09 13 2005

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BOBCATS ROLL OVER SUU

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SEE SPORTS PAGE 8

Performance leaves those who missed it green with envy

Thunderbirds, Thunderbirds, Thunderbirds No ... points.

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS

www.UNIVERSITYSTAR.com

TUESDAY

SEPTEMBER 13, 2005

VOLUME 95, ISSUE 7

Students report excessive force in early morning arrests Jennifer Brannon/Special to The Star

Authorities tased, detained several after conference

Sunday morning. Students attending the event described the confrontation, which involved officers using Tasers on students, displaying shotguns and arresting of several students, as “excessive force.”

The party was held after the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity’s annual Step Show, which concluded the day’s events at the conference. In addition to the fraternity, a Christian fraternity and sorority where in attendance, as well as organization advisors.

The event was a donation party for Hurricane Katrina survivors, and no alcohol was served.

Things seemed to be going well, and members of Alpha Phi Alpha chose to end the party

By Zandria Avila News Reporter and Kirsten Crow News Editor The African American Leadership Conference after-party in the LBJ Student Center was disrupted after a confrontation with the University Police Department, San Marcos Police Department and Hays County Sheriff ’s Department early

Multiple law enforcement agancies descended on the LBJ Student Center early Sunday morning in what became a major incident leading to the arrests and use of Tasers on several Texas State students.

With the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s push for cleaner air by 2007, Williamson and Travis counties passed a bill effective Sept. 1 regulating vehicle emissions, while San Marcos officials voted against the bill, favoring their own environmental programs.

Recent regulations of air pollution in the Central Texas area are the product of the Early Action Compact, initiated in June 2002. This program, approved by the EPA, encourages communities to voluntarily participate in reducing air pollution. Regions throughout Texas have taken the EPA’s challenge to reduce air pollution by 2007. Williamson and Travis counties, among others, passed vehicle emission regulations as a preventative measure.

Counties that don’t comply with the EPA standards risk losing federal funds for highway development and may receive fines.

Because the EAC allows for voluntary action by counties, bills introduced to individual counties are subject to vote.

EAC regulations state that a bill can pass only when the county’s largest city approves it, and in Hays County, San Marcos is the largest city. When the San Marcos City Council voted against the Inspections and Maintenance of Vehicles Bill, which includes emissions tests, it applied to all of Hays County as well.

Nearby, Travis and Williamson county officials approved the bill and introduced the new

See POLLUTION, page 3

Jeremy Craig/Star photo Jimmy Wilson, a Red Simon Ford mechanic, inspects the windshield wiper blades during an automotive inspection on Wednesday. San Marcos recently voted against implementing the Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines on emissions testing because air pollution within San Marcos does not exceed governmental standards.

Scattered T-Storms 91˚/72˚

Precipitation: 40% Humidity: 71% UV: 9 Very High Wind: S 10 mph

See ARRESTS, page 3

HE DAY THE NATION STOOD STILL

vehicle emissions tests on Sept 1.

The tests, which are taken during regular safety inspections, are required only for 1981 to 2003 vehicle editions. Newer vehicles from 2004 to 2005 have builtin computers that detect the amount of emissions and will alert the driver when there is a problem.

Cars built before 1981 are registered as antiques and are assumed to be on the road for less time, giving less opportunity to pollute the air.

The new addition to safety inspections will cost consumers about $15 extra, and businesses providing inspections will need to buy the required equipment.

For the automotive industry, the equipment necessary to conduct emissions testing costs between $20,000 and $30,000.

“I believe (emissions tests) should be done just for the fact that it would protect our environment, and the ozone layer is already thin,” said Tony Ramos, psychology senior.

Jimmy Mitchell, owner of 4-M Automotive in San Marcos, said he knows that eventually, the emissions tests will be a required part of safety inspections in San Marcos, and whether or not to continue to offer inspections will be a tough decision due to the large investment.

“If the EPA comes in to force the county into compliance, businesses can be fined or have their inspection licenses suspended,” Mitchell said. “However, it could be another four or five years before tests are imple-

Today’s Weather

cials to ask why Gordon had been arrested. Stewart, finance junior, returned to the crowd after UPD sent him away, but Prater, premass communication junior, was subsequently arrested after asking about Gordon. After Prater’s arrest, Stewart returned again to ask the reason for his friends’ detention. Although Stewart’s friends attempted to pull him back, an officer grabbed him while another tased him, and he fell to the ground. Stewart, too, was arrested.

Bryan Ware, a friend of the arrested students, also attempted to find the cause for the arrests.

When Ware approached officers,

remembering T

City satisfied with pollution reduction goals, bill rejected

By Lindsay Mathews Special to The Star

early.

While some students said there had been a verbal dispute among the attendees, Tywaun Watkins, sociology senior, said there was no fight at the event.

“Honestly, I do not know what caused it,” Watkins said. “Everything was normal, and there was no fighting whatsoever.”

It wasn’t until students began exiting the LBJ Student Center Ballroom into the bus circle that chaos broke loose between students and law enforcement officials.

Chad Gordon, finance junior, was arrested by UPD. Gordon’s friends, Joseph Stewart and Christian Prater, approached law enforcement offi-

Armando Sanchez/Star photo Firefighter Clayton Emilenberg prepares to ring the San Marcos bell 15 times in honor of those who died on Sept. 11. The Bell was rung at 8:46 a.m, the exact time that American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Mayor Narvaiz: Memories of 9/11 are reminders of freedom

By Eloise Martin News Reporter Citizens were not deterred by the rain, thunder and lightning Sunday as they gathered at San Marcos City Hall to place flowers on a memorial wreath and hear Mayor Susan Narvaiz speak at the Remembrance Ceremony to honor those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack on Sept. 11.

Narvaiz spoke to the crowd about the tragedy of the day of the attack and also of the heroism that followed. She quoted a plaque placed near the wreath stating, “May the spirit of liberty abide forever in the memory of innocent lives lost.”

Narvaiz called on citizens to be “custodians of liberty” and reminded people of the pain that Sept. 11 brought to this country. She asked people to use the memory of the attack as a reminder that freedom is not free.

“We recognize, as each generation must, that freedom must be won,” Narvaiz said.

Narvaiz ended her speech and began a moment of silence. Some umbrellas opened, while other people observed the silence in the rain.

The flag used in the ceremony had

“W

e recognize, as each generation must, that freedom must be won.”

— Mayor Susan Narvaiz

been flying at San Marcos City Hall when the terrorist attacks occurred and is now only flown on Sept. 11 for the Remembrance Ceremony. It was raised to half-mast.

Following the moment of silence, the San Marcos city bell was rung 15 times at 8:46 a.m., the time when the first plane struck the World Trade Center.

Jean Hahn, interdisciplinary studies senior, has attended the event each year. Hahn said she attends as a way to show support to the victims of Sept.

11. She said that four years later, she still feels the effects of the terrorist attack.

“I am still scared of low-flying aircrafts,” Hahn said. “It’s the truth.”

Hahn said she remembers also having fear of tall buildings after Sept. 11, including the Alkek Library. She said

Two-day Forecast Wednesday Mostly Sunny Temp: 94°/ 70° Precipitation: 10%

Thursday Sunny Temp: 93°/ 70° Precipitation: 20%

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TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS

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she was nervous the first time she entered the building after the attack.

Hahn brought a pink teddy bear to place on the wreath to show her support, in addition to the many red and white flowers that were provided for attendants.

“It’s just something I have,” Hahn said. “I collect bears.”

Hahn said she will continue to come to the event in the future.

“I think it’s great; I hope they continue to have it,” she said.

Jana Green, San Marcos Fire Department secretary, coordinates the event each year. Green said the bell is rung 15 times, signifying a firefighter’s funeral.

