10 03 2006 by The University Star

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THE REAL WORLD CASTING CALL

Soccer loses defensive battle 1-0 for ﬁrst loss in league competition

College-aged locals auditioned in Austin for the 19th season of MTV’s original reality show

SEE SPORTS PAGE 10

SEE TRENDS PAGE 5

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

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OCTOBER 3, 2006

TUESDAY

VOLUME 96, ISSUE 17

City receives federal grant for land preservation By Katie Reed Special to The Star The city of San Marcos received a $1 million dollar federal land grant last week, which will contribute to the city’s effort of purchasing and preserving 251 acres of land located just above the San Marcos River headwaters off of Aquarena Springs Drive. City Manger Dan O’Leary said there was discussion of building homes and other de-

velopments on the land within the past few years. O’Leary said some people were opposed to development plans because of the effects they would have on the San Marcos River and the endangered species that inhabit the area. Melanie Howard, San Marcos Parks and Recreation watershed protection manager, said development of the land would have a negative effect on San Marcos’ water quality. “The land is in the watershed

of Spring Lake, which drains into the San Marcos springs. If it were developed, it would decrease water quality in Spring Lake via surface runoff, as well as increase erosion and sedimentation,” Howard said. “Also, it is in the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer, so development would contribute to contamination of the aquifer.” She said the development of the land would not only have a negative impact on the natural springs, but it would also harm

the many endangered species such as the Texas blind salamander and the Comal Springs rifﬂe beetle. However, O’Leary said preserving the land will help protect these species and their habitats. “The people of San Marcos decided to put the land on the ballot and ask voters if they were willing to keep it in its natural state,” O’Leary said. “It passed overwhelmingly. After that, all of the efforts started moving

forward in order to purchase the land from the owners who originally planned to build on it.” To acquire ownership of the land, San Marcos ofﬁcials turned to the Nature Conservancy, an organization that is dedicated to protecting plants, animals, land and water, O’Leary said. “The Nature Conservancy specializes in obtaining land just like this in order to help

General area of 251 acre site the city intends to purchase for $5 million.

Aquarena Spring Lake Joe's Crab Shack Loop 82

See GRANT, page 3

N Star illustration

Tram up Latino actor, activist stresses self respect for name change By Maira Garcia The University Star

Edward James Olmos said there is only one race — the human race. Olmos spoke on the theme of “protest and dissent” Monday as part of the Common Experience initiative, which promotes dialogue on a common theme across disciplines and the community. Event coordinators estimate that approximately 2,000 people gathered in the LBJ Mall, located between Alkek Library and the LBJ Student Center, to hear Olmos’ lecture “We’re All in the Same Gang.” Olmos emphasized the importance of realizing that we all come from the same place. He said that his indigenous background as a Mexican American made him realize how long his ancestry ran in the Americas. “I go back 40 thousand years. I’m from here, I’ve been here a long time,” Olmos said. “My direct ancestors came from Asia. I was Asian and my Asian ancestors were from Africa.” Olmos spoke on how Hispanics do not learn to embrace their European ancestry because they are torn between the brutal history. “In order to be Mexican is to be half indigenous — Azteca, Maya, Olmeca — and the other half European,” he said. “Maybe when the Europeans came here, they didn’t say ‘que bonito.’ They said ‘give me the first 100 and cut off their legs, and another 100 until they tell us where the gold is.’” Olmos said the Caucasian race is taught to be self-assured and that confidence is what gets them ahead. He said the Hispanic population is not reflected in higher education institutions because Hispanics are not taught to be sure of themselves. “Why aren’t we 60 percent of

By A.N. Hernández The University Star

Cotton Miller/Star photo OLMOS SPEAKS: Actor and activist Edward James Olmos speaks Monday on campus as part of Common Experience’s theme of “protest and dissent.”

the population at this school?” Olmos asked. “I’m half indigenous and half European and proud of it.” He emphasized the importance of teaching children to have self-assurance at a young age. “Self esteem, self respect, self worth. When you teach a child that, they won’t hurt themselves or hurt others,” he said. Olmos also emphasized the importance of having a multicultural approach to learning

onlineconnection

history. “As far as (Hispanics) are concerned, we didn’t partici- To hear an audio feature including the Star’s pate in it. Ever since ﬁrst grade interview with Edward James Olmos, log on to to twelfth grade, they base his- www.UniversityStar.com. tory on European history,” Olmos said. Olmos asked the audience utes once a year and are reHe said the “European hisif they knew anyone of Asian minded of what they have done tory” approach was one that descent who was considered a for this country,” Olmos said. would hurt the future. national hero. The answer given “There are no national heroes “We have given our childid not qualify under Olmos’ of Asian descent. If it wasn’t dren one vitamin solution, not conditions. for Martin Luther King, Jr. we a multivitamin but that same “A national hero is someone wouldn’t have any national hewe study for at least ﬁve min- roes of color.” See ACTIVIST, page 3

Study abroad system leaves some students at home By Nick Georgiou The University Star When Andrea Cobarruvias wanted to know why she was being denied her federal loans for a non-Texas State sponsored study abroad program, she was met with a maze of university bureaucracy and federal aid law. Even after talking with several university ofﬁcials, Cobarruvias, pre-public relations senior, felt she did not get any conclusive answers. “It’s so much red tape,” she said. “I just want to get this changed. It’s not fair. It’s important for me to go (study abroad), but it’s really important for me to change this policy.” Federal Aid law states that a school cannot deny federal funds if a student is participating in a study abroad program. It also says a student has to be

enrolled full-time at their home school in order for them to be entitled to their funds. At Texas State, students lose their full-time enrollment status when they travel abroad through a non-sponsored program and are denied their loans. The Office of Student Financial Aid Web site recognizes this situation, saying “these circumstances have caused otherwise eligible students to be denied financial assistance at both schools.” “It’s very confusing and seems like a loophole to me,” Cobarruvias said in reference to the Office of Financial Aid’s policy. The only way for students, at any university, to maintain their enrollment status when participating in a nonsponsored program is through a legally binding document signed between the two institutions called a consortium

Today’s Weather

Partly Cloudy 93˚/66˚

Precipitation: 20% Humidity: 48% UV: 9 Very High Wind: S 10 mph

Two-day Forecast Wednesday Mostly Sunny Temp: 93°/67° Precip: 0%

Thursday Partly Cloudy Temp: 94°/ 66° Precip: 20%

agreement, which specifies the home school, or the financial aid provider. Without the agreement, the student loses enrollment status at their home school and access to their federal loans. The law allows universities to initiate the consortium agreements but cannot enforce it. It is ultimately up to the individual school to interpret the laws and regulations. “Usually, they interpret them a little more conservatively,” said James Andrews, extension and correspondence director. “(The study abroad office) would always want to give students as much Financial Aid as legally allowable.” Frustrated and upset by the school’s lack of flexibility, Cobarruvias said, the university does not want to “bend on anything.” Nancy Megerson, assistant director

of financial aid, understands students are annoyed, but said there is nothing financial aid can do without a consortium agreement, which can only be initiated by Provost Perry Moore. Texas State does not currently engage in consortium agreements. University officials said they “don’t know” why the provost does not engage in consortium agreements. Moore declined to comment on the issue. Megerson suggests students look for alternative loans to pay for the nonsponsored study abroad programs. The idea of more loans, however, does not sit well with students who are already steeped in debt. “I’ve already gotten alternative loans from schools from past years and I don’t See ABROAD, page 3

Associated Student Government President Kyle Morris urged senators Monday night to “hatch out” and brainstorm five possible names for the renaming of the Texas State Tram System. Later in the evening, legislation about the renaming of the tram system was read for the first time. The piece of legislation, written by Sen. Rebecca Quillin, supports “that should an official tram name be deemed necessary, that ASG place five options to be voted on in the fall referendum by the students.” “Last spring, we voted for a referendum and that referendum was approved to expand the tram system,” Morris said. “Now that discussion, with the new buses, has evolved to what we should name the new tram systems.” Morris said ASG should determine whether a uniform tram system name is important since it has “been called different names in the past.” Another name change was also discussed at the meeting. Morris said he and ASG Vice President Amanda Oskey met with President Denise Trauth Friday to talk about the potential name change of Sam Houston State to “Texas State University-Sam Houston.” “We basically expressed our concern about that issue and that’s something that is really a top priority for us for us to look out for,” Morris said. The piece of ASG legislation in support of the 120-hour degree plan was held until next Monday’s meeting. It supports the integration of the Common Experience theme into core classes like philosophy 1305 and English 1310 and 1320 if the General Education Council of Texas decides to do away with two one-hour credits from either university seminar or physical fitness and wellness classes. Morris said it was good the legislation was not voted on, considering that the General Education Council decided to wait until next week to debate and reach their final position on the 120-hour degree plan after hearing from representatives of university seminar and physical fitness and wellness Monday. “It’s going to give us a little more flexibility and understanding regarding what we want to do, before we lock ourselves in a position that may be unwanted and not defendable when it comes to the university’s administration and the Faculty Senate,” he said.

Inside News ..............1-4 Trends .............5-7 Crossword ......... 7 Sudoku .............. 7

Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System

Comics .............. 7 Opinions ............ 8 Classiﬁeds ......... 9 Sports .............. 10

PAGE TWO October 3, 2006

starsof texas state Mike Akers is the new women’s golf coach. Akers comes from the University of Central Florida, where he was an assistant coach for the Knights’ men’s and women’s programs. “After a thorough national search, Mike deﬁnitely rose to the top,” said Athletic Director Larry Teis. “I’m excited to be working with Mike and we’re looking forward to having his golf expertise and experience in the Texas State program.”

