Back to school issue
Texas State introduces rotating food truck system
By Brooke Miller News Contributor
Texas State University Dining is offering a variety of food options through a rotation of food trucks on the Quad beginning Aug. 26.
The rotating food trucks will be on campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and are stationed between Evans Liberal Arts and Flowers Hall. The current schedule features two new food trucks per day on campus.
“A lot of people want more local food, more diverse food options, more local owner partnerships to take place and I think this is a good direction,” Chin Hong Chua, Chartwells’ resident district manager said.
Students can use Bobcat Bucks, credit or debit cards to pay at the food trucks, according to Chua. Chua said some food trucks might
TXST sports rise in attendance after Damphousse and Kinne’s induction
By Brendan Fielding Assistant Sports Editor
Many called Texas State a sleeping giant due to its sporting programs’ infrastructures in past years, and in 2023, the cumulative efforts of the student body and its new president and head football coach resulted in a rise in school spirit and attendance.
Texas State President Kelly Damphousse took his position in April 2022, aiming to elevate the university to its fullest potential.
Through his work with Bobcat Athletics, Damphousse elevated Texas State’s sense of class by helping it achieve its highest average football fan attendance in school history with 21,184.
offer their own apps, allowing students to order ahead or arrange for delivery. However, unlike other campus dining options, food from the trucks cannot be delivered via GrubHub.
As student enrollment numbers increase every year, Texas State Dining’s immediate concern was to have more places for students to eat during lunchtime, Chua said.
Texas State began construction for this project on July 25, and completed it on Aug. 16. The work created a designated area for the food trucks, equipped with electricity and data lines to allow card payments.
During the first week of the food truck rotation Mexican food, burgers, BBQ and wings are some of the food the trucks will serve.
SEE DINING PAGE 3
2024 Texas State football season preview
By Jacob De Luna Sports Reporter
After a historic 2023 season for Texas State football, which finished 8-5 and captured its long sought-after, first-ever bowl win, the team looks to build upon its foundation.
Head Coach G.J. Kinne said he doesn’t feel that the team is affected by the lofty anticipation for this upcoming season.
“I don’t think [the anticipation] really changes anything, especially after last year when we opened up with Baylor,” Kinne said. “People talk about us and Troy in the West [Division] for the Sun Belt, but for me, it doesn’t change anything.”
Like in 2023’s preseason, Kinne placed a heavy emphasis on recruiting this offseason for the Bobcats as they looked to bolster the roster even further on both sides of the ball. SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 10
The Lady Picoza Mexican food truck sits by Flowers Hall, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, on campus.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
(Left) Freshman students (Left to Right) April Gomez, Emily Guerrero, Maribel Sanchez and Marciela Lopez pose for a picture on the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at the LBJ Mall. (Left) Bobcat trail is filled with students walking to and from class on the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, on campus.
PHOTOS BY NATHALIE YANEZ
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
INFOGRAPHIC BY BLAKE LESCHBER
Texas State junior running back Ismail Mahdi (21) breaks a tackle for extra yardage versus Troy, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in UFCU Stadium.
TXST transit shifts gears: from parking to shuttles
By Lucciana Choueiry News Editor
Students are no strangers to the struggles of finding a parking spot open on and adjacent to Texas State’s campus. Those struggles have sometimes led students to look to alternative transportation options such as the Bobcat Shuttle.
Now, both parking and shuttles are undergoing some changes beginning fall 2024.
Texas State adds bigger shuttles to its fleet
Bigger maroon and gold buses are roaming the roads of San Marcos. Transportation Services introduced four new 60-foot articulated shuttles, each capable of carrying up to 100 students, almost double the passenger capacity of the current shuttles. Additionally, Texas State is adding six new 40-foot shuttles, the same size as the current ones but with an increased capacity of 75 passengers.
These articulated shuttles are replacing some of the current Texas
State shuttles that have reached the end of their lifespan as defined by the Federal Transit Administration. The new buses will replace 10 non-functional buses in the fleet.
The current Bobcat Shuttle fleet is made up of 46 of the 40-foot buses that have a passenger capacity of up to 60 passengers, including those standing.
The articulated shuttles will only run on routes 10 (UFCU Stadium), 12 (Bobcat Village), 20 (Aquarena Springs) and 22 (Mill Street). The regular 40-foot buses will also still run on those routes.
“[Transdev] said these routes are the ones that are having a lot of students overflow so that’s why we chose those four specific routes,” Rodrigo Gonzales, manager of Texas State’s transit operations said.
Gonzales describes the 60-foot shuttles as buses that bend. The bus is split into two pieces that bend right down the middle, with a center turntable that connects the two parts.