The Sept. 11 memorial wreath is stored each year and brought out as a place for people to place flowers, flags and any other mementos, such as Hahn’s pink teddy bear.

Green said each year, as memories of Sept. 11 drift further away, fewer people have knowledge of the death and trauma of that day. But, Green said, this will not stop the San Marcos Remembrance Ceremony from continuing in the years to come.

“Even if just one person comes, we will keep doing it,” Green said.

To Contact The Star: 4 7,8 5,6

Trinity Building Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708 www.UniversityStar.com © 2005 The University Star

PAGE TWO The University Star

Tuesday in Brief

September 13, 2005

starsof texas state Dr. Laurie Fluker’s Introduction to Mass Communication class of nearly 400 students took a collection last week during lecture in the LBJ Student Center Teaching Theater for victims of Hurricane Katrina. A bag was passed from student to student during class, after which, the collection was counted and found to total $1,018, donated

in checks, cash and nearly $40 in change. Dr. Fluker donated the money to the American Red Cross in Austin.

We at The Star would like to recognize Dr. Fluker’s students for their generous spirit and encourage other classes to follow their example as “Stars of Texas State.”

News Contact — Kirsten Crow, starnews@txstate.edu The American Marketing Association is having Michelle Carswell, general manager at Tanger Outlet Mall, at 5:30 p.m. in the LBJSC, Room 3-14.1. Free food and drinks provided. Dress is business casual. For more info, visit www. business.txstate.edu/ama.

City Beat

A half-staff for the chief justice

Thursday

Calendar of

EVENTS Miscellaneous Wednesday Want to volunteer? Need community service hours? First Student Volunteer Connection (SVC) meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center, Room 3.5-1. FREE PIZZA!!!

Campus Sports Wednesday 2-for-1 Student Green Fees at the Texas State Golf Course.

Whitewater Wednesday - meets at 1 p.m., register by 12:30 p.m. at the Outdoor Center.

Events Wednesday The Network, a peer education team will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. in the LBJSC, Room 3-10.1.

FREE Salsa Dance class from 8:10 to 9:10 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center.

A.A. Meeting from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. in the LBJSC, Room 3.12.1.

FREE Writing Center Workshop - “Professional Writing.”

Open to students, staff and faculty from 2 to 3 p.m. in Flowers Hall, Room G09. Please contact Bearden Coleman at (512) 2453018 if you plan to attend.

Writing Center Workshop“Grammar and Mechanics Workshop” from 4 to 5 p.m. in Flowers Hall Room G9. For more information contact Bearden Coleman at (512) 2453018.

CALENDAR SUBMISSION POLICY Calendar submissions are free. Send submissions to starcalendar@txstate. edu, or call (512) 245-3487 for more information. E-mailed press releases will not be accepted. If using e-mail, please submit as a simple bulleted list of essential information. Submissions are on a first come, first served basis and notices for weekly meetings need to be submitted every week they will take place. The University Star reserves the right to refuse entries or edit for libel, style and space purposes.

Deadline: Three working days prior to publication.

STARS OF TEXAS STATE POLICY

CRIME BL TTER San Marcos Police Department Sept. 9, 2:11 p.m.

Assault Family Violence/1623 Aquarena Springs Drive Assault and bodily injury of family member.

Sept. 9, 5:25 p.m.

Theft/1015 Highway 80 Theft under $500 with two previous convictions/warrant service Sept. 9, 10:54 p.m.

DWI/205 N IH 35 Male subject arrested for driving while intoxicated.

Sept. 10, 12:14 a.m.

Burglary motor vehicle/1250

Health Beat

Wonder World Drive Male subject reported that his vehicle was broken into.

Sept. 10, 12:22 a.m.

Possession of Marijuana/1001 Highway 123 Male arrested for local warrant, possession of marijuana.

Sept. 11, 1:29 a.m.

700 Tomas Rivera Drive One male was arrested for interfering with public duties.

Sept. 11, 3:28 a.m.

Traffic Instanters/108 N. Interstate 35 Call received for road rage on inbound Highway 621. Offender was found. After contact with victim, suspect was arrested for instanters.

Crime stoppers: UPD: 245-7867, SMPD: 353-TIPS

Get

Do you know someone at Texas State who has recently celebrated a great achievement? Nominate your choice to appear in The Star as a “Star of Texas State.” Write an e-mail to starletters@txstate.edu with the subject line “Stars of Texas State” and include your nominee’s name, his/her relationship to the university, contact information for yourself and your nominee, and a brief description of the achievement. Also include a photo of your nominee if available. Accepted nominees will be featured at the top of Page Two.

Tiffany Searcy/Star photo Flags across the nation have been lowered to half-staff since Sept. 4 for the death of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.

On Friday, local employees of H-E-B visited the San Marcos Fire Rescues Station 3, located on Hunter Road. The employees catered breakfast and lunch for the firefighters in appreciation for their dedication to the citizens of San Marcos and to remember Sept. 11, 2001, the day 343 New York firefighters died at the World Trade Center.

The H-E-B staff was treated to a station tour, fire truck demonstrations and hands-on programs including dressing in firefighting gear. They were dressed in complete gear, including a self-contained breathing apparatus and were sent through a smoke-filled corridor with zero visibility. The H-E-B visitors were shown and allowed to use one of the thermal imaging cameras, which detect heat through the smoke and allow firefighters to find victims and the seat of the actual fire. They also wielded the heavy fire hoses used to fight fires and learned the teamwork involved in emergency situations.

COHEAO approves continuation of Perkins Loan program The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions demonstrated its commitment to college access for low-income students when it approved S. 1614 on Sept. 8, a bill reauthorizing the Higher Education Act of 1965 that would continue the Perkins Loan program. The bill also makes numerous changes to other higher education and financial aid programs.

“COHEAO members, whose efforts to prove to Congress how important the Perkins Loan Program is, were instrumental in saving the program.

We are pleased that the House and Senate Education Committees endorsed the program; it was the right thing to do for students,” said Alisa Abadinsky, president of the Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations Board.

— Courtesy of the City of San Marcos

The Perkins Student Loan Program awards low-interest loans to low- and middle-income undergraduate, graduate and professional students through campus-based revolving funds. President George W. Bush’s FY2006 budget called for complete elimination of the program. The House Education and Workforce Committee also reauthorized the program in its Higher Education Act bill, H.R. 609.

“The battle to save the Perkins Student Loan Program is not over,” said Jackie Ito-Woo, legislative director for the COHEAO. “We will continue our grassroots advocacy efforts until this legislation is signed into law by the president. We will then redouble our efforts to fund the Federal Capital Contribution and the loan cancellations during the annual appropriations process.”

— Courtesy of the COHEAO

Paddle Battle

Wednesday, Sept. 14 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Quad & Mall ������������������������������������������� �������� ����������� � �� � ������������ � �� � ������ ������������������������������������������������ ��������������������������������

Tiffany Searcy/Star photo Keith Sennikoff spent Wednesday afternoon white-water kayaking on the San Marcos River.

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES

Due to production problems, Thursday’s edition initially ran with errors on many advertisements and with another newspaper’s classified ads where the inside page of the sports section should have been. The corrected version of the paper was on the stands by 3 p.m. We apologize to our readers and advertisers for these errors.

Activities Prizes, Food & Fun! Enter for your chance to win an iPod Shuffle!

University Bookstore presents

open mic nite Thursday, September 15th 5-7 p.m.

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Contact Shayne: 245.3945 or sf1032@txstate.edu

NEWS

Page 3 - The University Star

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

ASG discusses enrollment increase, AALC after-party

By Sean Wardwell News Reporter President Denise Trauth opened Monday’s Associated Student Government meeting with some encouraging numbers based on 12th day class enrollment.

