TUESDAY October 3, 2023 VOLUME 113 ISSUE 9 www.UniversityStar.com
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The Legend of Joe Dirt By Carter Bordwell Sports Reporter
Texas State junior wide receiver Joey Hobert has made quite a name for himself since transferring to Texas State this offseason. His impression has led many of his teammates to give him the nickname 'Joe Dirt,' from the movie starring David Spade. Despite the title, Hobert isn't anything like Joe Dirt. Hobert doesn't have a mullet, he doesn't speak with a Southern accent and he grew up in California. Texas State senior safety Shawn Holton, the teammate who started the nickname, said the reasons behind it are about what Hobert does on the field. "It started from fall camp. Joey was [always] making dirty plays, going over the top, running dirty routes, so it just fit him,” Holton said. “That’s just the type of person he is; he is really goofy and has that swagger about him." The name debuted on Texas State football’s Twitter account and has since gained over 150,000 impressions. Even though Hobert embraced the name, he didn't quite know the origin of it at first. "I love the name. I think it's awesome. I thought it was more of a joke on my last name at first," Hobert said. "I thought maybe they thought my last name was just ‘Ho-dirt’. I thought it was pretty clever that they came up with the name because of the dirty catches." One of those “dirty” catches came in the first game of the season in a 42-31 upset victory over Baylor where Hobert brought down a 34-yard one-handed sideline catch.
Texas State junior wide receiver Joey Hobert (10) celebrates victory over Nevada, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium.
“I knew I was close to the out-of-bounds, and I was thinking, 'I'm going to have to jump for this,'” Hobert said. “So, I jumped, and I realized ‘I'm not making this catch with two hands.’ I reached out with my right arm, and once I was able to get my hand on it, I knew I was catching that thing.” The play earned the top spot in ‘ESPN Top Ten’ later that night. For Hobert, this was not only a dream come true, but the catch in Waco also grew his pop ularity immediately. “As a kid, I watched those types of plays being made and said, 'I want to do that.' When [I was on ESPN], it was really surreal, like a dream,' Hobert said. 'My Instagram had 500 followers, and all of a sudden, I am at 1,500 followers just from that. It has been blowing up ever since.” Hobert believes his ability to make such improbable catches stems from his childhood growing up as a wide receiver and playing catch with his dad in his living room in San Juan Capistrano, California. “It definitely helped as a kid when my dad would be lying down on the couch, and I would make him play catch with me,” Hobert said. “We had a game where he would clap, and I would start running. When he threw
SMPD reports record number of fatal car accidents in 2023 By Ryan Claycamp News Reporter San Marcos Police announced on Sept. 17 that there has been a rise in the number of traffic accidents, with 16 fatalities occurring since January 2023. According to TxDOT, in 2022, there were 17 traffic deaths the entire year, with San Marcos almost matching that statistic by September, it is expected that the city will overtake that number by the end of the year.
PHOTO BY MEG BOLES
The rise in accident fatalities comes at the same time as record growth to the city of San Marcos, as well as length road construction along some of the busiest stretches of road in town. According to Sergeant Garner Ames of the San Marcos Police Department (SMPD), a number of reasons have fed into the problem. “It comes down to a lot of factors, road construction in areas around town and the increase in traffic not just in San Marcos, but the area. You throw [it] all together: Distraction, construction, technology, congestion and the lack of police presence during [COVID-19],” Ames said. SEE TRAFFIC PAGE 3
the ball, I would jump and hit the couch. I even ended up putting some holes in the walls.” Before the nicknames and one-handed catches, Hobert's journey to Texas State was long, spanning multiple states and conferences. However, the one constant in his career has been his current Texas State wide receiver coach, Craig Stuzmann. Stutzman has recruited Hobert to Washington State, Utah Tech and Texas State. Regardless of what jersey Hobert has worn, he said he could always count on Stutzman. “No matter where we were, he had my back. He always pushed me to be my best self on and off the field, and he always picked me up if I was down,” Hobert said. “Him being adamant on getting me to Texas State was definitely a boost to my confidence.” When Stutzmann accepted the job at Texas State, one of his first calls was to Hobert after finding out he had entered the transfer portal. His decision to recruit Hobert again was a no-brainer, he said.
SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 8
Texas State professor spreads suicide awareness with his new book By Haley Velasco Life and Arts Editor On the morning of May 28, 2017, Eraldo “Dino” Chiecchi, Texas State professor for the School of Mass Communications and Journalism, flipped to the local television news to discover the shut down of I-10 due to a body found on the road in El Paso. Chiecchi further discovered that 14-year-old Josue “Josh” Legarda died by suicide through a requested police report weeks later. In 2018, Chiecchi began to compile more than 20 interviews into a 114-page story that encapsulated Josue’s legacy. Chiecchi’s book “Josue: A Young Man’s Life Lost to Suicide” was officially published May 10. “I decided to write about Josh,” Chiecchi said. “His life was too short. Through the discovery of who Josh was, I learned that he was a wonderful young man. He was a very loving, caring individual. Everybody loved him.” Tim Hernandez, author of “All They Will Call You” and assistant professor of the master’s of fine arts in creative writing at the University of Texas at El Paso, read over manuscripts of Chiecchi’s book before it was published. Ever since reading the manuscripts, Hernandez has remained hopeful that the book will help start a conversation about suicide.