“The newer buses will come with a newer engine, better GPS systems
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and better voice enunciation. So now when the bus is coming to a stop it will announce ‘now approaching this stop’,” Gonzales said.
Students riding the articulated buses still have to pull the yellow cord to signal when their stop is approaching, as drivers are not obligated to stop at every designated stop, Gonzales said. Gonzales said one of the major reasons for bringing in the articulated shuttles is overcrowding.
Texas State’s Transportation Services has used the current fleet for around a decade, and according to the Federal Transit Administration, vehicles typically start to deteriorate after about 10 years.
Gonzales also pointed to the ongoing rise in university enrollment as a contributing factor to overcrowding. Texas State’s freshman class has set records for the past three years, with 7,910 students enrolling in fall 2023. The final numbers for fall 2024 will be available after census day on Sept. 11.
Gonzales said for the past two months drivers were testing the buses around town to see what roads they are unable to drive on.
“It’s also so that citizens and students get used to [the shuttles] because they’re so big,” Gonzales said. “We met with the city to see if the roads are wide enough and we’re at a good place right now.”
To accommodate the new articulated shuttles, drivers underwent specialized training on a closed course to ensure they were prepared to operate the larger vehicles. Texas State did not hire new drivers but trained those already employed.
Gonzales said the university hopes to eventually replace all 46 buses in the Bobcat Shuttle fleet but he said Texas State does not have the allocated funds to do so all at once.
Luis Barbosa, a political science sophomore and frequent shuttle user, relies on the bus daily to get from Speck Street Garage to class. He believes introducing the new shuttles as the freshman class arrives on campus would help alleviate the overcrowding issue.
“There’s probably more students starting class during the fall so this is a good time to do that so I feel very positive about it,” Barbosa said.
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Texas State decreases commuter parking Parking at Texas State has been a hot topic, sparking conversations across campus– it’s mentioned over 300 times in the university’s 2023-29 master plan. Now, the campus will see more changes to parking, specifically regarding commuter lots.
Beginning this fall, all commuter parking will be located east of the San Marcos River, which means the closest parking lot to campus for students with the purple commuter pass is the Sewell North lot by the park, which is a 10-minute walk from The Quad. What this also means is both Speck Street Garage and James Street parking lot, located west of the river, are no longer available to commuters.
Speck Street Garage is now rezoned to Residence Hall Green Zone to accommodate the opening of the new Cibolo and Alamito residence halls, according to a July 24 email from Finance and Support Services.
The email also wrote James Street parking lot is closed until further notice due to the construction of the new Canyon residence hall, also known as James Street Housing.
“Canyon Hall is not expected to be completed until July 2025 and the STEM Classroom building is not expected to be completed until July 2026. The closure of the James Street lot was done… to accommodate these construction projects,” Texas State said in an email to The Star.
James Street parking lot may take up to two years to open up for students again.
According to Texas State’s parking map, anyone with a valid permit, except gold, can park in the designated purple lots from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday– it is not secluded to just commuters.
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Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, August 27, 2024. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor-in-chief.
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The new articulated 60-foot bus makes a routine stop at UFCU Stadium, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in San Marcos.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
“A lot of these food trucks are either minority or women-owned and they are local,” Chua said. “We will have that rotation on our website so that people know what they will have and what kind of truck is rolling into that location.”
Lady Picoza, a Mexican food truck, was stationed on campus Aug. 26. Owner Gabriela Mondragon moved from Mexico City to Central Texas in 2008 and has been operating for over fourteen years primarily serving at a military base in San Antonio.
Mondragon plans to serve her entire menu, including a variety of vegetarian options. The food and sauces at Lady Picoza are prepared fresh daily, allowing students to customize their orders to suit their preferences, she said.
“I know some students don’t have family here, so we try to make it as homemade and as family cooked style food so they can have that opportunity to eat something healthy as well,” Gabriela's business partner Deby Mondragon said.
Deby said she plans to continue Lady Picoza's involvement with the rotating food truck program and return to Texas State's campus in the future.
A lot of these food trucks are either minority or women-owned and they are local. We will have that rotation on our website so that people know what they will have and what kind of truck is rolling into that location.”
Chin Hong Chua Chartwells' resident district manager
Texas State also has a Yapa Empanadas food truck stationed outside Academic Services Building South along with an AJs Ranch Road Grill food truck, which will be available throughout the entire semester.
According to Chua, the food trucks will be evaluated based on their revenue and popularity to assess which food
options are sustainable for the campus long-term.
“If the food truck has some healthy elements and [it is] getting a lot of traction you will see more of this kind of food truck on campus, but if it is not, unfortunately [we won't] be able to sustain it,” Chua said.
According to Whitney Villarreal,
director of marketing and guest experience at Texas State Dining, her department conducts surveys each fall to gather student feedback on their preferences and dislikes.
