02 16 2006 by The University Star

DOES THIS COME IN VINYL?

COMING OUT BIG

SEE TRENDS PAGE 5

SEE SPORTS PAGE 12

2006 music releases are ﬁlled with indie-rock ﬂavor

Bobcat baseball bowls over TCU Horned Frogs

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS

www.UniversityStar.com

THURSDAY

FEBRUARY 16, 2006

VOLUME 95, ISSUE 54

Appropriate use of student fee to be investigated by ASG

va Compensation

By Ashley Richards The University Star

The entity receiving funding from the fees may then have a budget manager come before Triggered by a recommenda- the Student Service Fee Comtion made by the Associated mittee to justify its use of the Student Government, the Stu- money. dent Service Fee Committee beAccording to records posted gan reviewing budget records of on CatsWeb, students taking 10 the 56 permanent accounts that or more hours during the Spring receive funding from the service 2006 semester were charged fee. $158 in student service fees. For “We are just looking at the students enrolled in fewer than permanent ac10 hours, the counts to see student service that they are fee was $16 per spending the hour. money they’ve Jovan Wilbeen given for born, Craig the intended Beck and Napurpose,” said than Tondre Jordan Anagreed that derson, ASG the uses of the president. “It student serhadn’t been vice fee need to done in years, be monitored probably, and closely and on we made sure a more regular that this is basis. — Jordan Anderson something we “Just to make want to do they’re ASG president sure more regularly spending the now.” money on the The acright stuff,” counts that receive funding said Wilborn, athletic training from the student service fee junior. “Being responsible for have not been examined in an your actions is always a good in-depth manner in at least thing.” five years, Anderson said. BeBeck, undecided sophomore, cause tuition rates have been and Tondre, construction techon the rise, Anderson said the nology sophomore, both said ASG found it appropriate to they hope the committee does pass legislation so the requests not find that the accounts receivfor funding from the accounts ing funding have been spending could be reviewed thoroughly. the money frivolously. “We just decided to go back “I just hope they’re not spendand look at some of those old ing it on crap that I wouldn’t requests to see if money was be- want to spend it on,” Tondre ing spent for the right reasons,” said. Anderson said. “One, to see if The students said they all they’re spending the money on believe there should be more what they requested it for, and funding put toward the Student two, to see if that request is still Recreational Center. Beck said needed. We just want to make he sees no problem in the stusure that money is not going dent service fee as long as the somewhere and being spent on money is spent correctly. something else.” In addition to the funding The legislation passed by the student service fee provides ASG requesting a review of the for the permanent accounts, it accounts asked for a sub-com- is also used to fund one-time mittee to be created within the projects and activities based on Student Service Fee Commit- requests, which are reviewed as tee. Instead, Anderson said, the they are received. The commitexisting committee was divided tee plans to finish reviewing the into sub-committees as a short- 56 permanent accounts by the term solution. end of the semester. “It’s just something that “I think the goal in the future needs to be done on a regular would be for several accounts basis because it’s the students’ each year to be reviewed so that money and if we’re not check- the committee wouldn’t be buring on it, then who would?” An- dened with reviewing them in derson said. one semester,” Anderson said. In reviewing the permanent He also suggested possibly ciraccounts, the committee may culating the review of accounts ask for an itemized list of ex- so that each one is looked at evpenditures from each account. ery five years.

e are just “W looking at the permanent

A.D. Brown/Star feature photo

accounts to see that they are spending the money they’ve been given for the intended purpose.”

Egg donation gains popularity among college women By Anna Hefﬂey The University Star College women are practically worth their weight in gold at egg donation centers. Men have been able to donate sperm for more than a hundred years. Now women can donate their eggs and not only earn money, but also provide other

women with a chance at pregnancy. Jan, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, is the assistant director of the Egg Donation Center of Dallas, Inc. Jan said for women older than 35 years old who can no longer produce eggs, ﬁnding an egg donor is one of their last hopes for a family. “If you donate your eggs, you’ve done

an incredible service for humanity, and you’ve done something great for your fellow woman,” Jan said. Some of the requirements for being egg donors at the Dallas center include the woman being between the ages of 19 and 29 and having an SAT score of 1100 or higher and an ACT score of 24 or See EGGS, page 4

Austin ADDY Award given to Texas State alumni By Jacqueline Davis The University Star Each year, Texas State students get the chance to compete in the largest advertising competition in the country, where they present fresh ideas while rubbing elbows with more than 600 advertising industry leaders. Five Texas State alumni recently won one of the coveted “best of show” honors at the Austin ADDY Awards, which was held Feb. 3 at the Palmer Events Center. The ADDY awards recognize the best advertising created in Austin for clients around the nation. The competition, hosted by the Austin Advertising Federation, recognized Colin Decker, Ashley Ross, John Livingston, Allen Lafuente and David Kelly, recent

Texas State graduates. Students who win a local gold or silver ADDY go on to compete in a regional competition. Regional winners get a shot at national recognition. The group did a television spot for the Austin Chronicle using hand animation created with paper mache, shot one frame at a time, a process similar to claymation, said Scott Van Osdol, president of the Austin Advertising Federation. Van Osdol called the entry “very provocative.” Van Osdol said that nearly 100 student teams put together a campaign for a real client and competed in about 13 student categories. Through the years, Texas State has been a frequent winner of ADDY awards. “I would say that what sets

the Texas State students apart is good research, great creative and superb presentation,” Van Osdol said. Since graduating, all of the team members have since landed jobs in Austin or San Antonio, said Decker. Decker won a national ADDY last year, and said that his team had all participated and won awards in various competitions. Decker enjoyed being a part of this team and said that the project rarely felt like work. “I had the idea of using a stop-motion technique to show off the features of the Chronicle, and it blossomed from there,” Decker said. “We had a camera set up and slowly covered each piece with paper to get the effect you see in the ads. It turned out great, but we spent almost every

night for three weeks on it and had to clean up and edit over 700 individual frames to get the look we wanted.” Van Osdol, AAF president, said that the ADDYs force students to take a good, hard look at their work, which can be both a humbling experience and an inspiration to look for new perspectives in the future. “Entering the ADDYs can also help heal your karma and sharpen your portfolio by leading you to work on pro-bono campaigns,” Van Osdol said. “ADDY judges respond to bold, innovative concept and design, and pro-bono affords you that opportunity.” The winning entry can be viewed at www.john-l.com in the video section under Austin Chronicle.

Bobcat Build aims to create stronger foundation for city By Robert Best The University Star Bobcat Build, a student-run community service program, will hold its fourth annual service day on April 1. This one-day event provides Texas State students an opportunity to contribute to the community. Volunteers will help San Marcos neighborhoods by raking leaves, trimming trees, painting houses and landscaping. In previous years, they have also taken part in gardening, springcleaning, grafﬁti removal, playground ﬁx-ups, trail building and washing buses for the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District. “It has been amazing to see how Bobcat Build has grown over the past four years,” said Kandice Cruz, community involvement director for the program, in a press release. “This tradition has

“B

obcat Build is a great opportunity to connect with the community and should be taken advantage of.”

— Kalista Glasgow Bobcat Build director

helped to bridge the gap between the community and university.” Last year, more than 2,000 students helped the community at about 120 different sites. “It’s important to give back to the city of San Marcos,” said Matt Bungo, ﬁnance junior. “My entire fraternity will be there doing what we can.”

Today’s Weather

Partly Cloudy 83˚/55˚

Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 60% UV: 6 High Wind: S 17 mph

Mayor Susan Narvaiz, who helps identify job sites, declared February as Bobcat Build Month. “I am proud to support Bobcat Build, which connects Texas State volunteers with needs in our community,” Narvaiz said in a press release. “The students provide labor for projects that would take weeks for these organizations and schools to do themselves.” Bobcat Build is not limited to students and employees. Although approval from Bobcat Build ofﬁcials is necessary, anyone outside the university may participate. On the day of the event, participants will receive a Bobcat Build T-Shirt and will be able to put their greek letters or student organization name on the back in marker. “Bobcat Build is a great opportunity Brynn Leggett/Star ﬁle photo to connect with the community and HELPING HAND: Mass communication junior Brittani Sims volunteers her time should be taken advantage of,” said Bob- to Bobcat Build in 2005 by painting the sanctuary of Unity Church with the Felcat Build Director Kalista Glasgow. lowship of Christian Athletes.

