TUESDAY January 23, 2024 VOLUME 113 ISSUE 18 www.UniversityStar.com
Transfer quarterback settles civil suit stemming from sexual assault case By Nichaela Shaheen Managing Editor
assault, battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The plaintiff and defendants were minors on the date of the sexual assault. The judge rejected an initial settlement in the civil case in August 2023, believing the plaintiff should receive more monetary compensation given de Laura and Latu could earn money from their individual Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals for playing college football. SEE ATHLETICS PAGE 3
According to the 2021 civil lawsuit, in October 2018 de Laura and St. Louis High School football teammate Kamo’i Latu, now a senior safety for University of Wisconsin, pleaded guilty in juvenile court to seconddegree sexual assault. The assault occurred at St. Louis High School in Honolulu after de Laura and Latu won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu’s high school varsity football championship game. The plaintiff’s attorneys filed a civil lawsuit against de Laura, Latu, their parents and the high school for
A day after former Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura settled a civil lawsuit from a 2018 sexual assault case, Texas State signed him to play quarterback for the Bobcats. De Laura settled the civil lawsuit that lasted over three years resulting from the original 2018 juvenile case. The plaintiff filed the civil lawsuit on Dec. 2, 2021 which details information from the sealed 2018 juvenile case.
UPD to implement security at debate By Blake Leschber News Editor The first 2024 presidential debate is coming to Texas State on Sept. 16. With an event of this high caliber and public presence, security measures have been discussed and are in the works. University Police Chief Matthew Carmichael said the University Police Department (UPD) has worked with the Secret Service since applications to host the University Police debate opened on Jan. 3, 2023. “There was an application process Chief Matthew Carmichael for the debate and we were a part of that application process from a security perspective,” Carmichael said. “We interact with the Secret Service from the point of just the application process and then from that point forward we’ll continue to work with the Secret Service up until a couple of days after the debate.” According to Carmichael, the Secret Service, alongside Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal partners for the debate will work with UPD. The Secret Service will visit Texas State as the event gets closer, ensuring a safe environment for the debate by scoping the site as well as hotels. The Secret Service will also be present at the debate as they will provide security at Strahan Arena and the surrounding area. They may also provide protection for the candidates. According to the Secret Service, candidates identified by the Department of Homeland Security are eligible for protection during a general election year. Carmichael said the debate will impact security more than just on campus. It will affect the entire county whether through hospitality or transportation. With that, Carmichael said UPD has to work with other departments including the city of San Marcos.
PHOTO BY FELIX MENKE
Texas State theater senior Krystal Bennett dances during Hump Day surrounded by Sigma Gamma Rho Inc., Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, at the LBJ Mall.
How organizations, Greek life enforce anti-hazing measures By Lucciana Choueiry Assistant News Editor As the spring semester commences at Texas State, so does a new recruitment season for Greek life. Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) and individual chapters undertake anti-hazing measures to ensure a safe and inclusive recruitment process for new members. According to FSL’s hazing memorandum, hazing is defined as, “any intentional, knowing or reckless act... by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in or maintaining membership in an organization.” Bob Dudolski, FSL’s associate director for student involvement and engagement, said the hazing memorandum comes from the university’s Dean of Students Office and applies to all student organizations,
SEE SAFETY PAGE 3
including Greek life. “We’re constantly needing to reeducate... we cannot just assume the leaders know what’s right and what’s wrong when they come in,” Dudolski said. Dudolski also said when a new member joins a fraternity or sorority, beyond the conversations they have within the chapter, FSL provides them with an acceptance form they need to sign that outlines the alcohol, drug and hazing policy . As a chapter moves from the recruitment stage into the new member education stages, FSL requires it to fill out its own form on expectations, a timeline of what its education process will look like and state when the members will be initiated. “Our office provides risk management training each semester for the chapter officers,” Dudolski said. “One is mandated by the state of Texas and we also provide additional training for the officers so they understand not just risk management, but also the liability they hold being responsible for an organization.”
SEE UNIVERSITY PAGE 3
Beyond the broadcast: Freeman’s Alternate route impact on Texas State sports to I-35 now open By Brendan Fielding Assistant Sports Editor Whether you’re watching a Bobcat baseball game, tuning into the “State’s Up” podcast for a football recap or just catching up with Texas State sports via social media clips, you’ll likely hear the voice of Texas State’s Broadcast Coordinator, Brant Freeman. Like many others, Freeman started his career at Texas State due to the resources it offers its students. After working for KTSW calling games play-by-play
on the radio, Freeman had his start as a broadcaster, but Texas State refused to part ways with him. “I graduated in [2006], and athletics wanted to kind of, keep me around,” Freeman said. “So, I remained the radio voice for the football program for about 15 years or so.” Following his graduation from Texas State Freeman took a job as a sports director for a New Braunfels radio station, AM 1420. Meanwhile, Texas State gave him a contract to cover its football games on the side.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Texas State ESPN+ play-by-play commentator Brant Freeman (Right) conducts an interview with graduate guard Ja’Niah Henson (Left) after the victory over Bowling Green, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Strahan Arena.
