Showing newest 41 of 75 posts from January 2009. Show older posts
Showing newest 41 of 75 posts from January 2009. Show older posts
Friday, January 30, 2009
Local News: Texas A&M Organizations Resolve to Grow
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Administration, Groups Resolve to Grow in '09
By: Teri Ruland
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
Organizations throughout Texas A&M have made New Year's resolutions that don't involve quitting smoking, losing weight or drinking less alcohol.
"We do have several measures of success and goals that have been established for 2009 and that started with the legislative session that will run through the end of May," said Jason Cook, vice president for marketing and communications.
Cook said a second key for success for the University in 2009 would be completion of the Academic Master Plan, a comprehensive planning effort that involves faculty across the University that will allow the University to utilize resources in the quest for Vision 2020.
He said measures were taken in the previous year to ensure success.
"We've had many meetings with members in advance of the session throughout the fall, and we are continuing to have dialogue of many issues of importance to the University, even in the early stages of the session," he said.
Though the University has established different measures of success, other organizations have made goals of achievement for the new year.
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Aggies
"The GLBTA's goals for 2009 are to increase our visibility on campus and continue to create a safe environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender students and their allies at Texas A&M," said senior psychology major Vanessa Delgado, president of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Aggies.
Other desires for the new year, she said, would be education to create more cohesion in the Aggie family.
"We hope to make Texas A&M an inclusive campus where everyone can feel welcome despite their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression," she said.
Another goal, she said, was to increase membership and bring more important influential speakers to campus. The group plans on increasing its visibility through events such as MSC Open House, Social Justice Week and GLBT Awareness Week.
"The GLBTA must be able to refer students to the many resources on campus such as the GLBT Resource Center, the Department of Multicultural Services, Aggie ALLIES, etcetera. In taking these steps GLBTA will remain an invaluable organization at Texas A&M," she said.
Some groups have resolutions set in stone, while others continue to develop their original goals for the new year.
Young Conservatives
"We will strive to better promote conservatism and oppose liberalism on campus and the surrounding community. Our mission and principles do not change and are closely tied to Aggie values," said Tony Listi, chairman of Young Conservatives of Texas and senior political science major.
The YCT will promote its cause by bringing speakers to campus, political activism and focusing on educating the student body about the most important political issues of the day.
"We have and will continue to challenge liberal students to publicly debate us on the issues," Listi said.
Published on Friday, January 30, 2009
By: Teri Ruland
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
Organizations throughout Texas A&M have made New Year's resolutions that don't involve quitting smoking, losing weight or drinking less alcohol.
"We do have several measures of success and goals that have been established for 2009 and that started with the legislative session that will run through the end of May," said Jason Cook, vice president for marketing and communications.
Cook said a second key for success for the University in 2009 would be completion of the Academic Master Plan, a comprehensive planning effort that involves faculty across the University that will allow the University to utilize resources in the quest for Vision 2020.
He said measures were taken in the previous year to ensure success.
"We've had many meetings with members in advance of the session throughout the fall, and we are continuing to have dialogue of many issues of importance to the University, even in the early stages of the session," he said.
Though the University has established different measures of success, other organizations have made goals of achievement for the new year.
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Aggies
"The GLBTA's goals for 2009 are to increase our visibility on campus and continue to create a safe environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender students and their allies at Texas A&M," said senior psychology major Vanessa Delgado, president of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Aggies.
Other desires for the new year, she said, would be education to create more cohesion in the Aggie family.
"We hope to make Texas A&M an inclusive campus where everyone can feel welcome despite their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression," she said.
Another goal, she said, was to increase membership and bring more important influential speakers to campus. The group plans on increasing its visibility through events such as MSC Open House, Social Justice Week and GLBT Awareness Week.
"The GLBTA must be able to refer students to the many resources on campus such as the GLBT Resource Center, the Department of Multicultural Services, Aggie ALLIES, etcetera. In taking these steps GLBTA will remain an invaluable organization at Texas A&M," she said.
Some groups have resolutions set in stone, while others continue to develop their original goals for the new year.
Young Conservatives
"We will strive to better promote conservatism and oppose liberalism on campus and the surrounding community. Our mission and principles do not change and are closely tied to Aggie values," said Tony Listi, chairman of Young Conservatives of Texas and senior political science major.
The YCT will promote its cause by bringing speakers to campus, political activism and focusing on educating the student body about the most important political issues of the day.
"We have and will continue to challenge liberal students to publicly debate us on the issues," Listi said.
Published on Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Local News: Texas A&M Tuition to Increase
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Tuition May Increase Up to 12%
By: Nicole Alvarado
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
Texas A&M President Elsa A. Murano projected 5 percent to 12 percent increase in tuition fees for the fiscal year of 2010 at a public hearing Wednesday.
"We're doing the best we can here and we need them [the legislature] to help by appropriate us funds," Murano said.
More than 30 students, faculty and staff members came to the hearing about the designated tuition plans for the 2009-2010 academic year. Student Body President Mark Gold gave a detailed description of last year's goals, an explanation of terminology and limitations, along with a breakdown of changes made in approval processes and fund appropriations since 2008.
"Tuition is comprised of two things," Murano said. "Designated tuition, which is set by the University, plus state-mandated tuition, which is set by the state of Texas. We are here to discuss the designated tuition because it's the only one we can change."
According to the presentation, the fiscal year 2010 budget needs will total $34.7 million, which would equate a $32.40 tuition increase per student credit hour for the fall 2009 semester. The biggest changes would fall in a retention program for faculty and staff and in the academic master plan implementation.
"In 2008, we identified that Texas A&M needed around $24.7 million to cover a variety of needs, which would raise the designated tuition by about $20 per credit hour," Murano said. "We ended up only raising it by $7.25, the lowest since tuition deregulation [in 2003.]"
She said the process of being able to lower the increase involved shaving from the operating funds and finding donors to cover scholarships. She then laid out the best-, worst- and likely-case scenarios for the fall 2009 semester, ranging from a 1.2 percent increase to a 12.9 percent increase. However, she admitted the worst-case scenario would be catastrophic.
"I'd put on a bake sale before we get to this," she said.
"The more the state of Texas supplies to A&M, the less we have to rely on students and their parents to pay for tuition," she said. "If the state of Texas doesn't provide it, we have to get it from somewhere to ensure our students are still getting the quality education they deserve. The more students we have taking more hours, the more money we receive."
Even though Texas A&M may be Smart Money magazine's top university in the nation in 2008 for "payback ratio" (the earnings levels of an institution's graduates compared to what they paid in tuition, fees and related costs for undergraduate education), the economic crisis that has settled over the entire country cannot be ignored.
"These are tough times and we are working hard to keep A&M's fees as low as possible," said Hunter Bollman, junior accounting major and member of the Student Government Association's executive board. "We want to involve students in all aspects."
Bollman referred to the approval process set in place by the Tuition Policy Advisory Council, a panel established in 2003 to consider changes to tuition policy. The 16-member council reviews things like changes in tuition and when to apply different types of tuition rates.
For the fall 2009 semester, TPAC recommended that full-time students, those taking 12 student credit hours or more, have a flat rate for designated tuition and a cap be placed on state-mandated tuition.
Murano explained the University had been using cost-saving strategies to keep the tuition increase as low as possible. Because 2009 is a legislative year, the University won't know how much money A&M will be receiving until the 81st Legislative Session concludes in May. Such strategies included implemented procurement initiatives for all departments to maximize buying power, energy conservation efforts like special lighting fixtures around campus and redesigned delivery routes meant to minimize the use of vehicles and gas costs.
"We have the lowest administrative cost ratio," she said, "meaning we only spend around 4.1 percent of the budget to run this University. We pay lower salaries to our faculty than peer Vision 2020 institutions."
After the presentation, the floor was opened to the audience. When a student expressed concern about those receiving financial aid, Joseph Pettibon, assistant provost for student financial aid, reassured him.
"The funding goes up with tuition increases. This is how we make sure not to hurt students who are dependent on financial aid," he said. "Because of the current economic crisis, we can take some [adverse] circumstances and we can deal with them on a case-to-case basis."
The presentation was geared toward assuring students that their voices were being heard and the University was doing everything it could to include students in the decision-making process.
"We're not gilding the bathrooms with gold or anything," Murano joked. "We're trying to help you."
Gold agreed with Murano on many counts, including the main intent of all the advisory councils and those involved with certifying tuition processes.
"We are committed to making sure Texas A&M isn't necessarily the cheapest institution, but the best valued," he said, a theme that continued throughout the presentation.
Zach Golde, a freshman computer science major, expressed appreciation for the situation and all the University was doing to accommodate students and faculty alike.
"Murano's doing what she has to do and telling us the way it is," he said. "She cut those costs last year so much, so I think she's doing a job with everything."
Braden Deckerd, a senior and student worker at the Career Center, said he supported Murano's approach to things, but some important statistics may have been left out of the presentation to cushion the blow.
"I agree with a lot of it, I just don't know how families are supposed to budget for this," Deckerd said. "Education is an equalizer. Money buys knowledge and knowledge buys power."
Published on Thursday, January 29, 2009
By: Nicole Alvarado
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
Texas A&M President Elsa A. Murano projected 5 percent to 12 percent increase in tuition fees for the fiscal year of 2010 at a public hearing Wednesday.
"We're doing the best we can here and we need them [the legislature] to help by appropriate us funds," Murano said.
More than 30 students, faculty and staff members came to the hearing about the designated tuition plans for the 2009-2010 academic year. Student Body President Mark Gold gave a detailed description of last year's goals, an explanation of terminology and limitations, along with a breakdown of changes made in approval processes and fund appropriations since 2008.
"Tuition is comprised of two things," Murano said. "Designated tuition, which is set by the University, plus state-mandated tuition, which is set by the state of Texas. We are here to discuss the designated tuition because it's the only one we can change."
According to the presentation, the fiscal year 2010 budget needs will total $34.7 million, which would equate a $32.40 tuition increase per student credit hour for the fall 2009 semester. The biggest changes would fall in a retention program for faculty and staff and in the academic master plan implementation.
"In 2008, we identified that Texas A&M needed around $24.7 million to cover a variety of needs, which would raise the designated tuition by about $20 per credit hour," Murano said. "We ended up only raising it by $7.25, the lowest since tuition deregulation [in 2003.]"
She said the process of being able to lower the increase involved shaving from the operating funds and finding donors to cover scholarships. She then laid out the best-, worst- and likely-case scenarios for the fall 2009 semester, ranging from a 1.2 percent increase to a 12.9 percent increase. However, she admitted the worst-case scenario would be catastrophic.
"I'd put on a bake sale before we get to this," she said.
"The more the state of Texas supplies to A&M, the less we have to rely on students and their parents to pay for tuition," she said. "If the state of Texas doesn't provide it, we have to get it from somewhere to ensure our students are still getting the quality education they deserve. The more students we have taking more hours, the more money we receive."
Even though Texas A&M may be Smart Money magazine's top university in the nation in 2008 for "payback ratio" (the earnings levels of an institution's graduates compared to what they paid in tuition, fees and related costs for undergraduate education), the economic crisis that has settled over the entire country cannot be ignored.
"These are tough times and we are working hard to keep A&M's fees as low as possible," said Hunter Bollman, junior accounting major and member of the Student Government Association's executive board. "We want to involve students in all aspects."
Bollman referred to the approval process set in place by the Tuition Policy Advisory Council, a panel established in 2003 to consider changes to tuition policy. The 16-member council reviews things like changes in tuition and when to apply different types of tuition rates.
For the fall 2009 semester, TPAC recommended that full-time students, those taking 12 student credit hours or more, have a flat rate for designated tuition and a cap be placed on state-mandated tuition.
Murano explained the University had been using cost-saving strategies to keep the tuition increase as low as possible. Because 2009 is a legislative year, the University won't know how much money A&M will be receiving until the 81st Legislative Session concludes in May. Such strategies included implemented procurement initiatives for all departments to maximize buying power, energy conservation efforts like special lighting fixtures around campus and redesigned delivery routes meant to minimize the use of vehicles and gas costs.