Two-day Forecast Friday Partly Cloudy Temp: 83°/ 55° Precipitation: 0%

Saturday PM Showers Temp: 61°/ 46° Precipitation: 30%

Inside

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS

News ..............1-4 Trends .............5-7 Comics .............. 8 Crossword ......... 8

Sudoku .............. 8 Opinions ............ 9 Classiﬁeds ....... 10 Sports ......... 11,12

PAGE TWO The University Star

Thursday in Brief

February 16, 2006

cityhappenings Councilman Jones opens office San Marcos City Council member Chris Jones has announced the opening of his new office located in the Corridor Business Center on 215 West San Antonio St. Jones said he is paying for the office through personal funds, rather than City funds. Jones will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on

Tuesdays, or by appointment, from noon to 1:45 pm. Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays. Jones invites the residents of San Marcos to stop by and discuss any issues and concerns that they may have. The phone number is (512) 392-9119. — Courtesy of the city of San Marcos

News Contact — Kirsten Crow, starnews@txstate.edu

Calendar of

Library Beat

Mic Check

Witliff Gallery opens exhibition of founder’s photography

EVENTS Clubs & Meetings Thursday The Pre-Medical/Dental Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Supple Science Building, Room 116. For more information, visit www.studentorgs.txstate.edu/ pre-med/. Facing the Fear: An Anxiety/ Panic Group will meets from 4 to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call the Counseling Center. Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship will hold its weekly meeting at 8:30 p.m. in Old Main, Room 320. Enjoy contemporary worship, relevant teaching, prayer and plenty of fun. Everyone is welcome. Contact (512) 5577988 or mail@texasstatechialpha. com. The Communications Club will hold its meeting from 5 to 6 p.m. in Centennial Hall, Room 318.

Events Thursday Activists for Sexual Minorities is hosting a panel discussion from 7 to 9 p.m. in the LBJSC Teaching Theater. “Courage in Religion & Science,” a forum that is part of the university’s Common Experience program, will be presented from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the CSC. Tuesday The Counseling Center will be holding “Uncovering the Hidden Self ” from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. in the LBJSC, Room 3-5.1. For more information, please call (512) 245-2208.

Arts & Entertainment Thursday The department of theatre and dance presents Opening Door Dance Theatre Reminisce: A Choreographic Eulogy Honoring Karen Earl on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Evans

During the past decade, Bill Wittliff has replaced the lenses of some 100 cameras with simple pinholes, returning to photography’s roots in search of ways to render the enduring realities of light and time. Always evocative, often revelatory, the resulting vignettes, which he calls “tragaluces” (“light swallowers”), open keyhole views into an intimate world, with subjects that seem to exist outside the moment in their own private spaces. This celebratory exhibition, titled La Vida Brinca, which means “life jumps,” after Wittliff’s second book with University of Texas Press, features more than 60 of his hand-toned silver-gelatin photographs on view at the Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern & Mexican Photography on the seventh ﬂoor of the Alkek Library. Meet the photographer March 25 Free and open to the public, this special event begins with a reception at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m., there will be an informal discussion and question and answer portion with Stephen Harrigan and Elizabeth Ferrer, authors of the book’s introductory essays, and the photographer, Bill Wittliff. A

Auditorium. Admission is $10 for general admission and $5 for students with ID. All proceeds are donated to the Karen Earl Memorial Scholarship Fund. Monday The Music Lecture Series presents “The Mid-Nineteenth Century Symphony” with John C. Schmidt at 8 p.m. in the Recital Hall. Free admission.

Campus Sports Thursday Tri-fecta Thursday at the Texas State golf course. Free salsa dance lessons take place from 9 to 10 p.m. at the student Recreation Center.

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Sunday Free hip-hop dance lessons take place from 9 to 10 p.m. at the SRC.

Miscellaneous

CALENDAR SUBMISSION POLICY Calendar submissions are free. Send submissions to Calendar of Events at starcalendar@txstate.edu or call (512) 245-3487 for more information. E-mailed press releases will not be accepted. If using e-mail, please submit as a simple bulleted list of essential information. Submissions are on a ﬁrst come, ﬁrst served basis and notices for weekly meetings need to be submitted every week they will take place. The University Star reserves the right to refuse entries or edit for libel, style and space purposes. Deadline: Three working days prior to publication.

— Courtesy of Alkek Library

Texas State sports rank in nation’s top 50 Monty Marion/Star photo Frankie Luiz, pre-mass communication junior, prepares to go live on KTSW Wednesday in Old Main. Luiz, who hosts a show along with Thomas Moore, can be heard every Wednesday from 2 to 3:30 pm on 98.9 FM.

Thursday PAWS Preview is accepting applications for the position of PAL and P2 Crew until March 10. Motivated students are needed to welcome the class of 2010 to Texas State. Applications are available in LBJSC, Room 4-11.1. Call 245-3219 or e-mail ls1097@txstate.edu for more information.

book signing will follow. La Vida Brinca will be for sale for $54.13, tax included. Proceeds beneﬁt the Wittliff Gallery. Please R.S.V.P. by e-mail if you’d like to attend: wittliffgallery@txstate.edu. Bill Wittliff, of Austin, is a distinguished photographer, screenwriter and producer, whose ﬁlm credits include The Perfect Storm, The Black Stallion, Legends of the Fall and Lonesome Dove, among others. His photographs have been exhibited in the United States and abroad, and published not only in his recent book with UT Press, Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy, but also in numerous catalogs, books and periodicals. Bill and his wife Sally are the founding donors of the Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern & Mexican Photography and the Southwestern Writers Collection at Texas State. For more on the book, including the introductory essay, “Bill Wittliff’s Hidden World,” visit http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/ books/witlav.html. See exhibit hours and the full event calendar online at www.library.txstate.edu/spec-coll, or call Special Collections at (512) 2452313.

CRIME BL TTER San Marcos Police Department

Feb. 14, 12:28 p.m. Evading Arrest/ W. Access Road of Texas Ave. Officer initiated traffic stop and passenger fled on foot while officer was conducting a warrants check. Feb. 14, 1:40 p.m. Theft, Initial Dispatch/ 2300 S. Interstate 35 Victim’s tools were stolen out of toolbox from previous employer’s garage. Feb. 14, 2:00 p.m. Sexual Assault/2300 S. I-35 Sexual assault.

Feb. 14, 4:45 p.m. Theft between $1,500 and $20,000/2301 Ridge Crest Theft of a laptop computer.

Feb. 14, 9:39 p.m. Public Intoxication/ 1015 Highway 80 One male was arrested for enhanced public intoxication and theft under $50. Feb. 14, 11:17 p.m. Information Report/ 1700 S. I-35 Information report — narcotics activity. Feb. 14, 11:44 p.m. Warrant Service/ 1610 N. I-35 One male was arrested for warrants.

Crime stoppers: UPD: 245-7867, SMPD: 353-TIPS

With both the university’s football and volleyball teams advancing to NCAA Championship play, as well as strong performances by several other sports, Texas State ranks 39th in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup Fall Standings. At the conclusion of the 2005-06 fall sports season, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics recognized the top 50 schools in Division I, Division II, Division III and NAIA. The standings were released in the February issue of NACDA’s trade publication Athletics Administration. Texas State ranked just ahead of No. 40 Michigan in the Division I standings. Among the other universities ranked below Texas State in the top 50 were Louisiana State, North Carolina State and Indiana State. “This is a credit to the coaches, staff and everyone involved in Texas State’s intercollegiate athletic program,” said Larry Teis, Texas State’s director of athletics. Notre Dame leads the U.S. Sports Academy’s Cup Fall Standings with 412 points followed by Penn State (308.5 points) and Stanford (282 points). Texas State has scored 108 points through the fall seasons and is within 12 points of such programs as Alabama State, Arizona State, Washington State and Virginia Tech. Texas State is one of only four Texas schools ranked on the top 50 list. The others are University of Texas (No. 7), Southern Methodist University (No. 29) and University of Texas-El Paso (No. 44). The awards program was developed to recognize the best all-around athletic programs in each of four divisions through a joint effort of NACDA and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s ﬁnish in a predetermined number of sports. In Division I, institutions may score in up to 20 sports. Half of the sports in each division are women’s and half are men’s. Texas State’s football team posted an 11-3 record in 2005, captured a share of the Southland Conference championship and was an NCAA National Semiﬁnalist. Also in 2005, the Texas State volleyball team won a second straight Southland Conference Postseason Volleyball Tournament to advance to the NCAA Championships in back-to-back years. — Courtesy of Texas State Athletics

NEWS

Thursday, February 16, 2006

The University Star - Page 3

Discarded ballots add to Haitian election woes House panel examines government’s inept response to Katrina By Tim Collie South Florida Sun-Sentinel