SEE SPORTS PAGE 6
By Candace Taggart News Contributor FM 110 North opened Dec. 21, 2023, completing the East San Marcos Loop. FM 110, an alternate route to avoid congestion on I-35, is a loop east of I-35 from south of Kyle to south of San Marcos. FM 110 North has one lane in each direction, 10-foot shoulders and a bridge over SH 21. It begins east of I-35 at Yarrington Road to SH 80. This alternative is expected to “enhance safety and mobility” through reducing congestion between San Marcos and Kyle. “As Central Texas continues to grow in population, alternative options will help drivers spend less time on the road,” Antonio Lujan, public information officer for TxDOT, said. “FM 110 is for local commuters and is designed to meet the demands of the fast-growing corridor.” Construction on the north section of the loop began in March 2022 and was funded by TxDOT, Hays County and the city of San Marcos according to Hays County Road Projects. The San Marcos area had a record number of fatal car crashes in 2023, with the San Marcos Police Department attributing many of them to I-35 and the construction in or around it. Lujan hopes FM 110 will help alleviate traffic problems on I-35 especially as projects continue in the area. “FM 110 is designed to mitigate congestion and accommodate new growth in this fast growing community,” Lujan said.
SEE TRANSPORTATION PAGE 2
2 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
NEWS
Blake Leschber | News Editor | starnews@txstate.edu
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Law bans DEI practices in higher education By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter Senate Bill 17 (SB 17), which went into effect on Jan. 1, banned Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practices at public universities in Texas. The bill forces Texas public universities to stop taking diversity into account when hiring faculty, which is something the Texas State University System (TSUS) has done since March 2023. This also includes altering decision-making on student acceptance. Any public universities that fail to comply would lose a year of state funding. "The passage of SB 17 in the most recent legislative session has led all Texas public universities to examine how they handle their work, structure and processes around DEI," a July 28 email from President Kelly Damphousse to faculty said. SB 17 passed during the 2023 normal legislative session in May. The university saw the bill would force them to dissolve the Division of Inclusive Excellence (IE) by Jan. 1, 2024. IE was an office that previously provided additional support to students from different backgrounds. Damphousse chose to dissolve the division on Aug. 1, 2023. The Division of Student Success now has the same student support IE did, while also providing additional resources such as being responsible for campus recreation and career services. "The division’s work directly supporting student success initiatives will now be accomplished through the Division of Student Success," Damphousse's email said. "Current IE employees working in support of student success initiatives have the opportunity to be reassigned to new positions in the Division of Student Success."
One of the changes future students may notice is they are no longer required to take any sort of DEI training to enroll in a public university in Texas. "In an effort to promote engagement, connection and belonging, the IE provided support, community-wide programming and activities for students and student organizations," Sandra Pantlik, the vice president for marketing and communications, said in an email. "All Texas State students can still find that support from the Department of Student Involvement and Engagement and other departments in the Division of Student Success." Texas State staff who previously worked for IE were given the option to transfer over to the Division of Student Success, which has taken on the student support aspects of IE. To avoid having their state funding revoked, a university must pass an audit in the prior year to ensure they are not in violation of SB 17. "The certification must occur before the institution may spend stateappropriated funds for the current fiscal year," Pantlik's email said. "The university consults with and receives guidance from TSUS to help ensure this compliance." Under SB 17, when hiring, public universities are no longer allowed to ask for diversity statements, which are statements of how a candidate would support DEI efforts. According to Pantlik, this has had no impact on Texas State's hiring pool for faculty. "Texas State continues to attract quality faculty committed to educating and serving our students," Pantlik's email said. "In compliance with SB 17, Texas State does not request applicants to provide diversity statements as part of the application process." In a statement released in April 2023 by Texas Senator Brandon Creighton,
INFOGRAPHIC BY MADELINE CARPENTER
who authored SB 17, the new law could save the tax payers money, ban an "ineffective" practice and would promote a "merit-based" hiring and enrollment process in Texas public universities. "Texas is one of the most diverse states in the nation, and our institutions of higher education should reflect that diversity," Creighton's statement said. "DEI programs have become a milliondollar industry at taxpayer-funded institutions yet they have made no progress advancing or increasing diversity." According to the same statement for Creighton's office, SB 17 will have no impact on student-led organizations.
Scan the QR code to read SB 17.
FROM FRONT TRANSPORTATION As for other congested areas, there are still closures on I-35 and SH 123/ Loop 82 for its reconstruction and ramp improvements according to TxDOT. These projects include a singlelane closure from C M Allen Parkway to Guadalupe St. heading southbound and a closure of 1-35 northbound at Aquarena Springs Dr. Ceiara Canada, a San Marcos resident who works in New Braunfels, has taken I-35 to work everyday for the past year and avoids FM 110. “Personally, I like I-35, and it does get congested sometimes, but any interstate gets traffic,” Canada said. “I’m not sure this new route could prevent congestion and car wrecks. I think the results will be the same as it already is.” Debra Lee, a San Marcos resident, said she avoids I-35 whenever possible because of traffic. With her son living in Martindale, she now takes FM 110 daily. “During peak rush hours, there’s still a mile and a half of cars backed up at those stop signs,” Lee said. “I think it would’ve helped if they had put in stop lights where the four way stops are to keep traffic moving a little smoother.” Canada said I-35 is not as well lit at night time as she’d prefer and has avoided FM 110 for similar reasons.
According to Lujan, there will be lighting at various intersections along FM 110, including SH 80, SH 21 and I-35 to promote safety along the corridor. There are not any weight limits or width restrictions on FM 110. Lee said because of this there has been a lot of truck traffic. As this is an entirely new option for Central Texans, we ask drivers to pay attention to road signs as they navigate this area and the new roadway,” - Antonio Lujan TxDOT Public Information Officer Through message boards placed near the corridor, TxDOT is working to keep residents in the know of the new road being open and closures throughout the interstate. “As this is an entirely new option for central Texans, we ask drivers to pay attention to road signs as they navigate this area and the new roadway,” Lujan said.
