11 16 2006

Page 1

END OF THE ROAD

HUMAN BEAT

John Pointer turns his body into an instrument at the LBJ Ballroom

Football will try to go out on a high note by upsetting Bearkats’ playoff aspirations

SEE TRENDS PAGE 6

SEE SPORTS PAGE 14

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

NOVEMBER 16, 2006

THURSDAY

VOLUME 96, ISSUE 36

Grand jury indicts two Texas State students By David Saleh Rauf The University Star

A Hays County grand jury charged two Texas State students Nov. 8 with second-degree felony burglary of a habitation. Univeristy Police arrested Rene Esquibel and Stephen Darnell Sept. 15 in connection with a burglary of a residence in San Jacinto Hall where laptops, a digital camera, a stereo, iPods and a khaki bag containing about $120 were stolen. “They were indicted on a

second-degree felony,” James Booher, Hays County prosecutor, said. “It carries with it a potential punishment of two to 20 years and up to a $10,000 fine.” Capt. Rickey Lattie said UPD obtained evidence for three search warrants from a surveillance camera on campus that showed Esquibel and Darnell, pre-mass communication freshmen, leaving San Jacinto with items that have been identified as stolen. UPD simultaneously served the three search warrants Sept. 13 at Blanco, San Marcos

and San Jacinto Halls. “We’re glad we were able to solve a burglary,” Lattie said. “We do feel like we have the right suspects, and we’ll let the court system work out the details.” Affidavits for the search warrants obtained by The University Star revealed Esquibel and Darnell, both former members of the Texas State track and field team, apparently were observed at 1:53 a.m. Sept. 8 riding the elevator to an upper floor of San Jacinto. A surveillance camera recorded the two leaving the residence

Esquibel

Darnell

hall at about 3:15 a.m. The bulk in Esquibel’s backpack “appeared obviously fuller” as he exited San Jacinto, according to police re-

ports. “We can see (Esquibel) when he comes in and when he leaves,” Lattie said. “You can see the difference in the two videos between the empty backpack and the full backpack. We have good confidence that he walked in with an empty backpack and walked out with a backpack full of something.” Aissa Hamilton, pre-mass communication freshman, reported a laptop and a digital camera stolen from her room. Hamilton said the men in room number

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YOUR RECYCLABLES

434 invited Esquibel and Darnell to come over to their room the night of the incident. Hamilton said Esquibel and Darnell began asking suspicious questions. “Stephen was roaming through our rooms, going through our stuff,” Hamilton said. UPD later showed Hamilton the surveillance camera footage and she was able to identify two laptops that were stolen from her dorm room. “We saw our laptops,” HamilSee INDICTS, page 5

Lack of state funds cause of proposed tuition increase By Nick Georgiou The University Star

The Texas State University System Board of Regents will vote this week to approve an increase in Texas State tuition and fees. The university proposal follows a trend in rising tuition costs at Texas public colleges since the 2003 Texas legislature simultaneously cut public education funding and deregulated tuition. “Unfortunately, that trend will continue until the legislature steps up and puts more money into higher education,” said William Nance, vice president of Finance and Support Services. Nance and Provost Perry Moore said at the tuition hearing last month they had to adjust to the increasing cost of the higher education marketplace. The total operating budget for the university increased from $362 million in 2006 to $402 million in 2007. The need to stay competitive with other universities served as another explanation for the proposed increase. The hike in tuition will affect the revenue side of the 2007 Texas State budget if approved. The budget office will start to do preliminary income estimates based on those tuition and fee rates pending the approval. One-third of the total university budget is funded by state appropriations. Nance said the university is $3 million below where it was in 2003 in terms of state appropriation. “It’s not a huge percentage, but therein lies the issue of tuition and fee increases,” he said. The university receives just under $104 million from the state. The majority of these appropriations fund academic departments and programs. Nance said this funding is very low considering the university’s high student population and the state’s $8.5 billion appropriation for higher education. Eighty percent of the state appropriations are driven by two formulas, which are used for all 35 Texas public universities, See TUITION, page 4

Monty Marion/Star photo BEST REASON YET: Nicholas Maloukis, resource and environmental studies senior, holds a sign saying “recycling is sexy” Wednesday afternoon outside Evan Liberal Arts.

By Chelsea Juarez The University Star

T

he Environmental Service Committee and the National Association of Environmental Professionals teamed up for Texas Recycles Day and “4 R Future,” despite the gusty Wednesday weather. Two adjoining tables displayed the separate organizations, and volunteers set up petitions, pamphlets, mugs and T-shirts. On the side of the tables were three recycle bins, much like the ones inside buildings on campus. “The T-shirts and mugs were gone quick, but we’ve got more mugs on the way,” said Taylor Powell, president of the Texas State chapter of the National Association Environmental Professionals.

