September 17, 2019 by The University Star

DOWNTOWN SAN MARCOS SET TO OPEN MOBILITY HUB THIS FALL

SEE PAGE 4 SEE PAGE 10

SEE PAGE 6

SOCCER TAKES TWO LOSSES GOING INTO CONFERENCE PLAY

STUDENTS SPEND SUMMER IN THAILAND FOR TRIP OF A LIFETIME

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TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 VOLUME 109 ISSUE 06

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

SAFETY

GOT PODS?

Recent health concerns over e-cigarette use spawns a debate over legal action against vaping.

smoking cessation aids in its pharmacy cigarettes but a few people get sick from at a significant discount so vaping and now everyone freaks out," students can more likely Stapleton said. "Twenty-one-and-up Recent deaths related to e-cigarette afford the aids if they are is a good thing. Obviously it’s gonna products opened the door for Texas attempting hurt business but if State health professionals to share to quit. it’s for the better concerns as well as nationwide of everyone proposals for legal action. it’s a good Cases of what is described as “acute t h i n g lung disorder” have recently spread rapidly, including six deaths of the 380 reported lung illnesses in 2019 as of Sept. 16. Symptoms of the disorder include coughing and intense chest pains; individuals may additionally experience shortness of breath. While similar cases have appeared in the past, health officials believe the recent spike may be related to the unintentional consumption of a toxin within the substance in vape devices. No particular product has been linked to these trends in health emergencies. The Center for Disease Control stated several of the aforementioned cases were tied to the use of THC vape products, though nicotine devices were directly Carranco involved. said the Student overall.” The National Youth Tobacco Survey Health Center’s smoking cessation reported in 2018 up to 28% of high program is a service including a variety The Trump administration began school students used a form of tobacco of approaches to help smokers quit. preparations Sept. 11 for a nationwide or e-cigarette product within the "(The cessation program) is ban on various flavored vape products twenty days before the survey. administered by our registered nurses and unspecified e-cigarettes, almost According to the report, up to 7.2% and is modeled after the QUIT program immediately following the Sept. 10 of middle school students use vaping developed by the federal government," news of a sixth death in the country products. In May 2019, the National Carranco said. "It’s a combination of from vaping-related lung disease. College Health Assesment survey Texas education, understanding what your Debates on whether a nationwide ban State participates in stated 16.3% of triggers are, understanding how you would be beneficial rapidly spread. Texas State students used e-cigarettes might be able to deal with cravings and Hannah Barragy, criminal justice within 30 days before the survey was having support from others who know senior, said she believes a ban will do conducted. you are on this journey.” more harm than good due to potential Dr. Emilio Carranco, director of the Recent efforts toward controlling the increases in faulty products. Student Health Center, said e-cigarettes sale of e-cigarette products have been “I think a ban will deter a small have the potential to cause damage to made. Michigan became the first state portion of kids currently using brain development in adolescents. to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes vaping products but like other illegal “As research is coming out, what we’re in the first week of September 2019. substances, people will find a way to discovering is electronic cigarettes cause Additionally, up to 18 states raised gain access to them,” Barragy said. “(A an awful lot of harm to adolescents the minimum age to 21 years old ban) could increase the sales of knockand young adults,” Carranco said. for purchasing nicotine products in off products more dangerous than the “What we’re finding is nicotine can July 2019. The states include Texas, legitimate product since there’s no harm a part of the developing brain in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, regulation to the manufacturing or young people responsible for attention, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, ingredients behind them.” learning and mood. The nicotine is Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Debates over vaping laws will extend leading to a higher risk of addiction to New York, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, to the federal level when the Trump other drugs.” Vermont, Virginia and Washington. administration proposes legislation. Carranco recommends seeking a Garrett Stapleton, employee at Time will tell if medical emergencies medical provider to discuss ways to Marvelous Smoke shop in downtown related to electronic cigarettes will approach the quitting process. The San Marcos, said he questions the become consistent. health center’s tobacco cessation ethics of the ban in Michigan while For more information on illnesses research indicates a higher success supporting the decision to increase correlated to vaping products, visit rate among cigarette quitters who the age for people buying nicotine the Food and Drug Administration seek support and education from a products in Texas. website. professional. “A ban seems preemptive; tons of The Student Health Center provides people die almost every day from By Daniel Weeks News Reporter

Texas State addresses ‘Campus Watch’ deficiencies By Jakob Rodriguez Editor-in-Chief Texas State University participates in the campus-wide disclosure of crime statistics within one city block of all university property and follows a surprising trend to either classify information falsely or misrepresent the numbers associated with the crime report. Annually, institutions participating in the Federal Student Aid program must disclose campus security policy and crime statistics, a process known as the “Clery” Act. Passed by Congress in 1990, following Jeanne Clery’s sexual assault and murder in her college dormitory at Lehigh University in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, federal law mandated the reporting of crimes on campus and within a one city block radius. The law extends to university property beyond the campus’ immediate borders according to Senior Media Relations Manager for Texas State Jayme Blashke. “According to Clery guidelines, there is a radius around campus that criminal reports need to be included,” Blashke said. “It roughly extends about a block away from campus. SEE SAFETY PAGE 2

RESTAURANTS

Five local San Marcos restaurants to support By Laura Figi Life & Arts Editor PIE SOCIETY Pie Society is a San Marcos staple. Located at 700 N LBJ Drive and walking distance from Texas State campus, the San Marcos original sells authentic New York-style pizza, salads and features a full bar. The restaurant frequently runs specials like a $6 pint and slice, brunch drink specials and if customers snap a picture and tag Pie Society on social media while dining, they will be entered to win a free pizza. Pie society is open Mon-Wed, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Thu-Sat, 1112 a.m., Sun 12-11 p.m. INDUSTRY Industry was founded by Harlan Scott, Cody Taylor and Todd Havers to pay homage to their multitude of years in the service industry, hence the name. With its clean, industrial but warm atmosphere, Industry serves a variety of options suitable for an array of dietary needs. The menu changes SEE RESTAURANTS PAGE 5

The University Star

2 | Tuesday, September 17, 2019

NEWS

Sonia Garcia News Editor starnews@txstate.edu

FROM FRONT SAFETY Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487

Editors Editor-in-Chief: Jakob Rodriguez stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor: Bayley Bogus starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu News Editor: Sonia Garcia, starnews@txstate.edu Life & Arts Editor: Laura Figi starlifeandarts@txstate.edu Opinions Editor: Jordan Drake staropinion@txstate.edu Sports Editor: Claire Partain starsports@txstate.edu Design Editor: Molly Gonzales stardesign@txstate.edu Multimedia Editor: Jaden Edison starmultimedia@txstate.edu Engagement Editor: Isabella Lopes starsengagement@txstate.edu

