11 12 2009

Defending the First Amendment since 1911

Volume 99, Issue 32

12

Football Fate

THURSDAY

NOV

www.UniversityStar.com

The Texas State football team faces McNeese State Saturday in a game that could define the Bobcats’ 2009 season. See story page 16

UPD closing in on parking lot burglars

By Chase Birthisel Assistant News Editor

The University Police are calling Bobcat Village and the Mill Street commuter lot area a current ‘hotspot’ for vehicle burglaries.

Manuel Hernandez, UPD lead investigator, said thieves burglarized about 18 vehicles in the area since the Halloween weekend. He said the cases occurred in Bobcat Village with more occurring in the conjoining Mill Street commuter lot.

Hernandez believes the different burglaries to be apart of the same criminal episode.

“Sometimes we will find eight or nine cars (burglarized) at a time,” Hernandez said. “They are going for easy things they can grab and run.”

Hernandez said UPD is working with the San Marcos Police Department, along with other outside agencies, to apprehend the thieves. He said UPD is “trying to get additionBobby Scheidemann/Star photos al manpower” to monitor the Bobcat Village area.

“If we can prevent it from happening further, that would be the ideal situation,” Her-

VETERAN CEREMONY: Texas State commemorated Veterans Day Wednesday morning in The Quad. The ceremony included guest speakers, such as Brigadier General Randy Starbuck and University President Denise Trauth.

nandez said. “But at the same time we have to apprehend whoever is doing this.”

Hernandez said the last episode of burglary happened Friday, though he expects them to strike again. He said the case is going well and there is a “good chance” UPD will catch the suspects.

The University News Service released an e-mail warning of the burglars and the area they are hitting.

Bobcat Village resident Aeryn Lance said she checked her parked car in the Mill Street commuter lot right after seeing the e-mail Friday night. She said the next morning there were two fresh piles of glass two spaces from her car. Lance said she called UPD to ask where else she could park.

“They said they had no clue what to tell me, which was surprisingly unhelpful,” Lance said. “My car has a Sirius satellite radio in it that I can’t take out, so it concerns me.”

Lance said some Bobcat Vilsee BREAK-INS, page 7

Parking conundrum Freshmen could lose spots outside dorms

By Chase Birthisel Assistant News Editor

Somber Setting A day of rememberance brought home

By Clay Thorp News Reporter

Veterans Day has lost its meaning, said Air Force Brigadier Gen. Randall Starbuck.

According to Starbuck, the day is not about supporting wars or political ideologies, nor shopping sales.

“It’s about honoring (veterans’) service to our country,” Starbuck said.

“It’s about recognizing that brave men and women are ready, at any time, to serve when America is in danger.”

Students and university officials came together Wednesday beneath The Quad’s oak tree canopy and Fighting Stallions in the name of one cause — honoring American soldiers.

The Veterans Day Ceremony had a somber tone six days after the Fort Hood shooting.

People of all ages, some who had seen war, many who had not, listened to Starbuck, keynote speaker at Texas State’s Veterans Day Ceremony, speak about soldiers’ sacrifices.

The Student Foundation presented the ceremony, which also featured guest speaker State Rep. Patrick Rose (D-45).

“The reality of the struggles and sacrifice is one we don’t have to look far to find in our community or any community in the country right now,” Rose said.

Rose said students can make an impact by reaching out to veterans and

their families.

Starbuck agreed, saying the shooting at Fort Hood should make students more aware of veterans, especially on Memorial Day, which honors those who have fallen.

Starbuck, who named a Distinguished Texas State Alumnus dismissed rumors that the shooting at Fort Hood is proof slam has “infiltrated” the U.S. military.

“It would be incorrect for our nation to disapprove of someone based on race, creed or religion,” Starbuck said.

Starbuck said if Islam has infiltratsee VETERANS, page 7

Faculty Senators have debated the idea of changing parking next to dorms to faculty parking, according to Bill Peeler, Transportation and Parking Committee co-chair.

“The idea of freshmen not being able to have cars on campus and having parking in satellite lots is something that has been debated many times over in the past several years,” Peeler said in a previous interview. “I’m sure it will be one

that we discuss again.”

Satellite parking lots are on the perimeter of campus.

Peeler said the Transportation and Parking committee’s purpose is taking different opinions from members and brainstorming solutions. He said satellite parking is one of the solutions that have been discussed. Peeler said there has not been any specifics involving satellite parking for freshmen that have been see PARKING, page 7

Jake Marx/Star photo PARKING NOT: Students living in Sterry and Falls halls may be forced to park further away to give faculty closer campus parking.

S.W.A.T. Task Force could hit the streets yet again

By Lora Collins News reporter A group has banded together to discuss recreating the Students With Alternative Transportation Program.

Zack Hughes, graduate student, worked with the Associated Student Governement’s S.W.A.T. Task Force. Hughes said students are asking for the revival of the service.

The S.W.A.T. program ran three nights a week and provided safe rides home for Texas State students who had been drinking. The program required a minimum of two officers and approximately 10 volunteers on operating

nights to answer phones and drive the rental cars.

The S.W.A.T. Task Force was created in September as a result of the service’s cancellation. Hughes said the group is working to raise money.

“Its (funding) is going to be an issue for now, and moving forward we are going to try and redo the entire management process,” Hughes said.

“They had a lack of central management to begin with.”

The task force is working to possibly develop a student organization to run S.W.A.T. Hughes said the program needed to start because more students are receiving DWIs. S.W.A.T. began in 2001 and

NEWS

pages 1-7 Bill White campaigns for U.S. Senate seat at College Democrats meeting

“We have plenty of students coming to us asking for the S.W.A.T. program. In turn we will go to our student organizations and say ‘Hey if you want these programs we need an X number of hours.’”

was modeled after Texas A&M’s C.A.R.P.O.O.L. program, which gives more than 6,000 rides a year. The Texas State S.W.A.T. program failed as a result of a lack of volunteers and reallocation of funds.

Funding was moved to support further research in the

OPINIONS

­ Zack Hughes — graduate student

Drug and Alcohol Resource Center.

Judy Row, director of the center, said the program had a base of 250 volunteers — most of whom never showed.

S.W.A.T. provided 706 rides to students in 2007, and 857 last year. Row said these numbers

TRENDS

pages 9-10

pages 11-13

Main Point: A solution to nighttime ticketing

A Bobcat to Know: Leukemia survivor devotes life to cancer awareness

are low compared to other carpool programs.

The program lacked the adequate amount of volunteers one-third of the operating nights in 2008, Row said.

“We got to the point that because the no-show rate was so high, if you sign up twice and don’t show, then we don’t put you on the list again,” Row said.

S.W.A.T. rented cars from Enterprise at the beginning of each school year. Row said $16,000 was allocated to the rentals, but the program rarely used more than $15,000.

The university required volunteers to present a valid driver’s license and proof of

SPORTS

pages 15-16 Not being treated ‘Wright’?: Football Coach Brad Wright feels underappreciated

insurance each night. Row said Enterprise never asked to see the insurance.

City Councilmember Chris Jones, Place 4, said he is working to get a non-profit organization to participate in giving students rides home. He said the public transportation in San Marcos needs to be improved and creating a program to take people home would help. He said City Council members should make changes that affect the safety of San Marcos residents when driving at night. Hughes agrees with Jones and said that DWI see SWAT, page 7

Today’s Weather

77°/52° Mostly Sunny Precipitation: 10% Humidity: 59% UV: 5 Moderate Wind: SE 6 mph

Page Two

2 - The University Star

STARS OF TEXAS STATE

Keo Pierron, second year communication design graduate student, received awards at the Oct. 24 American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) BlueRidge fourth annual Flux 09 Competition. He received honorable mention in the Best of Identity category for his logo Ponzu Shushi House, and a merit award for having seven pieces accepted to the competition.

— Courtesy of University News Service

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

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Corrections: In Tuesday’s issue of The University Star, a photo was published on the sports page of Alvin Canady, junior running back, but was labeled as a photo of Mishak Rivas, sophomore wide receiver.

—The Star regrets this error.

ON THIS

DAY IN

HISTORY

CRIME

BL TTER

1942: The World War II naval Battle of Guadalcanal began. The Americans eventually won a major victory over the Japanese.