Akers was the associate head coach at his alma mater, Fort Hays State in Kansas for eight seasons. “It’s an exciting time to be joining the Bobcat athletic family and I’m looking forward to being a part of the tradition at Texas State,” Akers said. — Courtesy of Public Relations

News Contact — David Saleh Rauf, starnews@txstate.edu Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System

On This Day...

On tour TUESDAY The Catholic Student Organization will host a free lunch for all students from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lobby of the Catholic Student Center. Overeaters Anonymous will meet at 12:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 130 W. Holland St. For more information, call (512) 357-2049. The Catholic Student Organization will meet at 7 p.m. in the CSC. Night prayer will be held in the chapel of the CSC at 9 p.m. From Soldier to Student open counseling group will meet from 4:30 to 6 p.m. For more information, call the Counseling Center at (512) 245-2208. Hispanic/Latino(a) support group will meet at 3:30 p.m. in LBJSC, Room 3-6.1. Full time employment opportunities are available upon graduation. Check www.careerservices.txstate.edu, LogIn: Jobs4Cats. Résumé drop ends today for British Petroleum, Wolseley, Velocity Electronics and Zale Corp. The Freethought Society will be meeting at 3:30 p.m. in LBJSC, Room 3-7.1. This is the last day to register for Morning on the Green.

WEDNESDAY Adult Children of Alcoholics/Dysfunctional Families Group will meet from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. Texas State students should call the Counseling

Center at (512) 245-2208 for more information.

1226 — St. Francis of Assisi died. He was the founder of the Franciscan order.

The Catholic Student Organization will meet at 7 p.m. in the CSC.

1863 — U.S. President Lincoln declared that the last Thursday of November would be recognized as Thanksgiving Day. 1955 — The Mickey Mouse Club premiered on ABC-TV.

The Tennis Club will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at the tennis courts on Sessom Drive, behind Joe’s Crab Shack. All skill levels are welcome. For questions, contact the Tennis Club President, Chris Harris, at ch1282@txstate.edu. Higher Ground, the LutheranEpiscopal Campus Ministry, will meet at 5:30 p.m. for prayers, followed by a free dinner at 6 p.m. The group meets at St. Mark’s Church across from The Tower. Everyone is welcome. Bible study will be held in the lounge of the CSC at 7 p.m. A student-led rosary will be prayed in the chapel of the CSC at 6:25 p.m. Adult Children Of Alcoholics/Dysfunctional Families Group will meet from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. Texas State students should call the Counseling Center at (512) 245-2208 and schedule a screening for this group. Latino Students Association will host the ﬁrst-annual Latino Students Social from 5 to 7 p.m. in LBJSC, Room 3-15.1 All staff, professors and students are welcome. Sociology Club Movie Night will screen “Why We Fight” at 6:30 p.m. in Evans Liberal Arts, Room 114. Refreshments will be provided.

1961 — The Dick Van Dyke Show debuted on CBS-TV.

Corrections Monty Marion/Star photo Stacey Sparks, communication disorders senior, points out The Tower and Jones Dining Hall to a group of prospective students and their parents during a guided tour of campus Monday afternoon.

CRIME BL TTER Health Beat University Police Department Sept. 27, 5:42 p.m. Failure to Comply/Striking Unattended Vehicle/ UPD Lobby A student reported to a police officer that an unknown individual struck her vehicle at Bexar Garage. This case is under investigation. Sept. 27, 9:49 p.m. Medical Emergency/ Sterry Hall An officer was dispatched when a student reported a head injury. EMS treated her at the scene and the student refused transport to Central Texas Medical Center. Sept. 28, 4 p.m. Theft/UPD Lobby A student reported to a police officer that his camera was stolen from the LBJ Student

Center. This case is under investigation. Sept. 28, 9:37 p.m. Alcohol: Open Container/ POM/Lindsey Lot An officer initiated a traffic stop. Upon further investigation, a student was found in possession of marijuana, was arrested and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center. The other student was issued a citation for a traffic violation and open container. Sept. 29, 10:55 p.m. Alcohol: MIP/Bobcat Village An officer observed a student with alcohol. Upon further investigation, the student was a minor in possession of alcohol. The student was issued a citation.

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

Counseling Center sponsors Stress Fair

Each of us sees and handles stress in different ways, but there is one thing we can be certain of — we will all experience it at some point in our lives. Deadlines, demands and expectations can leave us with a sense of drowning, or at the very least, treading water. When most of us think of stress we think of it in negative terms, associating it with that knot or gnawing feeling in the pit of our stomach. Left untreated, the negative repercussions of stress can lead to a decrease in motivation and concentration, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, increased smoking, recurring minor illnesses or colds, frequent muscle tension and headaches, forgetfulness, irritability and other mood changes. Instead of allowing stress to drain and tax us, we have the ability to look at stress as a positive inﬂuence, seeing it instead

The headline “Documentary Sniper ’66 highlights danger of automatic weapons” on the Sept. 28 Opinions page was inaccurate. This was an editorial error.

as a motivator in our lives. The exciting news is that we can take control of our stress by implementing proactive coping strategies. Working out every other day, allowing yourself 20 minutes of “alone time” daily, learning time management skills, prioritizing goals and writing down both long and short-term goals in a schedule are just a few coping suggestions. Most importantly, developing a support network of friends, family and counselors whom you can open up to will help combat the effects of a busy and stressful life. From10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, the Counseling Center will be sponsoring a Stress Fair. Come join us in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom as we demonstrate techniques to combat this common obstacle. For more information, visit the Counseling Center’s Web site at www.counseling.txstate.edu. — Courtesy of the Counseling Center

NEWS

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

The University Star - Page 3

Record number of employers to be present at job fair By Tanya Horowitz Special to The Star The Fall Job and Internship Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Strahan Coliseum and is open to all Texas State students. This year, the fair, sponsored by Career Services, will host a record number of employers offering Texas State students opportunities to ﬁnd a job or internship. Jonathan Pliego, Career Services career advisor, said this is the perfect time for students to meet with potential employers. “The fair is not new, but the economy is on the rise right now, so the amount of employers has increased,”

Pliego said. Although students may not be looking for a job or internship this semester, Pliego said students should still go to practice networking skills and also secure a position for the future. “Students can interview now and employers can offer them a position for the summer, or even next fall,” Pliego said. “Networking is an incredibly crucial part of the process.” Current Texas State students said they have beneﬁted from past fairs. “I attended last fall’s Job and Internship Fair and it really paid off because I got an internship with Target Inc. and then got offered an executive position with them,” said Rebecca Moss, busi-

ness marketing senior. “Now I don’t have to worry about getting a job when I graduate because I already have one.” Moss will be working at the fair this year with Target Inc. instead of attending it. Moss said the fair has lowered her stress level as she prepares to graduate in December. “All it took was getting up and going there and now I have a full time job,” Moss said. This year, approximately 125 employers will hold booths at the Fall Job and Internship Fair and with a record number of employers attending, an employer waiting list had to be created. Professional dress is expected at the event.

“The Job and Internship fair is good experience for how to interview, and you also can make some really good contacts to build your network,” said Matthew Amosson, management senior. A full list of the employers attending the fair is available at Jobs4Cats at www. careerservices.txstate.edu. Jobs4Cats is an Internet resource run by Texas State that helps graduates and future graduates ﬁnd jobs ranging from parttime work to full-time employment. Students can also post a résumé and schedule on-campus interviews with employers. Pliego said students can also use Jobs4Cats to set up on-campus inter-

views following this year’s fair. Employers have already booked rooms for interviews with students they meet at the fair. “We have a packed house at Career Services by employers, but students still have the opportunity to sign up for interviews,” Pliego said. “Students can save gas and time away from class. They can come to their interview between classes.” Pliego said with 125 scheduled employers and more on the waiting list, all students should take advantage of the event. “These are such great resource tools,” he said. “We encourage all students of all majors to attend.”

ABROAD: ‘Memorandum of understanding’ GRANT: City falls provides easy access for willing students $1.3 million short, expected to raise funds by next spring CONTINUED from page 1

want to get anymore in debt,” Cobarruvias said. “Especially when there’s money right there in my face.” Michael Olivas, director of the Institute for Higher Education Law and Governance, said federal aid law provides an easy and straightforward process for universities to give ﬁnancial aid to students who want to study abroad through a non-sponsored program. “All it takes is a memorandum of understanding,” Olivas said. “It’s not like you have to change state law or get the pope’s permission for that. It’s pretty easy to do.” Debbie Thorne, associate vice president of academic affairs, said Texas State has a highly decentralized university system that makes it more complicated for the school to process agreements. “The reason why it’s more complicated is because universities are governed by accrediting bodies, in our case the state of Texas and by some other bodies,” Thorne said. Individual cases also have to be “thoroughly investigated,” Thorne said, to make sure the partnering institution is one of high integrity and quality. “What I can tell you is that we’re very concerned about it, that we’re taking steps every

single day to better understand this and that. We’re very committed to study abroad and the use of financial aid for study abroad,” Thorne said. Amanda Cobb, secondary education sophomore, said there is a contradiction in university officials’ viewpoint of wanting to assure programs are of high quality and integrity. “If you have a high standard for curriculum and learning, then you should be helping your students to go abroad and enable them to rather than holding them back,” Cobb said. The financial aid approval process for a non-sponsored program at Texas State may be complex, but for hundreds of other universities and their students, the process, as Olivas said, is relatively easy. Typically, when a student wants to study abroad through a non-sponsored program, he or she will meet with a study abroad adviser and complete an approval form. If the study abroad office approves the program, the student brings the form to the financial aid office, where a counselor will initiate a consortium agreement with the host school. When Cobb was studying abroad through a non-sponsored program, she said she met students nationwide who were still considered enrolled

