TUESDAY
FEBRUARY 10, 2015 VOLUME 104 ISSUE 54 www.UniversityStar.com
Defending the First Amendment since 1911
UNIVERSITY
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
F
facebook.com/universitystar
t @UniversityStar E youtube.com/user/theuniversitystar Go to university star.com
UNIVERSITY
Distance learning program recieves national recognition By Bleah B. Patterson NEWS REPORTER @missbleahp The success of Texas State’s online learning department may be the school’s bestkept secret. Some campus administrators were not aware of an award the department won in November 2014. The university was given the nationally recognized 2014 Effective Practices Award by the Online Learning Consortium, or OLC, for the second year in a row. The OLC awards colleges and universities with “innovative” procedures that maintain the quality of online learning and provide an exceptional student experience, said Joshua Book, assistant director of correspondence studies and course production. Extensive work was needed to change the way online courses are taught and how standards are upheld at the university. Most people probably do not realize how many online courses Texas State offers or how many students take them, Book said. “It’s understandable why a lot of people weren’t aware that we’d won the award,” said Debbie Thorne, associate vice president for academic affairs. “The whole concept is a lot to wrap your head around.” The classroom’s best practices are integrated and improved as online learning expands, Thorne said. Texas State utilizes a faculty self-certification process to ensure quality distance coursework that meets or exceeds regulatory, accreditation, policy and best practice guidelines, according to the university’s criteria for online courses. The system in place during the 20122013 academic year was replaced by a “checklist” certifying the faculty teaching online classes, Book said. “The checklist replaced an earlier, much lengthier form that online and hybrid faculty were required to complete,” Book said. “The new checklist is actually based on and assesses more quality measures than the previously used form.” The Best Practices Checklist is a form for faculty who teach distance education courses to complete that demonstrates qualification to teach online or hybrid courses. The form demonstrates the high quality of the online or hybrid course, Book said. Applying best practices in the classroom to online learning is a goal for the university. Thorne said using good practices in online courses ensures all students, no matter where they take the class, receive the same high-quality education for which the university is recognized. “We have a heritage of good teaching, and we’ve applied what’s been working on the classroom to online learning,” said Matthew Eichler, assistant professor of occupational workforce and leadership studies. Eichler teaches courses including offerings in an exclusively online graduate program. He said the checklist ensures any contacts, links, resources and materials an online student needs are available on the course’s TRACS page. “OLC chose to award Texas State University with a 2014 Effective Practice Award for the implementation of the Best Practices Checklist because the checklist increases faculty satisfaction and is a costeffective and efficient way of improving processes that have to do with online learning at Texas State,” Book said. The checklist is cleaner and less tedious, he said. Students have an effective experience when faculty is not overloaded with procedures. The team hopes students will continue to provide feedback as they use online courses and TRACS because constantly improving distance learning will reflect the high standard of teaching provided on campus.
ANDRES J RODRIGUEZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Tony Zuniga, field service engineer, tests the strength of plastic Feb. 5 at a lab in S.T.A.R. Park.
University requests additional funding for S.T.A.R Park By Rebecca Banks NEWS REPORTER @r_banks13
T
exas State has requested an additional $2.8 million annually for two years for the Science, Technology and Advanced Research (S.T.A.R.) Park from the state’s General Appropriations Act. The university submitted a request for legislative appropriations last summer. The request is one of many “exceptional items” President Denise Trauth will present this month to the Senate Finance and House appropriations committees, said Eugene Bourgeois, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “Universities are allowed to take
forward items that are outside of their normal budget request to the legislature,” said Steve Frayser, executive director at S.T.A.R. Park. “One of the ones we’re taking forward is to add additional funding to further what we’re already doing in material sciences and commercialization.” Frayser said work done at S.T.A.R. Park is not dependent on possible funding from the state’s appropriations act. “We’re asking for the new funding so we can expand the activities and actually formalize this institute,” Bourgeois said. S.T.A.R. Park would hire new staff with the additional funding, he said. Bourgeois said S.T.A.R. Park currently receives research funds from the state as an emerging
research university as well as revenue from outside companies using the equipment and labs at the facility. The state Senate Finance Committee and the House Appropriations Committee will decide whether to include the university’s request for additional funding in the appropriations act given to the governor. Bill Nance, vice president of finance and support services, said university officials will know if the funding request is approved after the legislative session ends on June 20 “S.T.A.R. Park just opened in November 2012, so this would be the first special item appropria-
tion that helped them out,” Nance said. Nance said the additional funding will be available to the university Sept. 1 if the request is approved. S.T.A.R. One is a “business incubator” for technological companies providing whole lab suites, help with management teams, funding and accounting for startups, Frayser said. The facility does not offer any classes. “We’re creating products and processes and services that benefit people,” Frayser said. “So we provide, in this facility, very specialized space for people to be in that’s typically too expensive for a small company to engage with.”
See S.T.A.R. PARK, Page 2
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Former student body president addresses new candidates By Exsar Arguello NEWS REPORTER @Exsar_Misael A former president of then Associated Student Government (ASG) spoke at the Feb. 9 Student Government meeting, offering insight to candidates running in the upcoming election. Dave Horton was ASG president from 1972-1973 and spoke to the cabinet about the differences in Student Government policy between then and now. Horton said the way ASG was run and the issues surrounding the organization were different when he was president.
“I remember we had an issue where certain students had gun racks loaded with weapons on the backs of their trucks, so we had meetings to debate what we were going to do about the issue,” Horton said. “Of course, being in Student Government, no consensus we came up with would affect the outcome of the issues—it was ultimately the school’s decision—but it shows the way issues change throughout the years.” The voting count is low, but spreading the word to friends and fellow students is a positive way to get people involved, he said. A total of 1,019 students voted in the 2014 elections, according to an April 3,
2014 University Star article. This figure represents 2.9 percent of the Texas State student population. Student Government will have a booth in the Quad Feb. 16-17 aimed to introduce candidates running for senatorial and presidential positions. The booth will inform people where to vote and educate them about current Student Government representatives. Lauren Stotler and Abdualrahman Muhialdin will face off for president. Tyler Burton is running unopposed for vice president. Voting opens Feb. 16 and closes Feb. 19. Students can vote in the LBJ Student Center.
