TUESDAY January 30, 2024 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 18 www.UniversityStar.com
The story Stage 2 drought behind TXST’s restrictions self-taught impact SMTX river ranchera singer By Staff
By Marisa Nuñez Life & Arts Editor On Saturday, Jan. 20, Pablo Cardona wowed the crowd at a men's basketball game with a musical performance. While some might think that Cardona has been participating in the art of ranchera music for years, his hobby started one year and eight months ago as a secret. Cardona, a business management sophomore, first debuted his talent for singing ranchera music his senior year at a high school talent show. His friends
and family had no idea that he could sing and were shocked by his performance. He won first place. “It was a shocker for real,” Cardona said. “My grandma who only speaks Spanish was absolutely shocked. I mean, my entire family was, because I never showed any interest in music, I never showed any interest in mariachi at that. So it was really shocking for them to find out that I was interested in singing.” Cardona’s first performance went viral on TikTok receiving about 2.5 million views. He went on to participate in the TXST’s Got Talent Show in 2022 and 2023 winning first place consecutively.
For the first time since April 2022, San Marcos dropped down to Stage 2 drought restrictions on Jan. 7 due to increased rainfall, impacting river water conditions. In 2021, Texas began experiencing its worst drought since 2011. San Marcos implements five stages of drought restrictions to conserve water resources, increase water efficiency and protect endangered species in its springs. "The drought stages are there to reduce groundwater use from the aquifer to preserve spring flow," Robert Mace, the executive director and chief water policy officer of The Meadows Center, said. "It boils down to protecting spring flows [from the Edwards Aquifer] to the surface water and rivers." When San Marcos entered Stage 4 drought restrictions on Aug. 27, 2023, J-17, one of the wells used to define the drought conditions in San Marcos, measured the daily high water level to be 101.9 feet below land surface. "The water level below land surface is an indication on how much water is stored in an aquifer," Mace said. "A higher value means a lower water level in the aquifer, and a lower value means a higher relative water level."
If I ever got the opportunity to do this as a job, a career, a side gig, absolutely I would do it because I love to sing,” - Pablo Cardona, said.
PHOTO BY FELIX MENKE
Business management sophomore Pablo Cardona performs "Que Chulada de Mujer" at the men's basketball halftime show, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Strahan Arena. PHOTO BY KOBE ARAGIA
SEE MARIACHI PAGE 7
The bridge that goes over the San Marcos River, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, at Sewell Park.
SEE ENVIRONMENT PAGE 3
Student Government demands apology on de Laura's signing By Nichaela Shaheen Managing Editor Student Government resolution calling for university officials to issue an apology to the campus community regarding the signing of Jayden de Laura passed with 14 yes and three abstentions. The three who abstained all cited the reason as controversial. Student Government Senator Emma Vega wrote a legislation entitled “A Resolution Condemning the Standards Prioritizing Athletic Success Over Student Safety,” to hold university officials accountable for the decision of signing de Laura. Vega submitted the legislation as an "emergency piece" which requires voting on the legislation to happen the day of presenting, rather than waiting the normal week period. Now, the university is demanded by Student Government to formally apologize to the campus community after the passing of the legislation at the Jan. 29 meeting. The legislation demanded the university release a formal apology to its staff and students. "The student body government demands that the university releases a formal apology to its staff and students, and use this situation to set precedent to no longer value winning, and the monetary successes that arise from it, above the welfare of its students," the legislation said. "Student athletes in particular should be held to the same standards set forth by the Texas State University System Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures... and the Student Code of Conduct to ensure that students feel safe and heard."
PHOTO BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
Student Government Senator Emma Vega reads the legislation regarding Jayden de Laura, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, at the LBJ Teaching Theater.