in their home university because of the consortium agreement. “I wasn’t even considered a Texas State student anymore,” Cobb said. “I can bet you a lot of universities that have those agreements have a much higher standard of expectations than what Texas State does.” While Thorne suggests strict requirements and a decentralized school system hinder the development of consortium agreements, Cobarruvias and others speculate that the university wants to keep the money within the university. “Your school should not withhold financial aid from you because it’s not their money; it’s federal money,” she said. “It seems like just a way of keeping all the money at their school.” Olivas said a university that does not engage in consortium agreements does not want their students to study abroad. Currently, one-fifth of students who travel abroad at Texas State go through a nonsponsored program. Isis Gomez, continuing education coordinator and an advocate for a change in university study abroad policy, said many of the students who want to travel abroad are in need of financial aid and that sometimes Texas State programs do not meet the needs of students. “The purpose (of study

abroad) is to give students an opportunity to be exposed to other cultures and other ways of thinking and sometimes we are unable to offer the programs that they need,” Gomez said. “It would be great if we could make these opportunities available to those students who need financial aid to do it.” Holding true to the adage, “one person can make a difference,” Cobarruvias has brought the issue to the forefront and caught the attention of university officials. “I’m so glad Cobarruvias was persistent in asking this question because she really has brought it to a place where we’re examining the possibility of the change,” Thorne said. “She has demonstrated a very strong interest in her education and has done so in a manner that has made people aware of it in several different areas.” To find a solution, Thorne plans on coordinating efforts with the offices of study abroad and financial aid. “What we’ve determined is that first of all we want to be supportive of students who want to study abroad, that’s the first agreement that we have,” Thorne said. “That study abroad is very valuable, especially in today’s global economy, and that we definitely don’t want to hinder students who want this experience.”

CONTINUED from page 1

preserve it,” O’Leary said. “They were brought in to help broker the deal, and they currently own the land now.” The Nature Conservancy purchased the land for $5 million from developer Terry Gilmore in May. San Marcos is currently raising money to buy the land back from the Nature Conservancy by the spring of next year. “In order to get the $1 million grant, we went to the federal agencies and made our case,” O’Leary said. “We talked of the importance of the land and it’s animals, and they could immediately see why the area needed to be protected. It wasn’t a difﬁcult sell. The project sold itself.” Jeff Francell, director of land protection for the Nature Conservancy, said numerous efforts are being made to raise money

for the city. “We are working with the city, county, Texas State University and the Rivers Institute on several grant applications in order to raise the rest of the money for the city to buy the land back,” Francell said. In addition to the recent $1 million grant, San Marcos gave $2 million, and the citizens of Hays County also contributed $700,000 to the effort, leaving the city $1.3 million short of the amount needed to buy the land. O’Leary said once San Marcos buys the land from the Nature Conservancy, the area will be kept in its natural state to be used as a park. “The deal is that San Marcos will purchase the land back to be preserved as park land forever,” O’Leary said. “There will probably be some trails and park amenities on the land for San Marcos residents to enjoy.”

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NEWS

Page 4 - The University Star

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

ACTIVIST: Olmos makes film screening last-minute addition CONTINUED from page 1

vitamin,” Olmos said. “Do you know what happens when you give that same vitamin to a child for years — they die.” Olmos said he tries to share his life with many people as much as he can. “I am able to say ‘thank you’ to the community I live in. They give me so much respect. They give me everyday their love,” he said. “They see you and they’re crying — ‘I just want to thank you because I heard you speak once at my university and it really touched me.’ Then they walk away and I have to stand there and live with that for the rest of the day.” Olmos invited the crowd to view his film Walkout at the end of his speech and held a question-and-answer session about the film. Reagan Pugh, student coordinator for the Common Experience, said the viewing of Walkout was put together at the last minute. “He called me up and said he wanted to show his film and asked if anyone had it. I said no, and he said ‘ask someone Latino and see if they have a bootleg.’ So I called someone and they did,” Pugh, English sophomore, said. Olmos’ film details the student walkouts in Los Angeles high schools in 1968. “This film was the reason students were organized in the walkouts earlier this year against immigration,” Olmos said. “When a reporter stopped a student and asked them how they knew to do this, he said ‘we STAR POWER: Edward James Olmos speaks to approximately 2,000 Monday evening in the LBJ Mall. watched the movie Walkout.’”

Monty Marion/Star photo

Fence bad idea in eyes of many border residents By Miguel Bustillo Los Angeles Times MCALLEN — Few Americans are more fed up with the unending human caravan of illegal immigration — and more familiar with its macabre toll — than rancher Mike Vickers. Multitudes of bedraggled migrants cut through his South Texas homestead every day to

skirt U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints on their journey north, and many do not make it out alive. He has found frightened children sitting in ﬁelds alone, abandoned. His dogs once brought home a human head. He very badly wants to stop the trail of death and despair that passes by his doorstep. But when he considers the wisdom of building twin steel walls

along the Rio Grande to seal off the Mexican border, the plan Congress just approved before heading home for the November elections, his verdict is swift and harsh: stupid idea. “That’s just a big waste of money,” said Vickers, a Texas Republican activist who heads a group opposing illegal immigration that until recently was the state branch of the Minute-

men Civil Defense Corps. “The Rio Grande is the lifeblood of South Texas. A wall is just going to stand between farmers and ranchers and others who need legitimate access to water. It’s not going to stop the illegals.” From Laredo to Brownsville — a meandering 200-mile stretch of the Rio Grande that would be walled off if President Bush, as expected, signs the bill to fence 700 miles of the border — reaction was overwhelmingly negative. Many expressed shock that a proposal they considered a pipe dream by pandering Washington politicians was really happening, and that a fence they regarded as a postmodern equivalent of the Berlin Wall would soon separate them from their neighbors. “For so many years, we talked about tearing down that wall. Now we want to build a wall between us and Mexico? It makes us look like hypocrites,” said Denise Carreon, 21, who like many border residents still had

family members to the south. Many others expressed outrage that the Rio Grande, a near-mystical river in the Texas imagination and one of the most prized bird-watching spots in North America, could soon be blocked from view. “Zero: That’s how many people I know who support this. People are opposed from Brownsville to El Paso,” said Eagle Pass Mayor Chad Foster, the head of a group of frontier leaders called the Texas Border Coalition. As Congress approved building the fence, it was hard to ﬁnd a South Texas politician, merchant, economic analyst or academic who believed a wall would work — and who did not consider it an insult to the people of Mexico, with whom the region shares a strong social and economic bond, especially since passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement. “I don’t know who is advising the Senate,” said Richard

Cortez, the mayor of McAllen, which became one of the fastest growing areas in America after NAFTA. “A fence is not going to keep people from crossing the border. But it’s certainly going to hurt us.” To Mike Allen, a former Catholic priest who helped the poor in the “colonias” of Texas’ Hidalgo County then switched careers and became a leading economic booster for the border region, the fence is a manifestation of politics at its ugliest. “It is just so sad that the relationships we have worked years to build are being torn down by politicians in Washington who quite frankly don’t have any idea what they are doing,” Allen said. “I’ll say it: It’s the browning of America, and people are afraid of that. That’s what this is all about. I have lived on the border most of my life. I’m not scared.” The Los Angeles Times Washington Post News Service

TRENDS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

Tuesday, October 3, 2006 - Page 5

releasesof the week music Sam’s Town — The Killers

It Just Comes Natural — George Strait

dvd X-Men – The Last Stand (PG-13) — Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry

The Information — Beck

Thank You For Smoking (R) — Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello Scarface (Platinum Edition) (X) — Al Pacino, Steven Bauer

Trends Contact — Maira Garcia, starentertainment@txstate.edu

Austin’s The Real World casting call gets mixed reviews By Jessica Sinn The University Star Amid the smokey aroma of kettle corn and turkey legs, starry-eyed college students and Austin locals attended the The Real World casting call in hopes of becoming MTV’s next big star. On Sunday, Austin’s 6th Street was jam-packed with Pecan Street Fall Festival venders and The Real World hopefulls for the 19th season. People streamed into Buffalo Billiards holding head-shots and applications. They waited for a casting director to sit them

down for a round-table discussion interview. Various tables were set up throughout the room where groups of people carried on lively conversations. The Real World casting director, Megan Sleeper, said that many hot-button issues are discussed during the interview process. “We base all our questions on what everyone will have an opinion on — things that everyone can contribute to,” Sleeper said. “We’ll throw out social questions and political questions — anywhere from everyone’s opinion on the war in Iraq, to how they feel about cheating in a relation-

ship.” Sleeper said that people assume casting directors are looking for people that ﬁt a certain proﬁle. She said casting directors really look for genuine people who don’t ham it up for the camera. “Some people assume that we want a certain type of person, so they come out and try to be that person — and that’s not what we want,” Sleeper said. “We want people that are really interesting and can’t help but to be who they are.” Over 20,000 people from all over the nation tryout every sea-

son to be on the The Real World by submitting home videos and attending casting calls. These contestants are ready and willing to have their lives taped for the duration of four months in a bugged and wired multi-million dollar mansion. The Real World cast members consider the loss of privacy to be a small price to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Casting director Alissa Carlton said that she believes there is much to be gained from being on the The Real World. “After the show, some people grow enormously,” Carlton said.

SPUNKING IT UP:Senior international business major Carol Creel (left) and Texas State alumna Kristen Pearson (right) discuss how they want to ‘spunk up’ The Real World ‘like it’s never been spunked before’ as they wait their turn to be interviewed at Buffalo Billiards on 6th Street Sunday afternoon in Austin.

