TUESDAY September 12, 2023 VOLUME 113 ISSUE 6 www.UniversityStar.com
[ Restaurant Guide ] Sharing smiles at Grins:
Customers reflect on San Marcos’ long-time staple
By Haley Velasco Life and Arts Editor
PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY OF GRINS RESTAURANT
PHOTO COURTESY OF GRINS RESTAURANT
T
he sizzle of the grill and aroma of fresh cheeseburgers, fajitas and onion rings fill the air as glasses of lime margaritas and sweet teas are poured to the rim. Customers are found laughing, studying, asking for another round of beers and reminiscing about old memories while actively creating new ones at Grins, the longest-running local restaurant in San Marcos.
SEE HISTORICAL EATS PAGE 9
PHOTO BY MARISA NUÑEZ
PHOTO BY HALEY VELASCO
(Top left) Grins cook Tom Madden (left) and Grins co-owner Johnny Ferrell celebrate Madden’s going away party, 1981, at Grins Restaurant. (Top right) Mr. and Mrs. Lightfoot’s house before being converted to Grins, 1948, in San Marcos. (Bottom left) Grins architect and designer Ron Balderach walks into Grins to enjoy a meal, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, at Grins Restaurant. (Bottom right) Business management junior, Bailey Stewart checking dishes, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, at Grins Restaurant.
REMEMBRANCE
Hays County first responders, community memorialize 9/11 By Ryan Claycamp News Reporter Hays County first responders held their two annual memorial events in honor of those in their line of work who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. 22 years after the attacks on the World Trade Center’s twin towers in New York City, Sept. 11 remains an emotional day for many. Hays County first responders had the opportunity on Sept. 10 to
remember and honor the first responders who lost their lives that day by climbing 110 flights of stairs in the third annual Hays County 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Bobcat Stadium. The climb began at 8:46 a.m., which is the time that American Airlines Flight 11 struck the north tower. The climb was open to firefighters, law enforcement, EMS and dispatchers from across Hays County.
SEE REMEMBRANCE PAGE 5
MAIN PO NT EDITORIAL
O
Water supply needs to be on Texas State minds By Editorial Board
PHOTO BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
San Marcos firefighters walk down stairs during the annual stair climb, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos.
STATE
COVID-19 cases increase in Texas By Lesdy Hernandez News Contributor Four months after the Central for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared the end of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), a recent spike of COVID-19 cases have spread once again around the nation. According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, the number of reported COVID-19 cases increased by 11% between Aug. 27-Sept. 5.
Dr. Emilio Carranco, assistant vice president of Student Success and director of the University Health Services, said COVID-19 is a very contagious virus and with people gathering again, it has spiked. “We are seeing people coming together for the beginning of the school year, " Carranco said. “With the combination of the variant that’s circulating, this is causing the uptick in cases right now.”
SEE STATE PAGE 3
San Marcos entered Stage 4 drought restrictions for the first time since 2014 on Aug. 27. Stage 4 signifies a critical water shortage and record low levels in Edwards Aquifer and Canyon Lake. As of Sept. 10, Canyon Lake was 67.1% full, showing a downward pattern as a year ago, the levels were 86.6% full. University officials last sent information regarding the drought to students on July 20, over one month ago. At this time, San Marcos was still in Stage 3 restrictions. Texas State is the 7th largest university in the state, and students, faculty and staff members can be reached through mass emails and social media platforms. Protecting San Marcos’ water supply ought to be a priority for Texas State. The university can start by better educating its students, faculty and staff about Stage 4 drought restrictions and what Texas State community members can do to help the critical state of San Marcos’ water supply. This is not to say university officials don’t have water infrastructure in mind, however Texas State needs to utilize its outreach tools, such as mass emails or social media, to put the critical water state at the forefront of other Texas State minds. One of the main draws of attending Texas State is the beautiful campus and the river that runs through it. Students can often be found lounging at Sewell Park during time off class and on the weekends. Though students are grateful for the river on hot days, many take its presence for granted. Students can conserve water by first following the drought restrictions listed by the city. In Stage 4, restrictions include limiting sprinkler use to certain days, not wasting water, covering swimming pools and restricting vehicle washing.
SEE EDITORIAL PAGE 7
The University Star
2 | Tuesday, September 12, 2023
NEWS
Blake Leschber News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
BITES
TXST alumnus overcoming obstacles, eating the cost By Nichaela Shaheen Managing Editor In the heart of The Square, one alumnus of Texas State is dishing out a serving of deliciousness alongside a dash of mustard, relish and chili according to customers. Will Keeter, the one man show behind Keeter’s Kitchen, can be found serving hotdogs to crowds of 50 plus customers from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday behind Harpers on the San Marcos Hair Co. parking lot. The proud Texas State graduate of 2019 has taken the concept of “giving back to the community” to a new level with a passion for serving his community, and his idea has become a sizzling success. The idea started as a conversation between his friends as they frequently visited The Square in college. “There's so much foot traffic out there, we're like ‘It has to work,’” Keeter said. “I went to visit my brother at the University of Arkansas and there's a guy out there doing the exact idea that I wanted to do. I got to talking to him and he told me that he'd been doing this for about 15 years.” Keeter previously had a desk job as an economist for the state and decided it was time to take a leap of faith in 2021 with Keeter’s Kitchen and has prioritized his business venture since. The small-scale investment has quickly grown into a beloved destination for the local community. Keeter’s hotdogs have become a go-to comfort food for hungry Bobcats, past and present. From “The Keeter Dog" loaded with mustard, chili, shredded cheese and onion to the "Southwest Dog" topped with chili, shredded cheese, bacon and jalapenos, every bite is enjoyable for regular customers like Trent Mathers, head doorman for Harper's. “I hate hot dogs,” Mathers said. “This is the first hot dog I've tried since I was little that I didn’t hate.” Bryan Brisson, a regular since Keeter’s Kitchen has been operational, said the friendliness that comes with
his hot dogs is a factor that brings him back, regardless of having to wait 20 minutes for his meal when a crowd lines up.
