Mexican drug wars affect Texas, students

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

Ada Pomar remembers a time when she and her friends would cross the Texas-Mexico border with ease to shop, eat or go clubbing.

“Since 2004/2005 we haven’t gone across at all,” said Pomar, communication studies senior.

The acts of violence stemming from the long-running Mexican drug war were once common to fear at night, but in recent years “they started doing it during the day time,” Pomar said.

Bystanders who are not involved with the drug cartels are now at risk of being victimized more than ever.

“They just don’t have any regard for anybody anymore,” Pomar said. “If you’re in the way, it’s your fault.”

Pomar is from Laredo, a Texas border town, which is separated from Nuevo Laredo, a Mexican city, by bridges. Since her father gained U.S. citizenship in 1995, Pomar said her entire family resides in Laredo and seldom crosses the border. However, the violence is increasingly moving into Texas.

“You can’t say it’s completely safe on one side or the other anymore,” she said.

According to The Associated Press, the Mexican drug war grew much more violent in August 2006 when Javier Arellano Felix, the leader of a

Tijuana-based cartel, was arrested. Since December 2006, 10,700 people have lost their lives throughout Mexico as drug lords from different cartels fight for control of the trade.

Angel Keen, public administration and Spanish senior, is from Laredo and said some of her family members reside in Nuevo Laredo. Since starting college, Keen rarely visits there, mostly because “the border is so dangerous,” she said.

Keen said her fear of the violence escalated when people involved in a drug cartel hi-jacked her mother at gunpoint two years ago. Police never recovered her stolen Nissan Altima.

Pomar and Keen said they have dealt with the drug wars when they were raised in Laredo. Keen remembers seeing a house that was burned down in Nuevo Laredo in relation to the drug war just around the corner from her grandmother’s residence.

“We’ve learned how to deal with it,” Keen said. “We have to make accommodations to be able to live there.”

Pomar said she and others who come from the area tend to be desensitized to the violence.

“It’s just become so normal that it doesn’t scare anyone who lives there,” Pomar said.

Keen said the increasing violence combined with a slumping economy has taken a noticeable toll on the area.

“There used to be a lot of tourism,” Keen said. “You don’t really see much of that anymore. A lot of the stores have closed down. It’s just not as safe as it used to be.”

Victor Santiesteban, Spanish senior, said his parents and younger siblings relocated to El Paso three years ago to escape the increasing bloodshed.

“I feel they are safe and that my brother and my sister will be safe more than how it was when I was their age,” Santiesteban said. “At the same time, I am sad they are not going to get to experience the same Mexican culture I experienced.”

Santiesteban said members of his family still reside in Juarez, but most have moved to residential areas where gates and security surround their homes. Santiesteban returned to Mexico to visit those family members during Christmas break. He said there seemed to be a sense of fear from the locals.

“You can tell people are scared,” Santiesteban said. “I mean, they don’t trust anybody.”

Santiesteban said although he hears brutal stories that sometimes involve decapitations and hangings, he believes the government is making an effort to stop the bloodshed.

Pomar said the violence at the border has never stopped her from going to Laredo, but she takes precautions while she is there.

“You just have to know what you know and keep your mouth shut when you’re not supposed to be talking,” Pomar said.

Santiesteban exercises the same caution and said he uses “common sense” when he returns to his hometown.

“Pretty much, stay alert all the time, don’t be too trusting with people, and of course don’t get a ride from a stranger,” he said. “All my life I’ve lived there, and all my life I’ve been cautious.

However, for Keen the thought of returning home is not as appealing, especially when it comes to crossing the border because “it’s just not smart,” she said.

Student health fair offers Gardasil vaccine, cancer tests

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

Women assembled Tuesday in the LBJ Ballroom to receive the first round of the Gardasil vaccine.

The free injections were given to 128 women who attended this year’s Student Health Fair.

“The Gardasil vaccines were very well utilized,” said Ashlee Dozier, health education coordinator.

The vaccine protects against four strands of the common Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV, that can lead to genital warts and cervical cancer in women.

Those who got the first injection at the fair qualify to obtain the two remaining rounds of the vaccine at the Student Health Center at a discounted rate of $25 per injection.

Priscilla Hargraves, director of the Hays County Health Department, said all women are encouraged to get the Gardasil vaccination because regardless if a person has one strand of HPV, she can be shielded against the remaining three strands the shot protects against.

