Feb 4 2015

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WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2015 VOLUME 104 ISSUE 52 www.UniversityStar.com

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University officials review student media hiring process in wake of oversight By Nicole Barrios, Kelsey Bradshaw and Carlie Porterfield THE UNIVERSITY STAR The School of Journalism and Mass Communication is currently reviewing the student media hiring process due to recent events involving the previous editor-in-chief of The University Star. It came to the attention of SJMC officials late last week the previous editor-in-chief of The University Star was ineligible to continue because he did not meet requirements of the job description, said Judy Oskam, director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The job description states students must have a 2.5 GPA and be in “good academic standing.” Applicants are required to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours unless they are graduating in the final semester of the year-long appointment. An emergency editorial board meeting was held at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 30 without then editor-in-chief Osagioduwa Evbagharu. SJMC officials received his email of resignation during the meeting, Oskam said.

I said, ‘You need to clear this up right away,’ because I”m still thinking it’s a mistake, it has to be a mistake.”

­­—Bob Bajackson, director of student publications

“I talked with (Evbagharu),” Oskam said. “He called me right before the meeting.” Oskam said she assumes Evbagharu was aware of his academic status. Evbagharu’s resignation was due to a family illness, according to the letter. Bob Bajackson, director of student publications, said he received a phone call from SJMC officials the afternoon of Jan. 28 informing him Evbagharu was not enrolled. Bajackson texted Evbagharu that afternoon telling him university officials said he was not enrolled in any classes and was listed as a freshman. “I said, ‘You need to clear this up right away,’ because I’m still thinking it’s a mistake, it has to be a mistake,” Bajackson said. “So that’s when he was first notified.” Bajackson said Evbagharu was then planning to check on his status. According to the Office of the University Registrar, Evbagharu was not enrolled at Texas State in the fall 2014 or spring 2015 semesters. “According to the registrar’s office, he is not enrolled in class this semester,” Oskam said. Attempts made to speak with Evbagharu before publication were unsuccessful. However, he commented via text message. “My comment, then, is: I have cleared everything up with my enrollment issues, and I’m ready to move on,” Evbagharu said in the message. Evbagharu was enrolled at Texas State from fall 2012 through spring 2014. “We are reviewing our student media hiring process right now to ensure that our student media employees meet eligibly requirements,” Oskam said. Bajackson does not know exactly how often administrators checked the enrollment status of student employees. He said students who work for the Star are often in his classes or he sees them in the halls. “We’ve never had this problem before, so we’ve never had a situation that I know of that this was done where—it just, in my mind, why would someone come in here and apply who was not a part of the university?” Bajackson said. Norma Guerra Gaier, director of Career Services, said Career Services was not aware Evbagharu was not enrolled is because the

See MEDIA, Page 2

ANDRES J RODRIGUEZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Kyle lawmakers passed an ordinance June 2014 prohibiting businesses from selling e-cigarettes to minors. A statewide law may follow suit.

Lawmakers, citizens discuss banning e-cigarettes for minors By Jon Wilcox NEWS REPORTER @thrilcox Texas lawmaker has inA troduced a bill to prevent minors from using and obtaining e-cigarettes. House Bill 647, filed by State Representative Jason Isaac days before the commencement of the 84th Legislative Session, would update current law to include e-cigarettes in the same category as traditional cigarettes. The bill would make it illegal for minors across the state to possess e-cigarettes. Isaac learned of the issue from a group of outspoken high school students from Kyle who noticed growing e-cigarette use on campuses. Similar bans previously enacted by local Texas governments

and consolidated independent school districts served as a model for HB 647. The bill is expected to receive bipartisan support. Texas is included in a shrinking group of 10 states and the District of Columbia that have not passed state laws making the sale of e-cigarettes to minors illegal, according to a 2014 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) press release. More than 16 million children can currently purchase and use e-cigarettes legally, according to the press release. A recent study may demonstrate a link between the use of ecigarettes and traditional cigarettes for minors. A National Youth Tobacco survey found the percentage of middle and high school students who use e-cigarettes more than doubled

