April 22 2015

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WEDNESDAY APRIL 22, 2015

VOLUME 104 ISSUE 82

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REPORTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FROM AUGUST 2014 TO MARCH 2015

WATER

Source of lead contamination in water unknown By Jake Goodman News Reporter @jake_thegoodman Trace levels of lead discovered in the water at the Hays County Government Center in September 2014 have since disappeared, but the source remains unknown. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contaminant guidelines, the maximum allowable amount, or action limit, of lead in drinking water is .015

For someone living in San Marcos, I would say there’s no impurity concern.” ­—JON CLACK, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICES

milligrams per liter (mg/L). According to a test conducted by SA Laboratories, four of six samples of San Marcos water taken at the Hays County Government Center on Sept. 4 revealed a lead contamination between .028 mg/L and .075 mg/L. Jon Clack, assistant director of public services, said the water lines were opened and flushed after the lead was detected. Follow-up tests revealed the contaminant had disappeared from the government center supply. Another test near the center revealed trace amounts of lead in December. Since then, the contaminant has not reappeared, and its source remains unknown. “We really didn’t come to any conclusive results on where it came from,” Clack said. “We think it’s in that area, but we never found anything we could put our finger on.” Clint Garza, county development services director, said officials conducted their own tests on the pipes for corrosive materials and lead. Tests of the water at the government center have not revealed lead above the action limit since December. “We’re still testing to see what the right material for pipe repairs and construction is,” he said. Garza said the pipes in the government center may have to be replaced because of corrosion. The city gets water from Canyon Lake and the Edward’s Aquifer, but neither source has ever tested positive for lead, Clack said. “If it was in our source water, it would show up all the time,” he said.

See LEAD, Page 2

CRIME

Three charged with arson in Sagewood fire investigation By Carlie Porterfield ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @rep0rterfield Three 19-year-old men have been arrested by officials from the San Marcos Fire Marshal’s Office in connection with an arson that occurred the morning of April 9 at a house on the 1000 block of Sagewood Trail. San Marcos police and fire department officials determined the blaze was isolated to the front porch of the house. The residents put out the fire and escaped the house without sustaining injuries. Officials with the fire marshal’s office conducted an investigation and determined the fire was set intentionally. Ralph Colten Olle of Wimberley and Bryce Taylor Roberson and Augustine Angel Sosa of Driftwood were arrested and charged with arson and engaging in organized criminal activity.

ON-CAMPUS SEX CRIMES 3 IN 2013 ACCORDING TO THE CAMPUS 1 IN 2012 WATCH 2014 REPORT. 3 IN 2011

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REPORTS OF SEXUAL HARRASSMENT FROM AUGUST 2014 TO MARCH 2015 INCIDENTS OF DATING VIOLENCE REPORTED FROM AUGUST 2014 TO MARCH 2015

New sexual misconduct policies yields increase in reporting By Jon Wilcox SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @thrilcox Data gathered from the university’s Office of Equity and Access gives insight into Texas State’s newly implemented Title IX sexual misconduct policies. University officials overhauled their approach to sexual misconduct investigations in August 2014 in response to federal mandates and pressure. Changes in the Title IX policy and procedure have likely increased the number of sexual misconduct reports and investigations, said Gilda Garcia, chief diversity officer and Title IX coordinator. The term “sexual misconduct” encompasses a range of non-

consensual activities, including assault, exploitation, intimidation, harassment, domestic and dating violence and stalking, Garcia said. Sexual assault topped the university’s list with a total of 27 reports from August 2014 to March 2015, according to data gathered from the Office of Equity and Access. Sexual harassment was the second most commonly reported offense with 20 incidents. Twelve incidents of dating violence were reported. “I hate that there are any numbers because every number represents somebody who got hurt,” Garcia said. “One is too many.” Title IX can be traced to federal laws enacted in the 1970s, Garcia said. For decades, universities

interpreted Title IX as a measure to ensure equality in collegiate sports. Between 2011 and 2014, the federal government expanded the scope of Title IX to include sexual misconduct on campus, she said. University crime statistics before the implementation of Title IX sexual misconduct policies can be found in the annual Campus Watch report, Garcia said. The reports show three oncampus sex crimes in 2013, one in 2012 and three in 2011, according to the Campus Watch 2014 report. Garcia said the data gathered from the Office of Equity and Access is not entirely compatible with Campus Watch, although some useful comparisons can

be made. Title IX sexual misconduct incidents are not criminal in nature like those reported in Campus Watch, which may be a factor in the discrepancies. “Title IX now requires the university to conduct an investigation separate from the police within 60 calendar days from when the case is reported,” she said. Another difference is Title IX sexual misconduct investigations are not used to determine whether defendants are guilty, Garcia said. Title IX investigators instead determine whether “it was more likely than not that (the defendant) violated the sexual misconduct policy.”

See MISCONDUCT, Page 2

STATE

HIV programs face uncertain future after state budget cuts By James Palmer NEWS REPORTER @jmesspalmer Funds totaling $3 million originally used to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) will be rerouted to abstinence-only education. State representative Stuart Spitzer (R-Kaufman) helped

usher in the Republican-sponsored shift in funds over two years from HIV/STD prevention to abstinence education, according to an April 2 press release from Spitzer. The state of Texas risks losing federal funding after this move, said Kanaka Sathasivan, AIDS Services of Austin (ASA) communications coordinator. “The federal funds are dependent on how much state funds there are,” Sathasivan said. “A reduction in state HIV funding

could directly impact the number of federal funds.” Representatives of ASA and other HIV prevention programs are unsure how these cuts might affect their budgets, Sathasivan said. ASA is primarily funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cuts will not influence any services available at the university student health center but could affect high school students in Texas, said Julie Eckert, student

health center assistant director. “We might see more students who don’t understand what HIV and STIs are (because of the budget cuts),” Eckert said. ASA has a health insurance assistance program that receives state funds, and Texas’ budget cuts from HIV prevention could affect recipients, Sathasivan said. “Scientifically, the prevention programs are what’s really shown

See HIV PREVENTION, Page 2

Scientifically, the prevention programs are what’s really shown to work to stop the spread of HIV. Especially in the long term, these budget changes aren’t going to increase abstinence, they’re just going to increase the spread of HIV.” ­—KANAKA SATHASVIAN, AIDS SERVICES OF AUSTIN COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

CITY

Kyle day care improves security after toddler wanders away By Alexa Tavarez SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @lexicanaa Officials at a Kyle daycare are improving their child supervision policies after a toddler wandered away last month. On March 30, a toddler at Open Arms Early Learning Center in Kyle left the day care and was found on Rebel Road near Interstate Highway 35 (IH-35), said Julie Moody, media specialist for the Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS). Tarah Medeiros, Open Arms owner, said the toddler walked away from the group to the parent pickup area. He then proceeded past a childproof door that was left open. Jerry Hendrix, communications director for the city, said no criminal activity reports related to the incident were filed with the Kyle Police Department.

DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

A toddler wandered away from Open Arms Daycare March 30 after a childproof door was left open. Medeiros left for the day when the assistant director called to

inform her of the incident. “It’s not something that ever

See DAYCARE, Page 2


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