“The official size of our total enrollment this year is 27,171 students,” Trauth said. “It’s an increase for the seventh straight year.”

Trauth was quick to note how this was different from previous years though.

“It’s a smaller increase, but that’s by choice” Trauth said.

“We are clearly looking at the quality of students applying to Texas State. We just learned our graduation rate went up 4 percent in the last period we measured, and now we have the fifth highest graduation rate among Texas universities.”

Trauth also noted that Texas State was approved to confer four new doctorate degrees in criminal justice, computer sci-

ence, math, and math education.

The senate then heard from members of the university’s African-American community who were gravely concerned about alleged police brutality late Saturday night when they exited the LBJ Student Center, which was part of the African American Leadership Conference.

“Last Saturday, an event ensued that caused African-American students to not feel safe,” said Bryan Ware, pre-mass communication junior.

Ware described seeing arrests made without suspects being read their Miranda rights.

Ware then told the Senate how he was Tazered in the back while attempting to diffuse the situation.

City Council candidate and former ASG Vice President Chris Jones was infuriated by the situation. Jones addressed the senate and explained that the previous year, he and Jerry Parker were approached by the University Police Department seeking ASG’s support in getting Tazers

exas State’s T official enrollment this

year is 27,171 students. The school has the fifth highest graduation rate among Texas universities. for his department.

“We were promised that Tazers would not be used unless an officer was being attacked by a student,” Jones said. “I feel as if student government has been misled.”

Jones also echoed the mood of several in the chamber speaking about the incident.

“This is not going to go away without an apology,” Jones said.

“This is ridiculous.”

ASG President Jordan An-

derson spoke strongly about his commitment to student rights during his report.

“As a student leader, it’s my duty to advocate for student rights,” Anderson said. “I take that very seriously. I want you to know I will be going to the administration and looking into the matter.”

ASG Adviser Ted Hindson, political science professor, also asked the Senate if it was possible to get a representative from UPD to stand before the Senate to provide an explanation to their involvement in this incident.

In new business the Senate approved applied sociology senior Edward Sinclair, international studies senior David Case, undecided sophomore Meredith Cowan and Samantha Watson to serve as Senators, filling open seats from the previous election.

The Senate further approved several senators to serve as internal committee chairs. Members of the ad hoc committee to select Texas State’s nominees for the new student regent position and

confirmed the membership of the ASG Supreme Court.

Senator Sam McCabe, undecided freshman, then took the floor to introduce a new piece of legislation that would request the university establish a requirement for a multicultural and gender studies course to graduate.

The legislation was forwarded to the Academic Affairs Committee for further study and it will be up for debate at next week’s meeting.

Another bill was introduced that would endorse Chris Jones for San Marcos City Council.

The bill was referred by Holman to all ASG committees for consideration and will also be considered next week.

ASG members also sought to establish a new Student Service Fee Sub-Committee Permanent Funding Review Team. The team would, according to the legislation, “…be a recommendation body that would review permanently funded budgets, and would be guided by the fundamental question when review-

ing each budget: Do the budget’s functions continue to be needed?”

The Senate also gave their final approval of the new constitutional reforms approved in the last student body election. The main reform is the establishment of the new House of Graduate Representatives, making ASG a bicameral organization. Anderson also passed his legislation reaffirming ASG support for the expansion of the Student Recreation Center.

The expansion was approved by an overwhelming margin in the last student election and there is concern in the Senate that the university is behind schedule.

“We’ve been concerned in the delay for the groundbreaking for the expansion,” Anderson said.

“The construction was supposed to start in August. It didn’t. There has been some talk of making it less of a facility than was promised.”

“I want the expansion that the students approved,” Anderson said.

ARRESTS: AALC reps hope incident won’t overshadow conference’s success CONTINUED from page 1

he was tased. His girlfriend, who was standing beside him, started to run towards him to render aid, but police grabbed her, threw her to the concrete and handcuffed her.

Onlookers from the crowd grew louder as the students were tased and arrested. Students who approached the officers did so with hands open to show they had no weapons.

Keemon Leonard, pre-mass communication junior and president of the Black Student Alliance witnessed the arrests.

“The police were asking me if there was any way of getting people to leave,” Leonard said.

“They asked me, ‘how many people have to get tased before you go?’”

SMPD and Hays County Sheriff ’s Department officers arrived at the scene, bringing the number of responding vehicles to more than 15, including UPD squad cars, a San Marcos Fire Department truck and an

“I

t seemed like they were there to establish martial law.”

— Warren Dukes pre-mass communications sophomore

ambulance. Students reported that some of the officers did not have their badges on.

“The Hays County police showed up in regular clothes being the aggressors and hurting the situation rather than helping the situation that was already under control until their arrival,” said Tamesha Chambers, athletic training junior.

Warren “Joe” Dukes, premass communication sophomore, said the additional police on the scene worsened an already bad situation.

“It was already heated up as it was, but since the cops came and started acting the way they

did, it took the situation to a higher extent,” Dukes said.

Shalanda Gilford, history senior, said the SMPD and the sheriff ’s department presence was unnecessary.

“Really, the crowd was under control with the Texas State police officers,” Gilford said.

Students said SMPD officers brought shotguns and cocked them while walking through the crowd.

“The only thing the cops should have done is tell everyone to go home,” Dukes said.

“They shouldn’t have showed up with their toy guns and try to cap people with it.”

By this time, confusion had broken out — students searched frantically for friends and rides, while others were still trying to find out why students were being arrested.

“It seemed like the police weren’t there to increase the peace,” Dukes said. “It seemed like they were there to establish martial law. But at most African-American parties and

establishments, this always happens.”

Brittany Lee, aquatic biology junior, also said the situation may have been race-related.

“There’s a problem when the police are supposed to be taking care of folk, and they’re the ones trying to harm people,” Lee said. “They were the aggressors and shouldn’t have been there in the first place. It’s only because we’re the minority and can’t get a majority vote.”

Ware said the situation could have been worse, however.

“Someone could have been killed Saturday night,” Ware said. The incident was not on the UPD crime blotter for Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

According to the Clery Act, university law enforcement officials are required to disclose reported crimes that have been “brought to the attention of the campus security authority or the local police by a victim, witness, other third party or even the offender.” The act requires campus officials to report a

POLLUTION: City Council considers emission tests’ impact CONTINUED from page 1

driving less.

“I think this town was made for walking and people carpool,” said Lori Kinser, undecided freshman.

In favor of taking measures to protect the environment, Courtnie Ledet, psychology sophomore, said that because Texas State is a campus with large amounts of outdoor walking required, emissions testing would be a positive move to reducing air pollution.

Council members partly doubted the effectiveness of the bill because so much air pollution comes from vehicles traveling through the city on the interstate. It is difficult to determine how much pollution comes from local citizens or just people passing by.

On a much larger scale, cities with multiple freeways, such as Houston and Dallas suffer the affects of air pollution from both local drivers and from people just driving through the city.

In those cities, air pollution already exceeds the limits set by the EPA, and they have been implementing emissions tests during safety inspections since 2002. Though the Austin region has grown significantly, the levels of air pollution are not currently considered excessive.

Bill Gill, director of Air Quality at the Capitol Area Planning Council, said that without participation from Hays County, the region could potentially fall short of their emissions reduc-

tions goal.

“Kyle, Buda and San Marcos — many of those people commute to Austin,” Gill said. “In Central Texas, vehicle emissions are a major contributor in polluting the air.”

Nationwide, the EPA routinely tests the air for excessive pollution and determines whether a region is considered to be of either attainment or non-attainment status. Attainment status means the amount of air pollution meets the EPA standards, while nonattainment means the amount of air pollution exceeds the standards.