PHOTO BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
Will Keeter prepares hot dogs in front of customers at Keeter's Kitchen, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at The Square.
“It's the perfect location,” Brisson said. “Phenomenal customer service. Everything he does is just great. Dogs are good, toppings are good. He always has water, always has chips. He always has a line but he always takes time to talk to people when
he can.” Although Keeter’s Kitchen has continued to satisfy appetites, he faces a challenge that has crept into the picture: inflation. Keeter has had to combat rising costs that threaten to take a big bite out of his bottom line, as inflation looms over his cart, affecting his business in ways he couldn't have foreseen during his time as a Bobcat. “The price of my product has gone up significantly since I started. The price of my inventory has gone up almost 100% because of inflation,” Keeter said. “We're headed toward a little bit of a recession. But I really, really am trying to not boost my price too much.” Keeter’s plan is to push more hot dogs out and reach a new category of customers to help offset the costs he’s currently taking on himself. Keeter prioritizes fresh ingredients every night because he aims to provide people with quality hot dogs. “I don't want people coming to me because they have to… I’d rather spend more money on quality rather than buy cheap products and people notice the difference,” Keeter said. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, in Texas there has been an increase of 5.1% from the past year and five out of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased over the past month. The San Marcos Area Chambers of Commerce President Page Michel understands they aid in fostering business resilience and growth, playing a vital role in assisting small businesses amidst inflation. The chamber of commerce plans a series of businessbuilding workshops each year. “The resources the Chamber provides to small businesses are tailored to their specific needs, workforce training, marketplace exposure, leadership and supervisory training,” Michel said in a written interview. Keeter’s Kitchen is now looking to expand starting with employees, as Keeter plans to convert his cart business into a food truck operation.
INFOGRAPHIC BY MEAGAN WALTERS
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 3,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.
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Nichaela Shaheen starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu
Sarah Manning stardesign@txstate.edu
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Blake Leschber starnews@txstate.edu
Haley Velasco starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
Rhian Davis staropinion@txstate.edu
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Michele Dupont starcreative@txstate.edu
Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, September 12, 2023. 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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Any errors that are in the pages of The University Star and brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible.
Visit The Star at universitystar.com
The University Star
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 3
NEW S
Blake Leschber News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT STATE Ava Rodriguez, a nursing sophomore, said that although she has not had any first hand experiences with COVID-19 recently, she has noticed the small change around campus and her daily life. “I sometimes see people still wearing masks on campus, and a few days ago, I took my cat to the vet and the doctor was wearing a mask too, but he assured me it was not COVID,” Rodriguez said. According to Carranco, the current COVID-19 cases are presenting as common colds or the flu with symptoms such as scratchy throat, running nose, slight cough and body/headaches as indicators. “You can spread [COVID-19] to a lot of people in a very short period of time, so it's important to test if you have symptoms,” Carranco said. Brianna Martinez, a dance sophomore, said the way COVID-19 is seen today has changed from the way it was seen in the earlier years right after quarantine. “After [quarantine], going back to school was very scary. It almost felt like the plague and now it’s kind of normalized and seen more as a regular cold,” Martinez said. Rodriguez said people should continue to be wary when it comes to COVID-19 and illnesses even if the virus is not as worrisome as past years. Wearing face masks and washing your hands frequently are guidelines
the CDC recommends taking to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 cases to rise. According to Carranco, one of the most effective ways to fight against the virus is by making sure to vaccinate. “There is no question that vaccines work and the COVID-19 vaccines are very effective,” Carranco said. “We’ve had over 1.1 million people die from COVID-19 and unfortunately a lot of those people died before effective vaccines and medication were available.” Martinez said practicing safe distancing is one of the ways she continues to protect herself and others today. “Anytime I am in public I try not to be in close proximity to [strangers] because I don’t know their personal life and if they are sick or not,” Martinez said. According to Carranco, although Hays County and Texas State have all shown the same uptick in COVID-19 cases as the rest of the nation, the numbers are lower to those seen last September. “It’s reassuring. People need to understand that we’re seeing an increase in cases, but nothing like what we were seeing in the pandemic,” Carranco said. The rise in COVID-19 cases might continue as time passes, but Carranco said this should not be a cause for concern to people. “Through vaccination and previous infection I think as a society we have
INFOGRAPHIC BY DJ ROSS
developed a lot of immunity and we are now less likely to see serious consequences,” Carranco said. “So I think it's a totally different environment
today than it was three years ago and I don't want anybody to be afraid, but I want people to pay attention.”