Scan the QR code for a full map of TxDOT projects.
MAP BY DEVON CREW
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NEWS
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 | 3
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Blake Leschber | News Editor | starnews@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT ATHLETICS The plaintiff’s attorney, Randall L.K.M. Rosenberg, responded to an email from The University Star, “The parties have reached an agreement to resolve the case in its entirety. The terms of the settlement are confidential, and no information regarding the settlement will be provided.” The plaintiff, whom the case states was an acquaintance of de Laura, was going to give players of the team symbo lic flower leis after the game victory at the high school. She later received a text message from de Laura asking to talk in one of the school’s parking garage stair cases. According to the civil case, “Defen dants physically overpowered her, with Jayden forcing her to fellate Defendant Kamoi by holding her head from behind and pushing it down towards Defen dant Kamoi’s crotch. At the same time, Defendant Jayden then forcibly pulled down Plaintiff’s shorts, bent her over at the waist and began penetrating Plain tiff from the rear. Plaintiff was sobbing uncontrollably in fear and anger and Defendant Jayden began choking her to gain her cooperation… After Defendant Kamoi ejaculated in her mouth, Defen dant Jayden shouted, “It’s my turn.” The plaintiff confronted de Laura via text message after the incident about the assault and received messages admit ting to the assault, according to the civil case. The plaintiff made a police report in December 2018, showing the police the messages exchanged as proof of the assault. De Laura and Latu were later charged and plead guilty to second-
degree sexual assault, but neither received jail time. According to an arti cle from Hawaii News Now, which has been following this case, de Laura and Latu were “required to write letters of apology.” When de Laura committed to Arizona in 2022, it is unknown wheth er the university was aware of the civil suit. The University of Arizona athletic department, however, did become aware of the case in fall 2022. The department released a state ment which said, “In the fall of 2022 after a civil complaint was filed against football student-athlete Jayden de Laura, the University of Arizona first became aware of a 2018 incident involving de Laura, which occurred while he was in high school in Hawaii,” the UA state ment said. “After reviewing the matter, the determination was made to allow de Laura to continue as a student-athlete and his status remains unchanged.” De Laura was also placed under arrest for a suspected DUI in February 2021 after driving on the wrong side of the street and driving through a stop sign near the Washington State Univer sity campus during his time as quarter back for Washington State, according to the Seattle Times. Although de Laura refused a Breathalyzer and failed a sobri ety test he was found not guilty. It is unclear whether Texas State Athletics was aware of the case, however, the day after reaching a settlement in the case, de Laura officially signed to play Texas State football. Texas State University and Football Head Coach G.J. Kinne released state
ments to The University Star after the article covering Bobcat quarterback de Laura’s civil lawsuit settlement, stem ming from a 2018 sexual assault case, was published online. According to an email statement sent to The University Star, Texas State said de Laura is not violating the univer sity code of student conduct or athletics misconduct policies. “During our football coaching staff’s recruitment of Jayden de Laura, and after reviewing the available public information related to a juvenile allega tion in 2018 when Jayden was a minor in high school in Hawaii, it was deter mined that the matter does not violate the Texas State University Code of Student Conduct or athletics miscon duct policies,” Texas State’s email state ment sent to The University Star said. “Jayden also complied with Texas State University and NCAA policy in report ing what he was allowed to disclose based on the terms of any agreements in his case as defined by the court. He also complied in disclosing his history as a student-athlete at both Washington State University and the University of Arizona.” According to an email to The University Star from Texas State Univer sity Vice President of Marketing and Communications Sandra Pantlik, the Texas State University statement repre sents the university, including President Kelly Damphousse. Kinne said in an email statement sent to The University Star he looks forward to having de Laura serve as a leader for the program.
“First, Jayden never pled guilty or was convicted of criminal charges, and he recently settled a civil case from an incident that occurred in 2018 when he was a minor in the state of Hawaii,” the statement from Kinne said. “During the recruitment process, our coaching staff visited with several of Jayden’s former coaches from his two previous schools, Washington State University and the University of Arizona, as well as others that know him closely. Each person not only spoke highly of his character but how he has developed into the man he is today. We also have Craig Stutzmann (wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator) on our coaching staff, who knows Jayden closely as they are from the same hometown in Hawaii. Coach Stutzmann has seen his character first hand in multiple places and at differ ent points in Jayden’s life. Based on all of this background, we are confident Jayden will be a positive representation of a Bobcat, and we look forward to him serving as a leader to his teammates and for our program.” Craig Stutzmann, former Texas State football wide receiver coach and passing game coordinator who helped recruit quarterback Jayden de Laura, accepted a position at San José State football on Jan. 22. In Kinne's response to The University Star, he mentioned how valuable Stutzmann's impact on knowing de Laura's character served in the recruit ing process. Stutzmann will be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for San José State.