“I feel like we get really good feedback like students are happy with the variety but if they can get more, they want to see more and we've seen they want more variety,” Villarreal said.
Madeline Layton, a fashion merchandising sophomore, said the current dining options on campus are lacking fresh, healthy options.
“Food makes everyone happy, and so I think if there is more variety and better food then everyone will totally agree with [food trucks] and love it,” Layton said.
Chua said Texas State Dining has plans
to continue to expand and change as the population grows.
One upcoming project is a 24-hour self-service market at the Student Recreation Center, which will feature technology similar to Amazon's Just Walk Out. Sensors and cameras will track purchases and charge accounts automatically. The market is scheduled to open next year.
Other changes students will see this fall is the transformation of Burger 101 and Blimpie American Sub Shop at The Den to an express dining hall– buffet style like Harris Dining Hall. Blimpie will be relocated to the UAC cafe this school year.
“We will continue to expand and change as student trends do. We have more international students coming so our food options also need to be on par with their expectations,” Chua said.
New Title IX rules won't go into effect at TXST
By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter
The Supreme Court ruled that the Department of Education cannot enforce new Title IX regulations in states like Texas, where a court has blocked the rules.
The Department of Education's regulations amended Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 , which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or education program that receives federal aid, such as Texas State. The new amendment extends protections based on gender identity, sexual orientation and for pregnant students. The rules were initially proposed in 2022 but were not finalized until April 19, 2024.
A federal judge in Texas issued a hold on the new rules, which means transgender students at Texas State are unable to use restrooms or locker rooms that align with their gender identity. It also means using pronouns that do not align with a transgender student's gender identity is not considered harassment.
"The final regulations strengthen vital protections for students in our nation’s schools and provide clear rules to help schools meet their Title IX obligation to eliminate sex discrimination in their education programs and activities," a Department of Education release on the new Title IX rules said .
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on April 29 that he sued the Biden administration over the new rules. Paxton had previously sued the administration for trying to expand Title IX through informal means.
"While the Biden Administration initially attempted to implement this agenda through informal agency guidance, the Department of Education has now turned to formally amending the Code of Federal Regulations," the April 29 press release from the Office of the Attorney General wrote. "This rule violates existing federal law, ignores the Constitution, and denies women the protections that Title IX was intended to afford them."
Gov. Greg Abbott instructed Texas public universities to not comply with the new rules on May 8. Abbott cited multiple Texas laws that contradicts the new rules. One of those laws is Senate Bill 15, which passed in 2023 and made it illegal for athletes to compete on teams not aligned with their biological sex.
Scan the QR code to read the Department of Education's press release on Title IX changes.
"As I have already made clear, Texas will not comply with President Joe Biden’s rewrite of Title IX that contradicts the original purpose and spirit of the law to support the advancement of women," Abbott wrote in his letter to Texas universities. "Today, I am instructing every public college and university in the State of Texas to do the same."
On June 11, Justice Reed O'Connor, a federal district judge for the Northern District of Texas, issued a temporary injunction against the Department of Education to halt the enforcement of the Title IX changes.
O'Connor expanded his initial ruling on Aug. 14. The final ruling from O'Connor not only blocked the implementation of the new rules, but also blocked the Department of Education from enforcing any other rules that expanded Title IX to cover gender identity and sexual orientation.
"This expanded ruling is in addition to the injunction Attorney General Paxton secured in July 2024, stopping another rule promulgated by the DOE that would redefine Title IX to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” which prevents enforcement of that rule while the case continues," a press release from the Texas Attorney General's office said.
Jayce Hazell, a wildlife biology senior who identifies as gay, said Paxton and Abbott's opposition to the expansion of Title IX makes him feel like the state government does not support college students, especially ones who don't identify as straight.
"I'm not surprised [the state government] wouldn't side with LGBT people; they haven't in the past," Hazell said.
Hazell said there have been several instances where he did not feel safe or welcome on Texas State's campus due to his sexuality. He believes the Title IX expansion could change that for many LGBTQ+ students.
"I think that there's a lot of instances that LGBT people are afraid of being discriminated against in the school when it comes to the jobs, opportunities and treatment from other students," Hazell said.
The expanded Title IX rules remain on pause pending final litigation. This means students attending Texas State in the fall will not benefit from the expanded protections. It is likely the Supreme Court will have the final say on the issue.
Texas State University Systems did not respond to a request for comment.
Students gather by Lady Picoza and Bombass Burgers rotating food trucks Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, by Flowers Hall on Bobcat Trail.
TIMELINE BY MADELINE CARPENTER
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
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.