SEE UNIVERSITY PAGE 3
There's more work to be done By Editorial Board One in five women and one in 16 men will be sexually assaulted during their time attending college, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. These numbers are frightening. In addition, 90% of campus assaults are committed by someone the victim knows personally. Jayden de Laura was signed to the Texas State football team despite being accused of violently raping one of his acquaintances after a football game in high school. Though de Laura has since withdrawn from the university, his signing was yet another bullet point added to the list of acts committed by Texas State showing students their safety is not a priority. The Clery Act is a federal law that requires universities to provide timely information about crimes reported on college campuses. According to Texas State University, “the purpose of the Clery Act is to promote a safe and secure campus.” According to an article from The University Star, Texas State drastically underreported rapes in the 2019 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report and showed dramatic increases in the number of reported crimes in the 2023 report. According to President Kelly Damphousse, higher numbers could just mean more students
SEE MAIN POINT PAGE 5
were comfortable filing reports in 2022. Though it's difficult to know if this is true, the sensible thing for Texas State to do would be to find any way possible to make the campus a safer and more comfortable space for students. However, despite the higher numbers, there has been no proof of action since the release of the 2023 Clery report. Texas State officials must work to solve this issue before an abundance of residents begin moving into James Street Housing and the newly acquired Vistas and Sanctuary Lofts apartments. According to the 2023 Texas State Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, there were 38 reported rapes on campus, 29 of which occurred in the residential halls. In addition, there were 34 reported cases of domestic violence, 32 of which took place within residential halls. By comparison, The University of Texas at Austin has around 15,000 more students than Texas State but had 29 reported on-campus rapes and only nine occurred in residence halls. Despite the high sexual violence numbers in the residence halls, freshmen at Texas State are required to live on campus. According to the Center for Women and Families, “‘The Red Zone’ is the period of time from the beginning of fall semester to Thanksgiving break when sexual assaults on U.S. college campuses spike” and freshman females are the most vulnerable during this time.
2 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
NEWS
Blake Leschber | News Editor | starnews@txstate.edu
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Campus voter registration efforts increase ahead of midterm election By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter Feb. 5 is the deadline to register to vote in the March 5 primary elections, and student organizations are working on campus to register eligible students. Texas Rising TXST and the College Democrats at Texas State began holding voter registration tables to increase student political engagement. "A lot of times young people today [are] disappointed with politics," Adriana Montoya, a member of Texas Rising and a deputized voter registrar, said. "But, you see the effects of your vote in city council, county commissioner and state legislative races, so it's really important for young people to realize how much power their vote has." According to Campus Vote Project, students who live in university resident halls are allowed to choose whether to vote in Hays County or the county in which their permanent address is located. Students can register to vote through the Secretary of State website, a printed application
or by contacting their local voter registrar. Jake Wildenstein, the political director of College Democrats at TXST, said he registers students to vote to increase turnout and political engagement in college students. "The most important part is getting people registered to vote," Wildenstein said. "We have pretty low voter turnout nationwide, so [I do] whatever I can do to get that improved." According to the Secretary of State, about 18% of registered voters, voted in the 2022 primary elections, a statistic Montoya wants to change. Primaries are elections in which voters cast their decision on which candidate gets their political party's official nomination in the November general election. Sample ballots for the Hays County primaries are available on the county's election webpage. Primary elections in Texas are open, meaning voters can choose whether or not they want to vote on a ballot with the Democratic or Republican candidates without being a registered member of either political party. More information on how to register to vote can be found at Votetexas.gov.
LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY IS FEB.5 INFOGRAPHIC BY MEAGAN WALTERS
SMCISD to purchase new electric buses By Candace Taggart News Reporter On Jan. 8, San Marcos Consolidated School District (SMCISD) received funds to purchase six electric school buses and chargers. The second round of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program (CSBP) granted these funds to SMCISD. The CSBP will help SMCISD with "offsetting" the costs of electric school buses, which can cost up to $375,000 and charging stations cost $75,000, according Anthony Fernandez, SMCISD communications director. “We are very excited about the possibility of bringing electric school buses to San Marcos,” Fernandez said in an email. -“The new buses will improve the student and driver experience while providing schools with a cleaner transportation option." SMCISD worked with Highland Fleets to secure the CSBP grant. Highland Fleets helps organizations and school districts with fleet electrification; replacing traditional gasoline-powered transportation with zero or low-emission vehicles. Highland Fleets doesn’t manufacture electric school buses but helps school districts obtain the buses and charger infrastructures. Claire Alford, eastern regional manager on the market development team for Highland Fleets, said the company doesn't want to displace jobs like drivers
and maintenance but instead move those workers to help with fleet management over the lifetime of their contracts. “We work with their local utility to get their depot upgraded and train their maintenance workers, school bus drivers or emergency responders,” Alford said. “Charge management includes making sure the buses are charged when they need to be and responsible use of the grid." Fernandez said there are many variables to consider in deciding whether to go electric. “We recognize the cost to sustain electric buses is far more expensive than the traditional bus we are all used to, and we are working through determining what our options are to move forward with our partnership with Highland Electric whether that be buying buses outright or leasing,” Fernandez said in an email. Highland Fleets tries to offer fleets at a price that is budget neutral compared to what a school district pays to operate its diesel fleet, according to Alford. “There’s approximately 95% [fewer] parts in an electric school bus, which means a lot less maintenance and lower maintenance costs,” Alford said. According to Thomas Ptak, assistant professor of geography and environmental studies, creating electricity has never been cheaper than now through solar panel production. “By taking advantage of the economic realities of electrification and renewable energy generation, not
