VOLUME 103, ISSUE 29
www.UniversityStar.com
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 29, 2013
Defending the First Amendment since 1911
VIDEO | UniversityStar.com
SPORTS | UniversityStar.com John Parker: Scan here for a web feature on John Parker, former Southwest Texas State football player and holder of four school records.
Texas State students held a pumpkin carving contest in order to raise money for children as part of the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign.
HOUSING
Complex managers answer delayed move-in questions By Scott Allen
News Reporter
Students who were affected by apartment move-in delays at the beginning of the semester were able to address concerns with complex staff members during the Associated Student Government’s meeting Monday. During the meeting, representatives from The Avenue at San Marcos and Vistas San Marcos spoke about issues that caused delayed move-in dates for students at the beginning of the semester. Becky Bates, manager for Vistas, has been overseeing plans for the apartment complex since 2008 and attributed move-in delays to the construction company assigned to the project. The construction company is separate from the management of the complex and is a third party vendor. Vistas is not owned and operated by the same company. Bates said she had “no control” over the construction delay and that management staff members are only in charge of leasing. “(The construction company) told me the residents could move into a complete residence starting Sept. 15,” Bates said. “Or, they could move in Aug. 25 but have to deal
with ongoing construction.” The move-in date for Vistas was originally set for Aug.15, but was pushed back to the 25th due to material and labor shortages, she said. Bates said students who paid rent money upfront are going to be reimbursed. “We are in the process of reimbursing those who had to pay for a half month of rent when they only lived in their apartment for less than a week,” Bates said. “We are going to offer hotel reimbursements for those who had to be put up in hotels during the time waiting to move in.” The issues at the Vistas complex are being solved in order of importance, she said. “The location is great,” Bates said. “Once everything is operating smoothly, then residents will see how great of an apartment complex Vistas is.” Another new apartment complex, The Avenue at San Marcos, experienced similar construction delays. Stephanie O’White, a representative from The Avenue, answered questions about delayed move-in dates for students at the complex. Unlike Vistas, The Avenue is not managed by a third party vendor. O’White said The
Chris Motz | Staff Photographer Sophomore tight end Ryan Carden makes his first career touchdown Oct. 27 against Southern Alabama at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats claimed victory with four seconds left in the fourth quarter 33–31.
Bobcats win Homecoming game with four seconds remaining Texas State defeated South Alabama 33–31 on Homecoming Saturday night with a 41-yard field goal by junior kicker Jason Dann. See FOOTBALL, Page 5
See HOUSING, Page 2 UNIVERSITY
Union Pacific cites two Bobcat Tram drivers By Rebecca Banks News Reporter
By Taylor Tompkins News Editor
Thom Prentice City council Place 2 candidate Thom Prentice, candidate for Place 2 on the San Marcos City Council, sat down with The University Star to discuss his former campaigns for a San Marcos government position and his plans for this year’s race. TT: What made you want to run for city council? TP: Well, I ran last year, and I’m running this year for council. I didn’t run against Mayor Guerrero last year and I’m not running against Jude Prather this year. I’m running to raise the issues that have not been raised, and one of those is democracy. Democracy is comatose in the United States and I’m
Courtesy of Thom Prentice
sorry to find that it’s a comatose ‘verboten’ word, the word not mentioned in the 2012 elections at all by anybody, and that’s capitalism. We need to talk about capitalism. You know, this growth and development is capitalist. The tentacles of Wall Street slither all the way here in San Marcos and are actually pushing growth that is not good for the neighborhoods. It’s making San Marcos into a bedroom community like Kyle or Buda, and I ask, “Do we want to be that way?” TT: You’re running against an incumbent Jude Prather,
See PRENTICE, Page 2
Two Bobcat trams received citations Oct. 23 during a special weeklong operation in San Marcos intended to remind the community of traffic safety regulations at railroad crossings. Alfredo Rodriguez, senior special agent with Union Pacific, was the officer in charge of the railroad crossing safety operations conducted from Oct. 21 to 25. Rodriguez said two Texas State buses failed to come to a complete stop Oct. 23 at the railroad crossing. An individual from First Transit, who wished to remain anonymous, said the situation was an issue between the drivers and the San Marcos Police Department. He said he would not give an official comment on the matter. Nancy Nusbaum, interim director of Transportation Services, said the Bobcat Tram drivers work for First Transit and not for the university itself. “The citation is a class C misdemeanor,” Rodriguez said. “It will cost between $50 to $200 depending on what the judge rules.” Rodriguez said if an individual
Austin Humphreys | Photo Editor Kathy Gibson, officer with the San Marcos Police Department, and Alfredo Rodriguez, senior special agent with Union Pacific Railroad, identify vehicles to receive citations after unsafe behavior at railroad crossings.
has a previous history regarding citations, tickets cost more compared to a first-time offense. The safety operation consisted of motorized officers stationed on either side of the designated railroad crossing with officers located on a Union Pacific train monitoring pedestrians and unsafe motorists breaking regulations, Rodriguez
said. Rodriguez said officers are constantly monitoring safety at railroad crossings on a daily basis. However, when there seems to be an increase of violations in specific areas he will conduct “spot checks” such as this, focusing on those specific areas.
See TRAINS, Page 2
UNIVERSITY
Texas State, Taiwanese university sign initial exchange agreement By James Carneiro
Assistant News Editor
Representatives from the National Penghu University of Science and Technology in Taiwan signed an initial student exchange agreement with Texas State officials Monday. The agreement, signed by YingWei Wang, president of Penghu University, among others, will begin laying the foundation for
Bobcats to spend the summer at Penghu while Taiwanese students study at Texas State. According to Rosario Davis, a learning specialist with the Intensive English program., said the agreement states the two colleges will cooperate together. She said the Penghu students will most likely attend Texas State between July 1 and Sep. 26, 2014, primarily during the university’s summer break.
Jon Ahlberg, associate director for the International Office at Texas State, said the Taiwanese university is on a small island off the coast of the mainland, about four hours away by ferry ride. Ahlberg said the island would be a nice place for Bobcats to spend the summer. The Penghu University representatives said the students studying in Taiwan will enjoy the island’s nice beaches. Ahlberg said there are currently
400 international students attending the university, and Taiwan is ranked in the top 10 countries regarding the number of exchange students enrolled at Texas State. There are more foreign graduate students than foreign undergraduates, Ahlberg said. Davis said the focus of bringing Penghu students to Texas State is to improve their language and international business skills. Ahlberg said he is working to
make sure the program is in compliance with federal law. Texas State has a history of programming events to help foreign students learn more about state and American culture, Ahlberg said. He said department officials have organized trips to rodeos in San Antonio in the past and are planning other kinds of trips for the future. Ahlberg, Davis and the Penghu
See TAIWAN, Page 2