VOLUME 102, ISSUE 62
www.UniversityStar.com
Defending the First Amendment since 1911
TUESDAY
MARCH 5, 2013
GO NE ONLI NOW
Texas Music Theater: Roger Creager Country singer Roger Creager performed at Texas Music Theater Saturday. For footage of Creager’s show, check out UniversityStar.com.
Students meet with university officials at Open Door session
SPACE SHORTAGE Officials aim to decrease campus square footage deficit
By Xander Peters News Reporter Five students attended University President Denise Trauth’s Open Door session Monday to discuss topics ranging from extending library service hours to future construction outside of dorms. The sessions are typically held once per semester in Trauth’s office at J.C. Kellam. Monday’s additional session was held in the LBJ Center for the sake of convenience. Open Door sessions are an opportunity for students to express concerns, opinions and ideas on university affairs to the institution’s highest ranking administrator and can be attended by anyone interested. Joanne Smith, vice president of Student Affairs, joined Trauth for the session. Each student who attended spoke with the administrators individually. David Acosta, accounting junior, is a senator for the Associated Student Government. Acosta said he attended the session to speak with Trauth about possibly extending the service hours at Alkek Library. He discussed the future of greek life with the administrators. “I found out that a couple of universities around the area have 24-hour (library) services throughout the week,” Acosta said. “I believe that if we’re trying to be this rising star, then it’s crucial that we have these library hours extended.” Acosta said the administrators told him the library services are something they have researched in the past. He said the administrators’ feedback regarding both issues was positive. “I was a little nervous at first,” Acosta said. “(Trauth and Smith) are not as intimidating as they seem, though. We really compromised on a lot of the stuff, and I definitely left the room more confident in my ideas.” Kristi Belcher, computer science freshman, met with Trauth to discuss the traffic caused by construction blockades outside of Blanco Hall. She said the road behind her dorm is barricaded even though construction has yet to begin.
READ OPEN DOOR, PAGE 3
Austin Humphreys, Photo Editor
Texas State has a space deficit of more than one million square feet, which has forced the university to be efficient with existing facilities. By Karen Zamora News Reporter Texas State’s crunch for land has forced the university to be one of the most space-efficient higher education institutions in the state. Texas State should have more than 2.9 million square feet of space supporting its current level of students, according to the space model formula designed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. However, the university falls short at 1.8 million square feet. Bill Nance, vice president for Finance and Support Services, said space at Texas State has to be used very efficiently because of the square footage deficit. Thomas Keaton, director of Finance and Resource Planning for the THECB, said space usage efficiency is a measure of how institutions use classrooms and laboratories. Keaton said institutions that use classrooms and laboratories most efficiently tend to have a large square footage deficit. The formula to determine space usage efficiency takes into account the amount of research
conducted in different facilities and the gives priority funding to universities number of faculty and full-time students with large space deficits. Nusbaum said at the institution. a tuition revenue bond has been requestNance said it is an indication that a ed for the new science and engineering university was overbuilt if it has a sur- building. plus of square footage. He said the state Nusbaum said multiple new projects legislature tends to “frown down” on slated for construction will add square those institutions. footage and decrease some of the 1.1 Joe Meyer, director of Institutional million-square-foot deficit according to Research, said the state does not want the Campus Master Plan. She said a new to pay for facilities that are not neces- music recital hall and additions to Comsities. Keaton said there are five public mons Dining Hall will reduce the deficit higher education institutions in the state by 28,000 square feet. Nusbaum said with a square footage surplus. The total READ DEFICIT, PAGE 3 statewide space deficit is 13.8 million square feet. Keaton said the need for space is considered when institutions request tuition THECB recommendation: 2,983,179 sq. feet revenue bonds from the legislature to conCurrent total space: 1,882,074 sq. feet struct new buildings. Nancy Nusbaum, 1,101,105 sq. feet Texas State’s deficit: associate vice president for Finance and Deficit of all public Texas 13.8 million sq. feet Support Services, universities combined: said the legislature
Square Footage Deficit