"We have the lowest administrative cost ratio," she said, "meaning we only spend around 4.1 percent of the budget to run this University. We pay lower salaries to our faculty than peer Vision 2020 institutions."
After the presentation, the floor was opened to the audience. When a student expressed concern about those receiving financial aid, Joseph Pettibon, assistant provost for student financial aid, reassured him.
"The funding goes up with tuition increases. This is how we make sure not to hurt students who are dependent on financial aid," he said. "Because of the current economic crisis, we can take some [adverse] circumstances and we can deal with them on a case-to-case basis."
The presentation was geared toward assuring students that their voices were being heard and the University was doing everything it could to include students in the decision-making process.
"We're not gilding the bathrooms with gold or anything," Murano joked. "We're trying to help you."
Gold agreed with Murano on many counts, including the main intent of all the advisory councils and those involved with certifying tuition processes.
"We are committed to making sure Texas A&M isn't necessarily the cheapest institution, but the best valued," he said, a theme that continued throughout the presentation.
Zach Golde, a freshman computer science major, expressed appreciation for the situation and all the University was doing to accommodate students and faculty alike.
"Murano's doing what she has to do and telling us the way it is," he said. "She cut those costs last year so much, so I think she's doing a job with everything."
Braden Deckerd, a senior and student worker at the Career Center, said he supported Murano's approach to things, but some important statistics may have been left out of the presentation to cushion the blow.
"I agree with a lot of it, I just don't know how families are supposed to budget for this," Deckerd said. "Education is an equalizer. Money buys knowledge and knowledge buys power."
Published on Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Local News: Bryan City Council Recommends Replacing BVSWMA
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Bryan to Hear Plan for Landfill Agency
By Cassie Smith
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
A Bryan City Council member has asked city officials to consider reorganizing the partnership with College Station that oversees the two cities' landfill operations.
Ben Hardeman asked for a presentation at a future council meeting to address the possibility of creating a new agency to replace the embattled Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency. For months, the cities have been locked in a dispute over management of the agency and construction of a new landfill in Grimes County.
The idea to start over was presented in an Eagle editorial on Sunday, and Hardeman said the newspaper's recommendation made sense.
"I think we need to get past differences," Hardeman said after the meeting.
The editorial called for the creation of a new agency with a governing board made up of an equal number of representatives from each city. The board chairman would be elected, and the office would alternate between the cities.
Hardeman said that the two cities need a plausible solution and that The Eagle's suggestions "seemed even-handed."
"We need something both cities can feel like won't result in damage to themselves," he said.
Council members agreed to place the item on a future agenda.
Also Tuesday, the council decided not to spend $313,000 to buy about 60 acres in Bryan's extraterritorial jurisdiction. Purchasing the land would have fulfilled wetlands requirements related to the construction of the Twin Oaks Landfill.
Bryan Public Works Director Linda Huff said the city would consider other options to fulfill the requirement, including paying mitigation costs for the wetlands the landfill would destroy.
Huff said the council was concerned that the price of the land was too high and that constantly maintaining the property to meet wetlands criteria was unreasonable.
The city of College Station handled the negotiations, and several Bryan council members said during the meeting that they felt other options hadn't been considered.
In other business Tuesday, the council:
* Approved a resolution to hold the general municipal election May 9 to elect one council member from Single District 5 and one member at large. It would be a joint election with the Bryan Independent School District.
Mike Southerland's and Hardeman's seats will be up for election. Hardeman is not be eligible to run again due to term limits. As of Tuesday night, Southerland was the only candidate to announce his intent to run.
* Approved about $162,000 to install new sidewalks and replace damaged ones along Martin Luther King Jr. Street. The project will provide a safer route for pedestrians through a high-traffic area, which goes past schools, churches, a museum and several parks.
Published Wednesday, January 28, 2009
By Cassie Smith
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
A Bryan City Council member has asked city officials to consider reorganizing the partnership with College Station that oversees the two cities' landfill operations.
Ben Hardeman asked for a presentation at a future council meeting to address the possibility of creating a new agency to replace the embattled Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency. For months, the cities have been locked in a dispute over management of the agency and construction of a new landfill in Grimes County.
The idea to start over was presented in an Eagle editorial on Sunday, and Hardeman said the newspaper's recommendation made sense.
"I think we need to get past differences," Hardeman said after the meeting.
The editorial called for the creation of a new agency with a governing board made up of an equal number of representatives from each city. The board chairman would be elected, and the office would alternate between the cities.
Hardeman said that the two cities need a plausible solution and that The Eagle's suggestions "seemed even-handed."
"We need something both cities can feel like won't result in damage to themselves," he said.
Council members agreed to place the item on a future agenda.
Also Tuesday, the council decided not to spend $313,000 to buy about 60 acres in Bryan's extraterritorial jurisdiction. Purchasing the land would have fulfilled wetlands requirements related to the construction of the Twin Oaks Landfill.
Bryan Public Works Director Linda Huff said the city would consider other options to fulfill the requirement, including paying mitigation costs for the wetlands the landfill would destroy.
Huff said the council was concerned that the price of the land was too high and that constantly maintaining the property to meet wetlands criteria was unreasonable.
The city of College Station handled the negotiations, and several Bryan council members said during the meeting that they felt other options hadn't been considered.
In other business Tuesday, the council:
* Approved a resolution to hold the general municipal election May 9 to elect one council member from Single District 5 and one member at large. It would be a joint election with the Bryan Independent School District.
Mike Southerland's and Hardeman's seats will be up for election. Hardeman is not be eligible to run again due to term limits. As of Tuesday night, Southerland was the only candidate to announce his intent to run.
* Approved about $162,000 to install new sidewalks and replace damaged ones along Martin Luther King Jr. Street. The project will provide a safer route for pedestrians through a high-traffic area, which goes past schools, churches, a museum and several parks.
Published Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Video Lunch: Chairman George Miller on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
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Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller spoke in support of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which was passed by the House today. The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature. This bill is a key initiative in closing the pay gap between men and women. It restores the law as it was prior to the narrowly-decided (5-4) Supreme Court Ledbetter decision in 2007. That decision tossed aside longstanding prior law and made it much harder for women and other workers to pursue pay discrimination claims stating a pay discrimination charge must be filed within 180 days of the employers initial decision to pay an employee less. The bill restores prior law providing that a pay discrimination charge must simply be filed within 180 days of a discriminatory paycheck.
Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller spoke in support of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which was passed by the House today. The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature. This bill is a key initiative in closing the pay gap between men and women. It restores the law as it was prior to the narrowly-decided (5-4) Supreme Court Ledbetter decision in 2007. That decision tossed aside longstanding prior law and made it much harder for women and other workers to pursue pay discrimination claims stating a pay discrimination charge must be filed within 180 days of the employers initial decision to pay an employee less. The bill restores prior law providing that a pay discrimination charge must simply be filed within 180 days of a discriminatory paycheck.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Texas Legislative Watch: The State of the State
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Governor Rick Perry gave the state of the state address tonight, and as the 81st Texas Legislature convenes to do the people’s business Left of College Station will be watching. Over the course of the legislative session Left of College Station will be posting updates on bills as they move through the legislature, and review the impact that those bills will have statewide and locally in the Brazos Valley.
This afternoon Governor Rick Perry gave his state of the state address, and after thanking both the Lieutenant Governor and the new Speaker of the House, Governor Perry thanked former Speaker of the House (R) Tom Craddick for his “faithful service to the state.” Afterwards Perry laid out what it is that he believes Texas has accomplished during his tenure, and also presented his legislative agenda for the next two years.
The Governor also used the opportunity to mention some of what he believes is Washington, D.C. failures (Perry mentioned the nation’s capitol five times, included twice as failing and once as dragging its feet.); this could possibly be another snipe at Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison as the Republican primary seems as though it has already begun. Governor Perry went on to outline what he believes have been successes and would could be future successes.
"Propose freezing a student’s college tuition rates for four years at the level they pay as an entering freshman. This will help Texas families plan while giving students another incentive to finish on time. We must continue removing roadblocks for young Texans wanting to pursue higher education, whether they enroll straight out of high school, or choose to serve their country in the military first."
This would not have been an issue if tuition had not been deregulated by the Governor and the Republican leadership in the Texas legislature.
"We know the benefit of legal reforms that stem the tide of frivolous lawsuits, while attracting an army of skilled doctors to Texas, and improving access to healthcare across our state."
In Texas one in five children living in Texas is without health insurance; according to a study last year 1.4 million, or 20.5%, children in Texas are uninsured.
"Let’s keep improving our math and science education, and continue preparing our young people, especially low-income and minority students, for a productive life after high school."
Texas must remove the grip that fundamentalist have on the State Board of Education so that we can ensure that actual science is taught in our classrooms and that religion is taught in church.
"These veterans, who now spend their days recovering from injuries sustained while serving our country, deserve the best our state has to offer, as do all veterans who have served our country. In appreciation for their service, I share Senator Van de Putte’s belief that we should extend in-state tuition rates to all veterans, regardless of their home of record."
Texas should lead the way in veterans services; while the Department of Veterans Affairs may be going through a shift in leadership and in policy Texas should give all it can to veterans.
"In these times of global unrest and porous borders, security remains a top priority, especially in light of Washington’s ongoing failure to provide the resources necessary to secure our border, or implement a sensible immigration policy. I’m hopeful that my fellow border governor from Arizona will bring a better approach in her new role as Secretary of Homeland Security. However, until we see results, Texas will continue filling the leadership void created by Washington DC and investing in the safety of our citizens with our own border security effort."
However, the Republican leadership in the legislature has made it clear that they would rather force wedge issues such as “voter ID” and “English only” laws instead of implementing a sensible immigration policy in Texas.
"As we consider the growing threats to our nation’s unborn, I believe it’s time to add another layer of protection for the most vulnerable Texans. I hope you will join me in supporting Senator Patrick and Representative Corte’s effort to require those wanting to terminate a pregnancy to review their ultrasound before proceeding."
Restricting access to abortion is an infringement on women’s reproductive rights. This is especially true when it includes restricting access to emergency contraception, which is one of the three anti-choice bills filled by Representative Corte and Senator Patrick.
"State of our State is good. Her character is strong and her people are great, and I believe now, more than ever before, that our best days are yet to come."
It is true that our best days are yet to come; we must strive to ensure that progressive values are championed in Texas and that in the not so distant future we can turn Texas blue.
This afternoon Governor Rick Perry gave his state of the state address, and after thanking both the Lieutenant Governor and the new Speaker of the House, Governor Perry thanked former Speaker of the House (R) Tom Craddick for his “faithful service to the state.” Afterwards Perry laid out what it is that he believes Texas has accomplished during his tenure, and also presented his legislative agenda for the next two years.
The Governor also used the opportunity to mention some of what he believes is Washington, D.C. failures (Perry mentioned the nation’s capitol five times, included twice as failing and once as dragging its feet.); this could possibly be another snipe at Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison as the Republican primary seems as though it has already begun. Governor Perry went on to outline what he believes have been successes and would could be future successes.
"Propose freezing a student’s college tuition rates for four years at the level they pay as an entering freshman. This will help Texas families plan while giving students another incentive to finish on time. We must continue removing roadblocks for young Texans wanting to pursue higher education, whether they enroll straight out of high school, or choose to serve their country in the military first."
This would not have been an issue if tuition had not been deregulated by the Governor and the Republican leadership in the Texas legislature.
"We know the benefit of legal reforms that stem the tide of frivolous lawsuits, while attracting an army of skilled doctors to Texas, and improving access to healthcare across our state."
In Texas one in five children living in Texas is without health insurance; according to a study last year 1.4 million, or 20.5%, children in Texas are uninsured.
"Let’s keep improving our math and science education, and continue preparing our young people, especially low-income and minority students, for a productive life after high school."
Texas must remove the grip that fundamentalist have on the State Board of Education so that we can ensure that actual science is taught in our classrooms and that religion is taught in church.
"These veterans, who now spend their days recovering from injuries sustained while serving our country, deserve the best our state has to offer, as do all veterans who have served our country. In appreciation for their service, I share Senator Van de Putte’s belief that we should extend in-state tuition rates to all veterans, regardless of their home of record."
Texas should lead the way in veterans services; while the Department of Veterans Affairs may be going through a shift in leadership and in policy Texas should give all it can to veterans.
"In these times of global unrest and porous borders, security remains a top priority, especially in light of Washington’s ongoing failure to provide the resources necessary to secure our border, or implement a sensible immigration policy. I’m hopeful that my fellow border governor from Arizona will bring a better approach in her new role as Secretary of Homeland Security. However, until we see results, Texas will continue filling the leadership void created by Washington DC and investing in the safety of our citizens with our own border security effort."
However, the Republican leadership in the legislature has made it clear that they would rather force wedge issues such as “voter ID” and “English only” laws instead of implementing a sensible immigration policy in Texas.
"As we consider the growing threats to our nation’s unborn, I believe it’s time to add another layer of protection for the most vulnerable Texans. I hope you will join me in supporting Senator Patrick and Representative Corte’s effort to require those wanting to terminate a pregnancy to review their ultrasound before proceeding."
Restricting access to abortion is an infringement on women’s reproductive rights. This is especially true when it includes restricting access to emergency contraception, which is one of the three anti-choice bills filled by Representative Corte and Senator Patrick.
"State of our State is good. Her character is strong and her people are great, and I believe now, more than ever before, that our best days are yet to come."
It is true that our best days are yet to come; we must strive to ensure that progressive values are championed in Texas and that in the not so distant future we can turn Texas blue.
Local News: Texas A&M Free Speech Forum
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Program Explores Aggies' Attitudes About Free Speech
By Vimal Patel
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Preacher Bob -- an inflammatory street preacher who travels to campuses nationwide -- calls women who wear slacks and sport short hair "whores," and says they'll burn in hell right alongside the fornicators, gays and Catholics.
First Amendment expert Saundra Schuster posed a question to a crowd of a few hundred Aggies on Monday morning: Are the agitator's actions protected speech, or do they cross the line to harassment, which is not protected?
About 42 percent -- or 75 respondents -- called it harassment. They were wrong. "The courts have consistently said that he is within his right," Schuster said.
The interactive program, titled "Free Speech: Balancing Freedoms with Our Aggie Values," was organized to provide education about campus free speech issues. Schuster also delivered the same presentation in the evening.
The university recently received several complaints ranging from the actions of student groups to what's printed in the campus paper, said Carol Binzer, director of student life, who helped organize the event. Binzer also is chair of the student media board, which serves as an advisory board to The Battalion, the campus' student newspaper.
"I'm concerned about how many times people say they shouldn't have printed that letter or that opinion," she said. "[This lecture] was about the need for better education. We're educating leaders for a global society. We want them to be savvy and proud of their constitutional rights."
Respondents at the voluntary forum beamed their responses to a series of First Amendment scenarios through controllers that look like a cross between a TV remote and cell phone.
The responses were immediately shown on the giant projection screen in Rudder Theatre, flanked by two white banners on either side, one proclaiming the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment and the other listing the Aggie values of loyalty, integrity, excellence, leadership, selfless service and respect.
"The question is, how can we fully exercise our right to free speech while also being true to our Aggie values?" asked Texas A&M University President Elsa Murano, during her introduction. "The purpose of this workshop is to answer that question."
Binzer said the meeting wasn't in response to any incident in particular, but acknowledged the most speech-related attention on campus recently arose from actions by the Texas A&M chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas.
Prior to the election, the group held an event where they encouraged students to hurl eggs at a poster of candidate Barack Obama. Some students criticized the event as immature and insensitive. A leader of the group had said the egg represented the nest egg Americans build to save for retirement.
"They were trying to make a point," Binzer said, "and be bold in making that point. I respect their right to."
Schuster's presentation posed several other free speech-related questions. And as the lecture progressed, it appeared the audience tended to fall more on the side of freedom.
About 84 percent -- or 148 respondents -- answered "yes" to a question about whether foul language at sporting events was protected speech.
Alex Raducanu, a freshman electrical engineering major, maintained that the street preacher's actions weren't protected speech.
But the 19-year-old said he's still figuring out what is and isn't acceptable -- that's why he attended the morning event after seeing a flier.
Though he admitted to belting out a few expletives during Aggie football and basketball games.
"Only when the score's really close," he said.
Published Tuesday, January 27, 2009
By Vimal Patel
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Preacher Bob -- an inflammatory street preacher who travels to campuses nationwide -- calls women who wear slacks and sport short hair "whores," and says they'll burn in hell right alongside the fornicators, gays and Catholics.
First Amendment expert Saundra Schuster posed a question to a crowd of a few hundred Aggies on Monday morning: Are the agitator's actions protected speech, or do they cross the line to harassment, which is not protected?
About 42 percent -- or 75 respondents -- called it harassment. They were wrong. "The courts have consistently said that he is within his right," Schuster said.
The interactive program, titled "Free Speech: Balancing Freedoms with Our Aggie Values," was organized to provide education about campus free speech issues. Schuster also delivered the same presentation in the evening.
The university recently received several complaints ranging from the actions of student groups to what's printed in the campus paper, said Carol Binzer, director of student life, who helped organize the event. Binzer also is chair of the student media board, which serves as an advisory board to The Battalion, the campus' student newspaper.
"I'm concerned about how many times people say they shouldn't have printed that letter or that opinion," she said. "[This lecture] was about the need for better education. We're educating leaders for a global society. We want them to be savvy and proud of their constitutional rights."
Respondents at the voluntary forum beamed their responses to a series of First Amendment scenarios through controllers that look like a cross between a TV remote and cell phone.
The responses were immediately shown on the giant projection screen in Rudder Theatre, flanked by two white banners on either side, one proclaiming the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment and the other listing the Aggie values of loyalty, integrity, excellence, leadership, selfless service and respect.
"The question is, how can we fully exercise our right to free speech while also being true to our Aggie values?" asked Texas A&M University President Elsa Murano, during her introduction. "The purpose of this workshop is to answer that question."
Binzer said the meeting wasn't in response to any incident in particular, but acknowledged the most speech-related attention on campus recently arose from actions by the Texas A&M chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas.
Prior to the election, the group held an event where they encouraged students to hurl eggs at a poster of candidate Barack Obama. Some students criticized the event as immature and insensitive. A leader of the group had said the egg represented the nest egg Americans build to save for retirement.
"They were trying to make a point," Binzer said, "and be bold in making that point. I respect their right to."
Schuster's presentation posed several other free speech-related questions. And as the lecture progressed, it appeared the audience tended to fall more on the side of freedom.
About 84 percent -- or 148 respondents -- answered "yes" to a question about whether foul language at sporting events was protected speech.
Alex Raducanu, a freshman electrical engineering major, maintained that the street preacher's actions weren't protected speech.
But the 19-year-old said he's still figuring out what is and isn't acceptable -- that's why he attended the morning event after seeing a flier.
Though he admitted to belting out a few expletives during Aggie football and basketball games.
"Only when the score's really close," he said.
Published Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Local News: Grassroots Politics in Bryan
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Petition is an Example of Grassroots Politics
Letter to the Editor – January 26th
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Now that the charter amendment petition submitted to the city of Bryan has been certified as valid, the May 9 election will allow voters the opportunity to set the number of council members needed to place an item on the council agenda at two. More than two negates the concept of single-member districts.
Each Bryan resident lives in one of five single-member districts and is represented by the council member from that district. Because Bryan also elects one at-large member, that individual represents every Bryan resident.
Any citizen desiring to have a valid issue placed on the council agenda should only have to contact two council members.
A special thanks goes to all those who circulated the petition. They gave up many days and evenings walking door-to-door to gather the required signatures. An equal appreciation goes to the more than 1,800 citizens who took their time to listen and then sign the petition.
A deep sense of satisfaction should be felt by all those who walked and talked, all those who signed, and also all those who would have signed if we had had enough time to come to their door.
This is grassroots politics in action and empowers the average citizen who often feels left out of the process. Kudos to all. Job well done.
Karen Hall
Bryan
Published Monday, January 26, 2009
Letter to the Editor – January 26th
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Now that the charter amendment petition submitted to the city of Bryan has been certified as valid, the May 9 election will allow voters the opportunity to set the number of council members needed to place an item on the council agenda at two. More than two negates the concept of single-member districts.
Each Bryan resident lives in one of five single-member districts and is represented by the council member from that district. Because Bryan also elects one at-large member, that individual represents every Bryan resident.
Any citizen desiring to have a valid issue placed on the council agenda should only have to contact two council members.
A special thanks goes to all those who circulated the petition. They gave up many days and evenings walking door-to-door to gather the required signatures. An equal appreciation goes to the more than 1,800 citizens who took their time to listen and then sign the petition.
A deep sense of satisfaction should be felt by all those who walked and talked, all those who signed, and also all those who would have signed if we had had enough time to come to their door.
This is grassroots politics in action and empowers the average citizen who often feels left out of the process. Kudos to all. Job well done.
Karen Hall
Bryan
Published Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
This Week in the Headlines
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Politics
Obama Meets With Lawmakers About Stimulus Package
Politico is reporting that President Obama met with members of congress from both parties to discuss the stimulus package, and that the President made it clear that although he is interested in Republican input that they should remember: “I won.” Also, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill was on track for passage by February 16th.
No News Is No News
Slate reports on Press Secretary Robert Gibbs first press briefing, the art of a press secretary’s ability to talk for extended periods of time without saying anything, and the press’s ability to ask questions that only matter to the press.
Texas Politics
Gov. Perry Crusading to Restore His Standing With Social Conservatives
The Houston Chronicle Texas politics blog reports on Govenor Perry repositioning himself as a conservative: “burying the hatchet” with Steven Hotze and speaking at a Right to Life rally at the Texas Capitol. While Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison appears to be positioning herself as a “mainstream conservative.”
Dewhurst, Ogden: Keep State Schools Open
The Austin American-Statesmen Virtual Capitol blog reports that Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and Bryan-College Station State Senator Steve Ogden support keeping state schools open after the “Department of Justice, or DOJ, said that the facilities fail to protect residents from harm.”
Choice
Obama to Reverse Abortion Policy
President Obama will sign an “executive order ending the ban on federal funds for international groups that promote or perform abortions,” which will reverse the policy known as the “global gag rule.”
GLBT Issues
Dallas Same-Sex Divorce Case a First For Texas
A Dallas man has filed for divorce from his husband, who he married in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2006, however, the state of Texas does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions. The legal argument that will be made is based on Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution; and that “states recognize contracts from other states – that the marriage bond, he said, is universal.”
From the Blogs
Reactions in the Texas blogosphere to the inauguration of President Barack Obama:
¡Para Justicia y Libertad!:
Inaugural Day: The Start of a New Day
B and B:
A New Era Begins
Bay Area Houston:
I hope.
Beginning to Wonder:
A New Day
BlueBloggin:
Change Has Finally Come to America
Bluedaze:
“…know that America is a friend of each nation…”
Brains and Eggs:
President to the United States of America
Dallas Progress:
44
Greg’s Opinion:
President Barack Obama
Houtopia:
A Beautiful Day
Obama Meets With Lawmakers About Stimulus Package
Politico is reporting that President Obama met with members of congress from both parties to discuss the stimulus package, and that the President made it clear that although he is interested in Republican input that they should remember: “I won.” Also, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill was on track for passage by February 16th.
No News Is No News
Slate reports on Press Secretary Robert Gibbs first press briefing, the art of a press secretary’s ability to talk for extended periods of time without saying anything, and the press’s ability to ask questions that only matter to the press.
Texas Politics
Gov. Perry Crusading to Restore His Standing With Social Conservatives
The Houston Chronicle Texas politics blog reports on Govenor Perry repositioning himself as a conservative: “burying the hatchet” with Steven Hotze and speaking at a Right to Life rally at the Texas Capitol. While Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison appears to be positioning herself as a “mainstream conservative.”
Dewhurst, Ogden: Keep State Schools Open
The Austin American-Statesmen Virtual Capitol blog reports that Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and Bryan-College Station State Senator Steve Ogden support keeping state schools open after the “Department of Justice, or DOJ, said that the facilities fail to protect residents from harm.”
Choice
Obama to Reverse Abortion Policy
President Obama will sign an “executive order ending the ban on federal funds for international groups that promote or perform abortions,” which will reverse the policy known as the “global gag rule.”
GLBT Issues
Dallas Same-Sex Divorce Case a First For Texas
A Dallas man has filed for divorce from his husband, who he married in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2006, however, the state of Texas does not recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions. The legal argument that will be made is based on Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution; and that “states recognize contracts from other states – that the marriage bond, he said, is universal.”
From the Blogs
Reactions in the Texas blogosphere to the inauguration of President Barack Obama:
¡Para Justicia y Libertad!:
Inaugural Day: The Start of a New Day
B and B:
A New Era Begins
Bay Area Houston:
I hope.
Beginning to Wonder:
A New Day
BlueBloggin:
Change Has Finally Come to America
Bluedaze:
“…know that America is a friend of each nation…”
Brains and Eggs:
President to the United States of America
Dallas Progress:
44
Greg’s Opinion:
President Barack Obama
Houtopia:
A Beautiful Day
Video Lunch: The Future of the Grassroots Movement
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David Plouffe, Obama for America campaign manager, and Mitch Stewart, executive director of Organizing for America, discuss the future of this movement for change. Get involved at http://www.barackobama.com/.
David Plouffe, Obama for America campaign manager, and Mitch Stewart, executive director of Organizing for America, discuss the future of this movement for change. Get involved at http://www.barackobama.com/.
Local News: College Station City Council Votes for Smoking Ban
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Ban Clearing the Air
By Cassie Smith
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
The College Station City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to ban smoking in bars starting Feb. 1.
About 100 residents, business owners, health care professionals, students and parents attended a public hearing on the issue. Twenty people spoke in favor of enacting tighter restrictions on smoking, and 11 said the change would amount to an attack on private businesses and an individual's right to choose.
The new ordinance, which will go into effect on Super Bowl Sunday, bans smoking in bars, restaurants and workplaces.
Last month, council members reduced the distance from entryways in which smoking was allowed from 20 feet to 10 feet to permit more smoking on business patios and bars, as well as on College Main when the street is blocked to traffic, said Hayden Migl, assistant to the city manager. The Northgate street is closed early in the mornings for the safety of people walking out of the bars that line the area.
Exceptions for smoking by actors or actresses performing in theatrical programs and in tobacco specialty shops were retained.
Council member James Massey, whose mother died from a condition caused by secondhand smoke, said he was disappointed that Bryan's city leaders didn't show up to support the ban. He said the measure was approved in the interest of protecting residents' health and safety, not to infringe on personal rights.
"Rights, as you think about it, cut both ways," he said. "We're sworn to keep those rights and protect them as part of what we do every day." But individual rights are valid only until they affect somebody else, he said.
Critics of the ban said it was a threat to American civil liberties.
"These people will no longer be able to decide what they will and will not allow in their institution," 22-year-old Brooks Macdonald said.
Smoking bans are in place in cities across the nation, and College Station should be no different, supporters of the ordinance said.
Pediatrician Mark Sicilio cited President Barack Obama's inability to smoke in the White House as an example of how the habit is accepted as a threat to public health.
"Many who work in bars might say they like and willingly work there, but some folks are passively exposed ... without really realizing the potentially profound implications," he said, adding that women who visit bars may not know they are pregnant and are unknowingly hurting their unborn children.
Brian Alg, 24, told the council that smoking rules should be left to businesses to decide.
"The thing is, businesses should be allowed to figure out what model works for them," he said.
Erin Fleener, a doctor, compared cigarettes to firearms.
"You're allowed to own a gun, but you're not allowed to walk into a bar and shoot it off," Fleener said. "I think you can smoke, but it doesn't give you the right to walk into a public place and light up."
Daniel Brightwell, the owner of Mad Hatter's, who had offered free beer to customers if the ordinance failed, said the ban would make it more difficult to be a bar owner.
He already has to keep up with Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission codes, and now he'll be forced to watch for people trying to sneak a smoke, he said.
Council member Dennis Maloney said that he appreciated the public views the issue had generated but that it was misguided to think of smoking as a civil rights issue.
"You can smoke, and I will defend to the end your right to smoke, but do it outside," the former smoker said, adding that society has accepted that cigarette smoke is harmful.
Published Friday, January 23, 2009
By Cassie Smith
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
The College Station City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to ban smoking in bars starting Feb. 1.
About 100 residents, business owners, health care professionals, students and parents attended a public hearing on the issue. Twenty people spoke in favor of enacting tighter restrictions on smoking, and 11 said the change would amount to an attack on private businesses and an individual's right to choose.
The new ordinance, which will go into effect on Super Bowl Sunday, bans smoking in bars, restaurants and workplaces.
Last month, council members reduced the distance from entryways in which smoking was allowed from 20 feet to 10 feet to permit more smoking on business patios and bars, as well as on College Main when the street is blocked to traffic, said Hayden Migl, assistant to the city manager. The Northgate street is closed early in the mornings for the safety of people walking out of the bars that line the area.
Exceptions for smoking by actors or actresses performing in theatrical programs and in tobacco specialty shops were retained.
Council member James Massey, whose mother died from a condition caused by secondhand smoke, said he was disappointed that Bryan's city leaders didn't show up to support the ban. He said the measure was approved in the interest of protecting residents' health and safety, not to infringe on personal rights.
"Rights, as you think about it, cut both ways," he said. "We're sworn to keep those rights and protect them as part of what we do every day." But individual rights are valid only until they affect somebody else, he said.
Critics of the ban said it was a threat to American civil liberties.
"These people will no longer be able to decide what they will and will not allow in their institution," 22-year-old Brooks Macdonald said.
Smoking bans are in place in cities across the nation, and College Station should be no different, supporters of the ordinance said.
Pediatrician Mark Sicilio cited President Barack Obama's inability to smoke in the White House as an example of how the habit is accepted as a threat to public health.
"Many who work in bars might say they like and willingly work there, but some folks are passively exposed ... without really realizing the potentially profound implications," he said, adding that women who visit bars may not know they are pregnant and are unknowingly hurting their unborn children.
Brian Alg, 24, told the council that smoking rules should be left to businesses to decide.
"The thing is, businesses should be allowed to figure out what model works for them," he said.
Erin Fleener, a doctor, compared cigarettes to firearms.
"You're allowed to own a gun, but you're not allowed to walk into a bar and shoot it off," Fleener said. "I think you can smoke, but it doesn't give you the right to walk into a public place and light up."
Daniel Brightwell, the owner of Mad Hatter's, who had offered free beer to customers if the ordinance failed, said the ban would make it more difficult to be a bar owner.
He already has to keep up with Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission codes, and now he'll be forced to watch for people trying to sneak a smoke, he said.
Council member Dennis Maloney said that he appreciated the public views the issue had generated but that it was misguided to think of smoking as a civil rights issue.
"You can smoke, and I will defend to the end your right to smoke, but do it outside," the former smoker said, adding that society has accepted that cigarette smoke is harmful.
Published Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Live Blogging: City Council Smoking Ban Vote (Part 5)
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8:00pm: All the speakers have spoken.
8:02pm: Motion to approval by Council Member Maloney (below). “The attempt to turn this argument from public health to civil rights issue is specious at best. We took the lead out of gasoline…we took the lead out of paint…we took the lead out of mad hatters.”
8:08pm: Council Member Massey “Beyond the medical evidence, second hand smoke is the loaded gun in a crowded room…Your rights are your rights until they start affecting me.”
8:12pm: Council Member Compton “I am going to totally endorse this ordinance…The issue of choice has arise…it’s across the road down the street in the city of Bryan.”
8:02pm: Motion to approval by Council Member Maloney (below). “The attempt to turn this argument from public health to civil rights issue is specious at best. We took the lead out of gasoline…we took the lead out of paint…we took the lead out of mad hatters.”
8:08pm: Council Member Massey “Beyond the medical evidence, second hand smoke is the loaded gun in a crowded room…Your rights are your rights until they start affecting me.”8:12pm: Council Member Compton “I am going to totally endorse this ordinance…The issue of choice has arise…it’s across the road down the street in the city of Bryan.”
Live Blogging: City Council Smoking Ban Vote (Part 4)
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7:46pm: Bryan Johnson “I am against the ban…I watched my grandfather die of cancer from smoking..I am against the ban because…people go to bar to smoke.”
7:47pm: Sarah Mendez “Second hand smoke is a public health issue.”
7:48pm: Christen Weaver (American Cancer Society) (below), “The scientific evidence is clear, this is a public health issue…People should be able to do whatever they please, as long as it doesn’t harm someone else…If you want to smoke, go outside.”
7:51pm: Luke P. “Tobacco is a grade A toxin…It causes cancer; cancer kills people.”
Those that are for the ban are making much more solid arguments than those that are against the ban; those for the smoking ordinance are sighting statistics and scientific facts while those that are against the ordinance seem to only site the idea of the free market and civil liberties.
7:47pm: Sarah Mendez “Second hand smoke is a public health issue.”
7:48pm: Christen Weaver (American Cancer Society) (below), “The scientific evidence is clear, this is a public health issue…People should be able to do whatever they please, as long as it doesn’t harm someone else…If you want to smoke, go outside.”
7:51pm: Luke P. “Tobacco is a grade A toxin…It causes cancer; cancer kills people.”Those that are for the ban are making much more solid arguments than those that are against the ban; those for the smoking ordinance are sighting statistics and scientific facts while those that are against the ordinance seem to only site the idea of the free market and civil liberties.
Live Blogging: City Council Smoking Ban Vote (Part 3)
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7:30pm: Council Member Crompton asked Mark S. when Texas A&M was made a smoke free campus, and what was the reaction of the faculty and students. Mark replied that the Texas A&M was made smoke free in the mid 1980s, and that the reaction was very positive on campus.
7:30pm: Erin F. “Smoking is similar to bearing arms; you are allowed to own a gun but you are not allowed to walk into a bar and fire it off.”
7:33pm: Bryan A. (below) “I spend all my money on bars in College Station…This isn’t a public health issues, this is about private establishments…smokers can smoke in their own homes, I’m not sure if you’re thinking about getting rid of that.”
7:36pm: Jared F. “I’m a little lost out here.”
7:37pm: Nicholas D. “The market can decide this.”
7:39pm: Mayor White “If you are going to say exactly the same thing as the person before you, please yield your time to some one that has something else to offer.”
7:42pm: Donald Ness “This is a property rights issue…We can’t be a nanny state.”
So far the arguments have remained the same; public health vs. civil liberties. Those that are for the ordinance seem to site public health and statistics; while those that are against the ordinance have sited civil liberties and some have gone as far as to compare the proposed ordinance to prohibition.
7:30pm: Erin F. “Smoking is similar to bearing arms; you are allowed to own a gun but you are not allowed to walk into a bar and fire it off.”
7:33pm: Bryan A. (below) “I spend all my money on bars in College Station…This isn’t a public health issues, this is about private establishments…smokers can smoke in their own homes, I’m not sure if you’re thinking about getting rid of that.”
7:36pm: Jared F. “I’m a little lost out here.”
7:37pm: Nicholas D. “The market can decide this.”
7:39pm: Mayor White “If you are going to say exactly the same thing as the person before you, please yield your time to some one that has something else to offer.”
7:42pm: Donald Ness “This is a property rights issue…We can’t be a nanny state.”
So far the arguments have remained the same; public health vs. civil liberties. Those that are for the ordinance seem to site public health and statistics; while those that are against the ordinance have sited civil liberties and some have gone as far as to compare the proposed ordinance to prohibition.
Live Blogging: City Council Smoking Ban Vote (Part 2)
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7:16pm: Jess Fields said, “I am not favor of smoking, and I am not in favor of no smoking. I am in favor of choice.”
7:18pm: Philip B. (General Council for Fast Eddies Billiards), spoke about the effect that the smoking ban would have on business, sitting business that his employer owns.
7:21pm: Carey Haynes (below) is in favor of a smoke free College Station.
7:24pm: Ben White names five people that elected not to speak who support a smoke free ordinance.
7:25pm: Mark S. “I am a pediatrician and of course I speak in support of this ban.”
7:18pm: Philip B. (General Council for Fast Eddies Billiards), spoke about the effect that the smoking ban would have on business, sitting business that his employer owns.
7:21pm: Carey Haynes (below) is in favor of a smoke free College Station.
7:24pm: Ben White names five people that elected not to speak who support a smoke free ordinance.7:25pm: Mark S. “I am a pediatrician and of course I speak in support of this ban.”
Live Blogging: City Council Smoking Ban Vote
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7:02pm: Mayor Ben White opens the meeting, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and then the invocation.
7:05pm: Hayden Megl introduces the proposed amendments, with mortifications of allowing a ten foot radius around bars as opposed to twenty feet. If the ordinance passes the ordinance will go into affect ten days after passage. No questions were asked by the council.
7:08pm: Erin Robertson is in favor of a smoke free College Station, Texas. Ashley P. is also in favor of the ordinance. Jennifer Pate is very excited about the ordinance, and hopes that it passes.
7:10pm: Brookes McDonald is against the “threaten to the manner in which the citizens of this city do business.” However, McDonald acknowledges the health risk, and says that it is up to the individual to protect their health.
7:13pm: Anthony S. speaker about his mother who died of smoking related cancer, and mentions that cancer is the second leading cause of death in America, and that it will overtake heart disease. “We should not foster an environment that fosters this.”
7:05pm: Hayden Megl introduces the proposed amendments, with mortifications of allowing a ten foot radius around bars as opposed to twenty feet. If the ordinance passes the ordinance will go into affect ten days after passage. No questions were asked by the council.
7:08pm: Erin Robertson is in favor of a smoke free College Station, Texas. Ashley P. is also in favor of the ordinance. Jennifer Pate is very excited about the ordinance, and hopes that it passes.
7:10pm: Brookes McDonald is against the “threaten to the manner in which the citizens of this city do business.” However, McDonald acknowledges the health risk, and says that it is up to the individual to protect their health.
7:13pm: Anthony S. speaker about his mother who died of smoking related cancer, and mentions that cancer is the second leading cause of death in America, and that it will overtake heart disease. “We should not foster an environment that fosters this.”
Vote on Smoking Bans…
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Tonight the College Station City Council will vote on an amendment to a city ordinance that would ban smoking in bars and restaurants; however the amended ordinance will not affect smoking on bar patios.
Left of College Station will be live blogging during the College Station City Council meeting, and if you are unable to attend the meeting you can watch it online at the College Station Television Station, Channel 19 online.
Background Smoking Bans
Texas is one of sixteen states that have no state-wide smoking bans; there are twenty-four states that have smoking bans in public buildings, restaurants, and bars.
White states have complete smoking bans, while grey states have no smoking bans. Yellow states have banned smoking in workplaces and restaurants, while red states have only banned smoking in restaurants. South Dakota has a ban on smoking only in workplaces.
As previously noted by Left of College Station, in the state of Texas 59% of all municipalities have some type of smoking ordinance that affects restaurants; only 19% of municipalities in Texas place restaurants under completely smoke free ordinances. However, bars in restaurants fall under some type of smoking ordinance in only 30% of municipalities. In Texas 77% of all municipalities do have a smoking ordinance that affect bars; there are only 23 out of 259 municipalities in Texas that have ordinances requiring bars to be completely smoke free.
Last year Amarillo rejected a smoking ban by 238 votes; according to an article in the Amarillo Globe-News the chairman of a local organization, Breathe Easy Amarillo, has "no plans, at this point, of taking this issue on again in the foreseeable future.”
In September of 2005 Austin banned smoking in bars, and after being struck down as unconstitutionally vague by the United States District Court it was reinstated on appeal by the United States Court of Appeals in March of last year.
Health Effects of Smoking Bans
According to a recent study, a smoking ban in Pueblo, Colorado led to a drop in heart attack hospitalizations within three years.
The southern Colorado city saw a 41 percent drop in heart attack hospitalization rates among city residents in the three years after a smoking ban took effect July 1, 2003, according to the report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Reimplementation Period: January 2002 – June 2003
Phase I: July 2003 – December 2004
Phase II: January 2005 – June 2006
From CDC Reduced Hospitalizations for Acute Myocardial Infarction After Implementation of a Smoke-Free Ordinance Report:
These findings suggest that smoke-free policies can result in reductions in AMI hospitalizations that are sustained over a 3-year period and that these policies are important in preventing morbidity and mortality associated with heart disease. This effect likely is mediated through reduced SHS exposure among nonsmokers and reduced smoking, with the former making the larger contribution.
Smoking Ban Legislation in Texas
House Bill 5, authored by Myra Crownover (R-64), was introduced in the Texas House of Representatives earlier this month; this bill, if signed into law, would ban smoking in all public places and places of employment.
Sec. 169.051. SMOKING PROHIBITED IN PUBLIC PLACES. A person may not smoke in a public place in this state.
Sec. 169.052. SMOKING PROHIBITED IN PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. A person may not smoke in a place of employment.
Left of College Station will have continuing coverage throughout the College Station City Council Meeting.
Local News: College Station to Vote on Smoking Ban
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Bar to Offer Free Beer if Smoking Ban Fails
By Cassie Smith
From the Bryan-College Station
It's come to this: A Northgate bar will hand out free beer Thursday if the College Station City Council chooses not to ban smoking in nightclubs.
For 37-year-old Daniel Brightwell, who owns Mad Hatter's off University Drive, the issue isn't just smoking.
"You privately own a business, and some governmental body tries to tell you what you can and can't do," he said. "A true free-market economy will dictate whether you need a smoke-free bar or not."
The City Council will decide whether to ban smoking in bars and in restaurants after 10 p.m. after a public hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday in the council chambers at 1101 Texas Ave. Smoking is already banned in restaurants during the day. The change also would eliminate smoking in workplaces. Many businesses already have a no-smoking policy.
Cities across the nation, including Austin and New York City, already have smoking bans in place.
Council members agreed to reduce the no-smoking distance from entryways from 20 to 10 feet after listening to residents at a Dec. 15 meeting, said Hayden Migl, assistant to the city manager. The change allows smoking on patios and porches as well as on College Main when the street is blocked to vehicle traffic, Migl said. The Northgate street is closed early in the mornings for the safety of people who are walking out of the bars that line the area.
Migl said city officials had heard from residents for and against the change.
"A lot of the e-mails have been against it, but the comments at the public meeting were just about split down the middle," Migl said, adding that city officials had tried to involve bar owners in the discussion.
As a social smoker, Zapato's Cantina manager Ashley Edwards says she's not sure whether the proposed change will help or hurt the bar's business.
"I can't speak for everybody here, but it's everybody's right to do what they want," the 27-year-old said. "If you don't want to be around it, you don't have to go to a bar."
Even if the ordinance passes, smoking will still be allowed on bar patios, Edwards said.
Enforcement of the ban will be left up to the discretion of the city manager, Migl said. Fire marshals have been responding to calls, but code enforcement officials or police officers could be called if needed. If the Police Department were called, he said, the response would be a low priority.
Bryan City Council members were a part of a November meeting in which the American Cancer Society lobbied for the ban.
Bryan council members said they would consider discussing the issue at a meeting but didn't plan to do so for several months. The council has yet to include a tougher smoking ban on a meeting agenda.
In 1990, the College Station City Council banned smoking in restaurants with fewer than 50 seats. That ordinance required larger restaurants to have at least half of their seating designated as non-smoking. It also banned smoking at Post Oak Mall, except in designated areas.
Smoking was banned in the city's rest rooms in 1995. And in 2001, the city banned smoking in public places such as offices and retail stores, as well as within 20 feet of the establishments' doors.
Bars were exempted.
Brian Schoppe said the proposal to be considered Thursday could attract more residents to Margarita Rocks for the patio.
The 27-year-old manager says he doesn't smoke and thinks the change would be great for employees who work in the industry.
"I've noticed that a lot of people that had asthma as kids, that work in the industry, tend to get sick more often," Schoppe said.
He said employees don't think the change will hurt business.
"We're hoping our patio will encourage people to come here who won't be able to go to other locations because they can't smoke," he said.
Because council members didn't suggest changes to the ordinance at the Jan. 8 meeting, Migl said, it's likely to pass.
"I'm expecting a sizable amount of people on both sides to attend the meeting," Migl said.
Brightwell said he wasn't surprised that the city's growing list of non-smoking places might soon include bars.
If people object to secondhand smoke, they don't have to work in or patronize bars, Brightwell said.
"We tried to take every step possible to make people aware," he said, describing how employees must sign documents acknowledging that they are aware that they will be working in a smoke-filled environment. "Anybody can go get a job at a restaurant at a smoke-free facility."
In Short
The College Station City Council will vote Thursday on new restrictions on smoking in the city.
* Public hearing: 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 1101 Texas Ave.
* On the Web: Watch a video interview and listen to a podcast of Mayor Ben White discussing the issue at www.cstx.gov.
* Free beer: Northgate bar Mad Hatter's is offering free beer after the meeting if the ordinance fails.
Published Thursday, January 22, 2009
By Cassie Smith
From the Bryan-College Station
It's come to this: A Northgate bar will hand out free beer Thursday if the College Station City Council chooses not to ban smoking in nightclubs.
For 37-year-old Daniel Brightwell, who owns Mad Hatter's off University Drive, the issue isn't just smoking.
"You privately own a business, and some governmental body tries to tell you what you can and can't do," he said. "A true free-market economy will dictate whether you need a smoke-free bar or not."
The City Council will decide whether to ban smoking in bars and in restaurants after 10 p.m. after a public hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday in the council chambers at 1101 Texas Ave. Smoking is already banned in restaurants during the day. The change also would eliminate smoking in workplaces. Many businesses already have a no-smoking policy.
Cities across the nation, including Austin and New York City, already have smoking bans in place.
Council members agreed to reduce the no-smoking distance from entryways from 20 to 10 feet after listening to residents at a Dec. 15 meeting, said Hayden Migl, assistant to the city manager. The change allows smoking on patios and porches as well as on College Main when the street is blocked to vehicle traffic, Migl said. The Northgate street is closed early in the mornings for the safety of people who are walking out of the bars that line the area.
Migl said city officials had heard from residents for and against the change.
"A lot of the e-mails have been against it, but the comments at the public meeting were just about split down the middle," Migl said, adding that city officials had tried to involve bar owners in the discussion.
As a social smoker, Zapato's Cantina manager Ashley Edwards says she's not sure whether the proposed change will help or hurt the bar's business.
"I can't speak for everybody here, but it's everybody's right to do what they want," the 27-year-old said. "If you don't want to be around it, you don't have to go to a bar."
Even if the ordinance passes, smoking will still be allowed on bar patios, Edwards said.
Enforcement of the ban will be left up to the discretion of the city manager, Migl said. Fire marshals have been responding to calls, but code enforcement officials or police officers could be called if needed. If the Police Department were called, he said, the response would be a low priority.
Bryan City Council members were a part of a November meeting in which the American Cancer Society lobbied for the ban.
Bryan council members said they would consider discussing the issue at a meeting but didn't plan to do so for several months. The council has yet to include a tougher smoking ban on a meeting agenda.
In 1990, the College Station City Council banned smoking in restaurants with fewer than 50 seats. That ordinance required larger restaurants to have at least half of their seating designated as non-smoking. It also banned smoking at Post Oak Mall, except in designated areas.
Smoking was banned in the city's rest rooms in 1995. And in 2001, the city banned smoking in public places such as offices and retail stores, as well as within 20 feet of the establishments' doors.
Bars were exempted.
Brian Schoppe said the proposal to be considered Thursday could attract more residents to Margarita Rocks for the patio.
The 27-year-old manager says he doesn't smoke and thinks the change would be great for employees who work in the industry.
"I've noticed that a lot of people that had asthma as kids, that work in the industry, tend to get sick more often," Schoppe said.
He said employees don't think the change will hurt business.
"We're hoping our patio will encourage people to come here who won't be able to go to other locations because they can't smoke," he said.
Because council members didn't suggest changes to the ordinance at the Jan. 8 meeting, Migl said, it's likely to pass.
"I'm expecting a sizable amount of people on both sides to attend the meeting," Migl said.
Brightwell said he wasn't surprised that the city's growing list of non-smoking places might soon include bars.
If people object to secondhand smoke, they don't have to work in or patronize bars, Brightwell said.
"We tried to take every step possible to make people aware," he said, describing how employees must sign documents acknowledging that they are aware that they will be working in a smoke-filled environment. "Anybody can go get a job at a restaurant at a smoke-free facility."
In Short
The College Station City Council will vote Thursday on new restrictions on smoking in the city.
* Public hearing: 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 1101 Texas Ave.
* On the Web: Watch a video interview and listen to a podcast of Mayor Ben White discussing the issue at www.cstx.gov.
* Free beer: Northgate bar Mad Hatter's is offering free beer after the meeting if the ordinance fails.
Published Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Transparency Will Be Touchstone
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Executive Orders: January 21, 2009
Presidential Records:
Sec. 2. Notice of Intent to Disclose Presidential Records
(a) When the Archivist provides notice to the incumbent and former Presidents of his intent to disclose Presidential records pursuant to section 1270.46 of the NARA regulations, the Archivist, using any guidelines provided by the incumbent and former Presidents, shall identify any specific materials, the disclosure of which he believes may raise a substantial question of executive privilege. However, nothing in this order is intended to affect the right of the incumbent or former Presidents to invoke executive privilege with respect to materials not identified by the Archivist. Copies of the notice for the incumbent President shall be delivered to the President (through the Counsel to the President) and the Attorney General (through the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel). The copy of the notice for the former President shall be delivered to the former President or his designated representative.
(b) Upon the passage of 30 days after receipt by the incumbent and former Presidents of a notice of intent to disclose Presidential records, the Archivist may disclose the records covered by the notice, unless during that time period the Archivist has received a claim of executive privilege by the incumbent or former President or the Archivist has been instructed by the incumbent President or his designee to extend the time period for a time certain and with reason for the extension of time provided in the notice. If a shorter period of time is required under the circumstances set forth in section 1270.44 of the NARA regulations, the Archivist shall so indicate in the notice.
Other Notable Sections:
Sec. 3. Claim of Executive Privilege by Incumbent President.
Sec. 4. Claim of Executive Privilege by Former President.
Sec. 6. Revocation. Executive Order 13233 of November 1, 2001, is revoked.
Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel:
Section 1. Ethics Pledge. Every appointee in every executive agency appointed on or after January 20, 2009, shall sign, and upon signing shall be contractually committed to, the following pledge upon becoming an appointee:
"As a condition, and in consideration, of my employment in the United States Government in a position invested with the public trust, I commit myself to the following obligations, which I understand are binding on me and are enforceable under law:
"1. Lobbyist Gift Ban. I will not accept gifts from registered lobbyists or lobbying organizations for the duration of my service as an appointee.
"2. Revolving Door Ban All Appointees Entering Government. I will not for a period of 2 years from the date of my appointment participate in any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to my former employer or former clients, including regulations and contracts.
"3. Revolving Door Ban Lobbyists Entering Government. If I was a registered lobbyist within the 2 years before the date of my appointment, in addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 2, I will not for a period of 2 years after the date of my appointment:
(a) participate in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment;
(b) participate in the specific issue area in which that particular matter falls; or
(c) seek or accept employment with any executive agency that I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment.
"4. Revolving Door Ban Appointees Leaving Government. If, upon my departure from the Government, I am covered by the post employment restrictions on communicating with employees of my former executive agency set forth in section 207(c) of title 18, United States Code, I agree that I will abide by those restrictions for a period of 2 years following the end of my appointment.
"5. Revolving Door Ban Appointees Leaving Government to Lobby. In addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 4, I also agree, upon leaving Government service, not to lobby any covered executive branch official or non career Senior Executive Service appointee for the remainder of the Administration.
"6. Employment Qualification Commitment. I agree that any hiring or other employment decisions I make will be based on the candidate's qualifications, competence, and experience.
"7. Assent to Enforcement. I acknowledge that the Executive Order entitled 'Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel,' issued by the President on January 21, 2009, which I have read before signing this document, defines certain of the terms applicable to the foregoing obligations and sets forth the methods for enforcing them. I expressly accept the provisions of that Executive Order as a part of this agreement and as binding on me. I understand that the terms of this pledge are in addition to any statutory or other legal restrictions applicable to me by virtue of Federal Government service."
Other Notable Sections:
Sec. 3. Waiver.
Sec. 4. Administration.
Sec. 5. Enforcement.
Sec. 6. General Provisions:
(a) No prior Executive Orders are repealed by this order.
Executive Orders: January 21, 2009
Presidential Records:
Sec. 2. Notice of Intent to Disclose Presidential Records
(a) When the Archivist provides notice to the incumbent and former Presidents of his intent to disclose Presidential records pursuant to section 1270.46 of the NARA regulations, the Archivist, using any guidelines provided by the incumbent and former Presidents, shall identify any specific materials, the disclosure of which he believes may raise a substantial question of executive privilege. However, nothing in this order is intended to affect the right of the incumbent or former Presidents to invoke executive privilege with respect to materials not identified by the Archivist. Copies of the notice for the incumbent President shall be delivered to the President (through the Counsel to the President) and the Attorney General (through the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel). The copy of the notice for the former President shall be delivered to the former President or his designated representative.
(b) Upon the passage of 30 days after receipt by the incumbent and former Presidents of a notice of intent to disclose Presidential records, the Archivist may disclose the records covered by the notice, unless during that time period the Archivist has received a claim of executive privilege by the incumbent or former President or the Archivist has been instructed by the incumbent President or his designee to extend the time period for a time certain and with reason for the extension of time provided in the notice. If a shorter period of time is required under the circumstances set forth in section 1270.44 of the NARA regulations, the Archivist shall so indicate in the notice.
Other Notable Sections:
Sec. 3. Claim of Executive Privilege by Incumbent President.
Sec. 4. Claim of Executive Privilege by Former President.
Sec. 6. Revocation. Executive Order 13233 of November 1, 2001, is revoked.
Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel:
Section 1. Ethics Pledge. Every appointee in every executive agency appointed on or after January 20, 2009, shall sign, and upon signing shall be contractually committed to, the following pledge upon becoming an appointee:
"As a condition, and in consideration, of my employment in the United States Government in a position invested with the public trust, I commit myself to the following obligations, which I understand are binding on me and are enforceable under law:
"1. Lobbyist Gift Ban. I will not accept gifts from registered lobbyists or lobbying organizations for the duration of my service as an appointee.
"2. Revolving Door Ban All Appointees Entering Government. I will not for a period of 2 years from the date of my appointment participate in any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to my former employer or former clients, including regulations and contracts.
"3. Revolving Door Ban Lobbyists Entering Government. If I was a registered lobbyist within the 2 years before the date of my appointment, in addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 2, I will not for a period of 2 years after the date of my appointment:
(a) participate in any particular matter on which I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment;
(b) participate in the specific issue area in which that particular matter falls; or
(c) seek or accept employment with any executive agency that I lobbied within the 2 years before the date of my appointment.
"4. Revolving Door Ban Appointees Leaving Government. If, upon my departure from the Government, I am covered by the post employment restrictions on communicating with employees of my former executive agency set forth in section 207(c) of title 18, United States Code, I agree that I will abide by those restrictions for a period of 2 years following the end of my appointment.
"5. Revolving Door Ban Appointees Leaving Government to Lobby. In addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraph 4, I also agree, upon leaving Government service, not to lobby any covered executive branch official or non career Senior Executive Service appointee for the remainder of the Administration.
"6. Employment Qualification Commitment. I agree that any hiring or other employment decisions I make will be based on the candidate's qualifications, competence, and experience.
"7. Assent to Enforcement. I acknowledge that the Executive Order entitled 'Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel,' issued by the President on January 21, 2009, which I have read before signing this document, defines certain of the terms applicable to the foregoing obligations and sets forth the methods for enforcing them. I expressly accept the provisions of that Executive Order as a part of this agreement and as binding on me. I understand that the terms of this pledge are in addition to any statutory or other legal restrictions applicable to me by virtue of Federal Government service."
Other Notable Sections:
Sec. 3. Waiver.
Sec. 4. Administration.
Sec. 5. Enforcement.
Sec. 6. General Provisions:
(a) No prior Executive Orders are repealed by this order.
Local News: Petition Certified
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Bryan City Officials Certify Vote Petition
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Bryan city officials certified a petition Tuesday seeking a public vote on the process for placing items on the City Council agenda.
Last summer, the council decided in a split vote to require three council members to approve issues before they appear as agenda items. The previous policy allowed any council member or resident to ask that an issue be placed on a meeting's agenda. If the mayor decided not to place the matter on the agenda, two council members could override the decision.
Bryan resident Karen Hall, who criticized the change, filed the petition last week, saying the city's residents should be involved in the decision. Officials said the petition had 1,705 valid signatures, and the council is set to accept the certification at its Jan. 27 meeting.
If the certification is accepted, the issue will be included on the May ballot.
Published Wednesday, January 21, 2009
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Bryan city officials certified a petition Tuesday seeking a public vote on the process for placing items on the City Council agenda.
Last summer, the council decided in a split vote to require three council members to approve issues before they appear as agenda items. The previous policy allowed any council member or resident to ask that an issue be placed on a meeting's agenda. If the mayor decided not to place the matter on the agenda, two council members could override the decision.
Bryan resident Karen Hall, who criticized the change, filed the petition last week, saying the city's residents should be involved in the decision. Officials said the petition had 1,705 valid signatures, and the council is set to accept the certification at its Jan. 27 meeting.
If the certification is accepted, the issue will be included on the May ballot.
Published Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address
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From the New York Times:
Following is the transcript of President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions:
PRESIDENT BARACK Thank you. Thank you.
CROWD: Obama! Obama! Obama! Obama!
My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.
I thank President Bush for his service to our nation...
(APPLAUSE)
... as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.
The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.
Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable, but no less profound, is a sapping of confidence across our land; a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met.
(APPLAUSE)
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
(APPLAUSE)
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less.
It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.
Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died in places Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed.
Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
(APPLAUSE)
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.
The state of our economy calls for action: bold and swift. And we will act not only to create new jobs but to lay a new foundation for growth.
We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.
We will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality...
(APPLAUSE)
... and lower its costs.
We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.
All this we can do. All this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them, that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long, no longer apply.
MR. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works, whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.
Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end.
And those of us who manage the public's knowledge will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched.
But this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control. The nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.
The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
(APPLAUSE)
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.
Our founding fathers faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations.
Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.
And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.
(APPLAUSE)
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.
They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use. Our security emanates from the justness of our cause; the force of our example; the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy, guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort, even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We'll begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard- earned peace in Afghanistan.
With old friends and former foes, we'll work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat and roll back the specter of a warming planet.
We will not apologize for our way of life nor will we waver in its defense.
And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that, "Our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken. You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."
(APPLAUSE)
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.
We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.
And because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.
To those...
(APPLAUSE)
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
(APPLAUSE)
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.
And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.
We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service: a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.
And yet, at this moment, a moment that will define a generation, it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.
It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break; the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours.
It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new, the instruments with which we meet them may be new, but those values upon which our success depends, honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old.
These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.
What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence: the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed, why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall. And why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
(APPLAUSE)
So let us mark this day in remembrance of who we are and how far we have traveled.
In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by nine campfires on the shores of an icy river.
The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood.
At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."
America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Thank you. God bless you.
(APPLAUSE)
And God bless the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
Following is the transcript of President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions:
PRESIDENT BARACK Thank you. Thank you.
CROWD: Obama! Obama! Obama! Obama!
My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.
I thank President Bush for his service to our nation...
(APPLAUSE)
... as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.
The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.
Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable, but no less profound, is a sapping of confidence across our land; a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met.
(APPLAUSE)
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
(APPLAUSE)
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less.
It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.
Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died in places Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed.
Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
(APPLAUSE)
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.
The state of our economy calls for action: bold and swift. And we will act not only to create new jobs but to lay a new foundation for growth.
We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.
We will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality...
(APPLAUSE)
... and lower its costs.
We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.
All this we can do. All this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them, that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long, no longer apply.
MR. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works, whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.
Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end.
And those of us who manage the public's knowledge will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched.
But this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control. The nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.
The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
(APPLAUSE)
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.
Our founding fathers faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations.
Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.
And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.
(APPLAUSE)
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.
They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use. Our security emanates from the justness of our cause; the force of our example; the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy, guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort, even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We'll begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard- earned peace in Afghanistan.
With old friends and former foes, we'll work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat and roll back the specter of a warming planet.
We will not apologize for our way of life nor will we waver in its defense.
And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that, "Our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken. You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."
(APPLAUSE)
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.
We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.
And because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.
To those...
(APPLAUSE)
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
(APPLAUSE)
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.
And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.
We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service: a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.
And yet, at this moment, a moment that will define a generation, it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.
It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break; the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours.
It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new, the instruments with which we meet them may be new, but those values upon which our success depends, honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old.
These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.
What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence: the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed, why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall. And why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
(APPLAUSE)
So let us mark this day in remembrance of who we are and how far we have traveled.
In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by nine campfires on the shores of an icy river.
The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood.
At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."
America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Thank you. God bless you.
(APPLAUSE)
And God bless the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
Local News: Dreams and Changes
Sphere: Related Content
Dreams and Changes
By Christen Beck
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders set us on the path to a black president, but there is still work to be done with race issues in America.
Like many American sixth-graders, I learned about Martin Luther King Jr. while watching the grainy black-and-white video of the "I Have a Dream Speech" in a brightly decorated classroom. I didn't fully comprehend pre-algebra that year, but I understood that Martin Luther King Jr. was important as I gazed, cheek-in-hand, at the screen and listened to that baritone voice declare, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Little did I know that I would watch King's dream come to pass 10 years later not only in color but in High Definition. Even before President Barack Obama cuts the commencement tape, he brings a new era of social justice to America, thus cementing King's dreams. Despite individual politics, reservations or skin color, it's important to realize that the sacrifices Martin Luther King Jr. and others made were necessary to arrive at the election of our nation's first black president.
Forty-five years ago, the struggle for the vote escalated on the streets of Selma, Ala. In 1965, about 50 percent of Selma's population was black, yet only 1 percent of those citizens were registered. Jim Crow insured that voting was nearly impossible for black Americans.
The laws mandated segregation in all public facilities, with the ridiculous "separate but equal" status for black Americans and members of other minority groups. Voter registrar offices were only open twice a month with unpredictable hours of operation, and those who waited hours in line at the office were not guaranteed registration.
Out of undemocratic conditions in Alabama, hundreds of blacks and white sympathizers marched peacefully out of Selma one day. Sheriff "Bull" Connor and his police officers met the group and brutally assaulted the protestors with water cannons, clubs, whips and tear gas. President Lyndon B. Johnson, fed up with the bloodshed spawned from bigotry, introduced the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to Congress two days later, which made discrimination based on race illegal.
It took two more marches and the addition of National Guard protection for the nonviolent protestors to reach the Alabama capital, Montgomery. This is just one example of civil rights history, but it shows how much has changed since King reigned. Due to the accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement, many black leaders have taken offices across the U.S., including Edward Brooke, Jesse Jackson, Thurgood Marshall, Colin Powell, and of course Barack Obama, the 44th president of the U.S.
The size and wealth of the black middle class has increased dramatically in the last several decades. Oprah Winfrey is one of the wealthiest, most influential people in the world. Will Smith is a highly regarded Hollywood actor. A life-size poster of Michael Jordan hung on my bedroom wall throughout my childhood as I watched his gravity defying leaps with awe. It is finally possible for any American to become an actor, doctor, lawyer, writer, artist or astronaut and, get this - even president. What would Martin Luther King Jr. have to say of this "post-racial" America?
NPR news analyst Daniel Schorr defined post-racial America as an era "where civil rights veterans of the past century are consigned to history and Americans begin to make race-free judgments on who should lead them." Schorr contemplated whether Obama's popularity transcends race into a new post-racial America, wondering whether a post-Selma generation consisted of color-blind voters who judged others on their character alone.
I fear that the hype of this historic election has allowed many journalists and scholars to term this era "post-racial" prematurely. Must we forget the battles Americans fought to combat prejudice in order to reach a nation that transcends race?
When I look at America through King's perspective, I see a young country that has just learned to walk. As a lifeguard last summer, I watched a group of young children playing in the pool together. An observing dad roughly yelled for his children to come play near him on the other side of the pool. Seeing this, a young black girl commented to her siblings in an angry tone, "He just didn't want them to play with the black kids."
The nation has not yet become color-blind in the way King envisioned. Though equality has improved since King's time, there is still much that needs to change. Today is a day where progress can be celebrated. Today, in the words of Obama, Americans have proven that "we are the change that we seek."
Christen Beck is a senior political science major.
Published on Tuesday, January 20, 2009
By Christen Beck
From the Texas A&M University Battalion
Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders set us on the path to a black president, but there is still work to be done with race issues in America.
Like many American sixth-graders, I learned about Martin Luther King Jr. while watching the grainy black-and-white video of the "I Have a Dream Speech" in a brightly decorated classroom. I didn't fully comprehend pre-algebra that year, but I understood that Martin Luther King Jr. was important as I gazed, cheek-in-hand, at the screen and listened to that baritone voice declare, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Little did I know that I would watch King's dream come to pass 10 years later not only in color but in High Definition. Even before President Barack Obama cuts the commencement tape, he brings a new era of social justice to America, thus cementing King's dreams. Despite individual politics, reservations or skin color, it's important to realize that the sacrifices Martin Luther King Jr. and others made were necessary to arrive at the election of our nation's first black president.
Forty-five years ago, the struggle for the vote escalated on the streets of Selma, Ala. In 1965, about 50 percent of Selma's population was black, yet only 1 percent of those citizens were registered. Jim Crow insured that voting was nearly impossible for black Americans.
The laws mandated segregation in all public facilities, with the ridiculous "separate but equal" status for black Americans and members of other minority groups. Voter registrar offices were only open twice a month with unpredictable hours of operation, and those who waited hours in line at the office were not guaranteed registration.
Out of undemocratic conditions in Alabama, hundreds of blacks and white sympathizers marched peacefully out of Selma one day. Sheriff "Bull" Connor and his police officers met the group and brutally assaulted the protestors with water cannons, clubs, whips and tear gas. President Lyndon B. Johnson, fed up with the bloodshed spawned from bigotry, introduced the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to Congress two days later, which made discrimination based on race illegal.
It took two more marches and the addition of National Guard protection for the nonviolent protestors to reach the Alabama capital, Montgomery. This is just one example of civil rights history, but it shows how much has changed since King reigned. Due to the accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement, many black leaders have taken offices across the U.S., including Edward Brooke, Jesse Jackson, Thurgood Marshall, Colin Powell, and of course Barack Obama, the 44th president of the U.S.
The size and wealth of the black middle class has increased dramatically in the last several decades. Oprah Winfrey is one of the wealthiest, most influential people in the world. Will Smith is a highly regarded Hollywood actor. A life-size poster of Michael Jordan hung on my bedroom wall throughout my childhood as I watched his gravity defying leaps with awe. It is finally possible for any American to become an actor, doctor, lawyer, writer, artist or astronaut and, get this - even president. What would Martin Luther King Jr. have to say of this "post-racial" America?
NPR news analyst Daniel Schorr defined post-racial America as an era "where civil rights veterans of the past century are consigned to history and Americans begin to make race-free judgments on who should lead them." Schorr contemplated whether Obama's popularity transcends race into a new post-racial America, wondering whether a post-Selma generation consisted of color-blind voters who judged others on their character alone.
I fear that the hype of this historic election has allowed many journalists and scholars to term this era "post-racial" prematurely. Must we forget the battles Americans fought to combat prejudice in order to reach a nation that transcends race?
When I look at America through King's perspective, I see a young country that has just learned to walk. As a lifeguard last summer, I watched a group of young children playing in the pool together. An observing dad roughly yelled for his children to come play near him on the other side of the pool. Seeing this, a young black girl commented to her siblings in an angry tone, "He just didn't want them to play with the black kids."
The nation has not yet become color-blind in the way King envisioned. Though equality has improved since King's time, there is still much that needs to change. Today is a day where progress can be celebrated. Today, in the words of Obama, Americans have proven that "we are the change that we seek."
Christen Beck is a senior political science major.
Published on Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Local News: Martin Luther King Day
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Events, March Set to Honor MLK
By Matthew Watkins
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
A day off from classes in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday will not pass without hard work for more than 100 area middle and high school students. And that's just how they want it.
The students instead are calling Monday's holiday their "day on" by participating in volunteer activities across the Brazos Valley.
The work is part of United Way's annual Youth Day of Caring. In an effort organized by the Youth Leadership Cabinet, the students will do community service projects at nine local nonprofit agencies.
"Youth Day of Caring gives students an opportunity to get involved in the community and to help so many people," said A&M Consolidated High senior Rachel Nixon, who is a co-chair of the Youth Leadership Cabinet.
Laurie Garrett, director of marketing for the United Way, said the event is in its eighth year and was founded to be a tribute to the original basis for King's holiday. When Congress created the holiday in 1986, Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King's wife, declared that she wanted the day to be devoted to giving back to the community, Garrett said.
Students will work in shifts to complete landscaping, painting and cleaning projects at United Way agencies, organizers said.
"It is a great experience to arrive at a project, do the work and leave at the end of the day knowing that you have made a difference," said Bryan High senior Ali Porter, the other co-chair of the Youth Leadership Cabinet.
Published Monday, January 19, 2009
By Matthew Watkins
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
A day off from classes in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday will not pass without hard work for more than 100 area middle and high school students. And that's just how they want it.
The students instead are calling Monday's holiday their "day on" by participating in volunteer activities across the Brazos Valley.
The work is part of United Way's annual Youth Day of Caring. In an effort organized by the Youth Leadership Cabinet, the students will do community service projects at nine local nonprofit agencies.
"Youth Day of Caring gives students an opportunity to get involved in the community and to help so many people," said A&M Consolidated High senior Rachel Nixon, who is a co-chair of the Youth Leadership Cabinet.
Laurie Garrett, director of marketing for the United Way, said the event is in its eighth year and was founded to be a tribute to the original basis for King's holiday. When Congress created the holiday in 1986, Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King's wife, declared that she wanted the day to be devoted to giving back to the community, Garrett said.
Students will work in shifts to complete landscaping, painting and cleaning projects at United Way agencies, organizers said.
"It is a great experience to arrive at a project, do the work and leave at the end of the day knowing that you have made a difference," said Bryan High senior Ali Porter, the other co-chair of the Youth Leadership Cabinet.
Published Monday, January 19, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
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Local News: Local Judge Admonished
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Boyett is Admonished
By Michelle Casady
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace George Boyett recently received a public admonishment from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Boyett -- who has been a JP for almost 20 years -- was rebuked after ordering a Texas A&M student who had run him off the road to show up in his courtroom the next day.
Once she did, he admonished her even though the case wasn't pending before him, and he directed his bailiff to issue a citation to the student after "becoming annoyed [by] the argumentative behavior of the student's father" in court.
Boyett declined to comment Thursday.
Judge Sid Harle, chairman of the Austin-based commission, wrote in a document signed Dec. 18 that Boyett had violated three parts of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct:
* He didn't act in a manner that promoted public confidence in the judiciary.
* He used the prestige of his office to advance his private interests.
* He did not act in a "patient, dignified and courteous" manner toward those in his courtroom.
The incident was outlined in the commission's admonishment. The document states that while driving in College Station a year ago Saturday, Boyett was forced off the road when a driver made an improper lane change. No damage was done to Boyett's car, but he decided to follow the driver to her apartment complex to have "a discussion with the student, in his role as a private citizen, about her unsafe driving," according to the report.
Their exchange ended with Boyett handing her a business card and requesting that she meet him in his courtroom the following day to continue the discussion.
When the student and her father arrived, the parent argued with the judge and questioned his authority to order the daughter to his courtroom, according to the report. Boyett grew annoyed with the father's behavior and had a citation issued to the student, though the improper lane change happened in another judge's precinct.
The admonishment marks the third for Boyett.
The other two both were issued in June 2002. One was for speaking to a game warden in a derogatory manner. The other was for waiting 28 days before signing a death certificate for a funeral home after his staff told him the director was being "rude, demanding and unreasonable," according to commission documents.
In each of those cases, Boyett was found by the commission to have allowed his staff to improperly influence his conduct and judgment.
The commission receives more than 1,000 complaints a year, but not many go far in the process, officials with the commission said.
"At least half of those get dismissed early on in the investigation," said Seana Willing, executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. "From there, only 10 to 20 percent of them actually result in disciplinary action."
The following actions can be taken by the board: It can do nothing, or it can issue a public or private admonition, warning or reprimand. An admonition is the lowest level of disciplinary action that can be taken, officials said.
Though no criteria are set to determine the level of punishment, there are guidelines in place, Willing said.
"Typically, what the commission does is look at cases they've voted on in the past," she said. "If the facts are similar, they want to be consistent, so they base it on how they've handled those other cases in the past."
Published Friday, January 16, 2009
By Michelle Casady
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace George Boyett recently received a public admonishment from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Boyett -- who has been a JP for almost 20 years -- was rebuked after ordering a Texas A&M student who had run him off the road to show up in his courtroom the next day.
Once she did, he admonished her even though the case wasn't pending before him, and he directed his bailiff to issue a citation to the student after "becoming annoyed [by] the argumentative behavior of the student's father" in court.
Boyett declined to comment Thursday.
Judge Sid Harle, chairman of the Austin-based commission, wrote in a document signed Dec. 18 that Boyett had violated three parts of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct:
* He didn't act in a manner that promoted public confidence in the judiciary.
* He used the prestige of his office to advance his private interests.
* He did not act in a "patient, dignified and courteous" manner toward those in his courtroom.
The incident was outlined in the commission's admonishment. The document states that while driving in College Station a year ago Saturday, Boyett was forced off the road when a driver made an improper lane change. No damage was done to Boyett's car, but he decided to follow the driver to her apartment complex to have "a discussion with the student, in his role as a private citizen, about her unsafe driving," according to the report.
Their exchange ended with Boyett handing her a business card and requesting that she meet him in his courtroom the following day to continue the discussion.
When the student and her father arrived, the parent argued with the judge and questioned his authority to order the daughter to his courtroom, according to the report. Boyett grew annoyed with the father's behavior and had a citation issued to the student, though the improper lane change happened in another judge's precinct.
The admonishment marks the third for Boyett.
The other two both were issued in June 2002. One was for speaking to a game warden in a derogatory manner. The other was for waiting 28 days before signing a death certificate for a funeral home after his staff told him the director was being "rude, demanding and unreasonable," according to commission documents.
In each of those cases, Boyett was found by the commission to have allowed his staff to improperly influence his conduct and judgment.
The commission receives more than 1,000 complaints a year, but not many go far in the process, officials with the commission said.
"At least half of those get dismissed early on in the investigation," said Seana Willing, executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. "From there, only 10 to 20 percent of them actually result in disciplinary action."
The following actions can be taken by the board: It can do nothing, or it can issue a public or private admonition, warning or reprimand. An admonition is the lowest level of disciplinary action that can be taken, officials said.
Though no criteria are set to determine the level of punishment, there are guidelines in place, Willing said.
"Typically, what the commission does is look at cases they've voted on in the past," she said. "If the facts are similar, they want to be consistent, so they base it on how they've handled those other cases in the past."
Published Friday, January 16, 2009
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Local News: Bryan Citizens Seek Vote to Override Council
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Petition Seeks Vote in May
By Cassie Smith
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Bryan voters may get an opportunity to overturn a City Council decision that increased from two to three the number of council members needed to place an item on a meeting agenda.
Bryan resident Karen Hall on Wednesday submitted a petition with an estimated 1,870 signatures asking that the issue be placed on the May ballot.
State law requires a petition to have signatures from 5 percent of registered voters. Hall's petition must have 1,142 valid signatures for the item to be placed on the ballot. The city secretary will verify the signatures.
In July, council members agreed after a heated discussion to require three council members to approve an issue before it could appear as an agenda item. The previous policy allowed any council member or resident to ask that an issue be placed on a meeting's agenda. If the mayor decided not to place the matter on the agenda, two council members could override the decision.
Mayor Mark Conlee, who supported the change in July, said he would respect the voters' decision because "it's the people's choice."
Conlee said changing the requirement from two to three council members hadn't suppressed any voices and said the issue was resurfacing because of "political games."
"To my knowledge, there's not been one thing somebody wanted to get on the agenda that didn't make it," he said.
At the time of the July decision, some council members said the change was necessary because two council members -- Mike Southerland and Al Saenz -- were abusing the system by placing items on the agenda that had the support only of the two of them.
Saenz and Southerland labeled the change an attempt to gag dissenting voices.
Under the new ordinance, Southerland said, if he talked to a third person about placing something on an agenda and that person didn't agree, he would have to ask a fourth person. But, he said, he can't legally do that because talking to a fourth member of the council would constitute a quorum, which would make discussing city business a violation of public meetings laws.
"When you're an elected representative, if it requires three people on the agenda, you're almost powerless to get anything on the agenda," Southerland said.
Hall said she and others who helped put the petition together had been going door to door since early November to gather the signatures.
"A lot of people were upset when they changed the ordinance," she said.
Hall said placing the issue on the May ballot puts the decision back in the residents' hands.
"This would make our council more responsive to us," she said. "It was fine the way it was. There was no reason to change it."
Hall said it seemed that the elected officials voted to change the procedure because they were mad at one council member.
"Let's just hear what the citizens want," she said.
Council member Jason Bienski said letting the voters decide the issue is an example of how effective government is supposed to work.
"It would be wonderful if every controversial vote that came past the council could go to the citizens for a vote," he said.
"The voice of the people will be heard in May," Bienski said.
Bob Stipanovic, a Bryan resident for more than 40 years, said he collected about 60 signatures for the petition because he believed a public vote would make the council more accountable.
"This is not to imply there is anything suspicious that has transpired in the past or is going to transpire in the future. It's just my personal opinion that all government officials need to be as transparent as possible to continue the people's confidence," Stipanovic said.
Published Thursday, January 15, 2009
By Cassie Smith
From the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Bryan voters may get an opportunity to overturn a City Council decision that increased from two to three the number of council members needed to place an item on a meeting agenda.
Bryan resident Karen Hall on Wednesday submitted a petition with an estimated 1,870 signatures asking that the issue be placed on the May ballot.
State law requires a petition to have signatures from 5 percent of registered voters. Hall's petition must have 1,142 valid signatures for the item to be placed on the ballot. The city secretary will verify the signatures.
In July, council members agreed after a heated discussion to require three council members to approve an issue before it could appear as an agenda item. The previous policy allowed any council member or resident to ask that an issue be placed on a meeting's agenda. If the mayor decided not to place the matter on the agenda, two council members could override the decision.
Mayor Mark Conlee, who supported the change in July, said he would respect the voters' decision because "it's the people's choice."
Conlee said changing the requirement from two to three council members hadn't suppressed any voices and said the issue was resurfacing because of "political games."
"To my knowledge, there's not been one thing somebody wanted to get on the agenda that didn't make it," he said.
At the time of the July decision, some council members said the change was necessary because two council members -- Mike Southerland and Al Saenz -- were abusing the system by placing items on the agenda that had the support only of the two of them.
Saenz and Southerland labeled the change an attempt to gag dissenting voices.
Under the new ordinance, Southerland said, if he talked to a third person about placing something on an agenda and that person didn't agree, he would have to ask a fourth person. But, he said, he can't legally do that because talking to a fourth member of the council would constitute a quorum, which would make discussing city business a violation of public meetings laws.
"When you're an elected representative, if it requires three people on the agenda, you're almost powerless to get anything on the agenda," Southerland said.
Hall said she and others who helped put the petition together had been going door to door since early November to gather the signatures.
"A lot of people were upset when they changed the ordinance," she said.
Hall said placing the issue on the May ballot puts the decision back in the residents' hands.
"This would make our council more responsive to us," she said. "It was fine the way it was. There was no reason to change it."
Hall said it seemed that the elected officials voted to change the procedure because they were mad at one council member.
"Let's just hear what the citizens want," she said.
Council member Jason Bienski said letting the voters decide the issue is an example of how effective government is supposed to work.
"It would be wonderful if every controversial vote that came past the council could go to the citizens for a vote," he said.
"The voice of the people will be heard in May," Bienski said.
Bob Stipanovic, a Bryan resident for more than 40 years, said he collected about 60 signatures for the petition because he believed a public vote would make the council more accountable.
"This is not to imply there is anything suspicious that has transpired in the past or is going to transpire in the future. It's just my personal opinion that all government officials need to be as transparent as possible to continue the people's confidence," Stipanovic said.
Published Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Silenced Voices of Bryan Speak...
Sphere: Related Content
Karen Hall presented the Bryan City Council with two petitions; one of which the citizens of Bryan signed in support of requiring only two city council members to place an item on the City Council agenda and another that requested that the council review its “hear citizens” policy.
In August Left of College Station reported how the Bryan City Council made it harder for the voice of the community to be heard.
According to Part I Section 9 of the City Charter:
Hopefully the voices of Bryan residents have been heard as Karen Hall once said:
“Although we appreciate you taking the time to listen to us, someday we hope you will learn to hear us.”
Karen Hall at the January 13th Bryan City Council Meeting
In August Left of College Station reported how the Bryan City Council made it harder for the voice of the community to be heard.
The purpose of the City Council is to serve the residents of Bryan, and government at times can be an extensive and arduous process. The idea of preventing discussion of topics because of the lack of majority support goes against the very ideals of democratic government.The people of Bryan have spoken, and over 1,400 people signed the petition to return the requirement to place items on the agenda to two city council members.
According to Part I Section 9 of the City Charter:
"Any proposed ordinance may be submitted to the City Council by a petition signed by qualified voters of the city equal in number to 10 percent of the qualified voters of the city as appears in the county voter registration records as of the January 31st preceding the date of submission of the petition."The City Secretary has ten working days (until January 27th) to certify the petition; if the petition is found to have the required number of signatures it must be placed on the ballot for the May 9, 2009 municipal election.
Hopefully the voices of Bryan residents have been heard as Karen Hall once said:
“Although we appreciate you taking the time to listen to us, someday we hope you will learn to hear us.”
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