GREENWHEEL ROCKS THE FLY
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-
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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
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Thursday Sunny Temp: 93°/ 70° Precipitation: 20%
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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.
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