Nov. 3, 12:54 a.m.

Graffiti - Loss under $500/Bexar Hall Parking Garage While on patrol, a police officer noticed university property had been 1927: Josef Stalin became vandalized. The case is the undisputed ruler of under investigation. the Soviet Union as Leon Trotsky was expelled from Nov. 3, 2:50 p.m. the Communist Party.

Medical Emergency/ Bobby Scheidemann/Star photo WACKY COSTUMES: Nathan Saenz, communicatin design sophomore, and Christian Osorio, communication design junior, work on hand-crafted costumes in 3-D design class.

Library Beat

Check out classic from Criterion Film Collection The Criterion Collection releases a continuing series of the greatest films from around the world and publishes them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and unique original supplements to accompany the films.

The Alkek Library has acquired the complete Criterion Collection of nearly 500 films and will continue to supplement it as more films are published. In order to find this DVD collection, go to the library’s catalog at www.library.txstate.edu, and in the keyword search bar type “Criterion Collection” in quotes. You can also browse the DVDs themselves on the library’s third-floor shelves under the call number: PN1997 .A1 C75.

The Criterion Collection offers numerous treasures such as the films of Akira Kurosawa, Federico Fellini, Ingmar Bergman,

1948: Former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and several other World War II Japanese leaders were sentenced to death by a war crimes tribunal.

Strahan Coliseum A nonstudent reported another nonstudent fell, injuring her head.

The nonstudent was transported to Central Texas Medical Center for a medical evaluation.

1954: Ellis Island closed after processing more than 20 million immigrants Nov. 3, 7:45 p.m. since opening in New York Burglary of Vehicle/ Bobcat Village Parking Harbor in 1892.

Lot 1987: The American A student reported Medical Association to a police officer her issued a policy statement property was taken from saying it was unethical for her vehicle without her a doctor to refuse to treat consent. The case is someone solely because under investigation. ­— Courtesy of Alkek Library that person has AIDS or is HIV-positive.

Nov. 4, 4:28 p.m.

Failure to Comply1996: Jonathan Schmitz Striking Unattended Hispanic student enrollment. was convicted of second- Vehicle/Wood Street The Association of Mexican American Students and the Latino degree murder for Parking Garage Student Association will host a reunion Saturday at the San shooting Scott Amedure, a Marcos Veterans of Foreign Wars event hall for alumni and current gay man who’d revealed a A student reported to a students who are interested in becoming a part of the alumni crush on Schmitz during a police officer her vehicle group. The event begins at 7 p.m. with a dinner and social. The taping of The Jenny Jones was damaged while cost is $10 at the door. legally parked. The case Show.

The Association of Mexican American Students was the first is under investigation.

Hispanic student organization and was established in 1969 1997: Ramzi Yousef through the efforts of Dr. Roberto Galvan, a Spanish professor.

Nov. 4, 7:56 p.m.

His intent was to bring cultural awareness to the university and was found guilty of Possession of the community along with establishing scholarships for future masterminding the 1993 Mexican American students.

Marijuana/Bexar Hall bombing of the World All proceeds of the event will go toward a scholarship fund for Parking Garage Trade Center. under-privileged Hispanic students.

While on patrol, a police 1999: President Bill officer observed two — Courtesy of Hombres Unidos Clinton signed a sweeping students engaged in measure knocking down suspicious activity. Upon Depression-era barriers further investigation, two and allowing banks, students were arrested for investment firms and possession of marijuana come together on a large scale to promote positive relations insurance companies to and transported to Hays between student and non-student residents through education, sell each other’s products. County Law Enforcement community connectedness and resources. Since its formation, A.C.T. has rapidly evolved to a large-scale ongoing program with Center and are awaiting a 2001: An American Airlines court date. a long-term impact.

Accepting the award were Mayor Susan Narvaiz, Deputy flight crashed near New Mayor Pro Tem Kim Porterfield, City Councilman Fred Terry, City York’s Kennedy airport, Nov. 4, 10:15 p.m.

Manager Rick Menchaca, Police Chief Howard Williams and killing 265 people.

Burglary of Vehicle/ Chief Dvorak joined by Dr. Smith and Michelle Lopez, associate Bobcat Village director of the LBJ Student Center.

2004: A jury in Redwood During the annual conference, Chief Dvorak, Dr. Smith and Ms. Commuter Parking Lot City, Calif., convicted Lopez conducted a seminar on the A.C.T. program attended by Students reported to Scott Peterson of city officials from across Texas. a police officer their The Texas Municipal League is a voluntary association of more murdering his pregnant property had been taken wife, Laci, and dumping than 1,100 Texas cities, which serves the needs and advocates her body in San Francisco from their vehicles without on behalf of municipalities. TML is the largest organization of its consent. The case is Bay. (Peterson was later kind in the nation. under investigation. sentenced to death.)

Jean Luc Godard, David Lean, Orson Welles, and many others.

Each film is presented uncut, in its original aspect ratio, as its maker intended it to be seen. The supplements offered enable viewers to appreciate the films in context, through audio commentaries by filmmakers and scholars, restored directors’ cuts, deleted scenes, documentaries, shooting scripts, early shorts and storyboards.

Explore the collection further at www.criterion.com. For oneon-one assistance, visit the Reserves, Periodicals and Media Desk on the third floor, or use one of the “Ask a Librarian” options offered in the link at the top of the library’s home page.

Former Latino student organization starts alumni group Texas State Latino grads might soon have a new way to reconnect with their alma mater.

Former members of the Association of Mexican American Students, currently the Latino Student Association, are creating opportunities for alumni and students for networking and mentorship.

“It is very important to create networking and mentoring opportunities for Texas State Latino students, especially first generation Latino college students,” said Daniel Rodriguez, former group president and association organizer. “In the same manner that an upperclassman assists a lower classman up the rungs of success, we want a Hispanic/Latino Alumni Association to expand our needs and wants in the university, community and society.”

Hispanics represent 23 percent of the Texas State student population. The university is striving to become a Hispanic Serving Institution by 2011 and must reach a level of 25 percent

City receives award for community campaign The Texas Municipal League has awarded the City of San Marcos the “Municipal Excellence Award in Management Innovations” for cities of more than 25,000 population for the “Achieving Community Together” campaign.

City of San Marcos and Texas State officials were on hand at the ceremony in Fort Worth Oct. 21 to accept the award for a town-gown initiative that has gained national attention since it was developed in 2008.

In university towns, students and nonstudents often clash, and San Marcos is no exception, the league award-presentation noted. In an effort to improve these relations, the Achieving Community Together — or A.C.T. program — was formed by San Marcos Police, other city departments and Texas State students, staff and faculty.

Co-chaired by Lisa Dvorak, assistant San Marcos police chief and Dr. Joanne Smith, vice president of Student Affairs, A.C.T. focuses on common values, missions and goals and has developed a problem-solving model to identify issues and seek solutions.

This historic effort marks the first time stakeholders have

— Courtesy of City of San Marcos

Visit UniversityStar.com

— Courtesy of New York Times

— Courtesy of University Police

News

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The University Star - 5

Crickets left in the dark

Bobby Scheidemann/Star photo

PEST SOLUTION: Officials have decided to keep the lights off at Old Main as a solution to their cricket problem.

By Megan Holt News Reporter Crickets’ time in the spotlight is over.

“We’ve realized crickets are drawn to lights and high places,” said Richard Cheatham, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication. “Old Main is one of the highest spots on campus, so they are finding their way over here.”

Old Main’s lights have been turned off at night during cricket season for the last five

or six years according to Joseph Ellis, assistant director of Facilities Management.

“When the lights are left on at night, it attracts hundreds of (crickets),” Ellis said. “Because Old Main is so old, they tend to go in and crawl under the building. They find their way into the ceilings.”

Thomas Grimes, School of Journalism and Mass Communication professor, said crickets in Old Main have been a problem for years.

Grimes said crickets “cook” in Old Main’s ceiling when

Bill White campaigns for senate seat

By Lisa Carter The University Star Houston Mayor Bill White spoke to the Texas State College Democrats Wednesday to publicize his race for the U.S. Senate.

