09 21 2005 by The University Star

SESSION’S LESSONS

MERCHANT OF DEATH Nicolas Cage walks a thin moral line as the Lord of War

A look at the career of Nick Session as a Bobcat football player

SEE TRENDS PAGE 7

SEE SPORTS PAGE 10

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS

www.UNIVERSITYSTAR.com

SEPTEMBER 21, 2005

WEDNESDAY

VOLUME 95, ISSUE 11

‘There was no fight ...’ Jarad Davis, communication studies senior and president of Black Men United, reads a press release to a large gathering of students in The Quad on Monday after holding a press conference at the LBJ Student Center.

Dalai Lama stresses commitment to emotional human value and harmony By Ashley Richards Assistant News Editor

Adam Brown/ Star photo

Students hold press conference, vigil to protest ‘overzealous’ police action By Kirsten Crow News Editor

here was no fight. That was the message on the lips and T-shirts of more than 80 Texas State students at a packed press conference held by black student leaders Tuesday to address the Sept. 11 confrontation between law enforcement officers and attendees of the African American Leadership Conference. The motto was a rebuttal to law enforcement officials’ claim that officers responded to the scene that night because of physical

altercations between students in the incident that resulted in the arrest of three students and use of a Taser on at least one. Students and members of the media ﬁlled the conference room in the LBJ Student Center and spilled out into the hallway due to the lack of space. Most students wore black T-shirts emblazoned with “There was no ﬁght…” in bold white letters on the front and “but the struggle continues” on the back. Black Student Alliance President Keemon Leonard, Black Men United President Jarad Davis, Associated Student Government President Jordan Anderson, ASG Senator Edward

Sinclair, ASG Senator Jermaine Jackson and AALC coordinator Eboni Chopp headed the conference, which addressed student concerns regarding the incident. After Chopp, English senior and facilitator, opened the conference by thanking everyone for coming, Davis, communication studies senior, read aloud a press release issued by Black Student Leaders. The statement was compiled from student accounts of the confrontation. The press release detailed the opinion of “Black student leaders at Texas State Univer-

Most of those in attendance rose to their feet and roared with applause as leader of the Tibetan people, Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, made his way on stage while several Buddhist monks stood in the aisles and executed traditional bows to the floor in his presence. Nearly 12,000 attendees filed into the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas campus on Tuesday to hear the Dalai Lama give a speech “Individual Responsibility in the Global Community.” Tickets for the event were distributed to UT faculty and staff as well as the public for free beginning at 7 a.m. on Sept. 6. UT students Sean Harlan, electrical engineering freshman, Kathryn Kelley, undeclared freshman, and Paul Crossley, plan II honors program freshman, said they arrived the night before tickets were handed out and camped out in the line from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., which got them tickets number 93 through 95. “I’ve always had a great amount of respect for Buddhism,” Crossley said. “(The Dalai Lama) is a very moral human being and it’s always good to see someone with a moral compass.” The event began with UT President Larry Faulkner giving an introduction for the speech, which was sponsored by the Texas Union. With honor, Faulkner said he was able to present a man who referred to himself as “a simple monk from Tibet.” “He himself is a catalyst for positive things,” Faulkner said. Once on stage, the Dalai Lama bowed to the audience to show his appreciation for the warm applause. He then kicked off his shoes and situated himself in the cushioned chair with his legs crossed. Laughing as he moved around to get comfortable and to find the right place for the microphone, the audience remained silent and offered their attention to the Dalai Lama even before he uttered a word. The Dalai Lama peered across the arena and comSee HARMONY, page 4

See VIGIL, page 5

Texas Minutemen protest takes concerns to state Capitol By Andrea Gonzalez Special to The Star Protesters ﬁlled Congress Avenue Saturday speaking out against the Minutemen groups that will begin patrolling the Texas border this month. The protest culminated at the steps of the capitol where speeches were given by Sen. Lloyd Doggett, D-Travis County, and Hector Flores, national president of League of United Latin American Citizens. Emotions ran high during the speeches, especially when Doggett compared the Minutemen to members of the Ku Klux Klan. “Some say the Minutemen are new to Texas. That’s not true; they just used to wear white sheets,” he said. The march included more than 500 people, some whom came

“S

ome say the Minutemen are new to Texas. That’s not true; they just used to wear white sheets.”

— Sen. Lloyd Doggett D-Travis County

from as far as Arizona. Several prominent groups participated, including LULAC, Familia Limon, the Association of Latinos in Social Work and the Central Texas Immigration Worker Rights Center. Saturday was chosen to coincide with the celebrations for Mexican Independence Day. Rallying against the perceived racism of the Minutemen groups,

Court discusses Austin traffic resolution, local artist funding By Courtney Addison News Reporter The Hays County Commissioners Court met Tuesday morning, approving several agenda items and hearing out a local artist in need of funding. The meeting began with the approval of a Final Plat and a call for a public hearing scheduled for Oct. 4 to establish trafﬁc regulations on Nutty Brown Road, CR 163. Next on the agenda was a discussion of possible action in adopting a resolution regardSee COURT, page 5

Today’s Weather

Sunny 100˚/ 70˚

Precipitation: 10% Humidity: 45% UV: 9 Very High Wind: N 7 mph

Jim Powers

they held a march from Riverside Drive to the steps of the state capitol. Along with the marchers, there were festively decorated ﬂoats, custom cars and a motorcycle brigade, all in honor of Mexican Independence Day. The Minutemen include two groups from Texas, the Texas Minutemen LLC and the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps of Texas. Dedicated to patrolling the Mexican border and turning back and reporting illegal immigrants, they have already established groups in California and Arizona. Chief among worries about these groups is that they have been authorized by federal law enforcement agencies to carry guns. Violence against the immigrants is a feared outcome of the new patrols. Many members of the crowd felt the Minutemen were there solely

to restrict civil liberties and prevent Mexicans from ﬁnding a better life. “They don’t understand that we come over here just to do better,” said protester Norie Hancevic, Austin resident. Also on the agenda was support of the DREAM Act, proposed legislation aimed at children brought to the United States before they turn 15. Under the act, citizenship would be granted after the child graduates high school and after a six-year period during which they would be required to complete a two-year degree, complete two years towards a four-year degree or serve for two years in the military. “Instead of working with our backs, we’re going to work with our minds,” Flores said, referring to the See MINUTEMEN, page 5

Brynn Leggett/Star photo The Dalai Lama gives an animated and poignant speech on “individual responsibility in a global community” Tuesday in Austin. The humble monk said he felt that he was the same as all the other people in the room and addressed the crowd as “another brother or sister.”

Society hosts debate on Katrina reaction By Brent Moore Special to The Star The LBJ Debate Society held the ﬁrst of its “Great Society Debate Series” Tuesday in Centennial Hall. The debate, titled “The Blame Game,” focused on who is to blame for the failure to adequately react to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Wayne Kraemer, director of forensics and head of the Debate and Forensics programs at Texas State, stressed the event was not about ﬁnger pointing, but rather to critically examine

the events surrounding the disaster. “The debate is an exercise in critical thinking, to be able to look at the facts and make decisions based on them,” Kraemer said. “We do not want to be part of the media game, but we do want our students to be informed and to have an outlet to express their opinions on this tragedy.” The debate was actually an exercise in playacting with debaters acting as central ﬁgures in the Katrina cleanup. This was carried out by ﬁve members of the

Two-day Forecast Thursday Sunny Temp: 100°/ 70° Precipitation: 10%

Friday Sunny Temp: 101°/ 72° Precipitation: 20%

LBJ Debate Society: economics senior Kyle Morris, communications studies junior Whitney Perkins, philosophy sophomore Samantha Montgomery, public administration senior Joe Orozco and physics junior Randy Carver. They were charged with portraying Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin, President George W. Bush and former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown, respectively.

Inside

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS

Classiﬁeds Comics Crossword News

9 8 8 1-5

Opinions Sports Trends

The debate was broken into four rounds. In each round the participants were asked a question by the debate moderator Trish Bode, assistant coach and alumna of the debate society. After all ﬁve answered the question, the audience voted to determine who was the least responsible for the debacle. This person was then removed from the debate. Gov. Kathleen Blanco, as played by Perkins, was the ﬁrst to be voted out and was therefore determined to be the least reSee DEBATE, page 5

To Contact The Star: 6 10 7,8

PAGE TWO The University Star

Wednesday in Brief

September 21, 2005

starsof texas state The Texas Community College Journalism Association honored The University Star’s own news reporter/ copy editor Emily Messer at its Amarillo meeting on Friday. Emily was named the association’s Journalist of the Year and also received awards for Best Sports Photo, second place in Sports Feature and ﬁrst place in Maga-

zine Cover Design for her work in student publications at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. The pre-mass communication senior started with The Star this semester after arriving at Texas State following her work for The Foghorn and The Voyageur. The Star congratulates Emily for receiving these honors and is glad to call her one of our own.

News Contact — Kirsten Crow, starnews@txstate.edu

Calendar of

EVENTS Clubs & Meetings Wednesday The Student Organization of Geographic Information Science will hold its ﬁrst meeting of the fall semester at 5 p.m. in the Evans Liberal Arts building, Room 312. The Association of Information Technology Professionals meets from 5 to 6 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center, Room 3-3.1. ACOA/Dysfunctional Families Group meets from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. For information or to sign up, call the Counseling Center at (512) 245-2208. Thursday Communications Club meets at 5 p.m. in Centennial Hall, Room 318. Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship will hold its weekly meeting at 8:30 p.m. in Old Main, Room 320. Enjoy contemporary worship, relevant teaching, prayer and plenty of fun. Everyone is welcome. Contact Dick Herman at (512) 557-7988 for more information. Monday Sexual Assault & Abuse Survivors Group will be held from 5 to 6:15 p.m.

For more information, please contact Bearden Coleman at (512) 245-3018.

Events Thursday FREE Writing Center Workshop “Professional Writing” will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. in Flowers Hall, Room G09. It is open to students, staff and faculty. Please contact Bearden Coleman at (512) 245-3018 if you plan to attend. FREE Writing Center Workshop “Developing a Strong Thesis” will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. in Flowers Hall, Room G09. For more information contact Bearden Coleman at 512245-3018 Friday Faculty Artist Ian Davidson will play the oboe at 8 p.m. in the Recital Hall. Tickets are $2 for general admission and $1 for students. Saturday The Hill Country Rally for a Cure Golf Tournament will be held at 7:30 a.m. at the Texas State Golf Course. Sunday

The pre-law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta, will host its ﬁrst pledge meeting at 6 p.m. in LBJSC, Room 3-11.1. For more information, contact Ky Jurgensen at phialphadelta@txstate.edu. Wednesday

Jason Boland and friends are joining together for a beneﬁt concert beginning at 5 p.m. at the River Road Icehouse. All ticket and alcohol sales are going toward the Red Cross. There is a minimum donation of $10 at the door.

