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DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
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NOVEMBER 9, 2006
THURSDAY
VOLUME 96, ISSUE 33
Surveys may reveal reason for drop in Hispanic student population By A.N. Hernández The University Star The retention rate for firsttime, full-time Hispanic students at Texas State dropped one percent from 2004 to 2005. The retention rate is now 75 percent, and it has the administration concerned. “A one percent decrease is so important because every single student is important,” said Jennifer Beck, director of retention management and planning in
the Vice President of Student Affairs Office. “We just can’t let any go. We have to focus on impacting every single student’s life. We don’t want to see this trend continue.” Beck said for the past twoand-a-half months, the VPSA’s office has focused on trends and behaviors of Hispanic students on campus. They are finding ways Texas State can successfully maintain, integrate and retain its Hispanic student population.
During the same time period retention rates for Hispanics dropped, white, black and Asian first-time, full-time freshmen students increased. The decrease in first-time, full-time Hispanic student retention rates comes at a time when Texas State’s overall retention rate is more than 76 percent, one of the highest rates in Texas. “That we have seen the numbers go down is something that concerns me very much,” said
Joanne Smith, vice president for Student Affairs. “That’s something we want to change. We want to see those numbers go upward.” Smith’s office e-mailed more than 850 randomly selected returning Hispanic sophomores and seniors on Oct. 25. Each student was sent a questionnaire with seven open-ended questions, which were due Nov. 3. The questionnaire asked re-
First-time, full-time freshman student retention 2000-2005 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
WHITE 76% 74% 76% 77% 75% 73%
HISPANIC 75% 76% 73% 75% 77% 75%
See SURVEYS, page 4
Officials note sharp decrease in local endangered plant numbers The recent disappearance of close to 80 percent of an endangered plant only found in the San Marcos River has triggered alarm among river officials. “The wild-rice is the only reason we even have a river,” said Dianne Wassenich, executive director of the San Marcos River Foundation. “It is endangered, very precious and in short supply and this (the first couple of miles of the San Marcos River) is the only place in the world that it grows.” Texas wild-rice grows in the flowing spring-fed waters of the San Marcos River and has been listed as endangered since 1978. The plant looks similar to other vegetation in the river and can go unnoticed by the incautious or unknowledgeable swimmer. It is identified by its long, thin green leaves with black or brown rice seeds. Jackie Poole, botanist for the Wildlife Diversity Program at Texas Parks and Wildlife, said she and others have been monitoring the plant for over 10 years. A significant decrease of the plant population in the upper river area near the Spring Lake dam was noticed late September, she said. Poole said biologists from BIO-WEST Incorporated, an environmental consulting, planning and research company that works with Parks and Wildlife in monitoring the area, noted a 73 percent decrease in aerial coverage of the plant between August and September. The existence of the wild-rice in the river is the reason rules regulating the pumping of water from the Edwards Aquifer were implemented by the state of Texas. Without regulation of the aquifer, pumping by large cities such as San Antonio would have caused the San Marcos River to dry up years ago, Wassenich said. Although low spring flow at the San Marcos River was a potential factor in the disappearance of the rice, the main cause has been attributed to human
City council hears request of Guadalupe County citizens By Zach Halfin The University Star
disturbance. “Based on sampling on observations by BIO-WEST, Inc. on behalf of the Edwards Aquifer Authority, we’ve concluded that the majority of the recent loss of Texas wild-rice in the San Marcos river, which amounts to 5 percent of the total population, can be attributed directly to human disturbance, and not due to exposure caused by low spring flow,” said Roland Ruiz, Edwards Aquifer Authority spokesperson. Poole said the damage to the plants near the Clear Springs Apartments appears to be the result of humans removing plants in order to have a swimming area with less vegetation. Leaves of the plant were torn off, leaving the roots intact, whereas waterfowl and nutria that feed on the plants only clip off part of the leaves, she said. Easy access to the area through Clear Springs Apartments and the university intramural fields as well as human formation of rock piles found in the area also contribute to the idea of swimmer interference. “I guess that whoever did it had no idea how important aquatic plants are,” Wassenich said. “There are huge fines that could be assessed if the person were found doing it. It happened probably over a long period with people playing in the river, rearranging rocks and making little pools and dams and thinking they were ‘cleaning up’ the ugly plants that were in their way by jerking them up.” The university, which owns the area surrounding the upper San Marcos River, had taken cautionary measures prior to the decrease in the wild-rice and is now considering further action. Pat Fogarty, associated vice president of facilities, said the university prohibited dogs and created signs informing the public of the endangered species in the area after reparation of the Spring Lake Dam in 2002. He said the university See ENDANGERED, page 4
ASIAN 84% 77% 82% 86% 78% 63%
Source: Institutional Resource Fact Book and Fall 2006 data are preliminary and uncertified.