Clash of columns: Texas State parking zones
Expanded green parking makes campus safe and accessible
By Madison Green Opinions Columnist
Tension around parking has risen since Speck Garage was rezoned from hosting commuter and residential permits, to solely residential vehicles. Although the change might seem inconvenient, it offers a slew of benefits.
Overall, Speck converting to a green permit garage will promote the safety and welfare of students.
One of the main issues is students are often unable to locate a parking lot or garage proximal to their desired location. According to the 2024-25 parking map found on the Parking Services website, there are 14 areas where students with a green pass are able to park. Yet, this does not guarantee these green spaces are placed equally across campus.
Jenna Winslow, a music education senior, said when she had a green permit, finding a parking spot on west campus was more challenging than finding one on central campus.
“80% of the time I can not find a parking spot, no matter what time of day,” Winslow said. “I’ve spent 30 minutes in Speck before, driving around waiting for someone to leave, so I can take the parking spot.”
As a result of the locations of the garages, students might find it inconvenient or even unsafe to park in a green garage that is a far walk from their desired location.
“I was always frightened when I had to park far away from my dorm,” Winslow said. “We shouldn’t have to be walking in the dark alone with a bunch of stuff, especially being a freshman on campus.”
Although there are safety escorts offered through the University Police Department at night, students may still be forced to walk long distances while carrying heavy items like groceries or luggage during the day.
Hopefully, due to the new changes in Speck Garage, there will be less parking violations. Although Parking Services states, “the lack of a space never justifies parking illegally,” on their website, cars will park illegally alongside the road or in handicap spots, making the Texas State campus less safe and accessible.
Although it might seem that due to the movement of commuter spaces, more illegal parking will occur, this would not be a reasonable comparison as students with green passes would spend more time on campus since they would not drive back to an apartment or home.
Each year, the Texas State freshman class continues to grow. Last years freshmen class was around 7,900 students. No matter what parking pass students get, more parking would be beneficial.
Overall, the tension that has risen due to the change in the commuter parking zones overshadows the true opportunity. Texas State students benefit from more accessible parking spots across campus and the changes in green passes are a step in the right direction.
-Madison Green is an advertising and psychology senior
Texas State must resolve its unfavorable
parking pass system
By Emma Hall Opinions Columnist
The recent changes made to Texas State parking, including moving all commuter parking to the perimeter of campus, proves the university must be more conscious about accommodating all students.
In an email sent to students on July 24, Texas State Parking Services informed commuters they will only be able to park east of the river, roughly a twenty-minute walk from the Quad. The Speck Garage, which once housed purple permit parking, is now exclusively a green pass area.
Parking must be more inclusive to commuters as they heavily contribute to the student population and these changes offer unfavorable conditions.
The new parking zones only allow commuters to park on the perimeter of campus, which means finding a parking space and getting to class on time will become an even greater obstacle. Although students can take the shuttle, they will still have to wait in the heat outside for shuttles that often run late.
Natalie Munoz, a psychology senior, said the new changes are a step in the wrong direction and Bobcat Shuttles are often not much help.
The shuttle system runs Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There are also night routes that run until 9:30 p.m. However, many students often stay on campus late for activities or to study, meaning they are not able to take the shuttle back to the stadium.
“[The shuttle system] is pretty good but can get backed up,” Munoz said. “It has its good days and it has its bad. It can be inconsistent and has made me late to class before. Texas State needs to allow commuters to have closer parking.”
Another primary concern about the parking changes is safety of students who have classes late at night and have to walk about one mile on the edge of campus. Now that all commuters will be parking far from campus, it is essential students are educated on the resources they can use to stay safe.
Police Chief at the University Police Department (UPD), Matthew Carmichael, said the university offers several safe ways to transport students at any time of day or night. These options are overseen by UPD.
“Any [Texas State] student in the city of San Marcos can call for an emergency safe ride,” Carmichael said. “That’s on top of the safe ride services we’re already providing in partnership with student government.”
NiteCats was joined with emergency safe rides on campus and is now called Bobcat Safe Rides, which is accessible to students by calling 512-245-1689, requesting a ride and presenting a Bobcat ID at the time of pick-up.
Despite the safety measures students can take to accommodate the new parking zones, this system still proves to be inconvenient. For the sake of students, specifically commuters, the university must change the noninclusive parking zones.
-Emma Hall is a journalism junior
2024 Bobcat football could put Texas State on map
By Jacob De Luna Opinions Contributor
The Texas State Bobcats football program is coming off a historic 2023-24 season with its first ever bowl game win. The Bobcats now have the potential to create positive effects not only for the football program, but all university departments.
Continued success from the football program will help the university by bringing in more revenue, increasing the rate of student enrollment and creating an exciting campus environment.
The University of Alabama is a great example of how a football team can bring in tremendous revenue for a university. With a whopping $77 million in revenue, the Alabama athletic department contributed $6.5 million to the academics department. This money has the potential to be used for better facilities for students on campus.
