11 14 2007

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NOVEMBER 14, 2007

WEDNESDAY

VOLUME 97, ISSUE 36

University community division Concealed weapons spark controversy

By Stephanie Kusy-Wilson News Reporter The Second Amendment is being tested once again. Since the Virginia Tech incident, universities, police officers and politicians have been developing strategies to protect students and faculty if another mass shooting were to occur. Gov. Rick Perry and other Republicans expressed desires earlier this year to allow Texans with concealedweapon permits to carry their guns where they choose, including university campuses. Perry signed a slew of bills in March relating to gun control, including the

Transportation officials propose tax by the mile By Jeff Turner News Reporter Future Texas State commuters may have to shell out more money to get to class because of a proposed switch from a fuel tax to one levied on the number of miles driven. The Department of Transportation is offering grants to states participating in studies on levying taxes by the mile. California, Oregon and Texas are considering the matter. Politicians such as state Rep. Mike Kruse, R-Round Rock, who is chair of the Transportation Committee, have said people are buying more fuel-efficient cars than they were a few years ago. As a result, people are purchasing fewer gallons of gas. A mileage tax is expected to generate more revenue than current fuel taxes. The University of Iowa will conduct a study in 2008 and 2009 with 450 Austin motorists. The driver’s cars will be equipped with a Global Positioning System, which will track the number of miles motorists travel and where they are driving. Currently, Texans pay 18.4 cents per gallon for a federal gasoline tax and a state levy of 20 cents per gallon. Averaging 30 miles per gallon to drive from Austin to San Marcos four days a week, the commuter spends roughly $45 in gasoline taxes per semester. Joseph Meyer, director of institutional research, said half of the 28,000 Texas State student

population commutes, generally from Austin or San Antonio, which equals more than $638,400 generated in fuel taxes. Jennifer Teague, music performance sophomore, commutes from Austin every weekday. Teague said she puts hundreds of miles a month on her car, and a mileage tax does not appeal to her. Some people believe raising the fuel tax or creating one based on distance traveled is asking motorists to bare an unnecessary burden for the purpose of funding the state’s transportation projects. “I already pay an arm and a leg to drive from where I live to work to (Texas State) just from the tollways,” said Melissa Bourcier, psychology senior. “They even want to put toll booths on roads we’ve already built and our tax dollars have already paid for — I don’t agree with that. You’re doing a double whammy if you ask me.” Bourcier said she has issues with the tracking of driver’s movements the proposed system would require. “I think privacy issues might come into play a little bit,” Bourcier said. “I think there are lines that they don’t need to cross. If they put in a GPS and they know where you are at all times, I think that’s pretty intrusive.” TxDOT officials have not decided whether state operated vehicles like the university’s tram would be exempt from a state See TXDOT, page 3

“castle doctrine” legislation, which allows Texans to defend themselves with a deadly weapon in their homes, cars and workplaces. Before the law was passed, some cases required a person to retreat from an intruder. Concealed weapons are still not allowed in the workplace, churches, bars and college campuses even if the person possesses a license to carry one. Garrett Butler, pre-geographic information science junior, said if people pass a background check and take a safety course, they should be allowed to carry a concealed handgun where they want. “If the state allows the person to carry a gun with a license, they have

the right to, and I support that,” said Butler, who currently does not possess a concealed handgun license. Louis Brown, history senior, currently does not have a license either, but plans to obtain one eventually. He said he would never bring a gun to campus even if he had a license and were a mass shooting to occur, he expects University Police Department to handle the issue. “It’s the cops job,” Brown said. “I’m not a police officer.” UPD said they would not take a political stance on the issue. Rickey Lattie, UPD captain, said if the restrictions were lifted to allow students and faculty to carry guns on campus, it would make his job more

difficult, but he would adjust. “We don’t want to be in a situation where someone has a better advantage than us,” Lattie said. Officers that have completed special training have been allowed to carry AR-15 rifles on campus, which are more accurate than pistols and many handguns. While state laws have not been passed to allow concealed handguns on campus, faculty realize it could being permitted one day. If the state passes the law, it will be up to the university’s discretion if they allow guns on school property. Kate Peirce, journalism professor, See GUNS, page 3