FROM FRONT SAFETY
FROM FRONT UNIVERSITY
“We’re knee-deep right now in security and safety planning which is a lot of work,” Carmichael said. “Just generally speak ing, for these types of events requires us to be a good partner with our federal partners, state partners and local partners.” As Texas State is a public university, Carmichael said UPD has to ensure students rights are protected during the debate as well. Protests and demonstrations will likely occur meaning UPD has to delegate services to provide protection, potentially increasing police presence at different areas around campus. “We also have to be mindful of free speech activity as well to make sure that we’re protecting those that choose to exercise their right,” Carmichael said. While UPD is planning to protect students, they will also allow some to be a part of the event. “We will be involving students especially in our criminal justice program at whatever security level we can,” Carmi chael said. “It’s common for students to volunteer work at the debates but I think from a security planning perspective, it’s a grand opportunity for a criminal justice major.”
Texas State’s Greek life organizations take part in National Hazing Pre vention Week (NHPW), which is in the last full week of September, to promote anti-hazing ef forts and raise awareness of its dangers. Alanna Rivas, president of Texas State’s Multi cultural Greek Council (MGC), said fall 2023’s NHPW included events like profit shares, getting signatures for anti-hazing pledges on The Quad and guest speakers. In Septem ber 2023, the guest speak ers included parents whose kids died or were affected by hazing. Rivas said in addition to the risk management and hazing training pro vided through FSL and Texas State, MGC mem bers partake in their own training that caters to their organization. “For those trainings, we even talk about instances of hazing that have happened on our campus in the past because it’s really impor tant to not ignore the past and instead to learn from it and know we can grow INFOGRAPHIC BY MEAGAN WALTERS from there,” Rivas said. Emma Dillon, a Gamma Phi Beta member and a criminal justice sophomore, of Students Office will take the lead to interview stu said her chapter operates on a "see something, say dents and look at any [proof], and [FSL] waits for something" basis as per the chapter's president. the next steps if a fraternity or sorority is found in Dillon highlighted the importance of collabora violation of hazing,” Dudolski said. tion with the sorority's headquarters to promote a When you start off small you sense of safety with hazing. don’t even realize it’s happening “We’ve seen what hazing does to people… when until it’s too late and then you’re incidents happen we sit together and see what we in danger, other people are in can do to help an affected family,” Dillon said. danger or you’re just not happy,” “My chapter and our headquarters will donate [to the family's GoFundMe page] and help out the Alanna Rivas families because we don’t want that happening President of Multicultural Greek Council on our campus.” On Nov. 13, 2017, Texas State student Matthew Dudolski said FSL does not usually find hazing Ellis died from ethanol toxicity when his blood al incidents happen during the recruitment process, cohol level was 0.38, four times the legal limit. His but when the new members have already joined the death was a result of a fraternity induction process chapter and the education process begins, which is into Phi Kappa Psi where he was provided with al why chapters are required to send FSL its timeline cohol, despite being under the legal drinking age. As and education program schedules. a result, all Texas State Greek life organizations were Rivas said one of the most eye-opening lessons suspended for four months and the university tight she’s learned is hazing can start out small but then ened its hazing policy. spiral into a bigger issue. Dudolski said the repercussions of hazing are de “When you start off small you don’t even realize pendent on the situation at hand and on whether or it’s happening until it’s too late and then you’re in not it is a first-time offense. However, when a hazing danger, other people are in danger or you’re just not allegation is made, FSL immediately reports it to the happy,” Rivas said. “It’s really important that from Dean of Students. the get-go we focus on building members up in the “The Student Conduct officers within the Dean right direction.”
We also have to be mindful of free speech activity as well to make sure that we’re protecting those that choose to exercise their right,” Matthew Carmichael University Police Chief
Carmichael’s advice for students and San Marcos residents is to always report if any suspicious behavior is noticed to pro vide a safe environment. “See something, say something,” Carmichael said. “If a stu dent leading up to the event saw something they thought was suspicious, call campus police whether it’s the day of, the week or even the month before.”
INFOGRAPHIC BY MEAGAN WALTERS
Scan the QR code for more information on the debate.
Scan the QR code to read the hazing memorandum.
GAMES
4 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Jen Nguyen | Creative Services Director | starcreative@txstate.edu
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OPINIONS
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 | 5
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Rhian Davis | Opinions Editor | staropinion@txstate.edu
Opinions in The University Star are not necessarily those of our entire publication, Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Student Publications Board.