Sports Business Journal wrote donors are far more likely to donate to teams at the top of their conference.
An example of this is the Clemson Tigers between 2016 and 2019. After a pair of national championships, Clemson saw a nearly $20 million increase in donation revenue, proving teams who win consistently will get an increase in monetary support. If the Bobcats have another successful season, the team will garner attention and bring in more revenue for the university to put toward academic programs and campus life.
football team could lead to an overall better campus environment.
According to Scholars Strategy Network, leaders around campus typically point to athletic for the community to bond with. A good campus-community can lead to better academic experiences for students.
A university having a successful football reputation attracts students who are drawn to colleges based on recent athletic-success, according to KXRB Radio. With a strong football program comes happy-spirits on campus, creating a positive environment which can draw more applications.
The Bobcats football team brings a positive impact by hosting events such as “Bobcats and Bubbles.”
Although successful collegiate football teams can improve a university campus, it must be long-term and sustained success in order to see desired improvements. A university that has recent success on the football field but has not done it longterm, is not yet likely to see university improvements.
nity-wide confidence. According to Action Network, the Bobcats are projected to make the newly-formatted 12 team College Football Playoff. College football insider Brett McMurphy picked Texas State to finish as the 12th seed to match up with the Ohio State Buckeyes, the number five seed.
Students wearing maroon and gold are ready to pack the newly named and renovated UFCU Stadium. If the Texas State Bobcats have an impressive season featuring a conference championship or a playoff berth, they will open doors for the university to bring in more revenue, student enrollment and improve the university’s profile around the country.
- Jacob De Luna is a journalism junior
In addition to monetary benefits for the university, the success of the
The Texas State hype for the football team is no longer just commu-
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ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIE PICKERRELL
MAP BY MELANIE CAMARA
Three locals start run club to build community
By Marisa Nuñez Editor-in-Chief
At 11 a.m. every Sunday in Sewell Park, an inclusive group of runners cross over Sewell Park Bridge beginning their weekly club activity.
The new Bikini Hill Run Club hosts a two-mile run each Sunday, providing locals with more than a space to run. It is a community where people can make friends to enjoy running with.
“We wanted to build a community out here in San Marcos,” Zane Sutten, a Bikini Hill Run Club co-founder, said. “There’s a lot of community around us but there’s nothing like this, you can’t really get active with the community.
Inspired by other run clubs in surrounding areas, Bikini Hill Run Club’s co-founders Sutten, Levi Jamail and Randall Martinez hosted their first run on June 16. Since its introduction, the club gained 750 followers on Instagram and had up to 30 runners come out to join them.
“We want to make something really consistent that people could rely on happening every single week, so that’s why going forward it’s for sure 11 a.m. on Sundays — we’ll be here,” Jamail said. “We’ll do the run and then come and hang out and jump in the river afterward.”
Every week, new faces show up to the run club for various reasons. For Zachary Baldwin, a music education junior, he hoped to get back into shape since his last run was in high school. He found the group through Instagram. Baldwin’s goal for his run was to maintain his pace.
“I follow the Raw Dog Run Club up in Austin, and then I saw that [Bikini Hill Run Club] was starting up and I was like, ‘this one is closer, so I’ll probably do this one,’” Baldwin said.
offers different pace groups to keep everyone together until the last person finishes.
“We have a ton of different pace groups,” Jamail said. “We kind of stick together for the first bit of the run and then we tell people, ‘Run as fast as you want or as slow as you want’… so it’s really welcome to absolutely anybody.”
After the run, Liquid I.V., water and sometimes snacks are offered. The club stays at Sewell Park to enjoy the river and spend time with one another.
More than running, Bikini Hill Run Club hopes to be a place where people can make friends.
We’ll do the run and then come and hang out and jump in the river afterward.”
co-founder
The weekly run goes through Sewell Park, City Park and San Marcos Plaza Park for two miles consisting of San Marcos River scenery. The club
“The main purpose that we started the Run Club is it’s different out here to make friends,” Martinez said. “This is something that you can do that’s hard, you can push yourself, you can challenge yourself and then on top of that, you can make new friends.”
The trio looks forward to seeing more turnout at
Bikini Hill Run Club once the fall 2024 semester begins at Texas State. The club has plans to do more than just running, including club hikes, Spikeball and sand volleyball tournaments.
“We really just want to be more of a social club rather than like a running club,” Sutten said. “We’re gonna do [activities] to build that community a little bit more… so if you’re not a runner and you don’t want to come around on a Sunday, there will be a couple more things to come out and try to meet new people at.”
Scan the QR code to keep up with the Bikini Hill Run Club on Instagram.