only does it clean the air up for our children [and] address bigger issues like human-induced climate change, but it also saves us money," Ptak said. According to Ptak, the electrification of buses is part of a broader phenomenon called energy transitions, which are bigger renewable energy implementations happening on multiple scales and countries with the main focus being decarbonization. “Electrification is an important component of these broader energy transitions taking place, and when you have something like a smaller school district taking part in it, it's interesting to think about the possibilities this creates,” Ptak said. Anthony Camarena, a sophomore at San Marcos High School, said he rides the bus for 20 minutes every morning and afternoon. “I think this grant is pretty cool because electric is the future,” Camarena said. “Our buses right now are pretty disgusting, so I’m hoping the new ones are cleaner and quieter than the ones we have.” Alford said younger students will have higher levels of particulate matter from “dirty” diesel buses because their undeveloped lungs cause them to breathe at a higher rate and inhale more. According to Ptak, the world is in a profound climate crisis, but starting small is still relevant to reducing emissions. “Cumulatively, six buses on their own might not have a big overall effect, but it's all the possibilities down the road and educating students about renewable energy,” Ptak said. “We can't change all of the places, but we can make changes at the local scale.”
Scan the QR code for more information on the Clean School Bus Program.
STAR FILE PHOTO
San Marcos CISD school buses, April 22, 2021, at Owen Goodnight Middle School.
Publication Info
Editorial Staff Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487
History: The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday of the spring and fall and once a month in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 3,500. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.
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3 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
NEWS
Blake Leschber | News Editor | starnews@txstate.edu
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
FROM FRONT ATHLETICS Vega said it's the job of the Student Government to make sure its campus community is heard. "I saw that there was a big outcry from students. There were [planned] protests. There were clubs dissenting against this choice. As a woman... I see this is just a really bad look for the university and it promotes violence and everything the university shouldn't represent," Vega said. "I really wanted to make sure that we held the university accountable, even though de Laura withdrew." Donavan Brown, Student Government parliamentarian and one of the senators at large, abstained for voting on the legislation. While he said he loves the reasoning of the legislation, he fears the passing of it would damage the relationship of upper administration and Student Government.
"I love the intention of the legislation. I think the timing of it is off, that's the only thing," Brown said. "If [administration] sees we're fighting against them, they're less likely to help us out with Student Government things in the future." Additionally, Brown believes the university realized its mistake. "The timing may impact us negatively, but all in all, I think the university already realized what they did and got a ton of backlash for it and they don't need more of it," Brown said. According to Brown, Student Government represents the student body. De Laura signed to play quarterback for Texas State on Jan. 17, one day after settling a civil lawsuit on Jan. 16.
After The University Star published an article about de Laura settling the civil case, Texas State athletics released a statement to The Star from G.J. Kinne. "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," Kinne said in the statement. De Laura withdrew on Jan 24. On Jan. 24 Texas State released a one-sentence statement about de Laura's withdrawal. “Jayden de Laura has withdrawn as a student at Texas State University and will not be a part of the Texas State football program,” the statement said.
FROM FRONT ENVIRONMENT When San Marcos entered Stage 2 drought restrictions, the daily high water level measured at 90.9 feet below land surface. Following recent rain, the water level measured at 86.0 feet below land surface on Jan. 24. Despite the improving conditions, Mace said San Marcos will need more favorable weather in the coming months to end the drought. "These rains feel good, in part because we haven't had good rains for quite some time, but it's not enough," Mace said. "We're going to need a lot more to come out of this drought both for surface and groundwater resources." El Niño is a reoccurring weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean that push-
es warm water toward the North American West Coast. Mace said he hopes El Niño will bring wetter conditions in Texas within the coming months to improve on the drought. Virginia Parker, executive director of the San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF), said students should be educated on Texas State's water infrastructure to push for water conservation by their leaders. "The students have a direct line to their professors and staff to advocate for Texas State to be the gold standard for water reuse... Texas State should be leading the charge," Parker said. "A way students can really make a difference is to push the university at which they're studying to be
the best of the best because that's who's providing the water for most students if they're on campus." Parker said students should utilize the river for recreation while being aware of how they are conserving water during the drought. "Texas State students use the San Marcos River quite heavily, which is wonderful because they ought to care for it," Parker said. "Students learning and spreading awareness about how to properly care for the river can be a great asset to the community." Students like Nick Moore, a marketing junior, have been cutting down on their water usage to help alleviate the drought. "I've been taking quicker showers late-
ly to not use as much water," Moore said. "Being more mindful of my water use helps me conserve more day-to-day. Parker said the drought has let the SMRF educate the community on their water source and how to conserve it. "The only good thing about the drought is that it's something that when people go to the river, they can physically see a change," Parker said. "So, it's an opportunity for us to educate people on where the river comes from... and on conservation measures." For information on water conservation visit Texas State's Water Conservation Tips & Tricks.