TXST puts winning above morals in signing of de Laura By Carson Weaver Editor-in-Chief On Jan. 17, Texas State officially signed former Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura, who settled a civil lawsuit that stemmed from a 2018 sexual assault case that occurred when de Laura was a juvenile. De Laura won the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman Player of the Year in 2021, totaling 2,798 yards and 23 touchdowns. De Laura recorded the third-highest passing yards total in Arizona history in 2022 with 3,685 yards and the sixth highest touchdown pass total with six. De Laura had a 161 passer rating through four games in 2023, the highest of his career, before he injured his ankle against Stanford on Sept. 23, 2023. By all means, this is a quarterback at the height of his playing career, only getting better as he gets more and more game experience under his belt. When looking at the recent first-time bowl game champions, why not add a skill set like de Laura’s to a quarterback room that, at the time of de Laura’s commitment announcement, had lost talent like C.J. Rogers and Malik Hornsby? With former Bobcat quarterback T.J. Finley announcing his commitment to Western Kentucky on Jan. 22, it seems like de Laura is in line to be starting for the Bobcats next season. More importantly for Texas State, which is adamant about building a winning football program and “winning culture," de Laura will be their go-to man on the gridiron, and will fill the shoes of Finley who many teammates called a leader. But the Texas State athletics department and the Texas State coaching staff chose a quarterback who allegedly admitted to second-degree sexual assault as a juvenile, according to a civil lawsuit filed by the victim of the assault on Dec. 2, 2021. The alleged assault occurred when de Laura and the plaintiff were minors, which means the court records and documents are sealed. The civil lawsuit details the sealed case from the plaintiff's side. According to the civil lawsuit, de Laura and Kamoi Latu, his then high school teammate and now a safety at the University of Wisconsin, pled guilty in 2018 to second-degree sexual assault. After winning a high school championship game in 2018, de Laura texted the victim demanding to know where she was and summoned her to the second floor of a parking garage, according to the civil lawsuit. The victim met de Laura in the parking garage, where de Laura physically overpowered and forced the victim to have sex with both himself and his teammate, Latu, according to the civil lawsuit. “Plaintiff was sobbing uncontrollably in fear and anger and Defendant Jayden began choking her to gain cooperation. After Defendant Kamoi ejaculated in her mouth, Defendant Jayden shouted, ‘It’s my turn,’” the civil lawsuit said. According to the civil lawsuit, under the section labeled “FACTS”, the victim confronted de
Laura about the sexual assault over text message. De Laura then admitted that he and Latu sexually assaulted the victim, according to the civil lawsuit. Previously, in August 2023, the two sides had reached a settlement but the judge ruled it “too low," as both of the defendants were bringing in thousands of dollars in Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals, according to The Daily Wildcat. The plaintiff filed the lawsuit against de Laura, his parents, Latu, his parents and St. Louis High School, the school the three involved parties attended in Hawaii in 2018. Last week, after over three years, the plaintiff and defendants reached an undisclosed settlement. De Laura announced his commitment to Texas State on Jan. 15, but the day the civil lawsuit was settled, Texas State made the signing official. “A big time QB coming to San Marcos,” Texas State Football’s Twitter read in the post announcing the addition. It also featured the “aloha” or “Shaka” hand symbol emoji. This is the man Texas State chose to be the face of a season that was bound to be filled with further dreams and aspirations of bigger and better college football bowl games in an expanded College Football Playoffs. This is the man Texas State chose to be the face of an entire athletics program the year after releasing an Annual Fire Security and Safety Report where Texas State reported 40 rapes in 2022 – an increase of 135% from the reported rapes of 2021. This is the man Texas State chose just five years removed from drastically underreporting rapes in its 2019 Annual Security Report. In the 2019 report, the university didn’t report 29 rapes from 2016-18. Texas State officials, who most likely knew of the lawsuit because of its prominence in coverage in de Laura’s native state of Hawaii and his former school in Arizona, made a terrible call in signing de Laura. It gives no assurance to the student body that the university is taking its reported 135% increase in rapes, 200% increase in hate crimes, 112% increase in aggravated assaults, 300% increase in dating violence and 43% increase in stalking cases seriously enough to consider not signing a quarterback who doesn’t represent the values someone with that significant of a leadership position will have on the athletics program and the campus. So cut de Laura, Texas State. Tell the alumni you understand this town's culture and history and now recognize your mistake. Tell the students and their parents you’re building an environment that protects everyone, not an environment that feeds a narrative of being an unsafe campus. Tell those of us who've watched the football program struggle for years, and some decades, that we didn't compromise our morals at the first taste of bowl game victory.
TXST should showcase faculty works in curriculum By Samuel Marentes Opinions Contributor Naomi Shihab Nye, Kali Fajardo-Anstine, Tim O'Brien. What do all of these names have in common? Each of these writers belongs to Texas State's faculty and they're some of the most valuable resources for the school's English curriculum.
ILLUSTRATION BY AFAAF ALNAHAS
With writers of such a high caliber on Texas State faculty, it only makes sense that professors should be spotlighting their work on their syllabi. Encouraging students to be fluent in the works of their professors nurtures a more tightly-knit academic environment. Texas State professors should be teaching about Texas State writers. Most literature classes tend to focus on the canon of works by long-gone famous writers. Of course, there's value in learning about these well-established works as students are just beginning to dip their toes into the study of literature; they belong to the canon for a reason. However, focusing solely on the most famous works produced can be a narrowing scope for students. It can be daunting to only read works with such a prestigious reputation, as their fame can often remove them from their reader. Focusing on works produced by Texas State's faculty proves that great work is closer to students than they might think. -Samuel Marentes is an English junior The University Star welcomes Letters to the Editor from its readers. All submissions are reviewed and considered by the Editor-in-Chief and Opinions Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication.
- Carson Weaver is a mass communications senior
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Aquarena Springs lacks student safety features By Hope Monte Opinions Contributor Along Aquarena Springs Drive, on the east side of Interstate-35, students can be found crossing the street against flowing traffic to get to the bus stops, putting themselves at risk in front of moving vehicles. Jennifer Payan, a film-directing sophomore and resident of the Arba apartment complex, has faced issues with the set up of the bus route. "It’s a common thing that all of us just have to make a go for it when we go to the bus," Payan said. "The bus usually doesn’t wait for too long, so traffic is coming but we can't really do anything but take a chance whenever we can. I think it’s dangerous.” Texas State has two bus stops along Aquarena Springs, both on the westbound side of the road. Despite this, Aquarena Springs lacks a pedestrian crosswalk or an additional bus stop for the opposite side. Students at apartment complexes like Arba, River Oaks Villas and The Villagio are not provided the same accessibility as their neighbors across the street. “There are no safety pedestrian crossing signs on the roads where there are supposed to be bus stops," Payan said. "I think it would be helpful to have the bus stop and then have a pedestrian crossing sign on the other side of the street.”