PR Team Brianna Benitez PR Specialist

Bianca Landry PR Specialist

Jean Floyd PR Specialist

Lynsey Lamoureaux PR Specialist

Matthew Hawkins PR Specialist

Jacqueline Moreno PR Specialist

Anything that happens within that radius has to be reported. Any of the university properties are included.” The purpose of the act is simple: encourage transparency among institutions of higher learning about crime statistics on or near campuses so students and parents alike are knowledgeable of criminal history. Clery herself would not have attended Leigh University had her parents known about the institution’s history of sexual assault on campus. According to a statement from the university, Texas State is working with the Department of Education to correct deficiencies identified in prior years’ annual security reports, including a lack of Campus Security Authority identification, lack of information for the Round Rock Campus and reporting deficiencies. “Texas State became aware of these deficiencies after the University engaged with the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators to conduct a peer review,” the statement published Sept. 14 reads. Student Government President Corey Benbow said the confirmation of this trend on campus is alarming. "It's not a good feeling to understand that you may not be as safe on campus as what may have been reported previously," Benbow said. "It really puts us in a bad position that we didn't have accurate data out there; we rely on those numbers a lot. The data shows that Texas State is a safe campus, but obviously we know that's not true, so that's very disheartening, disappointing and quite frankly embarrassing." Benbow said work has to be done internally to hold administration accountable to report accurate numbers. "I think we're at a point where we can't solely rely on the administration

Federal law mandates the University Police Department along with other departments across Texas to report crimes on campus within a one city block radius. PHOTO BY JADEN EDISON

anymore, because time and time again, they have shown they are not doing what is in the best interest of the student body," Benbow said. According to the statement, a draft of the report was issued by IACLEA on Nov. 16, 2018. The following year, Feb. 4, 2019, Texas State hired a new Chief of Police Laurie Clouse who took over the department following the May 15, 2018 resignation of Chief Jose Bañales. “The new police leadership immediately began addressing the deficiencies identified in the IACLEA report. UPD Chief Clouse formed an internal Clery Compliance Committee, a collaborative interdisciplinary University team to ensure compliance, which first met on March 6, 2019. On May 15, 2019, Texas State participated in a Technical Assistance Conference with the DOE’s Clery Act Compliance Division to improve University protocols and directives,” the statement reads. Clouse sent out a campus-wide email

Wednesday, Sept. 11 identifying faculty and staff members as Campus Security Authorities for Texas State. The role of CSAs are defined as having significant responsibility for student and campus activities, a police or security department or individuals or offices designated to receive campus crime reports. Additionally, Clouse asked members of the university community to fill in the gaps left behind by either missing data or incomplete records. "From January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2018 I was not aware of, and did not receive, any reports of criminal incidents, arrests or disciplinary actions for Clery Act crimes," Clouse's email stated. On Oct. 1, 2019, faculty, staff and students will receive a link to the 2018 University Annual Security report via email. The University Star will continue to update this story and cover the presentation of data until it is representative of the university and San Marcos community.

Full-Time Staff Director: Laura Krantz, laurakrantz@txstate.edu

CONSERVATION

Student Publications Coordinator: Mayra Mejia, mm1894@txstate.edu

Students and faculty asked to conserve energy

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About Us 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 4,500. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. 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. Deadlines: Letters to the Editor or any contributed articles are due on Monday the week prior to publication. Corrections: Any errors that are in the pages of The University Star and are brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible. Visit The Star at universitystar.com

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By Zachary Keel News Reporter Texas State officials are calling on students, faculty and staff to conserve energy as the blistering days continue and the demand for electricity increases. The request from university officials was made in response to a memo from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's office outlining the Electricity Reliability Company of Texas’ electricity demand forecast. Demand has increased drastically over the summer, growing each consecutive month to its pinnacle in August. The extreme summer temperatures are the leading factor in the increase. ERCOT, which manages the vast majority of the Texas electrical system, tracks electrical load demands across the state. The South Central Weather Zone, which includes San Marcos, reached peak demand of 12,436 megawatts August 2018. The following month of the same year had the highest reading, which topped 11,000 MW. For context, a capacity of one megawatt is roughly equivalent to the power used by a few hundred homes over a year, depending on the source of the power (e.g., solar, wind, coal). The demand reached even greater levels during August 2019, stretching to 12,873 MW. San Marcos' weather forecast shows a high probability of 90-degree days for the remaining of September; the skyrocketing demand is unlikely to decrease significantly. Leslie Sopko, ERCOT communications manager, said the increase in demand is statewide and partially due to factors beyond the heat. “The state of Texas continues to grow; we continue to see population growth and we have a thriving economy,” Sopko said To counteract the current heatwave

A line graph displaying the energy demand for Aug. 2019. PHOTO BY CHANDLER WALKER

and mitigate the effects of Texas' growth to avoid potential rolling blackouts in the future, Thomas Shewan, associate vice president of facilities at Texas State, said it is crucial for students and faculty to adjust energy consumption habits. “The weather has been so hot for so long, everybody is using their air conditioning, all the buildings are on, the lights are on, the projectors are on,” Shewan said. “It’s the citizens of San Marcos, it’s the students, faculty and staff members that can really help.” Shewan said the university has taken steps, institutionally, to combat the problem. Energy-efficient light bulbs have been installed in various classrooms across campus, as well as timers in buildings to ensure the lights switch off after a period of inactivity. The institutional response is crucial, as Texas State is the number one consumer of electricity in the San Marcos area. Shewan said the community responded well to the heightened demand last year and a small decrease in usage helped avoid any negative fallout. “The university responded spectacularly (last year),” Shewan said.

“Again, a 5% (decrease) doesn’t seem like a lot of energy, but when you use this much energy, 5% is a lot.” Shewan said there are a few simple actions students and faculty can take to conserve energy in their own daily routines. “Put your thermostat up a couple of degrees in the summertime and down a few degrees in the wintertime,” Shewan said. “When you leave (class), turn the projector off and turn the lights off.” Hannah Holder, communications graduate student, said she is coping with the current heatwave with air conditioning and a fan. “I have my thermostat set to 72 degrees and then my fan is on high in my room all the time,” Holder said. Holder said she thinks she can sacrifice her fan and open a window at night to do her part in decreasing energy consumption. Anyone with questions or concerns about energy conservation is being asked to contact the main Facilities office by telephone at (512) 245-2518.