SEE MENTAL HEALTH PAGE 5
PHOTO BY HALEY VELASCO
INFOGRAPHIC BY DELANEY COMPEAN
Texas State professor Eraldo "Dino" Chiecchi flips through his book "Josue: A Young Man's Life Lost to Suicide", Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in his office at Old Main.
The University Star
2 | Tuesday, October 3, 2023
NEWS
Blake Leschber News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
Bobcat Bounty responds to increased food insecurity in student population By Yelizaveta Kalinina News Contributor The University Star used a first name for one source in this story. Every Thursday, Keesha, a Texas State graduate student, goes to the Family and Consumer Sciences Building, to pick up some bread, vegetables and canned food from a free student-run pantry. It's her routine since last year as most of the money she is making as a graduate assistant is going to pay rent. ‘‘I am so thankful we have this opportunity,’’ Keesha said. ‘‘Since my car broke down recently I feel like a burden every time I ask my friends to drive me to the market, not to mention I almost have no money to shop.’’ University students are one of the most affected when it comes to food insecurity, according to Dominique Alfaro, a master's student in human nutrition. She has been volunteering with Bobcat Bounty as an intern for about a year and is now managing this grocery storestyle experience as a graduate assistant.
The maximum number Bobcat Bounty served last year was around 180 people per week during a two-hour weekly pantry. “This year, our average has been like 220. The word is going out,” Alfaro said. ‘‘To me, when I see the line getting bigger, that means there's more people facing food insecurity.’’ Bobcat Bounty is open to not only students but community members as well. For some community members, it is the only way to get food as they might not have a car. ‘‘Students, faculty and staff should not have to worry about where their meals are coming from because they have to go about our lives,” Emma Parsley, sustainability coordinator at the Office of Sustainability, said. ‘‘Being able to provide free resources is immensely incredible. That's the equitable opportunity that Texas State provides for its community.’’ Bobcat Bounty has recently opened four permanent shelf-stable food cupboards in Jowers, Education, Child and Development as well as Family and Consumer Sciences buildings. However, Bobcat Bounty is experiencing staff limitations. Even though the program operates because
of a grant from the university, which states the pantry itself has to be run by nutrition students, anyone can apply and help. Sometimes there aren't enough volunteers to watch the line and people might cut in. ‘ ‘When the population is vulnerable, they feel like they're not going to get enough food,’’ Alfaro said. “That way we are absolutely putting limits. So the first person in line and the last person in line can have the same exact choice of food.’’ Bobcat Bounty does not throw away any food from the pantry, meaning workers to ensure that all food is given out. ‘‘It's that mind of the circular economy, there are perfectly good items that people are throwing away and it's just about being able to facilitate the efforts to get them to those who need them,’’ Parsley said. Addressing food insecurity also allows the diverting of resources from landfills, which, according to Parsley, are maxing out. Among other sustainable initiatives is purchasing nfood items from Imperfectly Delicious Foods as well as the support of a sustainable Bobcat Farm. These and other non-food related initiatives of the university were recently recognized with Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System silver status. ‘‘It is essentially like a report card for universities to report on their sustainability practices," Parsley said. Back in 2019, Texas State was rated bronze, but this past year we were able to earn a silver status."
Scan the QR code for more information on Bobcat Bounty.
PHOTO BY YELIZAVETA KALININA
Bobcat Bounty volunteer serves the free student-run pantry customers,Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, at Bobcat Bounty in Family and Consumer Sciences building.
SMTX moves forward with container ban at city parks By Ezekiel Ramirez News Contributor On Sept. 19, the San Marcos City Council supported the idea of a singleuse container ban at all city parks. The ban would rid of single-use plastics in city parks including the San Marcos River. Residents from neighboring communities attended the council meeting with opinions to ensure the ban passed. Councilmember Jude Prather supported to move forward with this plan in hopes to make a brighter future for everyone. “Let’s do it,” Prather said. “Let’s leave behind a legacy of a greener future.” Neighboring cities such as New Braunfels and Martindale, both imposed a “can ban” to prevent river conditions from getting worse. Martindale created this decree five years ago and has received positive feedback. Martindale City Council member, Mike McClabb led the "can ban" campaign in 2018. McClabb discussed his personal motives for enforcing this outlaw. “We all have a right to use the river,
but we don't have a right to throw trash in it,” McClabb said. McClabb recalls attempting to work with the Water Oriented Recreational District and how challenging it is to clean the bottom of the river. “The best solution is don't allow it to even enter the water,” McClabb said. “Once it gets into the river, it's almost impossible to get out.” The City of Martindale has given out three tickets this past summer. “I would say 95% of the people have really complied and they understand,” Martindale Mayor, Katherine Glaze said. “Mostly everybody does want to keep the river environmentally sound.” Resident of Martindale, Tom Goynes doesn’t feel the new ban would be hard to enforce in San Marcos. “I mean, it isn't rocket science, it's not hard to enforce, and the bottom line is once the law is in effect, people learn,” Goynes said. Mark Gleason says even though the process may be long, he hopes to have this ban officially decided on by the end of the year and enacted by spring 2024. "This is going to take some work, by everyone, on how we are going to
STAR FILE PHOTO
Two friends kick a ball around, Monday, Aug. 8, 2021, at Sewell Park in San Marcos.