Texas State Alumnus Ben Nudelman, Rachel Fletcher and dog Mila run in Bikini Hill Run Club, Sunday, July 21, 2024, at Sewell Park. Mila is the first dog to run with the run club.
Levi Jamail
Bikini Hill Run Club
PHOTO BY MARISA NUÑEZ
Showcase leads schools to engage with community
By Carlene Ottah Life and Arts Editor
n Aug. 23, many people dressed in and decorated booths with their favorite team colors — purple and white or maroon and gold — to match the nearby high school and university.
Held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Conference Center, the Business Showcase connects local businesses and civic groups with the community, who discover what is new in San Marcos. It had cash giveaways, food-and-drink samples and school performances.
This year’s showcase had a tailgate theme. Page Michel, president and CEO of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce, said the theme is because the showcase happened in the middle of August.
“If you’re in Texas in mid-August, you’re thinking about the following month, and people love it,” Michel said. “Plus, it’s a great way for us to showcase
our high school and university.”
This year was the second time the showcase had a tailgate theme. It featured a “Rally for the Rattlers” pep rally from San Marcos High School at 10:30 a.m. and a “TXST Bobcats Half-
time Show” from Texas State at 12:15 p.m. Michel contacted both schools to invite them to participate.
“This year, [the showcase] would probably be the first big thing that our school has been representing that year,”
Michelle Knight, San Marcos High School dance director, said.
The showcase would usually take place during school hours, so Knight and Alexa Bryant, San Marcos High School cheer coach, would typically not be able to attend. The opportunity would allow the cheer and dance teams to represent the high school with the greater San Marcos community.
“The dance team and the cheer team have been preparing all summer long for football season, so this is a taste of what we’re going to be able to show during football season and during our own pep rallies,” Bryant said.
Scan the QR code to continue reading this story.
INFOGRAPHIC BY JARELL CARR
Entrepreneurs and members of the San Marcos community network at the Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, at Embassy Suites Conference Center.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Damphousse entered Texas State with new goals and a hopeful spirit––one that Texas State’s fanbase resonated with. He valued community outreach, appearing at different clubs’ meetings to sweeten and incentivize attendance at sporting events.
Further, when the time came to talk the talk, Damphousse’s acquisition of football Head Coach G.J. Kinne brought Texas State what his attitude promised–– a team to be excited about.
“There’s nobody that is going to
Damphousse entered Texas State with new goals and a hopeful spirit––one that Texas State’s fanbase resonated with. He valued community outreach, appearing at different clubs’ meetings to sweeten and incentivize attendance at sporting events.
Further, when the time came to talk the talk, Damphousse’s acquisition of football Head Coach G.J. Kinne brought Texas State what his attitude promised–– a team to be excited about.
“There’s nobody that is going to out-recruit me as a head coach,” Kinne said at his introductory press conference.
Kinne broke records before 2023’s spring practices even started. Gaining attention from large media outlets, he welcomed 71 new faces including 18 walk-ons in his initial roster overhaul.
His 53 transfers came second only to the University of Colorado in the highest FBS transfers for the 2023 season.
As attention to Texas State sporting events continued to mount, the Bobcats went on to have their most successful season since joining the FBS. Attendance topped 25,000 four times and average home game attendance rose 3,627 while Texas State posted eight victories for the first time since its 2008 season.
Texas State softball’s success
out-recruit me as a head coach,” Kinne said at his introductory press conference.
Kinne broke records before 2023’s spring practices even started. Gaining attention from large media outlets, he welcomed 71 new faces including 18 walk-ons in his initial roster overhaul. His 53 transfers came second only to the University of Colorado in the highest FBS transfers for the 2023 season.
As attention to Texas State sporting events continued to mount, the
matched that of the football program which is also reflected by a rise in its average 2023-24 attendance.
According to Texas State University’s tracking, the average attendance for Texas State softball in 2023 was 698.5, and in 2024 rose to 723.3.
While the Texas State community now sees more of the potential behind its sporting programs, this recognition may not have come without change.
Former Texas State President Denise Trauth oversaw important developments such as the designation of Texas State as a Texas Emerging Research University, but community involvement didn’t ring as loud a sentiment during her tenure compared to Damphousse’s.
During Trauth’s final year of presidency in 2022, Texas State football, under former Head Coach Jake Spavital, went 4-8 and averaged 19,888 visitors per game.
Conversely, Damphousse and Kinne’s approach, partnered with their campaign labeled “Take Back Texas,” paid back dividends in the form of media hype and a strengthened home fanbase.
Damphousse and Kinne stayed true to their slogan and took the field in the 2023 season with 93 native Texans and finished the season with an average attendance of nearly 1,300 visitors higher than the previous year.
