of the staff. In order for students to become more aware of this issue, the same guidance should be made available to those who inevitably come in contact with veterans on a daily basis. I believe our university, as
well as others, should raise awareness of ways to engage with veterans who struggle with the adjustment to civilian life without making them feel estranged or misunderstood. In the Oct. 29 issue of The University Star, the growing concern among veterans on campus about the shortage of appropriate services was revealed. Texas State provides services through the Counseling Center and the Student Health Center for veterans, but those in significant need seek more support. University officials should prepare to accommodate
the needs of this growing population. Services that cannot be provided at the Student Health Center are offered in Austin, but the university should strive to help veterans succeed by increasing the services provided. In order to enhance the college experience for veterans at Texas State, the university must plan to expand its bounds in educating students and allocate more resources for assistance in the future.
—Kaycee Toller is a journalism senior
Veterans should receive more counseling opportunities
By Gabrielle Samples Opinions Columnist I have not been directly affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it isn’t hard to overlook the fact that our country has been involved in each of these wars for almost a decade. As soldiers make the transition from combat grounds to college campuses, they are
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The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State UniversitySan Marcos published Tuesday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with a distribution of 8,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright Wednesday, November 4. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief.
Trends
Fun Fun Fun Fest
This Saturday and Sunday Austin will be host to another local music festival. Ninety bands are scheduled to perform, including Ratatat, Of Montreal and Russian Circles. Held in Waterloo Park, the festival’s weekend passes start at $75.
The University Star – 5
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
N o S have N ovember The Bearded Bunch
Bobby Scheidemann/Star photo illustrations GRIZZLY GROUP: No Shave November is a celebration of facial hair where men don’t cut their whiskers until December. There’s no known origins for the event, but it’s celebrated by men across the country.
By Scott Thomas Web Editor November is the prickliest month. Residents across the United States are participating in No Shave November. Men throw their Gillette’s into the storage cabinet and declare they will not shave until Dec. 1. UrbanDictionary.com describes it as “The month of November in which you don’t shave any hair of your body but instead you grow more bestial, brutish and manly.” But what are the advantages of going a whole month without trimming the soup catcher? “It just seems like a fun thing to do,” said David Sellers, construction technology junior. “You walk around campus and see everybody with beards growing.” Sellers said his girlfriend will “definitely” object to his newly formed facial hair. “She might say ‘you look like you’re 40,’” Sellers said. “She’ll definitely (try to get me to cut it off). It might annoy her, but that’s my thing — annoying her all the time.” Sellers’ stubble is modest now, mostly resting on his chin with a few
patches elsewhere on his face. But he has no plans to try and contain his beard as it expands throughout the month. “I’m just going to let it grow — nasty neck hair and all,” he said. Eric Mathis, studio arts junior, said he is participating in the annual event but has heard it referred to as “Novembeard.” Mathis is participating in Novembeard. He’s starting off with a chunk of scruff, his red whiskers growing down his neck like a river flowing downstream. “I got the neck beard and that’s the prime part of it all. My mom hates it, but I like it,” Mathis said. He said itchiness can be an issue. “I feel like there’s fire on it sometimes, but it’s all good,” Mathis said. “Plus it’s sort of red, so it makes my Irish heritage come out. Makes me drink Guinness better.” Some men don’t treat their whiskers as short-term projects, but let them flourish over the years. David Meischen, creative writing graduate student, said he has had his beard almost continually since spring 1982. “I liked it for the longest time,” Meischen said. “I shaved it off briefly
10 years ago. And every time I looked in the mirror it didn’t look like me.” Meishchen’s beard is full fledged. It’s certainly no Grizzly Adams, but it goes from ear to ear and around the mouth. The grey hairs are accented with darker hair on the mustache and sideburns. “I was living in California and I always told myself I looked like someone who could teach at Berkley,” Meishchen said. “It was kind of professorial looking.” As Sellers pointed out earlier, No Shave November does not only affect the men of the world, but the women who have to live with them. Some women whole-heartedly object to facial hair on a man, as Beatrice said in William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, “I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face: I had rather lie in the woolen.” Elisa Luevano, Texas State alumna, said as long as the facial hair looks tidy and presentable, she’s OK with it. “I would be OK with it for a while,” Luevano said. “But if you give your boyfriend a hug or a kiss, you don’t want to be scratched up all the time. I’d probably be a bit fed up with it by the end.”