Recent reports from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Association warn that cities such as Austin, San Antonio and Corpus Christi are nearing the nonattainment status, whereas Houston and Dallas have already reached a severe non-attainment status.

When the EPA tests for air pollution they measure the presence of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides from gases emitted from vehicles. These gases contribute to Ground Level Ozone, a type of ozone layer made up of gases harmful to the environment and to humans. These elements in the air can worsen many types of existing respiratory health problems. Additionally, scientists and professors have been researching how air pollution might contribute to the negative affects that global warming has on nature and weather patterns.

Repeated phone calls to SMPD Commander Warren Zerr and Hays County Sheriff ’s Department public information officer Mike Thielen were also not returned.

Stewart and Gordon said they could not comment about the case, although Gordon said, “I just thought it was wrong.”

Leonard said the incident should not put a damper on the AALC’s positive events during the weekend, however, and Ware agreed.

“This tragic event should not overshadow the 13th Annual African American Leadership Conference,” Ware said.

Ware said that although the incident should not overshadow the many speakers and workshops held over the weekend, it should not have taken an incident like this to gain attention to a serious problem at Texas State.

“Many of the black students on the Texas State campus do not feel safe at a school they pay to attend,” Ware said.

SINGING FOR UNITY

Tiffany Searcy/Star photo

mented (here).”

San Marcos joined the EAC in January 2004. Although City Council voted down vehicle emissions testing, the city has since been proposing various programs and regulations to meet the local community’s pollution reduction goals. Vehicle emissions and pollution regulations are guided by the city’s own Clean Air Action Plan, which is tailored to their local needs.

Stephanie Garcia, assistant to the San Marcos city manager, has been overseeing various environmental programs for the community since the city’s entrance into the EAC. “We don’t want the EPA to come in and mandate changes so we are trying to be proactive,” Garcia said.

Recent strategies in the Clean Air Action Plan include prohibiting large trucks and 18-wheelers from idling more than five minutes unless the vehicle is using a refrigerator storage unit for food, and requiring gas stations to maintain vapor controls on gasoline storage tanks using a vapor balance system.

With cooperation from Texas State, San Marcos has also been utilizing cleaner alternative fuel sources for the city’s work vehicles. The city and the university have built a propane fueling station at Bobcat Stadium where persons with propane compatible vehicles can access this clean-

er fuel. The city anticipates that these programs will effectively reduce air pollution levels without implementing the vehicle emissions tests.

Garcia said San Marcos City Council members were hesitant about passing the bill for emissions tests because of its potential to negatively impact low-income families.

“If people can’t afford the higher costs for inspections or don’t have enough money to bring their cars up to code, then they can’t use their cars to go to work and we don’t want that to happen,” Garcia said.

For working students supporting themselves, making the needed repairs to their vehicles to pass an emissions test can be a hardship.

For Angela Slockett, an Austin resident and anthropology junior, commuting from Austin to Texas State four days a week costs about $40 in gas and adds general wear and tear to her car.

“My car is old, and I know it will not pass the new emissions test,” Slockett said. “Even though it will cost a lot of money to fix, I think it is worth the extra money to help the Austin community.”

Some students living in San Marcos had reservations about the need to enforce emissions tests in Hays county. Amanda Castillo, psychology sophomore, said that because of recent rises in gas prices she thought requiring emissions testing would be unnecessary because people are

crime, even if those involved are affiliated with the university. Officials are only exempted from disclosing a crime report if they are acting as a “pastoral or professional counselor.”

In a crime blotter, university police departments must include where the crime happened, the type of crime, whom the crime was reported to and where the crime was reported.

In addition to this information, enforcement officials must also include in their report the type of offense, if the crime was classified as a hate crime and any arrests and referrals for disciplinary action.

In the UPD blotter sent Monday, no reports were made of any incidents or arrests at the LBJ Student Center early Sunday morning.

Adam Marmolejo, UPD administrative assistant, said UPD officers could not comment on the incident until Chief Ralph Meyer was contacted. Phone calls were not returned by press time.

Sterling was one of the many vocal groups honoring the memory of Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina on Friday by taking part in United We Sing on campus.

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OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

quoteof the day “Mike Brown was not prepared for this job. He was a political operative — he was a fund-raiser. You need military people, you know, individuals that have had experience with natural disasters.”

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005 - Page 4

”

— New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson commenting on Mike Brown’s resignation as head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Monday. (Source: TheNewMexicoChannel.com)

Opinions Contact — Joe Ruiz, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT

Emission testing program could help San Marcos greatly if implemented A lot of what draws potential students to Texas State is the small-town feel and location of San Marcos as well as the natural beauty of Sewell Park, the San Marcos River and the Hill Country.

It’s not unusual to see people walking to class or biking to work, lying on the grass between The Quad and the Alkek Library or simply enjoying the quality of nature and its calming effects on the body and mind.

It would be unusual to see smog hide Old Main’s steeple from view or leave a generally hazy sky sitting over the city, as visitors often see over Dallas or Houston.

San Marcos isn’t one of those cities and won’t ever be one, but we should do everything we can to insure that Central Texas and the Hill Country stay as clean as possible.

The San Marcos City Council has voted against implementing a mandatory emission testing program for automobiles like those programs that were started Sept. 1 in Travis and Williamson counties. As the largest city in Hays County, San Marcos would have to approve an emission testing program before it could be implemented in the county.

Travis County adopted the emission tests out of necessity to avoid federal sanctions because of its high ozone levels. That doesn’t mean Hays County should wait until it falls within the federal government’s radar before acting.

Creating such a program now, at a time when the city and Hays County are not in violation of the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations, would be much easier to implement and begin to prepare the public for what might be inevitable.

As student population at the university increases and people continue to use Interstate 35 to commute to and from Austin, New Braunfels, Seguin and San Antonio, the amount of harmful emissions only stands to increase in our area and slowly remove the quaint qualities of healthful relaxation that make San Marcos unique among its surroundings.

Opponents of the plan — including those on the city council — believe that implementing this testing now would be too much of a financial burden on low-income families and students on a budget.

Earlier this year, the Texas Legislature, between debating cheerleaders’ dance moves and arguing whether or not to inform parents via report cards that their children have high body mass indices, approved House Bill 1611. The bill, which Gov. Rick Perry signed into law on June 18, allows for the creation of the Low Income Repair Assistance program.

This program allows for a portion of the fees gained from the new testing and enforcement of the Clean Air Act to be used to help people who might not be able to afford the costs of repairs to bring their vehicle up to code.

Why not implement these programs in the city and county?

The benefits of cleaner air and state assistance to those that need it poke many a hole in the city’s case.

If Austin and Round Rock can take these steps to help increase the quality of life of their citizens, the City of San Marcos can certainly do the same.

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. Letters policy: E-mail letters to starletters@txstate.edu.

Letters must be no longer than 300 words. No anonymous letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit for grammar, spelling, space and libel.

We reserve the right to refuse obscene, irrelevant and malicious letters.

All e-mails must include the name and phone number of the letter writer.

Students should also include their classifications and majors.