STUDENT LIVING
New dorm to open doors in 2025 By Lucciana Choueiry News Reporter Nestled between the Supple Science Building and San Marcos Hall, James Street Housing, an incoming on-campus residential complex, is set to welcome freshmen in fall 2025. James Street Housing, which has a construction budget of $1.1 million, will be a seven-story building made up of single and double occupancy rooms, totaling 942 beds. In order to avoid previous housing issues, such as students staying in hotels, James Street Housing is coming one year after the long-awaited Hilltop Housing, another on-campus housing complex that has been in progress since 2020. According to Executive Director of Housing and Residential Life (DHRL) Bill Mattera, James Street Housing is in the design document stage of the process, the second of three stages of the project. “We have a basic design done and now we’re looking at sort of what it would be like to build it,” Mattera said. “Our hope is to begin construction in December, pending board review.” University Architect and Director of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction (FPDC) Gordon Bohmfalk said they ran into challenges fitting the complex in the allotted site and sticking to the budget. “The builder is in place to be able to check where we are in the budget, and what’s becoming a lot more important these days is if we can get it on time,” Bohmfalk said. “We’re trying to minimize the unexpected things with schedule and materials.” Bohmfalk said they started the James Street Housing project to help close the gap on the need for new dorms on campus. “The main thing is we would have enough dorms for students,” Bohmfalk said. “To be on campus is an important thing in someone’s college career, and that’s the main goal.” Mattera said the new complex, in conjunction with Hilltop Housing, would increase on-campus living capacity by 1,900 students. “Our hope is to just meet the needs of a campus of our size,” Mattera said. “We have a pretty conservative number of beds right now. It’s just building enough beds to match what our campus size is.”
PHOTO BY BLAKE LESCHBER
Construction workers work on a project at the site of James Street Housing, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in San Marcos.
Liberty Teague, a fashion merchandising freshman who currently lives in Chautauqua Hall, said she picked on-campus housing because it was convenient and would be a stepping stone toward being fully independent. “My dorm has ping pong tables, pianos, kitchen and all things you can do without having to leave the building, which has helped,” Teague said. Like other residential complexes, James Street Housing will include a main lobby, study rooms in each wing, two courtyards, laundry facilities and a common kitchen. According to Bohmfalk, the new complex will contain rooms with single and double beds for students, along with designated rooms for resident assistants. Teague said her experience with parking has not
been good at Chautauqua Hall, as one parking lot is shared between three different residential complexes. Bohmfalk said he is aware of the ongoing issue with parking on the university’s campus, specifically with dorms, and plans to address it in future projects. However, no additional parking is currently planned for the new dorm. “With this project, most of [the parking] is all about drop-off and accessible spaces for the building,” Bohmfalk said. Mattera said that DHRL’s objective is to provide on-campus accommodation options for returning students. “Our hope is by adding both Hilltop and James Street we are increasing inventory to serve more students beyond their first year,” Mattera said.
The University Star
4 | Tuesday, September 12, 2023
NEWS
Blake Leschber News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
PHOTO BY MARISA NUÑEZ
Two drag queens share a moment on stage during a performance at SMTX Pride, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 at San Marcos Plaza Park.
PRIDE
Senate Bill 12 affects local drag community By Marisa Nuñez News Contributor After the closure of Stonewall Warehouse in January, several local drag queens feel lost without a designated safe space within the San Marcos community. The addition of Senate Bill 12 (SB 12), a bill that criminalizes “sexually oriented performances” in front of minors and public spaces being temporarily blocked, local drag queens live in fear of the outcome that can inevitably change their lives. This bill can be seen in different forms across the nation where laws like SB 12 are in the process of being signed or have been deemed unconstitutional. For eight years, Stonewall Warehouse was the only LGBTQ+ bar in San Marcos, providing a stage for drag performances as well as a safe space for locals and performers. Without Stonewall Warehouse, local drag queens have had a hard time coming together to a space where they feel safe, especially during a time when they feel their community is under attack. “I don't really go out anymore like I used to,” Calor, a local drag queen and former Stonewall Warehouse performer, said. “It's really hard for us, especially in a small town in Texas of legislation and stuff that's happening lately. We don't get to see our community on a regular basis like we used to.” Since the announcement of the bill in June, local drag queens have continued to perform cautiously unsure of what is acceptable. Devonna St. James, a former Stonewall performer and San Antonio local, lost her job at San Antonio College due to fear of the bill. “We made events for students and had drag queens…[it] also enabled me to hire local talent within my community and local artists [who] some of them weren't even drag queens. Because of this bill, before the fall semester started I was let go,” Devonna St. James said. “I no longer work for the college, all my events are canceled, including a fashion show, which has nothing to do with drag, because of the fear of this bill.” Many local drag queens are active community members consistently hosting drag events to raise money and give back to San Marcos. For years, Brianna St. James, a San Marcos drag queen, has been hosting drag events welcoming all locals, including
PHOTO BY MARISA NUÑEZ
Local drag queen Brianna St. James performs on stage at SMTX Pride, Sept. 9, 2023, at San Marcos Plaza Park.
