November 12 2015

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2015 VOLUME 105 ISSUE 29

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UNIVERSITY

San Marcos veterans honored in the Quad By Autumn Wright NEWS REPORTER @autumnwright697

San Marcos Police Department officers participate in the No-shave November Challenge for Testicular Cancer awaremess.

she has been careful to lock her apartment door at the Retreat after discovering the complex was burglarized last spring. Osburn is “extra cautious” because she lives on the first floor, but sees some of her fellow tenants being careless with their own security. “There have been parties here where people can’t even get inside and the doors remain open,” Osburn said. “I don’t know how anyone could keep track of their things.” Osburn said police have been more visible at the Retreat and that she sees them patrolling regularly,

The American flag flew near the Fighting Stallions Wednesday morning as veterans in the San Marcos area and all across the nation were honored at the Student Foundation’s annual Veterans Day Commemoration ceremony. Robert D. LaBrutta, commander of the 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio, spoke of the pride he has in his fellow servicemen and women as well as those who came before him. “We must understand that our veterans volunteered to protect us,” LaBrutta said. “They were and are the brave patriots our democracy was built on, and are the professionals who put their lives on the line for all of us.” President Denise Trauth said the university is proud of its veteran community and is glad to take time to honor them for their services. Trauth said she cannot imagine where the U.S. would be without the dedication and hard work of veterans. “Courageous men and women who have committed their lives to protect our freedoms, it’s something that we never want to take for granted,” Trauth said. Texas State is currently the school of 1,152 veterans and the university has been ranked in the top 15 percent of the nation’s most military-friendly schools, she said. Recognitions from G.I. Jobs magazine and Military Times EDGE magazine are what attract more veterans to Texas State. LaBrutta said he appreciates Texas State’s way of embracing veterans and is excited for the upcoming generation of citizens to serve the nation. “Every year another group of brave, young men and women raise their right hand and state that they will support and defend the constitution of these United States from all enemies,” LaBrutta said. “They are the next generation of our United States military and inspire us to be better Americans.” Jesse Silva, assistant director for the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion, was awarded the 2015 Above and Beyond Veterans Alliance Award for his services in assisting and supporting student

See BURGLARIES, Page 2

See VETERANS, Page 2

ANTONIO REYES STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Local officers grow beards to raise cancer awareness By Rae Glassford NEWS REPORTER @rae_maybe

This month, police officers across the state are adding a new accessory to their uniforms— beards. During the month of November, police officers from across the state—including those from the SMPD—will be participating in “No-Shave November” with the objective of raising money for testicular cancer research. Each year 8,430 Americans are diagnosed with testicular cancer, resulting in nearly 400 deaths annually. The National Cancer Institute is looking to change

these statistics through local outreach efforts. The foundation has partnered with the San Marcos Police Department. Called Beard Patrol, the partnership is an attempt to lessen the number of testicular cancer cases by raising funds for the institute. “Most police departments do not allow their officers to grow beards,” said Matt Ferstler, founder and CEO of the Testicular Cancer Foundation. “If an officer wants to be allowed to grow a beard, they pay a $25 donation to the Testicular Cancer Foundation.” Although every department has its own set of rules and guidelines for the dona-

tions, the general consensus for the fundraiser is $25 per officer who decides to grow facial hair, he said. Each participating officer receives a wristband that they are required to wear throughout the month. “It all started a couple years back when the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and Austin Police Department raised money by allowing officers to grow beards,” Ferstler said. After the success of that first event, TCF opened the initiative to include all of Texas. The foundation contacted hundreds of police departments, many of which are now gearing up to participate in the initiative,

Ferstler said. “It’s important for everyone to understand why we do what we do,” Ferstler said. “We are a survivor-led organization, so we’ve got a lot of passion driving what we do. One hundred percent of the money we raise rolls back into community.” The campaign extends past “No-Shave November,” Ferstler said. He hopes to expand the partnership and said TCF plans to hold another challenge next year. “People in town are not used to seeing officers in uniform wearing beards,” said Chase Stapp, chief of SMPD and participant in the fundraiser. “So I anticipate it will result in some lev-

el of conversation between the police department and the community, which will hopefully generate awareness for our cause.” Despite this being SMPD’s first year participating in the challenge, Stapp has high hopes for the program and expects the department is capable of raising around $800 for the initiative. “After the TCF reached out to us, I spoke to some people here at the department and saw a high level of interest,” he said. “We’re not a huge police department, so it’s not difficult to get an idea back from our folks.”