implement this, what this is going to look like, what this is going to cost," Gleason said. "I'm hoping we can get
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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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The University Star
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 | 3
NEW S
Blake Leschber News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
SMTX approves water agreement with Kyle By Lesdy Hernandez News Contributor In its Sept. 19 meeting, the San Marcos City Council approved an agreement which would allow the city of Kyle to temporary Edwards Aquifer water rights and authorizes the draw of 310 acre-feet of water from Edwards Aquifer. During the meeting, Tyler Hjorth, San Marcos utilities director, said San Marcos’ water capacity is adequate to meet the city of Kyle’s request of 310 acre-feet of water without having a strain in San Marcos’ system. No further impact on the net effect of the aquifer or additional financial cost would occur. “This is water they’re going to draw whether they borrow rights from us or find some other mechanism," Hjorth said during the meeting. "It’s just a question of whether or not they come through the city of San Marcos to acquire those rights or find other means." Last year, Kyle requested 125 acrefeet of water and used up only 22% of the water agreed upon, Jerry Hendrix, assistant city manager of Kyle, said. “We're very appreciative to the city of San Marcos for working with us and we want to make sure that we're good neighbors on how we use that water and not use more than we have to,” Hendrix said. Under agreement, the city of Kyle would also be required to meet or exceed San Marcos water restrictions. Since May 2022, Kyle has been experiencing a Stage 3 drought which has impacted their water supply consumption and caused tight water restrictions to be implemented. The city of Kyle relies on
INFOGRAPHIC BY HAYDEN-AVERY MILLER
INFOGRAPHIC BY MEAGAN WALTERS
Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, GuadalupeBlanco River Authority and Edwards Aquifer Authority for its water supply. Currently, the city gets 62% of its total water allotment between all three providers. “When the water gets scarce, because of the lack of rain, and consumption goes up, our providers find themselves low in their supply of water,” Hendrix said. “[Suppliers] call for us to reduce our consumption so that they are able to persevere with what they have until it starts raining again.” Last year, residents and businesses watering usage decreased from twice a week to once a week, giving them a total of three hours a week of watering usage. Earlier in the year, the water restrictions changed once again to every other week, Hendrix said. “We lightened up a bit throughout the winter and spring, but as we got into the summer, we realized we’re in an even worse position in terms of water and our permits,” Hendrix said. Amber Schmeits, assistant city manager for the city of Kyle, encourages the citizens of Kyle to continue to follow the current watering restrictions and that it all comes down to smart water consumption. “Don’t waste water. Make sure if you’re watering your lawns, you are doing it in compliance with our restrictions, and keep an eye out for your neighbors to help educate them,” Schmeits said. “That way we all have access to water during this current time.” The agreement is set to go up to the Kyle City Council at its Oct. 2 meeting and, if approved, would expire Dec. 31 of this year.
FROM FRONT TRAFFIC
INFOGRAPHIC BY MADELINE CARPENTER
According to a Facebook post by the SMPD, the highest number of accidents have occurred at the intersection of I-35 and State Highway 123, where there is major road construction and lane changes. "Some of [the car accidents] can be attributed to I-35," Standridge said. "If you're coming [on to Highway 123] or [Highway 80] there's a ton of construction as soon as you come along I-35." My35construction.org states that construction along I-35 is scheduled to run through at least 2025. “The road construction has been occurring for quite some time, but the lane shifts and construction over [Highway 123] has been occurring mostly this year," Ames said. "I can’t speak on behalf of TxDOT, but I know the city engineer has been working with TxDOT to work on the designs of construction zones, the length of closures of ramps.” Some San Marcos locals feel the increase in number of accidents can be blamed on new drivers in the area, especially Texas State students. “I’ve personally noticed a lot of [accidents] being due to Texas State students,” San Marcos local, Fernando Garcia, said. While there could be some truth to university students being responsible for accidents, Ames was hesitant to assign the blame solely on that group. “There definitely have been some crashes involving college students, but when you are talking specifically about fatality accidents, I would not contribute them specifically to that demographic,” Ames said. Another frequent complaint from San Marcos locals is that accidents are caused by a lack of traffic policing. “Where are the cops at? [I] hardly ever see traffic enforcement being done [and] seldom see patrols going through neighborhoods,” San Marcos local, Clifton Simon, said. Ames said while the traffic policing situation is less than ideal, it is not due to neglect or lack of effort from the local police. “When these things happen [manpower] is always an issue," Ames said. "The regular patrol officers are not tasked with [traffic enforcement]. They are responsible for responding to crimes. We only have a couple people dedicated to traffic safety.”
While traffic fatalities are up in San Marcos, they have also risen in Texas as a whole in recent years. According to TxDOT there were 4,481 traffic fatalities in Texas in 2022, which put Texas as the state with the highest number of traffic fatalities in the country. We’re calling on all Texas drivers to slow down and stay alert when traveling through work zones. Doing so could save a life, including your own.” Marc Williams Executive Director of TxDOT A press release from TxDOT said the number of fatalities in road construction zones was down 16% in 2022 when compared to the previous year. Even with that decrease, there were still 205 deaths and 788 injuries in construction zones last year. “Although it’s encouraging to see a reduction in the number of work zone crashes and fatalities last year, one life lost is too many,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said in the release. “We’re calling on all Texas drivers to slow down and stay alert when traveling through work zones. Doing so could save a life, including your own.” The SMPD recommends that drivers follow the speed limit, only use the left lane for passing, move over for emergency vehicles and share the road to try to avoid crashes on San Marcos roads.