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti’s troubled elections were dealt another blow Wednesday with the discovery of dozens of ballot boxes and polling materials scattered across a landfill just outside the capital city. The discovery seemed to back charges by front-runner Rene Preval that fraud and “gross errors” plagued the Feb. 7 presidential contest, though it was impossible to tell just how many votes for Preval ended up in the garbage. “Just look at this — this is what the rich of this country think of our votes,” said Renel Duqueres, a landfill worker who said he began noticing the ballot boxes being dumped last week. “They just kept coming and coming, and we burned a lot of them. But then it just became too much.” As pigs and goats rooted through huge mounds of smoldering garbage covering dozens of acres, Haitians from nearby villages waved discarded ballots Wednesday that showed Preval’s box checked as an apparent vote. But some ballots showed markings for other candidates; others had no marks at all. “This is really quite disturbing, and it looks like it’s going to mess up things quite a bit,” said David Wimhurst, spokesman for the United Nations, which has backed this country’s interim government with a 9,000-man military force since a 2004 rebellion ousted former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. With 90 percent of ballots counted in the presidential race, Preval leads with 48.7 percent of the vote, followed by former President Leslie Manigat with 11.8 percent. Preval needs a simple majority to avoid a runoff, and he contends that the vote was sabotaged to shrink his lead. Michel Brunache, chief of staff for President Boniface Alexandre, said on Haitian radio Wednesday that the interim government is forming a commission with election officials and Preval’s aides to review allega-

By Alison Young Knight Ridder Newspapers

Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/KRT TROUBLE IN HAITI: A man looks over one of the apparent discarded presidential election ballots discovered in the smoldering trash dump near Cite’ Soleil, Wednesday. Many of them appeared to be marked and signed. Presidential front runner Rene Preval, along with numerous others, have alleged fraud in the election.

tions of vote fraud. But no authority could say when the commission would meet or how long its investigation would last. Behind the scenes, U.N. diplomats continued to huddle with Haitian leaders and ambassadors from the United States and other countries to ﬁnd a way out of the mess. Brazil, whose military leads the U.N. peacekeeping force in Haiti, was pushing a plan to declare Preval the winner in an effort to avoid another nationwide rebellion. Among the materials discovered at the landﬁll by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel was a Senate tally sheet for a polling place in Carrefour, a Port-au-Prince suburb where no irregularities were reported. It was one of several tally sheets found by reporters Wednesday. One of the names on the tally sheet was that of Jean-Herlin Beaublanc, who was an election observer for Preval’s party at the

polling place. “Yes, that’s the tally sheet, but I don’t have any idea what happened to the votes,” Beaublanc said. “The whole place was a mess. It opened up ﬁve hours late, and they kicked us out in the afternoon because it was so disorganized. I didn’t see what they did with the votes.” One way out of the growing crisis may be to discard so-called blank ballots — which under Haitian law must be included in the total votes cast — that were tabulated during the past week, an idea being ﬂoated by some diplomats. Eliminating the blank ballots would reduce the total number of ballots counted, giving each candidate a larger share of the votes. If all the blanks are discarded, then Preval would win with about 51 percent of the vote, one diplomat said. A large proportion of votes, about 4.7 percent, were blank,

showing no choice for president among the 33 candidates. Though some Caribbean and Latin American countries have a tradition of submitting blank ballots as protest votes, “this was a pretty high number, and it does look suspicious on its face,” said an international diplomat closely involved with the elections process. “It’s hard to believe that people woke up at 3 a.m., walked ﬁve miles and stood in lines for hours to submit blank ballots. “What we think happened is that at some polling stations the workers just tossed in unused ballots with everything else, and they got counted,” said the diplomat, who didn’t want his name used because of the sensitivity of the situation. “That’s going to be one of the negotiating points, like everything else here,” he said. “Who knows how long this could last. Nothing is ever simple in Haiti, especially at election time.”

WASHINGTON D.C. — As Gulf Coast residents suffered and died in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, local officials were overwhelmed, the nation’s top homeland security official was “confused” about his role in getting critical help to the region and the White House was “overcome by the fog of war.” Meanwhile, the comprehensive national emergency plan designed to guide everyone involved in such a disaster went largely ignored. Those are among the findings of a mostly Republican panel from the House of Representatives that has spent five months examining what caused the inept response to one of the nation’s worst natural disasters. “It remains difficult to understand how government could respond so ineffectively to a disaster that was anticipated for years and for which specific dire warnings had been issued for days,” said Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., chairman of the House select committee on Katrina. “If this is what happens when we have advance warning, we shudder to imagine the consequences when we do not,” Davis said. On Wednesday, Davis’ committee released its 505-page report, titled “A Failure of Initiative,” which repeatedly cited examples of inaction by key decision-makers. The report echoes some of the preliminary conclusions released last month in a separate investigation by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress. Investigations by a Senate panel and the White House are ongoing. Among those singled out in the House report is Homeland

Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, the official designated in the National Response Plan as being in charge during a major national disaster. The report says that Chertoff delayed taking several key actions, including waiting 36 hours after the storm hit to declare Katrina an Incident of National Significance — an action that would have helped speed massive federal aid to the region. Knight Ridder first reported Chertoff ’s blunders on Sept. 13. “Given the well-known consequences of a major hurricane hitting New Orleans, the Secretary should have designated an Incident of National Significance no later than Saturday, two days prior to landfall,” the report found. A handful of Gulf Coast democrats who participated in the probe said Chertoff should be replaced with an emergency management expert because of his poor performance in the Katrina crisis. Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown shouldn’t be the only government official to lose his job, they said. “The discussion of Secretary Chertoff ’s response is in many ways the strongest part of the majority views,” Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La., and Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., said in a companion report. “Unlike other areas, where the report eschews accountability, the majority makes affirmative findings that identify major shortcomings in Secretary Chertoff ’s actions.” Davis, the panel’s chairman, seemed to try to soften the report’s pointed criticism of Chertoff as he released it during Wednesday’s committee meeting, saying that Brown failed to advise Chertoff of the actions the secretary needed to take in the disaster.

NEWS

Page 4 - The University Star

Thursday, February 16, 2006

EGGS: Ovum donation includes serious risks Blair successfully pushes CONTINUED from page 1

higher, making college women ideal candidates. Most donation centers pay women around $3,000 to $4,000 to donate their eggs. At the Dallas center, donors are compensated $3,500 for the first donation, $4,000 for the second, $4,500 for the third and $5,000 for the fourth to 10th donations. “It’s a win-win situation,” Jan said. “Young women have eggs and need money; older women have money and need eggs.” The donation is completely anonymous. Neither the donor nor recipient know the others’ identity to protect both parties. If a woman decides to become a donor, she will have to meet all requirements and fill out an application. At most centers, donors must be younger than or about 30 years of age, a non-smoker, normal weight range and willing to avoid alcohol and caffeine during the cycle. If requirements are met, donors can set up a personal interview. Jan said she travels to the nearest major airport to conduct the interview so prospective donors do not have to travel to Dallas. At the Dallas center and the Fertility Institute of Houston, the in-depth interview lasts two to three hours, so donors are well-informed and do not feel the need to change their minds about the process later, Jan said. “We are very up-front with the donors. We want people to be fully aware of all aspects of the process,” Jan said. Donors also undergo psychological and physical evaluations. These screenings ensure donors are comfortable with the process and physically able to proceed. These screenings may even find medical issues originally unknown to the donor. Jan said one woman had cervical cancer, which they found during the physical evaluation. The woman was treated and was later able to donate. Once the psychological and physical evaluations have been reviewed, which Jan said might take up to three weeks, the donor’s profile is presented to recipients. Jan said the amount of time for a donor to be chosen varies greatly.

“It could take a week, or it could take a year,” Jan said. When chosen, the donors take birth control pills to make their ovaries dormant and also put their menstrual cycles in sync with the recipient’s. During the course of the process, donors make several trips to a medical facility during a two-month period. The recipient covers the travel expenses. The Dallas center works with medical facilities in many major cities, including San Antonio, so a trip to Dallas is not necessary every time. The Fertility Institute has four facilities in the Houston area, including Tomball and the Woodlands. At the Fertility Institute, the first visit is for the interview and the second is for a Lupon shot to prevent early ovulation. The donor must make four medical visits the next month. At both the Dallas center and the Fertility Institute, donors are asked to give themselves ovarian follicle stimulation hormone shots with an insulin needle for eight days early in the month of the procedure. “It is hard on the donor’s bodies. The first time is the hardest though, and after that it’s usually a piece of cake,” Jan said. Amy Baumohl, a registered nurse at the Fertility Institute, said the collection process takes about 15 minutes. The donor is given an intravenous sedation and the eggs are retrieved by transvaginal ovarian aspiration, which means a tube is inserted from below and suction is used to collect the eggs and the fluid they are in. As soon as the donor says she feels well enough, she can go home. “For some donors, it is only 45 minutes, for others it takes two hours,” Baumohl said. Because of the anesthesia, the donor needs someone to drive her home. The recipients cover this travel cost as well. Jan and Baumohl said donors should rest the day of the surgery and the day after. Most donors are able to resume normal activities two days after the surgery, though in some cases soreness does occur. During the psychological evaluation at the Dallas center, potential donors are asked if they consider donating their eggs to