White previously visited the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Lamar, Sam Houston State and Rice in hopes of garnering college students’ attention. He spoke for 30 minutes to more than 20 students at the meeting.

White said education is his main concern in the race.

“Education and jobs for people graduating from college has to be our country’s No. 1 priority,” White said. “I want to push toward tax and other federal policies leading to more productivity in growth, encouraging more small businesses, as well as better education and training.”

White said more Pell grants would be an important factor in accomplishing this goal.

White said he hopes to find a way to increase Pell grants without raising tuition.

Amanda Domaschk, College Democrats president, said she was glad White focused on Pell grants.

“I think one of the best things was how he talked about Pell grants and how people should work off loans, similar to Obama’s campaign,” said Domaschk, political science senior.

White said he has worked toward improving energy use for 34 years.

“I’m dedicated to going up on Capitol Hill to fight for clean energy,” White said. “If we’re a leader in renewable energy in this country, we can create jobs for people.”

White said young people had a significant impact on the 2008 presidential election. He hopes college students will have a similar impact on the Senate race.

“It’s important young people get involved in elections,” White said. “Students are very important in America’s elections today. The issues we’re talking about will have even more of an impact on young Americans than older Americans.”

Students at the meeting asked the prospective senator about healthcare reform.

“I agree with the president in that I will make sure people are able to obtain group health insurance if they’d like,” White said. “It should not weaken the Medicare system. I think we should find ways of having more affordable health benefits that would enable small employers and their employees. We’re actually doing that in Houston.”

White said he has the characteristics necessary to win a seat Republicans predominately hold.

“Texans want somebody who’s competent and shoots straight,” White said. “They want someone who knows how to get things done. I have those characteristics and I’ve always been steward of the people.”

Gordon Juhan, pre-mass communication senior, said he has a positive outlook on the U.S. Senate’s future if White is elected.

“I personally got out that he’s an optimistic candidate for senator,” Juhan said. “I think he’s great for the state and can bring the change Texas needs.”

whynot? not? why universitystar.com universitystar.com

they are caught in the lights’ electrical wires. Grimes said he first noticed the cricket problem in 2007.

“They fall out of the lights and (land) exactly on my keyboard,” Grimes said. “Sometimes, when I’m at my desk and leaning forward, they will fall into the collar of my shirt and down my back.”

Ellis said those whom office in Old Main suggested the lights be turned off a few years ago. He said the university saves $5.25 per hour the lights are off.

“We certainly didn’t want students, faculty and staff dealing with what we were dealing with,” Cheatham said.

“Once the first freeze arrives, we no longer have a problem with them, and the lights are left on through the night. We found this was the best solution.”

Cheatham said faculty and staff could smell dead crickets as custodians vacuumed and killed them before they found a solution to the problem.

“They were all over the

building,” said Mary Sanchez, facilities custodian in Old Main. “They don’t smell until they are dead, but they go behind cabinets and die, so it’s hard for me to clean.”

Sanchez said her vacuum would smell for several days when she removed the crickets until she changed the bag.

She had to wash the vacuum hose for the smell to diminish.

“The facilities director would tell me not to use my vacuum, so I would have to get a broom and sweep them,”

Sanchez said. “There would be like a big pile of them in the middle of the floor.”

Cheatham said Old Main’s lights are left on at night for important weekends, such as homecoming and when visitors are expected.

“Even with the lights off, Old Main is still the most prominent architectural structure in San Marcos,” Cheatham said. “We’d rather turn the lights off and have fewer crickets than deal with a lot of them.”

6 - The University Star

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Parking

continued from page

brought to the committee.

Peeler said there is a demand for parking from students and faculty coupled with a short supply of parking. He said the university is building additional parking to relieve the demand, but there are still limited resources.

“As the university has undergone growth, we have tried to be as good of stewards as we can over these resources,” Peeler said. “We make recommendations to the President’s Cabinet, which will make the ultimate decision.”

The Transportation and Parking Committee will have an extended meeting 12 p.m. Friday in the JC Kellam. The committee consists of faculty, staff and

SWAT

student representatives.

“I don’t experience the same issues as the students, so I wouldn’t really know their perspective,” Peeler said.

“That is why in the committee we have representatives from the three stakeholder groups.”

Rachel Ftaiti, undecided freshman, said satellite parking would be an inconvenience for new students. She said transporting students to campus at all hours would be difficult for the university to accomplish.

“It kind of undermines the students,” Ftaiti said. “How important are the students compared to the professors?”

Shelby Jones, nutrition and foods freshman, said satellite

continued from page

arrests have doubled since the bar extension.

Row said the percentage of students who binge drink is on the rise.

“When we survey on campus, the majority of our students say they have had something to drink in the course of their lifetime usually around 90 percent,” Row said.

Thirty to 35 percent in that group do not get themselves in a situation where they binge drink, Row said. She said 17 to 20 percent do not drink at all.

Veterans

1

Break-ins

Row said the Alcohol and Drug Resource Center needs to expand into social networking sites. The S.W.A.T. program is still listed under the catalog for student organizations. Hughes said there needs to be a stronger advertising medium for student drivers.

“We have plenty of students coming to us asking for the S.W.A.T. program. In turn we will go to our student organizations and say ‘Hey if you want these programs we need an X number of hours,’” Hughes said.

Old Main reroofing to cost $1 million

By Heidi Morrison News Reporter

Old Main, Texas State’s iconic building, will likely be undertaking roof renovation in the upcoming year, said Michael Petty, assistant director of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction.

Petty said a study of Old Main was completed in 2008

by Volz & Associates, Inc. to determine what areas needed to be upgraded, modified or replaced.

“Considering its age, Old Main is in generally structural condition,” according to the comprehensive feasibility study of Old Main.

Petty said his team then went through the study to decipher which elements are priorities areas.

He said there are no lifethreatening issues, despite the visible cracks on the walls due to ground movement that are not a fundamental deficiency, according to the study.

“We ultimately (decided that) the first item that we needed to take care of was reroofing the facility so we could minimize leaks,” Petty said.

“That’s what we’re proposing to do.”

He said in January the Facilities Department will issue a request for qualifications to architectural engineering teams who will assist in deciphering precise cost estimates for restoring the roof.

Petty estimates the cost for repairing the roof alone would exceed $1 million.

Petty said he would like to restore the entire building collectively, but it would take at least three or four years and cost around $20 million.

“We could do the whole thing all at once, which would be a major undertaking,” Petty said. “It would be a major proj-

ect. Perhaps in the long run it would be worth doing. But it would take a special group of people to make that kind of contribution.”

Doris Laird, senior lecturer for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication said the school is too large for its facilities.

“Old Main is a wonderful building, but we have outgrown it,” Laird said.

However, Petty said for right now, the plan is take it one step at a time because they do not have the funds to restore everything listed in the comprehensive feasibility study all at once.

He said there are other requests for remodeling and restoration throughout the campus.

“We’ve got so many needs that are pressing,” Petty said.

“We’re growing so quickly that it’s very difficult to stay up with the increased population. We’re doing our best to get there and we deliver a good product. But we have to set a priority on how we’re going to spend the money as we move forward and grow with the population.”

Laird said it doesn’t seem like Old Main is high on the priority list.

Laird’s office is on the third floor of Old Main and she said the carpet in her office is damp almost year-round.

“There’s a small window in my office, very old window, probably one of the original ones from the building,” she said. “There’s mold all around the inside. And when it rains, water seeps in that window.

And the carpet stays damp.”

She said she has been concerned that the water will eventually damage her computer equipment.

The problems do not end there, Laird said.

continued from page

1

ed the military, “so have white be more cognizant of issues Anglo-Saxon protestants.” that affect veterans. Spindle Among the crowd of stu- said the Fort Hood shooting dents and university officials was an indicator our military stood veterans old and young, is overstretched and overeach from various branches of worked. He said students the armed services. should be aware of the impact Lt. Col. Michael Elliott said the wars in Iraq and Afghanihe enjoyed the ceremony. stan are having on veterans.

Elliott, the commanding of“Know your geography and ficer of Army ROTC at Texas the culture of the region and State, has two deployments to get involved,” Spindle said.

Iraq and Afghanistan.