Scan the QR code to view a map of fatal crash locations in San Marcos.
The University Star
4 | Tuesday, October 3, 2023
LIFE & ARTS
Haley Velasco Life and Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
Jane Doe Theatre Co. names aspiring playwrights By Benjamin Middleton Life and Arts Reporter Jane Doe Theatre Company at Texas State aims to give aspiring playwrights and directors a start in their careers by giving experience in the field. Started in 2018, Jane Doe Theatre Company is a student-run theatre organization at Texas State University that only produces plays written by students. The name “Jane Doe” was inspired by the need for unknown new works and names to be heard and recognized. The company is getting prepared for their fall season in order to continue their mission statement of providing a safe place for new playwrights, directors and actors to improve at their artform. “I think it's a really good opportunity to start building your resume in college and seeing what it's like to have your work read,” Kady Waldmann, a performance and production junior and operations manager for Jane Doe, said. Jane Doe Theatre Company produces around two-to-three plays per semester. It has an application for students to submit their scripts at the start of each semester, the scripts can be any length. Ravyn Bazile, a performance and production senior and development director for Jane Doe, looks to produce scripts of plays that are unlike anything she’s seen before. “I think everyone has an idea that they're like, ‘I've never seen anything like this, so it has to be wrong,’” Bazile said. “But I think those are the best stories, the ones that you've never heard. The ones that no one else would think of.” Jane Doe’s productions are all staged readings, a rehearsed performance of a play with scripts in the actor's hands. One advantage is it allows for the scripts
to constantly be revised throughout the rehearsal process. According to Sara Scheidt, a theatre education junior and the producing artistic director for Jane Doe, a big issue that playwrights run into is the challenge of being able to imagine their work being spoken. The staged reading format allows for the playwright to change their script as needed to match feedback from the directors and actors. “I think it helps give the playwrights confidence, seeing that their work can be produced and that it is good,” Scheidt said. “I think that gives them a really good boost in continuing to propel their work.” One staple of Jane Doe is its 24-hour writing contest. Participants have 24 hours to write a 10 minute play from a prompt. After a play is chosen, it is produced into a staged reading but it is performed 24 hours after the first rehearsal. This lets playwrights gain experience with a relatively small time commitment, in turn allowing actors to add their experiences to their resumes. “I know, it seems like we make the stakes higher, but to me, it makes it lower,” Waldmann said. “I've [got] 24 hours and I've always wanted to write a play. It’s now or never, I'm just gonna go for it.” Jane Doe Theatre Company helps facilitate the relationship between the director and playwright of the project in order to create the best final product, while creating a situation for them to learn off of each other. “I remember coming [into Jane Doe] and everybody was very welcoming,” Waldmann said. “It really gave me a sense as to what Texas State theatre was and solidified that I'm in the right spot and this is what I want to do.”
New group gives student housing tenants a voice By Carson Weaver Editor-in-Chief Emily Langley moved into The Junction in San Marcos with mold on her ceiling, broken light fixtures and furniture in bad condition. Langley, an accounting graduate student, has not only sued the apartment complex management for the move-in condition, but is a founding member and vice president of a newly formed community organization, the Tenants Advocacy Group (TAG), which fights for tenant rights in San Marcos. “I was fully responsible for dealing with the mess that was leftover by the prior tenants,” Langley said. TAG also fights against rent-bythe-bed (RBB) models, which is common for student housing, and pushes for changes in city ordinances that would improve the living conditions of the thousands living in student housing.
At the Sept. 26 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, TAG had three representatives to oppose the proposed complex. Ashley Saxon, president and founding member of TAG, said students are often stuck in apartments after signing leases without a way out besides paying an entire lump sum of the lease, something some students may not be able to afford. “Oftentimes, apartment complexes will show a very polished modeled apartment, and it's very misleading for students,” Saxon said in public comment at the Sept. 26 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. “It forces them to move into very unsanitary and dirty conditions.” TAG is eventually looking to make a larger impact in terms of pushing for new city ordinances. Langley said the solution for better tenant rights starts with making itself known to the San Marcos Planning and Zoning Commission and San
There's a community here and there's a neighborhood. These [property] developers are speaking for [students]. They're saying 'This is what students want,'... TAG is here to say... 'No, you don't speak for us.'" Emily Langley Founding member and vice president of TAG
Opposing a newly proposed sevenstory complex on North Street and Lindsey Street, which would be the second largest RBB model complex in San Marcos with over 900 beds, is first on TAG’s list. The proposed development would require all homes and businesses to be removed and would require the property to be rezoned from “existing neighborhood” to “high intensity.” “There's a community here and there's a neighborhood,” Langley said. “These [property] developers are speaking for [students]. They’re saying ‘This is what students want’... TAG is here to say… ‘No, you don’t speak for us.’”
Marcos City Council to push for these changes to city ordinances that improve student living conditions. Currently, air conditioning is not required to be provided by Texas landlords. Langley said, in this Texas heat, TAG will push for the city to change that city ordinance. TAG will also push for apartments to disclose living conditions before a tenant moves in, something that’s close to Langley’s heart. “Eventually we’re looking into making a larger impact in terms of putting in city ordinances,” Langley said. “We're going to say, ‘Hey, here's who we are. Here's what we believe in.’”
Scan the QR code to visit TAG's Instagram.