be more like donating blood or giving up a child. “If someone is very attached to their biology and sees it as giving up their own child, this may not be for them,” Jan said. “But if they can look at it as a gift to humanity, like giving blood or hair, then they can consider it.” Some students at Texas State feel like it would be giving up a child. “I wouldn’t personally do it, but I don’t think it’s wrong,” said Mary Cornett, dance senior. “It’s just that that would be like my kid running around out there, and I wouldn’t know where they are.” Other students feel it is more like giving blood. “If men can do it, women sure as hell should be able to. It’s really invasive, so it’s worth more. I’d do it. That would pay for my summer abroad program,” said Shelley Nottingham, sculpture senior. Potential donors may wonder if they will run out of eggs, but Jan said no medical evidence suggests that. “Women start with about 400,000 eggs, and they lose eggs by the passage of time. Donating 20 or 30 isn’t going to make a difference in how many you have,” Jan said. For donors concerned with overpopulation, Jan said even though about 20 eggs are collected, only about 15 fertilize and only a few become blastocysts, which are healthier and more stable than embryos. One blastocyst is transferred to the recipient, and if there are any others, they are frozen. This preserves them and prevents multiple births. “Just because you transfer doesn’t mean it will take, and even if it takes, it may not be born,” Jan said. “It’s the same problems as with any pregnancy.” If chosen, the donor would also have to be committed to going through with the process they begin. “So much is riding on this,” Jan said. “Donors have to be 100 percent on board. The recipients aren’t just putting money on the line, they are putting their hearts on the line. Their hope for their future is in the donor’s hands.” The New York State Task Force on Life and the Law’s Web site states risks potential donors may

not be aware of. The task force includes leaders in the fields of law, medicine, nursing, philosophy, consumer rights, religion and ethics. One of the major concerns is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, or OHSS. A donor’s risk for developing OHSS lessens after the eggs are collected, but if the donor cannot go through with the collection process after taking the follicle stimulation hormones, their chances of OHSS increase. OHSS is a rare complication, but it can be life threatening. Donors must have frequent blood tests while using the hormones to monitor their response. Jan said the Dallas center informs potential donors of this risk. “Some donors just react too well to the hormones,” Jan said. “The donor is developing so many eggs that a lot of fluid gathers in the abdomen, but doctors can remove the fluid quickly. It is important to contact the doctor with any signs of complications.” The long-term risks are unknown, but some studies suggest fertility hormones may be linked to ovarian cancer and complications with the surgery have been linked to infertility. Potential donors should be aware that as with any medical procedure, the risk associated with anesthesia and infection should be seriously considered, and women should research the process fully for themselves before making a decision.

For more information, contact the Egg Donation Center of Dallas at (972) 424-9369 or visit their Web site at www.eggdonorcenter.com, and the Houston Fertility Center at 281-357-1881 or visit their Web site at www.hﬁ-ivf.com. For more information on the New York State Task Force on Life and the Law, visit http://www. health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/infertility/eggdonor.htm.

ban on ‘glorification’ of terrorism in England By Tom Hundley Chicago Tribune

LONDON — Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government succeeded Wednesday in pushing through a controversial new law that makes the “glorification” of terrorism a criminal offense. Opponents said the law impinges on civil liberties, but the Blair government appears to have benefited from a growing public backlash concerning the “cartoon wars” — the attacks on Western embassies and a global Muslim outcry in response to a dozen cartoons in a Danish newspaper that satirized the Prophet Muhammad. An earlier version of the government’s bill barely squeaked through the House of Commons in November, when Blair suffered a resounding defeat on a related measure that would have allowed the government to hold terror suspects as long as 90 days without charge. The House of Lords then rejected the “glorification” wording, saying it was too vague, and substituted milder language. But since then, public attitudes toward Britain’s large Muslim immigrant community have hardened, and the House of Commons voted 315 to 277 to restore the original language, easily overriding objections from the opposition Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats. Britons were outraged earlier this month when British Muslims protesting the cartoons carried signs praising the suicide bombers who killed 52 London commuters last July. One young protester dressed up as a suicide bomber. Many Britons were incensed that police made no move to arrest those carrying the offending placards. In a poll published this week by The Sunday Times newspaper, 80 percent of the respondents said police and politicians are too tolerant of

Muslims urging extreme acts, and 86 percent agreed that the Muslim demonstrations against the cartoons were a gross overreaction. And 63 percent of respondents said they did not believe Muslims in Britain could coexist peacefully with others. The conviction last week of radical Muslim preacher Abu Hamza al-Masri on charges of soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred has further polarized the debate. Al-Masri was sentenced to seven years in prison. The Times poll indicated that 69 percent thought the sentence should have been longer. But opponents of the terror bill said the conviction was proof that existing laws are sufficient and accused Blair of trying to “look tough” rather than making a real effort to root out terrorists. They also warned that the “woolly” wording of the new law could make it illegal for people to speak in support of Palestinian rights or the Irish Republican Army. “Wouldn’t it be better to have a watertight law designed to catch the guilty, rather than a press release designed to catch the headlines,” said William Hague, the Conservative Party shadow foreign secretary. Blair replied that softer language favored by the Conservatives would “significantly dilute and weaken the measures attacking glorification that are absolutely vital if we are to defend this country successfully against the likes” of al-Masri. He also said it was “incredible” that opponents of the bill wanted to remove language that would have allowed police to arrest protesters who carried the offensive placards. “Weakening our law on terrorism at this time from what is proposed will send the wrong signal to the outside world and will do no service to those in our police and law enforcement who are anxious to get on with the job of prosecuting people,” he said.

TRENDS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Thursday, February 16, 2006 - Page 5

happeningsof the weekend san marcos

Thursday Cheatham Street Warehouse – Mike McClure Band Lucy’s – Luke Leverett The Triple Crown – King Slim Blues, Mark Jungers

Friday Cheatham Street Warehouse – Brandon Rhyder Lucy’s – Chief from Electric Mayhem, Til We’re Blue or Destroy Riley’s Tavern – Lonnie and the Texas Connection

Saturday Lucy’s – Benji Davis Project, Brandon Stanley Riley’s Tavern – Sean Castillo and the Hubcaps The Triple Crown – Opposite Day, Meatwood, Subtle Creeps

Trends Contact — Kyle Bradshaw, starentertainment@txstate.edu

2006 MUSIC

w e i v Pre

Indie music fans should dig tunes of this year’s artists

Dave Wright/KRT By Sam Ladach-Bark The University Star 2005 marked a solid year for underground music. Among the returning favorites, like Sufjan Stevens and Sigur Rós, there were also some exceptionally unique and addictive emerging artists like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Wolf Parade. Other notable releases included The Eels, Broken Social Scene, Iron & Wine, New Pornographers, Architecture in Helsinki, Bloc Party, Spoon, Bonnie “Prince” Billie, Bright Eyes and Franz Ferdinand; the list goes on and on. Needless to say, this year’s music has some big shoes to ﬁll.

Although we may not see more from the artists mentioned above, we can look forward to new albums from our favorite artists of 2003 and 2004, which is exactly what 2006 has in store, along with a few surprises. It can be hard to keep up with new releases and emerging artists; so pay close attention and you can be the one listening to 2006’s latest and greatest ﬁrst. Up ﬁrst is the March 7 release of a brand new Neko Case album entitled Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. This bass-belting angel hasn’t quite found her fan base yet. Hopefully, her work with the New Pornographers on last year’s Twin Cinemas will help alert

INDIE ROCK: Wayne Coyne and The Flaming Lips will release their new album At War With the Mysics on April 4.

new fans to her unique vocal-oriented folk tunes. Also slated for release that day is Mogwai’s Mr. Beast. It never ceases to amaze me how versatile and fresh this band continues to be with every new album. Mogwai’s 2003 record Happy Songs for Happy People made my hairs stand on end with the distorted strumming of a guitar. Let’s hope for the same from Mr. Beast. The band I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness is also coming out with their debut full-length album Fear is on Our Side. Steadily gathering in popularity because of their frequent live perfor-

mances, this Austin-born foursome has some hype to live up to. Perhaps the most anticipated release of Spring 2006 hits the shelves on March 28. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are releasing their ﬁrst record in three years. Maybe Karen O wasn’t ready to live up to the hype Fever to Tell created, or perhaps she just needed time to pick out new outﬁts for the tour for the new album Show your Bones. Beyond March, the excitement gets a bit tenser. The Flaming Lips, aka the U2 of underground rock, will be back with an April 4 release of At War

With the Mystics. They might look a lot like math or history professors, but the Lips deﬁnitely prove that age has nothing to do with being at the forefront of a growing music scene. In addition, Calexico, famous for its murky mariachi music, is bringing us Golden Ruin on April 11. After Calexico’s collaboration with Iron & Wine in 2005, perhaps the fans can look forward to a country or folk feel for this new record. Straight from releasing an EP in 2005, The Fiery Furnaces are keeping See INDIE, page 7