FREE Writing Center Workshop “Navigating Microsoft Word” will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. in Flowers Hall, Room G09.

“Trio Encantada of Eastern New Mexico University” at 3 p.m. Tickets are $2 for general admission and $1 for students.

City Beat San Marcos Prepares for Hurricane Rita The City of San Marcos is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Rita and the outﬂow of evacuees from the Texas coast to Central Texas this week. “San Marcos is a passthrough area for evacuees who will be sheltered in Austin and San Antonio later in the week,” said Ken Bell, emergency management coordinator. Local emergency information will be broadcast as necessary on KTSW radio, FM 89.9, as well as on Time Warner television cable, channel 10, and Grande Communications, channel 16. “We do not plan to open any shelters in San Marcos unless the state emergency management agency asks us to open them,” Bell said. “It is important that people are directed to the locations where facilities and resources are mobilized.” Local highway message boards will be put up on Highway 123 and Highway 80 directing storm evacuees to Austin or San Antonio. The state’s 72-hour countdown to the hurricane began

Monday

A ticket to ride

Music Lecture Series presents “Music and Courage: The Story of Composer Hanning Schröder (1896-1987)” by Dr. Nico Schüler, music theorist, at 8 p.m. in the Recital Hall. Free admission. The School of Music hosts An Evening of Schubert Songs and Chamber Music at 8 p.m. in the Recital Hall. Tickets are $2 for general admission and $1 for students.

Campus Sports Wednesday 2-for-1 Wednesday at the Texas State Golf Course. Thursday FREE salsa dance class from 8:10 to 9:10 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center. Friday

Linda L. Smith/Star photo Wagner’s Carnival, owned by Albert and Denise Wagner, left San Marcos this weekend. The carnival, which calls Aransas Pass home, was temporarily located off North Interstate 35 at the Aquarena Springs Drive exit.

Campus Recreation will be hosting a kayaking workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday FREE hip-hop dance class from 9 to 10 p.m. at the SRC.

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

CRIME BL TTER University Police Department

San Marcos Police Department

Sept. 17, Unknown hours Criminal Mischief Under $1500/Bexar Parking Garage A student reported to a police ofﬁcer that his vehicle had been vandalized while parked. This case is under investigation.

Sept. 19, 1:13 p.m. Terroristic Threat/ 2300 S. Interstate 35 Terroristic threat at the 1300 block of Wonder World Drive.

Sept. 18, 4:02 a.m. Public Intoxication/Outside Falls Hall A police ofﬁcer made contact with a student who appeared intoxicated. Upon further investigation, the student was arrested for public intoxication and transported to Hays County Law Enforcement Center to await magistration.

Sept. 19, 1:41 p.m. Resisting Arrest/ 500 W. Hutchinson St. Two high school students got into a fight. One of the students became aggressive as the officer broke up the fight. The aggressive student struggled, pulled away and attempted to turn toward the officer. The student was taken to the floor to control his resistive behavior.

STARS OF TEXAS STATE POLICY

Do you know someone at Texas State who has recently celebrated a great achievement? Nominate your choice to appear in The Star as a “Star of Texas State.” Write an e-mail to starletters@txstate. edu with the subject line “Stars of Texas State,” and include your nominee’s name, his/her relationship to the university, contact information for yourself and your nominee, and a brief description of the achievement. Also include a photo of your nominee if available. Accepted nominees will be featured at the top of Page Two.

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

GETTING THEIR KICKS

On this day ...

Tuesday at 10 a.m. Tropical winds are expected to strike the coast beginning Friday morning. Flooding and high winds in the Texas Hill Country are possible, depending on the direction the storm takes. The city’s emergency management team is meeting with school, university, county and hospital officials Tuesday afternoon to plan the local emergency response to Hurricane Rita. The planning will include preparations for opening the Emergency Operations Center, local evacuations if flooding occurs from the hurricane and local shelter locations if they are required to open. In addition, City Manager Dan O’Leary and Bell are participating in emergency management conference calls three times a day with state officials. The state has upgraded to a Level 1 response in preparation for Hurricane Rita, Bell said. Gov. Rick Perry has developed a Proclamation of Imminent Disaster for Texas and expects a declaration from the president sometime today.

1784 - The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser was published for the first time in Philadelphia. It was the first daily paper in America. 1931 - Britain went off the gold standard. 1937 - J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit was first published. 1938 - A hurricane struck parts of New York and New England killing more than 600 people. 1949 - Communist leaders proclaimed The People’s Republic of China. 1961 - Antonio Abertondo swam the English Channel (in both directions) in 24 hours and 25 minutes. 1964 - Malta gained independence from Britain. 1966 - The Soviet probe Zond 5 returned to Earth. The spacecraft completed the first unmanned round-trip flight to the moon.

— Courtesy of the City of San Marcos

1973 - Henry Kissinger was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become 56th Secretary of State. He was the first naturalized citizen to hold the office.

Better than hairballs.

1981 - The U.S. Senate conﬁrmed Sandra Day O’Connor to be the ﬁrst female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Linda L. Smith/Star Photo The Bobcats won the Stephen F. Austin LadyJack Soccer Classic on Sunday after defeating Louisiana Tech 2-0. Junior midﬁelder Natalie Holder scored an unassisted goal in the game and was named Co-Tournament MVP. The Bobcats will face Oklahoma on Friday in Norman, Okla. For the entire story, check out Sports page 10.

1985 - North and South Korea opened their borders for their family reunion program. 1993 - Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin announced that he was ousting the Communistdominated Congress. The action was effectively seizing all state power. 1996 - The board of all-male Virginia Military Institute voted to admit women. 1998 - The videotaped grand jury statement that U.S. President Bill Clinton made concerning the Monica Lewinsky case was made public.

NEWS

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Officials say outlet malls’ drop in rank not seen at cash registers By Eloise Martin News Reporter The Tanger and Prime Outlet malls in San Marcos dropped from third to fourth place in the ranking of Texas tourist attractions, but mall and city officials say the drop in rank does not reflect a drop in sales and predict the malls will still be key contributors to the city’s economy. Although the malls’ ranking fell from first to ninth place among attractions visited by Texans, its ranking rose from 12 to third place among visitors outside of Texas. Dan O’Leary, San Marcos city Manager, estimates that San Marcos citizens make up less than 10 percent of the sales. O’Leary said the rankings are not a reflection of sales but are an estimate of the number of visitors each year. O’Leary said sales have not decreased but have, in fact, increased over the years. He said the city does not look at the number of people

Six Flags over Texas in Arlington now holds the number three spot for out-of-state visitors previously held by the outlet mall. Lori Kennedy, Prime Outlet marketing director, said she —Lori Kennedy does not think new rankings Prime Outlet will affect the number of visimarketing director tors in the upcoming year. “We still have well over six who visit the mall but is pri- million visitors a year,” Kennedy marily concerned with the sales said. figures. In addition to numerous visiO’Leary said sales at the malls tors from the United States and are important to San Marcos Mexico, Kennedy said she has because a significant portion met people at the malls from of the sales creates a substantial Australia, Taiwan, Belgium, city budget. Close to 15 percent England and other countries of money in the city budget worldwide. comes from sales taxes received The Prime Outlet mall anby the outlet malls. nounced an extension last Sep“The more money that comes tember and new stores have in from the malls allows us to recently opened. Kennedy said hire more firefighters, more the addition of 30 new luxury police officers, build parks and stores will entice both Texas and build libraries,” O’Leary said. out-of-state visitors to the mall. “The more money brought in, Jaime Sallé, a 24-year-old Orthe more money to spend on egon resident, came to Texas for the quality of life in San Mar- the first time to visit a friend in cos.” Austin.

“W

e still have well over six million visitors a year.”

Sallé said she visited the typical tourist attractions including Schlitterbahn, the Alamo, the Riverwalk, Sixth Street and the outlet malls. Although she enjoyed the malls, she said she does not consider it a tourist attraction. “A tourist attraction is something that you can’t do anywhere else or is unique to that area,” Sallé said. “You can shop at an outlet mall anywhere.” Sallé had not heard of the malls before coming to Texas and was taken by her friend who told her of the malls’ popularity. Sallé said she found the malls to be a little bigger than other malls and although she did not visit each one, she found there to be a good variety of stores. O’Leary is among those who feel outlet malls are a surprising consideration for a rank on a tourist attraction scale. “I’ve always been amused that an outlet mall can be considered a tourist attraction,” O’Leary said.

Texas State default loans continue downward trend By Suzann Torres News Reporter Student loan borrowers are defaulting on loans at a record low. The U.S. Department of Education has released the official cohort default rate for the fiscal year of 2003 as 4.5 percent — the lowest the rate has ever been. The national cohort default rate is the number of student loan borrowers who enter repayment on their Federal Family Education Loans or Federal Direct Loans during the fiscal year from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30 and default on their loans prior to the end of the next fiscal year. Defaulting on a loan means not making the required monthly payments. The default rate is important because it is the basis of the Department of Education’s determination if an institution is eligible to administer financial aid. “If a school’s individual default rate is too high, they can be shut out,” said Alan Ahmad,

Texas State financial aid counselor. Texas State has consistently had a default rate lower than the national average. “Ours has been lower than the national average for a number of years,” Ahmad said. “We’re proud of ourselves for that.” The default rate at Texas State has seen a downward trend with 4.2 percent in 2001, 3.7 percent in 2002 and 3.4 percent for 2003. “Our office has taken a proactive stance by designing default prevention and loan management programs and teaching seminars — some of which were required for students with high debt amounts,” said Ahmad, who has taught seminars on the subject before. At the seminars, students learn about options for repaying their loans and how to find information about their own credit and loan histories. “A lot of students just don’t know where to find this information,” Ahmad said. The live seminars have

evolved, and there is now a loan and debt management seminar online at www.ﬁnaid.txstate. edu under the loan counseling section. The seminar is free. Ahmad said the biggest piece of advice he can give to students to avoid defaulting on a loan is to keep in touch with their loan lenders. Loan lenders can tell students what deferment or forbearance options are available and inform them of any changes in federal law concerning repaying loans. Other useful tools available for students can be found online. At www.mapping-yourfuture.org, students can use a debt wizard calculator to determine what annual salary they need to earn in order to pay off student loans and how long it would take them. Ahmad said the average amount in loans a graduating senior will owe is between $17,000 and $19,000. “By the time I graduate pharmacy school, I’m going to owe $80,000. That’s crazy,” said Katie Gomez, biochemis-

try sophomore. “It’s nice to get that loan check in the mail, but in the end, it scares me how quickly it all adds up.” The National Student Loan Data System at www.nslds. ed.gov has complete student loan histories on file. Students can look up their own history by entering their Social Security number into a secure Web site form. “Check it once a year at least,” Ahmad said. “It’s available anytime you need it.” The Texas State Office of Financial Aid sends mail-outs to students to remind them about loan repayment. “There are different options for students,” Ahmad said. “Don’t ignore repayment.” To schedule an appointment to talk with a financial aid counselor, call (512) 245-2315, or go to the Office of Financial Aid in the J.C. Kellam Building, Room 240. To learn more about the national cohort default rate and student loans, visit the Department of Education Web site at www.ed.gov.