Modern-day hide and seek takes place in San Marcos By Jovonna Owen Features Reporter
the rest of the world. After finding coordinates for a prize, geocachers can then continue their search Unknown to many, the parks of San Marcos, with a GPS device, map and compass. Caches and even the university, hold secret treasures. are filled with small trinkets and a log book. These treasures — called geocaches — are Geocachers are told if they take a prize from hidden, and how to hunt them has turned into a cache, they must leave something of equal a high-tech, modern day hide and seek. value in exchange. Treasure hunters seek out their bounty with Geocachers are asked to sign the log book, the aid of GPS devices. Even iPhone users are and then later return to the Web site to share getting in on the game. These treasure seekers, or their experiences online. geocachers, begin their search for a cache on Web Society of Geographic Information Science sites such as Geocaching.com, which have listings hid a cache last month in Prospect Park. Their of geocaches hidden throughout San Marcos and cache, called “The Perfect Prospect,” has already been logged five times on Geocaching. It gets people out there to explore. It’s good com. Tammy Biegas, society president, exercise — hiking. You can take your dogs and said she chose that name because family and learn direction and coordinates. it rhymed and gave an idea of its Tammy Biegas location. Their cache contains geography graduate student geography-related treasures. “The first people to find it were a group of people up from Florida,”
“
”
said Biegas, geography graduate student. “They were excited because it was one of the girls’ first find.” Biegas said hiding the cache turned out to be challenging. “We were getting eaten by mosquitoes when we were trying to plant it,” Biegas said. “You should take bug spray, water and sunscreen if you’re going to be out in the open.” Biegas said geocaching is about more than finding treasures. “It gets people out there to explore,” Biegas said. “It’s good exercise — hiking. You can take your dogs and family and learn direction and coordinates.” Biegas said the society plans on cleaning up old caches in the San Marcos Greenbelt and going back to “The Perfect Prospect” cache to replenish it with newly designed “travel bugs.” “They look like little dog tags with serial numbers,” Biegas said. “The next person to find it will enter the serial number and tell us where they put it. We can then track where
they are going.” Adam Mareth, Texas State alumnus, recently started geocaching in March. He said finding “The Perfect Prospect” led him to discover other geocaches in the area he was unaware of. It was placed in an area I wouldn’t have otherwise known about living here for 10 years,” Mareth said. “It’s essentially in my backyard.” Mareth now looks for caches on camping trips and vacations. The most interesting cache he’s found was in New Braunfels. “It was a cache started by a father for his son,” Mareth said. “It had all this foreign currency in it. You could put in a Canadian penny or foreign coin.” Mareth said it is not the treasure that is important when finding caches but the surroundings. “Out in West Texas in the Ft. Davis area, there are a few caches out there that required some more hiking,” Mareth said. “It was a hike, but the views out there were amazing.”
6 - The University Star
Trends
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Mamacita’s plans relocation Latest edition to Saw series brings new element, humor across from outlet malls By Thea Setterbo Features reporter Enchilada, carne guisada and margarita connoisseurs might find themselves traveling farther out of town to pursue a favorite establishment. The San Marcos branch of Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurant had plans to remodel the existing building. With talk of an Aquarena Springs underpass and the threat of possible extended street closures, restaurant executives have set their sights on creating a new location. Plans for the new restaurant include several shops, a Bobby Scheidemann/Star photo playground, indoor waterfalls, MOVING HOT ENCHILADAS: Mamacita’s is looking to move to a an arcade and outdoor bar on five acres of land across new location in San Marcos. Interstate 35 from the Tanger a good decision. Hagi opened the first restaurant and Prime Outlets. “I like this (current) location in Kerrville. The San Marcos Not wanting to compete for business with the New because it’s closer to my branch was opened in 1996. Jesse Moloney, like other Braunfels location, Luis Torres, apartment, but the business vice president of Mamacita’s, will definitely be better at the student Mamacita’s employees, said he enjoyed working at the and his team decided to close new one,” Mali said. Mamacita’s “proudly restaurant for the flexible work the New Braunfels location. Torres said every 10 years, represents the architectural schedules. “Our managers understand each of the five restaurants is style of three great cultures: Persian, Spanish and Mexican,” their employees attend the remodeled. university,” said Moloney, mass “We were going to remodel according to its Web site. “Atmosphere means a lot to communication senior anyway,” Torres said. “The “It’s nice to have college building of the underpass people,” Torres said. Torres said he wanted students work for us,” Torres would hurt business.” Mamacita’s waitress Ivana customers to experience a more said. The opening of the new Mali, wildlife ecology graduate unique kind of restaurant. Mamacita’s was founded in restaurant is scheduled for student, said she agreed moving to the new location is 1985 when Torres and brother September 2010.