Thursday, February 16, 2006

TRENDS

The University Star - Page 6

Collett’s solo album isn’t ‘Broken’ By Sam Ladach-Bark The University Star B e t t e r known as the lead vocalist for Broken Social Scene, Jason Collett released his first independent almusic bum entitled review Idols of Exile. ✯✯✯ A l t h o u g h many of the Jason Collett songs feaIdols of Exile Arts and Crafts ture accomRecords paniment from existing members of Broken Social Scene, the resulting music is a clean break from the band’s brand of sexy synthetic rock. This album is more reminiscent of modern folkrock made famous by bands like Wilco or Phish. In his previous work with Broken Social Scene, his voice was often heavy with feedback, but his tone sans distortion for this record is actually beautifully soft and clear. His Devandra-esque vocals in “Brownie Hawkeye” add a touch of wavering whimsy. While on “Tinsel and Sawdust,” his echoing accent combines down-to-earth sounds with spacey experimentalism. Idols also features some guest vocalists, most notably is Metric’s Leslie Feist in “Hangover Days.” I must say that although her voice is very radiant and beautiful, it feels out of place on top of somber guitar riffs. I am glad she is only featured heavily on one track, but I could see her voice doing wonders for a future Broken Social Scene album. Amy Millan, female vocalist for Broken Social Scene, is likewise dragged into the mix adding soft fluid touches that perfectly accentuate Collett’s voice in the opening track “Fire.” It is tough to pin down a theme for this record as the tempos and content jump around from song to song. This makes for an album of great diversity, but it becomes clear which styles Collett is good at. The countrypop feel of “Feral Republic” is definitely not one of his stronger tracks; along with it I’ll throw in background clap-track “Pavement Puddle Stars.” “We All Lose

hile Collett tries his best W to keep things interesting and diverse, he forgets to make it

unique. The result is nothing more than traditional, and could only have been groundbreaking more than a decade ago. One Another,” however, shows great soul and the soft banjo accompaniment for the refrain does wonders for the lyrics’ portrait of loss. Most tracks worth listening to share this theme of saying goodbye. “Parry Sound” is a great example of this, but sounds way too reminiscent of a Sparklehorse song in order for me to give him full marks.

While Collett tries his best to keep things interesting and diverse, he forgets to make it unique. The result is nothing more than traditional, and could only have been groundbreaking more than a decade ago. His versatility impressed me, but I hope he does not stop making unique and exciting music with Broken Social Scene.

Courtesy of High Road Touring IDLE MUSIC: Jason Collett takes a break from Broken Social Scene for his solo album, Idols of Exile.

TRENDS

Thursday, February 16, 2006

The University Star - Page 7

Different Strokes not worth it, folks By Katie Reed The University Star Although tribute albums have become a popular trend in the music industry, they are music not always what they’re review up ✯✯ cracked to be. And Sly and the like the new Family Stone album DifTribute ferent Strokes Different Strokes by Differby Different Folks ent Folks, Sony Records a Sly and the Family Stone tribute, they’re often times disappointing. Sly and the Family Stone, a revolutionary R&B funk group that was popular in the ’60s and ’70s, took the music world by storm with one hit song after the other, all of which our parents probably danced to when they were our age. The new release Different Strokes by Different Folks is a collaboration by modern day artists putting their own spin on Sly’s songs. Unlike most tribute albums, this one does have an original twist to it. Rather than having various musicians record covers of the band’s songs, the 14 tracks technically aren’t covers. The album was actually produced by using the original master tapes of Sly and the Family Stone and then adding on them to the orig-

inal music. These remixes or “re-imaginings” feature some of today’s top artists including Big Boi of Outkast, Moby, The Roots, Maroon 5, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Joss Stone and Janet Jackson, just to name a few. Although the line-up of musicians on the album cover seems fairly impressive, the end product is quite the opposite. With the exception of a few tracks, the majority of the album is the revolutionary sound of Sly and the Family Stone masked with a bunch of awkward-sounding noise on top of it. I’ll start with the not-completely-horrible remixes, and then we’ll progress into the tracks that made me nauseous. The Roots remade the song “Everybody is a Star” and compiled a new take on it called “Star.” It could be because I love the Roots, and therefore must admit I’m a little biased, but I really enjoyed the spin they put on this song. The edgy hip-hop sound of the Roots and the funky, ass-shaking sound of Sly mesh together really well on this version. Another track on the new album that I found to be creative and worthy of toe taps is the song “Love City,” remixed by Moby. Moby’s own creative take on the song produces what sounds like popular dance songs of this decade but still with the unmistakable sound of R&B soul with funky beats that came to life with Sly. These aren’t the only decent

remixes on the album. Other tracks such as “You Can Make it if You Try,” remixed by Buddy Guy and John Mayer, and “Family Affair,” remixed by John Legend and Joss Stone with Van Hunt, are respectable remixes that deserve honorable mentions. With the exception of these few tracks, the majority of the album just sounded cluttered and forced. One song in particular that made me cringe was “If You Want Me to Stay,” remixed by Devin Lima of LFO. I don’t know if it’s partially because of the fact that I know he was in a boy band, but somehow Lima managed to turn a classic Sly and the Family Stone song into what sounds like a Backstreet Boys melody. Lima’s sound did not do the song justice, and it kind of made me want to punch something. The remix version of the everpopular song “Everyday People” features the group Maroon 5. I didn’t know that it was possible to turn this classic tune into a lackluster track, but somehow, Maroon 5 managed to do it. Prior to listening to this album, I didn’t really have anything against Maroon 5. They successfully turned a catchy, upbeat song into something slightly boring and bland. My advice to all of the Sly and the Family Stone fans out there is to skip the trip to the CD store to buy this album. Instead, listen to their Greatest Hits and save yourself the disappointment and the headache.

MONKEYING AROUND: Will Ferrell provides the voice of the Man in the Yellow Hat in Curious George.

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

George’s debut on big screen a smash with kids By Jessica Tenery The University Star The movie Curious George is un-hip, basic ✯✯✯✯ and a pure Curious George delight for Dir.: Matthew children and O’Callaghan the youngStars: Will at-heart. In Ferrell, Frank their ﬁrst Welker big screen Rated: G debut, the Man in the Yellow Hat (Will Ferrell) and his mischievous monkey sidekick (Frank Welker) are entertaining a new generation of youngsters. Strangely enough, some critics announce that this ﬁlm is not “family friendly” because it only caters towards young children. Because of the absence of smug pop-culture references, jokes

film review

that are riddled with sexual innuendos and state-of-the-art computer generated imagery, moviegoers are warned that this movie isn’t worth seeing. The parents may not be on the edge of their seats while watching George; however, a little over an hour and a half of boredom is a small price to pay for their kids’ happiness. Lately, it seems that animated blockbusters are targeted for adults, rather than young children. After watching George, many people might agree that sometimes less is more. The animation in the ﬁlm is basic, meaning that it is not a visual marvel of claymation, or composed of stateof-the-art computer graphics. The classic 2-D animation is ﬁlled with glossy, vibrant colors. There are no thrills involved, just pure visual elegance. I think that it’s about time cartoons re-

vert back to the basics. Children deserve to have their fun at the movies, and sometimes it’s difﬁcult for them to understand the savvy inside jokes, or to follow complex story-lines. George delivers a delightful story that youngsters can easily follow. The jokes may be lame, but at least the content will be appropriate. The movie is based on the beloved tales about the misadventures of a curious little monkey and his yellow-hat-wearing owner. The George stories that many of us grew up reading were consistently simple and sweet, which is why it is important for this movie to follow these same guidelines. The movie, particularly the adorable monkey, will undoubtedly provide the kiddos with 77 minutes of pure delight. So just go with it, and maybe you’ll ﬁnd yourself chuckling along the way.