Texas governor warns residents to prepare for storm By John Moritz Knight Ridder Newspapers AUSTIN — With Texas still providing aid and shelter to thousands left homeless by Hurricane Katrina, Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday warned the state’s coastal residents to brace for a battering of their own and to make plans for an orderly evacuation to higher ground. “First and foremost, we need to be prepared,” Perry said during a news conference as Hurricane Rita took aim for an expected weekend assault on Texas’ Gulf Coast. Perry also declared a state of emergency for Texas in anticipation of Rita and activated 5,000 National Guard troops, including units with aircraft that could be deployed for rescue efforts. State and local offices of emergency management were also working together to put plans in place to evacuate people who are ill or without private transportation, Perry said. In addition, water and other supplies are in place at potential evacuation centers around the state, including in the Fort Worth-Dallas area. Perry said he was still awaiting word from President Bush on his request that Texas be reimbursed for all of its expenses that might be incurred as a result of Rita. When Katrina flooded New Orleans and surrounding areas three weeks ago, hundreds of thousands of evacuees made their way to Texas either by private vehicles, buses or airlift. The influx forced state and local officials to open dozens of makeshift shelters and tested the mettle

Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram A sign on Interstate 45 expresses a common feeling as residents of Galveston prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Rita later in the week. of private charities to get food and clothing to those suddenly homeless. Despite that strain, Perry said, he was confident that Texas could withstand a similar strain and that officials could avoid what he called “the bureaucratic malaise” that delayed the rescue of thousands in New Orleans. “I don’t think there’s a state in the nation that’s better prepared,” Perry said. “I want people to be confident that ev-

erything’s being done possible for their safety.” Meanwhile, the governor’s ofﬁce is reminding people who might need to move inland to make sure they have their vehicles ﬁlled with gasoline, to pack enough food and medicines and to become familiar with evacuation routes. “We hope Rita dissipates in the Gulf waters,” Perry said, “But it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

The University Star - Page 3

CenterPoint feels heat from city leaders in attempt to raise gas rates By Katherine Kennedy Special to The Star

The steep rate increase will affect every customer in San Marcos, including Texas State City leaders are in a legal students and other city resibattle with CenterPoint En- dents using CenterPoint serergy, San Marcos’ only natural vices. gas provider, over an attempt “CenterPoint is our only to raise rates. gas provider, C e n t e r Po i n t so we can’t has submitted switch for data justifying less expenraising resisive rates,” dential rates by said Dominic as much as 30 Dukes, marpercent. keting junior. San Marcos, “San Marcos Seguin, Basis full of coltrop and New lege students Braunfels city who struggle leaders have to pay bills, joined in a coso raising by alition to invesso much is — Dan O’Leary tigate the rate not fair.” San Marcos city manager increase. State Dukes’ enlaw allows citergy bill avies to view data erages $60 collected when rates are facing per month for a two-bedroom a rate increase proposal. Cen- apartment. The proposed rate terPoint has not provided its increase will raise his bill to alinformation to city officials. most $80. “The data is old and needs to Energy bills are generally be updated,” said Dan O’Leary, higher in the winter from heatSan Marcos city manager. “We ing, but there are ways to save, are asking to see the data that even with rate increases. is supposed to be provided to “To save on energy bills, us. We question how they came homes should be secure, caulkup with the new figures.” ing on windows should be CenterPoint has not had a airtight and insulation must rate increase since 1984. Cen- be good, especially in older terPoint company officials said homes,” Etzler said. “During the fact that its data is unjusti- the heating season, leaving fied is a misunderstanding. thermostats on 68 degrees will “Our data is not outdated,” help lessen the bill.” said Marcus Etzler, CenterEtzler and O’Leary said they Point area manager. “The cost did not know when, or if, gas of gas has raised because of the rates will rise since recent data increase in demand, and we has not been presented to city pass it to the customer.” officials yet.

e are “W asking to see the data that is supposed to be provided to us. We question how they came up with the new ﬁgures.”

4 U.S. soldiers, 4 diplomatic personnel killed in attacks By Aamer Madhani Chicago Tribune BAGHDAD, Iraq — One of the deadliest rounds of attacks on Americans in weeks killed five U.S. soldiers and four security personnel working for the U.S. diplomatic mission in Iraq over the past two days, U.S. officials announced Tuesday. The attacks involved suicide bombers and roadside explosive devices. They occurred in disparate corners of the country and were part of a particularly violent spell. In two attacks Monday in Ramadi, four soldiers assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Expeditionary Force in the western city were killed when roadside bombs struck their convoys. The fifth soldier, a member of the 18th Military Police Brigade, was killed Tuesday 75 miles north of Baghdad when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle, the U.S. military said in a statement. The five deaths pushed U.S. military fatalities in Iraq to 1,904, according to an Associated Press tally. Early Monday in the northern city of Mosul, a suicide car bomber slammed his vehicle into a U.S. diplomatic vehicle killing four and wounding two others. Stephen Eric Sullivan, a diplomatic security officer assigned to the U.S. Embassy’s northern regional consulate, is identified as one of the dead. The other victims, three private security guards working for the consulate, were not identified. The attack occurred soon after the three-car convoy of armored SUVs left the U.S. consulate in Mosul, Iraq’s third-largest city, for a “routine mission,” said Peter Mitchell, a spokesman for

the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. The suicide bomber slammed into the second car in the convoy killing all four of the occupants. Flying shrapnel also wounded two private security guards. British officials Tuesday defended their decision to launch a rescue mission at a jail in Basra a day earlier to spring two British Special Forces commandos arrested by Iraqi police. British officials initially said they were able to secure the release of two British commandos through negotiations. But Tuesday, British commanders in Basra acknowledged the soldiers were freed by military action. The action ignited a violent protest in which British soldiers had to run for their lives after protesters started tossing firebombs at their armored vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed. Iraqi authorities in Basra said the two soldiers, who were reportedly dressed in traditional Arab garb, were arrested after allegedly shooting at Iraqi police officers earlier in the day. A spokesman for Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said the soldiers were rightfully detained when police officers noticed them behaving suspiciously. British officials said their soldiers were being held illegally. According to the Iraqi transitional law, coalition forces detained by Iraqi authorities are to be handed over to multinational forces. There was also fear that militiamen would try to kill them or try to use them as a bargaining chip for the release of comrades who have been detained by coalition forces. British Defense Minister John Reid said Iraq’s interior minister instructed the jailers to hand over the soldiers, but they had not obeyed the order.

NEWS

Page 4 - The University Star

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

HARMONY: Students relate to Dalai Lama’s down-to-earth personality CONTINUED from page 1

mented on the large number of people in attendance. While he spoke for himself in English mostly, an interpreter was also on stage to help him translate words or thoughts he could not fully express in English. “I think I visit this place, I think (for the) ﬁrst time,” he said. “So most of you I do not know.” Before delving into any of his public talk topics, the Dalai Lama made a point to let the audience know he thought of himself as no different, or better, than any human in the crowd or elsewhere. “So I want to tell you I’m nothing special; we are (the) same — of course, I’m not an American,” the Dalai Lama said, laughing. He explained that humans are each alike mentally, emotionally and physically and that he thought of his speaking to the large crowd as nothing out of the ordinary, just talking to another human being. Shortly after he began speaking, the Dalai Lama looked out at the crowd again and commented that there was too much light shining directly on him, which prompted him to pull out a red visor he wore the remainder of the time to shade his eyes so he could see the crowd more easily. Throughout his public talk, he continually reiterated his thoughts that he had nothing special to offer except his daily experiences. To elaborate on his belief that all humans are alike, the Dalai Lama said he believes each person has the right to achieve happiness. “That’s our goal. I think the very goal of our life, I think, (is) happiness,” he said. However, the Dalai Lama went on to say that often people cloud their ability to achieve complete happiness. “We have this very remarkable human intelligence — sometimes that intelligence is helpful in achieving that happiness, sometimes it causes more disturbance,” the Dalai Lama said. The lesson the Dalai Lama began with was to tell people that while humans often by nature worry about themselves individually, it can become a prob-