LOCAL
City council votes to expand San Marcos airport for further private development By Exsar Arguello NEWS REPORTER @Exsar_Misael San Marcos City Council voted unanimously Feb. 3 to renew its contract with Texas Aviation Partners, LLC to further fund expansion of the San Marcos Regional Airport. The contract between Texas Aviation Partners and San Marcos was renewed at the city council meeting for another five years
of growth. The original contract ended at the beginning of January after five years. The council had to either renew or scrap the project and funding after the original contract expired. Councilman Shane Scott, Place 6, said the budget for the expansion has yet to be drafted, and city council is working to create an affordable plan to help fund the growth. Grants have been applied for to help fund the project as well. “The airport was actually losing money and creating somewhat of
a burden for the city in the past year,” Scott said. “As a pilot I see the airport for what it is, and it has a lot of potential to grow. We are happy that we renewed the contract and really hope the airport can benefit the city in a positive way.” Commercial airlines like Southwest do not currently fly into the city. Only private planes can land at the airport. Scott said commercial flights are not yet needed, and bringing them in would be unreasonable.
“We need longer runways for starters, and to really start a big commercial airport, by law you need a permanent fire department present at all times,” Scott said. “We currently have a lot of wealthy people flying in from Mexico to shop at the outlets here in the city before they fly back home.” The airport does not have United States Customs and Border Protection employees, he said. People flying from other countries
See AIRPORT, Page 2
2 | The University Star | News | Tuesday, February 10, 2015
STATE
S.T.A.R. PARK, from front MicroPower and Quantum Materials Corporation are two of S.T.A.R. One’s five clients. Frayser said MicroPower is working to convert electricity of waste heat from large stationary sources, and Quantum Materials Corp. works with quantum dots used in LED light panels, high-definition televisions and possibly a bio-marker. Frayser said the five clients at S.T.A.R. One pay over $400,000 a year in funded research to the university. “We’ve stepped in a niche that other folks are not addressing right now in Central Texas, and that’s providing lab space for material science and chemistry companies and life science companies,” Frayser said. All companies at S.T.A.R. One are required to have a partnership with the university. Companies must have been formed by Texas State faculty and graduate students or use the university’s equipment along with either group, Bourgeois said. S.T.A.R. One is undergoing building expansion from 14,000 to 36,000 square feet. The expansion will create six additional lab suites, Frayser said. The spaces are in high demand, Frayser said. One is already filled, and the university has received letters of intent regarding three others. “Four of the six will be gone before we even get them done,” Frayser said.
AIRPORT, from front need to stop in San Antonio or other big airports before getting clearance to land in San Marcos due to the airport’s lack of border security. “If the airport had a customs station, then people wouldn’t have to make the extra flight to a bigger city,” said Cassidy Berenato, director of Marketing and Business at Texas Aviation Partners. “This would allow people to arrive in San Marcos and give them the opportunity to dine, sleep and shop in the city, benefiting the overall economy of the city.” The San Marcos establishment is the only place in Texas acting as a “relief airport” for San Antonio or Austin, she said. Flights can land in San Marcos if an emergency occurs in either major city. “Economically, we need to make the airport as cost-effective as possible,” Scott said. “We can’t afford to discourage businesses from flying here, so avoiding unnecessary landing fees is critical.”
Where the good meat is
Electro Purification sparks water war amid drought conditions By Alexa Tavarez SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @lexicanaa The scarcity of water remains at the forefront of county politics as a Houston-based company, Electro Purification (EP), plans to pump an unrivaled amount of water from the Trinity Aquifer. Austin suburbs are facing pressure to accommodate growing demands as a result of an influx of new developments. Buda City Council has already acted on the issue, and voted (6-1) to proceed with a contract with EP to prevent an eminent water shortage come 2017. EP’s well fields are located in a “sweet spot—” a term coined by citizen activists speaking out against its intentions to pump 5 million gallons per day from the Trinity Aquifer to Buda and other Austin suburbs. EP’s well fields are located within the boundaries of the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA), but ultimately dodge being restricted to this jurisdiction because of an overlap of the Trinity and Edwards’ Aquifer, said Brian Smith, hydro-geologist. The Trinity Aquifer is located below the Edwards’ Aquifer in an area just west of Kyle. The state leaves groundwater regulation up to the counties, making EP’s well fields subject to the “rule of capture.” Passed at the beginning of the 19th century, it intended to protect land rights for Texan ranchers and farmers. Many citizens and officials have argued the outdated rule is due for revision. The Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) members discussed taking action to annex the well fields into their jurisdiction two weeks ago. Smith said there isn’t enough data from EP’s test wells to determine possible effects to the water levels of residential wells in the area. “We’d expect some draw down a couple miles away,” Smith said. “This is what has people concerned because it’s a large amount of water.”
According to Buda’s contract with EP, the company plans to pump 5 million gallons per day from the Trinity Aquifer. Several hydro-geologists have expressed uncertainty toward EP’s predictions, including Smith. EP has drilled three trial wells and conducted pump tests in the area. They were not considered official pump tests in terms of “regular procedures” of the BSEACD, Smith said. “The district has special rules to conducting a pump test, and most other regulatory authorities have similar standards,” Smith said. “This is just very limited information.” Some of the data will be collected, despite the “situation” with Electro Purification, he said. “Again, these calculations are based on simplistic ideas of aquifers, and aquifers are almost never that simplistic,” Smith said. The BSEACD ultimately didn’t vote to annex the Trinity well field into their jurisdiction. Buda Councilwoman Angela Kennedy, Place 1, was the only council member who voted against the groundwater contract with EP. The council didn’t have the necessary information to make a decision, and the available data pointed to negative impacts, Kennedy said. “I think they were feeling a time crunch and felt if the city didn’t act, perhaps (Electro Purification) would sell that interest to another party,” Kennedy said. The contract with EP was the city’s fifth option to avoid an eminent water shortage in 2017, said Todd Ruge, Buda Mayor. “It’s no secret that we need water for 2017,” Ruge said in a groundwater meeting held Feb. 5 at the Hays County Government Center. The meeting entertained important officials in groundwater regulation, including the Hays Caldwell Pubic Utility Agency (HCUPA), Hays County Commissioners Court, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) and the Hays
Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD). The HCUPA is currently working on a project to pump water to the city of Buda through a pipeline, Ruge said. The development won’t be completed until 2023, he said. “My hope is we get another water source riding in on a white horse, because we need another option,” Ruge said. A mitigation clause, however, was installed to Buda’s contract with EP to create an opportunity to protect citizens’ private wells, since EP escapes regulation from any groundwater district in the area, said Ross Fischer, Buda city attorney. No concrete solutions seemed to arise after discussion bounced back and forth between officials during the groundwater meeting. Many concerned citizens shifted their hope towards the capitol and more specifically State Representative Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, who was present at the groundwater meeting. Isaac is working on five house bills to register for floor debate during the ongoing 84th legislative session. One of Isaac’s solutions allows for creating incentive for using rainwater collection methods. “Currently, the state does not charge sale tax on the purchase of rainwater collection systems, so there’s already one incentive,” Isaac said. Isaac’s other solutions include expanding the use of greywater, a legal term for wastewater from bathroom sinks, showers, tubs and washing machines, for residential use. It also includes a projection of 15-20 percent increase in home appraisals with the installment of rainwater collection systems. “I’ll end my (public comment) by thanking EP for coming into our region and bringing all of our attention to a problem that desperately needs to be addressed,” said Nancy Weaver, Driftwood resident. “They’ve done their work, they can go home now.”
