reply to tution increase

The fact that colleges and universities are increasing their tuition is sadly always going to happen. Nothing will ever go down in price if people are willing to pay. The problem is that as tuition prices increase, it will be the poor and even some middle-class students who will be missing out on getting an education. For a state that wants to have the student body to match the state of Texas statistically this is going be factor that will greatly stifle that goal.
There is financial aid available in different forms but only a certain amounts of grants are given out and student loans are a money sink for the future of some people who may not get the high paying job after their degree. There is no easy solution to solve the ever increasing tuition and sadly it will the future of America that will pay the price.

Equal access to some in Austin not all

As the capitol city of Texas, Austin should set the example for other cities to follow. The seat of the state government is here, laws are made and the constitution amended, it should therefore be an idea city where laws are followed. The fact is that the city is ineffective in providing enforcement of laws that give the basic rights of an individual. If you are disabled the act of trying to access buildings, park, or even go down the sidewalk is difficult.

The number of disabled is on the rise in the state as the baby boomers get older. Currently the number of people over 65 who are disabled is 47.7 % and people 18-65 are 11.9%. That is one out of two senior citizens and one out of ten of adults. With this amount of people requiring special access the city should do more to make sure they get it.

Downtown parking is a nightmare in itself imagine trying to find a handicap place, it is next to impossible. The places you do find are most often a distance from your destination. The sidewalk to get there is full of its own obstacles. Some sidewalks end with no cut in the curb to get up or down others have poles in the middle of them impossible to get around. Many buildings have ramps to steep to get up and bathrooms that cannot be used due to the size. These public buildings should have equal access to all. The ACC Northridge campus has only one wheelchair accessible bathroom out of all the buildings. Is that fair for anybody trying to get an education?

The cost to redo some of the buildings and construct new ramps is something that should be budgeted into the state spending. It is not that difficult to do these projects and if Austin wants to be a progressive city that is copied by others, they should give an individual the basic rights to get around and use the buildings it provides.

reply to constitutional requirement of government courses

To understand the history of the United States and the construction and function of its government is an essential knowledge that every person needs to know. I agree with the above poster when it comes to Texas having it written in the state constitution that it is required that all college student need to take a certain amount of course hours is a waste.
The fact is that a student may have a residence out of state and plan to move back when they receive their degree. What good does it do a person from Vermont going to UT on a science scholarship to learn about Texas history and politics? The point that it is written in the state constitution makes it much more idiotic and shows the flaws of the document.
Having requirement in learning government and history on a national level does make sense as part of a college curriculum as this knowledge will be needed regardless on where a person lives after graduation. It seems clear that the reason it is forced on students is purely for funding from the state on the university side but as the poster stated, the constitution has no description on why it is included. The Texas constitution is one of the worst written ones n the country and second most amended as well. It is due to frivolous subjects such as this that makes it so bad. It should be left to the individual university and the degree plan a student is working for as the amount and type of government courses required.

College Students Allowed to Carry Guns to Class

A Texas State University student is argueing to be allowed to carry a concealed weapon to school. The group called Concealed Campus, which this student is a memeber of, claims that if students were armed that the university would be more secure. In San Marcos many students are stating that this will in no way make it any safer.
To carry a concealed weapon a person must first pass a criminal background check along with proper training to use the sidearm. Although it is true that having the knowlege to use a weapon is a positive, there is no way of measuring the emotional or intellectual response that a person might have if prevoked.
Even the cheif of the San Marcos police is for this stating "It doesn't make sense to me that you can take weapons to Luby's or the library, but you can't take it to the classroom. This statement makes many of the students question if it is really safer to have armed student and will it reduce criminal activity.
I find this idea to be incredibly irresponsible and in no way should be followed through. I believe that a person does have the right to bear arms as stated in the Constitution. People do not have the right to put others in danger for what they consider is a solution to a much bigger problem. To stop gun violence by adding more guns is one of the most asinine ideas I have heard in awhile and this should concern all parents, students and Luby patrons in San Marcos. The group is next planning to take this to the Texas legeslation which in this state there is no telling how it will be accepted.

$165,000 of taxpayer money spent on trying to keep videos out of the public

The Department of Public safety is fighting to keep video tapes taken in a part of the state capitol out of public view. Attorney fees are being paid by the taxpayers money as this battle is being fought for 2 years now. The attorney general and state district judge both have ruled in favor of releasing the tapes. The DPS however feels that by releasing the tapes it will compermise the capitols security.
Senator Carona stated that this is a clear misuse of public funds. Homeland security is being used to as the reason to keep the tapes out of the public. According to the DPS, the tape shows to much sensitive information on the secutity and operating systems of the capitol. The whole argument started when a nonprofit newspaper asked for the tapes through the freedom of information act for a specific date in 2005. The case will go to the court of appeals in late October to decide.
This is a classic case of freedom of speech and freedom of the press againt the government security. The fact that we as taxpayers are paying for this fight for privacy between two government agencies seems wrong. Whether you support the right to know or the right to privacy for the government, it should make you think why are we paying for their fight?

Hispanics could change future election outcomes

Currently in the state of Texas the hispanic population is growing at a rapid pace. They will soon have a chance in determing politics of Texas as their numbers could sway the future direction of the state. It is up to the political parties to take action now in order to benifit from this growth. This was a focus of a confrence held at UT this past week.
The confrence bought together community leaders, political leaders, students and teachers to discuss ways to influence the Hispanic voters. Both republicans and democrats are trying to figure out the best way to reach this new resource of voters without insulting them and driving them away. Hispanics accounted for over half of all the growth in Texas but only one-tenth of them voted.
This article represents an important change that will effect everybody in the state. Currently most hispanics vote Democratic and if the population keeps this trend as it grows Texas could become a Democratic state in the future. Republicans, however, are also seeing this trend and will put more money and effort into getting vote as well. It will depend on whos message will appeal the most to hispanics that might be the deciding factor of the future of Texas politics.
In the near future Texas should expect to see more hispanics in state offices and eventually as Governer. They are an important part of Texas and a viable part of the community, the fact that this is being talked about now shows just how important they will be in politics of the future.

Local Group Files Lawsuit againt TxDot for illegal lobbying

A non-profit organization TURF ( Texas Uniting for Freedom and Reform) is issuing a temporary restraining order against TxDot to stop public relation financing. As stated in http://www.star-telegram.com/ Terri Hall the founder of TURF filed the petition today in Travis County Court today at 3:00. According to her the spending of public funds for the Keep Texas moving campaign is illegal. The intention of TxDot to directly lobby the United States Congress for additional toll roads in the Trans Texas Corridor program is not an expenditure allowed for with public funds. TxDot PR campaign is to ask Congess that "All limitations on tolling be lifted including buying back existing interstates."says Hall
This is an important issue for everyone who drives on Texas roads. The future of how we will build Texas highways either privatly owned or state financed will be decided. It is up to us as residents to voice our opinion if we want our tax money spent in a way that will benifit everyone fairly.