Scan the QR code for more information on current drought restrictions.
PHOTO BY FELIX MENKE
River-goers play a game of volleyball standing up due to the low river levels, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, at the San Marcos River in San Marcos.
4 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 Jen Nguyen | Creative Services Director | starcreative@txstate.edu
DRAW HERE
GAMES Tuesday, January 30, 2023
5 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
OPINIONS
Rhian Davis | Opinions Editor | staropinion@txstate.edu
Tuesday, January 30, 2023
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.
The Main Point is an opinion written by The University Star’s Editorial Board. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of our entire publication.
FROM FRONT MAIN POINT It is clear Texas State has a problem within the dorms that needs to be addressed. Living on campus and in student housing is supposed to be a comfortable experience; students should not have to worry about their well-being while they’re in their homes. As the university takes on bigger and bigger freshman classes, more safety measures must be put in place. “When you have more humans living here, there are more folks who have the ability to end up in some of these situations that are Clery reportable,” Bill Mattera, executive director of Housing and Residential Life, said in an Oct. 11 news article. In spite of a larger than ever student enrollment, there was a shortage of seven patrolling University Police Department (UPD) officers in October, according to an article from The University Star. On a
campus as big as Texas State, a shortage that significant makes a difference in the safety and security promised to students when they step foot on campus. “We’re down officers on the street,” Matt Carmichael, UPD police chief, said in an Oct. 11 news article. “So out of our authorized staffing level, we’re down seven [officers] and three are always assigned to Round Rock… and that does make a difference.” So what does it mean to be a student on the Texas State campus right now? It means being alert when walking alone, traveling with friends, not wearing headphones when walking to class, having our heads on a constant swivel to stay aware of our surroundings and being disappointed in university officials who should be doing everything to keep us safe.
University officials must ensure they stay connected to the wishes of the student body. Listen when students say there is a problem, promote resources available to those in need and don't make decisions that could put students at risk. The fact university officials embraced de Laura with open arms and hoped for him to be the face of Texas State football speaks volumes about where their values truly stand: money, not students. Students organizing to call for de Laura's removal was a step in the right direction. However, the fight is far from over. The student body must make their voices heard by continuing to put pressure on Texas State University.
Summer courses should be more accessible By Emma Hall Opinions Contributor
ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON WARE
Clearview AI is unsuitable for Hays County residents By James Phillips Opinions Columnist On Dec. 5, 2023, Hays County Commissioners Court approved a request from Sheriff Gary Cutler to allow the use of Clearview AI's facial recognition software. This new software is a facial recognition technology the Hays County Sheriffs will use for "identifying potential suspects from photographs and recorded videos." This embrace of a powerful AI software by law enforcement groups ignores the reality of this problematic AI software and the biases of those using it. To start with, it must be pointed out that the software is not artificial intelligence but is, according to The University Star, learning models "trained on millions of faces to be able to identify a single person out of a sample of over 12 million individuals." However, the software has been proven to have massive problems. "Face surveillance is the most dangerous of the many new technologies available to law enforcement," according to a report by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). "Facial analysis algorithms misclassified Black women nearly 35% of the time, while nearly always getting it right for white men." An article by The New York Times, said "civil liberty advocates believe Clearview’s expansive database of photos violates privacy, because the images, though public on the web, were collected without people’s consent." Many nations such as "Canada, Australia, Britain, France, Italy and Greece" have illegalized the software now approved for usage by Hays County due to its privacy violations. The software, far from being the cutting edge of technology, is instead incredibly problematic. Not only does it fail to accurately judge individuals on their race, but it violates the basic rights of privacy. It doesn't help either that many Texas law enforcement groups using AI facial recognition software have deep problems themselves when it comes to fairly treating minorities, with a report by the ACLU stating "police in Texas are not only racially profiling, but are also policing in an inefficient, ineffective way." The same report by the ACLU found "six out of every seven law enforcement agencies in
