City Council may reconsider taxicab ordinance

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

A city ordinance stuck in park for decades could get a jump-start.

City Council members are discussing allowing taxicabs to wait for fares downtown, a practice local law currently prevents .

Howard Williams, San Marcos Chief of Police, said 1970 was the last time the ordinance was updated.

“The way our ordinance is written now, the taxicabs can’t do what we call patrolling for fares,” Howard said. “They could get a citation if they show up without being called.”

Howard said no one seems to know the rationale behind the ordinance.

“We kind of need to modernize it and bring it up to modern standards,” he said. “I just know that today it doesn’t meet the needs of the city so we need to change it.”

Changing the ordinance would mean cabs could line up in areas around The Square and other populated places late at night, to aid bar-goers in finding a ride home.

“The logic now is we want it to be easy for people who are downtown to get home,” said City Councilmember Kim Porterfield, Place 1. “If they don’t feel like they can drive their car, and if it’s not safe for them to drive their car, my belief is there needs to be an alternative for people to get home in a safe manner.”

Porterfield said the recent disbandment of Students With Alternative Transportation, did not contribute to the proposed changes.

Robert Rubio, one of the owners of Hays Taxi Service, said he could not be sure if changing the ordinance would benefit his business, but he sees a need for the change.

“I hope it works out for the young kids because we don’t want the kids taking a chance getting in their vehicle intoxicated trying to get home,” Rubio said.

Rubio offers rides to any location in San Marcos for a maximum of six people for a total of $10.

“I just hope the kids can give taxi services a shot and see how it works for them,” Rubio said.

Porterfield predicts the emergence of pedicabs, powered by bicyclists, if the ordinance is changed.

Williams said he is working with the bar task force to update the taxicab ordinance.

“Right now we are tentatively scheduled to have this heard at the Oct. 20 City Council meeting,” Howard said. “They will look it over and see what they want to do with it.”

Texas State among top military friendly schools

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

When it comes to military friendliness, Texas State makes the grade.

G.I. Jobs magazine recently named the school among the nation’s top 15 percent of military friendly colleges.

“We’re very excited about it,” said assistant registrar Melissa Hyatt. The honor stems from a survey taken from more than 7,000 schools. G.I. Jobs considered the efforts of institutions to recruit and retain military and veteran students as well as academic accreditation.

“I’m not surprised by it because of the great things people around campus are doing, and I think it’s well-deserved by the university,” said Chris Schave, international business junior and veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Texas State has taken several different initiatives to accommodate veterans, Hyatt said.

“We have the Veterans Affairs Office, whose primary focus is to assist veterans for getting benefits through the VA,” Hyatt said. “We assist them with applying for financial aid and that kind of stuff.”

Besides financial aid advising, the university offers personal counseling, provides job placement assistance and free tutoring to veterans. The university held a resource fair Sept. 9 at the LBJ Student Center that had several booths geared toward veterans, Hyatt said.

Schave said veterans were welcomed to campus this semester with approximately 3,000 feet of yellow ribbon, which was displayed by the Office of Student Affairs on behalf of the Veterans Advisory Board.

“The yellow ribbons were used to welcome (veterans) back and give awareness to students and veterans, and kind of a way to say thank you for your service and welcome to the school,” Schave said.

Schave is president of the Veteran’s Alliance at Texas State, an organization sparked last winter.

“Essentially we try to help incoming and current veterans adapt to the university life,” Schave said.

The group organizes social events so that veterans can find a place to fit in.

“Often they’ll be older coming back to school, so they may not feel like they fit in with a bunch of 18, 19 and 20 year olds,” Schave said.

Schave said the Veteran’s Advisory Board was developed last year and is comprised of faculty members from offices that deal with veteran outreach.

“They identify the needs of veterans and see if it’s reasonable to fulfill them as a university,” Schave said. “Not many universities have a group like this, and every body’s so pro-veteran and willing to do their share to help us out.”