Do you feel that your life has changed since the events of 9/11? % Life did not change/Completely back to normal % Changed, somewhat back to normal

Kelly Simmons/Star illustration

Transferring from far away isn’t easy It’s been a when I could have couple of weeks transferred to a since the summer school where all my ended and school friends would be?” started and for It’s been a few some of us who weeks since then have transferred and I now know, over from anothmore than ever, that KELSEY VOELKEL er college, it has coming to Texas Star Columnist been the strangState has been the est transition best decision I have since moving to high school made and it could turn out from junior high. to be the best thing that has I transferred to Texas State ever happened to me. from Blinn College in BrenIt’s as if we are given a ham and the transition has clean slate by transferring still yet to sink in. I am not to another school. You get used to being in a class with to meet new people, experithree hundred other people ence new things and adapt to or catching a tram to class. new surroundings. But then, I am also not used to havfear sets in when you realize ing short amounts of time all that you have left behind available to go hang out with – your friends, familiar surfriends, go catch a movie or roundings and a well-known even paint my fingernails. security. You feel secure when Instead, I feel overwhelmed you’re around good friends with class; the homework and familiar surroundings, that comes with it and the but at Texas State, you’re studying that comes with the going to school with about huge stacks of homework 26,000 other students. If that I have each night. you’re lucky, you might have I kept thinking to myself transferred here with some during the first few days of friends and if that is the case, school, “Oh, my gosh, what then you are a very lucky have I gotten myself into by person. coming here? Why on earth I transferred to Texas State did I choose Texas State not knowing anybody. All of

my friends from Blinn transferred to Texas A&M or Sam Houston State University.

The closest friend I have lives two and a half hours away and our only communication is through AOL Instant Messenger. The point is, I know what it’s like to be lonely and I know there are others who are struggling to fit it and adjust.

The last few weeks have been the most difficult to get used to, but I keep telling myself that things will get better and that it just takes time to get used to everything.

There’s no real way to adjust, is there? Not properly, anyway.

Things keep getting more complicated and confusing and the light and the end of the tunnel is continually fading as we get closer. It’s as if there is no exit sign when that’s all you want to do.

You keep wishing and praying for things to be the way they were and for things to just be stable even for five minutes, but all that happens is a curve ball is thrown at you time and again, one after the other.

Things could always be worse, right?

It doesn’t sound pleasant, does it? Things can be different if you really want them to be. Not necessarily better or worse, just different.

I joined a church that I love and I met some really great friends there who are after the same things I am and share the same morals.

Making friends in a college, especially at the present time, has got to be one of the hardest things.

Making friends in general is simple, but meeting and making friends with people who make you feel comfortable and relaxed while being yourself; that is very difficult.

There are so many clubs you can join which offer excellent opportunities and chances to make friends, but it’s also a matter of not quitting at it or giving up at all.

You have to keep at it.

We will never know when things change until they do.

Just keep at it, and in the end, you’ll be glad that it all happened.

Voelkel is a pre-mass communication junior.

% Changed, not yet back to normal

42%

Problem may arise if our nation forgets 9/11

38% 38%

37% 20%

24%

Aug. 28-29, 2002 Aug. 28-30, 2005 These results are based on telephone, Web, and mail interviews with a sample of 1,007 adults in the Gallup Poll Panel survey of households, aged 21 and older, conducted Aug. 28 to 30, 2005. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is ±3 percentage points.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

1,007 People Polled The University Star 601 University Drive Trinity Building San Marcos, TX 78666 Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708

Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll

As officials MATTHEW MALONE many Americans in New Orfrustrated by misIndependent Florida steps in Iraq are losleans pick up Alligator Columnist ing the stomach for the pieces of a broken city, a century-long war another anagainst an increasniversary of the falling of the ingly ambiguous concept.

Twin Towers passed Sunday The war is four years old, without much fanfare. and casualties have been Many Americans seem mounting. The U.S. death tired of being told to “never toll in the Middle East creeps forget,” and considering the ever closer to 2,000, while unfolding aftermath of Katerrorist attacks in Britain trina, I can’t exactly blame and Spain have claimed them. I also suspect some more than 200. Intervention cynics on the left have come in Iraq has placed countless to view “never forget” as a civilians at the mercy of faspartisan war cry for the Bush cist forces aiming to topple administration. the democratic government.

But there’s a reason to Such trying times are alkeep that Sept. 11 bumper most enough to make one sticker plastered on your yearn for the ’90s, when the car’s rear fender, and it’s not most interesting news items for the sake of being sentiwere the O.J. Simpson trial mental. and Tonya Harding.

The war on terror has reBut perhaps the ’90s ally just begun. Do we have seemed so peaceful because the passion to keep it up if Americans were so eager to we forget why we started? shirk global responsibility.

Our leaders seem willAmerica’s blunders began ing to keep up the fight, but during the last decade when

Editor In Chief..................David Michael Cohen, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor..................................Joe Ruiz, staropinion@txstate.edu News Editor......................................Kirsten Crow, starnews@txstate.edu Assistant News Editor.................Ashley Richards, ar1225@txstate.edu Trends Editor..............Christina Gomez, starentertainment@txstate.edu Photo Editor........................... Courtney Addison, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor...................................Miguel Peña, starsports@txstate.edu

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George Bush Sr.’s administration urged Shiites and Kurds to revolt in Iraq during the Gulf War and then swiftly abandoned them. The blissful ignorance continued as the Clinton administration turned a blind eye to the “success” of Hutu radio broadcasting, the pleas of an independent Taiwan and an ominous terrorist threat.

The casualties we have suffered during our ambitious war on terror may mask a far greater danger posed by an America unwilling to shoulder its share of responsibility for promoting democracy and human rights abroad.

But more importantly, the casualties mask our successes.

Thanks to American intervention, Afghanis can dream reasonably of turning their broken capital, Kabul, into a glitzy Dubai. Our continued presence in Iraq has assured that, no matter what the outcome of the constitutional

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process, al-Qaida and radical Sunnis will never succeed in turning back the clock and resurrecting another Taliban or Saddam Hussein.

Americans also have the luxury of remembering Sept.

11 as only one day of truly alarming terrorist attacks since the war began. Whether our good fortune in so far avoiding a second and more devastating attack is either a blessing of luck or due to the administration’s policies, we cannot be sure. I suppose it is a combination of the two.

So do not be eager to forget this anniversary and the reason why we departed from a foreign policy of negligence and timidity. Do not lose heart in the face of casualties when they are accompanied with increasing success. The suffering caused

by Hurricane Katrina may be the only thing on our minds right now, but a faulty memory may cost us even more dearly on the road ahead.

The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University-San Marcos published Tuesday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. every other Wednesday of Summer I and II with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

Copyright Sept. 13, 2005. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief.

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releasesof the week music

dvd

Takk... — Sigur Rós Chaos and Creation in the Backyard — Paul McCartney Life in Slow Motion — David Gray Nothing is Sound — Switchfoot

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - Page 5

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy — (PG) Sam Rockwell, Mos Def Fever Pitch — (PG-13) Jimmy Fallon, Drew Barrymore

Palindromes — (Not Rated) Ellen Barkin, Jennifer Jason Leigh

Trends Contact — Christina Gomez, starentertainment@txstate.edu

GREENWHEEL keeps on turning

By Christina Gomez Entertainment Editor It’s always cool when a band asks for alcohol while on stage. It’s even better when they actually get it. Greenwheel, the indie rock band from St. Charles, Mo., played Thursday at Red Eyed Fly to a disappointing crowd of about 75 people. Despite the mediocre turnout, the band gave an incredible performance complete with groupies buying beer and a girl holding out a cell phone for the band to play to. This was the band’s first visit to Austin since their 2002 show with Our Lady Peace and Ash. After a two-year hiatus from touring, they were back with songs from their 2002 Soma Holiday album as well as new and unreleased tracks from their unreleased album.

This album, which was recorded in Los Angeles, was set to be released before they were dropped from Island/Def Jam records. This means they cannot sell their follow up album, but rather, are forced to give it away at their merch table.