Austin Byrd/ Star Photo

‘Guilty Pleasures’ the not so real side of reality TV Most Tuesday nights ferent people together around 9 p.m., after and have experiences having fulfilled all my that, under normal daily obligations, I incircumstances, they evitably end up loungnever would. It has ing on the couch, turned into a show channel surfing. Ofwith seven very similar ten, after concluding people being picked to JILL JARVIS there’s nothing aclive together for free Star Columnist tually worth watchfor four months. ing, I reluctantly and The Real World: shamefully settle on MTV’s The Austin is a perfect example of Real World. what the show has become. Like most my age, MTV and The roommates lived in a waretheir infamous show was some- house-turned-trendy-loft in thing we grew up with. In the downtown Austin, only a short early 90s, when the first season walk from the rowdy 6th Street of The Real World premiered, area. The cast spent most nights it was thought of as an innova- getting belligerent at the nearby tive idea for a television show. bars, stumbling home at closing The world of reality TV had yet time only to get into ridiculous to be discovered. Over fifteen fights with their own houseyears after the premier of the mates. This is when audiences first season, the show is a far cry really start tuning in. from what it was back then. This is what disturbs me the The last season, in Key West, most about the show. After creFlorida, can be described as an ating this show for almost two all-expense-paid, four month, decades, the producers are well college Spring Break trip for aware of the types of people seven 20-somethings. they need to choose to live in The show that started out as the house. A girl like myself, a way to bring seven very dif- who rarely goes out and cares

more about schoolwork than bar tabs, would have a bleak chance of making it into The Real World cast. The drunken ﬁghts and racy hot tub scenes are the bread and butter of the show today. It also disturbs me that even after knowing all of this, I still seem to always watch the show, season after season. This may be because of the fact that MTV only has about four different shows that run over and over

again, so it’s hard not to miss anything on that channel. It also might be because the show is like a bad car accident — you can’t help but watch. I guess, in many ways the show, along with other reality TV programs, is a guilty pleasure for most people. Watching the unrealistic and sensational happenings of The Real World makes our regular, everyday lives seem much more “real” and meaningful.

“Some cast members have gone on to other shows like The Challenge and go on speaking tours. Others just take the experience and move on with their lives.” Texas State alumna, Kristen Pearson, said she is looking to network and meet new people before she starts her career. “I’m in it for connections, seeing new places and meet new people,” Pearson said. “Eventually, someone learns something from somebody, so hopefully I’ll get something out of it.” Casting directors strive to cast a diverse group of people who are willing to stir up the pot with their strong personalities. According to Carlton, these headstrong characters create exciting plotlines and keep viewers watching by speaking their minds and stepping on each other’s toes. “We’re dealing with seven people with strong personalities, so it’s not going to be all positive,” Carlton said. “The show would be boring without some conﬂicts and controversy.” International Business senior Carol Creel believes that she could spice up the show with her unstoppable energy. “I think I can spunk it up — I’ll spunk it like it’s never been spunked before,” Creel said. Austin local Sammie Penrod said that judging from previous seasons, many cast-members seem to ﬁt into stereotypical molds. “It seems there’s always the typical surfer guy or the frat guy

on the The Real World,” Penrod said. “I don’t fit into either of those profiles, so I figured that I should try out and show them some uniqueness and something different.” Carlton said that people should not soley rely on their good looks to get casted. A shining personality is a key attribute that casting directors look for. “Looks never hurt, but you can’t get cast based on good looks alone, we’re looking for people with charisma and big personalities,” Carlton said. Outside Buffalo Billiards, Austin local Courtney Mahuire stopped and noticed the lines of people filling out applications for the casting call. She said she believes that the The Real World is the worst thing that happened to MTV. “Why would anyone want to be on that show? It’s just a bunch of people in a house acting stupid,” Mahuire said. The 18th season, located in Denver, has just been wrapped up and is ready to air. The 19th season is still in the early stages of production. Cast members and the location will not be selected until the end of this year. According to Sleeper, casting for the The Real World is a lengthy process. “It is a long line of interviews, by the time they’re chosen, we feel that we know them and have a good feeling of their personality and where they’re coming from,” Sleeper said.

TRENDS

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

The University Star - Page 6

Fall runway shows predict Tennessee Williams’ play explores theme of inner conflict a racy trend in spring fashions By Jeffery D. Hooten Special to The Star The sound of hammers and drills echoes through the Theatre Building as construction of a dilapidated tropical hotel is finished and the main stage is turned into something straight from a Mexican coastal village. Tonight, the theatre department will be opening their production of The Night of the Iguana. The play, considered the last great work of Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright Tennessee Williams, is focused on the personal turmoil of Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon, a defrocked Episcopal priest who is leading a tour group of women through Mexico. Shannon is played by theatre senior Harlan Short. It becomes known that Shannon has slept with one of the members of the tour group who is underage and this is a source conflict within Shannon’s character. Theatre senior Amber Snyder plays Hannah Jelkes, the leading female character in the play. “(Shannon is) trying to find meaning in life pretty much and he’s just going about it in all the wrong ways,” Snyder said. “So (Jelkes) decides to help him.” Shannon takes his tour group to a cheap hotel in tropical Mexico that was once run by an old friend of his, and is now under the management of his friend’s widow Maxine Faulk, played by theatre senior Caitlin Swahn. “(Faulk) has just lost her husband and she just wants to tame Shannon and make him hers,” Snyder said. “Then I come in as Hannah, who’s a very worldly person and always out to help others and she’s here with her grandfather who she’s WLLIAMS ON STAGE: Theatre seniors Amber Snyder, Harlan Short and Caitlin Swahn will star in the theatre department’s presentation of Tennessee Williams’ classic The Night of the Iguana, tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Theatre Building.

Don Anders/ Texas State Media Relations

been helping her whole life.” Snyder said that her character feels she can relate to Shannon in many ways and tries to aid him in his struggle to ﬁnd a way put himself back together. “(Jelkes) decides to help him in a very passive way,” Snyder said. “(Shannon) is tied down and he’s the only one that can free himself in the end.” Shannon’s attempt to wade through his own psychological baggage and human frailty forms the core of the play. “It’s really an interactions play, more than it’s centered around one plot line,” Stephen Wood, pre-theatre freshman and stage manager of the production, said. Wood said that directing faculty of the theatre department chose to do The Night of the Iguana because of its status as a great American play of the 20th Century. “(The theatre faculty) really try to choose different things from season to season and keep it interesting,” Wood said.

✯The Night of the Iguana The play runs tonight through Saturday with show times at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Runtime is around two hours and 15 minutes. General admission is $10 or $5 with a valid Texas State ID. For reservations, contact the Texas State box ofﬁce at (512) 245-2204. For more information, call (512) 245-2147.

By Booth Moore Los Angeles Times MILAN, Italy — Blaring on the Dolce & Gabbana soundtrack, “SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake summed up fashion week here where the runway parade of pushed-up breasts, G-strings, bronzed legs and butt cheeks left only one thing on everyone’s minds. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana’s collection of vinyl corsets, cellophane-like bow-tie blouses and barely there miniskirts was the high-priced escort to their two-bit-hooker D&G show. Taken together, the designers’ view for spring was so aggressive, so in-your-face sexual, that a woman almost had to feel violated. Add to that the treacherous fetish footwear all over the runways — patent boots sprouting deadly silver spikes at D&G, vertigo-inducing sandals with feathered totems for heels at Missoni, pointy pumps with razor-sharp platforms at Jil Sander — and one had to wonder whether empowerment was a notion that had dropped out of the Italian vocabulary. As surprising as it all seemed, especially in context of the demure tent and trapeze dresses that were the stars of the New York season, there must be something to this new sexually charged mood, which is one part Pussycat Dolls, one part Dita Von Teese and one part Helmut Newton. Dolce & Gabbana are usually pretty good at reading what the kids are up to, and the look has also simmered up from some of the industry’s youngest talents, including the bandage dresses at Proenza Schouler in New York and Christopher Kane in London, as well as the S&M prints from London’s Giles Deacon. Whether 20-somethings are fascinated by the bondage, studs and spikes so closely identiﬁed with the late-1980s and early’90s club scene because they didn’t experience it the ﬁrst time or are desensitized to it because

they have lived with virtual porn on their video-game screens all their lives, it’s hard to tell. But clearly it has a lot of meaning to them. “Sex sells,” said Stephanie Solomon, vice president and women’s fashion director of Bloomingdale’s. “There is something great about seeing legs everywhere. The colors, the prints: It’s optimistic. It’s not serious or intellectual, and that’s fine.” Although D&G seemed a bit slapped together, at least you could see the time that went into the higher-priced Dolce & Gabbana collection on a beautifully cut denim peplum jacket with black patent-leather piping; an intricately worked, ruched satin corset dress with an exposed zipper ready to be fumbled with; and the hand-embroidered sequin caftans and jumpsuits that were the twinkling, Cher-circa1970 finale. The designers said in their show notes that they were inspired by the overly voluptuous female heroines of Japanese animation, which might explain the royal-blue satin romper with a padded bum. Although it’s unlikely anyone outside a comic strip will be wearing these sculpted pieces, the designers are sure to sell plenty of those crinkly blouses, peekaboo plastic corset belts and sculpted clear-plastic flower pins. Roberto Cavalli typically makes skirts so brief, so transparent, that underwear just isn’t an option. But in a season when he would have been right on target, he went the other direction with frilly bow blouses and embroidered Little Lord Fauntleroy pants suits. A floaty white chiffon empire gown had a dreamy Marie Antoinette feel, whereas Cavalli’s signature peasant dress in a Wedgwood blue floral was more down-to-earth. A fringed brown suede shirt-dress was great looking, as was a black silk floral kimono dress with pleated insets at the sleeves. Even the gowns were reserved, with a corseted black sweep of silk reading romantic, not raun-

BRINGING SEXY BACK: A piece from the spring 2007 Dolce & Gabbana collection illustrates the high fashion mantra “sex sells.”