Ning Zou, city of San Marcos traffic supervisor, provided multiple street safety solutions to aid in pedestrian crossings. "Some locations we install warning signs, some warning signs with flashing beacons, some with push buttons where beacons start to flash to alert the drivers to stop," Zou said. Researching the need for any of these features is a complicated process and depends on the situation of the roadway, Zou said. Students can request crosswalks by sending an email to the San Marcos traffic department, using SMTX Connect or sending an email directly to Zou to start the process of researching a location. Students concerned about the ongoing issues should use these resources to their advantage to create change. Implementing road safety features can be a lengthy process; the sooner residents express their concerns, the better. Over a year ago a car accident on Aquarena Springs was ultimately what led to both stops existing on one side, Rod Gonzales, Texas State University Manager of Transit Operations, said. “There was an accident and a car took out the bench that is right there at River Oak Villas," Gonzales said. "The property manager at that time said, ‘You know what, we’re not gonna fix it, we don’t need your buses here anymore because we don’t have that many students,'" Gonzales said.
ILLUSTRATION BY DEVON CREW
The Lodge apartment complex had a pre-existing bench and shelter; therefore decided to claim the new bus stop at their location, Gonzales said. While there may be a lower population of students at River Oaks they still deserve accommodation. Between stops at both The Lodge and Autumn Chase, students often wait in the middle lane for the fast-moving traffic to slow down, backing up traffic and creating further risks for vehicular crashes. This shows that the lack of safety features not only puts pedestrians at risk but also the drivers on the street. According to Gonzales, Texas State Transportation Services conducts yearly evaluations of the shuttle routes for potential addition of stops and routes that are based on apartment or student inquiries and student population. Aside from the Bobcat Shuttle, there is alternate public transportation, Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS), which services the Hays County area along with
surrounding counties. “Texas State students can ride the CARTS for free," Gonzales said. "We try to make sure we have resources out there.” The CARTS buses service Aquarena Springs but only arrive once every hour. This leaves students with much lower accessibility compared to the Bobcat Shuttle, which arrives multiple times every hour. Students' tuition money partially goes towards funding the Bobcat Shuttle, at a rate of $95 a semester, or $190 per year. Therefore, students should have full accessibility to the resource, especially if they choose to live along one of the bus routes. Without implementing solutions such as a new bus stop, crosswalks or warning signs, students will continue to put themselves in danger to get to buses daily. - Hope Monte is a journalism sophomore
6 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
SPORTS
David Cuevas | Sports Editor | starsports@txstate.edu
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Transfer players acclimate to Texas State men's basketball program By Thomas Graham Sports Contributor Texas State men's basketball welcomed seven new players to its 2023-24 roster via the NCAA transfer portal this offseason. As the team makes its way further into conference play, the new additions have tremendously impacted the hardwood thus far. "I think at this point for every team in the country, the chemistry is a work in progress, especially for us when you have so many new players and the returners who are coming back from injury," Texas State Head Coach Terrence Johnson said. "Our plays are changing a little bit, and our starting guard is out, so we're going with a freshman, which is an adjustment with a new starting five." Of the seven new transfer players, junior guard Josh O'Garro has cemented himself as one of the leading scorers. O'Garro began his collegiate year at the University of Oklahoma where he spent one season before transferring to San Jose State University. After one season with the Spartans, he transferred again to Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas. O'Garro started in 29 games at Colby, averaging 20.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game. According to Johnson, one of the other transfer players, fifthyear forward Chris Nix, has brought a much-needed physical presence to the team. "We're looking for a more physical presence down low, and I think [Chris Nix] has been doing a really good job at that," Johnson said. "He has a good soft touch, so we're looking for him to be comfortable being able to score around the basket." Nix played at Columbia State Community College and the University of Tennessee-Martin before transferring to Texas State. According to Nix, the team's culture and recent success in previous years were the main reasons he decided to become a Bobcat. "Seeing how the team works together and plays [they are] more than just teammates [which] is something I've grown to want to really be a part of," Nix said. "Two championships in three years, it was a no-brainer for me to come here." As an upperclassman Nix said some of the younger players have taught him a lot in the limited time he's been with Texas State and have made his transition to the team much smoother. "It was different for me once I got here," Nix said. "You usually [have] upperclassmen trying to help each other out. Davion Sykes and Jordan Mason, who were freshmen last year, know so much about basketball at a young age. Listening to them is the smallest difference with me." Since their arrivals, both O'Garro and Nix acknowledge how San Marcos and the Texas State program are very different from what they've been accustomed to in the past. "Everyone here knows their role, and nobody [is] arguing about their role," O'Garro said. "Everybody's focused on what they [have to] do, so that's the major difference to me." Johnson said in order to win and compete for the Sun Belt title, the Bobcats need to continue to get better every day and drown out the distractions. "It's a journey. It's not a sprint. It's a marathon, and it's about us understanding that if we continue to take the steps every day to get better and bring culture to the floor every day then we're going to get to where we want to be," Johnson said.
PHOTO BY MANDALYN LEWALLEN
Texas State junior guard Joshua O'Garro (23) dunks the ball during the game against LeTourneau, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023 at Strahan Arena.
