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Vaccines for ‘swine flu’ delayed, arrival unknown

Nov 19 2009 - 12:47pm | Clay Thorp


Students and faculty members waiting to receive the H1N1 “swine flu” vaccine will have to wait a little longer.

Dr. Emilio Carranco, director of the Student Health Center, said he was hoping Oct. 25 would be the date the vaccine would arrive on campus.
However, they have yet to arrive.

“We may receive some new vaccines in December,” Carranco said. “The delivery dates have always been, you know … not very clear.”
Carranco said he reserved 22,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine.

Advisory commissions reviews management of city boards

Nov 19 2009 - 1:22am | DJ Nutter


Council members have not been good housekeepers, according to a recent report.

The City Council hired the Sunset Advisory Commission to review how San Marcos’ boards and committees are managed. Sunset Advisory released a report recommending the city streamline the boards and commissions so fewer people are working more and avoiding congestion.

“It might be worthwhile for there to be a workshop once a year for the City Council, and maybe complete a major overhaul on how you run the boards and commissions,” said Jim Pendergast, chair of Sunset Advisory Commission.

Mailtool feature on TRACS tempts students to misuse

Nov 19 2009 - 1:20am | Beth Brown


The era of e-mail spamming is upon Texas State.

The mail tool on Teaching, Research and Collaboration System (TRACS) allows students to contact their peers instantaneously. They can ask for notes, clarify test material and organize study sessions by e-mailing the entire class. However, users have been misusing the feature.

“We’ve been getting more and more complaints about the mail tool,” said Whitten Smart, user services consultant for TRACS.

Rapid increase of student enrollment requires additional faculty hiring

Nov 19 2009 - 1:17am | Lora Collins


Texas State has the highest student-to-faculty ratio of all state public universities, according to figures posted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shows the university’s student-to-faculty ratio reached 29:1 in fall of last year. In comparison, Texas Tech had a ratio of 22:1, University of Texas at Austin 19:1 and University of Texas at San Antonio 24:1 last year.

Texas State’s ratio has steadily risen since 2000, reaching its peak in 2007 at 30 students to one faculty member.

Professor writes about myths of ‘Locavores’

Nov 19 2009 - 1:16am | Rachel Nelson


James McWilliams, associate history professor, wanted to get to the root of the locally grown food craze.

His findings led to the authorship of his book Just Food: Where Locavores Get It Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly.

McWilliams said he was inspired to research this topic when he observed a growing trend of people consuming food from local sources.

“I’m a historian, but one of the things historians are quite skeptical of is when everyone believes an idea without questioning it. It raises red flags,” McWilliams said.

The Great American Smokeout Challenge comes to Texas State

Nov 19 2009 - 1:14am | Maurah Ruiz


The sandwich boards reading “University Policy — No Smoking on The Quad” appeared Monday, but students may not have understood what the commotion was all about.

The Great American Smokeout Challenge, a program initiated by the American Cancer Society to encourage smokers to quit or make a plan to quit, has come to Texas State.

Julian Sepulveda, intern at the Student Health Center, said students are not aware of the university policy outlawing smoking on The Quad.

College Democrats promote recycling during tailgating

Nov 19 2009 - 1:13am | Christine Mester


Tailgating parties have gone green.

College Democrats initiated a recycling program during the homecoming tailgate. The organization is partnering with the Associated Student Government, Texas State Recycling, Waste Management and Green Guy Recycling.

Christina Starkey, College Democrats secretary, said the effort began after College Democrats witnessed the waste being produced during tailgating parties.

Council looking to rebrand city

Nov 19 2009 - 1:10am | Christine Mester


City Council is developing a brand for San Marcos to promote economic development, tourism and marketing efforts.

City Council partnered with public relation and advertising agencies KGBTexas and TateAustinHahn to develop a unique San Marcos brand, which is set to launch in approximately six months.

House passes $1 million for Texas State program

Nov 19 2009 - 1:07am | Chase Birthisel


U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett has secured another grant for Texas State.

Texas State’s Center for Hetero-Functional Materials’ will receive $1 million through the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill if passed by Congress and the president.

“These are very important dollars to us,” said Bill Covington, associate vice president for Research and Federal Relations. “We are very grateful to representative Doggett getting this into the legislature for us. We hope it survives and we get the money.”

Covington said the decision for the money is still pending.

SMPD attempts to alleviate fears after home break ins

Nov 19 2009 - 1:05am | Megan Holt


San Marcos Police Department officers are attempting to ease tension in the city after the recent shootings.

Chief Howard Williams held a neighborhood meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the recent rise in violent crimes.

“People have gotten a twisted perception of what’s going on in this town from the headlines,” Williams said. “We’re one of the safest college cities in the state.”

The first homicide happened Aug. 26 at Kelsea’s Place Apartments. Victim Byron Burse, 30, was shot in his home after two men kicked in his front door.

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