Hargraves said women who get the vaccine should get annual screenings and be aware of changes they notice in their bodies.

“It’s very important to keep getting your pap smears every year,” Hargraves said. “The best case scenario is to get Gardasil, get annual pap tests and pay attention to your body.”

Rebecca Herring, a nurse at the Hays County Health Department, said Gardasil vaccines will likely be made available for men, who have the capacity to carry the disease and pass it to women.

“(Men) are half the problem,” Herring said. “They are hopefully going to be in the next round.”

This year’s fair took on a cancer theme in conjunction with Cancer Awareness Month.

Dozier, who organized the event, said besides providing cancer awareness and screenings, there were nutritional and fitness booths that “will help students stay healthy long-term.”

More than 30 booths were set up in the ballroom for the fair, she said.

Services made available to students included voice screenings to detect laryngeal disorders, oral cancer screenings and lung function tests.

Amanda Martinez, health professions senior, gave lung function tests to students and encouraged smokers to quit. She said because students are young, they often do not worry about the long-term damage they are doing to their lungs by smoking.

“You get one set of lungs and that’s it,” Martinez said. “Once you ruin it, that’s it. You can’t live without breathing, so that’s pretty much the bottom line.”

Thomas Naveja, radiation therapy senior, gave out information about lung cancer at the fair and said he thinks it is a good idea for students to be informed about the different forms of cancer.

“It’s pretty important for people to know about cancer and know ways to prevent it so they don’t end up in that type of situation,” Naveja said.

Colon, breast, prostate, skin and other types of cancers were addressed at the fair. Women were encouraged to give themselves regular breast self-exams and students were reminded to protect their skin against sun damage and tanning.

Remaining Cancer Awareness Month events can be found by visiting cancerawareness.healthcenter.txstate.edu.

Bobcats save lives, raise awareness about cancer

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

Leukemia survivor Lawrence Estaville had no idea the donor who helped save his life in August 2007 was sitting behind him during the National Marrow Donor Program presentation Wednesday.

“Wow,” Estaville, professor in the department of geography, continually repeated after the surprise guest was revealed. “This is incredible. He saved my life.”

Estaville was filled with emotion as he hugged Rick O’Neil from Massachusetts for the first time. Yvonne Ybarra of the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center in San Antonio arranged the meeting.

Estaville asked O’Neil if he received a letter expressing his gratitude for the marrow donation. Estaville was surprised when the answer was “no.”

“It was the hardest letter I wrote in my whole life, and it was hard because I cried the whole time,” Estaville said. “I couldn’t put in words how much I love my donor — Rick O’Neil of Massachusetts.”

O’Neil said he is not normally an emotional person, but meeting the man who benefited from his donation evoked strong feelings.

“This is the closest I’ve come to crying since I was probably about five years old,” O’Neil said. “The only thing I can say is that I’m thankful I could help someone else.”

O’Neil decided to become a marrow donor after a family friend was diagnosed with Leukemia. O’Neil was not a match for that person, but he signed up for the National Marrow Donor Program hoping he could provide a match for someone else.

Guest speaker Dr. Jeffrey Chell, chief executive officer of the donor program, delivered a presentation focused around marrow donations.

This was part of a series of events taking place at Texas State throughout April, which was declared cancer awareness month in San Marcos this year. Chell said to be a compatible marrow donor, a person’s sixth chromosome must match with whoever needs the transplant. Chell said the process is more complex than finding a blood or organ donor.

Chell said there are more than 70 diseases that have marrow transplants as a treatment option, but only 40 percent of patients find the match they need. In his speech, Chell encouraged the audience to register for the program.

“When you donate marrow, two lives are changed,” Chell said, referring to the patient and the donor. “Donors tell me that it’s one of the greatest experiences of their lives.”

For the past three days, Texas State has hosted a marrow drive that has drawn 1,591 people to join the registry. Today is the last day to register on campus, and Estaville said the goal is to raise that number to 2,000. Donors must be between 18 and 60 years old and be in good health. Chell said minorities are especially encouraged to apply because it is more difficult to find matches for them.

Angelika Wahl, Cancer Awareness Month Committee board member, said there are tables set up throughout The Quad where people can register. Those who register can expect four cheek swabs, which is the first stage of screening.