FROM FRONT SPORTS In 2018, a partnership developed between ESPN and the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) which allowed for there to be a broadcast coordinator at every SBC program. With his experience and tenure, Freeman filled the opening and said since then he’s felt lucky to be in the position he is. “I’m very, very fortunate to be where I’m at,” Freeman said. “There’s only 330 Division I schools in the country. Not all of them have exclusive TV coverage. Even fewer have a full-time role for somebody like [me].” Freeman’s covered historic moments at Texas State for decades, and during his time he’s become heavily embedded in the Bobcat community. Freeman believes being in touch with his community helps him to excel at his job. “I have a daughter who’s about to be 13 years old, so roots have kind of been planted here a little bit,” Freeman said. “I’ve been very happy to have served in the role that I have over the last 20 years or so.” When it comes to a job opening this rare, one would expect he who fills it to go above and beyond, and Freeman does just that according to Texas State’s radio play-by-play announcer Clint Shields. Shields said Freeman possesses a rare and astounding ability to not only commentate but to practice good-quality journalism in the process. “To [Freeman] specifically, he’s a guy who’s got talent beyond Texas State and San Marcos," Shields said. "That comes out of my mouth sounding like I’m disparaging San Marcos, and I’m certainly not. But [Freeman's] got the type of talent, and it’s not just in his play-by-play delivery. He’s got the type of talent that he can do this at a bigger level." Atop his ESPN duties, Freeman also works in other settings around Texas State including helping with radio broadcasts and hosting a podcast titled “State’s Up.” It can be said with confidence that Freeman has set the bar high for simply covering sports at Texas State. What some may not know, however, is he also plays a part in the growth of the Texas State
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Texas State play-by-play broadcaster Brant Freeman interviews senior outside hitter Sophie Childs (0) after the win against Coastal Carolina, Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, at Strahan Arena.
student body by mentoring students who aspire to be like him. Joey Gonzales, an electronic media senior at Texas State, had the opportunity to work with Freeman during his time at KTSW. According to Gonzales, Freeman exemplified how to work in the broadcast room and passed down some valuable methods. “The most interesting thing I found about him is just how prepped he is for every game," Gonzalez said. "He treats the soccer game on a Thursday the same as he treats the football game on a Saturday,” Gonzales said. “There’s so much prep that he goes into, so it's just cool to see that he takes every game so seriously.” Freeman has worked for decades to bring entertainment to Texas State’s audience and achieve his goals in sports broadcasting. Because of his hard work, ability to mentor and pure talent when it comes to play-calling, Texas State can surely say it has someone rocking the mic.
2024 Softball positional breakdown: Infielders By Jackson Kruse Sports Contributor The Texas State softball team is one of the strongest athletic teams in the school. Every year the team has a lot of pressure to perform well, considering it hasn’t suffered a losing season since 2014. Head Coach Ricci Woodard and the rest of the team have its sights on another successful season in 2024. Although any spot on the field is up for grabs with new players entering the school, let’s dive into the roster position-by-position. Catcher The Bobcats are carrying four catchers this year. Sophomore Megan Kelnar started 35 games at catcher last season as a true freshman and is aiming to start the majority of the time in 2024. Kelnar threw out 12 out of 25 runners who attempted to steal last season, and was the only catcher in the conference to record double-digit caught stealings in less than 40 attempts. Sophomore Karmyn Bass plays catcher as well, but she ended up playing as the designated player more often last year. Her defense is good, as she posted a perfect fielding percentage of 100% with 92 putouts. However, with Kelnar being arguably the best defensive catcher in the Sun Belt Conference, Bass will likely continue to fill the role of designated player and then catch when needed. Other catchers on the roster include freshman Halee Vance and redshirt sophomore Makayla Hall. First Base Last year, J.J. Smith transferred to Texas State from the University of Texas and played first base in all 61 games of the season. She showed impressive plate discipline in 2023 as she walked the most of any Bobcat. Look for Smith to be the everyday first baseman in her senior season.
Second Base As a true freshman, Katarina Zarate started in every game for the Bobcats at second base last season. She accumulated the second-most walks on the team; posting a respectable .355 on-base percentage. On top of having a great freshman year, she played even better when it mattered. In conference play, she hit .321 with a .435 on-base percentage and stole four bases in four attempts. She is only a sophomore, so she should be the starting second baseman for the foreseeable future. Third Base There is no question that Sara Vanderford will be the starting third baseman for the Bobcats this season. Vanderford, now a graduate student, has racked up many impressive accolades over the years. Among those accolades include making the All-Sun Belt First Team Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, 3x Sun Belt All-Tournament Team, and many more. She will go down in history as one of the greatest Bobcat softball players of all time, ranking second in program history with a batting average of .330. She is also second in Home Runs with 29, second in RBIS with 139 and first in doubles with 52. Vanderford is the biggest offensive star on the team and is expected to continue her great career. Shortstop Senior Hannah Earls was the only player on the team to play shortstop last season, so it’s likely she’ll be the starting shortstop this year as well. She was on the All-Sun Belt First Team selection in 2022 and put up better numbers in 2023. Last year she had the best batting average on the team, hitting .330. She is the only student-athlete in Texas State program history to record three 20-stolen base seasons in a row. The Bobcats have a star in Earls, and she is looking to have another strong season in 2024.
Stars of The Week Daniel Harrold, Graduate Student Sprinter Sun Belt Athlete of the Week
7.71 in 60 meter hurdles (school record)
Ja'Niah Henson, Graduate Student Guard
27 points (career-high)
Kaden Gumbs, Freshman guard 17 points (career-high)
LIFE & ARTS
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 | 7
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Marisa Nuñez | Life and Arts Editor | starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Psychology junior and peer mentor Aysia Banks offers assistance to fellow students Sunday, Jan. 17, 2024, outside Commons Dining Hall.
