SPORTS GETS BRIEF Catch up on Texas State teams
TECH SUPPORT Computer help not so sweet
C HINESE SAVVY Culture reaches across the globe in academia
SEE DIVERSIONS PAGE 6
SEE TRENDS PAGE 5
SEE SPORTS PAGE 8
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM
NOVEMBER 7, 2007
WEDNESDAY
VOLUME 97, ISSUE 33
Porterfield defeats Robertson, Bose re-elected to city council
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTION
By Andy Sevilla, Jeff Turner and Scott Thomas The University Star
PROPOSITION 1: Appropriation for facilities at Angelo State University
Whether they gathered in public restaurants or in their private residence, candidates for City Council Place 1 and 2 eagerly watched the television to discover what they would be doing for the next three years of their lives. Kim Porterfield and incumbent Gaylord Bose were elected to City Council Place 1 and 2, respectively, while Jude Prather and Betsy Robertson realized defeat. Bose was fixated on the television while Robertson sat back and engaged with supporters around her at Grins Restaurant. Prather nervously paced between tables at J’s Bistro, while Porterfield cracked jokes and tried to relax in the comfort and privacy of her home. “I might look calm and relaxed on the outside, but I’m really very humbled and grateful that everyone came out and voted,” Bose said. “Everybody supported me.” The mood at Grin’s was bittersweet, with Bose’s victory being greeted with mild applause. Supporters who wanted to congratulate Bose were respectful of Robertson’s loss. “I think I did as much as physically possible, and I got out that vote for all the supporters that I had,” Robertson said. “Kim is a very formidable opponent and I wish her luck on the council.” A teary-eyed Robertson called Porterfield to concede at the end of the night when she knew for sure she had lost the election by 49 votes. Place 2 was just outside of Prather’s grasp, losing the council position by three votes. However, Prather said he will challenge the outcome. “How many students were turned away on campus?” Prather asked. “I know we sent out that press release saying 100, but what we’re in the process of doing right now is finding five people who are disenfranchised.” Prather said he is calling out to students who were turned away at the polls, encouraging anyone who might not have been able to vote, but wanted to, to come forward. “There are two things that can call an election: the disenfranchisement by minority vote (and) the disenfranchisement by age according to law,” said Mathew Golding, political science senior and campaign manager for Prather. “And we fall into both (categories).” Across town, the words repeated by Porterfield throughout the night were “cautious optimism.” At her house, surrounded by friends, family and supporters, Porterfield anxiously watched the television as her initial lead in the race shrank, and even disappeared for a time. Then, the results for district 315
YES PROPOSITION 2: Issuance of $500 million in bonds to finance student loans
YES PROPOSITION 3: Limiting appraised value of the residence homestead
YES PROPOSITION 4: Issuance of up to $1 billion in bonds for construction projects
YES PROPOSITION 5: Local election to limit municipal property taxes
YES PROPOSITION 6: Exempt for ad valorem tax one motor vehicle owned by an individual
YES PROPOSITION 7: Allow government entities to sell property acquired by eminent domain
YES PROPOSITION 8: Clarify provisions relating to a home equity loan
YES PROPOSITION 9: Exempt totally disabled veterans from ad valorem taxation
Monty Marion/Star photos JUST SHORT: (Above) Jude Prather, public administration senior, reacts to the City Council Place Two voting returns Tuesday evening at J’s Bistro. CLOSE CALL: (Left) Councilman Gaylord Bose thanks his supporters after winning the City Council Place Two by what was believed to be a four-vote margin at the time.
came in, narrowly voting her into City Council Place 1. “I’m very humbled, very excited (and) very happy,” Porterfield said. “I moved here when I was in college and I never imagined I would be on the San Marcos City Council.” Mayor Susan Narvaiz was among the guests in attendance at Porterfield’s house, frequently giving her updates from the computer, checking for results that might have made it to the Internet before the television. “I think the people have spoken and as always after an election, the city will come together, its leaders will come together and do the work of the people,” Narvaiz said. None of the candidates could let out a sigh of relief or regret until the final votes were in. This race, like most elections with a low voter turn out, was extremely close. “I feel like it was a real exciting campaign,” Robertson said. “My opponent is a very honorable person, so politics just doesn’t get better than that.”
