WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2015 VOLUME 104 ISSUE 55 www.UniversityStar.com
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Food bank hires new director By Nicholas Laughlin NEWS REPORTER @nick_laughlin
without licensing or regulation. The state government passed laws in 1871 restricting public display of pistols. Texas is currently one of only six states to fully prohibit open display, Cox said. Cox would like to see the Texas Legislature “restore” the second amendment and allow citizens to carry firearms openly without restrictions. Cox said current laws permitting citizens to display rifles and
The Hays County Food Bank named Denise Blok as the new executive director Jan. 5 after six months of having an interim in the position. The food bank’s board of directors received over 70 resumes from applicants, said Dale Schneberger, board of directors president. Some of the applicants were from out of state. Blok began work on Jan. 19 after the announcement was made. Blok served as the chief operating officer for the American Red Cross of Central Texas before taking the job with Hays County. The hiring committee was looking for someone who could take the food bank in a new direction to better serve the hungry, Blok said. “(Blok) had over 20 years of experience at the American Red Cross,” Schneberger said. “She started out as a volunteer and moved her way up. She knew all the different aspects of a non-profit.” The food bank has been without an executive director since August, when Jerry Gracie, former director, left to be closer to her family, Schneberger said.
See OPEN CARRY, Page 2
See FOOD BANK, Page 2
DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Hal Skaggs displays popular handguns Feb. 6 at Gun Guys & Gals shop.
Open-carry bills spur discussion among San Marcos residents By Jon Wilcox NEWS REPORTER @thrilcox
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pen-carry handgun bills introduced at the start of the 84th Texas Legislative session have sparked debate among Hays County residents concerning safety. Texas gun advocates disagree over whether pistol owners should be required to pass background checks and certification classes before being able to carry
and display handguns in public areas. Lawmakers in support of open carry legislation must decide between two distinctly different bills. House Bill 106 would allow Texans to carry pistols openly only after passing background checks, completing classroom instruction and receiving certification. Constitutional carry advocates side with House Bill 195, which would allow open carrying of handguns and remove the requirement of having a Concealed
Handgun License in order to carry. This bill garnered significant media attention at the opening of this year’s session in a series of protests at the Capitol. Constitutional carry supporters such as Mike Cox, a lifetime member of the Texas State Rifle Association, believe in a strict interpretation of the second amendment. Cox argues for the ability to openly carry handguns
2015 STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESIDENTIAL & VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES Student Government elections are approaching quickly. The University Star sat down with presidential candidate Lauren Stotler and vice presidential candidate Tyler Burton to discuss their campaigns. Burton is running unopposed, and Stotler will face Abdualrahman Muhialdin in the race for president. Stotler and Burton discussed their campaign platforms and favorite Texas State memories. Muhialdin could not be reached for comment. Voting begins Feb. 16 and concludes Feb. 19.
LAUREN STOTLER
Finance/accounting junior Presidential candidate
tion, and I’ve seen the change that we can create, and I see a lot of things I personally want to change. I want to make sure those things get done, and (running for president) seems like the best way.
MADELYNNE SCALES PHOTO EDITOR
By Kelsey Bradshaw NEWS EDITOR @kbrad5 KB: Who would you have dinner with, dead or alive? LS: This might seem really cliché, but (Lyndon Baines Johnson). I saw a lot of the leadership styles he had were just really interesting and effective. He worked well with people, and I kind of got inspired and thought, “If I could get elected, I would like to run things similarly.” The way he worked well with people—he knew what people wanted and how to use that to his advantage. KB: What made you want to run for president? LS: I‘ve been in (Student Government) since my freshman year. I started off in Freshman Council, then I ran for Senate last year, and I became Director of Finance, and this semester I’ve moved up to Chief of Staff. I’ve been very dedicated to this organiza-
KB: Why do you think students should vote for you over your opponent? LS: I have SG experience. I know a lot about the organization. I’ve been a part of the cabinet for the past year, so I think I definitely have that competitive edge. I’m running with a vice president. If (Tyler Burton) and I get elected together, we already have common ideas that we want to do together. I guess that’s kind of nice, to come in with a cohesive idea of what needs to be accomplished, and we already know each other’s leadership styles. We work really well together. KB: Cake or pie? LS: Cake. (I’m) not really a pie person. I mean, I like pie, but I’m much more of a chocolate person, and chocolate pie just isn’t as good as chocolate cake. KB: What would you say are your main initiatives? LS: One thing is definitely going to be increasing athletic attendance—not just at football games but other athletic events as well. It’s definitely frustrating for the students as well as the football team that they’ve been bowl eligible two years in a row and they haven’t gotten to go (in 2013) because of student attendance. That’s something we want to work more with: athletics and organizations that promote athletic attendance. That’s a big thing that we’re doing as well as increasing awareness for different organiza-
See STOTLER, Page 2
TYLER BURTON
Finance/accounting junior Vice presidential candidate
By Kelsey Bradshaw NEWS EDITOR @kbrad5 KB: What made you want to run for vice president? TB: Lauren came up to me, and she was talking about wanting to run for president, and I’ve been involved with Student Government for two years—freshman year, and took a break sophomore year and now this whole year. I’m Freshman Council Coordinator, and seeing the good Student Government does for the school and everything we are capable of doing, I saw that there (are) changes that needed to be made. So (running for vice president is) the best way to get here and make the changes.
MADELYNNE SCALES PHOTO EDITOR
KB: Do you have any opinions on why no one else is running for vice president? TB: The whole culture of college students and college life is much more lazy than what it was back in the day. People just want to sit back and let everything get handed to them—not everybody, but a lot of people do. No one wants to get engaged and be a go-getter.
what President Tiffany Young and Vice President Sean Quiñones did this past year? TB: Not differently, but I want to expand on what they have done and maybe implement a couple of new things such as a financial literacy class for the US 1100 students so that they can start learning about finances even though they’re not business majors.
KB: What would you say are your main initiatives? TB: I want to run more efficient committees and have our committees get more involved with the school. I would also like to have a very good Director of Marketing that gets the Student Government name out to the public. I want more involvement with the school due to the Director of Marketing – whoever that may be in the future. That’s going to be my most important position, I believe.
KB: Last year, 2.9 percent of the student body voted in the Student Government election, so how do you plan to increase involvement with SG and the student body? If you get elected, how are you going to make people care about SG? TB: With my Director of Marketing—I want to work hand in hand with him or her, whoever it may be. I really want to go out, not just to the Greeks. I feel that Tiffany and Sean really went to—Sean’s organization was Men
KB: Is there anything specific you want to do differently from
See BURTON, Page 2