Photo courtesy of vogue.com

chy. As sweet and wearable as it all was, one couldn’t help but wonder how Cavalli would have weighed in on the super-sexy trend. Guess he’s been there, done that. In a week almost devoid of tailoring, Raf Simons’ second collection for the house of Jil Sander was a revelation with surgically precise, pencil-thin suits in florescent yellow, cobalt blue, grass green and orangeade proving that minimalism doesn’t have to be minimal. There’s been a lot of talk about the future this week with unusual metallic and plastic materials cropping up at Fendi, Max Mara and other places. But Simons may have offered the most vivid future view simply by tweaking the classics in such a way that you couldn’t help but take a second look. At the heart of the collection were the suits — grown-up and work-ready but at the same time thoroughly modern. Simons’ design gestures were as quiet as whispers — the raising or lowering of a collar line on a narrow navy-blue coat, the skinniness of a lapel on a boxy orange jacket, the fluidity achieved on a pair of skinny black pants — but they spoke volumes about his talent. Amid all the gentle fluidity, there was also a focus on geometry — Simons’ triangular daytime silhouette of a boxy jacket balanced atop skinny pants and platform shoes, as well as dresses with half-circle draped bodices and transparent backs offering a whiff of sensuality. Donatella Versace can play the sex game; her brother Gianni practically invented it. But as a female designer, she did a great job of making short lengths and bondage tops woman-friendly. She used an interesting color palette of mustard yellow, pink, white, black and blue and a geometric print that turned up on a smart shift dress belted in front and left loose in back. She solved the problem of what to wear underneath by incorporating black vinyl bras into floaty goddess gowns. And instead of a corset offered a noshirt shirt, a bustier with a shirt collar attached and graphic cutouts around the middle. She addressed spring’s fling with volume by offering a white lantern dress with gold chain straps. Sporty bra tops were paired with tailored shorts and boxy jackets, creating a chic little summer suit. There were also some fabulous bathing suits, including an ocean-blue bikini that sucked everything in like a girdle and a one-piece with a sexy cutout over the small of the back. There was even a bag or two that might tempt those looking for something not quite so obvious, namely a slick green plaited leather tote with an uncharacteristically small Versace medallion. The Los Angeles TimesWashington Post News Service

Squash stress at fair’s activity booths By Laura Jamison The University Star Yoga, acupuncture, salsa and coloring books have joined forces to defeat a common college illness: stress. The Texas State Counseling Center will host the 2nd annual Stress Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom. The fair will have several booths featuring stress-management services and activities that students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in. Blanca Sanchez-Navarro, coordinator of the Stress Fair and supervising counselor, said it is important for students to understand how to cope with stress. “I hope students take with them a sense that they do not have to walk around stressed all the time … I meet people in all kinds of contexts and they feel like (stress) is not a choice and this is how life just is,” she said. Michael Wilkerson, health education coordinator, said there is a strong connection between students’ health and their level of stress. “Part of the reason stress negatively affects your health is because you are not taking care of your basic health and what I mean by that is nutrition, exercise and sleep,” he said. The Student Health Center will be hosting “Boko’s Bed-

o we have acupuncture, “S an esthetician and campus ministries … what ﬂoats your boat? It’s all good, so come check it out.”

— Blanca Sanchez-Navarro supervising counselor, Stress Fair coordinator

pan Bonanza” at the Stress Fair, which is a game where you ﬂing fake poop to win prizes. “If nothing else, come toss some poop,” Wilkerson said. Sanchez-Navarro said stress can affect people on a number of levels, and hopes to address these at the fair. “(Stress) affects you physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, cognitively. The intention is to help students on a couple of levels. One is just to offer stress relief that day. So we have games, events, free massages and classes on stress reduction. The other idea is just to get people in touch with the resources,” she said. Sanchez-Navarro wants the fair to be a “fun day,” while simultaneously giving students the opportunity to learn about stress-reducing services at Texas State and in the community. Some community participants include the San Marcos Animal Shelter, the Hays Caldwell Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the Vickmay

Skin and Body Spa. Nick Childs, geography junior, said the Stress Fair is a good idea for students to learn about ways to de-stress. “I think if people don’t know how to relieve stress they get overworked from it … you get stressed just living everyday life if you are a student,” he said. Childs said exercise is the best method to reduce stress and encouraged students to run and work out. Lauren Bazan, a campus missionary, said her faith is the most effective method to manage stress. “I believe in a relationship that reduces stress … because the Bible says that we can cast all our cares on him,” Bazan said. Sanchez-Navarro said there would be something for everybody. “So we have acupuncture, an esthetician and campus ministries … what ﬂoats your boat? It’s all good, so come check it out,” Sanchez-Navarro said.

TRENDS/DIVERSIONS

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Acclaimed author Charles Baxter reads excerpts from short stories Ghost and Poor Devils. Emptiness, unforgivable acts and a marriage gone bad are prevalent elements in Poor Devils. Baxter described how he uses interior space for setting the mood and atmosphere for a story. “I use buildings and rooms as psychological backgrounds,” Baxter said. The author read for the English department’s Therese Kayser Lindsey/Katherine Anne Porter series Thursday at the Southwestern Writers Collection on the seventh floor of the Alkek library. Baxter greeted a steady line of readers and signed their books before conducting a Monty Marion/Star photo book reading. After Baxter narrated two short stories, he held TIGHT QUARTERS: Author a round-table discussion panel, Charles Baxter reads to a where he gave his readers insight packed room of about 50 people into the craft of fiction writing. Friday evening in the Katherine Baxter’s novel, Feast of Love, Anne Porter House in Kyle. was a finalist for the National Book Award in 200. A-list actors By Jessica Sinn Morgan Freeman and Greg KinThe University Star near will star in the movie version of Feast of Love, which has A crowd of aspiring writers already finished production. and avid readers gathered to Baxter said he isn’t fazed by hear contemporary American the glitz and glamour of fame, literature author Charles Baxter rave reviews or book awards. give a sneak preview of his most “I’m setting myself up to be recent works. someone who doesn’t care about The audience listened as Bax- the reviews,” Baxter said. Baxter, ter read from his short stories, also a creative writing professor

at the University of Minnesota, advises emerging writers to grit their teeth and prepare themselves for setbacks. “The process of becoming a writer is the gradually emptying of the ego,” Baxter said. “Sooner or later, if you put something out in the world, somebody is going to come along and take a smack at you — really hard. If you’re lucky, people will also say that it’s good.” Baxter has penned four novels, four collections of short stories, three collections of poetry and a collection of essays on ﬁction. Tom Grimes, English professor, commends Baxter for his ability to produce great works of both short stories and novels. “He’s mastered both forms, which is rare,” Grimes said. “Usually, writers are good at only one form. It’s unique to be able to do both.” Baxter often made references to works by Porter, who is reputed to be one of America’s best short story writers. Baxter said he admires her writing and is honored to give a book reading at her childhood home. On Friday, Baxter hosted another book reading and signing at the Katherine Anne Porter House in Kyle.

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

Thursday’s solutions:

✯Star Comics

The University Star - Page 7

OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

onlineconnection What do you think of the girls and guys of Texas State calendars being sold by Vixen Entertainment? Go to www.UniversityStar.com to vote in our online poll. Results will be published in Thursday’s issue of The University Star.

Tuesday, October 3, 2006 - Page 8

*This is not a scientiﬁc poll

CASTING THE STAR Opinions Contact — Emily Messer, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT

TV hosted tryouts for The Real World in Austin this weekend and The University Star didn’t get a chance to attend, but we feel we’re worthy of our own reality show.

Texas State’s next top reality show

So instead of The Main Point, today we are printing our reality TV pitch to MTV or VH-1 or Fox or any network. It shouldn’t cost too much to remodel Old Main into a The Real World-esque mansion. From our perch upon Chautauqua Hill, we can delight viewers and Texas State students alike with our antics, drama and everyman/woman stupidity. Critics will marvel at The Star staff’s witty dialogue. We’ll let the producers write us scripts (we hear that’s how it’s done in “the biz”). Our fans will be drawn in by the tumultuous relationships that begin during editorial board meetings and end minutes after the paper is sent to press. We’ll even throw some ethnic tension in to spice up the copy editors’ personalities (Latvians always use serial commas). If that’s not enough, we’re totally willing to borrow from other reality television shows. We could have several Star staff members get lost on the river and have to live off Jell-O shots and whatever morsels they can beg from the cameramen until they have a challenge with another group of lost tubers. The winners get to return to society and the losers have to live at Don’s Fish and Swim Camp for the rest of the semester. It should be easy to convince the Common Experience speakers to come live with us in Old Main. They can combine their antics with ours to make the whole “students creating a newspaper” thing that much more marketable. At this point, we know we’ve piqued your attention, network executives. But you’re probably asking, “What makes this different than any other pitch for a reality television show?” Short answer: Lack of standards. Slightly longer answer: We’re willing to do anything. You may think you’ve seen unscrupulous reality TV casts before. We’ll put past cast members of the The Real World’s willingness to perform degrading acts on camera to shame. Try this one on: We’ll let the administration put an agent in Old Main to ferret out our anonymous sources. If we ﬁnd the mole, school ofﬁcials have to return our phone calls. If the mole succeeds, we’ll never call J.C. Kellam again. The Star is open to suggestions. If you execs want to make some sort of dating game, we’ll troop on down to The Square and act as stupid and desperate for sex as you want. There’s only one thing we won’t do — we won’t attempt to retain even the slightest shred of dignity. If all this isn’t enough, we have our trump card: We totally expect your producers to edit the footage to make minorities look stupid, women look shallow and white males look like the saviors of the universe.