Brynn Leggett/Star photo The crowd gathered to see the 14th Dalai Lama speak at the Frank Erwin Center on Tuesday consisted of a wide variety of people from nearly every walk of life. The first of 11,000 ticket holders were outside the convention center by 8 p.m. on Monday night to get into the event, according to News 8 Austin’s Web site. lem because people narrow their mindset and only become concerned about themselves. “Think more largely, and in reality you get more benefit. Peace of mind is (a) very important factor for good health,” the Dalai Lama said. When people think only of themselves, he said, problems they are faced with become large and more problematic than they should. He said this could be avoided by opening your mind and having a sense of concern for others. A sense of global responsibility is what the Dalai Lama referred to when making the point that humans need a broader spectrum of life, as opposed to only focusing on themselves, in order to bring people and nations closer. With laughter, he said “you know I’m Buddhist,” before explaining some of the prayer and training habits he and fellow Buddhists practice to strengthen their minds, which he said gives a person many benefits, among which includes a sense of global community. Nations and continents, the Dalai Lama said, must be

brought together to spread peacefulness. To do this, he said individuals must learn to have a global consciousness, which will in turn bring about more holistic thinking. “I think due to lack of holistic view(s) (there are) some unnecessary problems,” he said. Often times, people have a false hope that material things can solve problems, he said. Physically, the Dalai Lama said, material items offer the required satisfaction; however, they do not help humans mentally. The Dalai Lama said emotions, such as compassion and affection, bring about positive occurrences but on the other hand, some emotions cause disturbances in a person’s life. “It’s a matter of training the mind and getting to know one’s emotions better,” he said. Human beings’ minds and their emotions are complex, the Dalai Lama said, as he joked that the billions of dollars spent on exploring outer space would be put to better use by studying the human mind. With a well-trained, calm mind, the Dalai Lama said a person can face adversity better and

when problems arise, although it will naturally disturb a person, more positive outcomes are likely to occur, especially if someone has the strength to look at the situation from different angles. He said applying human intelligence properly can result in people rising above adversity and creating positive opportunities from it. The Dalai Lama said he has two commitments that he works toward and tries to express to others. The ﬁrst of his commitments is to emotional human value. “The most destructive element of emotion is you can’t see reality,” he said. “I believe human nature is more gentleness, more compassion.” Humans, he said, are naturally affectionate and compassionate because from birth there is natural love coming from both the offspring and the mother, which is not taught. He said human affection is a basis for survival and is important for achieving overall happiness. At a young age, children need to be shown affection in school and at home in order to develop their mind properly, the Dalai

Lama said. Children who are ignored this affection, sometimes those with divorced parents or other problems at home, he said, will suffer mentally, causing them to have difﬁculty developing compassion for others once they are grown. “Therefore, at a young age, affection is very, very crucial,” he said. The Dalai Lama also spoke about anger and said that while it is not a constant emotion like compassion or affection, it is involved in life and can cause difﬁculty if it is not controlled. Anger is supposed to be used to protect oneself from certain things in life; however, he said, it often acts as a curtain, blocking a person from seeing reality. He taught that if anger is stopping a person from viewing reality correctly and decisions are made while angry, they can often turn out to be bad decisions or cause embarrassment later. Individual and global problems, he said, can be helped by humans having a broader sense of the global community. The Dalai Lama’s second commitment is emotional harmony. He said there needs to be a variety of philosophies throughout the world but the differences should not divide nations. Religion, more often than not, causes division among individuals and nations, he said, but if people work to broaden their consciousness of and compassion for others, humans can become closer despite their different beliefs. The Dalai Lama then ended his public talk by telling the audience to take the ideas he has presented and do with them what they wanted. If people found them interesting, he said to continue researching and studying them, and if they thought otherwise, he said it was not a problem for people to go about their lives as usual. Select questions from audience members that were emailed on Monday were then read to the Dalai Lama for his response. One question addressed the rise in human violence, such as actions taken by terrorist and the government’s response. The Dalai Lama responded that he thought the rise in terrorist events was due to negligence of

the problem in the past. “All these things, I think, are due to lack of close relations,” he said. Individuals need to deal with conflicts by talking out a negotiation, as opposed to violence, he said “Whenever some problem happens the best way to deal with it is with dialogue,” he said. The audience applauded the Dalai Lama when he said that while the terrorists’ actions need to be dealt with, he thinks it should be done less violently. Violence, he said, is unpredictable and “it easily can become out of control.” When asked in one of the emailed questions what type of music he likes, the Dalai Lama said while he admires and appreciates musicians, he has no interest in music because the noise often irritates him. After finishing the questionanswer portion of the talk, the Dalai Lama stood to leave and again bowed to the audience as they stood and applauded. Attendees quickly filed out of the arena, many of whom were discussing the comments made by His Holiness. “I enjoyed it. I think he has a great sense of humor,” said Randi Ashburn, UT alumna. Everyone had their own favorite parts of the speech that stood out as important ideas to them. Ashburn said she agreed most with his belief that children need affection and compassion implemented at a young age. Harlan and Kelley, who had waited overnight to get their tickets, said they learned a great deal from the talk and thought the Dalai Lama was very knowledgeable on the topics of discussion. “I really enjoyed it and what he said about searching inside yourself first before you can help others was very intuitive,” Harlan said. The Dalai Lama’s humble attitude appealed to Kelley who said she thought it helped the audience connect to him better. Kelley said she felt it was an important point in the speech that the international community needs to develop better unity. “Try to become (a) genuine, peace loving person,” the Dalai Lama said.

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Wednesday, September 21, 2005

The University Star - Page 5

VIGIL: Student leaders offer response to allegations CONTINUED from page 1

sity, as well as the Black student population” who were “greatly disturbed over the incidents and misinformation released by law enforcement surrounding the events.” Police officials said reinforcements were called after several physical altercations between students occurred. While breaking up one of these altercations, police reported one student allegedly punched a UPD officer in the face, and another allegedly shoved the officer who arrested the latter for aggravated assault on a public servant. The release stated “students feel that they have been unfairly portrayed as drunken, out-ofcontrol Blacks, when in fact, it was the overreaction of law enforcement officers that students say led to the problems.” The press release also asserted, “law enforcement officials expected much worse in spite of no incidents to merit such massive and excessive show of force,” referring to the more than 15 squad cars from the University Police Department, San Marcos Police Department and Hays County Sheriff ’s Department that arrived on the scene. The release further charged that “overzealous” police harassment of students led to the tasing and arrests of students and that “law enforcement officers brandished their shotguns and Tasers, instilling fear in the crowd, instead of trying to keep the peace,” actions the press release contended led to the unrest among students. The release also said black students were left feeling “distraught, vulnerable and in fear of those who are paid to ‘protect and serve.’ This incident will only further alienate Black students at Texas State University and could be detrimental to the retention and recruitment of Black students and students overall.” Anderson, public administration senior, took the floor after Davis concluded. Anderson, who attended the conference on behalf of ASG, read the emergency legislation unanimously passed by the Student Senate on Monday called “Students Call for Investigation.” Jackson and Sinclair, authors of the legislation, stood beside Anderson as he read the bill, which calls for an “objective, thorough and impartial administrative and legal investigation” of the incident. Leonard and Sinclair then opened the floor for a limited number of questions from the media on hand, including Austin rock station KLBJ, News 8 Aus-

tin, the San Antonio ExpressNews and the San Marcos Daily Record. Leonard, pre-mass communication junior, said the incident on Sept. 11 was not the first of its kind. “I have received several reported incidents of — I don’t want to say brutal — but I guess the tension between the UPD officers and the black student population,” Leonard said, although he did not elaborate further. Leonard said the law enforcement departments should apologize to the student body if any misconduct on the part of offi-

hey have “T some concerns, and

they are voicing those concerns in such a manner that they could be addressed by the appropriate people.”

— Vincent Morton assistant dean of students

Adam Brown/Star photo Student Sens. Ed Sinclair, applied sociology senior (left), and Jermaine Jackson, history senior, bow their heads during a cers is found. prayer outside the UPD offices on Tuesday. The prayer was a culmination of the day’s events which included a press con“The goal is to make sure that ference and vigil at The Stallions in response to alleged police violence Sept. 11 following an AALC after-party. if there was any wrongdoing on the police officers, we would love constituting a danger to him- or “I thought that the press con- ing Stallions statue while Da- department, revisiting the latefor them to be reprimanded and herself or others. ference was very professional in vis read the statement released night party plan the university also to give an official apology to Leonard also said individual getting the word out with the by black student leaders to the established in 1996 and launchthe black students on this cam- students have lodged several press release and the contacts to crowd, which reached about 200 ing an independent investigapus,” Leonard said. complaints against the agencies. the media,” Parker said. “I’m im- as students stopped and watched tion. Sinclair, applied sociology seSinclair said that least 30 in- pressed with the students’ show the goings-on. Henry Smith III Smith said a press release prenior, said ASG is attempting to dividual student accounts have of solidarity and a common then led the students in prayer. viously issued by the university determine why there was an “ex- been compiled to date by the cause today.” Student Sen. Jeffrey Moody was based strictly on police recessive show” of police presence Office of Multicultural Student Morton agreed with Parker. was among those watching the ports. if verbal altercations within the Affairs, but he would not com“I think it is what you would proceedings. At about 12:19 p.m., the stuparty were resolved by students, ment about when the statements expect from highly intelligent “I’m still unsure about what dents left The Quad and arrived and there was no violence, as the would be made available to the students,” Morton said. “They really happened,” said Moody, at the doors of UPD, where participants claim. public. have some concerns, and they accounting senior. “I’ve heard Reginald Reid, accounting juAnswering police allegations Sinclair said that ASG is not are voicing those concerns in two very different opinions nior, conducted a second prayer that students were drinking at trying to place blame on any one such a manner that they could about what happened, and I ex- vigil, with students standing in a the alcohol-free party hosted by party. be addressed by the appropriate pect the investigation will fall in circle before the Nueces BuildAlpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Sin“We are not singling out any- people.” the middle.” ing, hands joined. Leonard cauclair said it was possible students body,” he said. “We are denouncVice President of Student AfChris Kenney, computer in- tioned students not to enter the were imbibing outside the party, ing any wrongdoing on behalf of fairs Joanne Smith echoed other formation systems junior, said doors or block the path. but the charges have not been any party involved with this.” administration statements, say- the incident was “messed up.” Reid spoke of “a spirit of uniproven. Davis said he felt “pretty good” ing the students’ actions was “All I know is what I read,” ty” and the need to have “no vio“It’s possible (but) very un- about the press conference. “one of the ways we can go down Kenney said. “I believe in non- lence, no anger, no hatred.” Reid likely, and (SMPD Chief How“We had a lot of support as the road of healing and rebuild- lethal weapons. I came from a called the students “survivors,” ard) Williams’ statements, unless you can see; almost everyone ing trust.” family of law enforcement, so I and the crowd ended the prayer corroborated by blood alcohol had their black shirts on,” Davis Smith said she attended the favor that.” with a unified “amen.” tests, carry no weight with the said. “We finally got the student events because she is still gatherKenney said although he faUPD Chief Ralph Meyer said student population at Texas perspective out there, which I ing information from students vors nonlethal weapons to lethal, the ceremonies were a positive State,” Sinclair said. think everyone was waiting for.” and felt it was important to hear nonlethal weapons should also step. Williams said in a previous In addition to students, sev- and understand how the stu- be used as a last resort. “We all need to work together interview, however, that in or- eral university staff and faculty dents feel. Smith said the university is to bridge the gap of perceived der to charge an individual with members attended the press “I’ve been an adviser here for still gathering information about misunderstanding,” Meyer said. public intoxication, no Breatha- conference. many years with student groups, the incident, but the administra- “We’ll work in any way we can to lyzer need be administered; Greek Affairs coordinator Ter- and I really care about the stu- tion should come to a conclu- reunite us all.” only charges of driving while ence Parker and Vincent Mor- dents,” Smith said. “When they sion in the next 11 days. She said Leonard ended the ceremony intoxicated are confirmed with ton, assistant dean of students, hurt, I hurt as well.” some of the proposed changes by urging students to attend class the test. He said a PI arrest only said they came to the conference About 100 students marched to prevent a similar problem in for the remainder of the day. means that an individual is in- as a show of support for the stu- from the LBJ Student Center to the future may include creating “Go to class and learn all you toxicated in a public place and is dents. The Quad and circled the Fight- an advisory group for the police can,” he said. “Educate yourself.”