Texas reported searching Blacks and Latinos at higher rates." These biased law enforcement agencies can, and very often do, make mistakes when investigating cases; these mistakes - supercharged with the power of AI tech - can have horrible effects on innocent individuals. One example comes from a Harris County man who sued Macy's and Sunglass Hut after the two companies "relied on error-prone facial recognition technology to falsely accuse him of armed robbery," according to a report from CBS News Sacramento. The individual was arrested and imprisoned for two weeks after both corporations' in-house facial recognition AI matched his face with the actual robber - the only problem was, however, he was in Sacramento at the time of the robbery. Not only was an innocent individual held for two weeks for a crime he did not commit, but according to his lawsuit, he was "[assaulted] by three men [in the prison], leaving permanent injuries." To put it all in perspective, a law enforcement agency in a state with a well-documented issue of problematic law enforcement agencies arrested an innocent man. This indirectly caused him to allegedly be a victim of a violent assault, all because of AI facial recognition software that cannot correctly match the face of a robber to the correct individual. There is only one solution to this problem - for citizens of San Marcos and greater Hays County to oppose the use of AI and the expansion of this technology to other law enforcement agencies. Residents can call the offices of members of the Hays County Commissioners Court and San Marcos City Council and inform them of the problems of AI technology. The use of AI by law enforcement is incredibly dangerous, but by opposing its greater introduction, residents can minimize the dangers posed by it. -James Phillips is an international relations 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
As students think about the future of their academic journeys, the question of how they are going to reach their goals arises. Students at Texas State have many options when it comes to choosing a path as they work toward their degree. However, this does not mean all options are easy. Texas State students have the option to take summer courses, but they are hardly accessible while trying to plan for them. Many students at Texas State take summer classes because of the timely benefits for their graduation plan. According to Forbes Advisor, college students choose to take a summer course to help boost their GPA, graduate on time or even graduate early. However, for Texas State students who want to take summer classes, it is difficult to find classes that fit within their already planned pathway for graduation. There are not enough summer class options to accommodate students who need to take them. Tania Trejo, a microbiology senior, tried to sign up for summer classes and ran into frustrating issues due to the lack of options. “I think there should be more of a variety on the amount of courses they offer,” Trejo said. “It definitely is more difficult than signing up for another term in the school year.” On the Texas State Self-Service page, the “Plan Ahead” feature offers a list of courses for both the fall and spring semesters of the next academic year, but not for the summer semester.
ILLUSTRATION BY DEVON CREW
This system does not allow students the same time to plan summer class schedules as they can for fall and spring which is a problem because registration is quickly approaching. According to the academic calendar of Texas State’s Office of the University Registrar, registration for summer 2024 opens April 1. Students are not able to see what courses are offered until registration opens. This timeline does not give students enough time to contact their adviser to see if the classes offered align with their plan. When a student talks with an adviser, oftentimes they are given a "flowchart" of what courses to take to follow their graduation timeline. However, this catalog does not show what courses are available in the summer. “One thing I don’t really like about the amount of classes they offer is that they would put [options] in the catalog, not just open the options when summertime comes,” Trejo said. “It’s bad because people already have a plan on what they want to sign up for.”
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6 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
SPORTS
David Cuevas | Sports Editor | starsports@txstate.edu
Tuesday, January 30 , 2024
Hometown guard shines with fresh playstyle By Kobe Arriaga Sports Reporter Despite its lackluster season, Texas State men’s basketball has some newfound leadership from its young up-and-coming freshman guard Kaden Gumbs. Gumbs utilizes his youth by averaging 31 minutes per game and has appeared in all 20 games of the 2023-24 season. Box score stats don’t typically show the wellrounded aspect of Gumbs' game. The shifty young guard excites the home crowd every week with his fast-paced play style, which sparks his team whenever he’s on the court. Gumbs is consistently in attack mode, which has enabled him to average 10 points while bringing in nearly four assists and four rebounds per game this season. Head Coach Terrence Johnson believes Gumbs has faced more adversity at Texas State than he has in the past two years, given the Bobcat basketball squad's current struggles. “He owns his mistakes and never makes an excuse,” Johnson said. "He’s young, and he’s trying to lead more from the position than from the classification.” It’s evident when watching Gumbs that the San
Marcos native is accustomed to having the ball in his hands at the point guard position and prioritizes protecting the ball and making the right pass every possession. Dan Miller, Gumbs' high school coach at San Marcos High School, always remembers him for his quick style of play and ability to snatch a rebound on the defensive end and finish on the other side of the court in seconds. “He’s quick. I think how fast he can go from point A to point B was most surprising to me,” Miller said. “It’s probably easier to play fast in high school, but he can still do it at a high level in college too." Miller said he still remembers working with the 18-year-old guard for the first time and saw Gumbs’ true potential even before he committed to Texas State. “I knew he was a special point guard from the very first moment I worked with him,” Miller said. "He has a lot of intangibles, and he’s very athletic. He always wanted to be good.” Although the Bobcats are in the midst of a disappointing 2023-24 season, with only one win in their last 10 games, Gumbs continues to lead each play and looks to translate his productivity toward winning more games in his first season.
