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WHAT’S INSIDE? New website changes Christian stereotype Protect yourself against unreasonable searches German runner leads SHSU cross-country

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TOMORROW’S FORECAST

HI: LOW:

Vendors take over downtown Huntsville

84o 58o

Elizabeth Lancaster | The Houstonian

Chance of Rain: www.HoustonianOnline.com

Volume 124/ Issue 12

CAMPUS

Enrollment, diversity increases compared to 2012 numbers JAY R. JORDAN

Assistant News Editor

Sam Houston State University is growing larger and more diverse, according to preliminary enrollment data released to the Houstonian Monday. SHSU’s Fall 2013 enrollment is 19,219, according to a preliminary report by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Total enrollment rose by four percent since Fall 2012. The total number of

undergraduates rose by 4.1 percent, but the number of graduate students rose only by 3.6 percent. SHSU has been growing by four percent each year for 10 years, according to SHSU President Dana Gibson. She attributed the growth to the university’s faculty during her annual State of the University Address. “This is through all of your efforts,” Gibson said. She also said in a report to the Texas State University System that the enrollment growth last year was the biggest in history.

The number of white students fell by .16 percent. The number of Latino students rose by nearly 13 percent, which is a 51 percent larger increase from Fall 2011 to Fall 2012. The multiracial population rose by 38 percent. According to Assistant Director for Institutional Research Amanda Clark, the Office of IE plans to send the finalized numbers to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by the end of October. The THECB will verify the numbers before declaring the final count.

Students kick off Homecoming Week at rally Kaleigh Trieber| The Houstonian

KALEIGH TRIEBER Staff Reporter

Students gathered in the mall area in front of the LSC to kickoff Homecoming Week on Monday at noon. They listened to Sam Houston State University’s Bearkat Marching Band, gathered around SHSU cheerleaders and football players, and met the homecoming court. The potential kings and queens gave speeches on why the student body should vote for them. Students were given free cookies and plenty of chances to showcase their own school spirit.

“I feel like the whole school gets to come together during spirit week,” Christian Bowsher, sophomore criminal justice major, said. “And we get to show everyone how much we love and support our campus.” This week, students are going to be able to enjoy events like the Sam Jam Carnival Wednesday at 7 p.m., the Homecoming Parade on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., and the Homecoming Movie Night featuring Iron Man 3 in the Lowman Student Center theatre on Friday. These events all lead up to the Homecoming game against Lamar University on Saturday at 2 p.m. For a complete list of events, visit shsu.edu/ homecoming.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

CAMPUS

Supreme Court to hear leadership case today JAY R. JORDAN

Assistant News Editor

Student Body President Ramiro Jaime Jr.’s fate as president of Student Government Association might be determined a week early. The SGA Supreme Court will convene today to determine if the Senate’s a c t i ons to depose RAMIRO Jaime during JAIME the Oct. 1 meeting were constitutional. The Senate said at that meeting that in light of his impeachment, Jaime wasn’t fit to serve as president and wouldn’t be an effective leader in an 11-2 vote of no confidence. The vote gave the power to Vice President Kolby Flowers. In an appeal to the court, Jaime said that he believed the Senate’s actions during the meeting were unconstitutional. Upon receiving Jaime’s appeal, Chief Justice Frank Parker issued a Stay of Action Order to SGA on Wednesday that temporarily reversed the actions that put Jaime out of power until the case is ruled on by the Supreme Court. Along with reinstating his power, Jaime requested that the Court make every action taken by SGA during the meeting in question null and void. If the Court rules in Jaime’s favor, the following actions will be reversed in addition to Jaime’s reinstatement: •The termination of Jaime’s unauthorized personal assistant, •Senator Steven Perry’s appointment to Rules and Regulations Chief, •F13-05, legislation passed unanimously by the senate that advocates for an Authentic Identification program