By Brent Vickers Trends Columnist The sixth installment of the Saw series brought something films have lacked since the beginning: humor. I know people are tired of this series and for good reason. The films have reached a sixth installment, and though it seems it may all be over with,
I am skeptical. This film is refreshing if you fancy yourself a Saw enthusiast. The series started with a unique, intriguing and horrifying bang with Saw, it has since gone downhill, but each installment seems a shy bit worse than the last, and audience members become desensitized to the gore. By the fifth film, everyone is bored with someone getting nails shoved through their eyes while chained to a carousel on fire surrounded by a moat with piranhas. The melodramatic dialogue plaguing the films did not help the boredom, which is why the
sixth film is such a relief. Instead of contrived conversations and over-dramatic plot twists, the sixth film gives us a taste of dark humor, which brings the entertainment aspect back to the series. I noticed some political undertones stabbing at the healthcare system, which is, of course, a hot topic these days. Honestly though, don’t expect anything spectacular. It is still a Saw film, and should be approached as such. In my opinion, it could make a good date movie or could be something a group of friends would enjoy, but not much else. I give it a B-.
A man of many tales
Jake Marx/Star photo AMERICAN AUTHOR: Author Tim O’Brian spoke to students about imagination and description Tuesday afternoon in Alkek Libary.
By Ty Hall Features Reporter Spectators began sitting in the aisles of Alkek Libary’s seventh floor Tuesday as people trickled in and the rumbling murmur of the crowd rose and fell in anticipation of the guest speaker. David Norman, graduate student in the MFA program, introduced Tim O’Brien, telling audience members the author’s work offers a “fully imagined experience.” Imagination was the theme of O’Brien’s lecture. All eyes were on O’Brien as he took the stage in his red cap and black v-neck sweater. O’Brien began speaking of his two heads, saying he would read an essay with “one head” and speak of “heavier things with the other head.” O’Brien read from his essay “Telling Tails” featured in The Atlantic. The crowd was in an uproar as he told the story of how Batman grew a tail, or how Jack abandoned Jill on a sinking cruise liner as she “took in more than a pale of water into her lungs.” Aside from the laughter,
only the occasional cough interrupted the audience’s focus on O’Brien as he spoke candidly about his father, children, wife and the importance of creativity. O’Brien emphasized the magnitude of imagination and the necessity to embed description into the story dynamics. “In the world of imagination, we feel things we did not feel in the real world,” O’Brien said. O’Brien became overwhelmed when he spoke about imagining his father being able to talk to him again. O’Brien said the inspiration to become a writer came while lying in a Vietnam sewage ditch in 1969, begging God to let him live amidst the crying, dying and gunfire. “Somewhere a writer was being born in me,” O’Brien said. “I didn’t feel any other option … you can’t be something without first imagining it. We get paid to lie. Good, powerful, solid lying.” Jordan Day, finance freshman, took the opportunity to hear O’Brien. “I’m here for my university seminar class,” Day said. “My
dad and roommate are pretty big fans, and my English teacher told me to listen to him if I ever had the chance. I’ve never read him, but I’m sure I will after I meet him.” Nonstudents visited the campus to hear O’Brien speak. Charles Blankenship, San Marcos native, said this was his third time to hear O’Brien. “His use of the English language is better than any writer I’ve ever read, but the pictures he paints in his stories are incredible,” Blankenship said. O’Brien has written eight books and has won numerous awards, including the National Book Award in fiction for Going after Cacciato and France’s Prix du Meiller Livre Etranger for The Things They Carried. He was also a Pulitzer Prize finalist. “I’m in a weekly workshop with O’Brien,” Norman said. “Everything he said speaks to the fiction writer, but it also has a universal appeal. You don’t have to be a fiction writer to appreciate what he was saying.”