2024 Sofball positional breakdown By Jackson Kruse Sports Contributor Pitchers The Bobcats have a very strong pitching rotation. Senior Jessica Mullins saw the most time on the mound by a landslide last season, pitching 201.1 innings — double the innings of the runner-up. Mullins has had a very impressive collegiate career. Across three seasons, she has an ERA of 1.80 and 599 strikeouts across 606.1 innings. Her accolades include making the NFCA All-Central First Team, Sun Belt pitcher of the year and pitching a no-hitter. Mullins is arguably one of the best college softball pitchers in the country and will be counted on to be the ace of the staff once again in 2024. Tori McCann, now a graduate student, pitched the second most innings on the team last year with 100.1. This was a career-high for McCann, and it may have been the best season of her career. She started in 17 of her 26 appearances and posted an ERA of 2.23, striking out 62. Since she can clearly handle the workload, expect her to resume her duty in 2024. After Mullins and McCann, senior Karsen Pierce pitched the most for Texas State last season. She posted an ERA of 2.45 with 33 strikeouts in 77 innings. She started in 14 of her 20 appearances and should be the third pitcher in the rotation this year. Besides the big three, three other pitchers saw time on the mound in 2023. Among those include Presley Glende, who posted a great 2.14 ERA in 16.1 innings. Analisa Soliz pitched a 3.42 ERA in 14.1 innings and Bailee Welsh posted a 6.18 ERA in 5.2 innings. All of those pitch-
ers will be returning in 2024 and should see some time on the mound. Freshmen pitchers Madison Azua and Abigail Jennings could see time on the mound as well. With high expectations every year, the Texas State Softball team should be very competitive in 2024. With stars like Sara Vanderford and Jessica Mullins, there is no reason they shouldn’t be a top team in the Sun Belt. Other Offensive Players Its very possible that one or more of these players could earn themselves a starting spot on the lineup, and the Bobcats have roster depth in case something goes wrong. Sophomore Emilee Baker is an outfield option. She had 41 at-bats her freshman year and hit an outstanding .333 with a .417 on-base percentage. It was a small sample size, but she put up impressive stats. Freshman Dani Laughlin is another outfield option. Senior Claire Ginder missed most of 2023 season. Since she was mostly an everyday starter in the infield before that, she is likely to see playing time this season. The team has plenty of good infield options this year, so it may be difficult for everyone to get as much playing time as they would like. Sophomore Braylin Pannill is also an option in the infield. A lot of the players who aren’t expected to start are listed as utility players, meaning they can play several different positions. Having the ability to play multiple positions is extremely valuable to a team. Listed utility players include redshirt freshman Kamden Hutton, sophomore Sydney Harvey, junior Bailee Welsh and freshman Peyton Young.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Texas State freshman guard Kaden Gumbs (11) dribbles the ball down the court, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at Strahan Arena.
2024 Baseball positional breakdown: Infielders By Jackson Kruse Sports Contributor Catcher Redshirt senior August Ramirez started ten games at catcher last year but made most of his starts at DH. Sophomores Rashawn Galloway and Chris Bernal also play catcher, giving the position depth this season. With his skills Ramirez has a good chance of being named starting catcher with last year’s starter, Peyton Lewis, no longer on the team. Galloway hit a slash line (Batting average/ on-base percentage/ slugging percentage) of .290/.353/.387 last year, so he could see time behind the dish. He only started six games but will get more time with Lewis gone. This season could see Ramirez and Galloway dividing time at the backstop and designated hitter position in 2024. Bernal may also get more of a look here in his second year. First Base The primary first baseman in 2023 was junior Daylan Pena. Pena hit .270 with seven home runs and 44 RBI last season. He had a high on-base percentage of .368 last year and .392 the year before. With his remarkable ability to get on base and hit with decent power, Pena will be the starting first baseman again this year. Senior Cade Manning could take some reps at first base when needed, as he started seven games there last season. Second Base If any position is set in stone, it's likely second base. Sophomore Chase Mora is coming off an incredible season where he posted an outstanding slash line of .316/.382/.653 with 17 home runs in his first year as a Bobcat.