Facilities department continues plan Company plans to improve campus accessibility to develop plot said the idea was developed to create order while managing ADA projects. The Facilities Department funds the projRenovations are being made to build- ects through an ADA account that is reings around campus to be in compli- plenished each year through the Higher ance with the Americans with Disabili- Education Assistance Fund. ties Act and provide better accessibility The third phase of improvements has to students. begun, which includes the music and The Facilities Department presented chemistry buildings, Commons Dining a master plan outlining improvements Hall and multiple residence structures. that will be made to bring different ar- Don Compton, assistant director of Faeas of campus up to ADA compliance cilities Planning, Design and Construcduring a recent Steering Committee tion, said improvements such as ramps on Disabilities meeting. The master and signage should be completed by the plan includes a map detailing the dif- end of this year. ferent phases of improvements to be The Steering Committee approves completed by fiscal year 2014. Improve- each phase of improvements, Compton ments have been made to the middle of said. The improvements consist of any campus, and subsequent enhancements facilities that do not meet ADA compliwill encompass buildings expanding ance rules. outward from The Quad. Compton said the improvements will Michael Petty, director of Facilities follow state or federal codes, depending Planning, Design and Construction, on which is more stringent. The projects are given priority if they immediately affect students or faculty members. Compton said a student or faculty member needing access into a building through certain doors would be given priority, for instance. “If a student can’t get to their class, that’s pretimportant,” Shea Wendlandt, Star Photographer ty said. The entrances of Alkek Library will be made more handicapped- Compton “What we are doaccessible under the Americans with Disabilities Master Plan. By Paige Lambert News Reporter
ing, in a way, is creating a pathway from parking into the building and into the classroom.” Charlie Salas, associate director of the LBJ Student Center, said Compton was keen on addressing the whole building, which will be improved during the last phase of the plan. “It’s quite evident that we will be working on as many ADA issues as possible,” Salas said. “Even now, we’re taking steps to go beyond compliance and be more aggressive with ADA issues and make LBJ enjoyable for everybody.” Compton said an online interactive map is being developed so people with disabilities can plan a route to class that is in conjunction with the ADA improvements. The map will include an overview of the campus and access routes for people with disabilities throughout different regions of Texas State. Compton said the map will show floor plans and routes into buildings to classrooms, restrooms and elevators. “The idea is that someone who needs these services could literally go online to that link before they ever show up on campus,” Compton said. “And, they don’t have to wonder how they’ll get (to where they are going).” Compton said the map is scheduled for completion in May. Compton said there’s not an actual deadline for improving campus accessibility because “things change.” “We’re not sitting around here idly waiting for something to happen,” Petty said. “We are actively involved, engaged and have been instrumental from the get-go.”
of land near outlet malls
By Amanda Ross News Reporter The creation of new neighborhoods, office buildings and parks could be on the horizon for a large, undeveloped plot of land in San Marcos. Walton Development and Management, a Canadian land management company, has plans to develop 495 acres off Centerpoint Road into a public utility district consisting of single-family homes, community areas and commercial offices. As a public utility district, the development would provide utilities such as electricity, waste collection and water to residents. The plan for the public utility district, tentatively titled the Gas Lamp District, includes apartment complexes, schools and senior citizen communities along with natural elements such as parks and basins. Alexa Knight, regional vice president of Walton Development and Management, said the potential for developments at the Gas Lamp District could attract residents to what is thought of as a college town. Plans for the development were presented to the San Marcos City Council during the Feb. 19 meeting. An additional property tax would be imposed on those looking to buy homes or offices in the area because the land is slated to become a public utility district. Knight said the potential tax for the new district is estimated at 39 cents per every $100 spent. This would be in addition to the city tax of 59 cents per every $100. Single-family homes in the Gas Lamp District would range from $150,000 to $200,000, Knight said. The median price of a home in San Marcos is $139,699,
READ GAS LAMP, PAGE 3