University President Denise Elliott said his students have Trauth said the Texas State not been discouraged by the campus is a veteran-friendly shooting at Fort Hood. environment. Texas State has “It hasn’t shaken their faith,” an enrollment of approxiElliot said. mately one veteran to every 25 Elliott said if Nidal Malik students. Trauth said veterans Hasan, the alleged Fort Hood are attracted to the Texas State gunman, was trying to make a community. point by his actions, “he didn’t “Our military personnel pay get the response he intended a dear price for their steadfast to get.” loyalty,” Trauth said. “We owe Shawn Spindle, 14-year them our gratitude.”

Navy veteran, said he hopes Starbuck said Veteran’s Day Jake Marx/Star photo the holiday will help students lost its meaning, but the trend parking is a good idea because of the difficulty of finding a spot on campus.

“As long as there is a bus and security, it would be fine,” continued from page 1 Jones said. “Parking is so bad that you cannot leave your spot during the week anyway.” lage residents choose to park window,” McGiluray said. “I Anthony Sanchez, pre-com- in the Mill Street commuter lot guess someone had broken munication design freshman, for monetary reasons. into it recently because there “It’s $110 less to park (in was glass all over the ground.” said satellite parking would McGiluray said the burglars work as long as it cost less the commuter lot),” Lance said. “It’s $195 to park in here are choosing the commuter lot than residential parking.

“When I come back on Sun- (Bobcat Village) with a silver because it is unmonitored and days and have to park in a sticker and $85 to park out has easy access to the road. commuter lot, it really defeats there.”

“It’s pretty easy to get away the purpose of a green stickBobcat Village resident Shea with if you think about it,” er,” Sanchez said. “It would be McGiluray said he saw a SUV McGiluray said. “They need to great as long as it cost less. My window broken in the com- have better monitoring.” car usually stays parked where muter lot last weekend.

Lance said she feels safer it’s at.”

“They had a towel over the here than in Houston where

1

“From my perspective, states have increased the consequences for underage drinking, but at the same time the society seems to enable those behaviors,” she said.

Hughes said the numbers of DWIs could decrease if students take the initiative to volunteer. Arizona State is considered one of the largest campuses in the world, and more than 100,000 carpool rides were given to students last year, Row said. She said marketing campaigns would help increase the number of rides given at Texas State.

The University Star - 7

“I know we have holes in the attic because bats get in,” she said. “In the men’s restroom on the second floor, there was a bat (that) flew out and hit a student. Obviously they need to do some restoration of the building.”

Ray Niekamp, assistant professor for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said waste baskets are placed by two different offices on the third floor to collect drips during leakage.

“When you look up through the roof, you can see spots of daylight,” he said.

Petty said the roof will look no different once it is completed. It will be a red, tin roof like it is now, he said.

He said they plan to carry out this task while the building is occupied.

“We don’t have swing space on campus to readily move people out and put them in temporary quarters,” Petty said.

There have been requests to add computer labs to the third floor, he said. But the Facilities Department has asked for that plan to be held off until the new roof is finished.

According to the comprehensive feasibility study, the roof has occasionally been repaired over the years.

“For decades we have tried to patch the roof in order to stop leaks during heavy rainfall,” said Richard Cheatham, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication. “Indeed, water running down the walls on the third floor on more than one occasion has resulted in damage to faculty offices. I am so pleased that we are abandoning the ‘patchwork’ approach in favor of a permanent fix.”

Petty anticipates the roof replacement will begin in June and will be approximately a six-month project.

was changing.

“And it’s changing big time here at the Texas State campus,” Starbuck said.

Starbuck said though a fullpage sale ad was in newspapers Wednesday morning, there was a one-column article on page 12A about Marine Sgt. Charles Cartwright.

“He died as he was performing combat operations while serving our country in Afghanistan,” Starbuck said.

“Cartwright will return home.

He’ll return home in a metal box,web draped in a flag.”

extra

web extra See the Video Online at

www.universitystar.com

See the Video Onlin

www.universitystar.

she previously lived. She said Seewhy the Photos Online at the reason the burglarwww.universitystar.com ies at Bobcat Village are so surprising is because it rarely happens.

“Here, I think the reason why anyone takes any notice See the Photos Onlin is because it’s sowww.universitystar. fresh,” Lance said. “It’s like no matter how good the cookies are you’re baking, after smelling them for a couple of hours, you don’t smell them anymore.”

8 - The University Star

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Opinions

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The University Star - 9

Technology helps prospective students choose Texas State

By Gabrielle Samples Opinions Columnist What characteristics do students really look for in a college or university?

To me, choosing a college was like buying a car.

I searched for one that could offer a good education, accommodate all of my interests and stay within my budget. To summarize, I wanted quality, uniqueness and practicality.

With the ever-changing world of media and means of advertising and marketing, Texas State is utilizing new tools to appeal to prospective students.

I remember when I began my intense journey on the search for the “right” university. I was one of those high school graduates who took the decision of where I would spend the next four years of my life and the government’s money very seriously.

By Robert Beckhusen Opinions Columnist The great British writer and documentarian Jonathan Meades defined ‘kitsch’ as the gulf between a professed intended sentiment and the bloated expression of that sentiment.

We should think about this closely as we consider a war memorial on university grounds for those who have died in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The proposal to build a statue honoring veterans — reported by Amanda Givens in Wednesday’s issue of The University Star — was put forward by veteran and student Jude Prather, who works as a veteran liaison for ASG. Prather made a good case for it.

I would add in my own little way that building a memorial of some kind should be an obligation.

An obligation, or a duty, however, implies a moral commitment. All the more reason to avoid “kitsch,” which could be defined as superficial or tasteless.

But avoiding “kitsch” has its own dangers.

Since the proposal is for a statue, I fear we may be on the way to repeating the

Perhaps worse, the heroic pole results in monumentalism and the twisted glorification of war itself. This form of grandiosity does not mourn the dead but celebrates them.

It’s the case that veterans have confessed to me that they find these expressions of gratitude, usually given by complete strangers, to be deeply offensive.

This is quite unlike the somber memorials to the dead at Verdun, the memorial itself or the Douaumont ossuary with the Bourdon de la Victoire, its death bell. Three-quarters of a million people were killed and maimed on those grounds in 1916. A jubilee for such a massacre would be obscene.

As an unimaginable horror, a journalistic depiction is impossible.

Both memorials are deeply moving. They are places fit for silent reflection of the dead, known and nameless — or those who simply disappeared. As symbols of peril and deprivation they transcend political whims and shallow glory.

And they’re not easy to observe, as serious reflection can be a moral challenge.

But that’s the task we have ahead of us.

Given these thoughts, we can build a suitable memorial, not to speak for the dead but to remember them.

—Robert Beckhusen is a pre-mass communication sophomore

Visit UniversityStar.com

—Gabrielle Samples is a public relations sophomore

“If it’s campus-wide, are those living on campus banned completely from smoking? Then it becomes a controversy because it’s the privacy of their own little places where they live. If we have regulations of where people are supposed to smoke, maybe they should enforce that more.”

Mone Darlington, management junior

“I like to smoke cigarettes on the way to and from class. I don’t think the ban is a good idea. I think lots of people will be mad about it.”

Marcus Cupp, pre-mathematics sophomore

“Personally I don’t think it should be banned. If you have rules already set out to designate where people can smoke and cannot smoke, you should focus on those things and practice actually keeping and enforcing those. As for overall banning, no I don’t think that’s fair for people who do follow the smoking rules of where and where not to smoke.”

Kijiana Cornelius, management junior

“They should stop smoking cigarettes because it’s bad for your health and as you can see, it’s kind of filthy around campus.”

Tim Jordan-Moore, industrial technology junior

Smoke-ban withdrawals

By Tristan Watson Opinions Columnist

—Courtesy of MCT

sented a taste of student life using YouTube broadcasting events, presenting a look into campus life at Texas State.

Students have taken part by producing personal videos in which they give tours of dorm rooms and record aspects of their daily lives.

The Web site Unigo.com specifically focuses on college reviews and gives students a stage to express their views on all the facets of college life.

I love the fact students can take part in promoting the university. The balance and truth that comes from student-produced work provides a sense of authenticity that campus promoters tend to stray from.