children, making sure that shows are family friendly by providing activities like coloring books and crayons. “We're not harming anybody, we're just entertainment,” Brianna St. James said. “All my shows have always been family friendly events. I’ve bought colors and crayons and coloring books just to make sure that the kids are happy in the audience, and they have something to do…There are drag queens that have a big heart like me who want to give back and want the children there.” Fueled by the Stonewall Warehouse closure, Brianna St. James and other locals started the San Marcos Queer Council earlier this year. The organization meets twice a week and is in the process of finding a new safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. Still enjoying what they love, local drag queens participated in SMTX Pride hosted by Sylvia Sandoval and Brianna St. James. Drag shows went on from 12
p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 9 at San Marcos Plaza Park. Despite SB 12’s potential punishments, drag queens still performed in shows for the public. For Kenya Monae, a local drag queen, drag helped her through her transition to find her place in life and if it wasn’t for drag she says she wouldn’t be alive today. “I love drag so much,” Kenya Monae said. “It helped me be a confident woman when I didn’t feel the most pretty. If I didn’t feel like I was my absolute best, drag helped me by picking me up when I was down. Now it’s like why? Why would you want to take that away from me? My joy. Before drag, everything was black and white, but when I put on my dress and my wig I saw color…for me if there wasn’t drag I wouldn’t be alive.” The laws similar to SB 12 in Tennessee, Florida and Montana have all been successfully blocked. Drag queens in San Marcos hope for the same.
The University Star
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 5
NEWS
Blake Leschber News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
Members of the San Marcos Fire Department commemorate the lives lost in the 9/11 attacks during their annual stair climb in Bobcat Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023.
A timer was set inside Bobcat Stadium that played videos to commemorate every major event that happened on 9/11. San Marcos firefighter Elijah Harris believes it is the duty of first responders to honor all those who lost their lives on 9/11 and to keep the tradition of remembering them alive. “That’s a big part of our history. I’m kind of traditional, and it’s something that honors what happened in the past,” Harris said. “This is something everybody does… or should do in the Fire Service.” San Marcos Firefighter Jacob Hanks, who coordinated the stair climb, recalled watching the events unfolding while at school, and those events added to his drive to become a firefighter. “I was 12 years old when 9/11 happened. I was in science class and [the teacher’s] husband brought a TV in and told everyone. We all wanted to join, fight and help, but we didn’t know what to do,” Hanks said. “I’d say [9/11] played a role in [becoming a firefighter].”
Two fire hoses with the names of all the first responders that died that day in 2001 were passed around by all those participating in the climb.
can,’ it’s a big deal.” At San Marcos City Hall, a second memorial service was held on Monday, Sept. 11 at 8:40 a.m., also
You’re carrying the weight of those guys that fell on Sept. 11, 2001. You know all those guys, they were told you’re going into those towers and you’re not coming out. Those guys went in anyway." JACOB HANKS San Marcos firefighter
According to Hanks those items were a powerful reminder of the sacrifice made by all the first responders that lost their lives trying to save others on 9/11. “We’re climbing stairs to finish the climb that those guys couldn’t finish,” Hanks said. “You’re carrying the weight of those guys that fell on Sept. 11, 2001. You know all those guys. They were told you’re going into those towers and you’re not coming out. Those guys went in anyway. They said ‘This is our job. We’re going to save as many as we
commemorating the lives lost in the attacks and the first responders who lost their lives in the aftermath. After a brief speech, the U.S. flag that was flown over city hall on Sept. 11, 2001, was raised to half-staff as the national anthem was played. After the flag was raised, veterans, first responders and members of the public lined up to place carnations in the memorial sign placed out front of city hall. Shayne Tucker, a volunteer during
San Marcos Fire Department participates in commemoration to the 9/11 attacks during the annual stair climb, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 at Bobcat Stadium. ALL PHOTOS BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
the stair climb, believes that continuing to discuss and remember 9/11 is important, especially as more people grow up without remembering what it was like on that day. “Some people weren’t even born yet whenever it happened, so I think it is really important to keep continuing to talk about it and to remember everything that happened and just be thankful for those that have given their lives to others,” Tucker said. One of Hanks' goals is to increase turnout to the two events, which he hopes will pass down the memory of 9/11 to more people. Hanks wants to achieve this goal by combining the two events into just one next year. “We’re going to try and transfer [the flag raising] here to add maybe a couple more speeches with the mayor and Chief Stephens and maybe do a flower ceremony, so that’s going to help grow this event,” Hanks said.
A list of the lives lost during 9/11 is carried by a local firefighter during his walk for the annual stair climb, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 at Bobcat Stadium.
