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TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS

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NOVEMBER 8, 2005

TUESDAY

CONTROVERSY

ASG president vetoes legislation opposing controversial Prop. 2 By Clayton Medford News Reporter Invoking a rarely used executive power, Associated Student Government President Jordan Anderson vetoed accounting senior and Sen. Jeff Moody’s legislation opposing the contentious Proposition 2, the proposed marriage definition amendment to the Texas Constitution. Moody’s legislation passed at ASG’s Oct. 24 meeting with 19 senators voting for official opposition to Proposition 2, 10 senators voting against the legislation, one senator abstaining and dozens of guests in attendance supporting the legislation. According to the ASG constitution, Anderson has five class days from the passage of the legislation to veto it and must announce to the senators of such action during a scheduled meeting. Monday’s meeting was the first after Anderson’s veto. During his report to the senate, Anderson explained why he vetoed the legislation. “We have specific responsibilities as ASG, and whether or not we did is up for debate. What we did not do was get the opinion of the entire student body,” Anderson said. Anderson assured the senate that his reason for vetoing had nothing to do with the sensitivity of the issue, but rather the way the legislation was handled. “I don’t feel (debating the legislation) was a waste of time, I feel we went about it the wrong way,” Anderson said. “We don’t appeal to a certain group of people without trying to get the

VOLUME 95, ISSUE 31

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opinion of the rest of the student body.” Biochemistry senior and Sen. David Terrell disagreed with Anderson’s reasons. “I don’t really agree that we have to go out and find out (the opinion of the student body). Ideally we should represent our constituents, but you have to take into account the minority which is obviously getting run over on this issue,” Terrell said. Anderson explained further about the mishandling of Moody’s legislation. “Senate resolutions require action; no senator fulfilled their obligation to the legislation. In doing so, I think we weakened all other ASG legislation,” Anderson said. The senate can pass two types of legislation, a “Simple Senate Resolution” and a “Senate Resolution.” The passage of the former merely states that ASG supports something while the passage of the latter requires action by the senate. Anderson believes the burden of following through with legislation rests on the shoulders of the author of the bill and its sponsors, not on ASG administration. He stated that the senators “passed a senate resolution, and I am not the senate.” “Writing legislation is not where something stops,” Anderson said. “Writing legislation gets something moving, not to pass it and be done with it.” The senate can bring up the issue of Anderson’s veto for debate with a two-thirds vote as well as overturn the veto with an additional two-thirds vote. Moody was not present at the meeting and was unavailable for comment.

Armando Sanchez/Star photo Two unidentified members of the Anti-Racist Action organization, along with other members, heckled police officers during the Ku Klux Klan demonstration Saturday afternoon in the streets of downtown Austin. To reduce chances of a conflict, police barricades kept about 3,000 protesters a block away from the Austin City Hall where KKK members voiced support for Proposition 2.

KKK rally for Prop 2 at Austin City Hall draws thousands of protesters By Lindsay Mathews Special to The Star AUSTIN — Under the hot midday sun, more than a dozen members of the American White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and the Imperial Klans of America rallied in support of a proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution at Austin’s City Hall on Saturday. Members from the two groups identified themselves as devout Christians in favor of Proposition 2, an amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman.

“We have a right to stand against homosexuality, which is condemned by the Bible,” said an anonymous representative from the Imperial Klans of America. Barricades were erected in a 50-foot radius surrounding City Hall to prevent an estimated 3,000 protesters from confronting the Klan members, reported the Austin-American Statesman. Hundreds of police officers lined the parameter, some wearing riot gear and holding clubs. “The public is not allowed access to City Hall for safety reaSee PROTEST, page 4

Fatality in car accident confirmed as a Texas State student Bike for the Right builds public By Jason Buch News Reporter The Travis County Medical Examiner confirmed last week that a Texas State student was one of the victims in a fatal car wreck over Halloween weekend. Justice of the Peace, 1st Precinct, Place 2, Margie Hernandez said she received confirmation on Thursday that 22-year-old Amy Melnick, fashion merchandising sophomore from Waller, died when the 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe in which she was a passenger caught fire near

the corner of Aquarena Springs Drive and the east access road of Interstate 35. The driver of the Tahoe was Zachary Hoy, 20, of Spring. Hernandez pronounced Hoy and Melnick dead at the scene. Early reports from the City of San Marcos listed Melnick as the passenger of the Tahoe, but police were not immediately able to confirm the reports. Hernandez said San Marcos Police Department Sgt. Dan Misiaszek acquired Melnick’s dental records from her family and turned them over to the Travis County Medical Examiner.