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diversions
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The University Star - 7
c ro s s w o rd
by daniel vega
sudoku Courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk TOday’s sudoku solution
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rates & policies Cost-25¢ per word (1-6 days); Cost-20¢ per word (7+ days); Deadline-2 business days prior by noon All classified ads must be paid in advance, unless credit is established. Classified ads will be edited for style purposes. We do our best, but please check your classified ad for accuracy. Any corrections to your ad must be made by the second day of publication. As a free service to you, all classified ads will be published on-line on our web site at www.universitystar.com. However, since this is a free service, posting is not guaranteed. While The University Star attempts to screen ads for misleading claims or illegal content, it is not possible for us to investigate every ad and advertiser. Please use caution when answering ads, especially any which require you to send money in advance.
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Announcements
Alcohol & Drug Resource Center AA MEETINGS -Tuesday & Thursday 12:30-1:30pm LBJSC 3.4 -Fridays 11am-till noon LBJSC 4.1. TRANSFORMING STRESS: Using the Heart-Brain Connection to Reduce Stress; Tues., Nov. 10 3:00 - 4:00PM. All workshops will be held in LBJ Student Center 3-14.1 For more call 245-2208 or check www.counseling.txstate.edu.
For Rent–Apts
NORTH GATE ON LBJ has 1BD/1BA for $675 & a 2BD/2BA for $775. Both newly remodeled units. Walk to campus. Water/waste water paid. Visit legacyrealestate.biz and call Joe at (512) 665-3321 for a showing.
For Rent–Condos/ Townhomes
$810 PRE-LEASE TODAY for 1/9/10. 2BD/2.5BA Townhouse 1,000 sq.ft., 3 blocks from TxState, small, clean & quiet community. Free HBO, free internet, W/D. www.windmilltownhomes.com
Help Wanted
!BARTENDING! UP TO $300/DAY. No experience necessary. Training Provided. Age 18+ OK. (800)965-6520 ext. 157. ATHLETIC, OUTGOING MEN FOR CALENDARS, GREETING CARDS, ETC. $100-200/hr., up to $1,000/day. No exp. needed, (512)684-8296. DRIVER TRAINEES NEEDED! Trucking Companies hiring NOW--No CDL, No Problem! Training available with Roadmaster! Call now! (866) 659-0565
Help Wanted
EARN EXTRA MONEY! Students needed ASAP, earn up to $150/day being a mystery shopper. No experience required! Call 1 (800) 722-4791. TEACHERS NEEDED: Now hiring part-time afternoon teachers. Experience preferred but not required. Get paid to play. Must be available M-F 2:30-6:30 PM. Quality Child Development Center in Kyle. (512) 405-3700 or fax (512) 405-3701. www.rockinghorseacademy.com PART-TIME FRONT DESK CLERK WANTED WITH A SMILING FACE! Must be able to work flexible hours, sometimes nights. Duties will include answering phones, reservations, typing, credit card and key machines, guest services. Math and Sales skills necessary. Need computer literate enthusiastic person. Must be willing to do some motel laundry. We have a nonsmoking work place. Applicants must have a clean criminal record. Must indicate salary desired and any medical conditions. Apply in person at Americas Best Value Inn, 15101 IH 35 (Exit 220)
Help Wanted
STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in San Marcos. 100% FREE to join. Click on surveys.
Personals
$5,000 PAID. EGG DONORS. +Exps. N/Smokers, ages 19-29, SAT>1100/ ACT>24/GPA>3.0 Reply to: info@eggdonorcenter.com
Sublease
TIRED OF COMMUTING EVERYDAY? Looking to sublease 4BD/4BA apartment within 5 miles of campus at The Edge! For more info., please call (713) 412-6378.