For people who do not get the chance to visit the beautiful Texas State campus, opportunities to learn about the university can still be accessed through these mentioned sources. Texas State’s participation with these sites exhibits their growing attitude of competitiveness to attract students.

Well done, Texas State.

ASG senators have been reviewing a proposal to create a campus-wide ban on cigarette smoking. What do you think?

Veterans deserve subtle monument failed statues of the Vietnam War, which tossed out the overstuffed for journalistic representations.

James Howard Kunstler referred to these monuments — generally realistic and lifesized statues — as “an attempt to do heroic monumental art without the heroicism ...(because) we do not think of the Vietnam War as being a romantic episode in our history.

Whatever valor it generated was kind of incidental to the general embarrassment we feel over having been involved in it in the first place.”

This is also called disavowal, as put by Slavoj Zizek in Lacanian terms (who extended it from Freud). It goes “I know very well, but …”

We know the statues glorify war, but we act as if they don’t.

So instead of the heroic, we see journalistic kitsch. Is it not the case that people see the War on Terror (can I still call it that?) as a repeat of the crimes in Vietnam? I sternly disagree with that comparison, but on whether and how cities choose their war art, my opinion matters little.

There are two poles at work here. The journalistic pole sees the veteran as a symbol of detached observation and study, with the occasional emotive pity. This view came about because of a greater realization of the severe and debilitating trauma, referred to as “posttraumatic stress disorder,” that war inflicts on the human being.

Super nerd that I am, I made a chart of all my top schools. I rated them on student life, teacher-to-student ratio, the success of the school that encompassed my major, dorm quality, cost and the distance from my boyfriend. I wanted a university that was not too exclusive, yet projected an image I could be proud of.

Needless to say, the decision was not taken lightly.

If any prospective students are as serious about the selection of their university as I was, Texas State’s use of Web sites such as College Portrait and YouTube will help students see all our university has to offer.

The new College Portrait link on the Texas State homepage provides statistical information on factors such as the retention rate for freshmen, student satisfaction and core learning outcomes. The site, which is used by institutions all over the country, can be valuable when looking for the answers to those technical questions that cannot be answered elsewhere.

The university has pre-

Implementing a campuswide smoke ban is not going to encourage smokers to cut down on their nicotine intake, or provide an incentive for quitting. The goal of advising students to a healthier lifestyle will not be accomplished if individuals have their smoking privileges taken away.

I am not a smoker, but the decision to revoke the privilege to smoke is not a concern of students’ health, but an effort to bring positive attention to the university.

According to an article in the Nov. 5, issue of The University Star, at least 365 campuses in the United States are smoke-free, and ASG Sen. Dallen Terrell said he wants Texas State to become 366th.

The campus-wide smoke ban is supposed to lead students to a healthier lifestyle. What constitutes a healthier lifestyle? A healthier lifestyle can mean any number of things.

Surely the university isn’t credulous enough to believe a smoke ban on campus will

direct students to reduce their smoking or cause them to give up smoking all together.

The decision to ban smoking could actually generate negative results. Depriving an individual the privilege of smoking could cause them to smoke more frequently once they leave campus. It is not rational to assume the university playing concerned parent will create healthier lifestyles for students.

Texas State must consider all possible outcomes of a campus-wide smoke ban if it’s put into action. This socalled intervention to urge students to either quit or reduce smoking habits may not have the positive effect ASG and the university thinks it will have.

According to the American Cancer Society Web site, “nicotine withdrawal symptoms can lead quitters back to smoking.” These withdrawal symptoms can lead the smoker to start smoking cigarettes again to boost blood levels of nicotine back to a level where there are no symptoms. The information on the Web site leads people to believe cold turkey is not the way to go.

Texas State administrators shouldn’t abruptly revoke smoking privileges, but through a collaborative effort with the Student Health

Center, they should create a plan to gradually aid students to either reduce smoking, or quit all together.

Students will only accept a healthier lifestyle when he or she is ready. If students, faculty and staff can’t smoke on campus, they will find another way, or wait until they leave campus. The end result of a healthier lifestyle will ultimately have a negative effect on students because they will continue to smoke elsewhere.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, counseling, selfhelp programs and the use of FDA-approved medications are safe and effective ways to successfully quit.

According to the site, “the person must want to quit and must make the decision to try to quit.”

It’s not the university’s responsibility to assume the role of doctor in trying to coerce students into a healthier lifestyle. However, the university could enforce the existing smoking policy, and the health center can help students try to quit.

The ability to quit smoking or to live a healthier lifestyle can only become effective when an individual is ready.

A campus-wide smoke ban should not be implemented.

—Tristan Watson is a political science senior

Opinions

What’s your opinion?

Send your thought to staropinion@txstate.edu Remember to keep it between 400 and 500 words

10 – The University Star

Thursday, November 12, 2009

A solution to nighttime ticketing the main

F

point.

or off-campus students with no parking permits, empty spaces at night are equivalent to the untouchable childhood cookie jar.

It looks tempting, but the consequences of bad behavior are hardly worth it.

The after-hour empty spaces in lots could be resources for nighttime use. Students who live off campus still utilize the library and Derrick Hall’s computer lab. They still have group meetings.

And they still attend university events.

The lack of transportation after hours leaves commuters with few options. Those who take the bus lose that privilege after 11 p.m. Pedestrians and bikers sing a different tune when nighttime rolls around because the roads become more dangerous and they are less visible to drivers.

The safest and most convenient way for students to get to campus at night would be to drive.

Still, the rules are strict: vehicles either have a permit at night or the owner gets a pretty orange ticket with a hefty price tag.

Texas State officials and students put a lot of work into extending library hours. The extension is useful and necessary — for those who can get there.

Students pay the same fees across the board.

So all students should be able to utilize the same services without having to pay extra in parking tickets.

This is not to say all commuters should go buy a parking permit. Day parking is already limited.

Those who are riding the bus or utilizing their legs and bicycles should continue to do so. However, there should be more convenient ways for

them to get to campus after hours.

According to an article in the Oct. 27 issue of The University Star, ASG University Relations Committee members are discussing a proposal to allow an after-hours pass for commuters to park on campus.

Any student should be able to park on campus lots at night. Currently, they are unable to do so.

To remedy the problem, the university should issue night parking permits to all students, allowing them to park on campus after 7 p.m. Without the fear of being ticketed, students will engage in more campus activities as well as utilize nighttime studying.

A pass on all student-registered vehicles indicating their proof of university enrollment would take care of safety concerns. After all, we don’t want just anyone parking on campus.

We could also lessen the risk of outsider thefts and violent acts on campus with a low-cost universal student ID on all cars. UPD would be able to distinguish between university related and unrelated vehicles. Parking Services would still be able to ticket those vehicles without regular parking permits if they are left on campus after 7 a.m.

As mentioned numerous times before, the Texas State campus is steadily growing in population. Sophomores were encouraged to move off campus to make room for the incoming freshmen, which increased the number of commuters.

University officials are working toward making space and transportation improvements for our growing numbers, and adding a universal student ID on vehicles would help. Students who utilize the available university buildings in the evening would finally be able to make use of those empty nighttime spaces.

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.

Juan Ramirez/Star illustration

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Trends

Swift Award Sweeper

Taylor Swift won the Country Music Awards entertainer of the year, making history as the youngest person to win. Swift is the first solo female to win since 1999. The 19 year old won four awards and said “I will never forget this moment” as she tearfully accepted.

The University Star – 11

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Writing gets

By Brittany Wilson Features Reporter

The Writing Center is rolling out new technologies this semester. Students are now able to book appointments online and utilize Bobcat Chat, an instant messaging service.

This is the first semester counselors have been able to help students without seeing them in person. Those unable to make it to campus for tutoring can log on to the Writing Center Web site and make an appointment for online help.

According to the Writing Center Web site, “During the online tutorial, students engage in dialogue about their writing with a trained counselor, simulating a face-to-face tutorial. Both parties are able to see the student’s work on screen and can speak to each other via chat and microphone.”

Another service provided by the Writing Center is details about tutors.

“You can look at our entire schedule and can click on each individual tutor and read our biography, which states each tutor’s strengths,” said Luisa Muradyan, creative writing graduate student.