The University Star
6 | Tuesday, September 12, 2023
LIFE & ARTS
Haley Velasco Life and Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
COMMUNITY
Stellar Coffee Co. closes its doors after more than decade-long history By Haley Velasco Life and Arts Editor After brewing coffee since April 2013, Stellar Coffee Co., located in downtown San Marcos, closed its doors permanently on Sept. 9. In March 2022, Hope Tate took ownership of Stellar Coffee Co. with her husband Trent Tate. Things started off on a good note until financial issues arose. After initially agreeing with an owner finance, a deal to receive a loan from the previous owner of Stellar Coffee Co. instead of a bank, Hope was set on being able to pay back the loan amount through Stellar. After Hope became more familiar with the financial costs behind Stellar, the initial decision to close began. “I realized that in all of those 10 years of operating, Stellar would have never qualified to get a loan for that much money,” Hope said. “The previous owner wanted his money and I couldn’t give it to him.” Making desperate attempts to keep Stellar alive, the financial issue started to weigh on the Tate family. In 2022, Hope seeked for a distraction to get her out of postpartum depression and looked no further than Stellar. With a second nature in coffee and coming from a family of local business owners, Hope was upset to see the negative effect the financial issues at Stellar had on her family. “Instead of having a positive effect on my family like I was hoping it would, it was pretty negative,” Hope said. “Owning a business is really hard, especially coffee. You don’t make money with coffee. You do it because you love it and we’re not personally in a place where we can fund it.” After seeing the negative impact owning Stellar had on her family, Hope ultimately decided it was time to close. Although customers of Stellar are upset by the closing, some are understanding of the decision. “It’s a hard decision to make, especially when you have a whole community that loves your product and your business, but at the end of the day, family does come first,” Julia Maldonado, political science senior, said. Like many coffee shops in college towns, students hold an appreciation for spaces designed to study and get work done. Stellar differentiated from other coffee shops as it was closer to campus, making it walkable for students. Maldonado enjoyed the quiet and comfortable environment Stellar created, allowing her to hone in
PHOTO BY MARISA NUÑEZ
Stellar Coffee Co. barista Isabella Anderson helps a customer, Saturday, Sept. 9. 2023, at Stellar Coffee Co. in San Marcos.
more on her school work. “I really liked Stellar because it was kind of like a distraction-free zone, everyone was there to do the same thing,” Maldonado said. “I think being in an environment like that where the business is supportive of the people in a college town really helped.”
It's a hard decision to make, especially when you have a whole community that loves your product and your business, but at the end of the day, family does come first." Julia Maldonado Political science senior
Like Maldonado, many other Texas State students are saddened to see Stellar go. Last semester, Diana Lara, public administration senior, regularly went to Stellar once a week. While also appreciating the space
Pool Tournament: 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Sept. 1 at the LBJ Student Center 21st Annual Black and Latino Playwright Celebration: Aug. 28-Sept. 3 at the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall SMTX Pride Fest: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Sept. 9 at San Marcos Plaza Park Hispanic Heritage Exhibition Walk: 10 a.m., Sept. 16 at Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos
given to her to study, she appreciated the employees that would make each visit worth coming back. “I met one of the staff members, Riley, and she made a drink inspired by her and since then I would regularly get that drink,” Lara said. “I’m kind of sad because this made it my favorite coffee shop in all of San Marcos.” Since Stellar helped so many college students, Maldonado is hoping another coffee shop or a relaxing space similar will replace Stellar’s spot in the near future. For now, Hope is appreciative of her experience at Stellar and San Marcos and hopes the community is also able to find its new Stellar soon. “For me it’s bringing my family a lot of peace and new dreams and a rebirth of new things,” Hope said. “I hope that gives people peace and I’m very grateful for everyone that was a part of this journey for me because it was really beautiful, yet really hard.”
Law School Fair: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sept. 18 at the LBJSC Grand & LBJ Ballroom Martian Arts Festival: Sept. 21-23 at Southern Star Farms Mermaid Capitol of Texas Promenade: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sept. 23 on East San Antonio Street "She Kills Monsters" directed by Jerry Ruiz: Sept. 26-Oct. 1 at the Patti Strickel Harrison Theatre
The University Star
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 7
OPINIONS
Rhian Davis Opinions Editor staropinions@txstate.edu
Opinions in The University Star are not necessarily those of our entire publication, Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Student Publications Board.
The Main Point is an opinion wrtten collectively by The University Star's Editorial Board. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of our entire publication.
FROM FRONT EDITORIAL Following the guidelines can look different for everyone as Texas State students live anywhere from dorms to houses. Some other simple ways to preserve water include shortening the length of showers, not washing your hands unless necessary and turning faucets off when it’s not needed. It is highly important for San Marcos residents to take the drought restrictions seriously as the Edwards Aquifer provides drinking water to over 1.7 million people. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, some deep aquifers can take thousands
of years to replenish, which can be detrimental to those relying on them for everyday needs. While drought restrictions are an important concept to learn about, Keisuke Ikehata, a Texas State civil engineering professor, believes maintaining water is a vital step students should be making a contribution to. In 2021, Ikehata began working to purify wastewater, brackish lake and groundwater, stormwater and seawater in the San Marcos area with a team of engineering students. Carlos Espindola, a civil engineering graduate student, has
been a part of the water purification team since May 2021. He and Ikehata recommend students stop littering and learn about their water environment. “Be aware of what you’re discharging and anything that you’re doing,” Espindola said. “At the Meadows Center…they had a lot of information about the water planes and the Edwards Aquifer, so be aware of all the different resources that you can read about.” According to Jan De La Cruz, conservation coordinator for SMTX Utilities, the drought’s conditions for the future are unknown, meaning it
is important for students to take the restrictions seriously before it gets worse. “It’s hard to predict. I think we have to prepare for the worst,” De La Cruz said. “We’re all hoping for… some weather shift changes coming up… but there’s no guarantees.” A situation that has always been worrisome is now dire and it is important that every person does what they can in hopes of slowing down the effects of the drought.