DEBATE: Students place the MINUTEMEN: DREAM Act COURT: Artist holds sale to raise money for showcase blame on government officials supported by demonstrators CONTINUED from page 1

ing the Central Area Regional Transportation Planning Organization, a ten-county division of Capital Area Council of Governments, which works with TxDOT, the Texas Department of Transportation, in order to secure that projects meet and suit local government needs. Commissioner Susie Carter, 2nd Precinct, spoke of the importance in approving the resolution to help reduce high-trafﬁc areas within Hays County. “It’s a long shot. What we’re trying to do is to get our projects to be one of the three that CARTPO puts before TxDot’s commissioner,” Carter said. The resolution calls for trafﬁc improvements of road conditions on Texas Highway 21 and Fm 150, involving the changing of dangerous high-speed areas, narrow roads and the need for a continuous turn lane. “It would be almost a miracle for us to get this funding,” Carter said. Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe, 1st Precinct, agreed with Carter’s opinion for the needed approval of the resolution. “I think these are two really good projects,” Ingalsbe said. The court approved the resolution regarding CARTPO.

The court also approved $2,500 toward the purchase of a utility vehicle for the Hays County Parks Department. The meeting concluded with the recognition of Kerry Christensen, a local artist chosen to showcase her artwork at the 2005 Florence International Biennial. Christensen expressed excitement for the opportunity, while voicing a ﬁnancial concern toward the cost of shipping the works. Christensen is in need of about $5,000 in donations from local art patrons or community members to support her in her efforts; she is selling T-shirts and stickers in effort to raise donations. “If I could just sell 400 Tshirts, I’d be going,” Christensen said. The Biennial is scheduled to take place at the beginning of December, however Christensen said she would have to make a decision whether to go or not by the middle of October. To view or order samples of Christensen’s works or to send donations, visit www.kerrykchristensen.com. In other areas of the court, County Judge Jim Powers is seeking a third term as Hays County’s leading administrator. Powers will be running against Elizabeth Sumter, his democratic challenger in November’s upcoming election.

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sponsible. Former FEMA director Michael Brown was the last man standing and therefore determined to be the most responsible. However, no one seemed satisﬁed with the results. “I think the person who appointed Brown is the most responsible,” said Perkins in reference to Bush. This sentiment was echoed by many in attendance, including Chris Cumby, a mathematics senior and spectator at the event who believes the people in charge of Brown bear the most responsibility. “I think the blame should fall on Michael Chertoff and the person who appointed Brown: President Bush,” Cumby said. Samantha Montgomery, playing Nagin, perhaps best summed the debate. “We are all to blame,” Montgomery said. Despite a ﬁnal decision that

not everyone was happy with, the organizers and participants deemed the event a success. “I think it’s important to have an open forum to discuss these issues,” Orozco said. Bode was happy that the event drew so many students and got them to think about and discuss the issues. “I’m very pleased with the number of people who showed up and the number that got involved,” Bode said, “I’m also very pleased with the comments from the audience.” The next debate in the series will be held in October and will focus on courage, a topic also being discussed as part of the University Seminar common experience this semester. This year’s common experience is based around Tim O’Brien’s book If I Die In A Combat Zone and will feature a number of events in addition to the debate. A third undecided debate will close out the series.

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number of Mexicans pursuing higher education. According to the act, 65,000 students in the United States graduate every year with degrees but are unable to ﬁnd gainful employment because of their immigration status. People in favor of the Minutemen were present also, shouting over the crowd for immigrants to return home. Signs in the group of about 40 bore various slogans, including “One Nation, One Language,” and “Employing Illegal Aliens Is a Crime.”

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Despite the opposition, the rally went on as scheduled, and the smaller group was largely ignored. “I’m here to support the (DREAM) act,” said Jessica Cassidy, University of Texas public affairs graduate student. “I don’t care about them.” For now, the Minutemen will still be present in Texas, ﬁlling what some believe to be a void in law enforcement by the Minutemen. “They might not be gone, but at least we made our voices heard,” Hancevic said. “At least we’ve done something that people can see.”

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TRENDS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

trendythoughts

What are your thoughts on the new iPod nano?

“It’s kind of neat that there’s a smaller device. I have a newer version of the iPod.”

“I think it’s great. It’s more convenient. If I had the cash, I’d get one.”

“Hard drives are getting smaller. LCD screens are getting better resolution. But, I wouldn’t buy one.”

— Scott Dirks history junior

- Steve Solis music junior

- Mike Davis mass communication senior

Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - Page 5

Trends Contact — Christina Gomez, starentertainment@txstate.edu

Compiled by Kyle Bradshaw

GUNS N’ NEUROSIS Lord of War presents thrilling if heavy-handed view of arms dealing

Yuri Orlov is Presi- film loser of the family. dent Bush’s worst review The two amateurs nightmare. In fact, if start off slow, selling ✯✯✯ used American weapLord of War were set Lord of War in 2005, it most likely ons by the pound for would have featured Dir.: Andrew meager profits. Sadly, Niccol a Southern-drawled they find their weak Nicolas mock version of the Stars: profit margin much Cage, Ethan president declaring Hawke, Jared more unsettling than watching a line of war on Yuri instead Leto children being exof terrorism. Yuri sells Rated: R ecuted by men using guns to almost every the guns they had just dictator, warlord and terrorist in the world, with the sold them, which is where the exception of Osama Bin Laden, film’s political objectives start who bounces checks. The film to unfurl. To make matters takes a darkly humorous and worse, Yuri must also comdisconcerting look at violence- pete with the top arms dealer laden African countries that in the world, Simeon Weisz succumb daily to weapons pro- (Ian Holm; Lord of the Rings, ), for control vided by people like Yuri. Garden State), In what is already becoming over the African weapa politically charged fall movie ons trade. season, Lord of War takes its While his busiaim at guns, specifically those ness slowly but sold to warring countries in surely grows, Yuri Africa. Like The Constant Gar- marries Ava Fondener, which targets pharma- taine (Bridget ceutical companies and their Moynahan; I, Roinvolvement in poverty-strick- bot), a supermodel en areas of Africa, this movie who is wooed by subjugates all other film ele- Yuri’s lavish lifements to its message, which is style. Their marriage plain as day and always front makes her character and center. seem shallow and With his usual cocky charm, turns her into nothing Cage plays Yuri, who was born more than a necessary in Odessa, Ukraine, but was plot point. Yuri never tells raised in Brooklyn surrounded her what he does for a living; by violent mafia murders in a she just agrees to be left in rough neighborhood. During the dark as long as her plush the mid-’80s, Yuri is inspired Manhattan apartment is by factors that are never whol- filled with diamonds and ly explained to enter the gun- the so-called finer things. running business overseas. He However, her interest is enlists the help of his younger peaked when Yuri’s operabrother Vitaly (played with fine tion skyrockets after the Cold simplicity by Leto), a cocaine War officially ends and the Soaddict and self-proclaimed viet Union supplies him with

massive stockpiles of unused weapons. Soon after, his business grows beyond his control; competing warlords try to take him out and Interpol agents start following his every move. Yuri isn’t meant to be a hero. We’re never asked to care for him or sympathize with the misfortune that inevitably comes his way. In any other ﬁlm, he would be the antagonist, w h o m we would despise

with everything in us. But in this case, he’s not so much the protagonist as a sort of charismatic villain. The only slightly heroic character is Jack Valentine (Hawke), an Interpol agent trying his darnedest to save the world from evildoers like Yuri. However, even his noble intentions are undercut by the very U.S. government that he represents with such stoicism and that, according to the ﬁlm, is completely responsible for everything that is wrong with the world. Written and directed with admirable boldness by Andrew Niccol (Gattaca),

Lord of War presents a largely pessimistic worldview that is just as affective as it is downtrodden. Take the ﬁlm’s opening sequence for example: The camera follows a single bullet all the way from its manufacture to its arrival in Africa, where it eventually ends up striking what is a presumably innocent victim in the head. The rest of the ﬁlm is consistent with the unsettling tone of this dark introduction and often feels more like a propaganda

documentary than a plausible narrative. It has plenty to say about violence, war and money-grubbing capitalists, and most of the time, women and children are the innocent victims of these horrors, giving the film a provocative duality between comedy and political drama. Lord of War isn’t a brilliant film. Its first half is weighed down in Yuri’s overindulgent narration (the bulk of which could easily be transplanted into a Michael Moore film), and its characters aren’t given the attention they deserve, forcing them to take a back seat to the film’s political motives. However, it works because it never tries to be anything other than what it intends to be — a sarcastic and thought-provoking thriller. With its utterly frustrating conclusion, Lord of War is supposed to make us angry and inspire us to be more vocal about the United States’ weapons-trading policies. It doesn’t entirely succeed in doing so, but it’s interesting to watch it try. — Kyle Bradshaw Movie Ratings Key

Photo courtesy of Lions Gate Films In Lord of War, Nicolas Cage ﬁnds that selling guns doesn’t always pay off in the end.

