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DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

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OCTOBER 3, 2006

TUESDAY

VOLUME 96, ISSUE 17

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aquarena Spring Lake Joe's Crab Shack Loop 82

See GRANT, page 3

N Star illustration

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

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

By A.N. Hernández The University Star

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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