The band remains optimistic about the split, and is happy to be back on the indie scene and touring. They attribute most of their success to the loyalty of their fans. With a MySpace page they run themselves and an active street team, Jordan said, “it helps the fans feel connected because they get a lot of face time.” This was evident with a lot of their fans yelling out requests and singing along with all of the songs, released or not.

Despite the departure of lead guitarist Marc Wanninger and drummer Doug Randall (replaced by Drew Bailey), the band’s original sound has changed very little.

If anything the band feels they have grown in maturity as well as depth. Guitarist Andy Dwiggins says that they have “gained perspective as well as established a style.” Vocalist Ryan Jordan adds that, “We’re just more comfortable on stage. We have more confidence and I think it shows while we’re on stage,” said vocalist Ryan Jordan.

Armed with confidence and a repertoire of songs from the two albums, the band put on a hell of a show. Jordan captured the bulk of the attention with his charismatic front man routine complete with the

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Clark Guitarist Andrew Dwiggins of Greenwheel, shown here at a New York show in 2003, played simple guitar riffs resembling U2’s The Edge during Thursday’s show.

poses and gestures of Bruce Springsteen and the wailing of Mick Jagger. Dwiggins, clearly a talented guitarist, laid down minimalist licks reminiscent of an early U2. Bassist Brandon Armstrong and drummer Bailey were able to provide a steady and not overpowering beat. This talent was definitely showcased in the song “Caving In.” Their most well known song, “Shelter,” which was released on the Spiderman soundtrack

was definitely a crowd favorite as well as their hit “Breathe.”

Melissa Etheridge covered their song “Breathe” in 2003, and it went on to earn her a Grammy nomination in 2004.

While I enjoy the Etheridge version, the Greenwheel version is far superior. Jordan, having to make an “executive decision,” cut a few songs from the set list in order to finish by midnight. They closed down the show with their new song Trigger, and immediately fol-

lowing the set, ran to their merch stand to begin selling CDs and T-shirts. They are a no-frills kind of band, and Dwiggins thinks it makes it easier, “if I set up my guitar and screw it up, it’s my fault.

I don’t have to go and see who screwed up.” They are now touring in the Midwest with the bands Upside and Relapse. However, they aren’t totally averse to making a stop back in Austin during South

by Southwest.

Café offers excellent eats Few things can range of food from restaurant ruin a meal like findtop sirloin steaks to review puffy taco plates. ing a hair in your food. Not just any The service is so Café on the Square hair, a little hair with quick and friendly 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. the cuticle still intact. that Café on the 126 N. LBJ Drive Square hardly feels However, as unappePrice Range: tizing as that may be, like a café or restauInexpensive my experience at Café rant at all. It’s a place Rating: Forks Up where you can sit on the Square — up to finding the foldown and talk with licle midmeal — was friends without beactually quite pleasant. ing bothered by typiLocated right on The Square in cal restaurant noise. The café a well-lit old building with high maximizes all its available space ceilings and skylights, the café without allowing the dining area offers up a large menu with a to feel claustrophobic. There

ACCIDENT WITNESS

are plenty of tables to sit at, but they’re not crammed together in such a way that the guy sitting at the table next to you is practically chewing in your ear. Its simple and familiar look adds to the

See Café, page 6

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Did you see a bike/car accident at the intersection of Sessoms & LBJ Wednesday, August 24, about 7pm?

café’s charm and complements the traditional menu nicely.

My friend ordered the chicken

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Distinctive voices

A nontraditional point of view

Trying to Catch the Bus

My First Football Game

So far, I have made Well, the highlight it through the first of my week was gofew weeks of classes ing to my first tailgate without much of a party this past weekhitch. Some of the end and attending SUSAN RAUCH nerves are creeping my first Bobcat footin as my instructors ball game. I brought Entertainment are making refermy kids, and we all Columnist ences to upcoming had a great time. A first exams, one of lot of organizations which is this week. were there with their Coming off the Labor Day tents and handing out freebies weekend holiday, which in- to anyone passing by, and there cluded a trip to Corpus Christi, was even a band. It was a great the week was not too eventful. social event. With the excepThere have been many class tion of a few light sprinkles, discussions where I still felt we seemed to get completely a bit out of place as my point bypassed through the afterof view ran a bit different than noon and evening. Watching that of my fellow younger stu- the game was fun, although dents. With that said, being a my kids and I found out standmom with two teenage sons, I ing the entire first half wasn’t also try to look at things from exactly the most comfortable their perspective. Probably thing. We eventually moved to my most frustrating moment the upper level and were able to this past week was not in class enjoy ourselves, watching the but waiting for the buses near game while sitting. The Bobcat The Quad. Several had passed fans were just as fun to watch our stop to go to the next cor- as the game. My kids asked ner, then onto LBJ, then back why some of the guys had their around to finally pick us up bodies painted to look like before heading onto the park- shirts. That was difficult to exing lots in Bobcat Stadium. If plain other than saying it was you didn’t get on the one going extreme school spirit. My next to the LBJ Student Center first, endeavor this week is to hopewhen they came back around fully meet up with the tennis they were usually full. So, you sports club on Thursday, as I would have to find a place to am a die-hard tennis enthusistand on the bus or wait for ast and competitor. I will also another one. I felt sorry for the help with the NTSO sausage students waiting on the cor- sales on Wednesday morning. I ner down the hill across from am praying the weather holds Hines. One day, they said it up for both. was the third bus that came by completely full, without even We will be following Susan’s standing room. My sugges- first freshman semester in 25 tion: why not invest in double years in next Tuesday’s issue of decker buses? There would be The Star. For more information more room for more students on the Non-Traditional Stuto catch the bus. dent’s Organization, see www. studentorgs.txstate.edu/ntso.

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Tuesday, September 13, 2005

✯Star Comics THE CAT BIRD SEAT

BY JEFF COLE

The University Star - Page 6

CAFÉ: CONTINUED from page 5

fried steak with mashed potatoes and french fries, while I went for the chicken parmesan that came with a house salad and garlic toast. Both dishes arrived promptly and without error.

Boasting a classic, Southern-

OUR RATING SYSTEM

Random Acts of Violence

Erin Leeder

Cheap - Less than $5 per person Inexpensive - Less than $10 per person Moderate- Less than $15 per person Expensive- More than $20 per person Forks Up – Great Restaurant, Go Now Forks Down – Not Good, Eat elsewhere

Hairline fracture in otherwise good eating experience

style presentation (which means makes for a worthy dining expethat everything is covered in rience that’s easy on the wallet; massive amounts of gravy), the just make sure you comb your chicken fried steak is one of the food first. best in San Marcos. The chicken parmesan was a large portion of — Christina Gomez chicken topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese served over fettuccine pasta.

The chicken was tender and the though fried, it wasn’t overly greasy. The salad course was fresh with a multitude of vegetables and creamy ranch dressing.

Other than the rare misplaced hair, Café on the Square offers few surprises and relies on its gentle atmosphere and Kyle Bradshaw/ Star photo wide array of menu choices Café on the Square is conveniently for its appeal. It located on 126 N. LBJ Drive.

Spirit of Tex-Mex alive at Bob Bullock Museum

By Fred Afflerbach Entertainment Writer Casual visitors to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin on Sunday may have thought they entered the wrong building. Ruben Ramos and his band, The Texas Revolution, along with Grupo Fantasma, used a regiment of saxophones, trombones, a trumpet player, an accordion and electric keyboard, all backed by a five-string bass and two 333 Gibsons to turn Texas music on its ear. Literally.

The concert, the last of a sixpart series exploring the history of Texas music, was sponsored

by The Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University, KGSR 107.1 FM and the Bullock Museum.

Grupo Fantasma led the charge in the horn section.