Peer Mentors reflect on growth for National Mentoring Month Peer mentors establish strong connections with first-year students to maintain freshmen retention and develop a strong sense of community at Texas State. They help students navigate their first year and serve as a guide to understanding new chapters in a freshman's life as they come from high school.
By Carlene Ottah First-Year Peer Mentors are celebrating National Mentoring Month this January with "Thank Your Mentor Day" on Jan. 25. The day serves as an opportunity for students to thank any professional or personal mentor they have had.
Five students reflected on how they became peer mentors, how they have spent time understanding what the job does for first-year students and discovering what it means to them. Each of them joined in the fall of 2022 and have since become lead peer mentors who act as mentors to other mentors.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Peer mentor and applied sociology junior Annalisa Gonzales outside the peer mentoring office, Sunday, January 17, 2024, in Commons Dining Hall.
Peer mentor and computer science senior Lucas Garcia outside the peer mentoring office, Sunday, January 17, 2024, in Commons Dining Hall.
Peer mentor and psychology junior Maya Rojo outside the peer mentoring office, Sunday, January 17, 2024, in Commons Dining Hall.
Peer mentor and psychology junior Aysia Banks outside the peer mentoring office, Sunday, January 17, 2024, in Commons Dining Hall.
Peer mentor and psychology junior MJ Reyes outside the peer mentoring office, Sunday, January 17, 2024, in Commons Dining Hall.
Annalisa Gonzales
Lukas Garcia
Maya Rojo
Aysia Banks
MJ Reyes
Annalisa Gonzales, an applied sociology junior, felt lost when she first came to college. When she first met with her peer mentor, they told her she could be good at mentoring too. The opportunity to help people excited her for the rest of the semester; it was all she could think about. Gonzales said becoming a peer mentor changed her life. "I met my best friends here," Gonzales said. "I've rekindled friendships through this program, I've learned what I want my future career to be because of this program and I've had so many different opportunities to rediscover myself and be able to help people in a special capacity that I love."
Coming out of high school, Lukas Garcia, a computer science senior, still had a lot of friends in high school. He helped them through the college registration process by figuring out important dates and getting their documents together. One day, he saw an Instagram post about peer mentoring and realized it was similar to what he had done over the summer. "[My peer mentoring was] just doing it throughout the semester and continuing from where I left off once [my friends] got into college," Garcia said. "When I saw that I could continue to do that and do it in a more organized fashion, I applied to be a peer mentor."
Maya Rojo, a psychology junior, started mentoring because of her peer mentor, who helped her immensely during her first year in college. When she searched for on-campus jobs, her mentor recommended peer mentoring as an excellent opportunity to build her skill set. Starting as an introverted person, Rojo built up her public speaking, leadership skills and confidence. "I was grateful for her when she introduced me to this job," Rojo said. "Throughout my time here, I have been able to find great friends in this job and build a skill set. I really appreciate it."
Peer mentoring interested Aysia Banks, a psychology junior, because she liked to help people, and she also got to see different people grow and realize their capabilities. Being with incoming freshman in their first year, she saw them find themselves within the campus community. Mentoring also allowed Banks to share her experience with others while improving her communication and time management. "When it comes to my experience in the job, I would say it has helped me grow so much as a person," Banks said. "Overall, it's been a big milestone in my life."
To MJ Reyes, a psychology junior, peer mentoring was a different job than she had before. She saw mentoring as a way to grow her communication and public speaking skills. Even though talking to strangers or holding a conversation intimidated her, she loved talking to people and gaining new perspectives from them. "As far as my journey in the program, I think that I've grown a lot, and I'm a lot more confident and comfortable," Reyes said. "[Learning from those different perspectives] helps you understand the different people that walk Texas State."
’S N L E L M A B T E K S BA E L U D E H C S FEB. 3
V. Southern Miss
FEB. 1
HO JAN. 31 V. Old Dominion
FEB. 3 V. South Alabama
V. Marshall
FEB. 7
V. Troy
V. ULM
V. Bell State Cardinals
V. App State
S E M A ME G
V. South Alabama
FEB. 21
FEB. 10
FEB. 27
MAR. 1
FEB. 24 V. Louisiana
FEB. 28 V. Southern Miss
MAR. 1 V. ULM
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STAR SNAPS
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 | 8
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Kobe Arriaga | Multimedia Editor | starmultimedia@txstate.edu
THIS WEEK AT TEXAS STATE (Left) Business management sophomore Pablo Cardona performs "Que Chulada de Mujer" in front of the crowd at the men's basketball halftime show versus Arkansas St., Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Strahan Arena.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
PHOTO BY MANDALYN LEWALLEN
(Center) Texas State president Kelly Damphousse claps towards the crowd during the women’s basketball game versus Arkansas State, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Strahan Arena.
(Right) Texas State cheer performs between a timeout during the men’s basketball game versus Arkansas State, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Strahan Arena.
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(Top left) Texas State Strutters perform at the men’s and women’s basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Strahan Arena.
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(Bottom left) A fan storms the court in the middle of play at the men’s basketball contest versus Arkansas State, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Strahan Arena. (Bottom) Texas State graduate student Callie Creath swings for ball during her tennis match versus North Florida, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at Bobcat Tennis Complex.
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