from 2011 to 2012, rising from 4.7 percent to 10.0 percent. The study showed 76.3 percent of students polled who used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days also smoked traditional cigarettes in the same period. The absence of a statewide ban has forced some local governments, school districts and schools to create their own regulations in an effort to keep e-cigarettes away from minors. Students at Hays County Independent School District’s Lehman High School found in possession of an e-cigarette face a disciplinary referral, said Tracy Holly, assistant principal secretary at Lehman High School. Hays CISD has taken its own

initiatives to prevent the use of ecigarettes by students. The 2014-2015 Hays CISD Parent-Student Handbook prohibits the use and possession of e-cigarettes and “personal vaping devices” while on campus or at school-related activities. Kyle passed an ordinance in June 2014 preventing businesses and individuals from giving, distributing, selling, marketing or offering e-cigarettes to minors, said Jerry Hendrix, director of communications for the City of Kyle. San Marcos officials have yet to create a similar ban, said Kristi Wyatt, director of communications and intergovernmental relations for San Marcos.

See E-CIGS, Page 2

STUDENT LIVING

Vistas apartments add new safety features By Darcy Sprague NEWS REPORTER @darcy_days Officials with the Vistas apartment complex in San Marcos are hopeful about the future despite recent negative media attention. The Vistas experienced incidents last year that had many residents and community members nervous about safety. Multiple crimes in and near the complex were reported in 2014 and garnered negative attention on social media, said Jason Pyron, Vistas property manager. “The main issue has been the break-in,” said Kate Miller, education senior, who works at the front

desk of the Vistas. Miller was referring to last October when a man fell from a balcony as he tried to escape after an attempted robbery. Abel Cruise, physical training senior and Vistas office worker, said residents frequently left their doors unlocked at the time of the attempted robbery. “All the gates are controlled-access active now,” Pyron said. The lack of controlled access gates left residents feeling uneasy, he said. Vistas employees believe security cameras on entrance doors and controlled access gates will result in a safer environment

See VISTAS, Page 2

NEWS BRIEF

Electro Purification contract for use of aquifer pending approval By Frank Campos NEWS REPORTER @frankcamposj The Hays County Commissioner’s Court approved a resolution Feb. 3 establishing local regulation for commercial and non-exempt groundwater production in aquifer areas currently outside of the district. The resolution is a direct outcome of a contract fulfilled by Electro Purification, LLC. The treatment and supply company based out of Houston plans to pump 5.4 million gallons of groundwater a day from the Trinity Aquifer for its clients. Commissioner Will Conley, Precinct 3, represents the portion of the county most affected by the Electro Purification contract and presented the resolution to the court. “This is not right,” Conley said. “People work hard, abide by the rules and make investments for their family just to see a company figure out a way to manipulate the system and take advantage of a community.” Grant Tait, Hays County well and property owner, urged the court to approve the resolution and not allow the company to claim ownership of the water flowing through his land. “There is no such thing as a ‘right to water,’” Tait said. “When a company starts to deplete our resources in a sneaky way for its own profit, that is wrong.” Texas State may be affected by Electro Purification’s plan to pump such a large amount of water out of a fragile area. The one area may affect the other due to certain points where the Aquarena Springs meets the Trinity Aquifer, Tait said. “It is very lush and beautiful along the river,” Tait said. “Many people love to float the river and enjoy the area. The water levels could drop drastically because of EP, and that would take away one of the draws to Texas State.” Nancy Weaver, Hays County resident, asked the court to act before it was too late. “If we continue the way we are going, we are going to create a desert here,” Weaver said. “We are inviting people to live here and buy property here at a rapid pace without telling them the water may not last through their 30-year mortgage.” A special meeting will be held Feb. 5 to further discuss issues related to the Electro Purification project.

If we continue the way we are going, we are going to create a desert here. We are inviting people to live here and buy property here at a rapid pace without telling them the water may not last through their 30-year mortgage.” PRESLIE COX STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A sign outside the Vistas apartment complex advertises leasing for the upcoming year.

­­—Nancy Weaver, Hays County resident


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Feb 4 2015 by The University Star - Issuu