TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 11, 2014 VOLUME 104 ISSUE 38 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
CITY
Recent rainfall brings little drought relief By Mariah Simank SENIOR NEWS REPORTER
HARON SAENZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dunkin’ Donuts will open in Jones Dining Hall fall 2016.
Last week’s rain brought much-needed moisture to San Marcos, but it was not enough to deliver long-term drought relief to the city. The steady rainfall reached almost 3 inches in 48 hours, according to the Lower Colorado River Authority. Dianne Wassenich, Program Director for the San Marcos River Foundation, said the aquifer temporarily rose eight feet after the rains but is currently below storm levels. The San Marcos River also experienced a minor flow increase. “We had a very slight rise in the flow of the river, just a few cubic feet per second,” Wassenich said. “We really need heavy rains right north of San Marcos in the Blanco River and Sink Creek watersheds to get more flow in the river since a major part of our recharge zone is right around there.” Thomas Hardy, Chief Science Officer for the Meadows Center, said more than double the amount of rain San Marcos received last week would be needed to positively impact the aquifer. “We need something like seven inches of rain over a relatively short period to make a dent in the aquifer recharge and, therefore, the spring flows,” Hardy said. “We are at the mercy of the weather at this point, and it may be months or even years before we see relief.” Officials do not yet know how the rainfall will affect current drought restrictions. “The drought restrictions are based on a 10-day average, so I'm not sure this rain will be enough to take the aquifer out of Stage 4 (drought conditions),” Wassenich said. “It might, but we'll just be in Stage 3 then, which has the same watering rules here in San Marcos.” The rains may have given some citizens a sense of relief, but much more will be required to bring the aquifer back to the level it reached last spring, Wassenich said. “What we really need is for the aquifer to rise above what it was last spring by January or February 2015 so the river will not be drawn down so very low next summer,” Wassenich said. “We are far from out of the woods and frankly are quite worried about whether the Comal Springs will dry up next year, and our river might not be far behind the Comal.” Residents need to follow the watering rules very carefully until the flow in the aquifer rises, she said. “If people care about the river, they should conserve water more than they ever have,” Wassenich said. “Don't let a small rain give you a false sense of security about (the) river's flow.”
TEXAS STATE TO RUN ON DUNKIN’ By Sierra Holmes NEWS REPORTER pening fall 2016, students will be able to use their meal plans on more than traditional food with the addition of Dunkin’ Donuts in Jones Dining Hall. “Meal trades are going to be implemented throughout the plan for students,” said John Root, director of Auxiliary Services. “There is going to be an abundance of breakfast options.” A definite price has yet to be
determined, but students will see an increase in the cost of meal plan packages, he said. “Dining hall plans will increase two to four percent, as it does every year.” Root said. “There has to be a compensation for the renovation of Jones.” The dining hall renovation is long overdue, Root said. “This is a great concept for students, and it is more than just donuts,” Root said. “We are expecting for this new addition to bring an increase and an optimistic outlook for our students.” The Dunkin’ Donuts inside Jones will be the first of its kind
in San Marcos, Root said. The donut chain has expanded with universities across the nation, said Michelle King, director of public relations for Dunkin’ Brands. “Universities turn to Dunkin’ Donuts to provide a valuable amenity for the entire school and community,” King said. “It is an important incentive to attract students.” Students will have easy access to the updated dining hall through the bus stop, and the demand for donuts will be high, Root said. “You have a variety of coffee
drinkers and breakfast eaters,” Root said. “There are people who enjoy Dunkin’ Donuts and those that enjoy Starbucks.” San Marcos residents will not be turned away when trying to enjoy donuts. The public will have access to the breakfast shop. “We are not restricting (the) public from Dunkin’ Donuts, but it is not designated for the public since it is of the university,” Root said. Students are the foundation of the renovation, and university officials are bringing what they want, Root said.
UNIVERSITY
Texas State ranked 14th most veteran-friendly By Sierra Holmes NEWS REPORTER Texas State was recently ranked the 14th most veteran-friendly program on a list of 86 universities across the nation. The university’s programs provide for veterans while maintaining a 55 percent graduation rate, giving Texas State a place of prominence in a list from the Military Times. The University’s Veterans Advisory Council, Veteran Affairs and the Veteran’s Alliance at Texas State (VATS) are among the programs offered. The programs have created a multifaceted collaboration for current and future veterans.
“Veteran Affairs, a chartered student organization, deals with the benefits that the veterans are guaranteed and provides advice and support for services and programs designed to facilitate the smooth transition of military veteran students to college and also to promote veteran student success,” said assistant registrar Melissa Hyatt. The school’s ranking is the result of a group effort amongst all the veterans programs, she said. VATS keeps people in line and helps them feel included, said veteran Caleb Henderson, VATS marketing chair. Henderson attributes assistance from faculty and professors to the
group’s growth. “The support that Texas State gives to the veterans places our university above the others,” said Antonio Mitchell of the United States Marine Corps. “It is very important that the school itself can come in and support (veterans). Other universities cannot actually say that.” The programs at the university help veterans relax and focus on school, Henderson said. VATS promotes comfort within the alliance. Resources across campus such as Career Services, SLAC and US Seminar courses focus on veterans by implementing protocols for their adjustment. “Professional development
training is a curriculum to help the student veterans understand the transition from combat to classroom,” Hyatt said. Students are becoming more aware of the veteran-friendly programs due to their presence on campus, Hyatt said. Veterans’ brunches and seminars have been implemented to reduce the rate of suicide, Mitchell said. Auditors from the state want to use the university as a benchmark on how to work with veterans, which Hyatt calls a “big deal.” “Improvement should start with informing and better educating faculty and students so that they can know what veter-
The support that Texas State gives to the veterans places our university above the others. It is very important that the school itself can come in and support veterans.” —Antonio Mitchell, United States Marine Corps.
CITY
Officials encourage citizens to report water theft in wake of contamination threat By Jon Wilcox NEW REPORTER The City of San Marcos WaterWastewater Utility Department is seeking cooperation from the community to catch citizens stealing water from fire hydrants. The city regularly sells water from fire hydrants to construction contractors and other customers by applying meters at purchasers’ requests, said San Marcos spokesman Trey Hatt. Residents’ reports of illegal water usage have prompted city officials to encourage citizens to notify authorities of suspicious activity. Such activity includes taking water from hydrants without a meter. Nick Menchaca, San Marcos resident, witnessed suspicious activity on the morning of Nov. 8 outside of his house adjacent to Rio Vista Park. “At maybe like 10 or something in the morning, I came outside and saw somebody taking water from a hydrant with a truck with a big, black tank on it,” Menchaca said. “They had a fire hose connected to it, and they were filling up the truck.
The whole street was soaking wet, and there was a big puddle.” Menchaca said he did not see a meter connected when the truck took water from the hydrant. Jon Clack, assistant director of Public Services, said the city rents meters for customers to legally draw water from hydrants. Taking water from a hydrant without a meter constitutes theft, Clack said. “We rent what we call a fire hydrant meter, and it’s a meter that we go and place on a particular fire hydrant,” Clack said. “Usually we rent these out to contractors. We rent the device, the meter, and the water is paid for based on the meter readings.” Hatt said people sometimes draw water illegally from hydrants. “Periodically, we’ll have residents call and report suspicious activity,” Hatt said. “They’ll see commercial vehicles or commercial equipment hooked directly into a fire hydrant drawing water and rightly suppose that’s not the correct procedure to be followed and call in a report to
See WATER THEFT, Page 2
Officials say water is being stolen from city fire hydrants.
DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR