The move from one Associated Student Government administration to another has left some legislation lost in transition.

ASG passed 13 pieces of legislation in their last meeting of the 2010-2011 year, and one of those pieces of legislation was lost when AJ DeGarmo took over as the new president. DeGarmo said the loss was a technical error with no one to blame.

“It was very much a user error in making sure there was communication in the transition process,” DeGarmo said. “By no means is this speaking on either administration saying that they were unfavorable about one piece of the legislation. It was just a complete and utter mishap — I cannot tell you where this black hole came from.”

The missing legislation establishes the appointment of the senate pro-tempore, a process ASG Vice President Tiffany Roemer called a crucial point of communication between the senate and the vice president.

“The senate pro-tempore is supposed to serve basically as a liaison between both the vice president and the senate to kind of convey the tone of the senate to the vice president so that they’re aware,” Roemer said. “That’s where the senate pro-tempore kind of helps alleviate those concerns and helps with that communication.”

Roemer said the lost legislation called for the vice president to make one nomination for senate pro-tempore and the senate making three nominations. They would then carry out an impromptu election during the meeting. Roemer said the issue with the missing legislation was that no one explicitly recalled the exact wording.

On Monday night the senate voted not to use the missing legislation as a guideline to elect a senate pro-tempore. Instead, ASG parliamentarian Nick Franke said the constitutional guidelines in place before the lost legislation would be used to elect this figure.

University and public officials are attempting to find ways to increase the efficiency of transportation within the city and surrounding areas.

The City of San Marcos is currently classified for rural area transportation funding. Last year’s census tally will be a contributing factor in whether the city can qualify for more state and federal funding.

A population total of at least 50,000 in San Marcos would allow for an integrated transportation plan linking the Texas State, Kyle and San Marcos bus routes. The report of whether the surrounding small areas near Kyle will factor into the city’s overall population is expected to be available next month.

Laurie Moyer, assistant city manager, said the city has been discussing the combination of transportation efforts for five to seven years. She said the city should know the final census boundaries and potential urban area classifications by spring to obtain potential finances and a transit provider for next fall.

Administrators and state and local leaders gathered Wednesday to break ground on the first building for Texas State’s Science, Technology, and Advanced Research Park.

The park is part of the Center for Research Commercialization, a project meant to facilitate research of cutting edge technologies and encourage private companies in the communication, medical and electronic fields to bring jobs and corporate interests to San Marcos.

Daniel Guerrero, San Marcos mayor, said the center is a partnership between Texas State

Celebrating Lives

Coordinated city and university bus system in worksLiza WinklerNews Reporter

and the City of San Marcos with much employment opportunity. He said the facility will provide university and commercial tenants access to secure wet labs, clean rooms and office space.

“I am very excited about this project coming to San Marcos,” Guerrero said. “It will be an epicenter for innovative ideas to be brought forth.”

Guerrero said the city will donate $500,000 in infrastructure and utilities for the STAR Park, located at Hunter Road and McCarty Lane.

Denise Trauth, Texas State president, said the Texas Emerging Technology Fund approved a $4 million grant

for the center. She said that Freescale Semiconductor, a leading company in the nanotechnology field, also donated $4 million in equipment.

She said a major selling point for the center is San Marcos’ convenient location between Austin and San Antonio. Trauth said she hopes the facility will attract corporate research interest from I-35 corridor’s technology communities.

In addition to new jobs, Trauth said the location will provide a chance for business, science and marketing students to work closely with established companies.

New research park to bring jobs to San MarcosKolten ParkerSenior News Reporter

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U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Lawrence K. Wilson, who witnessed his troops capture Saddam Hussein in December 2003, spoke Saturday at the 9/11 memorial parade hosted by the 912 Patriots. Photo Credit/University Star

Photo Credit/University Star

No cutline given for this photo, but this is where it would go to identify the people in the photo and what they are doing.

Vol. 59, No. 13 Texas State University San Marcos, Texas October 14, 2011

Photo Credit/University Star

Jena Coolidge News Reporter

San Marcos citizens honor 9/11 anniversary

San Marcos 912 Patriots, a non-partisan conservative group, hosted a parade followed by afternoon festivities on Saturday in honor of the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The parade’s Grand Marshal and featured guest speaker was U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence K. Wilson., Wilson saw his troops capture Saddam Hussein in December 2003 when he was the Command Sergeant Major for 1st “Raider” Brigade, 4th Infantry Division and has spent the last seven years in and out of Iraq. Starting mid-morning Wilson, accompanied by local representatives such as Mayor Daniel Guerrero and San Marcos Police Chief Howard Williams, athletic teams, organizations and companies, circled The Square

memorializing the lives list and those affected by the attacks on September 11. More than 30 people lined the streets for the event despite late-August heat. “Nothing like this has been done here before,” said Kay Gracy, San Marcos 912 member. “We wanted to do something positive and let everybody know, ‘hey, you can make a difference.’”

This theme was reinforced after Wilson made his speech. Audience members clapped and shouted as Wilson rallied them with words of personal experience. Wilson is a highly decorated official, having served the military for 32 years, However, he opened his speech by saying, “I am just soldier. It’s nothing special.”

Wilson honored the soldiers who have been serving the country for the past 10 years and asked audience members to put aside politics because “the men and women overseas do not fight for political views. They fight for freedom.” Wilson shared his memory of 9/11 off a stained and weathered document. “What I recall on this day of remembrance is this piece of paper — there is beer on it, maybe a shot or two and probably some coffee,” Wilson said. “On this piece of paper there are the 17 soldiers I lost when I was a brigade sergeant major.” A throng of silence filled the air as Wilson prepared to explain the death of the first soldier on his list.

“You can feel my pain and you can feel my sorrow. But friends, if you have never had an 18-27 year old man die in your arms, then you don’t know how I feel,” Wilson said.

Wilson addressed the audience in a more positive manner with a call to action as citizens of Texas and the United

States near the close of his speech.

“What were you doing on 9/11? Better yet, what have you done since 9/11?” Wilson said. “It is not about dwelling in the past, it’s about moving forward. It takes all of us to fight our nation’s wars and battles.”

Mayor Daniel Guerrero said Wilson’s speech was accurate.

“It is important that everyone does their part to ensure of others and remember the lives that were taken on 9/11,” Guerrero said.

Nicholas Cubides, political science senior running for City Council Place 3, said Wilson’s speech was powerful.

Cubides was 13 years old on Sept. 11, 2001 and can remember the event like it was yesterday.

“I remember sitting with my parents and watching the coverage on the news,” Cubides said. “It was the first disaster I had indirectly experienced and actually felt something.”

Cubides is one of many who has detailed memories of 9/11. San Marcos citizens worked to celebrate the many lives sacrificed by participating in other festivities, such as a pie sale.

Music, food and the game, “Are you smarter than a fifth grader?” with Chief Howard Williams were provided for citizens. Money made from the event was donated to the Hays County Food Bank.

ASG loses legislation in transitionLindsay MedinaNews Reporter

The Bright Light Social Hour tore through San Marcos and rocked Texas Music Theater with a wild performance. Watch the video at UniversityStar.com