Letters to the Editor Students don’t need protection from different views Re: Main Point, “Basic Respect” Thanks for proving the “Free speech for me, but not for thee” mentality of the left. I see liberals crying about the wonders of free speech except when it comes to those who disagree with them. Whatever happened to the saying, “I disagree with what you say, but I will ﬁght to the death for your right to say it?” Today, those words ring very hollow. Print the letter (referred to in Thursday’s Main Point) and let the students judge for themselves its “bigoted” nature. If it is as truly repugnant as you say, then students will recognize it as such and will be able to rebut its claims themselves. Texas State students don’t need a news nanny to protect them from differing viewpoints. Zachary Royal accounting senior Editor’s reply: The University Star Opinions page will not be a forum for hate speech.

Hate-letter article drives point home I applaud your decision to not publish the homosexual hate letter you received. I am grateful for the article written giving your reasons for not publishing the hate mail, for your outlook on discrimination, and for the opinions expressed in the article. Thank you for supporting a more tolerant, less hateful community at Texas State. Afton Schwendiman Pre-clinical laboratory science sophomore

OU behavior column true on all accounts In response to a recent commentary (Sept. 26, “Sooners coach could learn”) in The University Star regarding the outcome of the Oregon and Oklahoma football game and how poorly OU responded, I couldn’t agree more with the published opinion. OU should have let it drop; however, I’m curious if The Star would have released similar commentary if the Texas Longhorns had the same misfortune?

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.

Kevin Hedrick Hutchinson, Kan.

Kelly Simmons/Star illustration

Think you have something to say? Log on to www.universitystar.com and click on the letters link to read old letters and submit new ones.

Gubernatorial debates matter of public service, not selling product There are few tions have the option of things I enjoy more airing it four days after than a good debate. the debate on tape delay. For me, it really is Mike Devlin, station the sport of kings. I’ll manager at WFAA in go out of my way to Dallas, a Belo station (of ﬁnd a good debate. course), said in the AusHowever, if you want SEAN WARDWELL tin American-Statesman, to see the upcoming “We’re putting on the Star Columnist Texas gubernatorial debate. I’m spending lots debate, you might have to go a of time on this. We’re not going little more out of your way than to go through all this time and you planned. expense to hand over our work Dallas-based Belo Corporaand investment to competitors tion, which owns stations in in the marketplace” each of the four major media And democracy wept… markets in Texas, has secured Marketplace? Competitor? exclusive rights to broadcast the Where does this guy get the debate. No other station, unless nerve? This debate is for the they are located in a rural area, voters of Texas. It is not a comwill be allowed to air the debate modity. Let’s leave aside that the live. They will be allowed to air debate, scheduled for Friday, excerpts but cannot show the is on one of the lowest rated debate in its entirety nor stream days in television, Saturday the it over the Internet. PBS staonly one being lower. The 2002

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

debates were fair game, put on by a collective of broadcasters with all being allowed to air the debate. Why the change? Sadly, these debates don’t even draw that large of an audience. I can’t imagine what the ﬁnancial gain would be. The reason that they don’t is because they aren’t even real debates. Political debates these days are shams. I don’t care where you look. A good political debate is the exception and not the rule. But, unfortunately, it’s all we have, and now someone has exclusive rights. All four candidates agreed to it as well. For some reason it is also the only debate scheduled. God forbid an informed electorate should get in the way of marketing the candidate. I believe there should be many more debates. Let’s

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knock them off message and see if they can think on their feet. They’ll have to eventually. Why do these things happen? How can a station move away from providing a public service to owning a product? How do candidates get away with only one debate and letting the marketing do the talking? The easy, and true, answer is this: we let them. We let them because we are a nation of docile little lambs that don’t want to be disturbed while American Idol is on. If you think any of these debate arrangements are acceptable, then please go out and burn the voter registration card you probably don’t have anyway. You are too stupid to be allowed to vote. In fact, stop reading this, too. It is time to get up off our posteriors and participate in

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our democracy. If you think you’re getting the whole truth from any of the four or ﬁve candidates running for governor, or anyone running for anything, then you are an idiot. If you think any political party will give you objective truth, then you are a doubleplus idiot. This is our problem, and when things get messed up (like they are now), it is our fault. Not the Democrats. Not the Republicans. Not the media. Not Bush. Not Clinton. It is our fault because we still run this country. We elect the leaders. That alone means we have to have all the information we can before going into that voting booth. So this is my proposal. No debate will ever be exclusive to one station or market, ever. Covering a major political debate will be mandatory for all

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stations. If they don’t, then their license should be revoked. The airwaves belong to the public. All future debates should be fully funded through tax dollars and all candidates wishing to participate should be allowed to do so. Give the people options. And ﬁnally, in the three months leading up to the election, there should be a minimum of two debates a month covering a variety of issues. Countless men and women have died to preserve our way of government and life. When we are too lazy to participate, all we do is spit on their graves. Watch the debate Friday. It’s the only one you’re going to get. Make the most of it. Make an informed choice. Sean Wardwell is a communication studies junior 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 October 3, 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.

C �LASSIFIEDS �� THE ��UNIVERSITY ��STAR ��

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Tuesday, October 3, 2006 - Page 9 Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - Page 33 ANNOUNCEMENTS

FREE PETS ARE THE RESULT OF UNWANTED PET BREEDING. Unwanted surplus and stray pets are often destroyed. Please fix your pets!!! Should you need financial assistance to spay or neuter your pet, please call (512) 754-PALS. Pet Prevent A Litter (PALS) is a nonprofit organization which is dedicated to the ending of pet overpopulation and pet homelessness. Volunteers and new members are needed. www.preventalitter.com. PET FEST will be held October 21, 2006 at the San Marcos Plaza Park 10-6. THE “END OF THE WORLD” AS WE’VE COME TO KNOW IT IS NEAR. It’s time for world peace, honest & competent leadership, sharing, justice, brotherhood, and love. www.Share-International.org. Free literature 800-870-6108.

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FOR RENT A FULL MONTH FREE, NO APP. FEES!! WE have what you are looking for! 2BD/21⁄2BA with a study, 3BD/2 1⁄2BA, or a 3BD/31⁄2BA...all have 2 car garages and full size washer and dryer, located on Sagewood Drive. Get in now before prices go up. CALL TODAY! VJE, 353-3002. HISTORICAL MANSION, A PLACE TO CALL HOME! A cozy 1BD/1BA space available. Hardwood floors & a big cast iron tub to relax the day away! Newly remodeled, call for more information. VJE, 353-3002. OLDER COUPLE NEEDING HELP WITH HOUSEHOLD CHORES FOR PART OF RENT. Private BD/ BA. Two meals daily, W/D and computer available. (512) 396- 0748. 1/1.5 LOFT. 700 sq. ft. 2BD/1.5BA, has backyards, includes W/D. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. $0 DEP., $345, MOST BILLS PAID. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. HOUSE FOR LEASE!! YES A HOUSE! This beautiful 3BD/2BA house located in Kyle, TX has a full size washer & dryer, big fenced-in yard and lots of space to enjoy! Move in TODAY! VJE, 353-3002. BIG 2 BEDROOM 900 SQ. FT. $585! Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. OK! OK! LISTEN! Bills paid, located in the historical district, move into 605 W. San Antonio Street today! 3BD/11⁄2BA, washer & dryer, pets welcomed, very private! Call VJE, 353-3002. BIG DOGS OK! 1/1 - $450 & 2/2 $450, pay partial water, free cable. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. $199 TOTAL MOVE-IN! 1 bedroom, $460. 2 bedroom, $525. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. HOT GOSSIP! WE’VE GOT IT! Live in a place that everyone is talking about...”The 605!” Plastic surgery was performed and she’s a beauty! Bills paid, new sexy stainless steel appliances, be the first to live here, right next to campus where all the action is! Call Stacey, (512) 396-2673. LOOKING FOR A QUIET PLACE WITH A HUGE BACKYARD TO HAVE A BBQ? 1322 Marlton is a where you need to BE! Ceramic tile floors, full size washer & dryer, pets welcomed, and a large fenced-in backyard! This 3BD/2 BA is at its lowest rate ever! CALL TODAY! VJE, 353-3002. APTS. OR HOUSE next to campus, roommate matching, wooden floors, good condition, free internet and cable, $250-$350 per person. Call (512) 757-1943.

FOR RENT

IT’S ALMOST HOT TUBBING SEASON! Langtry Apartments are steaming hot with it’s new look! We offer 2BD/2BA and 1BD/1BA spaces, located on the TXState shuttle route. Call for all the juicy details! Stacey, (512) 396-2673. TOWNHOME 4-2.5, All bills paid, W/D included. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. DUPLEXES FOR LEASE OFF OF SAGEWOOD! 3BD/3.5BA; two-car garage/Internet access. Call today! (512) 913-8028. 0 DEPOSIT, 0 APP. FEE. 1 month FREE! Cable, internet, water, trash paid. W/D included. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. $1-1 $375. 500 sq. ft.! Some bills paid. Cheapest in town. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123. $149 TOTAL MOVE IN! 1 bedroom, $420. 2 bedroom, $525. On TXState shuttle. Apartment Experts, (512) 805-0123.

FOR RENT-APTS APARTMENTSTOGO.COM. Free list of apartment prices and amenities or visit our ofﬁce on The Square! (512) 353-FREE. TAKE OVER MY HALF OF LEASE! 2BD/2BA female at Clarewood. Walk in closet, $362.50/mo. Lease ends 7/31/07. Contact Jaime (361) 772-8521.

FOR RENT-DUPLEX FIRST MONTH RENT FREE! 1104 Columbia, 2BD/1BA, W/D inc., fenced yard, and covered patio, pets accepted. (512) 558-1091.