Hyatt said Texas State will be offering a workshop for veterans Oct. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to noon in JCK1100. The workshop, “Transition from Combat to Classroom: Helping Student Veterans Succeed at Texas State,” will focus on helping veterans achieve a smooth transition from military to college life.

Physical geography alumnus David Rasmussen graduated from Texas State in May and is now on active duty in the Army as a gold bar recruiter for Texas State’s ROTC program. Rasmussen said he believes Texas State accommodates veterans “very well.”

“We have a lot of veterans who come to school here,” he said. “ I would say maybe 40 percent of the guys in ROTC are veterans. Texas State is a really good school, and they do a lot for the (ROTC) program. They help out the program by helping us use their facilities .”

Rasmussen said Texas State also honors veterans with an annual Veteran’s Day ceremony. This year the ceremony will be held at 10:45 a.m. Nov. 11 in The Quad and will include guests and speakers. Schave said recognition in G.I. Jobs is an honor to the university but acknowledged a desire to be better.

“We are not satisfied with the top 15 percent,” he said. “We want to be in the top 1 percent.”

Sisterhood and tradition

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

Pan-Hellenic councils encourage young women to seek communities, friends and goals by joining Texas State sororities.

Gabriela Perez, advertising junior, said she joined her sorority, Delta Zeta, for a number of reasons.

“It’s a great way to meet new people and get involved with the university,” Perez said. “It makes you work harder on your grades, and you make the friends that you know will be there forever.”

“Women will have a chance to attend events at the different sorority houses with the six groups of the Pan-Hellenic Council,” said Michelle Lopez, associate director of student activities.

Texas State Pan-Hellenic President Laura Fowler, communication studies senior, said recruitment for the six Texas State Pan-Hellenic organizations is “a mutual selection process,” meaning the girls choose the sororities they wish to belong to and the sororities choose the girls they believe are the best matches.

“Texas State sororities are well known for always finding a sorority for girls,” Fowler said.

Registration for the Pan-Hellenic organizations has ended, but Fowler said girls can get a head start on next semester now.

“They could definitely go online (www.txstatepanhellenic.com) and attend events that we’re holding if they’re interested,” Fowler said. “Sororities definitely hold a lot of different events throughout the year that they can attend and get them involved, and maybe next fall they can go through recruitment. It’s a really, really formal process.”

Others who missed registration could consider joining the Multicultural Greek Council.

MGC President Sarah Rebollar said the council is viewed primarily as Latino-based but is open to anyone and includes members who are Anglo, Black, Puerto Rican, Brazilian and more.

Like the Pan-Hellenic Council, Rebollar said the MGC holds GPA requirements.

According to Lopez, academic excellence is a priority in greek life.

“They create a community to make sure they are living up to highest standards for academic excellence,” Lopez said.

Grade reports from the last few years can be viewed online on the academics page at www.txstategreeks.com. According to Lopez, the average Panhellenic GPA at Texas State has been higher than that of all women combined at the school for the past nine semesters. Fowler said the over-all Pan-Hellenic GPA last semester was a 3.0.

Another aspect of going Greek includes doing community service, Lopez said.

“Every sorority is linked with a philanthropy, and we work together,” Fowler said. “We do an all Greek clean up where we go around San Marcos and clean up. Each sorority has a philanthropy that they are involved in.”

Fowler said some philanthropy projects include doing volunteer work at the Ronald McDonald House and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They also promote breast cancer awareness and research.

An upcoming event is the annual Greek dodge ball tournament that will take place at Jowers Sept. 27 and will benefit the San Marcos Education Foundation, Fowler said.

According to Fowler, hazing during initiation into a Pan-Hellenic organization is not tolerated despite rumors.

“Initiation with sororities is actually more of a ceremony, and it’s just where we present the girls their membership,” Fowler said. “It’s not threatening at all. Most sororities have what I would call a beautiful ceremony. We absolutely do not allow hazing at all. It’s more of a beautiful ceremony is how I would describe it.”

Joining greek life at Texas State links girls to the campus and builds character, Lopez said.