My hope is we get another water source riding in on a white horse, because we need another option.” —Todd Ruge, Buda mayor
The University Star Cordially Invites You To Announce Your Wedding in
Are you getting married and want to tell the world?
The University Star would like to feature your wedding announcement in our Bridal Issue February 24, 2015. The deadline to submit couples’ information is Februaury 19 at noon. Information can be submitted online at Universitystar.com or in our office located in the Trinity building.
The University Star | Tuesday, February 10, 2015 | 3
LIFESTYLE
UniversityStar.com
Faculty jazz performance honors Eddie Durham By Denise Cervantes SPECIAL TO THE STAR @cervantesdenise Texas State’s School of Music celebrated the work of San Marcos native, jazz composer, arranger and instrumentalist Eddie Durham Feb. 6 in Evans Auditorium. The event featured famous performers such as Doug Lawrence, Count Basie Orchestra saxophonist, and Dan Morgenstern, the National Education Association Jazz Master and Grammy awardwinning writer. Texas State faculty and alumni were featured in the performance. The musicians dove into the first of Durham’s songs with no hesitation. Lawrence led the band, and the smirk on his face emphasized the group’s strong entrance. The band performed songs by Durham including “Every Tub,” “Topsy” and “Moten Swing.” Morgenstern shared clips of
Durham’s music and expressed his high regard for the musician. Morgenstern is not a jazz musician, but he demonstrated passion for the music by snapping his fingers and miming playing the trumpet while listening to Durham’s clips. Morgenstern said he is known for his music journalism, specifically covering jazz. He considers himself more of an advocate than a critic. “I’m a child of the swing era,” Morgenstern said. “When people first come to New York, they want to see the Empire State Building, but I wanted to see 52nd Street.” Shortly after speaking, Morgenstern was brought back onstage by Thomas Clark, director of the School of Music. Clark presented him with a plaque recognizing his long, outstanding career. The plaque named Morgenstern as the Distinguished Jazz Laureate of the Texas State School of Music. Faculty had multiple shining
moments during the festival. Vocalist Christin Foley was featured on songs such as “I’m Gonna Live Till I Die.” Her voice carried through the auditorium. Butch Miles, faculty member and drummer, was the epitome of a musician having a great time on stage. Lawrence took a moment during the performance to say it was an honor to play with Miles. Each performer seemed to be bursting with energy. They nodded their heads to the rhythms of the music. “It was really good,” said Marchelle Fowler, social work freshman. “The drummer was amazing. He just put on a show. He made the show what it was. The whole thing was really wonderful.” The performers played to a full house. There were claps and cheers after each song. Lawrence said the best moment he experienced while performing was playing with the “great band” during the festival. “It was a wonderful audience,” Lawrence said. “Playing with this particular group of musicians really inspired me and the teachers and the people, and the staff at Texas State really inspire me.”
ANDRES J RODRIGUEZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Russell Scanlon, Daniel Durham and Butch Miles perform Feb. 6 during the Eddie Durham Celebration at Evans Liberal Arts Auditorium.
Echoes Acapella gains official status with university By Kara Dornes LIFESTYLE REPORTER @KaraDornes
ANDRES J RODRIGUEZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Doug Lawrence plays the saxophone Feb. 6 at the Eddie Durham Celebration in Evans Liberal Arts Auditorium.
Echoes Acapella is a Texas State organization known for singing without accompaniment and entertainment qualities. The Echoes began on campus in 2013 and became an official Texas State organization in 2014. Shannon Ingrassia-Murphy, theatre sophomore, is the founder of the group. “I founded it last year, my freshman year of college, and this is our first official year,” Ingrassia-Murphy said. “We don’t compete yet, but we are going to start competing next fall.” Ingrassia-Murphy said the entire organization is student-led. Everything the Echoes have accomplished so far has been through the process of trial and error, she said. “We are a very diverse group,” Ingrassia-Murphy said. “We have all different types of voices
and song choices. We try to be as diverse as we possibly can, though sometimes our gigs ask us to sing specific songs and we try to comply with them.” Other students have found the organization and taken a liking to the idea of an acapella group on campus that is not strictly comprised of music majors. “They were in the quad with their booth set up, and I walked over there and found out what they were all about,” said Thomas Yancey, public relations and mass communication freshman. “I was in choir in high school, so it drew me toward it, and I went to the audition and the callback process, and I ended up making it.” Yancey said the Echoes have rehearsals a few times a week. He enjoys that they get to make music with their voices. Singers add their own spin to the music. “It is really cool,” Yancey said. “I love all the people in the Echoes. We all really mesh together, and that was one of the things I was nervous about
because I didn’t really know anyone, but everyone is really caring and loving, and we are like one big family.” Jefferson Alegria, healthcare administration sophomore, was one of the first students to join the group. “Shannon was the one that started it, and I was in the same class as her, and she knew that I had music background, and she came to me saying she wanted to start this group, and I was all for it,” Alegria said. Alegria said once IngrassiaMurphy started the group he attended auditions. Originally the group was not sponsored by Texas State, Yancey said. It began as a group of students getting together to sing, but in spring 2014 the Echoes started the process of becoming a sponsored organization and have since reached that goal. “Everyone is really talented, and our songs come very easy to us,” Alegria said.
Sunset Bowling Lanes continues as San Marcos tradition By Denise Cervantes SPECIAL TO THE STAR @Cervantesdenise The Sunset Bowling Lanes should be familiar to anyone in San Marcos, whether a newcomer or a native. The bowling alley opened in 1959 and is still attracting customers today, said Gary Gilbert, ower. The business experienced substantial growth throughout the years. The father of Gilbert opened the bowling alley with only eight lanes. Four lanes were added in 1964 and four more in 1968. The alley now has a total of 16 lanes. Sunset Bowling Lanes holds history for the Gilberts.