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Sports 8 - The University Star
FALL FINISH
The women’s golf team placed third in its final fall tournament, the Challenge at Onion Creek, Tuesday with a three-round score of 863. The Bobcats defeated six of seven nationally-ranked teams in the tournament. Krista Puisite, undecided freshman, led the Bobcats with an individual score of 209, putting her in fourth place out of 108 players.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Sports Contact, Lisa Carter – starsports@txstate.edu
JOEKNOWS Big game of the season almost fills stands
The capacity of Bobcat Stadium is about 24,000 seats. Oh, and by the way, the games are entirely free of charge for enrolled students. The west side of the stadium is almost always packed
and those fans usually pay to get into the game. However, there was plenty of Bobcat pride on display during the tailgating, which took place before the game. Students, especially last Sat-
urday, tailgated and then left without going into the stadium to cheer on the Bobcats. “I went to the tailgate with three other friends,” said Olivia Tapley, public relations junior. “The best part about tailgating
was being with my friends and the weather was nice.” Tapley said she spent most of her time in the Delta tent. “None of the people I went with actually went to the game, but I do know of
some people that attended,” Tapley said. Tapley has ideas to get more students into the stadium. “The university can get me into the stands by doing more promoting like handing out fliers, setting up a table in The Quad, or advertising Facebook events,” she said. Saturday marked the first game of the season for some students. “It was fun and exciting,” said Victoria Martinez, undecided sophomore. “The stadium looks awesome and I will probably come back for my homecoming.” Martinez attended high school with Matt Harris, sophomore linebacker, who recorded an interception in the game. “I was sitting with his parents when he got the interception,” Martinez said. “We were all really excited for him and the team. That was my favorite part.” Tailgating is fun and it’s a part of what makes football so great for fans. However, it shouldn’t be the focal point of the event. It’s especially important for Texas State, in the midst of “The Drive to FBS,” that students attend the games. In case you missed the game, this team is pretty good. Texas State took out a quality Stephen F. Austin team and could use some support during the rest of the season as the Bobcats try to repeat as Southland Conference champions.
cleansing as it was originally intended. There is still a majority of people who are outraged, but most are desensitized by the team name. Feeling that since the name has been around for so long, it now holds great historical meaning beyond its literal one. It is no longer meant to be offensive, therefore, it isn’t. Sam Bradford has been the Oklahoma Sooners’ starting quarterback the past three seasons. Among his accomplishments, his most prestigious was winning the Heisman Trophy in 2008, beating Florida’s Tim Tebow and Texas’ Colt McCoy. Bradford is of Cherokee descent and is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He is the first Native American to start at quarterback for a Division I institution since Sonny Sixkiller ended his college career with the Washington Huskies in 1972. But Bradford is going to
do something Sixkiller never got the opportunity to do — play in the NFL. After a season-ending shoulder injury he suffered in a loss to Texas, Bradford has opted to forgo his senior season and enter into the NFL draft to avoid further injury while in college. Despite his injuries, many consider him to be a top prospect at quarterback and potentially a top 10 choice. If the draft were to start today, the Washington Redskins would have the No. 7 pick. With the league’s worst offense, they need a quarterback. See where this is going? If the Washington Redskins draft Sam Bradford, it would be the most extravagant case of irony in sports history. For 77 years, this situation has been avoided. Sure, some Native American players have gone through the NFL. In fact, the first 1,000yard rushing season was by Beattie Feathers, a Native
American who accomplished this feat while a rookie with the Chicago Bears in 1932. But never has a Native American football player been so prolific, so highly regarded, as Bradford. If he does drop to No. 7, would Washington actually take him? It’s hard to pass on somebody who threw for 55 touchdowns in only 12 games during his sophomore season and Daniel Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, has never been one to shy away from controversy. Squashing namechange protests has been his forte since he bought the team in 1999. Even if Washington does take Bradford, would he play for them? It would be hard to imagine a man who is listed in the official tribal scrolls of the Cherokee Nation would welcome being the face of franchise that mocks the face
of his ancestors. Then again, Johnny Damon did leave the Red Sox to join the Yankees. Everybody has a price. The most important question that can be asked about this situation is, Would anybody even care? A Peter Harris Research Poll published in Sports Illustrated in 2002 reported 83 percent of Native Americans interviewed said they didn’t believe professional teams should stop using Native American nicknames, mascots and symbols. However, the Harris Poll has been called into question. The poll states people interviewed 351 Native Americans, 217 living on reservations and 134 living off. A list of who they interviewed was never released despite urges from critics and other groups of people who wanted to see the facts. A definition of who was constituted as a Native American was asked for and
never released. However, the poll’s main flaw is an accurate sampling of an amorphous population is next to impossible because of the size of the group and the wide range in which the group resides. It’s hard to believe Harris had more resources than the U.S. government to conduct this poll. Maybe the poll has done nothing but remind us most people, including Native Americans, generally find political correctness unnecessary — a cultural cue to make everybody feel warm inside. Regardless, the Washington Redskins have gotten away with cultural blasphemy for years while others have had to walk on eggshells to not offend flight attendants. Whether or not Bradford is a paycheck over principle type of guy has yet to be determined. Time will tell the rest of this story but, for now, it’s just a thought.