The University Star
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 | 5
LIFE & ARTS
Haley Velasco Life and Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT MENTAL HEALTH Vianey Legarda, Josue’s sister and Lucero’s daughter, was in San Diego when her brother died. Although she hasn’t read the book, she hopes that Josue’s story can help define him outside of a statistic.
unaware that Josue was sending suicidal messages to a group of friends. “He came behind my bed, gave me a kiss on the forehead and said ‘Mom, I love you so much,’” Lucero said. “He started walking and turned to look at me
He made a really big impact in people's lives. He had a lot of goals. But unfortunately he had other plans the day everything happened." Vianey Legarda Josue's sister “He made a really big impact in people’s lives,” Vianey said. “He had a lot of goals. He wanted to join the Marines. The last time I saw him he asked me if he could move in with me once he moved out of my mom’s house. But unfortunately he had other plans the day everything happened.” “Josue: A Young Man’s Life Lost to Suicide” recounts the night Josue died. Lucero was in the hospital after having an appendectomy surgery. Josue had visited her that night, wanting her to come back home the next day. Lucero, reassuring her son that she would be back, was
and did a little dance. He said bye and that was the last time I saw my son.” When learning of the signs that Josue wasn’t showing to his mom, Chiecchi knew it was needed to write a story on Josue to spread knowledge on teen suicide and how unknowledgeable close ones can become of a bad mental state. Since publishing the book, Chiecchi has gone to three speaking events in Arlington to discuss his book. He hopes to travel far and wide to share Josue’s story and the need to start a conversation, one reader at a time. “The epidemic is here,” Chiecchi said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VIANEY LEGARDA
Vianey Legarda (left), Josue's sister, and Josue Legarda (right) pose for a picture, Thursday, May 26, 2016, at the Broadway Pier in San Diego, California.
“By not talking about it, it’s still happening. Maybe if we do something different, it won’t happen. That’s why I’ve taken off my journalist hat and put on my
advocate hat. I feel very seriously about this issue.”
Annual Sacred Springs Powwow to return to San Marcos and educate community By Jacquelyn Burrer Life and Arts Contributor In a traditional celebration of Indigenous cultures, San Marcos will play host to the 13th annual Sacred Springs Powwow filled with widespread varieties of art, dance, cuisine and other festivities to honor the sacred land in the San Marcos area. The event, organized by the Indigenous Cultures Institute (ICI), will be an all-day affair on Oct. 7-8 at the Meadows Center, with over 6,000 people and more than 55 Indigenous arts and crafts vendors expected to attend. Aaron Pyle, Ph.D, co-chair of the Sacred Springs Powwow, said that the powwow has become a place over the past few decades where different Native and Indigenous groups come together to celebrate their culture and build community. “One of the cornerstones of Indigenous ways of being is [to] respect the elder for their stories and the wisdom they offer,” Pyle said. “Powwow is an opportunity for them to share their stories in a big way, and we just hope that San Marcos [and] the students of Texas State just take the opportunity to listen.” The ICI was founded by individuals from the Miakan-Garza Band, one of many bands that make up the Coahuiltecans. The origin story of the Coahuiltecans states they emerged from the underworld through the springs that became the Sacred Springs in San Marcos, thereby establishing the area as a sacred site within the culture. Pyle said that attending the powwow as an undergraduate at Texas State University changed his life and helped him reconnect to his Choctaw culture after moving from the reservation in Oklahoma to Central Texas. “Stumbling across the powwow on campus was a really powerful experience, and it’s a good example of how representation matters,” Pyle said. “For a Choctaw kid
STAR FILE PHOTO
The principal founder of the Indigenous Cultures Institute, Mario Garza, leads the color guard, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, at the 12th annual Sacred Springs Powwow at The Meadows Center.
really far away from Choctaw country, hearing those powwow drums was a powerful thing.” Pyle said the ICI’s goal is to preserve and celebrate
Indigenous identities, specifically in the areas of Northern Mexico and Southern Texas, and to help individuals who have had their identities taken from them as a result of history reconnect with their heritage. “Many of these powwows have become a context [for] the pan-Indian identity that is indirectly a consequence of the [forced assimilation and relocation] policy of the United States,” Joaquin Rivaya-Martinez, Ph.D, Texas State University associate professor for the history department, said. “By forcing the Native children to learn English at the expense of their own language, that [action] made people from very different geographic origins and cultural origins to communicate and realize they were in the same fight.” Rivaya-Martinez is also an ethnohistorian who specializes in Indigenous peoples of the U.S.-Mexico region and the Great Plains. He said the Indigenous groups that historically honor the springs in San Marcos as a sacred site include the Coahuiltecan, Lipan Apache, Tonkawa and Jumano people, with the Tonkawa tribe as the only one that is federally recognized. “Powwows are places in which Native American people demonstrate that they are still around, they haven’t disappeared, [and] they have their own culture that is as deserving of respect as any other,” Rivaya-Martinez said. Pyle said another key part of the powwow is to prioritize youth involvement within Native communities to pass on generational knowledge of sacred traditions. “Building up young folks is at the heart of our mission,” Pyle said. “One of the things our elders [do] is always pairing those [volunteer] roles with a younger person, so they can learn from these elders who have been involved [with] powwow for decades about what it takes to run one.” To learn more information about the Sacred Springs Powwow, visit www.sspowwow.com.
The University Star
6 | Tuesday, October 3, 2023
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.
TikTok trends promote overconsumption By Rhian Davis Opinions Editor Scrolling through your TikTok “For You” page (FYP), you have likely come across a haul, get ready with me or restock video. Content like this is often intended to lead viewers to purchase a product featured in the video. While the purchase may feel gratifying in the moment, falling victim to content like this is promoting overconsumption. Taking the world by storm, TikTok quickly became one of the fastest-growing social media platforms, hitting one billion active monthly users in 2021. The most significant proportion of TikTok users are 10-19-year-olds and, at this age, are still incredibly impressionable and easily influenced. Alix Earle, who has 5.9 million TikTok followers, gained her popularity because of her “iconic [get ready with me] videos,” and has become one of the most trusted influencers when it comes to beauty products, according to E! News. In August, Earle partnered with Benefit Cosmetics to create her own makeup bag that customers would receive if they spent $60 on Benefit products at Ulta. The words “Alix made me buy it” plastered on the side of the fluffy pink bag only reinforce the idea of overconsumption, all while marketing it as harmless fun. Though Earle is only trying to make smart business moves, she is influencing millions of people to purchase excessive amounts of makeup products that they most likely don't need, simply because she said they're the best. When TikTok first began gaining popularity, product content may not have seemed like an issue. Creators
ILLUSTRATION BY DJ ROSS
were simply trying to make money and stay afloat in any way they could, just like the rest of us. However, TikTok has now caught onto the idea and is prompting users to buy even more with TikTok Shop. While online shopping is already reasonably straightforward, Glamour described TikTok Shop as so easy to use “it’s almost creepy.” The seamless experience of being able to shop directly on TikTok can be harmful to
users as it prompts them to spend excessive amounts of money with one simple click of a button. One of the biggest trends on TikTok recently is videos that show content creators restocking products around their homes. This can include restocking food items in the kitchen, skincare products or items in one’s laundry room. Creators of these videos almost always have “aesthetic” or “minimalistic” containers that each product goes in, and
TXST students must learn joys of cooking By James Phillips Opinions Contributor Cooking is one of the most essential skills a college student can have. Learning how to cook will improve students' quality of life and provide new creative outlets. The first and most obvious benefit of learning to cook for oneself is the monetary savings compared to the cost of dining out. A study from Education Data Initiative found that the average college student spends around $410 a month on dining out. That, however, does not include the costs of meal plans - which, at their lowest, cost $1,440 per semester. Cooking provides a cheaper alternative to this financial whirlpool. Students can avoid paying the premiums that restaurants add to their items in order to create profit. An article from Forbes said while entrees such as "broccoli alfredo, pad thai, pasta bolognese and soba noodles" often cost $20 a plate at standard restaurants, customers "can easily make these meals at home and save 80-90% per serving." However, this does not dispute the fact that shopping for food items at retailers can also be expensive for college students. Thankfully, these costs can be balanced out via meal planning and budgeting on a week-by-week or even month-long basis. Iowa State University offers a free grocery calculator and planner to help anyone estimate the cost of groceries. Cooking has also been proven to be healthier than consistently eating out. A study by John Hopkins University found that "people [who] cook most of their meals at home... consume fewer carbohydrates, less sugar and less fat" than those who frequently dine out. In addition, cooking healthy meals can be incredibly easy. Meals such as broccoli and
cheese, mini zucchini pizzas or even oatmeal are healthy options and incredibly simple to make. One of the greatest positives of cooking is the creative outlet it can provide for students. Cooking allows students to experiment with new combinations of spices and flavors in order to create new culinary objects for themselves or others to enjoy. This creativity is so powerful, in fact, that according to Southern Living, it "[soothes] stress, [builds] self-esteem and [curbs] negative thinking by focusing the mind." Unfortunately, one of the big hurdles many individuals face in learning to cook is the supposed difficulty of cooking. Thankfully, this idea is nothing more than an elaborate myth. While it is true there are extremely complicated meals, such as beef wellington, that are very difficult to make, many meals, such as spaghetti or loaded nachos, are extremely easy to make with little to no preparation. Sites like Pinterest or other online cookbooks offer a near-infinite amount of simple meal options for individuals to cook. The basics of cooking, such as how to cook meat, how to season food and what to look out for, are quite simple when broken down. The easiest way to learn is to find a recipe and start cooking. In all likelihood, there is a chance that one might make errors while cooking for the first time. However, these errors are critical as they are part of the learning process. Students should not be scared of failing when learning to cook. Instead, they should embrace it. By learning how to cook, students can create healthier meals for themselves on a cheaper budget and learn new skills in an exciting creative outlet. -James Phillips is an international relations junior
most of the time, there are far too many unnecessary items. Videos like this can create harmful standards for people who watch them. Viewers might believe they need the same containers or products shown in each video when, in reality, this isn’t true. It is unrealistic and unattainable for everyone’s life to match a particular aesthetic, especially in a college setting. The trend of buying Stanley Cups and making videos on “WaterTok” has shown the extent to which overconsumption has taken over. Reusable water bottles are an excellent investment as they prevent plastic from polluting oceans and help you save money over time; however, buying 10 Stanley Cups to have a variety of colors is excessive. The TikTok algorithm plays a significant role in consumerism on the app. Each person’s FYP is specifically curated toward their tastes. Likes, comments, shares and even how much time spent watching each video is tracked. As you begin to see the same type of content and the same creators as you scroll , a sense of trust is built, which can lead you to feel compelled to purchase the products they show. Though it is probably impossible to stop TikTok from influencing one’s purchases, it is crucial to think before spending money on something you may not need. Watching influencers live lavish lives is fun, but you do not need to match them constantly, so put your credit card away. -Rhian Davis is a journalism sophomore
Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, As part of its Mission Statement, Texas State University vows to “prepare its graduates to participate fully and freely as citizens of Texas, the nation and the world.” Unfortunately, one of its current policies works against this stated goal. In a democracy, to “participate fully and freely” one must vote. That means one must first register. In the state of Texas, the voter registration process is notor iously cumbersome. In Hays County, in particular, students must engage with the postal system, and many are unequipped to do so. A high percentage of undergraduates, for instance, do not know their mailing addresses. If the university is serious about encouraging students to fulfill their civic duties, faculty and administration should work together to facilitate voter registration. This could be achieved through either positive or negative reinforcement. Eligible students could be required to submit proof of registration in order to, for instance, receive grades at the end of the semester. A more positive approach would be for professors to reward students by offering extra credit to those who show proof of registration. Unfortunately, both of these options are forbidden under UPPS 06.02.10, which reads in part: “No student will be identified, rewarded
or penalized based on their participation in voter registration.” This is inconsistent with the university’s stated mission of “prepar[ing] its graduates to participate fully and freely as citizens.” One might reasonably suggest that students should register to vote for altruistic reasons. Indeed, most students begin each election cycle intending to register. However, time for undergraduates is at a premium, and because the registration process is overly complicated, these good intentions often go by the wayside. Before they know it, the deadline has passed, and would-be citizens are shut out of the process. I know from personal experience that offering optional course credit can double voter registration numbers above the average for our student demographic. It would of course be wrong to reward students for voting for any particular party or individual. But there can be no reasonable objection to encouraging students to register. That is one of the best ways Texas State can prepare them “to participate fully and freely as citizens of Texas, the nation, and the world.” Thank you for your time and attention. Respectfully yours, Joe Falocco, Ph.D. Professor Dept. of English
The University Star welcomes Letters to the Editor from its readers. All submissions are reviewed and considered by the Editor-in-Chief and Opinions Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication. ILLUSTRATION BY DELANEY COMPEAN
The University Star
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 | 7
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Kobe Arriaga Multimedia Editor starmultimedia@txstate.edu
Texas State senior Jadeh Chan rushes to forehand the ball during the doubles match against Incarnate Word, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Texas State Tennis Complex.
PHOTO BY MANDALYN LEWALLEN
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Texas State junior Sofia Fortuno (left) and graduate student Callie Creath (right) celebrate a game point during their doubles match, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Texas State Tennis Complex.
Musician Vance Loggins performs on stage during Recovery on the Plaza, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in San Marcos Plaza Park.
PHOTO BY CARLENE OTTAH
PHOTO BY FELIX MENKE
Aquatic biology sophomore Aubrey Cardwell (right) splashes Sigma Nu members with a water balloon, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at the Quad.
Texas State Alpha Phi Alpha members stroll into their dance line at Hump Day, Wednesday, Sep. 27, 2023, at the LBJ Mall.
The University Star
8 | Tuesday, October 3, 2023
SPORTS
David Cuevas Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu
Bobcats survive late rally from Southern Miss return to put them up 7-0 in the opening 15 seconds. “It really set the tone,” Kinne said. “Any time you can score a special teams touchdown, it excites the team. It gets everyone going. I’m really proud of those guys and the coaching staff and everyone involved in it.” Mahdi, who has emerged in recent weeks as Texas State’s number-one running back, scored three rushing touchdowns in the first half. He finished the game with 89 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Bobcats took advantage of the slow start by the Golden Eagles outscoring them 42-10 in the first half. Texas State redshirt sophomore quarterback T.J. Finley went 19-24 for 338 passing yards and two touchdown passes. Southern Miss came out of halftime looking like a very different team, scoring 26 straight points to cut the Bobcat lead to 42-36 in the fourth quarter. Texas State redshirt junior quarterback Malik Hornsby scored a 14-yard rush in the final minutes of regulation to put the game on ice. The Texas State defense struggled to contain Southern Miss junior running
By Jude Botello Sports Contributor
PHOTO BY MEG BOLES
Texas State sophomore running back Ismail Mahdi (21) carries the ball against Jackson State, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium.
It was a very different story from last week as Texas State (4-1, 1-0 Sun Belt) exploded, putting up 42 points in the first half, but struggled in the second half in its 50-36 victory against Southern Mississippi University (1-4, 0-2 Sun Belt Conference) Friday night at M.M. Roberts Stadium. After leading by as much as 32 points, the Bobcats narrowly avoided a come-from-behind win from Southern Miss. “Really proud of the guys. It’s hard to win in college football on the road against a quality opponent,” Texas State Head Coach G.J. Kinne said. “We started fast, which was the emphasis all week. With the second half, it’s always weird when you’re up that much, and you’re on the road. I left some guys in, but we have some guys banged up, so I wanted to make sure they were healthy since I felt the lead was in hand.” The game popped off quickly for the Bobcats as sophomore running back Ismail Mahdi scored a 100-yard kickoff
FROM FRONT FOOTBALL “Off the field, he is a very fun-loving, goofy guy who doesn't take himself seriously,” Stutzmann said. “On the field, he's an ultra-competitive person who leads by example. You can't have enough of those types of guys, and I am excited he is with us.” Hobert said now that he’s finally at Texas State, he can finish his football career where he has wanted to all along. “Since I was a little kid, I would talk to my mom and dad and say, 'Can we go to Texas? Can we live in Texas?'” Hobert said. “They always said maybe, but my mom would never let it happen. I love it here, and I could easily see myself being here for the rest of my life.”