Gilbert said he met his wife, Mary, at the alley in 1976. Both attended Southwest Texas State at the time. Gilbert said he noticed his wife one day as she was taking a class there and saw another bowler was playing a prank on her. Gilbert’s wife was asked to throw her bowling ball at the same time as another player and went along with the prank. “They got up there and he threw his real fast, so his went through and made the rake come down, and she hit the rake.” Gilbert said. “And all I saw was her standing there with the rake being hit, so I had to go fuss at her, and then the next day she came up to me and said, ‘Hey, my roommate is throwing a
party. Wanna come?’” Their relationship flourished, and they have now been married for 37 years. The Gilberts now have four children, each of whom has been a part of the Sunset Lanes history. Gilbert said he had two opportunities to expand the alley or have different locations, but neither was in his “best interest.” For now, the only location is in San Marcos. “This is a fun place,” said David Pendergraft, owner of JD’s Bowling Pro Shop. “It is a lot of fun, and it is good family fun.” Mason Puckett, criminal justice sophomore, said he enjoys the environment of the home-
DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Gary Gilbert, owner of Sunset Bowling Lanes, poses Feb 1. at the alley.
town bowling alley. “It is really mellow,” Puckett said. “It captures the essence of a small town like San Marcos, and I really like that.” The alley has friendly ties with Texas State. Sunset Bowling Lanes has collaborated with Bobcat Pride, an LGBTQIA campus organization, to form a league. The alley currently has a total of 10 leagues. Gilbert said he plays in four of the leagues, and his wife bowls in two. Sunset Lanes offers classes for Personal Fitness and Wellness
(PFW) credit for Texas State students. One of the Gilberts’ daughters is an instructor for the class. “Everybody there is pretty laid back,” said Colin Latimer, exploratory sophomore. “The teacher is very laid back. I wouldn’t say I would stop bowling after the class is over.” The alley features college nights every Monday, which cost $1 per game. “If I had the money and time, I would definitely go there for recreational purposes,” Puckett said.
4 | The University Star | Tuesday, February 10, 2015
OPINIONS
UniversityStar.com
THE MAIN POINT
Rideshare legislation must be introduced to suit community’s needs T RYAN JEANES STAR ILLUSTRATOR
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 Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State University.
he city should alter current rideshare legislation in order to permit companies like Uber and Lyft to operate in San Marcos. According to a Feb. 3 University Star article, the current ordinances are written for taxicab companies, and city council members want to make sure any changes made will include fair treatment for businesses already operating. The companies working in the city, including Aloha Taxi, are known for being unreliable and often over-priced, but it’s nice that the city is looking out for them. Rideshare programs like Uber and Lyft are cheap, reliable and make sense for college students and San Martians. Uber and Lyft have made it easier than ever before to get people where they need to go by utilizing the popularity of social media and technology. Users do not have to worry about taxi lines being tied when calling in or reservations being misplaced. These new age rideshare programs are as reliable as their users’ cell phone signals. Welcoming start-ups to set up base in San Marcos is a good move for the city’s economy. As the city and population grow, attracting the right kinds of business to the area will only improve things. The addition of Uber or Lyft will increase jobs in the city as well. Anyone looking
for an easy job with flexible hours and decent pay can try their hand at being an Uber or Lyft driver. Those concerned about the safety and comfort provided by these drivers should not spend too much time worrying. There is a screening process for drivers, which includes a background check and car safety inspection for operators. If the car arrives and the person who requested it feels uncomfortable with the person driving, they can cancel it right then and there - no questions asked. Companies like Uber and Lyft are also cheaper to use than local taxi companies such as Aloha. A ride from the university campus to South Congress in Austin costs anywhere from $65 to $120 using Aloha and $43 to $58 using Uber. These companies are a good option for students because instead of worrying about paying with cash, users can pay with their credit or debit cards through the app. There are specific times rates for Uber that will be higher during the weekends or New Year’s Eve. However, a section with any rate increases and the reasons for them is usually included as part of the ordering process. Being a student or local resident without a car can often be irksome when it comes to getting errands done. Utilizing apps like Uber and Lyft makes it easier for people in need to get places without breaking the bank.
ANIMALS
Declawing cats inhumane, should be banned in the U.S.
Kristen Peek OPINIONS COLUMNIST @kirsten_peek
T
he United States government should ban declawing due to the inhumane nature of the procedure. Onychectomy, commonly known as declawing, is an inhumane and counterproductive mutilation thousands of cats undergo
each year in the U.S. Contrary to popular belief, declawing a cat does not mean simply trimming the nails or removing the claws. It is actually an amputation of the last joint in the paw. Front-declawing alone involves 10 individual bone amputations. According to The Humane Society of the United States, this mutilation can result in nerve damage, bone spurs and back pain. Cats who have been declawed are likely to develop litter box aversion issues. Months after surgery, they may still experience pain from the amputations. Cats will often associate their litter box with pain because they drag their paws through it while using it, irritating the surgery site. Declawed cats are also more likely to bite, as they can no longer
rely on their claws if they feel the need to defend themselves. Deep puncture wounds are more of a health hazard than superficial scratches. If a cat is being aggressive with its claws and the owner removes them, they still have an aggressive cat, just one that will now bite instead of scratch. “Declawing sends more cats into the shelter than any scratching issue due to the negative behaviors declawing can cause,” said Heather Dalby, office manager of PAWS Shelter of Central Texas. “Inappropriate urination and biting is a big reason declawed cats end up in shelters.” PAWS Shelter of Central Texas is one of the many shelters in the area that will not adopt out to people who plan to declaw their cats.