He estimated 300 mugs and T-shirts were distributed. Melody Baker, history senior, held as many mugs as she could and walked back and forth through The Quad handing them out to students passing by. “Get your free mug and save on your next refill,” she said. The green mugs, with the message “Reduce Waste, Reuse Me!” can be refilled around select locations such as Paws-N-Go and Jones Dining Hall for 69 cents. “We’re trying to get this discount to be around San Marcos, as well,” Taylor said. Baker said everyone seemed to show an interest in the mugs and the message. Taylor said to expect about 20 new recycling bins before next semester. The Environmental Service Committee purchased

10 of the steel outdoor bins, he said. One table displayed a large map of the Texas State community with highlighted areas. “We gave the students an opportunity to share their input on what places around campus would be ideal for the new recycling bins,” said Anjoli Fry, resource and environmental studies junior. “People have shown a genuine interest in our efforts and have given their input, which is what we hoped for.” The pamphlets included information about recycling, tips, pick-up schedules and hours of operation of recycling centers in San Marcos. Students were asked to sign petitions,

sion for where this county will go,” Sumter said. “We want to be inclusive, not exclusive. We want to talk to everyone in the county.” Democrats also won three contested Hays County Commissioner’s Court’s spots, signaling a shift from the previously Republican-majority court. Aside from Sumter’s win, Susie Carter Precinct 2 commissioner lost to Democrat Jeff Barton and Russ Molenaar Precinct 4 commissioner lost to Democrat Karen Ford. See POLITICAL, page 4

See ROUTE, page 5

See RECYCLING, page 3

Liz Sumter and Sherri Tibbe are paving new paths for women in Hays County politics. After last week’s election, Sumter became the first woman to get elected as Hays County Judge. Tibbe became the first female Hays County District Attorney. They were also both Democratic candidates. “The county has definitely seen a shift toward females elected into office. There are more females running for office,” said Joyce Cowan, Hays County elec-

Tibbe

tion administrator. “A few years ago we didn’t have a lot of female candidates and now a lot more are running successfully.” Sumter said she had no idea she was the first female to run for and

Today’s Weather

Sunny 69˚/41˚

Sumter

Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 25% UV: 5 Moderate Wind: WNW 9 mph

win the Hays County Judge seat. She found out on election night as the numbers were rolling in. “It wasn’t something we thought about or confirmed during my campaign,” she said. Sumter edged out incumbent Jim Powers last week with 52.2 percent of the vote. Sumter hammered Powers’ lack of bringing quality jobs to the area for students during her Oct. 23 Associated Student Government address. “I think what’s different between me and my opponent, who’s an eight-year incumbent, is that I have a true plan and vi-

Two-day Forecast Thursday Sunny Temp: 76°/46° Precip: 0%

Friday Sunny Temp: 75°/52° Precip: 10%

By Jacqueline Davis The University Star Officials with Auxiliary Services said they will begin making improvements to the bus stop in front of Bobcat Village beginning this week in efforts to make the site more comfortable and accessible to students. Paul Hamilton, manager of shuttle services, said landscaping and adding tactile bricks to an access ramp will be completed over the weekend. The rough brick ramp will provide handicap access and help the visually impaired find the area. A rain shelter will also be available early next week. It will be transferred from the back of Bobcat Village to serve as a bus stop marker for students. The shelter was supposed to be moved by mid-October. Hamilton said the month-long delay involved new form requirements set up by the Campus Master Plan Committee and two weeks of rain delays when a crew had to wait for the area to dry. “The committee now requires forms be filled out any time a change is made on campus,” Hamilton said. “It’s a totally internal process, and it was a learning experience on my part.” However, some students feel the improvements are coming too late, and the wait has added to a list of previous grievances with the bus situation. Karma Mitchell, creative writing sophomore, said she was especially concerned with the lack of substantial bus stop shelter after waiting 45 minutes for the bus one day in the rain, unable to board because all were full to capacity. “After the eighth bus went by, I called Auxiliary Services,” Mitchell said. Hamilton said the bus industry does not usually provide large rain shelters because the Texas Department of Trans-

Sumter, Tibbe paving new political paths By A.N. Hernández The University Star

Improvements to bus route beginning soon

Inside News ..............1-5 Trends .............6-9 Crossword ......... 9 Sudoku .............. 9

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

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To Contact Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2006 The University Star


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