INDIE: 2006 will see releases from bands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, Bloc Party CONTINUED from page 5

their coals burning strong with a full-length album entitled Bitter Tea slated for April 18. Along with the anticipated new

music from the artists mentioned above, April also marks the triumphant return of Built to Spill. Ancient Melodies of the Future in 2001 was the last indie fans ever heard from them.

more spring 2006 upcoming releases The Calm Before the Storm Tech N9ne Feb 21

When the Going Gets Dark Quasi March 21

With Strings Live at Town Hall The Eels March 7

Chosen Lords Aphex Twin April 11

Fab Four Stereolab March 7

The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living The Streets April 25

Bring it Back Mates of State March 21

Rose Garden China Bistro Daily Lunch Specials $4.95 & up 11am-3pm Within walking distance from campus Open Mon-Sat 11-9:30 700 N. LBJ Dr

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Reportedly, they broke up soon after, but began touring again in 2005, including a headlining show at Austin City Limits last year. To the cheers of high school indie geeks everywhere, Built to Spill’s You in Reverse is set to release on April 11. After April, things get a bit hazy, but it is conﬁrmed that The Fambly Cat by Grandaddy is

scheduled for May 9. Grandaddy perfected its sound in 2000 with The Sophtware Slump and left followers salivating for more with Sumday in 2003. Amidst the fog that is May through December, whispers and rumors of new Radiohead and Pixies are still ﬂoating around somewhere. We can also look forward to new releases from Modest Mouse, Bloc

unconﬁrmed new releases for 2006 Frank Black Broken Social Scene The Cure Cursive Death from Above 1979 Helio Sequence

Mars Volta The Shins Spiritualized Tortoise U.N.K.L.E. The Wrens

Party, Arcade Fire, Sonic Youth and Wilco throughout 2006. This year in music is shaping up to be quite amazing. There are some returning favorites stepping up to see if they still have what it takes, i.e. The Flaming Lips, Grandaddy and Built to Spill. There are also quite a few venerated sophomores attempting to secure their following and

respect — such as the The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Let’s hope they aim to please. Indie rocks fans are nothing if not snobby. They don’t expect the best from their favorites — they demand it. Here’s hoping that the artists use this as a platform for 2006, because indie snobs will tell everyone they know whose new album sucks.

DIVERSIONS

Page 8 - The University Star

my latest tunes

Thursday, February 16, 2006

✯Star Comics

Entertainment Editor Kyle Bradshaw reveals what he’s been listening to this past week.

The Soft Bulletin The Flaming Lips

The Execution of All Things Rilo Kiley

Between the Buttons The Rolling Stones

Favorite track: “The Spark that Bled”

Favorite track: “Better Son/ Daughter”

Favorite track: “Ruby Tuesday”

SU DO KU Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3-by-3 box contains every digit from one through nine inclusively.

Yesterday’s solutions:

Puzzles by Pappocom

www.UniversityStar.com

Yesterday’s solutions:

Go to www.UniversityStar.com for today’s answers.

OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

quoteof the day “I’m the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend, and that’s something I’ll never forget.”

”

— Vice President Dick Cheney in his ﬁrst interview following the accidental shooting of friend and Austin attorney Harry Whittington. (Source: FOXNews)

Thursday, February 16, 2006 - Page 9

Opinions Contact — Joe Ruiz, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT

Perks only the outer shell with egg donation

The Main Point is the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Columns are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reﬂect the opinions of the full staff, Texas State University-San Marcos Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State UniversitySan Marcos.

Kelly Simmons/Star illustration

The miracles of science never cease — at least that’s what the desperate housewives of the 1950s might have thought if they had borne witness to the medical wonder of egg donation. While women whose wombs lay barren in decades past would have only been able to lament their inability to have children, women today have the opportunity to purchase eggs from willing donors, thus fulfilling their dreams and uteri. Not only can hopeful mothers benefit from this new technology, the donors are also paid generously in exchange — between $2,000 and $15,000. In addition, donors may also be compensated for any travel necessary, for doctor appointments, as well as housing and meal stipends. On the surface, this give-and-take relationship seems to offer only perks for both parties in a symbiotic relationship. However, the process is neither so simple nor unproblematic. Many egg donation providers include complete profiles of their donors, including photographs and streaming video that couples can access instantly. Egg Donation, Inc. provides photos of its donors — sometimes several showing what the donors looked like as children — as well as their medical information, religious beliefs, body types, personality types, hobbies, height, weight, race, hair type, ethnicities, psychiatric history, college GPAs and standardized test scores. It seems the “better” the donor, the higher the asking price. Some experts have speculated that the practice of choosing certain traits over others in creating “custom” children could lead to a dystopian Gattaca plot in the future and further discrimination today. The most common reason most of the donors give for selling their eggs is an urge to help potential mothers conceive if they cannot by nature alone. While this is a noble motivation, the price tag attached to the oocytes may supplement this justification. Women should certainly be compensated in some way for donating their eggs, time and possibly health to this procedure. But women who charge a high rate for the eggs they aren’t using are surely not motivated by purely altruistic reasons, and are feeding into the machine that capitalizes on couples’ heartache in an already multi-million dollar fertility industry. Donating itself is not without peril. The New York State Department of Health formed the Task Force on Life and Law in 1985 to oversee some of the advances in ovum donation and its legal repercussions, among other biomedical issues. In 1998, the task force concluded that many donors frequently lack adequate information about the process and risks of becoming donors. Potential donors must endure numerous doctor appointments, legal proceedings, psychological screenings and weeks to months of hormone treatment, topped off with invasive surgery that may leave the patient bedridden for several days. Although studies have had divided conclusions, some link the use of hormones administered to egg donors to ovarian cancer later in life, in addition to possible infertility resulting from the operation itself. Additionally, many women who initially are happy to sell their eggs as an easy way to pay tuition may change their minds later in life when they realize that they have a genetic child out there somewhere, with a potential for substantial legal mayhem and emotional distress. In vitro fertilization is an amazing science that promises to better couples’ chances of conceiving while benefiting those that help accomplish their dream — but all involved need to examine the legal, physical, emotional and social issues before agreeing to take such a step.

✯Letters to the Editor Freedom of speech rights need more protection It’s sad to see how little the author cares about freedom of speech. Protecting that right is never more important than when it is being threatened by violence. The newspaper that aired the cartoons shouldn’t be blamed for the reactions of some fanatical Muslims. If an editorial page in a newspaper can incite rioting and death threats from these followers of Muhammad, perhaps they really do not follow a “Religion of Peace”. You might consider someone else’s speech unfair, but that does not give you the right to make threats against them. The culture of the perpetually offended has gone too far. Zachary Royal Accounting senior

Silvas shouldn’t lecture public after stumbling upon news

How do you feel about donating your genetic material? “The money is tempting, but I don’t like the idea of not knowing how many of my offspring are running around.” Karl Moreno music sophomore “I think adoption is a better option.” Joy Brace interdisciplinary studies senior “For men, it’s too rigorous of a selection process.” Riley Inks political science sophomore

Compiled by Stephanie Gage

The University Star 601 University Drive Trinity Building San Marcos, TX 78666 Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708

In your column published on Feb. 14 (“Americans apathetic to toons” — Stephanie Silvas), you wrote of the Muslim rioting about the Danish cartoons, “I was informed of this controversy through one of my mass communication classes.” I am not wild about somebody who heard about an extremely widespread world news story in her mass communi-

cation class telling the rest of us that we are insensitive to the problems of the Muslim community. How sensitive can you be if you haven’t picked up a newspaper or watched a half hour of news on the television in the past month? A better question for your professor to ask would have been, “How many of you have been following the rioting in response to the Danish cartoons?” By your own admission, you would not even have been able to raise your hand. I think the bigger embarrassment is that you didn’t even know there was something to be offended by until you quite literally tripped over the information. You say, “We sit here and say that we’re ﬁghting to free Iraq and improve the conditions in the Middle East, yet we can’t even raise our hand to say that we understand.” Ms. Silvas, start getting your news from somewhere other than the off chance your professors will bring it up, and then maybe you can tell the rest of us what we do or do not understand. Jean Alesi

Danish-American responds to cartoon criticism There has been a lot of talk recently about this ﬁasco going on in Denmark — some good but mostly bad. As a Danish-American, I have been following this

topic quite closely since half my family lives there. One of the big debates that springs from the riots is “freedom of speech.” While this is the topic that relates the most closely to Americans, it’s not the real issue in play. For quite some time now, Denmark, as with all of Western Europe, has been receiving a high number of Muslim immigrants trying to leave hostile nations to come to a peaceful, liberal and tolerant nation. When they get there, they ﬁnd none of the above; to put it frankly, the Scandinavians don’t want them. The Muslims are in fact treated very poorly, denied work and called names. Since these are socialist nations, they still get the beneﬁts, and this makes the Scandinavians even more angry. So it’s a paradox; they are supposed to work harder to prove their value to society, yet they are not given work, called racist names and discriminated against as parasites on society. This sounds like a similar situation not far from here and not too long ago; it sounds very similar to the Civil Rights riots, and the Rodney King riots. There is only so much degradation a group of people can take before they stand up and say, “We’re not going to take it any more!” No, the rioting is not a good way to get your point across; but back to the freedom of speech — yes, Danish newspapers had ever right to publish those cartoons; however, with freedom of speech comes expecting reactions.

