Hilltop Views S t .
E d w a r d ’ s
U n i v e r s i t y
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Volume 26 | Issue 9
hilltopviewsonline.com
University creating new intramural field Regina Shelton St. Edward’s University is creating a new intramural field on the lawn in front of Teresa Hall. The $125,000 field, located down the hill from the Mary Moody Northern Theatre and adjacent to Teresa Hall’s sand volleyball court, will be 150 feet wide and 225 feet long. The idea for an intramural field was conceived by the Student Affairs board about two years ago, but was not approved until late last spring by the Landscape & Architecture Committee. Athletics Director Debbie
Taylor said that finding the location for the field was not an easy task considering the size of the campus but Michael Peterson, the director of Physical Plant, said the designated location will be perfect for the plans. But although the field may look ready, it will not be able to be used because the grassroots need to set in. “We plan to have the field finished before Christmas break and ready for use sometime in late March or early April,” Peterson said. The field will also not be fenced-in like the regular athletics fields. Those fields
Lucio Manzano
An intramural field is being created on the Teresa Hall lawn.
are closed off to non-NCAA athletes because of the highmaintenance Bermuda grass.
Airfare up for holidays Katy Johnson Students planning on flying home for the holidays may want to purchase their ticket sooner rather than later, as ticket prices are increasing on a daily basis. According to a New York Times article released last week, Thanksgiving airfare is rising nearly 6 percent weekly, a percentage that is projected to increase as the holidays approach. The article also reported that tickets purchased for the most popular itinerary, departing Nov. 25 and returning on Nov. 29, increased 10 percent over the course of
a week. This would be the ideal flights for traveling St. Edward’s Un i v e r s i t y students who have off from classes on Nov. 25-27. Southwest Airlines St. Ed- Southwest Airlines is known for cheap flights. ward’s stubock find it more efficient dents come from all over the country and the to fly home rather than face globe, but a vast majority also a lengthy and grueling road come from Texas, a state that trip. As of Nov. 6, flights leaving takes about 12 hours to drive from Austin arriving in El from one end to the other. Many students who are from cities like El Paso and Lub-
Sports: Men’s soccer and women’s volleyball win conference titles. Page 9-10.
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The field is going to be left open so that it is inviting for students to stop by and play
pick up games at their convenience,” Taylor said. “It will be used longer and more often than current athletic fields.” Soccer, lacrosse, football and rugby goals will be available at all times on the field, in addition to some bench seating which, according to Peterson, will be placed between the current volleyball court and the new field. Peterson also spoke of another amenity, a water fountain, which will be located on the north side of the field in the general direction of East Hall. No permanent lines will be drawn on the field in order to maximize flexibility
for several sports. That flexibility will also force the current basketball court to be moved behind in the parking lot between Teresa Hall and the Satellite Chiller Plant building, Taylor said. The Athletics Department and Landscape & Architecture committee are planning to have an official grand opening April 2010, assuming everything goes as planned. An official name and dedications have yet to be established, and Lemons said that he has yet to get that far into INTRAMURAL, 4
H1N1 cases decreasing Mary Fisher The number of presumed H1N1 cases reported is decreasing, said a St. Edward’s University health official. “The week of Oct. 12 there were 23 cases while the week of Oct. 26 there were only six cases,” said William Pannabecker, director of the Health and Counseling Center at St. Edward’s. “However, that does not mean we won’t see a big surge in cases.” Since August, the Health and Counseling Centerhas identified 192 H1N1 cases, said Pannabecker.
Features: Hilltop Mentors program offers support. Page 13.
And, even though the cases are decreasing, the St. Edward’s population has experienced a slightly higher percentage rate than the nationwide average. About 5 percent of the St. Edward’s student body affected by H1N1 is about 5 percent, said Pannabecker, while the national rate of students affected by H1N1 is 2 percent, according to the American College Health Association. Pannabecker believes the higher percentage was caused by the fact that more students sought treatment for their symptoms at the
Health and Counseling Center. “First, we mounted a very big education campaign to inform the campus about the risks of flu,” he said. “Second, all our materials encouraged students to come to the Health and Counseling Center.” It is still uncertain if St. Edward’s will receive any H1N1 vaccines. “They are showing up in Texas, but they’re mostly going to young children and pregnant women,” said Pannabecker.
Entertainment: Get the dirt on Fun Fun Fun Fest. Page 8.
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