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The University Star

4 | Tuesday, September 17, 2019

NEWS

Sonia Garcia News Editor starnews@txstate.edu

TRANSPORTATION

Construction workers Ever Cruz (left), Efrain Alvarez (middle) and Yovanni Alvarez (right) work on the soon-to-be-finished mobility hub Sept.13 at 214 E. Hutchison Street. PHOTO BY ANGELINA CAZAR

Downtown San Marcos set to open mobility hub this fall By Ziek Sanchez News Reporter Public access to a brand-new mobility hub will be available in San Marcos fall 2019, serving as a convenient transit hub and spot to gather downtown. The downtown mobility hub, located at 214 E. Hutchison St., will serve as an access point for various types of public transportation. The hub will include parking spaces, bike racks and will soon serve as a bus stop location. Along with acting as a transit location, the hub will offer several amenities to help travelers relax while spending time outside and around town like seating, shade, public art, a performance stage, a bike repair station, electric car charging ports and rain gardens. With these additions, the mobility hub would resemble a miniature downtown park. Council Member Ed Mihalkanin said the city is working to make the spot a place for transit and gathering. "Having a mobility hub along with its services in downtown San Marcos can benefit the community and add to its

appeal," Mihalkanin said. The project itself has been in the works for several years. The lot, which was formerly a dry-cleaner, was originally planned as an additional downtown parking lot. The space would have only been able to hold a select small number of cars. The idea of changing the lot into a mobility hub was initiated by San Marcos Main Street. After the program developed an initial design concept, city council approved the hub January 2018. Alex Arlinghaus, former San Marcos main street worker, said making the lot into a mobility hub would add value to the community rather than leaving it as a parking lot. “Wasting valuable land on storing a maximum of

"WASTING VALUABLE LAND ON STORING A MAXIMUM OF 12 CARS IS A SILLY IDEA, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS ALREADY SO MUCH UNUSED PARKING DOWNTOWN" - ALEX ARLINGHAUS

12 cars is a silly idea, especially when there is already so much unused parking downtown," Arlinghaus said. "That area is much more valuable to the community as a gathering place and transit hub." The mobility hub is conveniently placed downtown, a central spot for the community. The funding for the hub had a budget of about $350,000. Fred Schmidt, psychology sophomore and commuter, said making the lot pleasing to look at and more useful to travel through would probably make students happy. “As a commuting student, the convenience of the hub sounds like a great addition,” Schmidt said. The City of San Marcos is aiming to have the lot finished by the week of Sept. 23 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Kevynn Blevins (left), Brandon Blevins (middle) and Dillon Blevins of the Blevins Band perform Sept. 12 at George's in the LBJ Student Center. PHOTO BY REBECCA HARRELL Special education senior Ruby Bennet sits with her dog, Jude, Sept. 12 outside of Rhea's Ice Cream. PHOTO BY REBECCA HARRELL

Lily Field works on her sketches for 2D design Sept. 12 in the Joan Cole Mitte building. PHOTO BY KATELYN LESTER

The University Star

Tuesday, September 17, 2019 | 5

LIFE & ARTS

Laura Figi Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu

INVOLVEMENT

Get Involved holds annual "Wow-A-Palooza" By Abby Gutierrez Life & Arts Reporter “Wow-A-Palooza” is an annual event that brings together freshman, transfers and international students in hopes of encouraging student involvement through unique activities. Get Involved, the student involvement team at Texas State, hosted Wow-APalooza 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 5 at the LBJ Mall. The event is a part of the “Weeks of Welcome” (WOW) program, another Get Involved-led project. “(WOW) is during the first threeto-four weeks of school,” Assistant Director of Pride and Traditions Sylvia Reyes said. “We’re really trying to push organizational involvement and allow students to find a home and connect with people.” The theme for Wow-A-Palooza this year was a tropical “Aloha to Texas State." The event featured numerous creative activities for students to participate in, including DIY projects and crafts, an oxygen bar, mechanical surfboard, a photo booth and a Texas State merchandise giveaway booth. “The most important thing is for incoming freshman to feel welcomed, like they have a community on campus here for them,” Get Involved staff member Alicia Stites said. “We always try to have these events that are engaging and exciting for them.” Rasika Gasti, journalism freshman and international student, said she has been on the lookout for ways to become involved around campus since she moved from India a few weeks ago. The involvement events have helped her adjust to living in America and to college culture. “The campus is so lively," Gasti said. "There’s at least one thing always going

on and that’s amazing. I have never had these experiences, so everything I am trying here is for the first time.” At 17 years old, Gasti is living across the world from her family. Although it has been difficult for her, she is willing to sacrifice to achieve her dreams. The Texas State community is helping her do just that. “It was really hard for my parents and I, but this is all for my goal," Gasti said. "If you want to gain something, you have to lose something. I’m living my dream right now. It’s been a dream of mine to come to America and study journalism.” Seeing the importance of making college years matter, psychology freshman Joseph Estes attended Wow-APalooza with the intention of becoming plugged into the Texas State community and getting connected to campus life. “I really want to feel involved with Freshman international student Rasika Gasti working on a project at the DIY (Do It Yourself ) the school because having a routine of Crafts Booth. going to classes and back to the dorm PHOTO BY ABBY GUTIERREZ isn’t really fun; you’re not experiencing the university,” Estes said. “I want to meet new people and go out and have fun with other (Texas State students).” Hannia Garcia, interdisciplinary junior transfer student, said she is eager to take advantage of the perks of attending a large university and is ready to get involved with college campus life, starting with Wow-A-Palooza. “I’m a transfer student from a community college, so they didn’t really have events like (Wow-A-Palooza),” Garcia said. “I was so excited to come to a bigger college, experience this and meet new people.” For more information on “Weeks of Welcome” and other involvement events, visit the Get Involved website https:// Graduate student Hunter Taylor and Get Involved staff member Amanda Martindale managing getinvolved.lbjsc.txstate.edu/ or contact the Free Givaways Booth. student involvement at (512) 245-3219. PHOTO BY ABBY GUTIERREZ

FROM FRONT RESTAURANTS

Sociology junior and Rhea's employee Caitlin Ramsey serves customers free scoops Sept.12 at Rhea's Ice Cream.. PHOTO BY REBECCA HARRELL

depending on the time of day and is open 11 a.m. to midnight every day of the week. Happy hour is 3-6 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. to midnight, in addition to other special events like ladies’ night. Industry is located at 110 E Martin Luther King Drive by the train tracks. DOS GATOS Breakfast before class would not be the same without Dos Gatos. Founded in 2009 by Chase and Seth Katz—owners of Pie Society and Zelick’s—Dos Gatos has become a San Marcos treasure and somewhere some students cannot imagine a morning without. The two locations, one on 700 North LBJ and another on 243 Wonder World Drive, carry Czech and Texas kolaches, coffee, yerba mate and more. If there is inventory left over from the days before or two days before, it is sold in bulk at deep discount so consumers can get their Dos Gatos fix at home. The LBJ location is open Mon-Fri 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sat-Sun 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Wonder World location is open Mon-Fri 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sat-Sun 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. CHEPO’S Situated in a house on 1400 Old Ranch Road 12, Chepo’s is a small Mexican restaurant with a seemingly cult following. Chepo’s is characterized by its excellent service, homey feel, Picante salsa and under-the-radar exclusivity. Endless chips and salsa get people hooked, and the eatery serves homemade tortillas and breakfast all day. The worst thing about Chepo’s is the fact it is closed on Mondays. Chepo's is open Tue-Sat, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sun 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. ROOT CELLAR CAFÉ AND RHEA’S ICE CREAM Root Cellar is one of the few restaurants that has truly stood the test of time in San Marcos. Since 2005, Root Cellar has served up brunch, lunch and dinner in an elegant, unique setting on 215 N LBJ Drive. Root Cellar bought Rhea’s in 2015 when the owner moved out of state but continued the tradition of making homemade, small-batch, delicious ice cream. Rhea’s is located on 318 N LBJ Drive and features a new flavor every month. This month’s flavor is German chocolate. Root Cellar is open Tue-Sun 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and closed on Mondays. Rhea's is open every day from noon to 10 p.m. While San Marcos is small, there are excellent places to grab a bite to eat. Explore, get out of your comfort zone and you may find a new favorite restaurant.