Last year was the first time Texas State held the marrow drive, and 1,163 people registered. Estaville said two children have received transplants so far from Texas State students — an 8-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl.

“That’s Texas State students saving lives,” he said. “Just that alone makes this worth it. There are children out there who need another chance at life.”

Wahl said 90 percent of people making it to the final stage of donation give marrow through stem cells. The process, she said, includes taking injections and getting blood drawn. The blood is returned to the donor after the stem cells are removed.

O’Neil said the procedure is painless.

“I encourage you to sign up for the list and if you’re called, donate … absolutely,” O’Neil said.

Estaville said the Cancer Awareness Month Committee strives to achieve two objectives.

“The whole idea is to make our community here, as well as Texas State, aware of cancer and the signs of cancer so that we can prevent it,” Estaville said. “Many cancers are preventable. Students are young and think they’re invincible. It’s about students. They can’t keep smoking. They can’t keep laying out.”

The second goal, he said, is “to reach out and help save people stricken with cancer.”

One way the committee hopes to raise awareness is through the largest student health fair Texas State has ever hosted. The event will take place Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the LBJ Ballroom.

“There’s going to be tons of freebies,” said Ashlee Dozier, health education coordinator.

Different kinds of cancer screenings will take place at the event including oral, lung and skin. Dozier said door prizes will be given away every 15 minutes.

The event will make it possible for women to qualify for the first round injection of Gardasil, a vaccine that protects against the common

Human Papilloma Virus that can lead to cervical cancer. From there, appointments can be made at the Student Health Center to obtain the two remaining rounds of the vaccine at a discounted rate of $25 per injection.

“They found (Gardasil) to be safe and very important,” Dozier said.

The event will also promote fitness and nutrition, she said.

Chell said those who do not register for the marrow drive on campus can learn more about National Marrow Donor Program by visiting bethematch.org.

Estaville is thankful he was able to find a marrow match.

“God is great,” he said. “Life is beautiful.”

Relay for Life raises cancer awareness

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

Shannon McFadden, communication studies senior, learned in middle school that her best friend had Leukemia.

McFadden’s friend was unable to find a bone marrow match and as a result died after the Leukemia came out of remission when they were in high school.

“It’s hard because you can’t do anything but sit there and watch,” she said.

Now McFadden is working to ensure Texas State students play an active role in cancer awareness. She is the American Cancer Society’s Texas State Relay for Life co-chair.

McFadden said a Relay for Life event, held 7 p.m. April 17, took place in her hometown four weeks before her friend died.

“Basically, that 12 hours we had our friend back again because you wouldn’t know she was sick,” McFadden said. “She was so happy to be there.”

This is the sixth year Relay For Life will be held at Texas State, and will include food, guest speakers, entertainers and on-site cancer fundraisers.

This year, April is a big month for cancer awareness in San Marcos.

Texas State, Hays County, the City of San Marcos and San Marcos CISD have made proclamations declaring April as Cancer Awareness Month. Events are planned on campus throughout the month, starting Wednesday with a workshop in J.C. Kellam 1100 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The theme of the workshop is “Cancer Has Struck Your Family: What Do You Do Now?”

A bone marrow donor drive will take place April 13 to 16 throughout campus to help those like McFadden’s friend who need a transplant.

Relay for Life will take place at Bobcat Stadium and will run throughout the night. There are 68 teams participating.

“The idea is that cancer doesn’t sleep, so at least one person from your team has to be on the track at all times,” said Aubri Nowowiejski, advocacy chair for Relay for Life.

The relay kicks off with a survivor lap where those who have lived through cancer walk around the track. The event will run until 7 a.m.

Nowowiejski, public relations sophomore, got involved with Relay For Life this year because both of her grandmothers have breast cancer.
Nowowiejski learned last week her sister was diagnosed with the disease.

When Nowowiejski’s maternal grandmother learned about her involvement with Relay For Life, she gave Nowowiejski a plaque that was presented to her grandfather for service to the American Cancer Society in the ’70s. Nowowiejski said her grandfather died before she could meet him.

“It just gave me a connection with him I never had because I never got to meet him,” Nowowiejski said. “Me going out there — it’s kind of continuing what he started.”