All counselors are well trained, but each has a specialty with which they feel most comfortable. Muradyan’s strengths include helping students struggling with history papers, longer research papers and theses.

Carter Maddox, English senior, explained the difference between tutors and counselors. Maddox said some students need tutoring because they require help

fixing specific issues. Other students look for writing counseling because they have been told they are bad writers and need someone to instill confidence and encourage them.

“We’re here to help you and we’re here to let you know that you can do this because writing is something everybody can do,” Maddox said.

Trey Dellington, general studies senior, enjoyed his counselor’s enthusiasm, saying it was evident she has a passion for her work. “(Counselor Beth) gave me a lot of good advice in a ‘take it or leave it’ kind of way,” Dellington said. “I would definitely come back for tutoring.”

The Writing Center, located in Flowers Hall room G09, is host to students wanting to practice an intercambio, or a language exchange. Students learning foreign languages often need to practice with a native speaker and the Writing Center offers a location. According to the Web site, all languages are welcome.

The Writing Center offers w o r k s h o p s t h ro u gh out the semester dealing with any issues students may have trouble with, whether it is APA or MLA style, preparing for exams or professional and résumé writing.

Muradyan said MLA recently came out with a seventh edition and students do not know when these rules change.

The workshops can be found on the writing center Web site at www.writingcenter.txstate.edu.

“You can do this because writing is something everybody can do.”

Bobby Scheidemann/Star photo POETRY JAM: Stage ensemble Troupe Texas performs “Sugardaddy “ by Neil Haven Wednesday at Wake the Dead Coffee House.

Wake the Dead brings ‘coffee theatre’ to life

By Thea Setterbo Features Reporter Local performance organization Troupe Texas presented its third play and poetry reading at Wake the Dead Coffee House Wednesday.

John Hood, adjunct faculty, founded the theater ensemble at the University of Texas in 1990 when he served as head of design and technology at the department of theatre and director of productions at the Performing Arts Center.

Hood brought Troupe Texas to Texas State in 2001 when he began teaching as an adjunct professor in the

department of theatre and dance, University College and Honors Program.

According to its Web site, Troupe Texas “is an ensemble of writers, actors, directors, designers, technicians and producers who are committed to bringing dramatic texts to life.”

“We have plenty of good, new playwrights, but few places to produce their work,” Hood said. “We’re here to produce new plays and new versions of classics.”

The purpose of the biweekly readings is to allow the writer of the poem, play or short story to hear his or her words presented by an

actor in front of an audience.

The audience is asked to offer constructive criticism to the writer on comment cards passed out before the performance.

“This is an opportunity for actors to read the words writers have written and for the writers to hear their words acted out,” said Lela Holt, theater graduate student and Troupe Texas literary manager.

The program began at 6:30 p.m. and started with a poem written by Grady Hillman, program faculty in the School of Art and Design. The evening proceeded with works from various students and faculty.

Troupe Texas chose to hold the readings at Wake the Dead for the laid-back atmosphere.

“If you can relax, then you are more comfortable with providing commentary,” said Zachary Christman, alumnus and Troupe Texas associate artistic director. “We wanted to create a sort of ‘coffee theater’ so our audience can participate.”

Caitlin Hagans, international studies junior, said she enjoyed the performance “I hope there are more in the future,” Hagans said.

Troupe Texas’s next reading will take place at 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 25 at Wake the Dead.

fine

Trends

12 - The University Star

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Arts

Calendar

5

Thursday Bat Boy: The Musical, 7:30 p.m., Theatre Center Philosophy Dialogue Series: Meaning, 12:30 p.m., Psychology Building Student Recital Series: Texas State Flute Choir, 8 p.m., Music Building

Star file photo

RELAX IN THE SUN: Students find escape from the daily school routine by the river at Sewell Park.

Things Every Bobcat Should Know: Places to relax on campus Gnarly Naps

Boko’s Living Room, located on the first floor of the LBJ Student Center, allows Bobcats to utilize the recreation and relaxation center for a mid-class break. The center provides headphones, blankets, pillows, alarm clocks and magazines.

A Walk on the Green Side

Concho Green is the space between Lantana, Sterry, Falls and Butler halls. The well-kept area is a grassy haven for students to take in the vegetation, lie down and stare at the sky as a quick nature fix between classes.

Classy Coffee

The Honors Coffee Forum in Lampasas 407 is Texas State’s own art gallery and coffee lounge. Coffee and tea are available, and donations are encouraged. Students can visit the lounge to hang out on the couches, take a breather and appreciate the wall art.

Water for Wellness

Sewell Park, usually littered with bodies on a sunny day, is a grassy hill in front of the river. Those who are calmed by the sound of rushing rapids can take a power nap or a quick dip to cool off from conquering the hills of San Marcos.

Centennial’s Central Park

Bobcats have found the green spaces around Centennial to be handy for shaded outdoor relaxation. On a nice day, the area is full of students with books, food and sleepy eyes.

College Delivery adds more locations to repertoire

By Miranda Serene Features Reporter Instead of heading to the kitchen when they are hungry, Texas State students head to their laptops.

Food arrives at their door in less than an hour. Coffee, Thai food and steak are a few options available for order online.

Albert Garcia is the owner of College Delivery.

Garcia had a vision for College Delivery while attending Texas State. He brought

his dream to life while taking an entrepreneurship class in 2002 with James Bell, professor in the department of management.

“One of our projects was to create a business plan, so I was able to make one for what I called Bobcat Delivery,” Garcia said.

Garcia changed the name to College Delivery in 2005 after plans to begin a franchise.

“My vision got bigger, so I needed a name that could be used in places other than San Marcos,” Garcia said.

College Delivery recently added new restaurants to its delivery list: Chili’s, Los Cucos, Logan’s Roadhouse, Little Caesars, Eskimo Hut and Grin’s.

“We are about to add even more places,” Garcia said.

Jacki Barker, psychology junior, said she has ordered from College Delivery several times.

“I usually order food from College Delivery when I’m not feeling well enough to leave the house,” Barker said.

The addition of restaurants helps convince students to stay home and let College Delivery do the drive time.

“Why would I leave my couch to go get food when I can order a steak from Logan’s Roadhouse right to my

door,” Barker said.

Orders can be placed online or by telephone.

“Most of our orders come from online,” Garcia said.

“We deliver the majority of our orders to apartments off campus.”

Sarah Hudiburg, electronic media senior, finds College Delivery useful when she is unable to leave her house.

“I ordered Which Wich when I was sick,” Hudiburg said. “I spent more than if I went in, but at the time it was worth every penny.”

The choice expansion for ordering convinces people to use College Delivery.

“With such a wide variety now, it’s hard to want to drive to get food,” Hudiburg said.

Garcia plans to open another location in 2010 in South

Austin called ATX Delivery.

“College towns have slow seasons, so I want to open up in a place that is busy all the time,” Garcia said.

College Delivery is open every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., but there are certain instances when more people utilize the service.

“We are the busiest when it is raining or really cold,” Garcia said. “We also get a lot of Sunday orders from people being too hung-over to leave the couch.”

Garcia’s goal of development in Austin is only short-term.

“I am going to take the risk of opening the new location and see what happens,” Garcia said. “Eventually I will open locations in more areas.”

Friday Bat Boy: The Musical, 7:30 p.m., Theatre Center Student Recital Series: Voice Studio Recital, 6 p.m., Music Building Mu Phi Epsilon’s “Founder’s Day Celebration” Recital, 8 p.m., Music Building Saturday Bat Boy: The Musical, 7:30 p.m., Theatre Center Student Recital Series: Audrey Dombusch Senior Voice Recital, 4 p.m., Music Building Student Recital Series: Stephen Chitta, Senior Euphonium Recital, 6 p.m., Music Building Katherine Anne Porter: A Driving Desire, 7 p.m., The Witliff Collections Sunday Bat Boy: The Musical, 12 p.m., Theatre Center Ensemble Series: Texas State Symphony Concert, 3 p.m., Evans Auditorium Ensemble Series: Guitar Ensemble Recital, 6:30 p.m., Music Building Student Recital Series: Double-Reed Chamber Music Jury Recital, 8 p.m., Music Building Monday Ensemble Series: Jazz Ensemble Concert, 8 p.m., Music Building

trends

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The University Star - 13

A Bobcat to Know

Lawrence Estaville Leukemia survivor devotes life to cancer awareness

By Brittany Bemis Assistant Trends Editor After being diagnosed with leukemia, Lawrence Estaville, professor in the geography department, underwent two years of treatment as a participant in a clinical study.