The University Star

6 | Tuesday, September 17, 2019

LIFE & ARTS

Laura Figi Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu

FASHION

Student entrepreneur aims at putting authenticity in style By Brianna Benitez Life & Arts Reporter A combination of beads, charms and a life-long passion has helped one Texas State student come full circle in the fashion industry. Allee Bales, fashion merchandising senior, is the founder and designer of Authenticity by Allee, an online boutique. From a young age, Bales has had an interest in fashion. However, it was not until the summer before her freshman year she envisioned herself as the owner of her own boutique. After graduating high school, Bales worked at Pretty Little Things Boutique, a local business in Houston. Bales said she has shopped at the boutique since her early teens. She dreamed of working there, but never thought it would actually happen. "I remember in middle school I would go to this boutique and would think how cool it would be to work there, but I never thought they would actually hire me," Bales said. While working at Pretty Little Things, Bales said she found inspiration in designing her own jewelry after recreating a necklace that had been selling well. Bales taught herself how to remake the necklace by learning the basics of jewelry design through tutorial videos online. "After a lot of pliers, patience and bright lights, I figured out how to loop everything together and ended up with a necklace," Bales said. Bales launched Authenticity by Allee January 2018. She currently sells

handcrafted jewelry and graphic tees. Customers can shop the boutique via Instagram @authenticitybyallee. Bales said customers can comment or direct message to purchase an item and will then be emailed an invoice to complete their order. All items can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. By summer 2018, Bales said a few of her jewelry pieces were being sold instore at Pretty Little Things Boutique; the store frequently orders her pieces. When it comes to designing new items, Bales said she pulls inspiration from current trends but ultimately creates staple items for any wardrobe. "I like to combine a lot of different styles," Bales said. "I try to make things that would work for any outfit and season." Emily Cauthen is a friend of Bales and the owner of Seasons 4 Decor, an online business specializing in home adornment items. Cauthen said she met Bales at a vendor showcase and has been a loyal customer since. Cauthen enjoys shopping at Authenticity by Allee because Bales designs pieces that can be worn by anyone, anywhere. "The pieces are so versatile," Cauthen said. "My mom and I can wear the same exact piece of jewelry." Cauthen said she admires Bales' work ethic and believes she stands true to her business name. "I'm not the type of person to jump and support just any business," Cauthen said. "I have to believe in that person and what they do and I definitely believe in her." Bales said the name of her business

Bales at a pop-up shop in January 2019. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLEE BALES

stems from the importance of being true to herself. She hopes her business can inspire others to live life unapologetically. "Being who you really are and not caring what others think is something really important to me," Bales said. Labeled across Authenticity by Allee tags is the phrase, "Be nice to people." Bales said she decided to add this positive statement in hopes of encouraging others to spread kindness. Avery Sheldon, mathematics junior, is Bales' boyfriend and has been helping her with Authenticity by Allee since she first launched the brand. Sheldon said after Bales began promoting her boutique at various

vendor showcases. "At first she started off pretty slow but once she started getting her name out with other companies and vendors, more and more people started recognizing her," Sheldon said. Bales said she plans on expanding Authenticity by Allee to a store-front location in Houston after graduating. She would like to introduce additional clothing options to help aid in the transition to brick-and-mortar. To stay up-to-date on Bales' latest designs, follow @authenticitybyallee on Instagram.

TRAVEL ABROAD

Students spend summer in Thailand for trip of a lifetime By Kyle Chitwood Life & Arts Reporter Students will leave with the memory of elephants after their trip to Thailand this summer. For two weeks, a group of students studied abroad in Thailand to discover the culture and undergo veterinary experience incomparable to what is offered in the U.S. Nine pre-veterinary Texas State students, two Iowa State University students and a student from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, worked with U.S. veterinarian Dr. Lori Bidwell to form a fundamental understanding of best veterinary practices. Unlike "voluntourism" programs where tourists travel abroad for volunteer work, Bidwell did not focus on providing as much veterinary care as possible but instead relayed her knowledge and expertise to the pupils. In addition to the exceptional education of the pre-veterinary program, the group traveled to various destinations across the country. Another group of Texas State students in the PreVeterinary Society on campus traveled to Australia during summer 2018 with the same organization, Loop Abroad. Students spent their first week in Chiang Mai, Thailand, working with cats and dogs at a small animal shelter. With different standards of veterinary practice in Thailand, students had the opportunity to assist in performing surgery on the animals. Cultural values in Thailand restrict the use of euthanasia, which is exercised regularly on animals in the U.S. After the students' day’s work at the animal shelter, a tour guide accompanied them to introduce the city and culture of Chiang Mai. The students explored city markets, visited ancient Buddhist temples and received meditation lessons from Buddhist monks. Animal science senior Kristen Anderson said her favorite activity in Chiang Mai was learning the religious beliefs and meditation practices from monks. Anderson said monks do not typically interact with women to avoid feelings of temptation, so it was enlightening for her to learn the ideas

Rayanna Hack (left) and Renee Smith (right) feed an elephant watermelon. Elephants at the sanctuary had daily diets of bananas, watermelon, hay and grass. PHOTO COURTESY RAYANNA HACK

behind their practice. “It was really cool to get up close and personal in their day-to-day lives,” Anderson said. “It was really awesome they took the time to speak with us.” Animal science senior Rayanna Hack said the most valuable thing she learned on the trip was seeing what veterinary care is like in another country. She realized euthanasia can be a gift in not letting animals experience extreme suffering. “It was really cool to see what veterinary medicine was like in another country because our medicine is so much more advanced (in the U.S.),” Hack said. “Some of it was difficult to see, but I’m glad we got to help out.” Anderson said learning the beliefs rooted in veterinary practices in Thailand was a valuable experience. “It was a little bit difficult to watch, but their beliefs are so cool and different,” Anderson said. “They believe everyone has the right to live until it is their time to go naturally.” The second week, students journeyed to Elephant Nature Park, an elephant sanctuary located on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. The park houses about 80 elephants, each with a story behind