No stars – Must skip ✯ – Bad, fails overall ✯✯ – Mediocre, wait for DVD ✯✯✯ – Good, few ﬂaws ✯✯✯✯ – Outstanding, must see

Heaven can wait

him a good number of Why? We don’t know. Maybe If you have had a film unsatisfactory apart- because he lives in her apartlong day at work or review ments, David, through ment, or maybe she was sent have been studying long hours and feel ✯ serendipitous events from the beyond to help David like you need a nap, Just Like Heaven (like a flyer that just revive his soul or maybe, ah, I’d suggest seeing Just Dir.: Mark Waters won’t quit slapping who cares. The story is what him in the face), finds it is — a predictable plot that Like Heaven — a flick Stars: Reese the apartment previ- feels like pulling teeth. with a first hour that Witherspoon, David at first tries to rid his ously owned by Elizacould be used to cure Mark Ruffalo Rated: PG-13 apartment of Elizabeth with a beth. insomnia. The apartment is number of cleansings includThe movie opens fully furnished and in- ing a brainless exorcism, a with an introduction into Elizabeth’s (Witherspoon) cludes a nice view, private roof head-scratching Asian ritual fast-paced and selflessly dedi- access, a fireplace and (gasp!) and a visit from some “ghostcated life as an emergency a beautiful and commanding busters.” Yeah, that’s right, room doctor. She voluntarily spirit that hates it when David ghostbusters. He turns to likeable and eccentric Darryl (Jon works long shifts and has no doesn’t use a coaster. David is the only one who real personal life to speak of. Some of her female co-work- can see and hear Elizabeth. See HEAVEN, page 6 ers tell her how lucky she is not having to worry about sewing costumes for her kids, cooking for a family or dating, and that she’s able to fully concentrate on her career; Elizabeth agrees half-heartedly. Later that evening, on her way to a blind date arranged by her officious and meddling sister (Dina Waters), Elizabeth has a head-on collision with a truck, which results in her becoming a citizen of the ethereal realm. Enter 45 clichéd, underacted and lackluster minutes that evoke memories of Ghost. During this time, we meet David (Mark Ruffalo 13 Going On 30), a gloomy, cheerless Photo courtesy of Dreamworks widower who is looking for a new start in a new place. Af- Mark Ruffalo is haunted by Reese Witherspoon in the comater his real estate agent shows tose romantic comedy Just Like Heaven.

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TRENDS

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

✯Star Comics Dead Derg

Doug Pollard

The University Star - Page 6

Distinctive voices

Strutter looks forward to large performance

Random Acts of Violence

Erin Leeder

cited and nervous The Strutters are at the same time, yet usually invited to somehow you manone out-of-town age to get through football game each the whole dance year, and next week with your leaps we are going to higher than ever. be performing in ABBY MINICA This past weekCollege Station for end, I was in Austhe Texas State vs. Entertainment tin and went to the Texas A&M game. Columnist University of Texas This is huge — litvs. Rice Univererally. The stadium sity game, and as I at Kyle Field holds more than 80,000 people, watched the halftime show, which is insane to me be- all I could think about was cause, personally, this will be how we’d be dancing in a the biggest crowd I’ve per- stadium almost as big next week. So, needless to say, this formed in front of. Last year, our two largest year’s out-of-town game will audiences were at the Show- be hard to top. Since Texas State didn’t makers Dance Competition hosted by Texas State in a have a game on Saturday, packed Strahan Coliseum we spent all last week (and and our annual halftime will spend all this week) on performance at a San Anto- the halftime routine for the nio Spurs game. Those two A&M game. In fact, today at performances were the type practice, we spent about two where your whole body goes sweaty hours just perfecting numb because you’re so ex- and re-perfecting our dance

so we can wow the Aggies. Even though our football team is two divisions below A&M’s, and a big win is anticipated for the Aggies, this game is important. It’s important not only for the football team but also for the band, the cheerleaders and the Strutters. This is another opportunity to get our school’s new name out there — along with the new prestigious image we want to display — and our school’s organizations are the ambassadors for Texas State. So this week, as ambassadors, the Strutters are working hard to put our best foot forward as we step onto Kyle Field on Saturday. We will be following Abby as she high kicks as a Texas State Strutter every Wednesday every Wednesday. For more information on the Strutters, visit www.txstrutters.com.

Corpse Bride dies from deficiency of character, plot complications Not even the charm- film With too many “tee- voking Pastor Galswells. ing voice of Depp can review hee, my head fell off ” Overall, the film could have keep this plot from jokes and too little char- been salvaged if Burton had redecomposing. Corpse ✯✯ acter development, the lied on dialogue and storytelling Bride, another stop- Corpse Bride viewer is never able to rather than choppy songs to exanimation film from Dir.: Tim Burton invest any emotion into plain the background situations Tim Burton, was too Stars: Johnny caring about who ends — especially since he had assemhastily put together Depp, Helena up with whom. Danny bled such a talented and varied to illicit any reaction Bonham Carter Elfman’s incessant and cast. Depp keeps the fractured Rated: PG from the audience. ill-worded lyrical mon- dialogue running somewhat Depp plays Victor tages, coupled with the smoothly, and Bonham Carter Van Dort, a son of bizarre cut sequences, is charming as the decomposfish merchants and groom-to- take the viewer on an obscure ing homewrecker. I don’t usube with cold feet being forced to and nauseating acid trip. ally advocate a longer running marry the tragically underdevelThe only saving grace comes time, but extending the movie oped Victoria Everglot (Emily in the form of talented cameo 30 minutes and nixing the singWatson; Angela’s Ashes). The two appearances by famous Brit- ing would have probably done are betrothed in order to secure ish comedians and a hilarious the trick. the Van Dorts’ place in high so- Christopher Lee playing the part ciety. Eager to marry off their of the fire-and-brimstone-in— Christina Gomez daughter, the once-wealthy Everglots face a life in the poor house if their plan doesn’t work out. When Victor bungles his vows during the rehearsal ceremony, he flees to the woods to contemplate his impending nuptials and inadvertently marries a corpse (Bonham Carter). Realizing that he really is in love with Victoria, Victor returns momentarily to his former bride-to-be and informs her of his new marriage. Unable to get her family to believe her story about Victor, she is quickly betrothed to the mysterious, sharp-chinned Lord Barkis. Soon after Victoria’s marriage to Lord Barkis, Victor decides to make things official with the corpse bride and commit suicide so they can no longer be parted by death. As the dead mingled with the living in a wedding celebration and the story Courtesy of Warner Brothers reached its climax, I had already Johnny Depp provides the voice of Victor Van Dort, a groom lost interest. with cold feet, in Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride.

HEAVEN: CONTINUED from page 5

Tuesday’s solutions:

Heder; Napoleon Dynamite), for advice. Darryl works at a bookstore that specializes in the paranormal. Apparently, Darryl’s got “the gift,” meaning he can sense people’s auras. For a movie that claims to be a comedy, it isn’t very funny and is so dramatically ﬂat that your mind will drift off about halfway through the movie. There are no hilarious

Romantic comedy doesn’t live up to its title

moments to mention, though one scene in which the audience is mooned full-on by an 80-year-old man may get a few chuckles. And it’s not until the last 10 minutes that you even begin to get invested in the characters and their plight. Mark Waters is at the helm of this production. Having directed well-received comedies like Freaky Friday and Mean Girls, he will not likely duplicate those successes with this

NEED ADVICE? E-mail us at starentertainment@txstate.edu with any questions you have. Whether itʼs relationship, school or work problems youʼre having, weʼll give you our advice. All e-mails will be kept conﬁdential.

Look in Thursday’s edition of The University Star for today’s answers.

ﬁlm, which depends too heavily on the star power and likeability of Witherspoon and its hefty promotion. Just Like Heaven is, sadly, another movie that reveals everything that’s funny in the trailer. If you saw that, chances are you won’t laugh very much during this would-be romantic comedy. My advice is to wait for the DVD or rent Ghost. — Nixon Guerrero

OPINIONS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

quoteof the day

Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - Page 6

“The political fallout from Katrina has been so great that the administration cannot afford another poorly executed response.”

”

— Former FEMA Chief of Staff Jane Bullock commenting on the impending evacuations in response to the newly formed Hurricane Rita. (Source: Financial Times)

Opinions Contact — Joe Ruiz, staropinion@txstate.edu

THE MAIN POINT

The Minutemen have arrived in Texas and so has the controversy. In Austin on Saturday, several groups, including migrant-rights and civil liberties organizations, marched on the Texas Capitol to protest the so-called vigilantes bringing their idea of justice and “community service” to the Texas-Mexico border. While both sides had marchers at the gathering, the scene was overwhelmingly opposed in numbers and fervor to the Minutemen. The protesters’ central claim is that the Minutemen and groups like them are racist, anti-immigration right-wing nutjob xenophobes who want to close off America’s borders completely. While this description may fit a minority of Minutemen volunteers, the protestors’ cries should not be blindly followed without approaching the issue from the other side of the fence. The main reason the Minutemen give for their organization is that the U.S. Border Patrol is severely undermanned and lacks the funds to patrol adequately and effectively the thousands of miles Mexico and the United States share. This is true. While the number of agents has tripled in the past 30 years, illegal immigration has increased proportionally as well, and there remains a severe deficit of skilled agents. The Minutemen are authorized to carry firearms but their policy is not to initiate violent contact, but to alert Border Patrol agents to anybody entering the United States illegally. As a litmus test for the Minutemen’s actions, the pilot program in Arizona ended with no injuries or violence and seemed to be a success. Arrests actually decreased overall during the month that the Minutemen patrolled the border. Perhaps this was the simple result of more bodies on the American side acting as a deterrent. And the claims that they are all crazy conservative Republicans? Most of the Minutemen might be registered Republicans, but many are Libertarians, Democrats and independents; they might be anyone who disagrees with President Bush’s handling of border issues. Regardless of the 500 or so protestors at the Capitol, there have been more than 7,000 signatures supporting the Minutemen from those living along the border who have to deal with the negative, but scarcely mentioned, effects of illegal immigration every day. Such incidents include home invasions, property damage, large amounts of litter that threaten natural wildlife and cut fences resulting in livestock being lost or stolen — not to mention the tragic deaths of those who bravely trek across the dangerous landscape for a better life. Those who illegally cross our borders are no different from those who are lucky enough to live in America; we all deserve the best that life can offer. However, moving to the United States should be done through the proper venues, and illegal immigration is still exactly that — illegal. As long as we accept that there are certain formal procedures that are required for immigration, the Minutemen are simply doing their part to support these democratically agreed-upon standards. Furthermore, in post-9/11 America, it only makes sense that one of the most vulnerable areas of our country would be protected as completely as possible, and if the federal government can’t handle the job on its own, kudos to those who will offer their assistance. Why should those that live nowhere near the border and who have no idea of the immediate problems that those areas face discount the efforts of volunteers on the basis of speculation? If anything, we should be glad that we have some extra help at no extra cost to the taxpayer. 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 University-San Marcos. Letters policy: E-mail letters to starletters@txstate.edu. Letters must be no longer than 300 words. No anonymous letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit for grammar, spelling, space and libel. We reserve the right to refuse obscene, irrelevant and malicious letters. All e-mails must include the name and phone number of the letter writer. Students should also include their classifications and majors.