FOR RENT-HOUSES 736 CENTRE 2 BD/11/2BA. EXTRA LARGE. $750 per month, water/waste water paid. W/D connections. Call Legacy Real Estate, (512) 665-3321 for move-in date and showing. 1405 RANCH ROAD 12: HOUSE FOR LEASE. 3BD/1BA with converted garage that would be a great recreation room. $775 per month. Call Legacy Real Estate, (512) 665-3321. GATED. 2BD/2BA, ﬁreplace, W/D, yard, cable, phone, internet, and water included. (512) 396-4488 or (512) 665-6500. 1499 N. LBJ.

FOR SALE 2BD/2.5BA TOWNHOME IN KYLE $99,900 F/P, garage, community pool,golf, trails, call Tim Kress / Remax (512) 719-5555.

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 eds at starclassifieds@txstate.edu Email Classifi Classifieds starclassifieds@txstate.edu

FOR SALE

SCOOTER FOR SALE: 2005 Kymco People 50 — $1,650. No parking hassles! Call (512) 353-7480 (work) or (512) 396-7047. 1998 SW 2BD/2BA, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, W/D. Excellent condition on TX bus route. (512) 618-7406.

HELP WANTED ATTENTION STUDENTS! POSITIONS AVAILABLE •$13 Base Appointment •Flexible Schedules •Customer Sales/Service •No Experience Needed, will train •All Ages 17+ •Conditions Apply Call today (512) 392-7377 www.workforstudents.com EXPERIENCED CHILDCARE PROVIDER NEEDED for 1yr. old and 4yr. old in Kyle. Mondays 11-7:15, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 11-4:30. Need to have reliable transportation to pickup 4 YR. old in afternoons at school. Driving record, criminal background check and proof of valid insurance required. Education majors preferred. E-mail childcaremd2@yahoo.com, or call (512) 507-4226. TEACHERS NEEDED: NOW HIRING PART-TIME TEACHERS. Must be available M-F, 2:30-6:30. Education major/experience preferred but not required. Quality Child Development Center in Kyle. (512) 405-3700 or fax (512) 405-3701. www.rockinghorseacademy.com ATHLETIC, OUTGOING MEN for calendars, greeting cards, etc. $75-200/ hr. No exp. needed, (512) 684-8296. WIMBERLEY UMC SEEKING CHRIST-CENTERED PERSON TO ASSIST YOUTH DIRECTOR. 15 hours per week. Majority of time assisting Sunday school and evening youth group. Musical background and two years experience in a structured youth program preferred. Contact Zula Haight (geneandzula@verizon.net), (512) 847-1694. EQUESTRIAN AND PHOTO MODELING OPPORTUNITIES. Apply on-line @ www.texasarabianhorses.com NEED EXTRA CASH? MR. GATTI’S NOW HIRING DELIVERY DRIVERS. Please apply in person or call (512) 393-2222. CANYON LAKE GOLF CLUB ofﬁce, clerical, PT/FT. (830) 899-3301. CYPRESS CREEK CAFE IN WIMBERLEY, waitstaff wanted, all shifts. Call for appointment (512) 847-2515.

HELP WANTED

BOBCATSNEEDJOBS.COM. We need Paid Survey Takers in San Marcos. 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys. EARN $800-$3200 A MONTH to drive brand new cars with ads placed on them. www.DriveAdCars.com ATHLETIC MALE MODELS WANTED for physique photography in Austin. $200-$1000 per session. Call Wu at (512) 927-2448. OAK WILT SPECIALIST OF TEXAS has openings for crew members and supervisors. You should be detailed oriented, self motivated, and appreciate demanding outdoor work. Experienced tree service professionals are incurred to apply. Competitive pay and advancement! Join a growing company doing important work. E-mail resume to hr@stopoakwilt.com or call 1-888-453-1593 and web site www.stopoakwilt.com. JOHNNY ROCKETS “THE ORIGINAL HAMBURGER” LOCATED AT PRIME OUTLET MALL is now hiring for all positions! Have fun at work and be apart of the team that serves fun food with a 50’s flare. Food service experience desired, but not necessary. Please apply in person Monday-Thursday, 3p.m. - 8p.m. !BARTENDING! Up to $300/day. No experience necessary. Training Provided. Age 18+ OK. (800) 965-6520 x 157. WE ARE LOOKING TO FILL SEVERAL FT/PT POSITIONS in a fast pace and casual environment. With flexible hours. For more information call (512) 805-0068 BUSY NEW BRAUNFELS COUPLE needs help doing organizing, cooking, laundry, and light cleaning. 9 hrs. a week. (830) 237-4669. ONE-DAY PROMOTION ON CAMPUS! “Cotton Dirty Laundry Tour” October 20, 2006, 9am-4pm, $14.00 hr. Serious workers only! Call Michelle ASAP @ (512) 392-2152 or (830) 876-8083 after 5pm PLACING YOUR CLASSIFIED AD IN THE UNIVERSITY STAR IS EASY THAN YOU THINK. Just email your ad to starclassifieds@txstate.edu, we will call you with the price and you can pay with credit card over the phone! If you have any questions, please call (512) 245-3487.

HELP WANTED

DIRECT CARE: BROWN-KARHAN Healthcare in Dripping Springs is looking for motivated individuals who would like a unique employment experience in the healthcare field. Our direct care positions offer opportunities to work with either brain-injured or psychiatric clients. Looking to fill weekend, and overnight shifts. Candidate must be 21 yrs. of age and have satisfactory driving record. Back ground check & drug screening is required. Pay begins at $8.50, but commensurate with experience and education. Benefits may include health insurance, dental, vision, monthly gas allowance, PTO and 401(k). If eligible these is a sign on bonus of $150. Please contact Kerri (512) 894-0701 ext. 219 or fax resume (512) 858-5104 or email kalvis@brown-karhan.com. Please visit our website at www.brown-karhan.com.

MISCELLANEOUS INTERESTED IN MEDIEVAL ARMORED COMBAT, FENCING, ARTS AND CRAFTS, BELLYDANCING, OR MUSIC? Check into the local chapter of the SCA at http://ffynnon-gath.ansteorra.org MASSAGES BY MERRI (available at Great Tans, N. LBJ). MASSAGES starting at $40 hr. (First time clients $5 off). TREAT YOURSELF SWEET! Don’t get waxed get sugared. For a complete list of services and pricing please call (512) 663-5981. All services available beginning 10/04/2006.

ROOMMATES FEMALE ROOMMATE WANTED ASAP for nice 3/2 house close to campus. W/D, garage, hot tub, wireless internet. $330, plus 1/3 bills. (979) 541-7840.

ROOMMATES

ROOMMATES WANTED: MALE STUDENT FOR 3BD/2BA NICE HOME IN LULING. 20 miles from San Marcos. Ideal for someone wanting to cut routine drive from San Antonio or Austin. Call Bill at (830) 875-6933.

SERVICES WWW.STUDENTATTORNEY.COM

SUBLEASE LANGTRY APARTMENT SUBLEASE, 2BD/2BA. Move in ASAP, no deposit, ﬂexible rent $640. Call Mason at (979) 245-9593 or email masonﬁelds@hotmail.com

WANTED USED CARS, TRUCKS, VANS. Any condition, running or not. If you have something to sell please call Willis Mitchell. (512) 353-4511. COME WORK FOR THE STAR! The Star is currently hiring for the following positions: •News reporters Must be able to gather information, conduct interviews and come into the newsroom to have stories edited. •Entertainment writers Must be able to report on arts and entertainment events on campus and in Central Texas, conduct interviews and come into newsroom to have stories edited. •Entertainment columnist Must be able to write intelligent and interesting columns about arts and entertainment on campus and in Central Texas. Pick up an application at the Trinity Building, or download one at www. universitystar.com.

SPORTS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

adios,albert Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was suspended by the NFL Monday for ﬁve games after stepping on the head of Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode in Sunday’s game. It is the largest the league has ever handed down for an on-ﬁeld disciplinary action, eclipsing the two-game decision Charles Martin received for body slamming Bears quarterback Jim McMahon in 1986. Titans coach Jeff Fisher said Haynesworth would not appeal the suspension. — ESPN.com news services

Tuesday, October 3, 2006 - Page 10

Sports Contact — Chris Boehm, starsports@txstate.edu

Battle of the goalies: SHSU game full of near misses By Carl Harper The University Star An intense battle between goalkeepers Sunday afternoon left Texas State soccer with its first conference loss of the season. Sam Houston State outlasted the Bobcats en route to a 1-0 victory in Huntsville, dropping coach Kat Conner’s club to 0-1-1 in the Southland Conference. Senior Brittany Beltramini played the full 90 minutes and recorded 13 saves, while Melissa Sauceda of the Bearkats saved 14. “I felt really great,” Beltramini said. “I felt that I showed Coach that I should be out on the field and I that I will fight for every ball that comes to me. I was more connected with the defense and Photo courtesy of Paul Ridings/Sam Houston State University we did a real good job of working together.” QUITE THE FIGHT: Natalie Holder, senior interdisciplinary studThis was Beltramini’s first ies major, head butts the ball during Sunday’s game versus Sam start in five games, as freshman Houston State. Texas State held off SHSU until the last half. Samantha Fraser had taken care

Bobcats run in Cowboy Jamboree By Gabe Mendoza The University Star The Texas State cross country men and women took part Saturday in the 70th running of the Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla. The annual event, hosted by Oklahoma State, drew hundreds of runners at the university level from many top programs from all over the country. Last year, Texas State brought only its men’s team to the event. The Bobcat women posted a 10th-place finish overall on the 5,000-meter OSU cross country course, earning a total of 253 points. The fourth-ranked Cowgirls won their event with an overall total of 49 points. “These girls always do great and they can be at the very top of our conference,” said coach Grigori Viniar. “They really competed out there; they weren’t just spectators.” Whitney Perkins led the Bobcats with a time of 18 minutes and 58 seconds. Her finish placed her 28th overall. Teammate Tenley Determan finished close behind in 32nd place, running to a time of 19 minutes and nine seconds. Heather Bullin also finished with a top-50 time, placing 45th overall. Andrew McCartin placed 45th overall with a time of 26:30 to pace the men. The only other top-50 finish went to Alex Escontrias, who ran the 8,000-meter men’s course in 26:38. The University of Arkansas won the men’s competition with a total of 40 points, while Viniar’s team finished 16th overall with 382 points.