Among events taking place at the Relay for Life event will be the luminary ceremony. Luminaries are paper sacks with glow sticks placed in them, each one representing a life affected by cancer. The bags have names and messages written on them and can be purchased for a suggested donation of $5.

“The bags are lined all the way around the track so when people walk around the track they’ll see the bags constantly,” McFadden said.

Participating in the Relay for Life event this year is Sergio Palacios, public relations senior. Palacios is the founder of Cans for a Cure, an organization that collects and recycles aluminum cans for the purpose of donating to organizations that fight cancer. Cans for a Cure is in its first year, and Palacios said proceeds are going toward Relay for Life.

Cans For A Cure has donated $500 to the relay and hopes to double that amount by the date of the event, he said.

“We’re going to have a tent set up and everything, but we’re also going have two, 50-gallon can canisters so people who don’t know about us will know about us, and at the same time we’ll still be doing our recycling,” Palacios said. “We’re trying to save lives one can at a time.”

Palacios said 36 aluminum cans equal one pound, which is currently worth about 25 cents.

“There are about 30,000 kids who go to Texas State,” he said. “If each student donated one pound of cans per month, that would add up to $7,500 per month.”

People can still get involved in the Relay for Life.

“They can definitely join a team if they don’t want to start their own team,” McFadden said.

McFadden said the relay is seeking volunteers for the event, particularly for cleaning afterwards.

People unable to participate in the event can contribute by purchasing a shirt from the bookstore that reads “Texas State” on the front and “Gives Hope” on the back for $10.99.

“Five dollars from every shirt goes to Relay for Life,” McFadden said.

Local woman launches Toxic Kitten Clothing

By: Rachel Nelson
www.amarilloscene.com

It is not uncommon to see pink Toxic Kitten stickers slapped on walls, signs and lightposts in Amarillo. But what does it mean?

According to Nina, an Amarillo local and creator of Toxic Kitten Clothing, the stickers and a dream were all she had to work with just over a year ago. She spent months working out the kinks: buying wholesale clothes, sketching design concepts, finding models, organizing promotional parties and meeting connections eager to help with screen printing and artwork.

"It's just a clothing line with an attitude," Nina said.

The idea to create a clothing line sparked when Nina began taking frequent trips to southern California.

"We used to go when I was little because my grandparents lived there, but I wanted to experience it when I was older," she said.

After connecting with friends on social networking site MySpace, Nina ventured to the west coast where she noticed several people have independent clothing lines.

"MySpace is awesome," Nina said. "I never thought in a million years that I would know the people that I know. I never thought that this is where I'd be right now at all, but it's mostly because of MySpace."

Nina said she was inspired to bring her clothing line ideas back to Texas, and a special man in her life who lives in California was instrumental in creating the name.

"He's so supportive of me," she said. "My pet name from him was kitten. He always called me kitten, and then we got into a huge fight and we kind of didn't talk for a couple of months and it drove me crazy. So I became toxic, and I put toxic and kitten together and that's how I got my name."

The first Toxic Kitten items emerged just before Christmas, and Nina said she is not stopping there.

"Right now I'm doing my summer line, and I'm really trying to stray away from
t-shirts right now," she said. "I already started on my winter line."

Current items are being sold through MySpace at myspace.com/toxxxickitty and at toxickittenclothing.com. The selection includes designer t-shirts, jewelry, hair accessories and belts. The shirts come in sizes small to extra large, and there are
clothes and accessories for little girls as well.

LaNita Diaz, a Toxic Kitten model, said one of the things she loves about the clothes is how comfortable and form-fitting they are.

"(Nina) knows what's sexy and casual, and everything she has is so comfortable," Diaz said. "She has different sizes that fit different body styles. It's kind of like naughty, edgy clothing without being so vulgar."

Nina said items to watch out for are Toxic Kitten buttons, booty shorts, dresses, hats, work shirts for males and items personally adorned by Nina with rhinestones, chains and other custom embellishments.

Deric Holland is a photographer and photo editor for Toxic Kitten.

"When Nina started talking about doing her clothing line, I basically just jumped right in and volunteered to help in any way possible," he said.

Holland said he believes the clothing line will be a success.

"(Nina) is very, very passionate about everything she does, and you don't find a lot of people who go into these kinds of ventures with a lot of passion."

Diaz agrees that Toxic Kitten has a bright future.

