HERE’S JOHNNY
LAST CHANCE TO CAST
Cash biopic burns, burns, burns up the screen
On-campus early voting today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in LBJ Student Center
SEE TRENDS PAGE 7
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS
www.UNIVERSITYSTAR.com
At
WEDNESDAY
NOVEMBER 30, 2005
VOLUME 95, ISSUE 38
High
The American College Health Association’s 2005 National College Assessment revealed that more than 20 percent of Texas State students had unprotected sex while under the influence of alcohol. Studies show condom use is a crucial method in preventing the spread of HIV and STDs.
T
Courtney Addison/ Star photo illustration
Risk
he U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that one American under the age of 22 is infected with HIV every hour. Despite the availability of condoms, studies show that fewer students are using protection, although the use of condoms is considered one of the best defenses against contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Super-fast HIV test is a breath of fresh air for students
Statistics show condom use down among college students
By Alysha Nicole Hernández News Reporter
By Alysha Nicole Hernández News Reporter
The latest news in sexual health at Texas State may help the Student Health Center in the fight against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the virus that causes AIDS. In October, clients of the SHC received a 30-minute option for HIV testing. Since the SHC’s implementation of the OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test, 23 tests have been administered. Michael Wilkerson, health education coordinator at the
Brochures line the walls of the Student Health Center urging safety when engaging in sexual activity. Residence halls around campus have vending machines that sell condoms. “I’m glad they are there. I think it’s good, but I would never use them because I don’t know if they’ve recently changed,” said Monica Salazar, pre-communication disorders junior. Salazar learned a bit more about sexual health at a recent “sex ed party” at Sterry Hall, where she lives. She said resident
See TEST, page 5
See STATISTICS, page 5
This enhanced image shows the HIV virus, in yellow, attacking a human tissue cell, in blue. Image courtesy of the Port Elizabeth Technikon HIV/AIDS Information Service
Texas State student Father of drowned student files lawsuit dies in afternoon against Landry’s Restaurants, university motorcycle wreck By Kathy Martinez News Reporter
By Ashley Richards Assistant News Editor Texas State student Thomas Burris died on Monday after he collided with a red Ford pickup at the intersection of Highway 621 and FM 266. Burris was driving a 2004 Honda motorcycle headed westbound on Highway 621, Justice of the Peace Jo Anne Prado said. “The driver of the (pickup) was coming northbound on 266, which intersects with 621, and he stopped at the intersection then proceeded into the intersection,” Prado said. Prado said Burris was wearing a helmet, which flew off on impact. Pronounced dead at 2:50 p.m., Prado said Burris died immediately.
Mark Hendricks, assistant director of media relations and publications, confirmed that Burris was a criminal justice junior. Hendricks and Prado both said the collision between Burris’ motorcycle and the pickup are under investigation by the Department of Public Safety. Prado said the investigation is in part to determine which vehicle was at fault. Prado said Hays County Sheriff Department deputies, San Marcos EMS and DPS officials responded to the accident. Peter Ortiz, software engineering graduate, was a friend and co-worker of Burris and said the light-hearted attitude Burris brought to a crowd would See WRECK, page 4
MAKING THE RUN-OFF VOTE COUNT
Almost six months ago, Jason Lee Bonnin, a Texas State student, drowned after jumping off the balcony at Joe’s Crab Shack into the Spring Lake Dam, which descends 25 feet below. Bonnin, a finance senior and employee at Joe’s Crab Shack, was pulled from the San Marcos River by the San Marcos Area Recovery Team from one of the three submerged compartments in the restaurant’s foundation. Bonnin was scheduled to graduate from Texas State in
May of this year with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Sam Bonnin, the father of Jason Lee Bonnin, filed a wrongful death suit against the university and Landry’s Restaurants on Oct. 5. The civil case has been filed in the 207th Judicial District Court in Hays County. Sam Bonnin could not be reached for comment. Houston attorney, Chad Dunn, who is representing Sam Bonnin declined to comment on the civil case because of its recent filing. However, Dunn did comment that at this time,
the damages sought are unspecified and said he hopes to see the case go to trial as soon as possible. In the lawsuit, the plaintiff claims the university was negligent in not maintaining the waterway where the incident occurred, and Landry’s corporation was negligent for not discouraging what had been a “long tradition” of jumping off the balcony into the waterway below. The building, which the restaurant now occupies, was formerly a house, and both the building and dam are more
than 100 years old. The waterway is contained within property owned and maintained by Texas State and has been used for recreational purposes for many years now. However, according to the lawsuit, repairs made to the dam following the October 1998 flood “created a dangerous condition” that had “previously not existed.” The plaintiff claims the university failed to “properly make the repairs” or provide “adequate warning” of the newly See LAWSUIT, page 4
San Marcos named a National Main Street City By Flor Treviño-Zapotechne Special to The Star San Marcos received a distinctive honor when the Texas Historical Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation recognized it as one of the 50 National Main Street Cities in Texas earlier this month at the Texas Downtown Association/Texas Main Street Conference in Laredo. “We’re very pleased and
“Y
our history is what makes you different than any other town down the highway.”
—Kelly Franks Main Street manager
proud that San Marcos received this designation,” said Kay Harvey-Mosley, THC community heritage development director. “It’s a very prestigious award.”
The Texas Main Street program is a revitalization program with an innovative method that combines historic preservation along with economic devel-
opment to restore prosperity and vitality to downtowns and neighborhood business districts. It uses a four-point approach to bring downtowns back to life, which includes organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring. “Your history is what makes you different than any other town down the highway,” said Kelly Franks, Main Street manSee STREET, page 4
New Web site attempts to give college grads the hook-up By Leah Kirkwood News Reporter
Spencer Millsap/Star photo Texas State students had the opportunity to cast their ballots early in the run-off election at the LBJ Student Center on Tuesday for City Council candidate Moe Johnson or Chris Jones. Early voting polls will be open today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Today’s Weather
Mostly Sunny 73˚/ 54˚
Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 48% UV: 4 Moderate Wind: S 14 mph
Gradpower.com is a new Web site designed to help recent and upcoming college graduates find the right employers at entry-level positions. Gradpower, LLC, was launched in April by Ron Yuntz, president and CEO of the company. Yuntz and the rest of the Gradpower staff could not be reached, but the press release
states that the company is based in Charlotte, N.C., with ambassadors at college campuses nationwide. Gradpower uses GRADMATCH and ULTRASORT information systems to match graduates with employers “based on a host of increasingly complex qualifications and traits.” According to the Web site, the founders behind Gradpower were all professional recruiters and academic career
Two-day Forecast Thursday Mostly Sunny Temp: 73°/ 54° Precipitation: 0%
Friday Partly Cloudy Temp: 71°/ 57° Precipitation: 0%
counselors “frustrated by the misinformation and lack of focus in entry-level job placement.” Gradpower.com claims to be superior to job posting sites such as Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com. Instead of just posting a résumé, users fill out extensive questionnaires that are presented to prescreened employers who search for graduates based on specific skills and preferences. Gradpower is not just for
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graduates of four-year undergraduate programs. Employers involved with the Web site seek postgraduate, associate, technical and specialized-degree holders as well. Gradpower.com lists the types of employers searching their databases and promises to be secure. Members of Gradpower can visit the online Gradpower University and upcoming See GRADS, page 4
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