Viniar said he was happy with his team’s performance, but realizes it still needs seasoning to reach full potential. “Our policy has been to build up the runners we have,” Viniar said. “It happened with (Determan) and (Perkins). They started out somewhere in the middle, but now they have worked their way to the top.” Texas State’s distance runners do not have a competition scheduled for next weekend, but will return to action on Oct. 14, when they travel to Seguin for the Texas Lutheran Invitational. The event will be the group’s final preparation before the Southland Conference Championship in Nacogdoches on Oct. 27. The race in Seguin will be an opportunity for established runners to tune up before the conference meet, but could hold more significance for younger athletes trying to make an impression. “The next meet coming up will be the last opportunity for some of the younger guys to make the team and it will give our top guys a chance to check some things out,” Viniar said. The Bobcats have already familiarized themselves with the Stephen F. Austin cross country course, having taken part in the Lumberjack Opener at the beginning of the season. Despite having high expectations for his team, coach Viniar understands his team faces some tough competition. “SFA probably has the best team they’ve ever had,” Viniar said. “A finish anywhere from fourth to sixth place would be a great finish for our team.”

of recent goalkeeping duties. “Brittany was fantastic,” said coach Kat Conner. “She had an outstanding performance and the ball that was scored wasn’t even her fault. The ball didn’t mark up in the 18-yard box and she couldn’t do anything about that.” Texas State paced SHSU 8-2 in corner kicks at the half, but was down 10-8 in shot attempts. “The first half we dominated with a lot of chances at the other team’s net,” Beltramini said. “They’re keeper really showed up too and saved a lot of goals.” Just two minutes into the second half, Bearkat forward Raquel Bueno scored her third goal of the season to put the Bearkats on top for good with a 1-0 victory. “The first five minutes of the second half it seemed as if we were asleep because we were shocked they scored so early,” Betramini said. Both offenses fought hard throughout the match, as SHSU

out-shot the Bobcats 23-16. Senior Kim Phillips attempted a team-high five shots, and now paces the club with 22 on the season — two more than freshman Lindsay Tippit. “Unfortunately, Kim is taking a lot of shots,” said Conner. “She is trying to create something for the shots and the tough part about it is she could have laid off some of those shots.” The Bobcats, now 1-9-1 on the year, find themselves last in the Southland standings, while SHSU moved to 3-9 overall and 1-2 in league play. The Bearkats sit just ahead of Texas State in the standings. After tying Texas-San Antonio on the road 2-2 in the teams’ first-ever meeting last Wednesday night, the Bobcats have lost six of seven road games on the season. Texas State plays at home for the next three matches. SHSU ended a six-game skid and also halted a scoreless drought that spanned five games.

The match was also the Bearkats’ ﬁrst-ever win over Texas State. The Bobcats hold a 5-1 all-time advantage. Texas State now gets ready for a long week of home games, starting Tuesday night at 7 p.m. against Texas A&M-Prairie View in a non-conference match. “The road takes a lot out of you and it’s always nice to come home and play in front of our friends and family,” Betramini said. A&M-Prairie View was shutout by SHSU earlier this season 11-0 in Huntsville. Texas State will return to conference play Friday and Sunday against Central Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana, respectively. “I know the players are looking forward to playing at home because they play with pride when they play in front of their friends and family,” said Conner. “As a coach, I am hoping they all ﬁnd something to be (proud) of.”

SFA nudges out volleyball in conference play

Photo courtesy of Bryant Swanstrom/The Pine Log UP FOR A BLOCK: Traci Rhode of Stephen F. Austin goes up for an attack against the Bobcats’ Ashley Stark. Texas State went 1-1 this weekend, dropping a ﬁve-game nail biter to the Ladyjacks.

By Robyn Wolf The University Star Texas State volleyball returned to Southland Conference play Friday and Saturday, hitting the road for matches against Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin.

The Bobcats evened their SLC record with a 3-1 win over the Bearkats Friday, but then fell to the Ladyjacks in a 3-2 thriller. The team next plays at home Thursday versus Texas-San Antonio. “I think this team has turned a big corner, but

we’ll see Thursday night,” said coach Karen Chisum. “We are at home at Strahan for four consecutive matches now and that’s a good thing.” In Huntsville, Amy Weigle and Lawrencia Brown led the Bobcats with 16 kills each, while

Kelly Fletcher and Karry Griffin both had doubledigit outings. SHSU rattled off seven straight points to take a 71 lead early in game one, but the Bobcats fired back with a 10-4 rally to tie the game at 11-11. Texas State would go on to lose 35-33. The two teams fought to 14-all in game two, with a pair of kills from Fletcher giving Texas State the lead. The Bobcats finished on an 8-2 run to win 30-22. The Bearkats opened game three with a 1411 lead, but Texas State managed to tie it at 17. A late 3-0 Bearkat rally took game point away from the Bobcats, but Texas State responded with two final points for a 31-29 win. Back-to-back service aces from Hickman put Texas State up 13-9 in game four, but the Bearkats came back to force a 17-all tie. Texas State took the match with a second 31-29 win. “Three weeks ago we would have folded,” said Chisum. “That was not the case this time. We fought hard and battled back hard enough to win three games.” Brown led the Bobcat offense Saturday with 16 kills. Griffin led Texas State at the net with seven blocks, while Christina Melvin registered seven service aces. Texas State led 24-22 in game one, but the Ladyjacks went on to win 30-22.

SFA, the pre-season pick to win the league, jumped out to a 6-1 lead in game two, increasing it to an 11-3 advantage. SFA would go up by as much as 20-14 before the Bobcats rallied to within two points following a Griffin kill. The Bobcats took game point away from SFA with a 29-all tie following a Fletcher kill, but an error and Ladyjack service ace did Texas State in, giving SFA a 31-29 game two victory. Texas State picked up a 31-29 victory in game three, withstanding a late SFA rally to cut the deficit to 2-1. Game four was highlighted by an 11-0 run that gave the Bobcats a 27-18 lead. Brown gave her team a 30-23 win on a kill. “The win against Texas Southern (last Wednesday at home) provided us with some great needed confidence,” Chisum said. “What I saw both Friday and Saturday nights was a team that didn’t quit.” SFA broke a 13-13 tie in game five to take the decisive 15-13 win and a 3-2 victory on the night. “We made a valiant effort,” Chisum said. “It was point-for-point in the end. I was very proud of our battling effort, although not pleased with the result. We always expect to win when we step foot on the court.” Thursday’s match is set for 7 p.m. at Strahan Coliseum. Texas State plays four straight home games.

Fall tennis action commences at Scarborough Specialties Tournament in Lubbock By Gordon Taylor The University Star The Texas State women’s tennis team saw its ﬁrst fall action this weekend in the Scarborough Specialties Tournament, hosted by Texas Tech. The Bobcats fared well in the tournament, with entries in both singles and doubles competition advancing to the ﬁnal rounds of their respective brackets. Sophomore Ashley Ellis was the lone Bobcat singles entrant to advance to championship play in

the tournament, doing so in the “red draw” singles bracket. Ellis defeated Texas Tech’s Kerry Pottgeiter in the semiﬁnal before falling in the ﬁnal to Natalie Wallin of Texas–San Antonio in a threeset battle. Ellis rallied to even the game at a set a piece before being defeated in the third set. “The player Ashley faced was a conference player who she’s seen in the past. (Ellis) did better than she has against her before,” said coach Tory Plunkett. “Ashley had a wonderful tournament and has worked extremely hard for it; it is

well deserved.” Bobcat doubles squads also had successful showings in the weekend’s tournament. The doubles tandem of Sumarie Muller and Mackenzie Farmer came up short against Abilene Christian’s Dina Pavlin and Sarah Drummond in the final of the “black doubles” bracket. Farmer, who played in her first collegiate tennis tournament, was pleased with her showing. “The first day of competition was tough. Our second match on Friday was real close. We fought

off two match points and closed out that match 9-7 to move into the final,” Farmer said. “It was hard to match our performance on Friday in the final Saturday. Even though we didn’t come out with a win, we both learned a lot and are excited for the next tournament.” The duo of Elaine Chafitz and Andrea Giraldo lost in semifinal action to eventual “red doubles” champions Aina Rafolo and Irene Squillaci of Abilene Christian. “This was the first time for them to play together, but they

did exceptionally well playing in top ﬂight doubles competition,” Plunkett said of the twosome. “When they ﬁrst go in, you don’t expect much, but they performed very well.” Plunkett was pleased overall with the team’s effort over the weekend. “Our goal was to do better in the tournament than last year, (to) reach further in rounds and win more matches. We far exceeded that,” Plunkett said. “We had four matches each day, which is a lot of tennis. They

stuck it through and gutted it out and I couldn’t ask any more from them.” The tennis team will have the rest of the week to recuperate and then it’s off to Nacogdoches for the Stephen F. Austin Tournament. The tournament is set to last all day Friday and Saturday. “We have never been to this tournament and I believe this is the ﬁrst time they’ve held it,” Plunkett said. “We’re going to try to show well against our SLC competitors to let them know we’re ready to compete.”