"I'm so proud of (Nina)," she said. "I'm flattered that I get to be a part of this journey with her."

Nina said long-term goals for Toxic Kitten are brewing.

"I'm really interested in doing an all-girl toxic kitten band and a quarterly magazine," she said.

Nina said a clothing store in Germany contacted her and is interested in Toxic Kitten. She said she also would like to see her clothes in Hot Topic.

"I don't want to get too overwhelmed or get myself under water," she said. "I'm excited at least the opportunity's there."

According to Nina, Toxic Kitten's first photo shoot was done by the daughter of Barbi Benton, Hugh Hefner's girlfriend through much of the 1970s.

Diaz said she will be modeling clothes for the next photo shoot, which will include new items.

Diaz describes herself as professional by day, but said when she puts on Toxic Kitten clothes it feels empowering.

"Every woman's got a little toxic kitten in them," she said. "Every woman's got that inner beauty that wants to come out in some form."

Toxic Kitten's progress is unraveling at a vigorous pace, Nina said.

"Things are going a lot faster than I thought, but it's good ‑ that's a good problem," Nina said. "I'm stoked about it. I still can't believe it. Like everything's just falling into place. It's really weird ... I'm just so positive right now all the time. I'm so happy every day."

Road-construction project contract causes public outcry

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

A proposed contract with Kellogg Brown & Root for a Hays County road-construction project provoked criticism from active military personnel, veterans, local taxpayers and Texas State students.

The opposition stems from charges brought against the firm for unethical and fraudulent practices performed during their contract with the U.S. government in Iraq. County Judge Elizabeth Sumter said as a result, it is likely negations with KBR will be “pulled off the table” at the county court meeting Tuesday.

“I’m certain the public outcry would have something to do with that,” Sumter said of recent testimony from Hays County residents against KBR. “It’s pretty powerful when your own constituents walk in the door.”

Greg Foster, history senior, a veteran of the U.S. Army who was deployed to Iraq in 2004, is one of the Texas State students protesting the contract. He voiced his opposition to the county court about using tax dollars to do business with KBR, which has been a leading contractor in Iraq.

“Pretty much every step along the way from what my research has told me is that they (KBR) have defrauded the government out of thousands of dollars,” Foster said. “They have provided substandard services, and they have just kind of played on this idea of patriotism, when in reality, they are nothing more than profiteers in this whole thing.”

KBR is a former subsidiary of Halliburton, and has been accused of bribery, fraud and putting soldiers’ lives in jeopardy with their work, including installing faulty wiring in showers that reportedly electrocuted troops, according to The Washington Post.

According to commissioners court records, Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe recommended KBR to design and engineer work on Farm-to-Market Road 110 in Hays County for $617,929.

Ingalsbe is at a conference this week, and could not be reached for comment.

Laureen Chernow, Hays County communications specialist, said the issue is still up in the air.

“A lot of public criticism about KBR and some additional information that came to the county regarding their capabilities to properly complete some of their contracts in other areas,” Chernow said. “Apparently, the court is considering reopening the issue at the commissioner’s meeting April 7 and discussing whether or not those discussions with KBR should continue.”

Foster said he heard dealings with KBR could be axed, but he plans to be among protestors at the County Court meeting Tuesday.

“I think it’s kind of our responsibility, to not believe a rumor that the contract is dead, but to be actively working against it until we know that it’s dead,” he said.

Chernow said the Commissioners Court meetings welcome public comments and concern.

“This is part of the public governing process, and that’s what the Commissioner Court is all about,” she said.

KBR is contracted by the City of San Marcos for work on the Wonder World Drive extension project scheduled for completion in 2010.

“That project started several years ago, so at the time we did not have the same issues that the county is experiencing right now,” said Laurie Moyer, assistant city manager of San Marcos.

Moyer said KBR has been involved in the design and engineering of several TxDOT projects that involve working with sensitive environmental and archaeological conditions.

“They have been a very good firm to work with,” Moyer said. “We as a municipal agency have a process where we select firms and they have to submit a proposal, and we look very closely at their experience and the types of projects they have done.”

Foster said he hopes the concern expressed by he and others will catch on in San Marcos.

“I’d like to see that the city never signs another contract with them,” Foster said. “This is how we hold corporations accountable for unethical behavior — by not giving them any more money.”