LIFESTYLE
San Marcos needs a new center of LGBTQ+ culture By James Phillips Opinions Contributor LGBTQ+ bars and nightclubs, such as the original Stonewall Inn in New York City, play an essential role in the queer community. These spaces act as a haven for individuals who identify as a part of the community. San Marcos was robbed of the only center for queer culture when Stonewall Warehouse, named after the original Stonewall, closed without warning on Jan. 1. This loss was a travesty for the employees and the wider LGBTQ+ community in San Marcos. Establishments such as Stonewall Warehouse strengthen and nourish the queer community, and San Marcos needs a new center for queer nightlife to take its place. “It will always [feel like] a death, that venue and the closure,” Miss Tequila Rose, the last Miss Stonewall said. “It is saddening to know that there isn't a place for [incoming] freshmen to go to and explore and be creative and [discover] themselves.” Understanding the atmosphere of Stonewall Warehouse is critical to understanding why its loss hurts so much. Gavin Miranda, a former dancer at Stonewall Warehouse and the Social Chair of Bobcat Pride, said queer individuals knew from the second they walked into the building that they had a home. “There are some people who are scared to go out,” Miranda said. “For my friends who are in the trans community, Stonewall was a safe space for people who didn't conform to the gender binary and who didn't feel safe dressing how they wanted to in normal nightclub settings.” A UCLA study in 2020 found that “LGBT people are nearly four times more likely than non-LGBT people to be victims of violent crime.” This figure is even more severe for members of the trans community. ABC News reported that “the number of homicides of transgender people nearly doubled” in four years. These rates of violence are only amplified by the stream of homophobic and transphobic laws from the Texas government against LGBTQ+ individuals. Places like Stonewall are more critical than ever as safe places for the queer community. Stonewall also served as a place for queer individuals to meet and connect. Tyler Atkinson, president of Bobcat Pride, said the significance of non-school affiliated groups, such as Stonewall Warehouse, are essential for the community. “Sometimes you feel like… you’re in a queer relationship and you go to one of these straight bars and you're just having fun with your partner, people might look at you weird,” Atkinson said. “You don't get that in Stonewall because that was, dare I say, the norm.”
A void has opened for a proper queer bar within San Marcos. Bars such as The Davenport Lounge and The Porch have said they are safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals and started including pride nights within their weekly schedules. However, these actions are a band-aid in place of a proper queer-serving establishment. Allies of the community should provide support by making non-queer locations safe for LGBTQ+ individuals. More establishments in San Marcos must follow The Davenport Lounge and The Porch in including pride-themed events.
ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH MANNING
“A lot if it is just educating yourself on queer culture and queer topics in general,” Atkinson said. “Stand up and be there as an ally for the queer community but do not speak for them. By putting yourself forward as an ally you are saying that you are willing to learn and represent this community.” Establishments such as Stonewall Warehouse are essential for preserving and celebrating queer culture. Miss Tequila Rose said drag and burlesque performances regularly occurred at Stonewall. However, drag performances have been forced into limited venues, such as The Davenport Lounge or The Porch, or into Austin or San Antonio. Currently, there are no new plans for a new gay bar within San Marcos. However, that is not to say there is no room for queer culture and nightlife on The Square. These solutions may seem like temporary stopgaps, but without a Stonewall in the community, it is better than nothing. -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 Opinion Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication.
EDUCATION
Students must work to reclaim the love for learning By Faith Fabian Opinions Contributor Higher education gives us a pathway to important careers and prepares us to be engaged, intellectual members of society. However, in recent years, disengagement within the classroom has increased. In the U.S., the number of people enrolled in undergraduate universities dropped 6.6% since COVID-19. For those enrolled, engagement and class attendance are at a low, according to educators nationwide. This loss of interest in learning is detrimental to the future of students because it is vital for people to be engaged in order for them to perform their jobs well and with enthusiasm. Students who are engaged in their studies also experience better mental health and life satisfaction. There are many theories surrounding the change; these theories speculate the effects of COVID-19 and even our society’s shift in careerism. The pandemic was a time in which many universities, including Texas State, had to upend the classroom and turn to remote learning — a challenge whose effects still influence student participation. Many professors reported the quality of their student’s work to be decreasing, and their willingness to learn failed to return to where it was before the pandemic because of the amount of time spent on remote learning. Others take a different perspective on the lack of student enthusiasm toward learning. A new surge of careerism is taking over, compelling college students in the U.S. At Texas State, business and marketing are among the most popular majors, with 17% of graduates. Even Harvard University, once
ILLUSTRATION BY AFAAF ALNAHAS
home to the world’s most esteemed poets, sees 40% of its graduates working in consulting or finance. In our current society, the arts are not seen as particularly lucrative, and it is perfectly reasonable for students to choose pragmatic career paths. However, how does this pertain to the student disengagement professors report nationwide? There is an intense amount of pressure on students when it comes to choosing a major, and our presentday culture has shifted when it comes to careerism. A study conducted by Harvard on college freshmen shows this shift. The study surveyed which objectives students find more important. In 1967, 85.8% said “developing a meaningful life philosophy”