its rescue, whether it be trekking, logging, street begging or being placed in circuses. Elephant trekking is a popular tourist activity in Thailand where people ride on the backs of the animals. Logging elephants are used as an alternative to bulldozers in the timber industry to transport logs for long distances in the jungles. Street begging involves people wandering the city streets of Thailand with baby elephants in an attempt to earn money. Trekking and logging are commercial industries in Thailand, but poorly skilled or abusive mahouts—an elephant’s personal caretaker—can result in miserable lives for select elephants. Hack said considering the background of each elephant in the park, the majority were not entirely accustomed to human interaction and some self-isolated. “Hearing the stories about each elephant was pretty inspiring because (the sanctuary) does so much to rescue these elephants for them to finish out a good life,” Hack said. The group of 12 split into smaller groups within the park, each receiving a daily care agenda for the elephants at the sanctuary. In addition to elephants, the

facility serves as a home for dogs, cats, horses and goats. The agendas included maintaining cleanliness of the park, preparing daily diets for animals, observing the elephants’ daily routines and tending to applicable wounds. Hack said she grew an admiration for the elephants' wit after directly working with them. She said one elephant in particular would lift its leg to assist the caregiver when getting a new patch for its injury. “They’re super intelligent animals,” Hack said. “I would definitely want to work with elephants again just because of that trip.” Loop Abroad offers study abroad programs to high school, college and veterinary students. With programs specifically geared toward animal science, conservation and veterinary work, Loop Abroad has programs in Thailand, South Africa, Ecuador, Australia and Belize. Managing Director of Loop Abroad Jane Stine said what draws students to the organization is the fact they are assigned to a small group to work handson with a veterinarian, which provides additional insight and an intimate learning opportunity. “What’s unique to us is the amount of focused vet hours and vet teaching (students) get to do in a short time,” Stine said. Stine said any study abroad opportunity can present factors seemingly insurmountable, but there are ways to overcome those barriers and form lifelong memories. “I would encourage anyone who is interested to seek (study abroad opportunities) out because it does often give life-changing experiences,” Stine said. The students experienced more than they bargained for and Anderson said she would recommend studying abroad to anyone considering it, regardless of majors or obstacles they may face. “Worry about it later because this is a once in a lifetime experience,” Anderson said. Students interested in traveling with Loop Abroad can learn more and apply for a trip at loopabroad.com.

The University Star

Tuesday, September 17, 2019 | 7

OPINIONS

Jordan Drake Opinions Editor staropinion@txstate.edu

Opinions expressed in The University Star are not necessarily those of Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, or Student Publications Board.

Free speech must be protected even for hate groups By Sam Anderson Opinion Columnist College campuses are the perfect place to engage in dialogue with various individuals and groups. There should never be an attempt to shut down dissenting opinions. Texas State is no stranger to the free speech debate. From the infamous white supremacy banner hung on Alkek to the four arrests made April 2019 following a spat between students, tensions have been high regarding what kind of speech is permitted. Several weeks ago, President Denise Trauth sent out a school-wide email welcoming everyone back to school. All was well and good with the exception of one particular quote. “At Texas State, we are vigilant in upholding free speech, and in protecting the safety and wellbeing of our community. Racism and bigotry have no place here. I denounce white supremacy and will do everything in my power to confront and reject all manifestations of discrimination and hate," the email stated. The quote itself is hypocritical. It is nearly impossible to uphold the First Amendment in one breath and denounce an entire group of dissenting opinions a few sentences later. Student Government has been called out numerous times on their morethan-inequitable rulings in regards to dissenting political ideologies such as banning Turning Point USA. The situation became an even bigger egg-on-face public relations nightmare once Gov. Gregg Abbot weighed in on the Turning Point USA issue. Abbott's scalding remarks on Twitter then prompted the quick outpouring of support for the First Amendment and the above statement from Trauth. This back-and-forth is increasingly problematic when reading the Office of Equity and Inclusion’s webpage, which is comprised of multiple statements about the Prohibition of Discrimination policy. The specifics get muddy when it comes down to reading the terms and conditions outlined in the Texas State University System policies and Internal University policies. Statements like recklessly (annoy) or alarm the recipient;” or incite a breach of peace" are vague at best.

If interpreted to ban hateful groups, this is unconstitutional on both state and federal levels. The arguably most famous part of the First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech.” Hate speech is protected under the Constitution and Texas legislatures have made very clear free speech is to be protected on college campuses specifically. Senate Bill 18 went into effect Sept. 1 and, “requires universities to allow any person to engage in free speech activities on campus.” It is a harder goal to work toward a world where homophobes and gay people, racists and people of color, hateful people and those they hate can coexist with dissenting opinions. Too often conservative speakers and groups like TPUSA are labeled as hate groups when in reality, they just reflect a different world view from select students and orginizations on campus. Students can learn what it means to disagree and observe racism and bigotry in not just fellow students, but those outside of campus from an academic point of view. Individuals never get to ask hard questions and challenge beliefs if ideological-based groups are forced underground. Exposure to ideas outside of our own can and will be hard. Managing justified backlash is a major hurdle. It is going to be hard on the university police to maintain control when tempers are tested. It is going to be even harder for the president of the university, the board of regents and the dean of students to manage difficult questions and to clearly define lines not to be crossed. There are always going to be racist, homophobic, misogynistic and hateful people in the world because there will always be stupidity and ignorance. In the thousands of years humanity has evolved, people have not stopped hate. By suppressing those presenting troubling or alarming views, university administration is telling students they are not smart enough to know what is right or wrong. It is undemocratic at best, and tyrannical at its worst. The university system can do better. It needs to do better. The future of America depends on society learning to fundamentally disagree.

Free speech should not come at the expense of safety By Amira Van Leeuwen Opinion Columnist College campuses tend to encompass an overwhelming amount of different opinions and ideas when it comes to controversial topics. The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, press, expression, assembly and the right to petition, which select college students tend to use as a scapegoat to express their racist ideologies. Although this is not necessarily a bad thing, it can pose a magnitude of threats to college life. Texas State is not the only university plagued with white supremacy, racist ideology and fascism. Two years ago, a large banner hung above Alkek Library with the painted words of “America is a White Nation,” shortly after the 2016 presidential election. A Boston college campus faced a similar ordeal in 2018 when a student vandalized a dorm with racist graffiti, which was later linked to a student who expressed support for the Ku Klux Klan and Hitler’s “perfect” race. It is often left unsaid how these white supremacy and alt-right groups on campus provide an unsafe environment for college students that do not share such views. Lives are often taken as a result of hate groups who believe in things that have resulted in past genocide and racial segregation, which should have diminished dramatically in the late 1900s. College campuses are playing tug of war with students who argue they have the right to express harmful ideals and hate speech. If there is any backlash from college campus officials, students cry First Amendment violation. However, the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment does not protect behavior that is targeting, harassing, inciting violence or creating a hostile environment for vulnerable students. Campus life has entered a

new realm of protest and deplatforming other social groups. The issue is not students being prohibited from expressing their opinions; the issue is when equality and free speech are directly opposed in a seditious manner. In times when students have drawn attention to high-strung situations relating to a “violation” of the First Amendment, universities have tended to provide a general statement to soften the blow. Although the perseverance of college administrators is more than admirable, the issue cannot be contained in a box with a few words placed in a mass email. Safety on campus should be just as important as ensuring students' right to free speech. However, when this right infringes upon the safety of others, it is constitutionally prohibited if encouraging unlawful behavior. The Supreme Court case Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) held the government may forbid “incitement speech,” which is likely to produce lawless action. The right to free speech is vital to civic education. Without it, society would be unable to have public discourse among students. A person has the right to their opinion at any given time unless it stimulates an act of violence. The polarization of the U.S. has led to severe acts of violence on college campuses. A recent example can be seen when an altercation arose on campus after a student knocked off another student’s “Make America Great Again” hat. This resulted in a hostile situation leading to the arrest of four people. The U.S. Constitution is a living, breathing document up for interpretation in any situation. There is no such thing as valuing another person’s First Amendment rights over other's unalienable rights. Protecting a student’s right to feel safe on campus needs to be weighed heavily when the legitimacy of right-winged idealists are discussed.