See BEARD, Page 2

CRIME

Rash of burglaries consistent with recent trend By Erik Kiluk NEWS REPORTER @ErikKiluk

Student housing complexes across San Marcos have been the targets of a rash of burglaries since Halloween weekend. Byron Mobley, sergeant and supervisor of Property Crimes Division, said 15 burglaries occurred between Oct. 30 and Nov. 9 at The Cottages at Hillside Ranch, the Retreat and Capstone Cottages, along with other apartment complexes on Telluride Street and River Ridge Parkway. The San Marcos Police Department is still searching for an unknown number of

burglars that are entering sleeping students’ unlocked homes and stealing electronics, wallets and other valuables. “It is really frustrating that this continues to occur when it would occur less if people would just lock their doors,” Mobley said. This is not the first time that burglars have gone on a crime spree. Mobley said the past eight years have seen a spike in burglaries compared to the rest of his 33-year career with SMPD. One crew of criminals was responsible for 40-50 burglaries a few years ago, Mobley said. “Every so often we have another crew start doing it

and, when they are successful, they keep doing it until they are caught,” Mobley said. Mobley said past burglars have forced entry into apartments or sneaked into parties to take advantage of unaware or inebriated students. However, these crimes are the result of careless residents rather than crafty or persistent criminals. “I know that it occurs in other cities, but I think it is more of a phenomenon here because of the college atmosphere,” Mobley said. “I would hazard to guess that (non-students) living in an apartment complex lock their doors at all times.” While the burglars may

have used Halloween parties to gain access to apartments over the weekend, Mobley said the majority of the break-ins are occurring between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. while students sleep. The burglars have stolen a variety of items ranging from expensive electronics and wallets to wall paintings and liquor, he said. Police have no accurate description of the suspects, but believe there are two or three burglars based on previous cases. Mobley said a few burglars have been students in the past, while many have come from Austin and San Antonio. Megan Osburn, interdisciplinary studies junior, said

WATER

Fluoride-free proposition to take effect By Lesly De Leon SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @leslyd28

As of Nov. 12, citizens will be drinking fluoride-free water from the municipal supply as the operators of the city’s water treatment plant have agreed to terminate the practice of adding the mineral to drinking water. The decision came after San Marcos citizens voted to approve Proposition 1, an amendment to the city char-

ter prohibiting the city from fluoridating the municipal water supply, in the Nov. 3 election. According to a Nov. 11 city press release, the GuadalupeBlanco River Authority is ending the practice of fluoridation and the city’s water will return to natural levels of fluoride in the next few days. The water supply won’t be 100 percent fluoridefree, said LaMarriol Smith, GBRA executive manager for strategic communications

and public affairs. There will still be naturally occurring fluoride in the water system. “From the minute they stop putting (fluoride in the water), it’s a positive effect on people because we’re no longer being poisoned by hazardous waste,” said Sam Brannon, organizer of the Fluoride-Free San Marcos Coalition. Brannon said he is ecstatic about how quickly Proposition 1 is taking effect because San Marcos will be a clean-

water city. “The city’s behavior so far has been one of resistance,” Brannon said. “To see them take this positive action based on what the people said at the polls, I think is a beautiful thing and it’s the way it ought to happen.” According to a FluorideFree San Marcos Coalition press release, Proposition 1 was placed on the ballot this August after the organization submitted a petition with more than 1,600 signatures

to the city. Before the petition, the organization’s members attempted to work with city council to remove fluoride from the water supply by asking for a public hearing on the issue, Brannon said. “We weren’t really getting anywhere,” Brannon said. “So we decided just to take it out of the city council’s hands and let the voters sign the petition.” According to the press release, the petition had

enough signatures to require an amendment to be put on the ballot for a vote, but officials did not accept it, saying it did not meet city guidelines. Activists from the organization threatened to sue the city for non-compliance with Texas law but the city individually sued the petitioners, including Brannon, according to the release. The petitioners countersued to place the amend-

See FLUORIDE, Page 2


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