was necessary, while 41% said they believed “being well off financially” was important. In 2016, 82.3% said they preferred to be financially well off, while 42% said developing a life philosophy was important. The shift in this study reflects our current society and the values that are believed to be important. A new culture is forming around careerism as a venture towards making the most money. This is not necessarily negative, but it could be for those feeling pressure to pursue avenues they are not especially passionate about. In the wake of these problems, there are solutions to increase students’ engagement and reinvigorate the love for learning that seems to have faded in the past few years. For students, not being afraid to pursue their passions is essential. Being passionate about your studies means being backed by increased motivation, resilience against obstacles and a greater interest in active learning. Another solution is to take initiative in the type of learning that serves you best. At Texas State, there is the option to take online, in-person and hybrid classes, allowing students to pick the arena where they believe they can perform best. Choosing the correct learning environment can benefit students because it provides flexibility and allows them to be responsible for their success. Higher education is a gift that shouldn’t be taken for granted; to reap all of its benefits, being engaged is extremely important. In order to reclaim the love for learning, students must evaluate themselves and what they seek to gain from their university. -Faith Fabian is an English sophomore
8 | Tuesday, September 12, 2023
The University Star
The University Star
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | 9
LIFE & ARTS
Haley Velasco Life and Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT HISTORICAL EATS What started as Mr. and Mrs. Lightfoot’s house, built in 1948, turned into a local establishment dedicated to Texas State students and the San Marcos community. Originally opening on Feb. 14, 1975, Grins, founded by Lyndon Herring and Tom Wassenich, started off with a menu of just nachos, two burger assortments and draft beers. Nevertheless, the San Marcos community took a love for it from the start, allowing the business to grow quickly and not only expand the menu, but also expand the restaurant three times before the year of 2000. Grins being open for nearly 50 years, Texas State and then Southwest Texas State students have enjoyed and reflected on college memories, accompanied by a trip to Grins. “When I attended Southwest Texas in the early 90s, San Marcos was not as big as it is today, so you were limited on your dining selections that were in town,” Olivia Pinon, Southwest Texas State alumna, said. “But [Grins] was a place to go where you can just break away from what you have going on in your life to enjoy a meal with friends… It was a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere for students and families that were residents of San Marcos and of course, students of Southwest Texas.” Paul Sutphen, co-owner of Grins, began his Grins journey on March 1, 1975 as the first cook hired at Grins. After attaining a bachelor’s degree in business at Southwest Texas in 1976, Sutphen aspired to call something his. In 1977, he took coownership of Grins with Wassenich and never looked back. “I’ve just grown with the business,” Sutphen said. “And just in the last 10 years, San Marcos just exploded, so many bars and new apartments and it's really grown. But [Grins] is the oldest profession in town. We’ve got a passion for hot food, good food so we’ve held a consistency for years and years.” A n o t h e r Southwest Texas State alumnus that wanted to call Grins his was Johnny Ferrell. Ferrell, coowner of Grins, also started out at Grins as a cook
PHOTO BY MARISA NUÑEZ
The Dill family enjoys lunch, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, at Grins Restaurant in San Marcos.
in 1978 while he was in school and wanted a place to make money while also staying in San Marcos post graduation. When Wassenich seeked to give up his partnership with Grins, Ferrell took his spot in 2000. With more than 40 years of memories under his apron, Ferrell said his favorite thing about his time at Grins is seeing former employees come back to thank him for giving them a fun, memorable job as college students. “I just had one come in today, a guy was a cook in the kitchen that worked here in ‘98,” Ferrell said. “That's what makes me feel best is when people come back and they tell me what a good job they had when they were in college, the best job they ever had. I think that I might have made some kind of impact on it since I hired them.” What also makes both Ferrell and Sutphen feel good is when customers come back to spread their love for Grins to their new loved ones. Jack Russell, a computer science senior, went to Grins for the first time as a high school student after his dad, a Southwest Texas State alumnus, made the visit a necessity after a
day at Schlitterbahn. Russell’s first impression of Grins was similar to others, with a cheeseburger in hand and an ear full of memories that his Dad had while attending Southwest Texas State. “You know how some colleges have that legacy, you know, kind of atmosphere where children of people who went to college go to that college,” Russell said. “I feel like Grins has that same kind of legacy. Second or third generation Bobcats are now eating at the same place that their parents and grandparents ate at when they were there.” With Russell close to graduation, he has made it his goal to go to Grins every Thursday after class with his friends to take advantage of his last college days and happy hour. “I’m a big proponent of having a spot at home,” Russell said. “There’s a lot of spots in my hometown that I really like to go to where I can get the same thing and I know it’s going to be great and we’re going to have a good time when we go. Grins is that for me here. It’s the place that I really love here in San Marcos.”
