FROM THE FRONT LINE
SOUTHBOUND 35
The Star debuts Spc. Brian Henretta’s wartime journal
Should Austin’s smoking ban make the drive to San Marcos?
SEE COMMENTARY PAGE 5
SEE OPINIONS PAGE 6
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS
www.UNIVERSITYSTAR.com
SEPTEMBER 1, 2005
Faculty Senate discusses grants, public comments By Clayton Medford News Reporter The Faculty Senate discussed guidelines for awarding internal grants at their meeting Wednesday. The Research Enhancement Program, an internally funded grant competition, receives between 70 and 90 proposals each year. A research committee composed of faculty from the college that submitted the request scrutinizes each proposal. In the fiscal year 2005, the program funded 42 of the 89 proposals it received. Senators discussed a proposed change from a merit-based funding system to a proportional funding system. The proportional system would set the funding rate so each college would receive funding for an equal percentage of their submitted proposals. For instance, with a 42 percent funding rate, each college, no matter the number of submitted proposals, would receive funding equal to 42 percent of their proposals. Under this system, some colleges would receive more funding while others stand to receive substantially less. On hand to discuss the proportional funding system was Mike Blanda, chemistry professor and faculty associate with the Office of Sponsored Programs, which oversees the Research Enhancement Program. “Money will be allocated to the colleges upfront. Everyone would get 45 percent of the requested money allocated,” Blanda said. “Will the proportional model fund unneeded or unwanted programs? I’d say that’s going on right now.” “In a perfect world, everyone would submit the same number of proposals and receive the same amount of money. The actual amount will vary, but what won’t vary is the percentage of money requested which is received,” Blanda said. Blanda believes the proportional system would give the college research committees much needed autonomy. “I think it gives much more latitude to the committees. I think they could make the calls on how ties could be reconciled,” Blanda said. “Essentially, what we are talking about is, the amount is set, then the college research committee has to decide whether or not to fund one program for $8,000 or two for $4,000.” The senators decided to put the proportional funding model in place for one year to assess its impact on individual colleges in the university. Another issue discussed by senators was the possible publication of comments made by faculty members during chair evaluations. Currently, the senate does make available through their Web site evaluations of chairs, deans and the university president. However, some feel the publication of such evaluations does more harm than good. “The concern I have with making these available through the Web is that if someone is applying for a job, and (the employer) finds these comments, it’s slanderous,” said Ian Davidson, music professor. “This is not slanderous,” said Bill Stone, criminal justice professor and Senate chair. “There is no legal issue with the mentioning of their names in the comments. The comments sometimes give you hints about what the evaluation means. The Senate has historically taken a non censorship approach to this; we hope the faculty will use this effectively.” The faculty evaluations of the chairs, deans, provost and president consist of a series of questions that are ranked numerically and ten open-ended questions. The senate did not make a decision concerning the publication of comments, but will most likely revisit the issue at next week’s meeting.
THURSDAY
VOLUME 95, ISSUE 3
Recent crimes cause police to caution students By Emily Messer News Reporter An alleged aggravated sexual assault attempt filed Friday has left the San Marcos Police Department with a lack of evidence to catch a suspect. At 4:40 a.m. on Friday, the unidentified woman was walking to her apartment at the Post Road Place complex when she was allegedly attacked from behind. The suspect then tried to remove her belt. The victim began fighting and screaming, which brought people out of their apartments, said Sgt.
Penny Dunn, of the San Marcos Police Department criminal investigation unit. “In this case, the victim did exactly the right thing to do,” Dunn said. “It caused him to stop and flee.” A request for the police report was denied because the investigation is ongoing, Dunn said. A suspect has not been apprehended. According to a press release by the City of San Marcos, the suspect is described as a Hispanic or black male, about 5’ 8” and between 140 and 160 pounds, he was wearing a yellow or light-colored T-shirt,
baggy grey shorts and possibly wearing a baseball cap. He allegedly fled the area in a late model red Ford mustang hardtop. Dunn said people should take extra caution when going to their apartments or townhouses because of the incident. Dunn suggested people travel in groups, walk in well-lit areas, notify management about burned-out lights and report suspicious activity. The incident last week, however, is not the first of the sexually-related crimes on Post Road. In recent months, there were two separate incidents of alleged criminal trespassing that occurred in the
neighboring Outpost apartments both in which a suspect entered the apartments without force, and awoke a female sleeping in her bedroom. Dunn said both incidents could have been avoided if the victims had locked their doors. The suspect in both cases was described as a Hispanic with dark skin, around six feet tall with a stout figure. The Outpost staff would not comment on the two incidents. On July 10 at 5:50 a.m., a female awoke to find a man standing in See CRIMES, page 3
A MOTHER’S PROTEST
LEFT: Cindy Sheehan, the mother of Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, who was killed in combat, leads an antiwar march Tuesday evening down Congress Avenue toward Austin’s City Hall. BELOW: Many Austin police officers were on hand during the protest in order to insure the safe movement of the hundreds of marching protesters. Jeremy Craig/ Star photos
By Lindsay Mathews Special to The Star With signs ready to tout, hundreds of anti-war supporters welcomed Cindy Sheehan at the Capitol building in Austin at 5 p.m. yesterday to participate in a peace rally. Sheehan, who since the conception of Camp Casey located in Crawford, has quickly become the face of the antiwar movement in the US. After 26 days in Crawford protesting the war and demanding to speak with President George W. Bush regarding her son’s death while serving in Iraq, Sheehan took Camp
Casey to the streets making Austin the first stop on the Freedom and Faith bus tour. She led a peaceful march down Congress Avenue to Austin City Hall where additional supporters waited to hear her speak. The event included poetry readings, musical performances by Jimmy Dale Gilmore and Eliza Gilkyson, and speakers from various anti-war organizations. CodePink is an organization of women against war that has been instrumental in the success of Sheehan’s campaign thus far, was present. Jim Goodnow, a member of Veterans See PROTEST, page 3
Austin’s smoking ban could drift over to San Marcos Ashley Richards Assistant News Editor Smokers must now smother their cigarette butts before walking into Austin bars and restaurants as part of a city ordinance taking effect today, which bans smoking in most buildings so citizens can fill their lungs with clean air while bar-hopping or dining out. After working toward a smoking ban in Austin since 2003, and with the ordinance failing to pass in the City Council, the Onward Austin coalition turned to petitioning for the issue to be Jeremy Craig/Star photo placed in the hands the voters. By collecting more than 10 perManuel Alfau, Austin area chief, lights up while inside Lucky cent of the Austin voting popuLounge, a Fifth Street bar. Starting today, bar patrons will lation’s signatures, the coalition not able to enjoy the luxury of smoking indoors. was able to get the smoking
Today’s Weather
Mostly Sunny
97˚/ 70˚
Precipitation: 10% Humidity: 49% UV: 10+ Extreme Wind: NE 9 mph
“T
— Rodney Ahart Austin area American Cancer Society government relations director
ordinance on the May 7 ballot where it passed by 52 percent. According to the ordinance, aside from being permitted to smoke 15 feet from the doorway of any public building, smoking is allowed indoors only at personal residences, designated hotel and motel rooms, tobac-
Two-day Forecast Friday Isolated T-Storms Temp: 95°/ 71° Precipitation: 30%
Saturday Isolated T-Storms Temp: 93°/ 71° Precipitation: 30%
co retail shops, private nursing home rooms, bingo facilities and fraternal organizations. “Other communities that have passed ordinances that have been in effect for two years, the citizens are happy with it and the businesses are satisfied,” said Rodney Ahart, government relations director for the American Cancer Society in the Austin metro area. Enforcement of the smoking ordinance is under the controlled of the Austin Health and Human Services Department. With the ban now effective, businesses are responsible for keeping their establishment smoke-free and complying with stipulations set forth in the ordinance. “The ordinance will be enforced on a complaint basis,”
he citizens are happy with it and the businesses are satisfied.”
Inside
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS
Classifieds Comics Crossword News
10 9 9 1-5
Opinions Sports Trends
said Bob Flocke, spokesman for the health and human services department. Customers at a bar or restaurant should treat a complaint about smoking just as they would with any other complaint about the establishment, he said. “Like you would if you had a fly in your soup; ask them ‘please ask that person to stop smoking,’” Flocke said. Bars and restaurants are required to enforce the ordinance in their establishment by removing any ash trays, posting no smoking signs and asking anyone who is smoking to stop or leave the building. “(They should) do whatever they would do normally if they See BAN, page 3
To Contact The Star: 6 11,12 7-9
Trinity Building Phone: (512)245-3487 Fax: (512)245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2005 The University Star