With microphones pointed into the mouths of two saxophones, a trumpet and a trombone, the band quickly took command of the 200-seat Texas Spirit Theater. When the foursome finally came up for air, they rhythmically pumped their fists to the beat.

Grupo Fantasma vocalists, Jose Galeano and Brian Ramos, sing exclusively in Spanish; their smooth verbal intonations, rhythmic language and occasional back-and-forth chants with backup vocalists probably wouldn’t work in English. Yet their vocals somehow tran-

scend language barriers. Some song introductions provided a glimpse into their content: a brand of Nicaraguan rum, an unfaithful lover and chocolate.

At one point they had the audience chanting “choco-late. choco-late.”

With 11 musicians on stage, it’s easy for some band members to blend in. The guitarists play mostly rhythm and bass.

Ruben Ramos led his band, The Texas Revolution, like a true general. The slim, dapper, Grammy winner opened with an instrumental that lived up to his nickname, El Gato Negro, by finger snapping, clapping, catlike strutting and prancing as he dropped his suit coat to the stage floor. Ramos followed with “Vehicle,” a top-40 hit that prepared the audience for the rest of the show. For the next hour, he took us on an historical and musical journey that included childhood recollections of picking cotton near Manor and Taylor and listening to his uncles, who returned from World War II, playing the big band sounds of Tommy Dorsey and Count Basey.

Between songs, Ramos kept up a friendly banter with the audience and his band, which featured two of his brothers, Joe and Roy, on guitar. After Joe broke a guitar string, Ruben chided, “Did you buy those at Wal-Mart?” But only moments later, Joe launched a searing

guitar solo that captivated the crowd.

The Texas Revolution knows how to get the most out of its troops; it is a cooperative band.

Accordionist Richard Fuentes also plays bongos, keyboard and helps on vocals. Lead guitarist Joe Ramos took over keyboard duties several times with his guitar strapped to his back.

During a discussion with Ramos, Gregg Andrews, Texas State assistant director to The Center for Texas Music History, said “You’re seeing the heart and soul, the history of Tex-Mex music, right here.”

The “Spirit of Texas Music” inaugural season has sewn the seeds for an ongoing live music program steeped in Texas musical and oral history. However, the future of the series is undecided. After the first two shows sold out, attendance has waned.

The buzz around the theater was that it would be a shame not to resume the series next year.

Many fans also wished they had known of the show earlier.

Thirty years ago, another Texas music series, Austin City Limits, started in relative obscurity.

Today, that program is broadcast nationwide. Another successful show, “etown,” was originally funded in 1991 by its creators, Nick and Helen Forster. Now it broadcasts weekly from Boulder, Colo. to over 150 stations. Out of the most humble beginnings, great things are born.

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SPORTS/CLASSIFIEDS

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

The University Star - Page 7

OFFENSIVE: Southern Utah gets shut out

Junior Frankie Flores prepares to cross the finish line at 26:58 during Saturday’s Texas A&M Invitational in College Station.

CONTINUED from page 8

Adam Schoenky/Special to The Star

RANKING: Running at their own pace in first event of 2005 CONTINUED from page 8

unattached, meaning that his score did not count toward team totals.

Ortiz, who led the team with a top-20 finish at last year’s Southland Conference Championships, has one year of collegiate eligibility left. It is as of yet undecided whether he will be utilized this year.

Having him run unattached allows the coaches to get an idea of where he stands without making a decision yet. However, Ortiz finished with a time of 25:45, which would have made him the Bobcat’s fastest runner.

This is a strong sign that Ortiz will be an active member of the team this year.

Look Ahead @ Bobcat Athletics

With freshman Escontrias, senior Javier Prado (26:06) and freshman Francisco Avelar (26:11) all finishing within 30 seconds of Ortiz’s time, the Bobcat men seem ready to improve on last year’s fourth place conference finish.

The cross country team will continue its season at the Texas State Invitational on Saturday.

Most of the runners who did not compete last weekend will run in order to evaluate the entire team.

The team feels like they are just getting started, according to Viniar.

“This was our first time to see them running all out.” He said. “We are nowhere near our peak yet.”

backs.

“We brought it up another level, were playing better and meshing better as more of a family than a team,’ said Upshaw, a senior nose guard from Mansfield.

Walter Musgrove and David Simmons led the team in total tackles with six apiece while Melvin Webber had five, two solo and three assisted.

Michael Meeks finished the game with the only sack on the opposing quarterback, as he took down Zac Conners early in the fourth quarter.

“They showed the killer instinct and the swagger we need when we take the field,” said head Coach David Bailiff.

SUU had trouble scoring

through out the game even on their two field goal attempts the first a 27-yard try the second a 33-yard try.

Nealy scored on Texas State’s third drive of the game with an astounding 51-yard run that showed off the best that football had to offer with strong blocks off the line and a key block

by Douglas Sherman Nealy crossed the goal line practically unscathed putting the Bobcats ahead 17-0.

“When I broke I was trying to get to the outside. I knew that my receiver down the field should pick up on blocks and that I would have a good shot,” Nealy said.

By halftime, the Bobcats led with a 24-0 advantage after two visits to the end zone by Session,

one from Nealy, and a first quarter field goal by Stan Jones from 22 yards out.

The shut out was the first time since 1998 for the visiting thunderbirds and the first 2-0 start for the Bobcats in five years.

Nealy continued through the opening drive of the fourth quarter, garnering another rushing touchdown on his way to a 31-yard lead before Chase Watson took over and finished the game. He led the Bobcats down the field on their final drive that gave Stan Jones another chance to score as he let one sail through the uprights from 34-yards out to give Texas State a score of 34 over the Thunderbirds.

As they look ahead to their appearance against the Texas A&M Aggies scheduled for 6 p.m.

SOCCER: 9-0 victory gives Texas State a much-needed boost CONTINUED from page 8

ing, scoring five goals in the second period to push the lead 9-0.

The five goals were not only scored by five different Bobcats, but they were also the first goals of the season for junior midfielder Delayna Spivey, sophomore midfielder Amanda Machado, freshman midfielder Karin Henrichsen and sophomore forwards Natalie Jackson and Angela Crissy.

Although the Bobcats were riding high after the Prairie View win, two days earlier they had to deal with a tough 2-1 loss to Centenary (3-3). That game, like

Volleyball

every game before it, started off with Texas State falling behind early.

“We just thought they would roll over and I don’t know why,” Conner said.

“Again, we really did have the most talent on the field,” Conner said.“We just got beat by a team with more determination. That team wanted to win more than us.”

Perhaps it was determination that won the game for Centenary, because, statistically, the Bobcats seemed to outplay them.

Texas State had a 21-to-9 shot advantage and also had seven corner kicks compared to Centenary’s three. The advantages

made the loss even more frustrating.

“Again, we didn’t come to play in the first half. We let them score a goal early in the first half. Then all night long we were trying to dig out of a hole,” Conner said.

Centenary scored the game’s first goal midway through the first half when goalkeeper Brittany Beltramini saved a shot by sophomore midfielder Bre Fletcher, but senior defenseman Sam Savage was able to put in the deflection.

The Bobcats were able to briefly tie the game up at 1-1 after a goal by junior midfielder Amy Benton. Spivey and Holder recorded assists on the goal, which came at

Soccer

Tuesday vs. UTSA 7 p.m. @ Strahan Colliseum

Saturday vs.

UT Arlington 7 p.m. @ Strahan Colliseum

the 68:37 mark in the second The game did not stay tied up long, though, as Fletcher put Centenary up for good two minutes later with a breakaway goal assisted by sophomore defenseman Jenny Mather.

Benton led the Bobcats offensively, attempting four shots and scoring Texas State’s only goal.

Lemmie and Spivey were also aggressive, attempting four and three shots respectively, but could not put points on the board.