Bobcats went on to have their most successful season since joining the FBS. Attendance topped 25,000 four times and average home game attendance rose 3,627 while Texas State posted eight victories for the first time since its 2008 season.
Texas State softball’s success matched the football program, which is also reflected by a rise in its average 2023-24 attendance. According to Texas State University’s tracking, the average attendance for Texas State softball in 2023 was 698.5, and in 2024 rose to 723.3.
While the Texas State community now sees more of the potential behind its sporting programs, this recognition may not have come without change.
Former Texas State President Denise Trauth oversaw important developments such as the designation of Texas State as a Texas Emerging Research University, but community involvement didn’t ring as loud a sentiment during her tenure compared to Damphousse’s.
During Trauth’s final year of presidency in 2022, Texas State football, under former Head Coach Jake Spavital, went 4-8 and averaged 19,888 visitors per game.
Conversely, Damphousse and Kinne’s approach, partnered with their campaign “Take Back Texas,”
paid back dividends in the form of media hype and a strengthened home fanbase.
Damphousse and Kinne stayed true to their slogan and took the field in the 2023 season with 93 native Texans and finished the season with an average attendance of nearly 1,300 visitors higher than the previous year. This homeland sentiment paired with the unarguable success the Bobcats saw in 2023 highlighted a cooperative and healthy relationship between Bobcat Nation and its president and head football coach.
Now, Texas State is making strides to ensure the growth of the newfound school spirit.
With the 2024 season on its way and new faces suiting up in maroon and gold, Kinne and Damphousse executed the “Take Back Texas Tour,” which placed a magnifying glass on the team and allowed fans to get to know the program on a more personal level.
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This homeland sentiment paired with the unarguable success the Bobcats saw in 2023 highlighted a cooperative and healthy relationship between Bobcat nation and its president and head football coach.
Now, Texas State is making strides to ensure the growth of its newfound school spirit.
With the 2024 season on its way and new faces suiting up in maroon and gold, Kinne and Damphousse executed the “Take Back Texas Tour,” which placed a magnifying glass on the team and allowed fans to know the program on a more personal level.
As Damphousse and Kinne aimed at the continuation of Bobcat sports accelerating, participating Bobcat Nation fans took opportunities to spend time with their head coach at meet-and-greets in Texas cities including Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.
Ultimately, the connection between Kinne, Damphousse and Texas State’s students and staff highlighted the potential that lies behind the Bobcat logo as it brought heightened awareness and participation to sporting events across the board.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Texas State football celebrates its first bowl game victory in school history since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision at the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl on December 26 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas.
INFOGRAPHIC BY MELANIE CAMARA
FROM FRONT ATHLETICS
2023-24 Sports Year in Review
By Sports Staff
Texas State’s 2023-24 sports seasons held highs and lows for Bobcat student-athletes and fans alike. From bubble-blowing homers in Minute Maid Stadium to unlikely injuries and even more unlikely wins, this past year had it all. Here is the University Star’s review of Texas State’s sports in the past year.
Football
After firing fourth-year head coach Jake Spavital and his entire coaching staff in 2023, many wondered how the new-look team would perform. New Head Coach G.J. Kinne and recent transfer quarterback T.J. Finley led the Bobcats to a loud week one 42-31 win over Baylor University, boosting the hopes of qualifying for a bowl game.
The season quickly became heavily followed as the Bobcats went 8-5 and 4-4 in the Sun
Belt finishing second place in their division.
The season resulted in the first bowl game victory in school history after Texas State defeated Rice University 45-21 in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl game.
In February, reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Jordan McCloud, transferred to Texas State to accelerate the newfound success of the Bobcats’ team and help them on the hunt for a conference championship.
Responder Bowl game, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023,
Basketball (W)
The 2023-24 women’s basketball season saw Texas State (14-18, 4-14 Sun Belt Conference) complete its season in the first round of the conference tournament after succumbing to the Georgia Southern Eagles, losing 72-70 in Pensacola, Florida.
Volleyball
The departure of its two all-conference stars, Da’Nasia Hood and Kennedy Taylor, proved to be a tough hill to overcome as the Bobcats finished with their worst conference record since the 2012-13 season when the Bobcats also went 4-14.
Texas State Volleyball maintained a winning season in 2023 with an overall record of 20-10, and conference record of 12-10.
The Bobcats secured an invi tation to the NCAA tournament but lost to Southern Methodist in the first round.
Basketball (M)
The 2023-24 Texas State men’s basketball squad saw an up-and-down season, as a young Bobcat team faced challenges early en route to a 17-18 overall record and 7-11 in the Sun Belt Conference.
However, the Bobcats managed to catch fire late in the season after sparking a three-game win streak heading into the conference tournament.