Estaville knew things were about to change during one visit when his doctor strayed from the usual banter.

“He came in and told me the treatment was not working anymore,” Estaville said. “He said I had two options: marrow transplant or supportive care.”

Estaville said supportive care meant being placed in a hospice until death, and that was not a choice. Estaville remembers 52 occupied beds on the floor where he stayed while undergoing treatment, out of those 52, approximately 25 people survived.

He is often asked what the hardest part of his journey was.

“You know, I almost died twice and that was pretty hard,” Estaville said. “But the hardest part, and if I think about it too much I’ll cry, was the children on the seventh floor.”

Estaville remembered 3 year olds with no hair and 12 year olds slumped over in wheelchairs.

Estaville promised himself if he survived he would devote his time to educating students and children about cancer and early detection, prevention and marrow donation.

Estaville, along with others, worked to create Cancer Awareness Month and Community Outreach (C.A.M.C.O.).

“It was really strange to us that there was nothing really institutionalized, no ongoing efforts on campuses anywhere in the United States, to educate students about cancer,” Estaville said.

C.A.M.C.O. is set for the month of April, with the goal of registering people for the Na-

tional Marrow Donor Program.

More than 3,300 students from Texas State have registered. Estaville said there are already 43 matches, and four marrow donations have been arranged.

Carley Pilgrim, Cancer Awareness Month and Community Outreach Student Organization president, said she has known Estaville for 12 years.

“He is one of the most energetic people I’ve ever met, and he is very focused,” said Pilgrim, geography graduate student. “He is such an awesome person. I don’t even know where to start.”

“But the hardest part, and if I think about it too much I’ll cry, was the children on the seventh floor.”

—Lawrence Estaville, geography professor

Texas State received the 2009 National Marrow Donor Program Collegiate Award in September, presented to Estaville and Angelika Wahl, chair of the staff council of C.A.M.C.O. “My passion now is to set a model so we can share it across the state and even across the country,” Estaville said. “The bottom line is to save lives.”

Estaville said the odds of finding a match for a young white female are one in 300,000, but for those of Hispanic or African American decent the odds are one in 600,000.

One Texas State student has already made a difference.

“Last June, (a student) donated marrow to a 2-year-old little girl who was dying from leukemia, and she saved her life,” Estaville said. “All this work, all this hard work that we’ve done — for that, it is worth it.”

Bobby Scheidemann/Star photo portrait

14 - The University Star

c ro s s w o rd

diversions

Thursday, November 12, 2009

by doug pollard

sudoku

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

© 11/12/09 The Mepham Group.

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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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The University Star is now accepting applications for Spring 2010. For more information email stareditor@txstate.edu

Sports

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The University Star - 15

Strahan seating revamped for upcoming basketball season

By Jake Maddox Sports Reporter Strahan Coliseum has a new seating arrangement for the 2009 to 2010 Texas State men’s and women’s basketball seasons.

“The students wanted to sit closer to the floor, so we moved them all the way to the sideline for this year’s basketball season,” said Don Coryell, associate athletics director.

Among the changes made is the lower level reserved seating, which has been moved to the side closest to Aquarena Springs Drive. The rest of the seats will be the student section. The student section was previously courtside on one baseline under the goal. Stu

Bobby Scheidemann/Star file photo CROWDED SPACE: Changes have been made to seating arrangements in Strahan Coliseum for the 2009 to 2010 basketball season.

CAMERON’S COMMENTARY

The cardiac cats

By Cameron Irvine Sports Columnist Texas State volleyball and football are entering the final stretch of the season and it should be noted both teams have turned their season around, thanks to their road heroics.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been dubbed the name “Cardiac Cats” in the NFL, but because a formally bad team has a good start to a season doesn’t mean it should get a “new nickname.” That nickname should belong to Texas State teams, who have made something of their seasons already.

Football began the year on the road with a loss to Texas Christian. To most this was expected (TCU is now among the top five teams in the country, according to the screwed up BCS). Texas State fell apart in the fourth quarter. They dropped 56-21 and disappointed Bobcat fans who wished the team would have been able to keep it up for another 15 minutes.

They followed that game with a dismal performance against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in front of a high school crowd that was probably shocked about beating a top 25 team so easily.

But football has turned it around, winning three conference road games all by six points or fewer at Nicholls State, Northwestern State and Central Arkansas. Texas State needs these final two home games to be wins, but at least the Bobcats know they can go win in the playoffs on the road.

Volleyball started the season almost identical to football. The Bobcats began the season 3-1 at home with a 0-7 road record on their résumé before conference play, most coming in three-game sweeps.

But since conference began, Texas State volleyball has gone 4-2 on the road and won its last eight games overall. The Bobcats hold the top spot in its division (along with Sam Houston State) steady while preparing for Texas-San Antonio,v the I-35 Rivalry.

We all know teams like volleyball and women’s soccer get a bum rap going up against football for people’s attention during the fall. Everyone should pay attention to what these teams — and others — are doing. The volleyball team plays its final two regular season conference games at home Friday against UTSA and Sunday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. A division title on the line is something Bobcat athletics has become used to in the last few years.

So whether it’s the Cincinnati Bengals’ fight for an AFC playoff spot or the Dallas Cowboys fighting for some new respect, Texas State athletics should not be forgotten. To those who love the school most, you know Bobcat pride comes first.

dents will now be courtside for both the baseline and the sideline.

The home and visiting teams’ benches have moved to the other side of the court where the lower level reserved seating will be.

“The new seating arrangement is way better than the previous one,” said Michael Flowers, ASG athletic liason.

“Students sitting on the lower level will create a great atmosphere during the games.”

Strahan Coliseum seats 7,200 people for basketball games. The men’s basketball team home games averaged 1,544 fans in attendance last season. Women’s basketball games average 1,226 for home games.

Coryell said it has been a long time since Strahan Coliseum has sold out for a basketball game, perhaps never.

“We do expect the seating arrangement to result in an increase of student attendance,” Coryell said. “It would be great to see 5,000 students in the stands this Friday for the men’s and women’s first basketball games of their seasons.”

Last season’s home opener for the men’s basketball team resulted in a 104-81 win over Huston-Tillotson. The game drew 2,235 students in attendance. The women won their home opener last season 96-60 over Paul Quinn College with 1,990 students in attendance.

“It would be great to see 5,000 students in the stands this Friday.” ­—Don Coryell assoc. athletic director

Volleyball participates in I-35 Rivalry tonight

By Eric Harper | Sports Reporter Two games and a shot at the No. 1 seed for the Southland Conference tournament are at stake this weekend for the Bobcat volleyball team.

Texas State will face the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners on the road in the I-35 Rivalry game before ending the season Saturday at Texas A&MCorpus Christi. The Bobcats are currently tied for first place in the SLC West Division with Sam Houston State.

However, the Bobcats cannot take an outright SLC title this season. Central Arkansas, which leads the SLC with a 14-0 overall record, is eligible to win the SLC’s regular season title, but will not be eligible for postseason play. This possibility means the Bobcats can take the top seed in the SLC Tournament if they win the SLC West Division. The Bobcats must win both their matches and have Sam Houston State, which plays at Central Arkansas this weekend, lose at least one match in order to be atop the West Division standings.

Coach Karen Chisum said the Bobcats could use the realization of not winning the SLC regular season title to their advantage.

“We need to use the inability to win the SLC outright as motivation,” Chisum said.

“We need to win these last two matches and go win the conference tournament to show everyone we should have won outright.”

The Bobcats are riding an eight-match win streak into the weekend.

Chisum said Texas State has reasons not to let down in its final weekend of the regular season.

“We don’t want to share the division title with Sam Houston (State),” Chisum said. “Plus, UTSA is a fun rivalry match for us.”

Chisum said the Bobcat coaches implemented a new element to team practices and have seen success. Each player in practice competes for points in drills. Chisum said about 75 percent of the drills in practice allows players to gain a win or a loss for their point total.