By Joseph O. Garcia Sports Columnist Saturday marked the first time the new-looking Bobcat Stadium welcomed home alumni. Whether the renovations helped the team win is up for debate, but at least the stands were almost as full as the season-opener against Angelo State. In fact, the attendance reflects only 154 fewer people attended Saturday’s homecoming game. Despite the fact it was Halloween, more students should have attended what was the most important game of the season thus far. From the press box, the student section looked to be at about 70 percent capacity for most of the first half. It eventually filled to what looked like close to 80 percent. However, the question is, why can’t we get the stadium full? Texas State set an enrollment record this semester with 30,000-plus students.
Sara Strick/Star photo STEPS FORWARD: The Bobcats defeated Southland Conference’s top team Stephen F. Austin 28-7 at Bobcat Stadium Saturday.
Ironic possibility in draft pick for Washington Redskins By Keff Ciardello The University Star
There is no denying we live in a politically correct culture where, for example, saying “stewardess” or “Merry Christmas” has been deemed inappropriate and offensive. However, the Washington Redskins have somehow managed to portray blatant racism on one of America’s biggest stages for 77 years with almost no question. The term “redskin” is a racial slur used toward Native Americans. It was first coined by Caucasian bounty hunters who would refer to the scalps they had removed from the Native Americans (for proof of their kill) as “redskins.” When the Boston Braves changed their name to the Redskins in 1932 (who moved to Washington in 1937), the term has been synonymous with football — not as a trophy for ethnic
Women’s tennis proves victorious at Play Day By Blake Barington Sports Reporter
The Texas State women’s tennis team showed no mercy against its foes Saturday at the Texas State Play Day. Saskla Kruse, exercise and sport science senior, won both of her singles matches Saturday. Kruse defeated Southeastern Louisiana’s Heather Brien 6-0, 6-1 in the first round of play and Texas-San Antonio’s Nicci Yvanovich 6-2, 6-0 in the second. Gabriela Rojas, undecided freshman, Nyssa Peele, art senior and Mariana Perez, pre-communication disorders freshman, all won their singles matches. Coach Tory Plunkett said her team showed much athleticism and a determined attitude throughout its fall season. “We did the best we’ve ever done at ITA,” Plunkett said. “We also did awesome at Hawaii.” Plunkett said the freshmen competed well once they overcame the early season jitters.
“We had one girl (Perez) who went undefeated at 6-0,” Plunkett said. “We had another girl (Rojas) who was 5-1.” In Nacogdoches, Perez defeated players from Louisiana Monroe, Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State. The duo of Perez and Rojas went undefeated at SFA, beating Louisiana Tech’s No. 1 doubles team. Andrea Giraldo, management senior, posted wins at the Hawaii Classic, including winning the top singles match. Giraldo defeated Hawaii Pacific’s Ingrid Cseh 7-5, 6-1. Plunkett said Kruse and Perez had strong showings in singles and doubles play. The two defeated Hawaii 8-1 in doubles play. Melissa Hadad, undecided freshman and Amanda Alvarado, exercise and sports science junior, had wins in singles play. Texas State will begin its spring competition in January Lindsey Goldstein/Star photo when the Bobcats travel to Dallas to face Louisiana Tech BOBCAT PLAYDAY: Mariana Perez, communication disorders freshman, won both rounds of the tennis competition Saturday. and Southern Methodist.