Native wild-rice endangered By Brooke Keller The University Star
BLACK 82% 74% 80% 86% 90% 89%
Monty Marion/Star photo
Approximately 30 Guadalupe County residents made a request to the San Marcos City Council Monday to be connected to the city’s wastewater services, which would alleviate an ongoing problem with septic water leaking and flowing into their neighborhoods. Merisa Ybarra and Sean O’Brien, students from University of Texas Environmental Law Clinic, joined the residents from Rancho Vista in their request to become customers of the city of San Marcos’ wastewater system. “We are here representing and are here on behalf of the community of Rancho Vista,” Ybarra said. “We are interested in helping them attain reliable wastewater services.” O’Brien explained Rancho Vista is in the midst of a very “stinky and unsanitary” environmental situation. He said many outdated, aged and damaged septic systems in the neighborhood are leaking and flowing into neighboring yards in the subdivision. Without access to a more reliable wastewater service, their problems will continue, O’Brien said. Rosa Martinez, a resident of Rancho Vista for 27 years, expressed concern for her neighborhood, saying the subdivision began having problems with septic water from uphill neighbors about three years ago. “Our yards were always soaking wet,” Martinez said. “The dirty septic water would run through our yards, over our driveways and would run into the streets. Children would ride their bikes through the dirty septic water; dogs would stop to drink the septic water; little pretty birds would stop and drink the dirty septic water and would also take a good bath in the dirty septic water. I’m worried that my grandchildren might play near this contaminated water and get sick.” Although the community of about 1,500 is in Guadalupe County, officials with the UT
TREAD LIGHTLY: Texas wild-rice, known to grow only in the San Marcos River, is in constant danger because of the heavy human presence in its native water in and around Sewell Park.
See COUNCIL, page 3
Volunteers needed to fill spots on city boards, commissions By Ashley Gwilliam The University Star The San Marcos City Council is seeking volunteers to fill vacancies on 27 city boards and commissions that will be available in 2007. Most city boards and commissions meet once a month, or
as needed, to review proposals and make recommendations to the city council based on their findings. Board members serve one commission at a time, without pay, for no more than two consecutive terms. Usually, terms are three years long. Mayor Susan Narvaiz said
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Mostly Sunny 88˚/65˚
Precipitation: 10% Humidity: 67% UV: 5 Moderate Wind: S 12 mph
students who have a great interest in volunteering but might be graduating after the next year should still apply. Narvaiz said serving on a board or commission can be an especially beneficial learning experience for students. “I would encourage anyone (to serve) because once you
Two-day Forecast Friday Mostly Sunny Temp: 88°/ 51° Precip: 0%
Saturday Mostly Sunny Temp: 69°/ 45° Precip: 10%
are involved in a commission, you are exposed to the whole government process,” she said. “Commission members are exposed to budgeting, the visionary planning process and how many things different groups want with a limited amount of funds. Almost every meeting results in a budget impact.”
Donovan Knight, city council liaison for the Associated Student Government, said there are two reasons students should volunteer: “One, it voices students’ opinions on things and shows that we appreciate being a part of the city. Two, it increases ties with the community and the
college,” Knight, pre-mass communication junior, said. “The students working with the city give the city a better opinion of the university.” Students have served on city boards for the past several years, especially on the Youth Com-
Inside News ..............1-5 Trends ...........6-10 Crossword ......... 9 Sudoku .............. 9
Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System
Comics .............. 9 Opinions .......... 11 Classifieds ....... 12 Sports ......... 13,14
See COMMISSIONS, page 3
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