Students with outstanding warrants may soon find themselves in handcuffs for neglecting to take action on past offenses.

A one-week amnesty period which allowed persons with pending cases to appear before a judge without posting bond ended Friday, meaning officers have put forth special efforts to seek out and arrest persons with outstanding warrants in San Marcos Municipal Court.

College dining halls are becoming more eco-friendly with the growing concern over protecting the environment.

Texas State officials, whose dining facilities are managed by Chartwells Dining, are stepping up efforts to keep pace with schools across the nation.

Leslie Bulkley, resident district manager at Texas State, said the university featured a menu Sept. 23 filled with produce that was purchased locally. The next day, the “Dine-in-the-Dark” program started, which turns out the lights in Harris Hall during the day to conserve energy.

Students who use false identification to purchase alcohol may rethink their willingness to break the law.

With the recent extension of drinking hours in bars and pool halls across San Marcos, local law enforcement agencies are beginning to strenghten enforcement of underage drinking laws, particularly those pertaining to fake IDs.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), in correlation with the San Marcos Police and University Police Departments, have begun a campaign to curb underage consumption and purchase of alcohol in San Marcos.

This year, the university’s income will rise to about $415.7 million while the budget requirement is estimated to reach about $364.6 million.

Bill Nance, vice president for finance and support services, said the difference will be transferred to retirement of indebtedness and plant funds.

The Board of Regents approved Texas State’s operating budgets for fiscal year 2010 at its regular meeting late August at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. The meeting was taped.

Students have been walking through construction zones on campus and causing safety concerns for university officials.

In accordance with the Campus Master Plan, construction sites have been posing an inconvenience to students, faculty and staff.

Three active construction sites are on campus and construction to increase parking near Tomas Rivera Drive will begin soon, said Michael Petty, assistant director for facilities planning, design and construction.

Revisions to the University Honor Code could be underway.

David Wiley, co-chair of the Honor Code Council, said students need to be a part of the group. Wiley, professor in the department of health, PE and recreation, is in the process of filling the council, compiled of faculty and students. Wiley spoke to Faculty Senators at their Wednesday meeting about adding student representation to the council.

Steven Wilson, senate secretary, said the code allows for misinterpretation.

Not many people want to hear complaints, but Associated Student Government senators do.

Yesterday, they held the first ‘grievance session’ of the semester by The Stallions statue 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the purpose of inquiring about what needs fixing at the university.

Tommy Luna, ASG vice president, said the organization plans to hold grievance sessions more frequently than last year.

“This event was kind of done last year once a semester,” Luna said. “We’re pushing for it to be done once a week.”

The Council of Neighborhood Associations is holding its annual council member debate in the Activity Center tonight.

Community members get a chance to ask the candidates questions concerning their respective neighborhoods.

“Each area of town usually has their own questions,” said City Councilmember Kim Porterfield, Place 1.

Porterfield said the debate will be similar to the League of Women Voters debate, but the CONA debate is usually “informal” because it does not contain pre-submitted questions, just those from audience members.

How to make San Marcos more attractive to veterans will be a topic of debate at the next City Council meeting.

“It’s going to be one of a series of programs I’m going to try that will make veterans and the military community know that, when you think of San Marcos, you don’t just think of Texas State,” said Jude Prather, veteran and creator of the program. “Instead you think ‘That’s a really veteran-friendly community.’”

If successful, the plan will wave utility deposit fees for local veterans, provided they show discharge papers or military ID.

Bicycle locks are not stopping police from impounding and ticketing violators of a university policy.

University police cut locks and impounded two bikes parked in places obstructing access to stairs and handicap rails last week. UPD Captain Rickey Lattie said the two bikes were impounded after complaints were made.

“We will be doing some enforcement on ones that haven’t necessarily been called in as we go out and check campus and make sure the handicap ramps and stairs are clear,” Lattie said.