April 7 2015

Page 1

TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2015

VOLUME 104 ISSUE 75 www.UniversityStar.com

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT

LARA DEITRICH STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Jones Dining Hall renovation will include a ‘50s-style burger joint called Cheeburger Cheeburger.

Dining hall welcomes addition of Cheeburger Cheeburger By Exsar Arguello NEWS REPORTER @Exsar_Misael

A

Florida-based company will join the chain of major fast-food companies at Jones Dining Hall in 2016. Cheeburger Cheeburger is a ‘50s-style burger joint that has operated out of Florida for 28 years, according to the chain’s website. Cheeburger Cheeburger will replace Route 66, a similar 50s-themed burger restaurant

that was in Jones prior to the renovation. Chin-Hong Chua, resident district manager for Texas State food services, said students will have three major restaurant chains to choose from, including Dunkin’ Donuts and old-time favorite Panda Express. Chua said the burger joint will supply students with variety, including the option to build their own meals. Students will be able to choose from different flavors of shakes.

Cheeburger Cheeburger will add “fresh” options to the dining hall, including salads, wraps and sandwiches, Chua said. The company only uses 100-percent all-natural Angus burgers, according to the website. “We just really want to bring a variety of options to the table with the new renovation,” Chua said. “With the addition of Cheeburger Cheeburger and Dunkin’ Donuts, students will not be able to recognize the old dining hall that once stood.”

Dunkin’ Donuts will have earlier operating hours than other establishments since it serves breakfast food, he said. Panda Express will return to its former territory along with a salad bar and the sushi and deli offerings available to students before the renovation, Chua said. “Students and faculty will experience new dining options along with some familiar services,” Chua said.

See JONES, Page 2

WATER

Texas Water Development Board offers loan for municipal improvements By Anna Herod SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @annaleemurphy

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved a $3.2 million loan offer from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund March 26 to finance construction for improvements within San Marcos. City officials are considering the offer but have not yet accepted it, said Nancy Hyde, administrative assistant in the capital if approved, construction improvements would begin May 31, 2015 and project departcomplete April 30, 2018 ment.

$3.2

million loan offer

Hyde said city officials are researching all possible funding resources for improvements before making a decision about whether or not to accept the loan. The task schedule for the improvements would call for construction to begin on May 31 and be completed by April 30, 2018, as shown in the city’s application for the loan. The proposed funds would go toward waterline replacement in subdivisions with “aging” infrastructure, according to the application. The borrowed money would fund the installation of additional fire hydrants throughout the city and cover construction costs for improvements in the Victory Gardens and Oakridge subdivisions. According to the application, the improvements in the subdivisions would increase water conservation levels.

Funding would go toward the Old Ranch Road 12 Bike and Pedestrian/Widening Utility Improvements Project occurring between Craddock Avenue and West Holland Street. The loan resolution would provide funding for the replacement of water lines within the infrastructure of North LBJ Drive due to high breakage rates within that area. According to TWDB officials, the city could save approximately $371,000 over the life of the loan by using the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. “(The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund) is an annual funding program that came about in 1997 after the safe drinking water act, so its primary goals are to help in compliance issues related to water,” said Clay Schultz, TWDB revolving fund specialist. “With that goal, I think it’s a good one.”

$ 3 7 1, 0 0 0 in savings over life of loan SENATE

Campus carry moves through Senate, prompts debate By Darcy Sprague NEWS REPORTER @darcy_days Senate Bill 11 is in the fourth of seven stages of becoming a law. The campus carry bill is awaiting a vote from the House of Representatives committee. House Bill 937, which would have permitted concealed carry on university campuses, has been stalled since March 17. SB11 was passed by the Texas

Senate in a 20-11 vote on March 18 after a five-hour debate. Senate Bill 17, which permitted open carry, was amended to clarify the exclusion of university campuses. SB17 was received March 20 by the House. It is awaiting a vote in the House committee. If it passes this stage, it will be voted on by the House and will proceed to the governor for approval. The vote on SB11 was divided along party lines. Three amend-

ments out of 25 were passed. The bill is projected to pass with or without political debate due to its 19 co-authors. Democratic senators Royce West and Rodney Ellis asked the bill’s author, Senator Brian Birdwell, to consider the fiscal policy and the lack of an opt-out policy for public universities. SB11 does not allow public universities to opt out of having guns on campus. Birdwell refuses to consider amending

his bill on either issue. He said SB11 would not cause a serious financial burden to public universities. Birdwell was criticized by Ellis and other democrats for allowing private universities to opt out without permitting the same freedom for public campuses. Birdwell said property ownership is a factor in the bill. Private universities are allowed to opt

See CAMPUS CARRY, Page 2

Last Student Government Senate meeting ‘productive’ By Carlie Porterfield ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @reporterfield Student Government passed five proposals at the last Senate meeting of the semester. The Senate passed SB 2014-2015.08, a bill that will end the three-year Scholarly Travel Activity and Research (S.T.A.R.) Act grant pilot period and establish the program as a permanent service if approved. The program allows students to apply for up to $750 to travel to conferences and exhibitions. According to the bill, the funds are exclusively for students and are never to be used for faculty or staff travel costs. The bill, written by Senator Marissa Parks, healthcare administration junior, is intended to help give students the financial means to conduct research and other academic activities at other institutions. Parks also wrote SB 2014-2015.09, known as the Student Activities Fund Act, a bill authorizing a pilot period for a student activity funding grant for chartered organizations. According to the bill, the trial program will last no more than six months before being officially extended or formalized. Student Government officials passed SR 2014-2015.08, a resolution to establish an email to be sent out to students on their 21st birthdays to encourage them to celebrate responsibly. If possible, the email will include a coupon to a local sponsoring restaurant, said Senator Lindsay Escalante, public administration sophomore, who authored the bill. SR 2014-2015.9, a resolution to encourage cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and first aid education among student organizations, was passed. The resolution, written by Senator Kent Grimes, athletic training junior, will focus on giving instruction to student organization leaders. Grimes said the experience would look good on a resume. “That means something to some companies,” Grimes said. “That could make a difference.” The resolution could create additional jobs on campus, Grimes said. Officials would hire and train local students or community members as class instructors. Student Gover nment of f icials passed SSR 2014-2015.07, a resolution to change the location of an April 13 meeting to the Warren J. Garland room located in the Endzone Complex at Bobcat Stadium. All bills were passed unanimously and most received a warm round of applause from senators upon their approval. This was the last Senate meeting to be led by Student Body Vice President Sean Quiñones, public administration junior. “It’s bittersweet,” Quiñones said. “I’ve really enjoyed leading the Senate meetings. I’ve really learned a lot.” Quiñones, recently accepted into the Honors College, will not return to Student Government. He would have “too much” to do next year between graduating on time, completing a thesis and an internship and applying to graduate school. However, Quiñones is satisfied with his last Senate meeting, calling it “productive.” Last week, Quiñones met with his committee chairs to ensure Student Government “would have these pieces of legislation out” before the end of the semester. “I’m really glad that we could wrap those up,” Quiñones said.


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