Defensively, Beltramini played all 90 minutes, picking up seven saves.letcher’s five shots, one goal and one assist led Centenary. Sophomore goalkeeper Ali Hilsher had 14 saves.

Cross Country Sunday vs.

Louisiana tech 1:30 p.m. @ Nacogdoches

Friday vs. Citadel 7 p.m. @ Nacogdoches

����������� �������������������

on Sept. 24 in College Station the Bobcats have a substantial amount of time to prepare both mentally and physically.

The win was a confidence boost for the Bobcats, but they are not looking ahead to the Aggies being easy competition or allowing their heads to get big before facing their toughest opponent of the season.

“We have been through so much, it’s just a blessing. But we have seen the bottom and that keeps us humble,” Nealy said.

On the defensive side, the main thing is to go into the game with the right mind set.

“We have to have a certain swagger. If you don’t feel like you can win you have beat yourself already,” said senior defensive tackle Fred Evans.

SaturdayTexasState Classic 8 a.m. @ Bobcat Stadium

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Tuesday,August September 13, 2005 - Page337 Wednesday, 24, 2005 - Page

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SPORTS GETTING OFFENSIVE Southland Conference scoreboard

THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Texas State 34 Southern Utah 0 Stephen F. Austin 6 Montana State 42 Sam Houston State 10 Houston 31 Northwestern State 7 North Dakota State 35

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - Page 8

Southeastern Louisians 48 Alcorn 21 University of Indiana 35 Nicholls State 31 McNeese State 23 Georgia Southern 20 **SLC schools in bold

Sports Contact — Miguel Peña, starsports@txstate.edu

Nealy leads Bobcats to 34-0 victory against Southern Utah

By Miguel Peña Sports Editor

The Texas State Bobcats got out to a strong start in their 340 victory over the visiting Thunderbirds from Southern Utah University on Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.

Barrick Nealy garnered the majority of the offensive production as he completed on 14 of his 23 pass attempts for a total of 175 yards through the air while maintaining a fleeted footed performance with 140 rushing yards on ten touches. His two touchdowns were matched, however, by the senior running back Nick Session.

His performance, while minimal in yardage, covering only five, was enough to give him the same effectiveness on the ground as he saw the end zone twice on the day.

Starting with the Bobcats opening drive sessions put in the “Short work” as he scored the first six points of the game on a one-yard run to the left side behind senior tackle Thomas Keresztury.

The touchdown was made possible following a 39-yard pass to Ronnie Brown on the first play from the line of scrimmage that put Texas State at the Thunderbirds 33-yard-line. Nealy helped with a 13-yard run, and Douglas Sherman followed that with a nine-yard break just shy of the end-zone.

With only 2:41 seconds expired from the game clock Texas State scored after seven plays and 72 yards covered.

Southern Utah University took things over with 10:28 to go in the first quarter and struggled to move the ball as a wall in the middle of the Texas State Defense managed to shut things down, literally.

Better known as a the “Towering Twins” Travis Upshaw and Fred Evans combined for five tackles and left the Thunderbirds with a total of 79 rushing yards from five different running See OFFENSIVE, page 7

Adam Brown/Star photo Senior quarterback Barrick Nealy, Aeropostale Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, led Texas State to a 34-0 romp against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, with two touchdown completions on 140 yards through the air. The Bobcats have next week off and play the Texas A&M Aggies on Sept. 24.

Linda L. Smith/Star photo

Bobcat soccer scores first win of the 2005 season against Prairie View Kevin Washburn Sports Reporter

Shown here at a previous game versus UT-El Paso, freshman Rikki Padia Answer.com had on goal and one assist during the Bobcats’ first win of the 5.6two x 6 shots inches season against Prairie View A&M.

��������������

The Texas State women’s soccer team got its first win of the season annihilating Prairie View A&M University 9-0 on Sunday, just two days after a frustrating 2-1 defeat at Centenary College of Louisiana.

To say the win was much needed would be an understatement. The 1-6 Bobcats had started the season with a six-game losing streak during which they were plagued by an inability to put points on the board.

Coach Kat Conner spoke to the team before the Prairie View game about scoring and a need for a tougher defense.

“We broke it down simply, the things we needed to do,” said Conner. “First, being the first team to put up points.

And then second, denying the other team service.”

The simple plan worked as Texas State, which had scored only one goal

I Kant

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in the first period all season, had control of the game at Prairie View (4-0) from the get-go, scoring early and often.

The Bobcats were infinitely more aggressive than Prairie View, notching season-highs in shots (33), shots on goal (27) and, of course, goals (9).

Several players excelled offensively, with forwards Jerelyn Lemmie and Natalie Holder leading the way.

Lemmie, a sophomore, scored the game’s first two goals, scoring on an amazingly efficient 66.7 percent of her shots. Holder, a junior, was the most aggressive player on the field, attempting five shots, all on goal, and leading the team with two assists.

Lemmie’s goals, which came at the 2:48 and 21:30 marks, respectively, gave Texas State the quick start it had failed to achieve in the previous six games.

Despite jumping out to the early lead, Texas State was still wary.

“We kind of knew the first goal didn’t

put us over the hump,” said Conner.

“They didn’t really start to celebrate a little bit until after the fourth goal. Not until then did we think we could win this thing.”

The Bobcats continued their aggressive attack after Lemmie’s goals, getting scores from junior midfielder Elyse Ehlinger and freshman forward Erin Oliver to push the Texas State lead to 4-0. The two scores, both assisted by freshman forward Rikki Padia, were the first goals of the season for each player.

Conner, normally preaching to her team about being more aggressive at halftime, gave a different kind of speech at the break.

“I complimented them on the first half, on how quickly they were moving the ball,” said Conner. “We were playing at a two-touch rhythm. We needed to keep that going.”

Texas State did keep its rhythm goSee SOCCER, page 7

Cross country achieves high ranking at A&M invitational Men’s and Women’s teams show up for opener Adam Schoenky Sports Reporter The Bobcat cross country team opened its regular season Saturday morning at the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station. The meet featured nine teams from universities around the state.

The men’s team finished fourth overall, led by freshman Alex Escontrias’ 14th place finish. The Bobcats finished with 97 points, behind Baylor (90), Stephen F. Austin (54) and Texas A&M (15).

The women finished sixth overall, with a team-best time of 18:29 from Tenley Determan, who placed 19th among women.

Sophomore Kirby West finished 27th with a time of 19:08.

Coaches Grigori Viniar and Greg Zarate saw the first meet of

“T

he first race is really about seeing what our workouts are doing.”

— Grigori Viniar cross country coach

the season as a way to measure all of the hard work the team has been putting in to preparation.

“The first race is really about seeing what our workouts are doing,” Viniar said. “At the A&M meet, we really got to see how our summer training program works. The kids who did it improved across the board.”

The Bobcat women received a big boost from some of the veterans on the team. Each returning member of the squad improved their own personal records, including Determan, the team’s fastest finisher, who shaved a full minute off of her personal best time.

Sophomore Kirby West also set a personal record by at least 30 seconds, an amazing feat considering the race was her first after recovering from an injury last season.

Viniar was pleased with the effort from West, calling her a team leader and a very talented runner.

“She will continue to improve,” Viniar said of West. “We are still being very careful with her, and she is not yet running at 100 percent.”

Sophomores Brittany Rosen and Stephanie Flores also made impressive showings, cutting up to 1:30 off of their personal records.

The men’s team was spurred on by four freshmen who were all running their first 8K race in competition, three of whom ran the fastest times for Texas State.

While Escontrias was the official first place finisher for the Bobcats, another very bright spot appeared in the form of James Ortiz, who ran the race See RANKING, page 7