Many children grow up in homes with declawed cats and thus are conditioned to accept this radical procedure. After all, their veterinarian recommended it. The operation takes a short amount of time to perform and can cost up to $500. It must be recognized that while veterinarians usually make recommendations in the best interest of their patients, in the case of declawing, money is a major motivation. The animal welfare community has not always frowned upon declawing, as it has taken years for all of the negative side effects of declawing to become apparent. Many veterinarians now refuse to perform the procedure, and cities in California have banned declawing altogether, including Los
Angeles and San Francisco. “We know now that declawing has terrible side effects in addition to being extremely painful,” Dalby said. “It’s well known among goodpractice veterinary and shelter circles in the United States that declawing is inhumane.” If a pet is exhibiting behavioral problems, the owner should take steps to solve them. The solution should never be voluntary amputation. Scratching issues can often be solved through proper training or a visit to a cat behaviorist to get to the root of the problem. The United States should take a step forward in animal welfare standards and ban declawing. —Kirsten Peek is a journalism senior
SATIRE
SAFETY
Teachers should not be granted Student Government candidacy use of deadly force on campus ideal for slackers, resume builders
Bryant Trevino SPECIAL TO THE STAR @BryanWithATee
E
ven in light of recent concerns about excessive force by authorities, Dan Flynn, state representative for District 2, introduced a new bill this month aiming to provide teachers with use of deadly force on school grounds. Flynn authored House Bill 868, a bill justifying educators’ use of “deadly force” to defend themselves on school property, a school bus or at a schoolsponsored event. The bill also grants “civil immunity” to those who employ the use of aforementioned deadly force. In short, the bill affords educators who feel they, another or the campus itself is being physically threatened, the right to attack and kill the person threatening them without fear of legal repercussions. In 2013, the state of Texas passed the Protection of Children Act, which allows Texas educators with concealed handgun licensing (CHL) to carry a concealed gun on school grounds. Furthermore, according to Paul Tapp,
Association of Texas Professional Educators managing attorney, educators in Texas have some legal protections allowing them to use reasonable physical force to defend themselves and their students. Seeing as Texas educators are already granted basic legal protections for themselves and students, the implementation of the Teacher’s Protection Act does not seem at all merited. Allowing educators and other members of the faculty full rights to kill anyone they believe to be a threat is a terrifying notion. The bill itself is vague and does not clarify or define what should be deemed a necessary case. It instead states the educator holds the right to decide when deadly force is warranted. Allowing so much room for interpretation just opens the doors for misuse, especially toward students of color. According to a census done by a collection of civil rights organizations, minority students already face a higher rate of disciplinary action than others. It would be ignorant to think these numbers won’t reflect the same way when it comes to the mortality rate as a result of this bill. The amount of protection granted to educators and faculty members is already at a reasonable point. Teachers should have a reason to fear the risks of harming a student. Removing those risks and granting them full immunity takes away fear and leaves more room for corruption. —Bryant Trevino is a journalism Junior
The University Star Interim Editor-in-Chief...................................Nicole Barrios, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor....................Cameron Cutshall, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters................................................................................universitystar@txstate.edu News Editor..............................................Kelsey Bradshaw, starnews@txstate.edu Lifestyle Editor..........................................Britton Richter, starlifestyle@txstate.edu Opinions Editor.......................................Imani McGarrell, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor...........................................Madelynne Scales, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor........................................... Quixem Ramirez, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief.....................................Sam Hankins, starcopychief@txstate.edu
Imani McGarrell OPINIONS EDITOR @ImaniMCG
S
tudents should take advantage of the general insignificance of the university’s Student Government and run for a position next voting cycle. Filing for the spring 2015 round of elections in Student Government is now closed, but if students are concerned they missed their opportunity, they need not worry. The ineffective and generally irrelevant train will be coming around again next year at the same time and place. The level of apathy the student body at this school has for its student governing body is so distressing it’s become rather amusing. According to an April 3, 2014 University Star article, 2.9 percent of the student body
voted in last year’s elections, and 3.3 percent voted the year before. Those numbers are every indication of just how much Student Government influences campus operations. Less than 3 percent of the school can even bother to vote on who is supposedly running them and making changes on their behalf. Most everyone knows activities are an important component of building an impressive resume to get jobs after college. Although the Student Government here is shockingly impotent, having a position will look good on a resume. A mild amount of campaigning and some creative resume wording will get students a decent resume filler. It’s not like there’s much actual work that gets done once elected, so no worries there. The upsetting thing about the lackluster Student Government is that when they really want to, SG can make real changes for the school. I’ve been a Bobcat for three years now, and the only notable thing these elected representatives have done is get Dr. Pepper back on campus. While I appreciate no longer being subjected to the hell that is Mr. Pibb,
I hardly think the student body was really and truly impacted by trading in one sugary soda for another. Those who may attempt to dismiss my arguments as the ramblings of a hater should simply pay attention this round of elections. There are exactly three people running in the upcoming Student Government race, and it’s not like students, staff or faculty have any high expectations for the people who win, so students may as well go for it. At the worst, the president gets a red parking pass and their picture on a website. The only thing under the achievements tab for the 2013 Student Government is a reorganization of its own program. Until Student Government once again proves its significance or relevance, people on this campus will continue to ignore them. While that continues to happen, students looking for something low-key to add to their resumes may as well run for positions and see what happens. At the best, it’s a decent resume filler, and at worst, you’ll now be in student government. —Imani McGarrell is a journalism junior 601 University Drive Trinity Building, Room 101 San Marcos, TX 78666
Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708
Design Editor...........................................Lauren Huston, stardesign@txstate.edu Assistant News Editor...................Carlie Porterfield, starasstnews@txstate.edu Account Executive............................................Hanna Katz, starad2@txstate.edu Account Executive.................................Morgan Knowles, starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive....................................Jamie Beckham, starad5@txstate.edu Media Specialist.......................................... Chris Salazar, c.salazar@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator...............................Kelsey Nuckolls, kjn16@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator........................................Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu Publications Director...........................Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu
The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the spring and fall and every other Wednesday in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright Tuesday, February 10, 2015. 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. The first five issues of each edition of the paper are free. Additional copies of the paper can be purchased at 50¢ per copy. Contact The University Star office at (512) 245-3487 to purchase additional copies.
Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com
The University Star | Opinions | Tuesday, February 10, 2015 | 5
BLACK In honor of Black History Month, the Opinions section will spotlight a column written by one of The University Star's black staff members in each issue. The University Star hopes to showcase a variety of perspectives in the series dedicated to bringing issues in the black community to light.