CAMPUS

SHSU economic impact near $290 million MOLLY WADDELL Associate Editor More than one in six jobs in the local economy are attributable to Sam Houston State University, according to an economic impact study authored by two SHSU economic professors. President Dana Gibson, Ph.D., commissioned economic professors Ed Blackburne and Bill Green to complete the study. “At SHSU, we are always working to provide value to the region and the State of Texas by educating future generations, conducting research that adds to productivity, and offering many other opportunities that will benefit our area,” Gibson said in a press release. “These benefits create a solid foundation for local and regional economies.” According to the study, the total

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economic impact on Walker County in 2012 was $290 million, and 6,008 regional jobs are supported directly or indirectly by SHSU. “As the new study indicates, SHSU is committed to making a reliable, consistent and positive contribution to the economic betterment of the communities we serve and delivering a highly educated workforce at an affordable cost,” Gibson said. According to the study, the SHSU workforce is made up of 54 percent of local residents. One in every six dollars generated in Walker County is supported by SHSU. Furthermore, SHSU students and faculty have attributed to about 43 percent to rental housing in Walker County. SHSU students have contributed heavily to local businesses. According to the study, students have contributed $33 million to real estate establishments, $20 million food services and drinking places, $103 million to retail, $3 million

to health and personal care, $3 million to dry-cleaning and laundry services, and $1 million to gasoline. SHSU events have also brought many visitors to Walker County. According to the study, SHSU brought 555,930 visitors to the area in 2012. Green said that SHSU contributes to the area in more ways than those that can be measured, according to a university press release. “Besides the talented faculty, staff and students who are a part of the community and contribute to the quality of life, the region benefits from many cultural attractions that would not be available if the university were not located here,” Green said. “Among those are theatre, musical and athletic events, as well as the resources we provide such as the campus library and expertise across the disciplines.” The university’s report on the survey is being finalized before it is released.

at Sam Houston State University for LGBT individuals, and •F13-06, legislation unanimously passed by the senate that declares October as LGBT History Month at SHSU. Senator Sara Barrow proposed the motion in question, saying that she felt that Jaime was unable to serve as an effective leader. “After consultation with many members of the Senate, I feel that this action is the best way to ensure the functionality of the organization in the short term,” Barrow said. “This is not a personal action or a movement to impeach, but solely an action to ensure the well being of the student body.” Jaime said in his appeal that the Senate acted unconstitutionally and clung to semantics as a reason for his opinion. “If you read the Senator’s motion once again, the motion was that the Senate currently has no confidence in the president’s ability to serve as an effective leader of the student government,” Jaime said. The Senate voted in favor of Barrow’s proposal for the same reasons they want to impeach Jaime, according to Flowers. “I believe the intention [of the constitutional clause] was that if the president is unable to resign or give up power, the Senate can take this action,” Jaime said. “If the Senate gets to determine what they think is inability, then I believe that their determination was based solely on the premise that they want to strip me of my position as Student Body President.” The charges against Jaime are Dereliction of Duty and Malfeasance, including the alleged misuse of student service fees on multiple occasions. The Supreme Court hearing will be held at 2:30 p.m. today.

CITY

Huntsville cleanses water KASSIDY TURNPAUGH Staff Reporter

Routine maintenance on Huntsville’s water distribution has left the citizens of Huntsville with a noticeable difference in their unfiltered water while the system is being worked on, according to a press release by the city. A city wide cleanse will be taking place between Oct. 2 to Oct. 22 to flush out impurities. This cleanse will involve the use of stronger disinfectants and the flushing of the water mains to help maintain a bacteria free environment. Water Services Superintendent Joyce

Hubbard said that the adjustment has been recommended by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. “The City of Huntsville utilizes a combination of surface water and groundwater to meet the needs of citizens, and under normal circumstances, chloramine disinfection – a mixture of chlorine and ammonia – is used to treat the water,” Hubbard said. “During this time period the city will be using freechlorine, a slightly stronger disinfectant than chloramines, which can be used to remove any nitrification that may be occurring in the distribution system.”

Be sure to check out the Houstonian Orientation Guide located around campus and the City of Huntsville! Can’t find one? Let us know and we’ll get you a copy.


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10-8-13 by The Houstonian - Issuu