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The University Star

Tuesday, September 17, 2019 | 9

OPINIONS

Jordan Drake Opinions Editor staropinion@txstate.edu

CONVEINANCE

Elevators are a luxury not a necessity By Laura Nunez Opinion Columnist Texas State has become so overpopulated even the elevators are not worth waiting for causing inconvenience for those that require the resource. For the betterment of the campus system, the elevators need to be used only by faculty, staff and students with disabilities. Class does not start without a professor to teach. Oftentimes, students adhere to the unspoken rule in which people can leave class if the professor does not show up after 15 minutes, missing out on material if the professor is running late. This scenario might be incredibly rare, but with the enhanced elevator traffic, it may grow in prominence. Each building on campus, excluding some dormitories, has at least one functioning elevator available for all to use. The majority of these buildings have more than three floors, so riding the elevator up is ideal. Now Texas State is populated by more than 39,000 students and faculty, these small metal boxes work ten times as hard to do the job, which is starting to hinder performance ability. Students may use the elevators to quickly reach the top of a hill or avoid overbearing stairs surrounding Old Main and Alkek. Others might utilize elevators due to the physical inability to perform the alternative of walking and climbing. Unfortunately, there are students who abuse resources and have no respect for people around them. An able-bodied student should not believe riding an elevator up one flight is more convenient than walking the stairs. The concept is illogical and aiding to the problem. Elevators are required in all multistory buildings to provide accessibility to the disabled. These students and faculty should have priority because, while an elevator is a luxury accommodation, it is a necessity for people with disabilities. However, the elevators are now constantly crowded, creating an obstacle for those who genuinely need to use them. The switch seems premeditated and excessive, but it can be simple. The

ILLUSTRATION BY JAMES DEBBAH

elevators in main buildings like the LBJ Student Center and Alkek would stay available for all to use, but other buildings on campus should install scanners activating elevators. They would not operate without access, which would be granted to faculty, staff and those who are disabled through their Texas State ID. Additionally, this change would allow elevators currently lacking in efficiency the time to properly function. The Starbucks side of the undergraduate admissions center is home to the slowest elevator campus has ever witnessed. There is not a moment where a crowd of students and faculty are not huddled around it in frustration. Reducing the availability could revive the metal machine back to a relatively normal pace.

Limiting elevator use would allow the university to further promote and encourage healthier lifestyles. Texas State strives for the betterment of its student body and prides itself on the variety of food options in dining halls and food courts. The university strongly encourages students to stay active and join campus recreational activities, like intramural sports. Giving the majority of students no other option but to take the stairs will be another subtle encouragement of healthy living. This change is not meant to favor faculty and punish students but instead, create increased convenience and heightened efficiency in navigating campus for the people who keep it running and those in need of the elevator.The reality is college

students live a fast-paced lifestyle and should quickly adapt to lack of elevator usage. Hopefully, most students will not notice this change. It would provide a quick, easy, efficient way to use convenient resources. Maintenance staff will not have to worry about finding a way to stuff their cart in an elevator with too many students. Professors will no longer fear walking into a halfempty class because they were late due to elevator traffic. Texas State needs to strongly consider the possibility of limiting elevator use across campus or students need to start using them only when necessary.

SEX WORK

Students should not turn to sex work for additional money By Delilah Alvarado Opinion Columnist For college students, money does not often come easy. Rising college costs coupled with the time commitment required of a full-time student equates to limited options to fill the gap loans or scholarships can not cover, leading students to turn to sex work. While sex work is a valid way to earn income, it is not the only option and can lead to various problems concerning safety and scams. Just because something sounds appealing does not mean everyone can or should participate. Sex work-related jobs may appear like an easy way to accumulate money and in a world where sex sells, young people take this opportunity at hand. However, some people on social sites seeking sugar babies end up as scammers trying to get bank information. Grindr, a dating service app, has been used as a platform for scams. Earlier this year featured in a Buzzfeed story, 23-year-old James Tannehill dealt with a fake sugar daddy he met on Grindr. Tannehill had given out his bank account number and social security number to an individual he communicated with online and ended up losing $2,480, money the scammer promised him. One website users access to seek out sugar daddy/sugar baby relationships— SeekingArrangement.com—had one man scam a number of women on the site. Overall, the victims were relatively young, in college and in debt. A 21-year-old Lincoln College student was scammed out of nearly $3,000 by someone she interacted with on SeekingArrangement.com.

ILLUSTRATION BY VALKYRIE MATA

Due to similar scams, the hashtag #sugardaddyscam is used actively on Twitter to warn those against known scammers. This significantly impacts college students since they comprise 44% of people on such sites. Another job seemingly alluring is stripping. There are various clubs located in the Austin and San Antonio area appealing to young women. However, the business is not as lucrative as it sounds and work not as easy. Some clubs may let dancers wear what they want and perform their way, but management can dictate what girls wear, how they dance and talk. Elle Stanger,a writer and former

sex worker, said dancing at clubs is a, “competitive sales job in a highly stigmatized environment.” Income made depends on the night and time of shift, which can leave workers empty-handed various nights of the week. Few clubs may set the prices low for certain dances, leaving the women working harder. Self esteem plays an additional role in the work. Former stripper Alexandra M. said stripping encourages men to only see women as commodities; women become more obsessive about their outward appearances to please customers for money. When performing certain acts naked in front of strangers, a thick skin is

necessary, given the industry can be exploitative. As former sex worker Melissa Petro said in an interview with the Huffington Post, sex workers cannot afford to be traumatized. Another point to remember a large portion of sex work is still considered illegal. Students who pursue such jobs will not always be protected in certain circumstances. In a study from the Public Library of Science, focusing on sex work laws and sex workers’ health, sex workers are at a disproportionate risk of violence and sexual and emotional health, linked to the criminalization of sex work. Given sex work is not normalized and highly stigmatized, the taboos around such jobs have been shown to promote violence in having to choose between legality and safety. Certain variations of sex work may come with added trauma, as ex-porn performer Cameron Adams told the Huffington Post she was exposed to HIV due to the industry taking advantage of a young woman who needed money. On a global scale, sex workers have a 45% to 75% chance of experiencing sexual violence at some point in their careers and a 32% to 55% chance of experiencing sexual violence in a year. There is a multitude of ways to make a living through sex work. While the jobs can be liberating and a more independent way of making money, like any job, employees must be aware of the consequences first and foremost before stepping into an industry of intimidation and exploitation.