If I call your mom a whore, I’m expecting to be punched in the face; Denmark called Muhammad a whore, and Muslims punched Denmark in the face. Torbjorn Greisen International studies junior

iPod owners aren’t just ‘obsessed’ about following trends I’ve noticed that the Opinions section of The University Star unfairly judges people who own iPods. Examples include the “iPod Obsession” cartoon in the Jan. 31 issue and comments made by columnists Sean Wardwell and Brynn Leggett in the past two issues. These columnists imply that iPod owners are all anti-social, money-spending robots easily duped by effective advertising. Get over yourselves. It’s shallow of these columnists to pigeonhole so many students as mindless trend-followers just because they own digital music players. As columnists, it’s not their place to scream “it’s popular, so I hate it” messages from pedestals of assumed self-righteousness. For a change, I’d like to turn to my favorite section of The Star and not have sophomoric insults launched at me simply because I own a popular electronic gadget. Ky Jurgensen International studies senior

Even Internet generation has trouble getting sarcasm online A new study erations are causing Staff Editorial published in the — but they’re not. THE PITT NEWS Journal of PersonResearchers studied (U Pittsburg) ality and Social pairs of undergraduPsychology and ate students as they profiled in Wired magazine wrote and responded to eproves that people aren’t very mails. good at interpreting sarcasm The writers, who were told in e-mails. to send messages about munIt turns out — no joke — dane topics, like the weather or that the written word is a difcampus food, in either a serificult medium for conveying ous or sarcastic tone, thought a type of humor based almost that their partners would entirely on intonation and correctly guess the tone 80 inflection. Misinterpreted epercent of the time. The readmails are at the foundation of ers thought they had guessed numerous corporate lawsuits correctly about 90 percent of and human resource issues. the time. In fact, only half of College students, as part the messages were interpreted of the generation that has correctly. been using the Internet since Maybe these were just some adolescence, would seemingly exceptionally dumb students be exempt from the crossed — j/k, j/k. Even the most intelwires that the older genligent person can misjudge the

tone of an e-mail; as authors, people tend to “hear” their intended sarcasm — or lack thereof — as they write. As readers, people’s interpretation of a message can change based on their moods and expectations. So how can the problem be ﬁxed? In many situations, the answer is as simple as the abbreviations and emoticons so often reviled as destroyers of proper grammar. A winky face may not be the height of literary expression, but sometimes it’s good not to be taken seriously. It’s better to be seen as a little unsophisticated than to unknowingly offend someone online (a parenthetical can reinforce your intended tone, too). Peppering an e-mail with

LOLs and ROFLs isn’t the best way to look professional, though; there are some times when other strategies are needed. The easiest strategy? Avoidance. Even though the study showed that most people think they are being perfectly understandable when they type, it’s difﬁcult to make oneself clear via e-mail. A memo to the boss is probably not the best time to be witty, then. Especially touchy topics probably shouldn’t be addressed in writing at all. There may be dozens of ways to communicate from one desk to another, but none of them will ever be as efﬁcient as a face-to-face conversation. After all, sarcasm isn’t in the eye of the beholder. ;-).

Letters policy: E-mail letters to starletters@txstate.edu. Letters must be no longer than 300 words. No anonymous letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit for grammar, spelling, space and libel. We reserve the right to refuse obscene, irrelevant and malicious letters. All e-mails must include the name and phone number of the letter writer. Students should also include their classiﬁcations and majors.

Editor In Chief..................David Michael Cohen, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor..................................Joe Ruiz, staropinion@txstate.edu News Editor......................................Kirsten Crow, starnews@txstate.edu Assistant News Editor.........................Jason Buch, jb1163@txstate.edu Trends Editor.................Kyle Bradshaw, starentertainment@txstate.edu Photo Editor......................................A. D. Brown, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor...................................Miguel Peña, starsports@txstate.edu

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The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University-San Marcos published Tuesday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. every other Wednesday of Summer I and II with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright February 16, 2006. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief.

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All classified ads are charged 20¢ per word. Ads may be emailed to starclassifieds@txstate.edu. Check your classified ad for accuracy. Any changes must be made by the second day of publication. The deadline for all classified ads is noon two business days prior to publication. Classified ads must be paid in advance unless credit has been established. Refunds will only be given when a classified ad has been paid by credit card. The Star reserves the right to refuse, edit, and discontinue any classified ad at any time without prior notification. Classified ads will be edited for style purposes. Classified ads that do not note heading, will be put under the appropriate heading. All classified ads are published free, on-line at www.universitystar.com. Since this is a free service, posting is not guaranteed. While The University Star attempts to screen ads for misleading claims or illegal content, it is not possible for us to investigate every ad and advertiser. Please use caution when answering ads, especially any which require you to send money in advance.

E-mail starclassifieds@txstate.edu Email Classifieds Classifieds at starclassifieds@txstate.edu

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FOR RENT-DUPLEX

THE ONE PROPHESIED by all the major world religions will soon be seen by everyone. He’s not about religion! www.Share-International.org DO YOU LIKE SOCCER!? Looking for a volunteer opportunity? Like working with kids? Come out and get involved with your community! Contact Michael Colca (512) 847-5238 or e-mail colca@io.com.

DUPLEX FOR LEASE for immediate move-in. 2/1 at 1107 Marlton for $650/mo. Easy terms. Call Legacy Real Estate (512) 665-0350, and visit legacyrealestate.biz. DUPLEX READY FOR IMMEDIATE MOVE-IN. 2/2 for $650. 519 Hutchison. Easy bike ride to campus or just walk. Visit legacyrealestate.biz, and call Legacy Real Estate at (512) 665-0350. DUPLEX READY FOR IMMEDIATE MOVE-IN. 1802 Hunter Road. Newly remodeled. Only $450/mo. Water/waste water paid. Visit legacyrealestate.biz, and call Legacy Real Estate at (512) 665-0350 NEED A SHORT-TERM LEASE? Advance Street duplexes available with complete appliance packages including full size W/D. 3 bedrooms, 3 baths for only $750/mo. Visit legacy realestate. biz and call Legacy Real Estate at (512) 665-0305. SAGEWOOD DUPLEXES pre-leasing for 6/1 &8/1, bus route, 3/3.5 garage, W/D inc., Call 512-699-9759 1B/1B NEAR WEST CAMPUS. $385 per month 512-396-1717.

FOR RENT $0 DEP. $0 APP. Large Condo 1 & 2 bdrms available. Some bills paid. Call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123 or check out more apartment specials at www.sanmarcos-apartments.com $0 DEP, $345 MOST BILLS PAID. Call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123. 611 BRACEWOOD. Large 2/2 with water/waste water paid. Small pet welcomed. $625 per month. Call Legacy Real Estate at (512) 665-0350. 1 BEDROOM 670 SQ FT $420. 2 bedroom 835 sq ft $495/ For more info call Apartment Experts 805-0123. $99 INCLUDES DEP. App. and 1st month rent. Beautiful property! 1, 2, 3 bedrooms. Call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123. 1/1.5 LOFT, 700 SQFT. Backyard and w/d included call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123 WALK TO CAMPUS. $99 total movein 2-2 $599. 1-1 also available. Call Apartment Experts 805-0123. $149 TOTAL MOVE IN! $420, 2bdrm $525. On TX State shuttle. Call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123. TOWNHOME 4-2.5, all bills paid, W/D included call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123 2 BEDROOM 2 BATH with w/d $550 per month. Park North Condos. 3537644 LARGE T-HOME, $99 total move-in free cable, internet, and phone. W/D included. Call Apartment Experts 8050123. $350 FULLY FURNISHED cable, internet, water paid, W/D included. Call Apartment Experts 805-0123. NEED LOW RENT? Roommate matching could be the answer. Call and we’ll set you up. Apartment Experts (512)805-0123. BIG 2 BDROM 900 SQFT. $585! call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123. $1-1 $375 500 SQFT! call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123 BRACEWOOD CIRCLE. Upstairs and downstairs units available for immediate move-in. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 800 sq. ft. with W/D connections. Starting as low as $450 per month. Visit legacyrealestate.biz, and call Legacy Real Estate (512) 665-0305. CHECK OUT OUR current apartment specials online at www.sanmarcosapartments.com or call Apartment Experts (512)805-0123.

FOR RENT-APTS ROOMS NEXT TO CAMPUS free internet, cable, and other free utilities $325-$375 call 392-2700. APARTMENTS NEXT TO TEXAS STATE now leasing for May and August. Beautiful wooden ﬂoors, no shuttle or parking worries. Rooms, 1B, 2B, 3B and roommate matching. Free internet, cable and some utilities. $300 - $605 per person. 392-2700 SUBLEASE 2BD APT. $600/mo. Begin Feb. w/Feb. paid by owner. Near School. Contact Wessam 878-6224. APARTMENTS FROM $371/MO. Near stadium. Gas, water paid. 353-5051. 3 BEDROOMS WITH 3 FULL PRIVATE BATHS. Extra large kitchen, washer/dryer, fridge, dishwasher, 3 carports, storage building, and FREE phone-cable-high speed internet. $845. Agent, 512-289-4864.