YES
Funds added to complete pedestrian bridge over river
PROPOSITION 10: Abolish the office of inspector of hides and animals
YES PROPOSITION 11: To provide for public access on the Internet of Legislative votes
YES PROPOSITION 12: Issuance of bonds not to exceed $5 billion for highway improvement
Tuition increase generates revenue, joined by hikes in athletic, student ID fees
$7 million
YES PROPOSITION 13: Deny bail to a person who violates certain orders or conditions
YES PROPOSITION 14: Permit a justice or judge to serve the remainder term
YES PROPOSITION 15: Creation of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
YES PROPOSITION 16: Issuance of bonds for assistance to economically distressed areas
YES Today’s Weather
Partly Cloudy 73˚
Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 36% UV: 5 Moderate Wind: SE 6 mph
By Carline Schwartz News Reporter An open hearing for the proposed 2008-2009 tuition increase of 6.25 percent was held Tuesday at the LBJ Student Center. The tuition increase will be presented this month to the Texas State University System Board of Regents, who have the authority to approve or disapprove the proposal. Approximately 30 students, faculty and staff were present, which stood in stark contrast to last year’s open hearing that saw more than 100 students in attendance. During the 2007 Texas legislative session, Texas State’s appropriations were set for this fiscal year and next fiscal year. But state appropriations for the university were not raised for next year, so any budget increases had to either come from tuition or other auxiliary revenue. The 6.25 percent tuition hike translates to
Two-day Forecast Thursday Partly Cloudy Temp: 78°/ 59° Precip: 0%
Friday Partly CloudyTemp: 85°/ 60° Precip: 10%
At the end of the night, Bose attributed his victory to his experience and ability to speak from the heart, though he said Prather ran a good campaign. “(Prather) reached out, he was a real unknown and he’s challenging an incumbent and you have to give him credit for his effort,” Porterfield said. “I hope he tries again.” Prather said after participating in many campaigns for others and having a lifelong interest in politics, it was a unique experience running his own. “In the sixth grade there was a presidential election, so he came (to school) as a ballot box,” said Prather’s mother, Anne Prather who, along with her husband, donated $3,000 to her son’s campaign. “He went around from class to class. He was a box and he had slits in the front and you could drop a ballot in and vote. At the end of the day the principal added up the votes and announced it over the PA system and he won the election. We knew he was going to go into politics as a young kid.”
By Philip Hadley News Reporter
an increase of $10 per semester credit hour for next fall. The designated tuition increase will generate more than $7 million in revenue. Since the Texas Legislature deregulated tuition in 2003, the law requires 20 percent of tuition to be reserved for student financial aid. For Texas State, more than $1.4 million will be set aside for financial aid and $4.5 million will go to a 3 percent pay increase for faculty and staff. More than $1.1 million will be used to hire additional tenure track faculty and improve the student to faculty ratio. According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, total tuition and fees increased from $2,934 in fall 2006 to $3,253 this year. However, during this time period, Texas State had the lowest total tuition and fees among the university’s five competing institutions: University of Texas, Texas A&M
Pedestrians will soon have a safer way to cross the San Marcos River after city council approved funding at Monday’s meeting to complete a bridge project. “The engineering estimates show the total cost of the entire project at $616,400,” said Richard Mendoza, public works director. Mendoza presented the council with the latest information on bridge construction and design. The bridge will be located 100 feet north of the Hopkins Street Bridge and span 195 feet across the San Marcos River. Mendoza said the council would need to increase the funding of the bridge to include aesthetic lighting and handrail improvements — costing $63,500. A bridge near Hopkins Street already exists, but Mendoza said its location is not convenient to most pedestrians. “Currently, pedestrians are forced to cross the river on the road bridge, which places them in an extremely hazardous setting,” Mendoza said. “The current plan, coupled with the current sidewalk extension phase, will provide a safe pedestrian and bike passage between the downtown area and the activity and library buildings.” The council expressed their concern regarding the safety of the bridge if the lighting and railing was not included. Councilwoman Betsy Robertson said lighting was essential. “I am concerned about slipping and falling as well as crime,” Robertson said. “If we do not include lighting and railing, we will not be meeting statewide safety code. Daniel Guerrero, deputy mayor pro tem, asked why the original project did not include lighting. Mendoza said it was “just an oversight on the original design.” The council directed staff to add the improvements and fund an additional $313,000 to complete the project. The city will use fund balance to make up the shortfall and begin construction. “Fund balance is money the city has saved that equals about 25 percent of a city’s annual expenditures,” Mendoza said.
See TUITION, page 3
See COUNCIL, page 3
Inside News ........... 1,2,3 Opinions ............ 4 Trends ................ 5
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