POST PROBLEMS Road construction, headaches continue By Philip Hadley News Reporter Bulldozers, barricades and dust line the Post Road construction site where traffic weaves through narrow detours — often sharing lanes with heavy machinery. City officials say there is a light at the end of the road for the $8.1 million project. Sabas Avila, assistant director of engineering, said approximately 60 percent of the project is now finished with a final completion date slated for September 2008. Tyler Groff, communication studies junior and Post Road resident, said the construction project has been a transportation headache. “The traffic in that area is always hectic, especially around Travis Elementary,” Groff said. “There are instances where traffic goes around buses, and it causes dangerous situations for oncoming traffic. I think the project is just taking too long.” Avila said there is a reason for the length of the project that began in July 2006. He said the most timeconsuming aspect is utility relocation and drainage. “We don’t want to put in a new street, and then a few years later tear it all up to put in a new water line or See ROAD, page 3

LONG OVERDUE: With an estimated 60 percent of construction finished, the $8.1 million Post Road project is scheduled for completion by September 2008.

Greg Richards/Star photo

UPD captain, brother awarded for accomplishments By Alex Hering News Reporter Growing up in the Chapa home meant walking a fine line of discipline with a former Marine and Korean War veteran as a father. “I used to say I was going to be in law enforcement spectrum. I just didn’t know what side,” Paul Chapa said. These days, Chapa serves as the University Police Department captain. “I think I chose the right side,” he said. Chapa said he knew he would be in law enforcement when his older brother and mentor Anthony Chapa joined the San Antonio Police Department in 1981. His brother went on to take a position in Photo courtesy of Paul Chapa the Secret Service and is now a department direcBROTHERS IN ARMS: UPD Captain Paul tor overseeing the protective intelligence division in Washington, D.C. Chapa (left) and his brother Anthony were Last month the Hispanic American Police Comrecently awarded the “Aguila” award, given mand Officers Association awarded the two brothers to officers who achieve the highest level of the highest honor in the organization. The Aguila concern for safety, by the Hispanic AmeriAward is given to individuals who have the highest can Police Command Officers Association level of concern for public safety. in Washington D.C. Anthony Chapa said he was thrilled to find they

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were honored together for their service. “I am probably more excited than anyone that my brother Paul is being recognized for leadership and his work in law enforcement,” Chapa said. “I was recognized as well, but I am being recognized for cumulative service to the community with my agency and to the organization. That my brother would be recognized for leadership halfway through his career to me is just outstanding. I can’t be happier or prouder than anyone that he is my younger brother.” The association is the largest and oldest organization in the U.S. of Hispanic American command officers from law enforcement agencies across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, according to its Web site. Executive Director Lee Roy Villareal said he would not expect this coincidence to happen again. “The review board didn’t even know they were brothers,” Villareal said. “I was pretty sure they were (brothers), but I didn’t reveal that to the selection committee so they could make the decision on their own merits.” Paul Chapa, who has been a member of the association for five years, said seeing the people who have received the Aguila Award before him and then to be nominated was exciting.

“Knowing that my work is being recognized for the quality that I believe it is — that’s just great,” Chapa said. “You know that doesn’t happen in our business where you’re recognized for your work. But when it does, it’s really nice and it definitely feeds my passion and feeds my momentum to continue to do the work I do.” The brothers attribute their commitment to excellence and dedication to the public to their father. “Part of our influence comes from our father’s very strong sense of patriotism and service to the community,” Anthony Chapa said. “Our dad served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean conflict and from there he became a civilian employee at Kelly Air Force Base as a jet mechanic. He was always talking to us about what it was to serve, public service, giving back to the community and strong sense of ethics and morality.” He said their father was very proud and keeps track of their accomplishments. “He has, over the years, kept a scrapbook of all his kids,” Chapa said. “He’s got three sons and two daughters. He’s got a scrapbook with probably all See BROTHERS, page 3

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