FOR RENTCONDO/TOWNHOMES 1/2 MO FREE & FULLY LOADED, like new 3/2.5 townhome, roommate plan, fenced, double garage, all appliances and W/D. $995. 850 Sagewood Trail. (short lease ok) 512-342-9567, 512-8266208 Prime Properties. $785 2/2.5 TOWNHOUSE. 3 blks from TXState. Preleasing for 5/20 and 8/20. Free HBO, Road Runner, full-size W/D. www.windmilltownhomes.com for ﬂoor plans & prices. 396-4181.

FOR RENT-HOUSES 3B/2B, $950/mo.; Washroom, carpet, tile, carport, lg yard, available, March 1. 392-2443. NEW HOUSE FOR RENT. 3/2. 1900 sq. ft; W/D. Very good neighborhood. $1300/mo. Call (512) 554-5080 or (830) 257-4339. LARGE HOUSE OFF N. LBJ -Excellent condition; 5 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, 3 bathrooms, tile & wood ﬂoors. For faculty, family or graduate students. Free parking next to campus. $1600/mo. for August. (512) 757-0399. 4B/2B HOUSE NEXT TO CAMPUS. Hardwood ﬂoors, 2 car garage converted to game room, large kitchen & dining room. Excellent condition. Free internet & cable. 392-2700. HUGE 3/2, W/D, ETC. 1600 sq ft. $950 per mo. 713-774-5953. LARGE 1B/1B, newly-remodeled house in country surroundings. Free parking next to campus. Available May. Free deer lease, internet, cable, water & garbage. $680 per mo. 392-2700 FOR RENT - 3/2 house, two rooms available. Close to campus. Call Kenneth at (210)825-1948.

FOR SALE FOUR ROCKFORD FOSGATE 10” HX2 SUBS, and Audiobahn A1500HCX 2000 watt RMS amp, all new $1200 obo. (830)305-2268. DELL INSPIRON 8200 LAPTOP CDRW DVD-R with Windows XP, Ofﬁce Suite, Photoshop, wireless ability, and lots of accessories. Email rory@txstate. edu for more information.

FOR SALE 3/2 MOBILE, Nice, extras, fenced rented lot, Hunter Rd. $29K 512-3962374

HELP WANTED TEKA MARKETING INC. is adding two new divisions. We are looking to fill several F/T and P/T positions. Very flexible hours and casual work environment. For more information call 805-0020. Q BAR NOW HIRING waitresses and bartenders. Call (210)341-5701, apply in person at 7710 IH-10 W, or visit www.qbarsa.com. NOW HIRING SERVERS!!! Rockfish Seafood Grill, Stassney Lane in South Austin exit 228 and take a left open interviews 2-4pm M-TH. GET PAID TO DRIVE a brand new car! Earn $800-$3200 a month to drive! www.freedriverkey.com LOOKING FOR A FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE? Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch hiring outgoing enthusiastic and ambitious visitor center personnel with opportunity to instruct educational programs. Apply in person, 7 miles west of IH 35 on FM 3009. HEALTH CLUB open Monday thru Saturday. Part-time positions, front desk and training with athletic background required. must be working on a related degree. 512-560-6761. Email resume to fitnessdoctors@aol.com. PART TIME FEMALE BARTENDERS NEEDED. Please apply @ Riley’s Tavern. Must love live music. 512-393-3132 for directions. THE TAP ROOM is now accepting applications for kitchen help. We offer a competitive salary, great perks, and a fun working environment. Interested parties should apply in person at the Tap Room after 3:00. WAITRESSES, CASHIERS, COOKS, ft/pt at well established restaurant, excellent benefits, group health insurance, 401K plan, apply in person New Braunfels Smokehouse, 140 Hwy 46, M-F anytime FIRST PROTESTANT SCHOOLHiring Afternoon Staff-Benefit Package Included. Call (830)606-4110. LOOKING FOR SOME CHANGE! OUR company has openings for 12 HIGHLY MOTIVATED STUDENTS. Fun atmosphere with great pay! Call Today 878-6172. SEEKING WAIT STAFF & ENTERTAINERS with a fun loving attitude who enjoys working in a party atmosphere. AM/PM, PT/FT, flexible schedules. Great $$$! Apply Sugar’s 404 Highland Mall Blvd. E., Austin (near Highland Mall) 512-451-1711 BOBCATSNEEDJOBS.COM WE NEED Paid Survey Takers in San Marcos. 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys.

HELP WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS

SUBLEASE

!BARTENDING! Up to $300/day. No experience necessary. Training Provided. Age 18+ ok. 800-965-6520 x 157. NOW HIRING happy, energetic, fun waiters and kitchen personnel. Apply in person from 2 to 4 p.m.; MondayFriday at 500 River Road in Wimberley. STUDY BREAK MAGAZINE is now hiring account executives/advertising sales. Great pay ﬂexible hours 512-4800894. RANCH HAND: a jack of all trades. Efﬁcient and dependable. Apply online at www.texasarabianhorses.com. PETE’S DUELING PIANO BAR is seeking friendly, outgoing cocktail waitresses with a big smiles and dependable doorstaff. Weekdays and weekends are a must. We are open and accepting applications Tue-Sat 6:308:30 at 421 E 6th St. Austin Texas. MOTEL FRONT DESK WANTED. Perfect job for students. Flexible hours. Duties include: answering phones, reservations, handle cash & credit card transactions & guest services. Will train. Basic math skills necessary. Need hard working, computer literate, motivated, enthusiastic. Apply in person at Best Value Inn, I-35, Exit 221, Buda. UTSA PREP IS SEEKING college students majoring in Mathematics, Engineering, Science, or Technology to provide 6th-11th grade students academic counseling, tutoring, group supervision & activities. Temporary fulltime employment: June 7-July 28. Application deadline: March 24. To apply call 210-458-2060 or visit www.prepusa.org UTSA is an EEO/AA employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. READ THE STAR ON LINE AT WWW.UNIVERSITYSTAR.COM

WE PAY UP TO $75 per online survey. www.cashtospend.com TUTOR in self-defense, guitar, ﬂying (ground school), writing, and scholarship, etc. Downtown San Marcos. Dr. Reed Harp. 512-787-7855. TANCO TANNING MEMBERSHIP - 17 mo.; $225 or best offer. Call (254) 292-0926. ATHLETIC, OUTGOING MEN for calendars, greeting cards, etc $75-200/ hr, no exp. needed, (512)684-8296. SUMMER INTERNSHIP AVAILABLE: Summer Internships ($10.00/hr). Positions available in the Planning and Recreation departments of Community Associations of The Woodlands. Students should be working towards an undergraduate or graduate degree in the Recreation, Parks, and Tourism or related ﬁeld. Candidates must pass an extensive background check and pre-employed drug screen. Resumes may be mailed or applications may be submitted to: Community Associations of The Woodlands, 2201 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77387, Attn: HR/SA. Fax 281-210-3970 or e-mail hr@catw-tx.org. For more information, visit our web-site at www. thewoodlandsassociations.org.

SUBLEASE - Two 1 br/1 bath available at the Ex2; May 22-July 31; fully furnished; $399 plus electric. Contact Lauren at (214) 542-1467 or Stefani at (214) 277-4579.

ROOMMATES FEMALE ROOMMATE NEEDED. 2/2 apartment with W&D, $380/mo., 1/2 bills pd, on bus route. Call (512) 6189498. ROOMMATE WANTED 3/2 house, $300/mo plus utilities, call if interested 361-688-8629

SUBLEASE TAKE OVER LEASE ASAP. 2/1 $520/ mo. no deposit. Pets OK. Contact Stephanie (512) 963-4580.

TRAVEL SPRING BREAK Mazatlan Party bus $399 with hotels and meals. http://www. mazatlanexpress.com 1-800-366-4786. LEARN SPANISH FOR LIFE. 4-week highly recommended Intensive Spanish Immersion Program in Mexico. All levels. Receive 6 Spanish University credits. www.SpanishForAll.com

WANTED NEEDED! A capable website and programming type for design and implementation work. This person should have a moderate to strong skill level in website architecture and design, MS Access/SQL, MS Word, integration of third party plug-ins, web payment processing, internet security features, and the coordination and implementation of all of these. He/she should also know their way around hardware layout and integration. A moderate skill level in some of these areas is acceptable, a high skill level in all these areas is appreciated, but a STRONG willingness to find and learn some needed skills on the fly will compensate. You will need to sign a confidentiality/non-compete agreement. You must be able to work under limited supervision, and meet reasonable goals. Pay is $20/hour during development with the opportunity to participate as a limited partner later. Expect to work 10 hours weekly. Call (512) 878-1052 or 800-409-9972. WANTED: USED CARS, TRUCKS, VANS. Any condition. Running or not. If you have something to sell please call Willis Mitchell. 512-353-4511.