Increased traffic flow and loss of parking are not the only concerns students have this semester.

Students who use wheelchairs or casts and crutches are concerned about the inaccessibility of access ramps located throughout campus. They say the inaccessibility has been made worse by the increase in construction.

George Pappas, pre-music sophomore, recently suffered a broken leg and now transports across campus in a wheelchair. Pappas said his living condition makes it difficult because of the inaccessibility of the location.

Only one ASG presidential candidate said he is willing to work toward implementing gender identity in the university’s non-discrimination clause at Wednesday night’s debate.

Chris Covo, ASG presidential candidate, mentioned implementing transgender into the clause.

“I do agree that is OK,” Covo said. “What we need to do is work with the administration and students to find the best way to do this right.”

Public and private universities across the nation may see a change in enrollment numbers because of the economy. The recession has caused some administrations to predict an increase in enrollment numbers or, in the case of private universities, a decrease.

Michael Heintze, associate vice president in enrollment management, said the recession will not decrease the number of applicants, but may hinder the number admitted. Texas State has had a 12 percent increase in the number of students admitted, according to Heintze.

Central Texas students descended on Austin Saturday with the hopes of alleviating tuition woes.

Legislators are reviewing multiple higher education bills. Among those are Senate Bills 326, 46 and 105.

SB 105, authored by nine senators, requires student approval for fee increases. Texas State and University of Texas students teamed up to advocate for the bill at the Texas Democratic Party’s State Democratic Executive Committee Meeting Saturday.

Sophomores older than 20 with more than 42 credit hours will not have to live on campus come fall semester, according to the director of housing and residential life.

Rosanne Proite said Wednesday the housing policy will undergo a “temporary adjustment” to make room for incoming freshman, and the change will take place in the 2009 to 2010 academic year.

The number of students within the university honors program has risen, despite the loss of one of its largest benefactors last spring.

Heather Galloway, program director for the university college department, said severing ties with the Mitte scholarship foundation in April did not devastate the honors program.

Kim Rossmo said even the most bizarre serial killers have a structure when searching for targets.

He wants to find that structure.

Rossmo, endowed chair and professor in the department of criminal justice, is the world’s leading geographic profiler. He works with local police in crime investigations and intelligence.

Rossmo began his developments in the field of geographic profiling after deciding to improve the tracking model.

Aron Pilhofer, editor of Interactive News Technology at The New York Times, stirred his audience with stories of news technology Wednesday at the LBJ Teaching Theatre.

Cindy Royal, assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said Pilhofer was chosen because of his background at The New York Times.

Alkek Library’s shelves may have fewer new additions in the coming years.
The library houses more than 1.4 million printed books and 300 databases. Joan Heath, assistant vice president of the university library, said each department has been notified some print subscriptions may be cancelled. Print subscriptions in question are those available in online databases.
“We have indicated it is our intention to drop the print (version) as long as there is adequate access online,” Heath said.

Midnight fire alarms and resident hall assistants could become distant memories for a younger generation of Bobcats.

Limited spacing at university residence halls may allow students to live off campus earlier than current policy requires.

University officials are considering the possibility of allowing students to live off campus before they reach the necessary hours or age limit.

The current housing policy requires all students younger than 21 years of age or with less than 52 credit hours to live on campus.