s e t o u q s m pu Compiled by Ashley Richards

Do you think President Bush apologizing for Katrina relief efforts will lead to more effective federal emergency response in the future? “No, no way because this is a short-term ﬁx. It’s politics; it’s always a short-term ﬁx that leads to decay. Nothing personal; it’s just politics.” — JORDAN ALBRACHT political science freshman “No, I think it was more of him doing what he needed to do to cover his reign. It’s coming to his last eight years, and he doesn’t want to leave looking bad, and in turn, it doesn’t do anything for the people.” — JACLYN FLORES political science sophomore “I think it’s just a front by Bush to get people to think maybe he does care.” — LUIS GUERRA business sophomore

The University Star

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

Doug Pollard/Star illustration

Civilians who patrol the border not necessarily a risk to public, migrants

You say you want a revolution It is said that incident at William real revolution Paterson University and change begins in Wayne, N.J. Jihad on college camDaniel received a puses and among mass e-mail (think students. Usually about the VPSA epeaceful, these stumails we constantly dent-led demonget) inviting him to strations are the attend a movie and RACHEL ANNE pulse for seemingly informational sesFLETCHER apathetic youths. sion about lesbians. Guest Columnist However, these The 68-year-old protests can lead to student was groviolent confrontations — such tesquely offended and sent a as the recent anti-governheated e-mail back requestment demonstrations at the ing that he receive no further University of Tehran in Iran to e-mails about “Connie and the historic 1989 Tiananmen Sally” or “Adam and Steve.” Square massacre where hunDaniel received a reprimand dreds were killed. Sometimes from the school for his “derogprotests, like the anti-Vietnam atory” comments. Daniel took War protests, can even change his case to The Foundation for the entire political landscape Individual Rights in Educaof a country and shape the tion, a group that lobbies for way wars are viewed for years student rights. FIRE filed a to come. This right to protest complaint with the univerand free speech is an American sity stating that Daniel’s first landmark outlined in the first amendment rights were being amendment. denied; but the New Jersey Yet I am fearful of current attorney general sided with the students as the advancers of university. change and the future leaders If the senders have the right of tomorrow. On a majority to send a controversial and of college campuses students potentially offensive message are presented with only one campuswide, why can’t Daniel side of the story. With the send comments in a private emphasis now on certain indi- e-mail? Have we become so vidual rights, what about the obsessed with political correctother established rights that ness and the emotional wellare being pushed aside to acbeing of others that we have commodate for this new era of lost our right to be offended? understanding? An e-mail such as the one Lately there has been a back- Daniel received might have ward movement where the offended me, but with the cur“politically correct” left has rent atmosphere on campuses the right to free speech on col- I would not have an outlet to lege campuses. Take a recent express my opinion for fear of

being discriminatory. Case in point two: Professor Timothy Shortell of Brooklyn College in New York City posted online antireligious and anti-Christian comments; likening Christians to “rabid animals” and “retards.” This created a ﬁrestorm after the online essay was discovered because Shortell is the leader of the sociology department. Professors continually use their position of leadership to exert inﬂuence over students whether morally or politically. While it is their right too, I believe that anti-Christian comments, online or not, is still a form of discrimination. In addition, if Shortell can post these comments online without reprimand then why is Daniel scolded for a private e-mail? Have we gone so far in our pursuit of religious equality that Christianity is now oppressed? Probably the most poignant example of campus hypocrisy is from the mecca of liberal absurdity — San Francisco. Last March. a group of Air Force and Army recruiters were forced to leave a San Francisco State University campus career fair early because of excessive demonstrations by Students Against War. SAW surrounded the table and began hostilely protesting the recruiter’s presence forcing them to leave. SAW, along with The International Socialist Organization at SFSU, later hosted Lynne Stewart to speak at the uni-

versity. Stewart is a convicted aide to terrorist Abdel Rahman who is responsible for the ﬁrst World Trade Center bombing. Along with honoring a known terrorist, SAW passed out pamphlets advocating the support of the Iraqi insurgents against America, while the International Socialist Organization openly advocates the overthrow of the United States government. If this alarming trend of biased liberal education and favoritism continues, I believe we will reach a stage in our quest not to offend others where we are so politically correct and have so many alleged rights that we will end up with no liberty at all. I am not arguing these students’ right to protest the military — or even their right to advocate the overthrow of the American government and suggest treason. These students can honor terrorists as much as they like. However, I believe it absurd that the same people who are dying overseas to protect the protesters right to hold their ludicrous views are the people they will not allow on their campus. I am advocating that not only the left-wing nuts have the right to free speech but the right-wing nutjobs as well. I think every nut should have their say if we are to embrace the true American spirit. Fletcher is a pre-mass communication and political science sophomore.

Today’s writers with inspiration drowned in sea of mass opinions If you look at all inspirational auof the inspirational thors, you would writers we’ve had end up with a list in the past, you can of hundreds or see how they helped thousands of auusher America into thors. But not one a new era. Although of these writers will it took years for us have hit a nerve to JOE TORRES to look back at these collectively bring Star Columnist writers and recoga nation together. nize them as the There are so many most inspirational, we were different views and creative still able to go through and ways to get those views out. pick them out. Ten or 20 years Different genres of ﬁction from now, do you think we and even self-help books have will be able to do that? The become an outlet. People’s writers in earlier times like opinions about anything in Emerson, Thoreau and Paine general end up on the Opinwere responsible for bringing ions page of the newspaper. a nation together in times of Has this overwhelming sense desperate need. These writers of empowerment to voice our brought a massive group of opinions skewed our perceppeople together but got them tion of true talent? Have we to think for themselves as inbeen so caught up in our own dividuals. opinion that we are no longer Now, think about today. able to collectively spot a good Could you really pick out idea when we see it? just a few? Everyone has his Upon further investigation or her own idea of inspiraof what it really means to be tion. There are millions more an individual, I’ve hit a crosspeople in America today than road. When you think about there were then. If you atit, if everyone voices their own tempted to compile a list of opinion, you have millions of

Editor In Chief..................David Michael Cohen, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor..................................Joe Ruiz, staropinion@txstate.edu News Editor......................................Kirsten Crow, starnews@txstate.edu Assistant News Editor.................Ashley Richards, ar1225@txstate.edu Trends Editor..............Christina Gomez, starentertainment@txstate.edu Photo Editor...........................Courtney Addison, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor...................................Miguel Peña, starsports@txstate.edu

Copy Desk Chief.......................Siobhan Chapman, sc1108@txstate.edu Design Editor.......................................Matt Rael, stardesign@txstate.edu Systems Administrator.............Chris Jeane, starsysadmin@txstate.edu Webmaster...........................Ryan Johnson, starwebadmin@txstate.edu Art Director.......................................Marisa Leeder, ml1131@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator......................Jodie Claes, starad1@txstate.edu Account Executive......................Richard Para, Jr., rp1060@txstate.edu

individual opinions. That’s why there are things like editorial pages and certain works of fiction, and there are people who read them. I think everyone has the right idea when it comes to being an individual and speaking their mind at any given moment, but it all comes down to who listens. Has the market for opinions and ideas become so saturated that everyone just stopped listening? With everyone talking about everything, opinions seem to turn into a cacophony that no one wants to pay attention to. I think the only way to find an opinion that suits everyone or at least the masses, is to find a common ground. In the time of Paine, Emerson and Thoreau, the nation had a common problem and needed a common solution. But they took the time to assess the problem and put it in its simplest form. They found a problem that affects the common people. We still have common problems; a faulty government comes to mind.

Account Executive................................Ana Kulak, ak1094@txstate.edu Account Executive..................................Lindsay Lee, atlas@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................Lindsey Randolph, lr1068@txstate.edu Student Business Manager................Robby Silva, rs1237@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator..Linda Allen, starbusinessoffice@txstate.edu Publications Director..............Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com

What we need is a solution. The smallest voice could have the grand answer to all of society’s ills. The problem is that no one can hear this voice because it’s being drowned out by everyone else’s two cents. In order for communication to happen, you need two things: someone to talk and someone to listen. The ones who decide to listen may ultimately become inspired by the words of someone else and decide to do something that may change the world. This can be viewed as a good or bad thing, depending on how you look at it. Instead of focusing on personal gripes, one might consider looking at the big picture. People won’t listen if it doesn’t pertain to them. Compromise seems to be the only way to inspire such a large group. You can still apply your individual beliefs while offering a general solution to a problem. Thinking outside the box is a great way to get people to listen. Torres is a pre-mass communication sophomore 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 Sept. 21, 2005. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief.

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Wednesday, September 9 33 Wednesday, August 21, 24,2005 2005- Page - Page

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.

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Greetings, Designers. We, The University Star, need to replenish our design staff in order to take over the design galaxy. Eligible humans with experience in Adobe InDesign is a must. Those with Photoshop and Illustrator experience are preferred. You are expected to know how to fly your own spaceship – we do not train. We are looking for responsible and creative humans to work as Graphic Designers or Page Designers. Graphic Designers need to be able to work 3-5 hour blocks in between classes. Page Designers need to be able to work in the evenings and at night. If you are interested in becoming part of our fleet come by the Trinity Building, near the Music Building, and fill out an application. Or contact our leaders at starad1@txstate.edu for Graphic Designers or stardesign@txstate.edu for Page Designers.