One of the players who has seen recent improvements is Mo Middleton, junior outside hitter. Chisum said Middleton fits well with the Bobcats in her first season after transferring from New Mexico.

“She has been instrumental,” Chisum said. “She has worked hard in practice and she’s a great kid. Mo really loves the team chemistry here and has felt the closeness and support from her teammates. She has stepped up and been big for us.”

Texas State has wins over the second, fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth-ranked teams in the SLC during its win streak. The match against UTSA will put the Bobcats against the seventh-ranked team.

Texas State will face a team Saturday that is tied for last place in the SLC. The A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders’ only two conference wins this season have come in their last two matches. Chisum said the keys to the Bobcats finishing the season strong are not taking any team lightly and executing plays.

“We can’t take any team for granted,” Chisum said. “We have to win the serving and passing games, be aggressive, keep our errors to a minimum and keep the ball off the floor.”

Jake Marx/Star file photo TAKING A HIT: Shelbi Irvin, junior setter, sets the ball against Central Arkansas Oct. 14 at Strahan Coliseum.

Sports 16 - The University Star

SOFTBALL SIGNEES Texas State softball coach Ricci Woodard announced the signing of three players for the 2011 season. Cora Ramirez, outfielder from Round Rock, Kordan Masek, shortstop from Giddings, and Crystal Alaniz, pitcher from Texas City, signed national letters of intent Wednesday.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Sports Contact, Lisa Carter – starsports@txstate.edu

Not being treated ‘Wright’?

By Keff Ciardello Sports Reporter

Texas State football coach Brad Wright has been approached by various media outlets with questions about his future with the Bobcats. Below is a brief interview conducted by The University Star with Wright’s responses about his future as head coach.

Q: I heard that you were unhappy with your current contract. (Can you tell me about that?)

A: I was offered a one-year contract after the end of last year. That is not much of a commitment to me. Before I even started as a head coach, they gave me three years.

Q: Are you looking for three years?

A: I’m looking to be treated right. Right now, that hasn’t happened. I’m looking at Larry Coker (recently hired as TexasSan Antonio head coach, to begin in 2011) down there and he hasn’t done anything in I don’t know how long and they gave him $200,000 a year. What is being fair to somebody? It’s been since 1990 to ’91 the last time this team had back-to-back winning seasons and that didn’t include a conference championship, we did get one. We’ve already won more games than they did in ’90 (and) ’91 and we still got two games left. Again, what’s not to reward? I don’t understand.

Q: Was there at least a raise in the one-year offer?

A: No, there was no raise in that offer. My family and I are thinking about what we are going to do for our future. I’ve been very fortunate and very successful in the college and high school. Something will happen for me.

Q: Do you wish to remain at Texas State?

A: Not if I’m not treated right.

Athletic director Larry Teis could not be reached for comment.

4

-Team

By Keff Ciardello Sports Reporter

There has been a four-way tie for first place in the Southland Conference between the Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese State and Texas State football teams for the past two weeks.

That four-team tie will turn into two at the conclusion of this weekend.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.

“This is the biggest week of the season,” said Mishak Rivas, sophomore wide receiver. “Hopefully we come out of it with a win. We are going to be SFA’s best friend this week.”

Each team escaped dropping out of contention for the SLC championship by winning their respective games last weekend.

However, the current four-way tie will be broken, as the four teams will face each other, with SFA playing Southeastern Louisiana and Texas State hosting McNeese State.

Texas State needs to win its game and for SFA to defeat Southeastern Louisiana in order to contend for a consecutive SLC championship. Texas State holds any potential tiebreaker against SFA because of the Bobcats’ Oct. 31 victory over the Lumberjacks. If Southeastern Louisiana and Texas State win, the Lions would own a tiebreaker against the Bobcats because of their victory over Texas State in the SLC opener.

Texas State will play in the Toyota Southland Conference game for the second consecutive week when it faces the McNeese State Cowboys Saturday. The two

Tie

teams have combined to win the last four SLC championships. McNeese State won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 and Texas State won in 2005 and 2008. “Looking at the end of our schedule, you can see there is a crescendo of talent,” said Coach Brad Wright. “But we keep winning and each week, the games get bigger. We’ve been playing some good defense. We’ve done a great job of stopping the run and that’s the key.”

Texas State has an 8-18 overall record against McNeese State, including a 3-12 record against the Cowboys at home. Texas State defeated McNeese State last season 45-42.

When Karrington Bush, junior running back, went down with a season-ending knee injury, it was obvious the Bobcats would have to rely more on their passing game to move their offense. With a group of young receivers and the departure of Cameron Luke, some were skeptical on whether the Bobcats could rely on such an inexperienced receiver group. The Bobcat receivers have combined for 20 touchdowns and 2,567 yards. Da’Marcus Griggs, junior wide receiver, leads the group with six touchdowns.

“They (the receivers) have stepped up all year,” Wright said. “Da’Marcus (Griggs) got hurt early on (last game) but he’ll be back this week. When we’ve needed somebody to step up, it’s been a receiver.

Whether it’s Griggs or Daren (Dillard, sophomore wide receiver), who has some good catches, or (Darius) Bolden or Corey Scott (both sophomore wide receivers) who has had some big plays. Like we’ve been saying all year, the group is a talented group of guys.”

Stephen F. Austin at Southeastern Louisiana at 2 p.m. McNeese State at Texas State at 6 p.m.

Basketball team opens season with Howard Payne ‘I think we have a chance to be the best defensive team since I’ve been here and the most athletic team we’ve had.’

—Coach Doug Davalos

By Anthony Medina Sports Reporter The Texas State men’s basketball team will be happy to see the navy blue and gold colors of Howard Payne Friday when it begins the 2009 to 2010 season.

“You kind of get tired of beating up on each other (in practice),” Coach Doug Davalos said. “We’re ready to start taking on some guys who aren’t wearing maroon and white.”

Texas State starts the season ranked sixth in the West Division of the Southland Conference preseason polls. Sam Houston State was voted to win the division by both the coaches and sports information directors.

Conference play does not start until Jan. 13. The Bobcats have plenty of time before facing the Bearkats.

Davalos believes the team’s non-conference schedule will test the players and prepare them for tough SLC play.

“We’ve got a very challenging schedule in front of us, and I wouldn’t have scheduled it that way if I didn’t think our players could handle it,” Davalos said.

Texas State will travel to Arizona after tomorrow’s opener against Howard Payne to begin play in the NIT Tip-Off Tournament. The Bobcats will face Arizona State in the regional round of the tournament.

However, Texas State will not see its schedule get any easier after the NIT. The Bobcats will play Southern Methodist, Texas and DePaul in early December, all of which are on the road.

The road trip should prove to be a measuring tool for the team, as it finished last season 14-16 overall, but with a 2-10 record on the road.

Davalos expects the team to be a work in progress after losing five players last season, including two of its top scorers,

Brandon Bush and Brent Benson.

“We’re losing some scoring, but I think we’re replacing that with some guys with experience who can help fill some of that void,” Davalos said. “On the counter, I think we have a chance to be the best defensive team since I’ve been here and the most athletic team we’ve had.”

Davalos expects Cameron Johnson, junior forward and John Rybak, senior forward, to help carry the load. He anticipates they will to get the new players acclimated to the team’s up-tempo style of play while Ryan White, junior guard, is out because of injury.

Davalos thinks the newcomers will make an impact in different ways, despite losing key players.

Three of the newcomers are junior college transfers and the fourth is a freshman.

Tony Bishop, J.B Conley and Uriel Segura are junior guards who transferred from various institutions. Davalos praised Conley’s on-ball defense and thinks Bishop is long enough to play an inside-outside game.

Dylan Hale, freshman guard, is from Minneapolis. Davalos said Hale is one of the most mature freshmen he has witnessed in Texas State’s basketball program.

Texas State will be without one newcomer, A.J. Stewart, junior forward, as he will sit out this season to meet NCAA requirements after transferring from Kentucky.

The Bobcats look to reach in what Davalos believes will be a strong conference.

“The team that finishes last in our league will have some quality wins against some upper echelon teams,” Davalos said. “That just shows you the balance in our league. There is not a weak team. It’s going to be a very competitive and very exciting year.”