The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into harassment allegations of a Texas State student during the 2008 to 2009 academic school year.

The Office of Civil Rights is looking into, specifically, whether Texas State harassed graduate student Stephanie Bradford on the basis of her disability.

University President Denise Trauth was officially informed of The Office of Civil Rights decision in an April 14 letter listing the allegations and providing a list of requirements Texas State must meet to comply with the investigation.

A Texas State student may be appointed as a member to the most powerful authority in the Texas State University System.

The Board of Regents, a nine-member committee with an operating budget of $794 million in 2008, appoints a student representative every year by the governor to liaison between those who call the shots and the students most often affected by them.

Gov. Rick Perry is required by law to make the appointment before the term term begins June 1. Perry is expected to announce his pick sometime between May 1 and May 15.

An investigation involving a graduate student in the department of sociology and seven different university offices is underway, but may be headed toward a resolution.

Stephanie Bradford, graduate student in the department of sociology, said university officials accused her of writing an anonymous e-mail in

December criticizing a faculty member. Bradford was referred to Student Justice in January where she was asked to sign a warning reprimand.

She has denied being the author of the e-mail.

San Marcos residents looking forward to a 2 a.m. bar extension may get their wish in June.

A task force created to examine the impact of the change in San Marcos recommended the extension to the City Council Tuesday night. The task force further proposed periods of review to occur at half and one-year intervals.

However, it was clear several details would need fine tuning before the adoption of the ordinance.

There were not many dry eyes to be found in the crowd, but members did not grieve alone.

A sense of community filled the room as family and friends joined to honor Texas State students, staff, faculty and friends of the university who have died in the last year.

More than 120 people attended the 21st annual Bobcat Pause, hosted Wednesday night by Student Foundation in the LBJ Teaching Theater.

The hour-long event commemorated the deaths of 348 Texas State community members.

The Office of the Attorney for Students is negotiating with lawyers for Villagio Apartments to resolve multiple resident claims of unfair leasing practices that have occurred within the last year.

Milena Christopher, attorney for students, sent a 12-page letter April 7 to Mike Cohen, attorney for Villagio, detailing accusations made by 12 students. The letter makes four primary requests, the most important being students are not to be held responsible for water charges under an addendum they were required to sign, which was not included in the original lease.

Belinda Fuller-Upchurch, biology professor at Texas State, died in August of 2008.

Her husband, Gary Upchurch, describes his wife as a keen scientist and free spirit, with an intelligence rivaled only by her compassionate wit.

“She had a wonderful way of appreciating the absurdity of different situations,” said Gary Upchurch, associate professor of biology. “That is something the two of us had in common. She was a comic, but without the bite or the nastiness that is typical of the comedy of this age.”

You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.

University students who like to party hard will find themselves dealing with a newly empowered police force.

A two-year effort by the San Marcos Police Department to revise an ordinance expanding police powers dealing with noise violators and party-goers succeeded Tuesday night as the City Council approved the proposed amendments, making it law.

The handgun debate got fiery Monday afternoon in Austin.

Proponents and critics of concealed carry legislation descended upon the committee of public safety and testified for three hours.

Senate Bill 1164 and House Bill 1893 would remove the ability of institutions of higher learning to prohibit concealed handgun license holders from carrying on campus, if passed.

Creating and protecting sustainable water resources is the goal of a new task force initiated by the River Systems Institute at Texas State.

The institute formally announced the creation of the Consortium for Watershed Excellence Tuesday at Texas Rivers Center in San Marcos.