MN OLU
IVERSITY STAR C A UN
HISTOR Y MON
TH
2015
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Appropriation of black music increasingly problematic
Brandon Sams ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR @TheBrandonSams
T
he appropriation of black music has led to a cultural disappearing act of the influences in some of the most poetic and popular genres worldwide. The Afro-American experience has delicately crafted many of the sounds of music people enjoy today. From blues to rock n’ roll, the pain and sorrow of the black experience in America has planted the seeds for many genres of music to flourish. Unfortunately, the op-
pressive black experience in America also made these genres vulnerable to misuse and appropriation. The openness of these musical interpretations allowed for them to be co-opted, annexed, bastardized, repackaged and commercialized into digestible and acceptable forms for mainstream (aka white) consumption. A seemingly ingenious plan if I do say so myself. Taking from a vulnerable, oppressed minority, placing their stamp of approval and aesthetic on it, then profiting off the “unique” and “innovative” sounds. In recent years this kind of cultural smudging has been a topic of debate regarding Australian “rapper” Iggy Azalea. Azalea has been criticized for her lack of honesty and her cultural and verbal donning of blackface. At her base, she is an Australianaccented white woman putting on a southern
African-American accent in order to rap her catchy tunes. Combine Azalea’s “blaccent” with the full lips and the fake curvaceous body and you have a black aesthetic, a black sound and an all-around black mimicry beautifully wrapped into an easily-digestible white female body. The result is instant mainstream success regardless of the mediocrity. The same kind of applause for mediocrity can be applied to the music industry’s recent love affair with British soul singer Sam Smith. Smith is a fine lyricist and vocalist but a lackluster and typical soul performer and songwriter. There are dozens of ‘Sam Smiths’ in the R&B and soul world. These other soul singers have to be amazingly exceptional to even get an ounce of mainstream acknowledgement. Smith, on the other hand, only has to be white. Much like Azalea, the talent level is an after-
thought. He is a talent nonetheless, but he is far from a unique talent or even the top talent in his chosen genre. It is important to understand that the issue does not present itself because these white artists choose to partake in historically and largely black genres of music. The issue arises when these mediocre talents, largely influenced by black sounds, are rewarded and exalted at the expense of black artists. Culture vultures like Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Sam Smith and Iggy Azalea are heralded as revolutionary artists. I claim them to be reductive. What those appropriators have done has already been done, often much better, by people who just so happen to not be white. In a country that idolizes and upholds white supremacy and white privilege, being non-white serves as a major disadvantage. Essentially, audiences want black sounds without
black people. They love the genres, the emotion and the music. However, it can only be largely embraced with the implementation of white faces. This phenomenon serves as a smaller world within the greater American society, society which loves black culture but more or less hates black people. This sensation is cognitive dissonance at its finest. Black people have created subcultures in music before they were smudged out of their own creations, so surely they will do it again. In the next 10 years or so, people can expect another genre of music to spring from the black experience. Then blacks can expect it to be appropriated and bastardized not too long after. Rinse and repeat. —Brandon Sams is a journalism sophomore
Voted BEST Pizza in San Marcos 2014
$20 pitcher and pie 2-4:45 and 10-close 700 North LBJ Drive #107
6 | The University Star | Tuesday, February 10, 2015
SPORTS
UniversityStar.com
SOFTBALL
BOBCATS LOSE TO NORTHERN ILLINOIS IN FINAL GAME OF TOURNAMENT By Donavan Jackson SPORTS REPORTER @djack_02 Coach Ricci Woodard said she learned a number of things about her team after finishing 3-2 in the Hampton Inn & Suites Tournament. “One—we need to keep it about the team, and sometimes that can be hard for a freshman or sophomore to understand,” Woodard said. “And we need to figure out how to piece together seven innings to win a ball game.” Texas State’s three runs in the 8-3 loss to Northern Illinois occurred on a three-run homer from Sara Rupp, freshman catcher, in the second inning. Rupp was looking for a pitch hit and focused on getting the players in scoring positions when she hit the first home run of her collegiate career. Huskies senior pitcher, Jessica Sturm, did not give up a run for the remainder of the game. Texas State had seven hits and a season-high 10 runners left on base. The Huskies offense tallied two home runs, two doubles and one triple in the third start of the season for Randi Rupp, freshman pitcher. Northern Illinois was led by sophomore first baseman Kayti Grable and senior outfielder Bryanna Phelan. Grable went three for three with one home run and three runs batted in. Phelan had
three hits with one triple and one double. Randi finished her first collegiate tournament with 26 innings pitched, 34 strikeouts and 32 hits allowed. “For one I’ve got to attack early, and when I do attack I need to keep the ball low or they’re going to send my ball over the fence,” Randi said. “But also I’ve got to keep throwing in the zone and remind myself continuously that there’s a great defense behind me. I don't have to strike everybody out.” Ariel Ortiz, freshman shortstop, had two hits at the plate with one double and two walks. Ortiz, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, finished the weekend with 11 hits, seven runs batted in, five doubles, three home runs and one triple. She is averaging 1.59 total per bases per at bat this season. “She’s an exceptional ball player (Ortiz),” Woodard said. “She’s going to get better and better. I told her today that the bad thing for her is that now the target is on her back. She’s either going to see no pitching or have to work in the zone. I love the kid to death. She works hard and gets after it every single pitch of the game.” Woodard emphasizes sticking with the game plan and increasing aggression in practice heading into next week’s tournament. The Bobcats will host Texas Tech, UTSA and Grand Canyon in the CenturyLink Classic.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
NOTEBOOK: ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK 69, TEXAS STATE 61 By Sabrina Flores SPORTS REPORTER @SabrinaFloresTX
WHAT THE LOSS MEANS
It is crunch time for the Texas State men’s basketball team. Things were starting to look up for the Bobcats after a statement road win against South Alabama. The Bobcats are currently in seventh place in the Sun Belt Conference standings. With the recent 69-61 loss to UALR, the last place team in the conference, Texas State has
Trojans’ defense. Emani Gant, junior forward, tied the game at 38 with 13:59 remaining. Gant had the opportunity to put the Bobcats on top but failed to make a free throw. ArkansasLittle Rock’s offense rallied for the remainder of the game.
SPOTLIGHT PLAYER
Emani Gant, junior forward. Gant began the second half making some key shots in the paint. He carried the Bobcat offense, bringing the game to a
The Bobcats showed resilience as a team to make a comeback midway through the second half. D.J. Brown, senior guard, scored 11 points after a quiet first half performance. The Bobcats outscored Arkansas-Little Rock in the second half 38 to 37, but they dug themselves into a hole with their poor offensive performance in the first half.
BAD
Rebounding. Texas State was out-rebounded by the Trojans. Arkansas-Little Rock is one of the least productive rebounding teams in the Sun Belt Conference. Coach Danny Kaspar stressed to his players that offensive rebounds would be a key to beating the Trojans. The Bobcats focused on boxing out their opponents this past week but were still outrebounded by 17 on the Texas State side of the court.
UGLY
Shooting. Texas State’s shooting has been inconsistent all season. The Bobcats made eight out of 25 shots in the first half. The team improved to 39.3 percent shooting in the second half, finishing the game with 19 field goals on 53 attempts. Texas State has not shot over 40 percent from the field in nine of 13 conference games played this season.
WHAT THEY SAID STAR FILE PHOTO
to consider its remaining matchups as must-win games.
TURNING POINT STAR FILE PHOTO
Texas State started the second half with a chip on its shoulder by taking advantage of the
tie. Gant scored seven rebounds and nine of his 14 points in the second half.
GOOD
Team persistence.
“We did not come ready to play,” Kaspar said. “I was very disappointed in our team’s intensity the first half. We need to realize where we are at in the standings and play every game like it might be our last.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Texas State hosts UT-Arlington, who defeated the Bobcats 66-55 in their previous matchup.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
NOTEBOOK: ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK 70, TEXAS STATE 43 By Quixem Ramirez Sports Editor @quixem
WHAT THE LOSS MEANS
The Texas State women’s basketball team is tied with Troy for third place in the Sun Belt Conference. Tournament ranking remains in the rearview mirror, but clinching the third seed would allow Texas State to avoid Arkansas-Little Rock until the championship. The Trojans have beaten the Bobcats by a combined 47 points in two matchups this year.
