April 16 2015

Page 1

THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2015

VOLUME 104 ISSUE 80 www.UniversityStar.com

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UNIVERSITY

University officials seek applicants for TSUS student regent position

UNIVERSITY

Courtney Harris (senior third baseman), Randi Rupp (freshman pitcher) and Kelli Baker (junior second baseman) celebrate their 12-0 victory against Houston Baptist April 15 at Bobcat Softball Stadium.

PITCH PERFECT

HARON SAENZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

the Smith and Arnold Halls area, which currently houses 500 students. Proite said a dining area may be built in the Smith and Arnold Halls space. Proite said DHRL officials hope to create a space for more than 500 students after the new residence halls are built. Officials expect to raise the number of residents to 1,000-1,200 students.

University officials are considering ways to garner interest in the student regent position for the Texas State University System (TSUS). The university receives only one or two applications per year for the position. The last time a Texas State student held the position was two years ago, said Joanne Smith, vice president of Student Affairs. The regent is the voice of the students within the TSUS, said Anna Sandoval, current student regent from Sul Ross State University. “The goal behind it is (TSUS) wants to select a student who is going to exemplify the values of the Texas State University System,” Sandoval said. “For example— ethics, leadership and helping out your fellow student.” “The guidelines really suggest that the Student Government be a part of trying to solicit students to apply,” Smith said. “Our Student Government has been doing it, but we just haven’t had a number of nominees that have taken us up on applying for the position.” Smith said Student Government members use emails, flyers and social media to spread information. The university has not seen an increase in the number of applications they receive despite Student Government’s efforts. “We are going to assist Student Government in trying to get the word out to more people about the position,” Smith said. University officials will provide information on the position to the academic college deans as well as the director of Student Affairs, Smith said. “We’re going to ask people to nominate students that they think might fit the criteria for the position,” Smith said. “Student Government will still have the information out there, so students can still apply through them as well.” The first regent for the system was a Texas State student, she said. A total of four Texas State students have held the position since its creation in 2005. Smith said any undergraduate or graduate student may apply for the position

See MOORE STREET, Page 2

See STUDENT REGENT, Page 2

Randi Rupp pitches perfect game in 12-0 victory See SOFTBALL, Page 3

UNIVERSITY

Construction plans underway for new residence hall complex By Kasandra Garza NEWS REPORTER @KasGarza The Moore Street Housing Project is on track to be completed May 2016 in the university’s 10year reconstruction plan. Officials with Texas State Department of Housing and Residential Life (DHRL) began the construction of new buildings on Moore Street after San Saba Hall was torn down in spring 2014. The Moore Street Housing Project is part of a 10-year construction plan. The plan began in 2010 with the renovation of various living facilities. The project will be complete in 2020 after the demolition of Arnold, Smith, Hornsby and Burleson Halls, said Rosanne Proite, director of Housing and Residential Life. The Moore Street project is a “hybrid,” Proite said. Hall names have not yet been selected. The physical arrangement of the two buildings and the floors will resemble that of Falls and Sayers Halls. The room style will resemble that of Gaillardia and Chautau-

qua Halls. The new complex will consist of single and double bedrooms and community bathrooms shared among nine to 10 students. Some students are worried living in the new Moore Street complex will be expensive. “I think they’re going to be like Falls and Sayers,” said Karla Carranza, criminal justice sophomore and Blanco Hall resident. “I feel like since they’re newer, they’re going to be pricier.” Proite said the new space will have inexpensive traditional rooms. “We’re trying to cut our construction cost so that we don’t have to keep raising the amount of money it costs to live on campus,” Proite said. “That’s a big concern for us.” DHRL officials plan on incorporating a community feel by following the floor layout of Falls and Sayers Halls. Some locations will have five floors, while others will have six. Halls will include lounges and small group study rooms on every floor so students will have places to “hang out,” Proite said.

LARA DIETRICH STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Moore Street Housing project is to be completed in May 2016 as part of the University’s 10-year reconstruction plan. “It gives our students the ability to gather,” Proite said. The halls will house a total of 598 students, she said. Renovation of Retama and Blanco Halls will begin after the Moore Street residences are finished. New residence halls will be built in place of the demolished ones. DHRL officials are in the planning stage of mapping out the new buildings that will occupy

By Rebecca Banks NEWS REPORTER @r_banks1

CITY

San Marcos, TxDOT proceed with construction projects

By Jake Goodman NEWS REPORTER @jake_thegoodmam Some road projects in San Marcos are ahead of schedule, but others have fallen behind due to unforeseen delays. Shaun Condor, engineering manager for Engineering & Capital Improvements, oversees projects on North LBJ Drive and State Highway 123 (SH-123). He said the LBJ Drive construction project has been delayed, while the city’s section of SH-123 is moving ahead of schedule. Chris Bishop, public information officer for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), said the TxDOT side of the project will not be completed for two years. Condor said LBJ Drive will be completed sometime this summer. The project was originally scheduled to be finished last March. “I expect (completion) in July, assuming the weather cooperates,”

Condor said. “We’ve had a lot of rain, which forces us to give more days to the contractors.” Condor said the new sewer and waterlines at the intersection of LBJ and Sessom Drive were added to the project scope, delaying completion. Condor said the waterline was scheduled to be a separate project, but it was added to the road renovation. Adding the waterline to the current project ensured crews did not have to come back and start at a later date. “People don’t realize that underground projects take a lot longer than they should,” Condor said. “Anything where you have underground improvements, you just keep digging over and over.” Condor said the city’s part of the SH-123 project is about two months ahead of schedule and will be completed within the next month. The road portion of the project will not be complete until the TxDOT share is finished.

“It’s TxDOT’s right of way,” Condor said. “We’re just moving in advance. My work is completed when my scope is completed.” Bishop said the TxDOT project includes the construction of feeder roads and an overpass on top of SH-123. TxDOT officials require cities to relocate water and power lines before road projects can begin. “We don’t allow utilities to move through the edge of the highway,” Bishop said. “That way it doesn’t affect traffic flow and puts it in one place that’s accessible.” Bishop said barricades have been set up and the site is marked for construction. “In this case, (TxDOT) opted to let the utility work finish and waited for better weather conditions to settle,” Bishop said. “Now we’re ready to get geared up and hit it a lick.” Bishop said the first stage of the project is the construction of a diamond interchange and feeder roads. These features will allow traf-

DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Construction completion on LBJ Drive has been delayed until the summer due to inclement weather and the addition of sewer and water lines to the Sessom Drive and LBJ intersection. fic to flow during construction of the overpass. “TxDOT’s top priority is safety for drivers on (SH-)123, and we want to

make sure drivers can get through in a timely manner,” Bishop said. The overpass will be complete sometime in late 2017, Bishop said.

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