Powerful prayer

Misiaszek was unavailable for comment. John Garrison, assistant vice president and dean of students, expressed regret over the tragedy. “It was a very tragic situation, obviously,” Garrison said. “All of us here at the university regret that we lost one of our students at such a young age, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family.” Garrison said usually the friends of a deceased student take steps to hold a memorial at the university. Melnick’s family said they do not plan to hold a

Armando Sanchez/Star photo Azhar Rauf, along with about 50 other Muslims, prays during an Eid Al-Fitr celebration on Thursday at Zilker Park in Austin. The three-day festival of fast-breaking ends the Islamic holiday of Ramadan.

PM SHOWERS 87˚/65˚

Precipitation: 30% Humidity: 67% UV: 5+ Moderate Wind: S 11 mph

By Leah Kirkwood News Reporter

for the Right as “a peaceful ride through town to promote bicycling as a means of alternate On the first Thursday of every transportation.” month, the National AssociaHoffman agreed that students tion of Encould benefit vironmental from riding a Professionals bike instead of sponsors the driving a car. Bike for the “A lot of stuRight ride dents don’t have around San a lot of money, Marcos. Cyso it just makes clists meet sense because at the San the distances Marcos Pubaren’t that great, lic Library and it’s cheap,” parking lot Hoffman said. at 5 p.m. and “It’s also a — Alex Sanders social gathering ride a loop down HopTexas State NAEP in a lot of ways; kins Street vice president there are a lot to C.M. Alof like-minded len Parkway, people here in up Aquarena Springs Drive, to San Marcos,” Sanders said. Thorpe Road and back to the The first ride was held in library. October 2003 and had close to “We put bicycles out on the 60 participants. The numbers street and show that bikes have remained high for the first few the right to the road too,” said months, and at its peak, the Alex Sanders, Texas State NAEP Bike for the Right had 80 riders vice president. involved. The riders strive to bring “It kind of took on a life of its awareness of the presence of bi- own. It just kind of coordinates cycles on San Marcos streets. itself now,” Hoffman said. “From being a cyclist, it seems Sean Welch has participated like a lot of people think that in every Bike for the Right ride bikes shouldn’t be on the roads,” for 19 consecutive months. said Laure Hoffman, co-vice “There was a couple that I did president of Texas State NAEP. it by myself,” Welch said. “There are a significant number The Bike for the Right rides of cyclists in the city that need died out over the summer besafe accommodation.” cause the NAEP had all new Mark Carter, the NAEP facSee BIKE, page 4 ulty sponsor, describes the Bike

“I

t’s also a social gathering in a lot of ways; there are a lot of likeminded people here in San Marcos.”

Hays County Kinky supporters hold campaign strategy session By Kathy Martinez News Reporter

Today’s Weather

momentum in support of Prop. 6

memorial at Texas State. Hernandez said she has not received toxicology reports for Hoy. Melnick transferred to Texas State this semester from Tomball College near Houston. A funeral was held for her on Saturday at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Hempstead. Melnick’s stepfather, Steve Johnston, said the family had not had much time to get involved with the university. Her mother, Janet Johnston, said Melnick worked very hard to get to Texas State and was excited to be here.

Hays County supporters of humorist, best-selling author and gubernatorial candidate Richard “Kinky” Friedman held a planning meeting Monday evening at Cheatham Street Warehouse to discuss strategies for Friedman’s campaign for Texas governor. Hays County coordinator for Friedman’s campaign, Joe Robles, conducted the meeting to rally support in the San Marcos area. Robles, Texas State alumnus,

said the point of the meeting was to inform people to not vote in the primary elections. “We don’t want supporters of Kinky to vote in the primaries because they will not be able to sign the petition to get him on the ballot,” Robles said. Friedman must obtain 45,539 signatures to get his name on the ballot for next year’s gubernatorial election. Robles also opened the floor for attendants own suggestions and input. Political science freshman See KINKY, page 4

Two-day Forecast Wednesday Mostly Sunny Temp: 89°/ 62° Precipitation: 0%

Thursday Partly Cloudy Temp: 79°/ 49° Precipitation: 20%

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