PHOTO BY MEG BOLES
Texas State junior wide receiver Joey Hobert (10) reaches out for a touchdown pass, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium.
Volleyball vs. James Madison series Match 1: Sept. 28 1
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3
F
19
19
23
3
James Madison 25
25
23
0
Texas State
Foreign soccer transfers discover triumph abroad By Brendan Fielding Assistant Sports Editor Texas State is home to students from more than 80 nations, but its soccer team proves that it is more than just a place to reside. Since transferring, international soccer players have overcome cultural differences, made lasting relationships and added immense skill to the Bobcats’ roster. Freshman midfielder Victoria Meza and sophomore forward Mady Soumare transferred from El Salvador and France, respectively. They agree that one of the most conflicting challenges they’ve faced this year has been the language barrier. “The biggest change [was] the language,” Soumare said. “English is not my first language, and [it’s] all around me in the city and the people. I’m far from my family so it’s kind of hard.” Junior goalkeeper and Texas native Katelyn Chrisman, who knows making the leap to another country can be a difficult process, said the Bobcats’ soccer team is welcoming to the players that make the transition. “We have pretty open communication about things. I’ve told [international players] if they ever need anything with school or soccer that I’d help [them] figure it out,” Chrisman said. “I think our coaching staff is very accommo dating, too.” In addition to the change in communications these players face, there are also shifts on the soccer pitch. Meza said though she has become acclimated, the atmosphere she was familiar with in El Salvador is not the same as that of Texas State. “[In El Salvador], it’s totally professional. All the players over there play in the Mexican League,” Meza said. “People are actually playing pro and everything, so it's pretty serious.” Meza said when she transferred, she was pleased with Texas State’s ability on the field and did not have to change the type of player she was. “I was really happy with the fact that over here, we play the long balls,” Meza said. “So I was like ‘Yes! I can [play] the same here.’” Freshman defender Cauvais Deane, a transfer from Canada, agrees that Texas State soccer’s on-field adaptability aids foreign transfers in that they do not have to re-invent their style. She said no matter a player's position, they are valued as highly as the next player.
West Division Sun Belt Conference
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21 13 25 17 1
South Alabama
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9-0-3
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7
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Texas State
Series Stats
Texas State
Samantha Wunsch: 28 kills, 7 blocks
Louisiana
K.J. Johnson: 22 kills, 1 block Maggie Walsh: 10 kills, 1 block
back Frank Gore Jr. in the second half. Gore powered the comeback with 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns. However, the defense stepped up late in the fourth quarter, stopping Southern Miss on its final drive. “We had some guys really step up. Some big-time players got in there,” Kinne said. “That’s a good football team, and we were able to get a stop when it mattered.” Saturday’s victory marks Texas State’s first win over Southern Miss since 2013 and the team’s first Sun Belt Conference win of the season. Meanwhile, Kinne continues to make history, as in his debut year he becomes the first Texas State head coach to begin 4-1 since John O’Hara in 1983. Next, Texas State will go on the road to face the University of LouisianaLafayette (3-2, 0-1 Sun Belt Conference), where it will aim to start 2-0 in conference play. Kickoff between Texas State and Louisiana-Lafayette is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
Arkansas State Troy
PHOTO BY MANDALYN LEWALLEN
Texas State sophomore forward Mady Soumare (9) looks for an open pass during the game against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, at Bobcat Soccer Complex.
“Being a striker is what everyone wants to do… because you score the goals and everything,” Deane said. “But they make it as important to be a defender as a striker here.” Texas State’s international transfers have also found success interpersonally. Through their everyday practices on and off the pitch, many new friendships have blossomed, Meza said. “It’s been like a month and I think that I’m [fitting] into the team already,” Meza said. “I’m making friendships and I’m always joking around with it.” Soumare said Bobcat soccer provides her with a family away from home due to their regular practices, meals and overall time spent together. While undergoing cultural changes may be difficult, Texas State strives to help its foreign players settle in by providing a warm community, Chrisman said. Evidently, this process is successful as many foreign transfers have found rapid success on the field. While appearing in eight of Texas State’s 11 games so far, Meza has proven clinical in her passing. With three assists, she is tied with the most on the team and has also taken advantage of scoring opportunities, charting two goals this season already. “I have really liked Victoria in the midfield,” Chrisman said. “I think she’s a solid midfielder that has definitely helped us a lot. Just her ability to hold the ball and distribute long balls is a really good aspect.” Soumare has also found success, matching three other Bobcats with three goals on the season. She’s charted an assist, too, bringing her point total on the season to match Meza’s at seven. “Mady’s a really good player,” Chrisman said. “She works super hard and she gives us more depth up top. I think both [Soumare and Meza] have been very good.” Altogether, Texas State’s foreign soccer players have proven their adaptability on and off the pitch with success in social and competitive aspects. Meza, Soumare and Deane all said that though it may have taken some getting used to, their Bobcat teammates have aided them in their transition. “I haven’t met someone who’s not nice,” Meza said. “[Texas State] tries to make people comfortable with where they are.”