Texas State carried its momentum through the post-season with upset wins over both Southern Mississippi and Troy before ultimately facing defeat to the conference champions James Madison in the semifinals.
Soccer
The Texas State Soccer team finished with a 9-7-4 overall record and a 3-3-4 record in the Sun Belt Conference under second-year head coach Steve Holeman. The Bobcats’ season ended with a bittersweet 2-1 round-two loss to undefeated regular season champions South Alabama.
Olivia Wright led the team in total points at 18 and defensive leader, junior Lucy Hart, collected the team-high of 1,579 minutes played throughout the season.
Freshman goalkeeper Caitlyn
Draper made historic strides in her first season with the Bobcats, recording a GAA of 1.29 and a .766 save percentage. Draper collected five shutouts, the second most by a Texas State freshman, and 66 total saves. In the postseason, Hart and juniors Lily Erb, Chloe Jones and Mady Soumare earned spots College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team.
Women’s Golf
Texas State women’s golf won the Sun Belt Conference Championship for the first time since 2016, giving Texas State its fifth conference title. The Bobcats then finished their season in the NCAA regionals, placing tenth in their first NCAA Tournament appearance in eight years.
Women’s golf Head Coach Par Nilsson won the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year award and three players were awarded All-Sun Belt honors.
Graduate student Hailey Jones won the Sun Belt Conference’s Newcomer
of the Year award after transferring over from Oklahoma State. Jones finished second in the Sun Belt Conference in stroke average while leading the Bobcats in birdies and pars.
Senior Junia Gabasa also made the Sun Belt All-Conference First Team, and Sophomore Yvonne Chamness made the Sun Belt All-Conference Second Team.
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Senior linebacker Brian Holloway celebrates with the turnover chain after a pick-six in his final game versus Rice during the SERVPRO First
in Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas.
The Texas State volleyball team celebrates a point during the Coastal Carolina game, Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, at Strahan Arena.
The Texas State women’s basketball team huddles for pregame traditions, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at Strahan Arena.
Texas State midfielder junior Lily Erb (11) accepts a pass from her teammate during the game against Incarnate Word, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, at Bobcat Soccer Complex.
Texas State sophomore guard Kaden Gumbs drives the ball to the basket versus Southern Miss, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at Strahan Arena.
Texas State junior women’s golf player Matilda Svahn gets recognized alongside her teammates for the conference championship trophy ceremony during the baseball game versus South Alabama, Friday, April 19, 2024, at Bobcat Ballpark.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
PHOTO BY SARAH MANNING
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
PHOTO BY MANDALYN LEWALLEN
PHOTO BY MANDALYN LEWALLEN
PHOTO BY MANDALYN LEWALLEN
Bobcats begin fresh journeys at Texas State
By Meg Boles Multimedia Reporter
Arriving freshmen at Texas State University begin their journey with a little bit of chaos as they begin to flood downtown San Marcos and the surrounding river during move in.
Before new students are able to explore vast hills, trails and aquamarine life the city has to offer, students must first withstand the heat while carrying belongings to their new rooms.
Many freshmen are greeted with warm welcomes as the Resident Assistants and other housing staff assist with the move-in process.
Edie Conners, a theatre and performance production freshman, moved into Retama Hall with the help of her family.
“I am very excited to meet new people.” Conners said.
Haley Leach, a social work freshman, states she was pleased with her new dorm room.
“Laurel wasn’t our first pick we got assigned, but I’m actually really glad this is what we got assigned in,” Leach said, “we love the AC and the space is a lot better than our original choice.”
As the freshmen move-in came to a close, Akira Moore, a finance freshman, expresses her final thoughts on this new experience, explaining the nervous-feeling of living alone for the first time.
“I am feeling confident but it is pretty nerve-racking being my myself.” Moore said.
Bobcat Welcome Week
Texas State president Kelly Damphousse excites the freshman crowd during the fandemonium event, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, at UFCU Stadium.
PHOTOS BY MEG BOLES
Texas State theatre and performance production freshman Edie Conners moves into the Theatre Living Learning Community, Retama Hall with the help of her family. Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.
Texas State welcomes the 2024 freshman class with a firework show during the fandemonium event, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, at UFCU Stadium.
Texas State finance freshman Akira Moore moves into Tower Hall with the help of her family, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.
Families organize students belongings while moving into the new dorms, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, outside Retama Hall.
Boko the Bobcat dances on stage alongside student members of Cat Camp during the Jump Start event for freshmen, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, at the LBJ Mall.
PHOTO BY MAYA CONTRERAS
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Students line up to watch the KTSW-hosted band performances during the LBJ Student Center freshman takeover, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, at the LBJ Amphitheater.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Texas State social work freshman
Haley Leach finishes unpacking her dorm after moving into Laurel Hall. Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.