“I think (women should join sororities) if they’re looking for an opportunity to become connected to Texas State, but also really to go through some personal development and growth,” Lopez said.

When it comes to joining a sorority, money is a factor.

“There’s a lot of first-time fees as a new member to a sorority, but there are also a lot of payment plans that will help you break up the dues by semester,” Fowler said.

Rebollar said getting involved with the MGC may be a more affordable way for students to get involved in greek life.

Interfraternity Council encourages students to 'Go Greek'

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

It is not uncommon to see back windshields adorned with Greek decals or shoe polished slogans that read "Go Greek" cruising around the Texas State campus. Houses with "rush" banners stand tall around the school. But what does it all mean?

According to Michelle Lopez, associate director of student activities, joining a fraternity "provides an instant community and instant connections for students on the campus. It offers that opportunity for them to really connect."

Although Lopez recognized the social aspect of being involved in a fraternity, she said there is more to it than the party stereotype often associated with the groups.

"I'm not gonna lie," Lopez said. "We have social aspects of our organizations, but these are not the reasons that these organizations are founded or why they exist. They also create a community to make sure they are living up to highest standards for academic excellence."
Jay Yarbro, president of the Interfraternity Council, said fraternity members must meet GPA criterias.

"Most are just a typical 2.5 to stay an active member and to become initiated," he said.
Lopez said fraternities also complete community service projects.

"We've got some who will do things with the local community such as we have one fraternity that will put on an annual easter egg hunt (in Sewell Park) for kids in the community who may not have the opportunity to do an easter egg hunt," Lopez said.

The three fraternity principles are brotherhood, philanthropy and scholarship, Yarbro, a computer information systems senior, said.

"We ask you to be leaders within the community as well as the classroom," he said. "We have a lot of Greeks in the ASG senate."

Yarbro said he encourages incoming freshmen and returning students to consider Greek life.
"It's one of the best decisions I've ever made coming to this school and I would strongly, strongly suggest it to anyone I'd talk to," Yarbro said. "There's so many opportunities to go from being Greek. Some doors are opened for you and stuff like that."

Jordan Johnson, a management senior, said being involved in a fraternity can lead members to desired positons.

"Greek organizations are gateways to leadership positions on campus and other organizations," Johnson said.

Meeting connections is one of the biggest advantages to being involved in a fraternity, said public administration senior Kyle Lamb.

"Fraternities are a great way to surround yourself with a large group of gentlemen who hold themselves to a higher standard than your average student," Lamb, a member of Phi Delta Theta, said.

Yarbro said there are a couple of ways students can get involved in a fraternity.

"Once they step foot on campus, they see all the houses and stuff like that," Yarbro said. "You can go up and talk to some of the guys."

A formal recruitment will take place Sept. 12 at the LBJ Student Center where male students can visit different rooms to obtain information on the various fraternities at Texas State. Those who want to attend the event should register online at the Texas State IFC Web site and pay a $35 registration fee, Yarbro said.

Yarbro said hazing is not tolerated by groups involved with the IFC.

"All initiation really is is you actually becoming an active member," Yarbro said. "All fraternities do it different, and it's all secret. Everyone keeps that very secret. It's nothing bad, don't get that from it. Greeks will understand that it's just a ritual that was written by the founders and stuff like that, but it's nothing bad. It's just you becoming a full active member of the chapter."

Another concern to those seeking fraternity membership is the cost.

"Your first semester might be the most expensive, and I say that just because of all the materials you get when you're a new member," Yarbro said.

Yarbro said his ball park estimate to be involved with a fraternity could typically range from about $600 to $700 per semester and be reduced to about $500 or $600 after that. He also said some organizations reward students with good grades by reducing their dues.

"It varies from different fraternities," Yarbro said.

Lopez said Texas State currently has 13 Interfraternity Council groups that students can get involved in. A list of those organizations can be viewed at www.txstateifc.com.

"Being Greek is not just four years of your life," Yarbro said. "It's from the time that you're initiated to the time that you pass on."