TURNING POINT:
Five minutes left in the first half. Texas State was trailing by three
points until the five-minute mark in the first half. Then Arkansas-Little Rock turned the tables quickly and never looked back. The Trojans’ lead jumped from three to 10 points in a span of 10 minutes.
RESPONDING TO LOSSES
Coach Zenarae Antoine has referred to the “snowball effect,” which occurs when the team allows a few negative outcomes to turn into more. Texas State has responded well after losses this season. The Bobcats have not lost consecutive matchups since Jan. 8, and their longest losing streak is two games.
SPOTLIGHT PLAYER:
Ericka May, freshman guard
There were not many players to spotlight in this game. No Bobcats reached double figures in points. Erin Peoples, junior guard, led the team with seven points but needed 10 shot attempts to reach that mark. Ayriel Anderson, junior guard, had six points and three assists. Taeler Deer, freshman guard, missed seven of eight shots. Ericka May stands out because of her per-minute efficiency. She tallied six points and four rebounds in 20 minutes.
GOOD:
It was just one game. Texas State has built enough of a cushion to withstand one blowout loss. Antoine said the loss does not define the season. The Bobcats have
seven games remaining in the season before the conference tournament. That is enough time to create some momentum.
BAD:
Second half defense. Allowing 39 points in the second half is not a good sign, especially for a team that ranks fourth in the conference in scoring defense. The Bobcats held Trojans senior guard Taylor Gault to six points on six shots, but they did not contain the rest of the team. Four Trojans in addition to Gault scored five or more points in the half.
UGLY:
The Bobcats missed 29 of 35 shots in the second half, a 17.1 shooting percentage. Injuries to Anderson and Meghan Braeuer, senior guard, contributed to the Bobcats’ shooting woes because they lacked a consistent shot creator. Antoine went to Whitney Apari (freshman forward), Ti’Aira Pitts (freshman forward) and Kindell Texada (sophomore guard) a trio that averages a combined 16.2 minutes per game, to fill the playing time.
WHAT’S NEXT
Texas State will host UT-Arlington, which the Bobcats defeated in their last matchup. Antoine said the 60-53 road win was “huge.”
Second half shooting
E X A M I N I N G T H E I M PA C T O F
DIVERSITY IN BUSINESS advising.mccoy.txstate.edu/leadershipweek
SAVE THE DATE
FEB
16 19
2015
The University Star | Sports | Tuesday, February 10, 2015 | 7
BASEBALL
ATHLETICS RETIRES PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT JERSEY By Matt Gurevitz SPORTS REPORTER @Matt_Gurevitz Paul Goldschmidt, 27, is the first Texas State player to appear in a Major League Baseball game. Now he is the first Texas State baseball player to have his jersey retired. Goldschmidt, drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009, is the fifth Texas State athlete to have his jersey retired. The other former Bobcats to
have their number retired are men’s basketball players Vernon McDonald, Jeff Foster and Lewis Gilcrease along with women’s basketball player Linda Muelker. Goldschmidt is the fastest player in Texas State history to have his jersey retired. “I was totally shocked,” Goldschmidt said. “I had no idea they were going to do any of that. There’s been a ton of great players here. I’m glad to be a part of the legacy here.” Coach Ty Harrington, President
Denise M. Trauth and director of athletics Larry Teis announced Goldschmidt’s jersey retirement at the Texas State baseball annual lead-off dinner Saturday. The program will build a memorial near Bobcat Park to celebrate Goldschmidt’s career. “Coach Harrington is just a great role model, great baseball coach, great person, great father—everything,” Goldschmidt said. “To have his praise is huge. It’s an honor.” Goldschmidt was a first basemen for the Bobcats from 2007-
2009, winning the Southland championship during his junior year in 2009. The victory was the team’s first of three consecutive championships. Goldschmidt is Texas State’s all-time leader in home runs (36) and runs batted in (179) and second in total bases (369). He set season records in runs batted in and walks. Goldschmidt hit his first career home run at AT&T Park in San Francisco off of Tim Lincecum, a two-time Cy Young winner. Gold-
schmidt finished second behind Andrew McCutchen in National Most Valuable Player votes in 2013. “We had a lot of great moments together,” Harrington said. “Probably my most memorable moment is when we won our first championship in 2009. We were tied going into the last inning, and Paul led off the inning with a double, and later he was driven in to score the championship-winning run. That was our first championship, and it was a great moment for Paul and I.”
FOOTBALL
BOBCATS INTRODUCE 2015 RECRUITING CLASS By Quixem Ramirez SPORTS EDITOR @quixem The Texas State football team signed 25 players to a letter of intent Wednesday, marking the first time in Coach Dennis Franchione’s tenure when he has recruited the entire team. “Signing day is always a big day, a fun day, a culmination of a lot of work,” Franchione said. “There’s nothing particularly scientific about signing day.” Texas State signed seven three-star recruits, according to 247sports, which is affiliated with CBS Sports. The 2015 recruiting class is ranked sixth in the Sun Belt Conference. Franchione said recruiting is not solved with a rating system. He pointed out no five-star recruits started in this year’s Super Bowl. Franchione said the recruiting formula requires evaluation and development to help a player reach his potential. “I don’t put much stock in all of that,” Franchione said. “The rankings are not based on what they are going to do for you and how they are going to do. It’s nice that we are ranked pretty high, but that’s not my biggest concern. My biggest concern is signing players that can be successful.” Franchione assessed his team’s needs before signing players while looking
at height, weight, speed and strength numbers. The research process, Franchione said, includes school, program, facilities and academic information in addition to measurements. Franchione said the team covered every position this year. Cornerback, safety and wide receiver are “pivotal” for the 2016 recruiting class. The biggest shift in Texas State’s recruiting occurred in the junior college department. Franchione relied on junior college players when Texas State was becoming a Division I football program. C.J. Best, who finished with 681 yards from scrimmage last year, was among the junior college recruits. This year the team signed five junior college players, down from nine last year and 10 in 2013. The new figure means increased stability, which allows Franchione to sustain a winning program for a longer period of time. Franchione targets between two and seven junior college players each year. “We needed the junior college guy,” Franchione said. “We’ve finally gotten to the point with more stability in our classes. As a result of that, we can cut back on recruiting junior college players.” Texas State bolstered its quarterback core with the addition of L.G. Williams, a three-star recruit from Steele High School.