The University Star

10 | Tuesday, September 17, 2019

SPORTS

Claire Partain Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu

SOCCER

Soccer takes two losses going into conference play By Zachary Lopez Sports Reporter In a far cry from their 4-0 record and nation-pacing undefeated streak earlier this season, Texas State soccer went 0-2 this weekend against Northwestern State on Friday and McNeese at home on Sunday. The 'Cats are still sitting at a winning 4-3-1 record to conclude nonconference play after the two 1-0 losses. The Bobcats finished nonconference play against McNeese with a 1-0 home loss on Sunday, ending a nine-game home undefeated streak which tied for the second-longest stretch in program history. Texas State came out swinging, with junior midfielder Mackenzie Smith chipping the ball towards the right corner early in the 13th minute before being stopped by the Cowgirls’ keeper

with a diving play. Senior Kaylee Davis led on the offensive front, lobbing four crosses into the box for multiple scoring opportunities and testing McNeese to save four shots on goal in the first half. McNeese took six shots in the first half with two on target, both of which were quickly stopped by senior goalkeeper Heather Martin to mark Texas State’s two match saves. Texas State was able to put three shots on goal in the first 35 minutes of the second half, all of which were saved by McNeese’s keeper. McNeese eventually toppled the ‘Cats with stamina, making 12 substitutions before making the single goal of the match in the 81st minute. Cowgirl Jillian Bech sent in a hard cross to Anna Watson which was quickly flicked into the back of the net to give McNeese the advantage that Texas State would never

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recover from. The Bobcats had a 16-8 advantage in shots and were 8-3 in shots on goal. Smith paced the ‘Cats in the box, matching a career high of four shot attempts with three of them on goal. The game came after a 1-0 road trip loss to the Northwestern Demons in Natchitoches, Louisiana on Friday. The Demons attempted to torment Texas State’s defense, leading in shots and shots on goal with seven and two respectively. The low-scoring defensive game came to a head in the 24th minute when freshman Bobcat Kamaria Williams came hot off the bench and took a shot just outside the goalposts. In the same minute, the Demons turned around and pulled off a split-second header goal off of a corner kick to put the game at a decisive 1-0 score. The Bobcats defense held Northwestern

State to just two shots in the second half. The first shot missed wide and the second was blocked by senior keeper Kathryn Budde with a diving stop in the bottom left corner. The best attempt for Texas State redemption in the second half came from junior midfielder Renny Moore in the 56th minute. Moore’s long shot was headed for the bottom left corner before being blocked by the Lady Demons’ Keeper. Budde made Texas State’s lone save of the night, and the ‘Cats left Louisiana with five shots and one on goal. The ‘Cats have a chance to relax and recover from their road trip before beginning conference play in a home match against South Alabama on Thursday at 7 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

BY STAFF

Editor's note: The University Star sports and editorial staff, as well as a guest picker each week, predict the outcomes for the coming week of the college football schedule. This week goes as follows. Auburn @ Texas A&M 2:30 P.M. Sept. 21 at Kyle Field College Station, Tx. SMU @ TCU 2:30 P.M. Sept. 21 at Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX. Georgia State @ Texas State 6:00 P.M. Sept .21 at Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, Tx.

JAKOB R. RODRIGUEZ (6-3)

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Texas A&M TCU Texas State

CLAIRE PARTAIN (7-2)

SPORTS EDITOR Auburn TCU Texas State

COLTON MCWILLIAMS (6-3)

SPORTS REPORTER Texas A&M TCU Texas State

ANDREW ZIMMEL (6-3)

SPORTS REPORTER Texas A&M TCU Texas State

GUEST PICKER (5-4): DAN SEED Lecturer and Graduate Program Assistant for the school of Journalism and Mass Communication Guest picker record: ast set by The University Star's Multimedia Editor Jaden Edison (5-4) Auburn TCU Texas State

Last Week's scores: 27-24 Citadel 45-27 UCF 47-17 SMU

Chisum makes history, team takes second at A&M Invitational By Tj Werner Sports Reporter Despite an early loss, Bobcat volleyball came back to San Marcos with a secondplace title, a name in the NCAA record books and an honorary tournament title over the weekend. The Texas State volleyball team went 2-1 and took home second place in College Station at the Texas A&M Invitational on Friday, sweeping their final matchup against Northwestern to put head coach Karen Chisum at 900 career wins. Chisum became the 7th coach in NCAA Division I history to reach 900 career victories with the dominating sweep over the Northwestern Lady Devils. Chisum made this record all at Texas State, putting her in elite company as the fifth coach in NCAA history to hit this mark at one program. The decisive 3-0 win (25-21, 25-21, 25-15) brought the ‘Cats back up to an even 5-5 record after taking some hits in their tough schedule earlier this season. The Bobcats kept their momentum going from their comeback victory earlier in the day against the University of Texas- Rio Grande Valley into their first set, jumping out to an early 10-6 lead. Northwestern would temporarily rally back and brought the match within two points, but would fail to hold on as Texas State pumped out six consecutive points to take the set 25-21. The second set started out as a different story, with the Lady Devils taking a lead and running with it to 14-9. However, their luck ran out as the Bobcats came back with a vengeance, hitting their stride to tie up the set at 19-19. Texas State wouldn’t let the Devils regroup and took the set 25-20. The third set opened up with seven lead changes and ended up tied at 9-9 until Texas State would go on a 5-0 scoring run to take a commanding 14-9 lead. Northwestern fought frantically to stay alive but just couldn’t find the floor, only scoring 6 more points as the Bobcats would earn their coach her 900th victory with a match-best 25-15 win for the set and match. Texas State dominated Northwestern in their second sweep of the season off of the strength of senior Cheyenne Huskey, who took the board in her second double-double of the day with 16 kills, 10 digs and two aces. Huskey's impressive stats were enough to put her on the Texas A&M Invitational All-Tournament Team for her second tournament selection of the season. The team matched their season-high of 49 kills and hit .256 in the sweep, more than double that of Northwestern. The team also nearly doubled the Devils with 46 assists to NSU’s 27, with sophomore Emily DeWalt taking more assists than Northwestern’s whole team at 39 successful sets.

The Bobcat win came off the heat from a comeback 3-1 victory earlier that afternoon over the UTSA Vaqueros (1425, 25-20, 25-10, 25-20). The first set started out with a tough 10-10 standoff before UTRGV took it away in a devastating 9-0 run. Freshman Caitlan Buettner successfully sliced through the streak with a kill, but UTRGV was unfazed and finished the set 25-14. The second set upheaved the Vaqueros, but not without tumultuous efforts. After a bitter early start with three lead changes, Texas State would reclaim the lead for good at 17-16 and finish the rest of the set 8-4, winning 25-20 and tying the match at 1-1. In the third set the Bobcats dominated the court, taking the lead 5-1 and biting back at the Vaquero’s attempts to rally by forcing UTRGV errors. Texas State’s defense and attacks were in harmony as they cruised to an easy 25-10 victory. In the fourth and final set the Vaqueros would not go down easy and jumped out to an early lead. Texas State would eventually tie the set at 11-11 but UTRGV stayed competitive with the ‘Cats for a bumpy four lead changes. The Bobcats would retake the lead at 20-19 and not look back, winning the set 2520 and the match 3-1 in a true comeback fashion. Huskey earned her 10th doubledouble of the season with 16 kills and 13 digs. She also served up two aces along with four other Bobcats, including senior Rylie Fuentes, senior Micah Dinwiddie, DeWalt and sophomore Jillian Slaughter. The set of victories came after an intense up-and-down 3-1 loss to the host Aggies on Thursday (11-25, 25-19, 2125, 20-25). The first set wasn’t meant to be for the ‘Cats, who only put 11 points past the Aggie defense. A&M started and finished strong with a kill to open and close the set, earning 12 of their 46 match kills in the first set. The second set was a total turnaround for Texas State as they jumped out to a 7-1 lead after drawing five attack errors from the Aggies. While the set was a back and forth affair after the first 8 points, the Bobcats never let the Aggies eclipse their lead and came out on top this time in a clear 25-19 set win. The next two sets were nail biters all the way to the end with A&M unfortunately claiming victory in both, 25-21 and 2520 respectively. A&M’s defense proved too strong for the ‘Cats as they finished with 13 blocks and 51 digs. Texas State finished with 9 blocks and 43 digs respectively. Texas State will look to take on a winning record as they go head-to-head with I-45 rivals University of Texas-San Antonio to kick off the annual Creeds and Crests Classic tournament at Strahan Arena on Thursday.

The University Star

Tuesday, September 17, 2019 | 11

SPORTS

Claire Partain Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu

FOOTBALL

Bobcats trampled by SMU Mustangs The Texas State Bobcats rip the soul out of their fan's chests again as they fall to the Mustangs 47-17 By Andrew Zimmel Sports Reporter When Texas State football headed to the Hilltop for a Southern Methodist matchup on Saturday, the team was in desperate need of an unlikely win to right the ship and propel the team into conference with some momentum. Instead, the 'Cats fell a step back with a 47-17 blowout loss, marking the first time the program was 0-3 since moving to the Division 1 level. Bobcat defense was tested quickly against a Mustang offense led by University of Texas transfer quarterback Shane Buechele. Under Buechele's wing, the team was able to move down the field and score a split second touchdown after a pass to Myron Gailliard put the Mustangs in the red zone early in the first quarter. The 'Cats didn't fall back yet, and after a Buechele interception by sophomore Jarron Morris, the team settled for a field goal to put the score at 7-3 in the first quarter. A dry spell soon hit the Bobcats, and the team was unable to score again for over 30 minutes of game time while the Mustangs continued to rack up 20 more points. Texas State made it back to the end zone once again into the third quarter with a catch from junior transfer quarterback Gresh Jensen to senior Anthony J. Taylor to cut the lead down to 27-10. The Bobcats would score one more time after bringing sophomore Tyler Vitt at quarterback. Vitt landed a pass to junior Caleb Twyford with just under six minutes left on the clock to finish with 17 points on the board. The game marked the second time the 'Cats took a loss of 30 points or more this season. The Texas State defense, known recently as being one of the better Sun Belt defensive units, was unable to stop SMU’s freshman running back TJ McDaniel, who rushed for 159 yards and three touchdowns on only eight attempts. The defense still performed well but were plagued with issues due to inaction from the offense, Head Coach Jake Spavital said. “You look at the defense and the way they’re playing, they come out of the first half giving up only 13 points in

that first half on eight drives," Spavital said. “That’s pretty good. Credit to the defense, but (in) the second half the defense was worn down and we couldn’t really get much going on offense.” There were some high notes on Texas State's defensive side. The 'Cats recorded two momentum-changing picks throughout the game, including senior Jalen Smith's first interception of the season in the second quarter. Another career first came for senior linebacker Frankie Griffin, who successfully blocked a Mustang kick to mark the first block of the season for the Bobcats. Senior linebacker Bryan London was able to rack up his defensive stats as well, collecting 10 tackles in the loss. Saturday marked the 20th game of London's career with double-digit tackles. Despite his success, the loss took a toll on the team's defense, according to London. “Anytime you don’t win there is frustration,” London said. “I wasn’t recruited here to play offense. At the end of the day, we gave up 47 points. The offense, they did what they did, but we can play better.” A surprise high note to the game came in the form of former President George W. Bush, who gave the 'Cats a pep talk and cracked jokes at Spavital in the locker room just before they hit the field. Among the team was Texas State president Denise Trauth, who joined Bush in taking a picture with the team. The season thus far has marked an offensive low in new head coach Jake Spavital's career. Under Spavital's wing as offensive coordinator, West Virginia's offense failed to score 20 points only four times in his two years as offensive coordinator. By contrast, Texas State has failed to rack up 20 points in any games this season, something the team wants to learn and move on from, according to Spavital. “We’ve got to put these three games behind us,” Spavital said.“Those were three quality opponents. Now, we’ve got to get back to work tomorrow and keep correcting and getting better as a team.” The Bobcats hit conference for their second home matchup against Georgia State next week, who successfully defeated SEC team Tennessee earlier this year but lost by 47 points to Western Michigan. The team is ready to play

Junior transfer quarterback Gresch Jensen gets rid of the ball as the SMU defense applies pressure to the Bobcat offensive front Sept. 14 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. PHOTO BY JAKOB RODRIGUEZ the time after defeating them last year, not the underdogs for the first time this Spavital said. season in next week's home conference “We beat (Georgia State) last year so matchup against Georgia State on I think there is some confidence just in Saturday. terms of knowing we can play with these Stay updated on all things Texas State guys,” Spavital said. “We just have to by following the football team on Twitter play better together. That’s what it comes at @TXSTATEFOOTBALL or visiting down to.” txstatebobcats.com. As five-point favorites, the 'Cats are

Junior wide receiver Caleb Twyford weaves between the SMU defense Sept 14 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. PHOTO BY JAKOB RODRIGUEZ

Senior forward Kaylee Davis kicks the ball downfield in attempt to get it away from McNeese defenders in the Sept. 15 game at Bobcat Soccer Complex. PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS

Junior defender Sarah Everett jumps in an attempt to head the ball in the direction of the goal in the Sept. 15 game against McNeese at Bobcat Soccer Complex.. PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS

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