The University Star
10 | Tuesday, September 12, 2023
SPORTS
David Cuevas Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu
FOOTBALL
PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE ATHLETICS
Texas State sophomore running back Ismail Madhi (21) stiff arms a UTSA defender, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
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UTSA holds off Bobcats for TXST's first loss By Carter Bordwell Sports Contributor Coming off the biggest win in program history, Texas State (1-1) looked to build off the momentum into its week two matchup against I-35 nemesis, the University of Texas at San Antonio (1-1). However, offensive struggles plagued the Bobcats, leading to a 20-13 defeat. The loss moves Texas State to 0-5 all-time against the Roadrunners and gives G.J. Kinne his first loss as head coach of the Bobcats. Texas State’s offense looked night and day from the week one matchup against Baylor, only able to post 242 total yards of offense and just 31 yards rushing. The Bobcats struggled early on offense, going scoreless in the first quarter and allowing the Roadrunners to build a 10-0 lead. "UTSA is a really good defense and a really good team,” Kinne said post-game. “So we just got to get back to work and continue to get better every day over practice." Texas State got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter on an 11-play 66-yard drive capped off by a 3-yard touchdown run by redshirt senior running
back Jahmyl Jeter to cut the lead 10-7. Texas State redshirt sophomore quarterback T.J. Finley got his second start of the season, going 16-of30 with 211 passing yards and no touchdowns. Finley was under pressure all afternoon as the UTSA defense recorded six sacks, three coming from sophomore linebacker Trey Moore. "I thought he was a little bit up and down… They're picked first in the American [Athletic Conference] for a reason,” Kinne said. “That's no excuse to go out there and play the way we did on offense, so we just have to continue to get better, and we will. We just got to capitalize better." A 42-yard field goal by Texas State redshirt sophomore kicker Mason Shipley tied the game at 1010 before halftime. Shipley had two 40-yard field goals on the day including a 46-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The Texas State defense provided the offense plenty of chances in the game, keeping the score close early and recovering a fumble late in the third quarter down 17-10 that could have been a turning point in the game, but the Bobcats were unable to take advantage. Redshirt senior linebacker Brian Holloway had a career-high 16 tackles, while junior defensive end
Ben Bell registered six tackles and a pair of sacks. The Bobcat defense gave up 372 total yards and 158 yards on the ground to the Roadrunners. UTSA redshirt senior quarterback Frank Harris went 26-of-37 for 214 yards and a passing touchdown. Harris suffered a knee injury late in the second quarter that appeared to be serious, but came back in the second half and led the Roadrunners to the victory. "I thought the defense played really well. Frank Harris is a really good player, and they have some good guys on offense. I thought our defense went toe to toe with them,” Kinne said. “You've got to play complementary football. Special teams played really well today. [Mason] Shipley made some really good kicks when we needed them, so that was really good to see.” This loss puts the Bobcats at 1-1 going into their home opener next week against Jackson State University (1-1). Kickoff between Texas State and Jackson State is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
"Good protein and carbs": TXST offensive lineman diet By David Cuevas Sports Editor Two weeks into the new college football season Texas State has a 1-1 record, the best start since the 2017-18 season. The team’s nutrition and dietary plan is one of the many key factors that have played a part in the promising start to the season. According to redshirt senior center Caleb Johnson, nutrition is vital to the team’s ability to perform. “It’s probably the number one thing because if you don’t have any fuel, you can’t do anything,” Johnson said. “You’re going to be cramping. You’re going to be falling out. You’re not going to be able to put forth the effort you want to on game day and in practice because you just physically can’t do it.” Johnson said the team’s nutrition and dietary regimen is very adequate while being relatively straightforward and simple. “We have three square meals a day. We have breakfast, lunch and dinner that we’re assigned to, and we always have snacks available to us, things like protein shakes, chips, snack bars, Gatorade,” Johnson said. Johnson said the food served to the team constantly changes. “Some days we’ll have shrimp and pasta. Sometimes we’ll have burgers. We usually always have broccoli or a salad,” Johnson said. “We usually always have carbs,
proteins and some fruits and salads if you want it. The biggest thing is the carbs to keep you going.” The team also has mandatory pre-game meals every game day. What is served to them changes from week to week and is dependent on game time. “If it’s a six o’clock game, we’ll have breakfast buffet style with all the essential stuff we need. Tons of Gatorade, electrolytes, salts and stuff like that so we can stay hydrated throughout the day,” junior right tackle Nash Jones said. “Then, we’ll come back for the pre-game meal.” Jones said pre-game meals happen every week no matter the time of the game and every player must eat whether they’re going to play or not. “Pre-game meal is a must,” Jones said. “Some guys don’t like eating on game days, but you have to eat at the pre-game meal because you won’t eat until after the game. Pre-game meal doesn’t always have to be the most dense food, but you do have to eat something.” Johnson said the food served at pre-game meals always consists of protein and carbohydrates to ensure the players can perform their best during games. “Usually it’s steak or chicken, baked potatoes, mac and cheese, pasta with red sauce, so it’s a pretty good spread. It’s always focused around good protein and good carbs,” Johnson said. The types of food served to the team doesn’t change from position to position, only the amounts of food eaten, according to Jones. “For breakfast, I don’t eat a whole lot because we
practice in the morning, so I eat a sandwich, a yogurt and some Gatorade to get me going for practice,” Jones said. “At lunch, I eat two plates, maybe two and a half, with water and Gatorade. I try my best to work in a snack between lunch and dinner. At dinner, I eat about two plates of food they provide us. And if I felt I worked really hard at practice or if it was extra hot that day, I have another snack after dinner so that I can maintain my weight at 315.” The person in charge of overseeing the team’s nutrition and dietary process is the strength and conditioning coach, Bret Huth. Huth is one of the several coaches head coach G.J Kinne brought with him from Incarnate Word. Jones said Huth’s nutrition plan varies from player to player depending on their circumstances. “If there’s a guy who’s a little underweight, coach Huth will come to him and say ‘We need you to do this to get this amount of calories in’ and put him on the plan,” Jones said. “If you see a guy who’s a little bit overweight, we also put him on the plan to help him get down to the desirable weight that we need.” According to Jones, Huth has greatly emphasized the team’s nutrition and diet plan since taking over as the strength and conditioning coach. “Coach Huth preaches eat, sleep, hydrate,” Jones said. “If you don’t eat and hydrate, you can’t play.”