In addition to his impressive stats, he was selected to the Perfect Game Freshman AllAmerican Second Team last year. He became the first player in NCAA history to hit a home run in each of his first three plate appearances. Mora is looking to continue his success next season as the starting second baseman. Third Base Junior Ryan Leary started most of the games at third base last season. Based on his offensive performance, most assume he is the best option to start in 2024. Leary put up a .348 on-base percentage last year and more impressively posted a slugging percentage of .508 with seven home runs. Shortstop Like second base, there is no competition regarding this position. Davis Powell transferred from Grayson College in 2023. He was a standout player at Grayson College, and his offensive performance for the Bobcats this past season showed everyone why Texas State grabbed him. He hit .337/.431/.522 in his first year for the Bobcats. Powel is expected to be one of the best players for the Bobcats this season and to continue his so-far successful career. Other Bobcats with shortstop experience include senior Peyton Benesh and junior Ryan Leary.
Stars of The Week Kiana Graham Senior tennis player Single set win (First single win of season)
Sofia Fortuno Junior tennis player Single set win
(Single set win) PHOTO BY CARLY EARNEST
Texas State senior pitcher Jessica Mullins (4) warms up before the fifth inning, Tuesday, April. 12, 2023, at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
7 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
LIFE & ARTS
Marisa Nuñez | Life and Arts Editor | starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
Tuesday, January 30 , 2024
FROM FRONT MARIACHI After winning the TXST's Got Talent Show in October 2023, Cardona was selected from the participants to sing ranchera during halftime. The singer's long time friend Madeline Campbell, a health sciences junior, recorded his halftime performance and was just as blown away as she was when she first heard his voice in high school. “It's actually funny because I've heard him sing that song so many times because we'll be in the car and he'll be blasting the music and just start belting it,” Campbell said. “[I've] always [been] really blown away every time he pulls the mic down in his performance and shows how powerful his lungs are. It blows [me] away every single time.” In an attempt to learn Spanish, Cardona began to enjoy listening to ranchera music five years ago. Wanting to connect with his other family members, especially his grandma who only speaks Spanish, Cardona was motivated to learn Spanish as his second language. Throughout high school, Cardona took four Spanish classes, building strong connections with his teachers. His Spanish two and four teacher Dana Suarez, was impressed by his high school talent show performance and said his pronunciation was perfect. “It's just so much fun to watch him,” Suarez said. “It's great that he gets to use his Spanish. I know he's been able to connect better with his grandparents through the Spanish
he's learned. So I really enjoy watching him.” Cardona’s passion for learning Spanish was recognized by his Spanish one teacher, Elizabeth Lopez, who is happy but not surprised that he has gone far with his talent for singing ranchera. “He was a very strong student," Lopez said. "He came in with this positive attitude. Other kids would always complain…and he never once complained about the assignments. He was always the first one to finish.” Singing ranchera music makes Cardona feel closer to his Mexican heritage. After his idol Vicente Fernández passed in 2021, Cardona became passionate about keeping the tradition of ranchera music alive through learning and performing traditional songs. “The biggest part I like about singing is being able to share my culture,” Cardona said. “I love being able to show other people what cultures lie around the world, especially in Mexico. I mean, not a lot of people really see that here in Texas.” Besides his talent for singing, Cardona remains very passionate about his future in the business industry and plans to take any opportunity to keep on singing ranchera music. He will audition to participate in the TXST’s Got Talent Show again this Fall. “If I ever got the opportunity to do this as a job, a career, a side gig, absolutely I would do it because I love to sing,” Cardona said.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Business management sophomore Pablo Cardona taking a bow at the men's basketball halftime show, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Strahan Arena.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Business management sophomore Pablo Cardona performs "Que Chulada de Mujer" at the men's basketball halftime show, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Strahan Arena.