Franchione said he is “fired up” about Williams, even with Tyler Jones, sophomore quarterback, returning as the incumbent. Williams was named the District 25-6A Offensive MVP with 2,814 yards and 33 touchdowns last year. Williams won 39 of 44 games as a high school starter. Franchione prioritizes winning players because they know the effort required to succeed at the highest level. Kwamane Bowens, a transfer from Butler County Community College, and Justin Gamble round out the Bobcats’ skill positions. Bowens and Gamble received three-star ratings from 247 Sports. Texas State recruited Easy Anyama, a track and field transfer from Texas, when he was a high school senior. Anyama moves to the defensive side, where he will play linebacker or safety. “We have some guys that I think can be pretty explosive when they come along,” Franchione said. Texas State will lose David Mayo, who led the team in tackles. Mayo, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, averaged 12.8 tackles per game, the second-highest mark in Division I football. The Bobcats added five linebackers to replace Mayo, including three-star recruit Bo Anderson from Coppell, Texas. “We may need all five of them to
replace David Mayo,” Franchione said. “That was a pretty special guy.” For Franchione, recruiting comes down to personal preference. “We call it OKG—our kind of guy,” Franchione said. “That’s what we are looking for. That’s the great thing about recruiting. You get to make your choices, and the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We look for the OKG’s.” The Texas State brand has expanded after two seasons in the FBS. The Bobcats became the fastest team in Division I history to achieve bowl eligibility. The team was not selected to a bowl game in either season. “Recruiting is never easy because you’re always trying to climb a notch,” Franchione said. “We are identified as a FBS program now. We have a profile, a personality. That took a little while to obtain.” Franchione said Louisiana-Lafayette remains the standard for the Sun Belt Conference. The Ragin’ Cajuns’ recruiting class ranks second in the conference, with 11 three-star recruits. Texas State is aiming to close that gap with each season. “We want good players, and I think we are getting closer to that,” Franchione said. “We want to compete at the highest level, and we gotta get guys who can do that. We can get in some doors that we couldn’t get into three years ago.”
NOW HIRING!
WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A YOUNG PERSON’S LIFE?
NOW HIRING DIRECT CARE STAFF Evening (2-10), night (10-6), and weekend shifts available Must be 21 years of age & High School Graduate
VISIT www.sanmarcostc.com TO APPLY 120 Bert Brown Road San Marcos 512-754-3206
classifieds HELP WANTED Tutors wanted for all subjects taught at Texas State.
er service oriented persons apply in person or download application at www. WildlifeRanchTexas.com.
Pay starts at $10/hr. Apply online at 99TUTORS.COM PART-TIME FRONT or call 512-354-7656. DESK CLERK WANTED for evening or night. DuNEED A TUTOR? Friend- ties: answering phones, ly, helpful, one-on-one reservations, guest sertutoring for all subjects vices. Math and Sales skills taught at Texas State. necessary. Need computer literate, enthusiastic person. Apply online at 99TUMust be willing to do some TORS.COM or call 512motel laundry. We have a 354-7656. non-smoking work place. Apply in person at AmeriPRELEASE 8/20/2015 cas Best Value Inn, 15101 $860. 2BD/2.5BA townIH 35 (Exit 220), Buda, TX house 1,000 sq.ft., 3 blocks 78610. Mention Ad and ask from TxState, small, clean for Harry & quiet community. Free HBO, Full size W/D. STUDENT SALES REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED. www.windmilltownhomes. com or (512) 396-4181, Screen printing needs part leave message. time sales person. NATURAL BRIDGE WILDLIFE RANCH is hiring for P/T and Seasonal positions in our Restaurant and Visitor Center. Custom-
Flexible hours. Respond to info@teedshirts.com. KUNGFUSANMARCOS. COM
The Student Publications Board of the Texas State School of Journalism and Mass Communication is conducting an all-campus open petitioning process to select a student as Editor-in-Chief of The University Star. Term begins one week following the final issue of 2015 Spring Semester publication schedule. Applicants must be available to serve the entire term of the appointment. Each applicant is asked to complete a written petition, which is subsequently screened by members of the student publications board. The board will interview qualified candidates for the position. The student publications board includes the journalism sequence coordinator in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, the assistant director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and a member of the print medium who is selected by the director of student publications. The director of student publications and the current editor-in-chief serve as ex officio members for the committee.
Minimum Qualifications To qualify, applicants must be enrolled in at least nine hours each semester during the term of office. Students graduating in the final semester of the appointment (Spring Semester 2016) may be enrolled in fewer hours as long as they meet graduation requirements. Applicants must have worked in a professional editorial environment, or have served as a section editor at a university student newspaper. Students of all majors and classifications, including graduate students, may petition for the position. Applicants must be in good academic standing with the university when submitting an application. An overall minimum 2.5 grade-point average is required for application consideration.
Term of Office Term of office begins following the final publication of the Spring 2015 semester and runs through the Spring 2016 semester. Applicants must be able to serve the entire term of office in order to be considered for the position. A salary is paid during the term of office.
Petitioning Process A written petition is to be completed by each applicant. This petition consists of questions to determine an applicant’s qualifications in journalism academics and management. A letter of interest must be included with the formal application. The letter should address personal characteristics addressing reasons the applicant is qualified for the position. Applicants, certified as qualified by the student publications board, will be interviewed. The board will select the editor-in-chief.
Petitioning Deadlines Applications for the position will be due by noon, Wednesday April 1 to the Director of Student Publications, Trinity Building, Room 107. People interested in petitioning should sign a candidacy list in Trinity, Room 107 and acquire an information package. Qualified applicants will be notified and interviews will be scheduled beginning April 13. Selection of the editor-in-chief will be made shortly after interviews have been completed for the position. Formal assumption of duties will begin one week after the final newspaper of the Spring Semester is published.
The University Star Mission
PACKETS AVAILABLE: March 2, noon; Trinity, Room 107
The editor is the primary student editorial administrator for The University Star and has authority in all personnel matters and makes the final decision regarding news, sports, feature, photo, Web and opinion content. The editor determines daily operation guidelines, provides a role model for professional behavior, delegates operational authority and fulfills policies and procedures as determined by the student publications board and faculty adviser. The editor oversees meetings and handles personnel problems, evaluates all copy and artwork for each publication. The editor-in-chief is responsible for hiring, properly training and supervising all members of the editorial board. The editor-in-chief promotes relations between the publication, the community and campus organizations. The editor-in-chief is also the voice of the publication with the community.
DEADLINE: Wednesday, April 1; noon; Trinity, Room 107 INTERVIEWS: April 13
8 | The University Star | Advertisement | Tuesday, February 10, 2015
SANCTUARY LOFTS
BISHOPS SQUARE
SMStudentHousing.com
WHERE STUDENTS ™ LOVE LIVING APPLY TODAY FOR FALL 2015
THE RETREAT
THE OUTPOST
SAVE UP TO $300 WITH REDUCED FEES Fees subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.