SPORTS THE UNIVERSITY STAR

sports snortsquotes from the sports world “Boos, you’re supposed to boo me, shoot, they ain’t mad at you, they like you, man. They’re supposed to boo you—because I’m good, that’s why. I’m coming to get them. ... I don’t care, bring it on, baby. You’re supposed to [boo]. It’s all good.” —Barry Bonds, designated hitter for the San Fransisco Giants on the hecklers expected on the forth coming road trip. (Source: Associated Press)

Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - Page 10

Sports Contact — Miguel Peña, starsports@txstate.edu

Game is now in Session Hungry and ready to handle the short work on the field By Kevin Washburn Sports Reporter “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” It is a motto that stresses perseverance. In fact, it is more than a motto, it is an attitude. It may seem simple or even cliché, but Nick Session believes it. Session’s attitude is perfect for the football field. Selfless and hardworking, the senior running back will do anything to help the team succeed. “If I have to play defense, I’ll play defense. I’ll play offense, special teams, just whatever I can do to help the team,” said Session after an afternoon practice, an ice pack taped to his injured ankle and a stern look on his face. “It’s not about me. It’s about the whole team, as one unit.” It’s not just rhetoric. Session has indeed played on both sides of the ball during his time at Texas State. Session not only acts like a football player, he looks the part too. At 5-foot-9 and 225 pounds, he is built like a battering ram. His stocky build and strength make for the perfect short-yardage back, a role in which he has excelled through the first two games of the 2005 season. His role and attitude go hand-in-hand, as Session spends most of his time carrying the ball when the opposing team knows Texas State will be calling a running play. He must fight off would-be tacklers and, with the help of his blockers, push a pile of men out of the way in search of a first down or the end zone. It takes more than strength; it takes a man with the will to keep pushing the pile where others would fall down. “He’s going to hit it full speed, there’s no doubt,” said assistant head coach running back coach Brad Wright. “Everything he does, even when he messes up, it’s at 100 miles an hour. And that’s all you can ask him to do. You know, they’re not going to do the right thing every time. We make mistakes as coaches,

and the kids make mistakes, but if you make a mistake going full speed, sometimes it’ll turn around and something good will end up happening. He’s going to give it everything he’s got.” During his career at Texas State, Session has not always been rewarded with playing time for giving it his all. To understand why the ﬁfthyear senior relishes every minute of his time as running back this season, you have to know his history as a football player. Session started playing football at a young age in his hometown of Killeen. He has always been big, so it only made sense. “I started playing in pee wee league, then I kept on playing all the way through middle school, ninth grade,” Session said. “Sophomore year, I moved to varsity. I started playing on varsity at Killeen High School, then I transferred out to Harker Heights and played under my high school football coach Ross Rogers.” It was under Rogers that Session blossomed. As a senior, Session led his high school to a 10-3 record, a District 17-4A championship and an appearance in the area ﬁnals. Individually, Session racked up 1,630 yards on 227 carries — good for a 7.2 yards per carry average — and 16 touchdowns. He received several accolades in response to a stellar season, including District 17-4A MVP honors as well as being named to the All-State second team. His big season also attracted the attention of the old Texas State football regime under then-coach Bob DeBesse. Session was recruited by the Bobcats and became the lone running back picked up during the 2001 signing period. Session was redshirted during the 2001 season, spending the season on the scout team. It was there, he said, he learned about maintaining a positive attitude and helping the team out in any way he could. Little did Session know, but spending a year on the scout team was

Brynn Leggett/Star photo As a senior for the Bobcats, Nick Session has finally found his place in offensive line-up as a short yardage runner. Having only run 49 yards this season, he has already scored two touchdowns. not the biggest sacrifice he was going to have to make. In the spring after the 2001 season, the Texas State coaching staff decided to move Session from running back, the position he loved, to linebacker. The coaching staff had given him no hint that they were thinking of making the move, Session said. “I was pretty mad at first,” said Session, briefly breaking from his whatever-I-can-doto-help-the-team mantra. “I played linebacker in high school for just a few snaps, but I tried to look at it in a positive way.” As a redshirt freshman in 2002, Session spent much of the early part of his first year as a “mike” linebacker watching from the sidelines. As the season wore on, though, he began seeing more time. Session finished the season on a high-note, notching 10 tackles, including one for a loss, in the final game of the season against Sam Houston State. Despite suffering through a 4-7 season with the Bobcats, Session’s strong finish put him in a position to

possibly get more playing time the following season. Just as things were starting to look good for Session again, another setback occurred. Session was declared ineligible for the 2003 season because of low grades. Session used the time off to concentrate on his studies and his eligibility was reinstated. Despite regaining his eligibility, Session’s opportunity for playing time was dealt yet another blow when Coach Manny Matsakis and the athletic director were ﬁred amid a series of NCAA violations. Enter current Coach David Bailiff and his assistants who had limited material to evaluate Session. “Everybody wants to play,” said Bailiff. “You know, there’s a lot of guys that go through college that never play — not a down. That’s one of the keys to winning, is that people have to understand what their role is. Nick’s always accepted his role and had a great attitude.” Despite his hard work, Ses-

sion finished 2004, his junior season, with only 6 1/2 tackles, less than his total as a redshirt freshman two years earlier. To an outsider, Session’s path seemed set for his senior season. He would be the experienced reserve linebacker, perhaps providing guidance and leadership to the younger defensive players. But a funny thing happened along the way. Bailiff and Matsakis have different philosophies and schemes. Matsakis focused on skill players, almost exclusively using four wide receivers on offense and five defensive backs. Bailiff, on the other hand, is more traditional. Since he was hired relatively late in the off-season, though, he had to employ many of Matsakis’s schemes in 2004. Bailiff set out in 2005 to put his kind of a football team on the field. Offensively, that meant finding people capable of playing fullback and tight end, two positions which Matsakis did not use. The search for fullbacks turned out to be

Session’s big break. “We were just looking for able-bodied young men, so we tried him (Session) at fullback,” Wright said. “Then, it got down to last spring to where we were low on tailbacks because of injuries. So we said, well, Nick was a tailback back in the day, so let’s try him and there’s your story. So it was just kind of a chain of events that led him back over to the offensive side of the ball and ultimately back to tailback.” Though Douglass Sherman is cemented as the starting tailback, Session has seen significant action in the backfield during the first two games of the season. He has shown no rust in the wins over Delta State and Southern Utah. “I was happy to be back,” said Session. “It felt like home sweet home.” And how did he feel after scoring the first two touchdowns of his collegiate career against Southern Utah? “I felt like I was hungry, like I wanted more,” he said.

Bobcats score big at LadyJack championship By Kevin Washburn Sports Reporter

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The Texas State women’s soccer team continued its winning ways over the weekend, defeating Louisiana Tech 2-0 and The Citadel 9-1 to capture first place at the Stephen F. Austin LadyJack Soccer Classic in Nacogdoches. The two wins gave the Bobcats (3-6) a current three-game winning streak in which they have outscored opponents 20-1. The streak has allowed a once-dejected Texas State team to regain its confidence. “It feels great, awesome,” said Coach Kat Conner. “The ladies were so excited; they were bouncing off of the walls in the bus on the way home.” Leading the way for the Bobcats was junior forward Natalie Holder, the tournament’s co-MVP. Holder is not only a catalyst for the offense but has also had to take on a new role after Texas State sophomore forward and reigning Southland Conference MVP Danielle Holloway recently went down for the season with a torn ACL. “Natalie is doing a great job,” Conner said. “With Danny going down, she’s stepped up and become a leader. She is really connecting with the forwards and her other teammates.” Three other Bobcats, junior midfielder Delayna Spivey, junior defenseman Kristy Collison and junior goalkeeper Paige Perriraz, garnered spots on the all-tournament team along with Holder. The win over Louisiana Tech (5-3) on Sunday was Texas State’s first win over a team with a winning record and showed that

Texas State is starting to come together as a team. “It was a great win because the ﬁrst half was back-and-forth,” said Conner. “In the second half, our ladies put together an aggressive attack and stiﬂed their attack by putting them on defense.” After a defensive stalemate left the game scoreless at halftime, a quick two-goal spurt early in the

“T

he ladies were so excited; they were bouncing off of the walls in the bus on the way home.”

—Coach Kat Conner

second half proved to be the deciding factor in the game for the Bobcats. Conner praised the play of Perriraz, who was starting in place of injured junior Brittany Beltramini, in the first period. “She did a great job in the first half with two great saves,” said Conner. “If they scored those goals, I’m not sure we win that game.” The first goal came at the 59:39 mark when Rikki Padia was able to capitalize on a penalty kick and score her first goal of the season. Just 25 seconds later, Holder pushed the Bobcat lead to its final 2-0 margin with an unassisted goal, her second of the season. For the third game in a row Texas State was the aggressor, something Conner has preached all season, and it showed in the

statistics. The Bobcats finished the game with 25 shots and six corner kicks, compared to just eight and six respectively by Louisiana Tech. Perriraz was able to notch her first shutout of the season with six saves. Louisiana Tech goalkeeper Chrissy Haisler was able to save 14 shots but gave up two goals in the loss. Individually, though Padia and Holder scored the only Texas State goals, they were not the most aggressive Bobcats. Spivey led the team with six shots attempted and sophomore forward Natalie Jackson followed with four. Sophomore forward Jerelyn Lemmie and freshman midfielder Reagan McNutt chipped in with three shots apiece. While the game against Louisiana Tech was defense oriented, Texas State had no trouble scoring in its first game of the tournament against Citadel (2-4). The Bobcats were able to score nine goals for the second game in a row due to an aggressive offensive onslaught that started early and never let up. Texas State fired a season-high 35 shots, 23 of which were shots on goal. Citadel could muster only 12 total shots, five on goal. Amazingly, Lemmie actually had a more prolific day offensively than the entire Citadel team. Lemmie led the Bobcats with 11 shots and nine shots on goal. She was also second on the team with two goals. The sheer quantity of shots by Lemmie was staggering, but perhaps even more impressive was teammate Angela Crissy’s efficiency. The sophomore forward had a hat trick on the day, scor-

ing three goals on just four shots on goal attempted shots. Crissy attempted five total shots on the game. “Both of them [Lemmie and Crissy] are normally aggressive,” said Connner. “Jerry is quick off of the mark and it allows her to get behind the defense. Angie is one of those determined players. She’s just going to score. That’s what made her a great player last year, her determination to score.” Other Bobcats to score were Holder, McNutt, sophomore defenseman Laura Burden and junior midfielder/defenseman Ashley Brown. Defensively, Perriraz manned the goal for the majority of the game for Texas State, giving up one goal and collecting four saves. Sophomore Brit Bunnell and senior Angie Ellenwood split the time at goalkeeper evenly for Citadel, with the former giving up three goals and the latter giving up six. The Bobcats were able to jump on top of Citadel early, with Holder scoring off of a Spivey assist just one minute and 31 seconds into the game. Lemmie and Crissy scored the other two Texas State goals of the first period, with an unassisted goal by Citadel senior forward Miriam Crawford sandwiched in between them. The Bobcats broke the 3-1 game open in the second half with six goals. It was the highest scoring period they have had this season. Next up for Texas State is a match at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Oklahoma University; this is the final nonconference game of the season. SLC play will start on Sept. 30.