Woman-owned coffee shop gives TXST students a study atmosphere By Adrianna Villanueva Life and Arts Contributor For years, Stellar Coffee Co. (Stellar Coffee) was a hot spot amoung some students, providing a calm study atmosphere. When the coffee shop closed its doors on Sept. 9, 2023, it created an opportunity for the De La Cruz family to honor what Stellar Coffee did by creating a bright pink atmospheric coffeehouse for students to study in.
The Sweet Shop, located at 232 N LBJ Drive, offers a calm space for students to study and enjoy sweet treats made at the shop. The woman-owned coffee shop has more in mind what it wants to do with the community and students. "We hope to provide a calm quiet study place for students to be able to get their work done and to treat themselves with a little dessert and coffee," Owner Debbie De La Cruz said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEBBIE DE LA CRUZ
Owner of The Sweet Spot Debbie De La Cruz and her daughters recieving recognition at ribbon cutting ceromony, Jan. 18, 2024 at The Sweet Spot.
The Sweet Spot's goal is to offer as much as they can for students. Free WiFi for paying customers, a relaxing atmosphere for students to study in and new desserts and foods are ways the business has begun working toward its goal. Debbie first created The Sweet Spot with her two daughters Katarina and Kasandra De La Cruz. The Sweet Spot started as a dessert food truck in New Braunfels in April 2021 used for wedding catering and big community events. After reading an article about former coffee shop Stellar Coffee shutting down, The Sweet Spot opened its doors in San Marcos in October 2023. “We made contact with the owner of the building and took a little tour of the space and decided we wanted to open up The Sweet Spot here,” Debbie said. Katarina has a small cake business part of The Sweet Spot called Vintage Cakes. Debbie wanted to have a physical storefront for desserts that she and her two daughters make. “My goals for Vintage Cakes is to hire bakers," Katarina said. "Whether it be a Texas State student or anyone else qualified to make cakes every day. That way the fridge that holds the cakes is always fully stocked for anyone who needs a last minute." The De La Cruz family decided to stick with the shop's roots and added coffee and other foods to the menu. “Being that students knew this location as a coffee shop we figured we would
add coffee to our menu," Debbie said. "That way students can enjoy coffee and dessert while studying.” Daniela Neri, a senior anthropology major, enjoys going to The Sweet Spot for the atmosphere and coffee. Neri enjoys seeing a woman-owned business getting recognition and hopes to make The Sweet Spot her go to study space. "When I study I need a nice atmosphere to work in," Neri said. "There are many places on campus that can have a calm and quiet space but I enjoy looking for new places to study and The Sweet Spot has that welcoming atmosphere that a coffee shop should have. They have amazing treats and snacks to offer and the Horchata Coffee is my go to when going to the shop." The Sweet Spot celebrated its ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by The San Marcos Area Chamber's Ambassador Club on Jan. 18, welcoming it as a new member of the San Marcos business community. With The Sweet Spot getting more recognition, Debbie hopes to plan more events for students and the community to be a part of. "We hope we can have events like decorating tote bags, workshops and allowing small businesses to set up in our shop to show support for the community and possibly even inspire students with small businesses to set up events with us as well," Debbie said.
STAR SNAPS
8 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
Tuesday, January 30 , 2024
Kobe Arriaga | Multimedia Editor | starmultimedia@txstate.edu
THIS WEEK IN SAN MARCOS (Left) Austin-based band Oshera performs at Alchemy Records in downtown San Marcos, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2024.
(Right) Texas State senior Rory Schaefer-Preston performs as Natalia in Texas State's production of "Three Sisters," Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, in the Performing Arts Center.
PHOTO BY LUCAS KRAFT
PHOTO BY MEG BOLES
Texas State senior Mattie Fossberg scopes out the vintage cars at Zelick's Classic Car Meetup, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, near downtown San Marcos.
PHOTO BY FELIX MENKE
PHOTO BY KATHERINE REA
(Left) Author Jonathan Escoffery reads from his book, "If I Survive You", to students and fans during his live reading Q&A, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Alkek Library. (Right) Texas State business management senior Danny Garcia (left) hits the basketball court with his brother (right), Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, at Sewell Park. (Bottom Left) Members of the Texas State Climbing Club fool around with each other and climbing equipment, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, at the organization fair.
PHOTO BY ROSEY MENDOZA
PHOTO BY FELIX MENKE
(Bottom Right) Texas State elementary education sophomore Adelyn Biondi (left) asks exercise sports science senior and team director of Delight Ministries Katherine Stoute (right) about the club, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, at the organization fair.
PHOTO BY FELIX MENKE
PHOTO BY FELIX MENKE