April 16, 2020 by The University Star

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THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2020 VOLUME 109 ISSUE 27

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DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

Bobcat Bounty creates plan to feed community during COVID-19 pandemic

Opinion: Gov. Abbott fights against COVID-19 without women in mind

Opinion: Religious services are not essential services pandemic

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COVID-19 UPDATE

AS OF APRIL 15, 2020: SAN MARCOS

HAYS COUNTY

TOTAL CASES

109

NEWS

Employee union, students call for action during COVID-19 pandemic By Sonia Garcia Managing Editor The Texas State Employees Union and students are calling on campus administration and University President Denise Trauth to take action during the COVID-19 pandemic by giving paid sick leave to campus employers, provide a full refund of tuition and closing Alkek. A press release from organizations Bobcats for Bernie, YDSA @ TXST, College Democrats at Texas State, Interruptions, USAC, Bobcat Blend Student Organization, NAACP Unit 6875-B, Texas State Horticulture Club, MOVE at Texas State, Texas State Employees Union – CWA Local 6186 and Supporting Women in Political Science are “demanding” the following from the university: Extend paid sick leave for all campus workers until in-person classes resume Provide all essential staff hazard pay for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis

Force Chartwells and other private organizations that employ students on campus to provide paid sick leave to workers Ensure that all employees will continue to be compensated, both salaried and hourly, for the remainder of the crisis, including those who were laid off because of COVID-19 and those who are privately contracted Provide students with a full refund for tuition and fees Insist that all ACT housing partners freeze rent, freeze evictions, and offer lease breakages to all residents Require that Wells Fargo suspend student loan payments until Sept. 31 for alumni and students to maintain their partnership with Texas State The press release states that it is Texas State’s responsibility to take care of their student population. The requests come after students struggle to support tuition costs, navigate virtual learning at home and deal with the loss of jobs.

SPORTS

“Let us be clear: educational institutions have a responsibility to protect and support their students in this dangerous and uncertain time,” the press release states. “Ultimately, it is up to Texas State University to enact these demands immediately to uphold this responsibility.” Additionally, a posting on the Texas

"LET US BE CLEAR: EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS IN THIS DANGEROUS AND UNCERTAIN TIME."

State Employees Union’s website demands that University President Denise Trauth, close Alkek for the health and safety of students. The posting states the American Library Association called on all libraries to close March 17 and Texas State should do the same. The requests are: Close the library—All staff move to work from home and, if necessary, given the resources to do so from stateallocated emergency funds. Allow library staff to enter on an as-needed basis to pick up personal items or work. No layoffs or furloughs—anyone who cannot work from home, including guards and custodians, should be provided with Emergency Closure paid leave until it is safe for them to return or work from home is possible. The University Star will continue to update this story as information becomes available.

LIFE & ARTS

Class performs acts of kindness lifting spirits during pandemic By Brianna Benitez Assistant Life & Arts Editor

PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS

Recreation Center begins online classes for at-home fitness By Claire Partain Sports Editor While all of the gyms in San Marcos are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Texas State Recreation Center is still up and running virtually with a modified online group fitness schedule. Assistant Director of Fitness and Wellness Mitzie Rojas and Fitness and Wellness Coordinator at the Rec Josephine Wielinksi decided to begin online fitness classes via Zoom after seeing other gyms adapt with similar programs around the country. Wielinski said that the group fitness classes are designed to help students stay fit and active despite the social distancing policies that keep most at home. “We created on-demand classes and a live workout schedule in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Weilinski said. “Because the facility is closed, we wanted to offer up some sort of opportunity for members to continue to work toward their health goals.” The Rec Center waived the access fee for classes, making the entire schedule

free to students for the first time. Although the schedule is limited, the program offers classes from yoga to Zumba that emphasize home workouts with little to no equipment. Weilinski said the classes are adapted to most students’ environments so anyone can work out at home in a limited space. “We offer a variety of classes that utilize bodyweight or household items to get you moving,” Weilinski said. “We also try to accommodate those living in an apartment that may have smaller spaces to work with.” Weilinski said that although they weren’t trained or prepared for this kind of service, feedback has been positive and attendance has risen as more students find out about the program. “I didn’t have much forethought into how we would do the program, (and) I don’t know what students were expecting from us but I know that anything we can provide for them during the pandemic is beneficial,” Weilinski said. “It’s been pretty wellreceived.”

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In an effort to bring forth rays of positivity to those overwhelmed and impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19, students found a way to spread joy to others through the creative freedom of a class assignment. The assignment is known as “Spread Joy Not Coronavirus” and was created by Department of Communication Studies senior lecturer Michael Burns for his honors re-humanizing communication course. Students in the course were asked to find ways to spread joy to others during this time as well as write a reflection paper on their experience. Burns said the course critically examines the impact of technology on human relationships as well as the way society interacts with one another. He said for the majority of the course, students are trying to discover ways to do things without technology in an effort to focus on characteristics that are uniquely human. Ironically for this assignment, Burns said he encouraged his students to use technology to simulate human engagement during this time of social distancing. “I was inspired by things I saw on TV, especially starting in Italy and Spain with those people singing on their balconies or applauding the health care workers,” Burns said. “I was following their stories and thought there might be a way for us to do that as well.” Lily Kren, musical theater junior, choreographed a dance to “Be OK” by Ingrid Michaelson. Kren posted a video of the dance on her Instagram page @ lilyhelenkren. She said she chose that song because it reflects the feelings currently going on in the world. Through this assignment, Kren said she wanted to create something that

GRAPHIC BY HANNAH THOMPSON

made others happy as well as connected those going through a hard time. “When I see someone doing something they love I’m automatically uplifted in spirit,” Kren said. “Maybe people that watch [the dance] can see the joy in me and they can express that same joy.” For six of her friends graduating from high school, Melissa Copeland, history sophomore, said she hosted a virtual prom for them via Zoom as their actual prom was canceled to abide by social distancing orders. “(Prom) is supposed to be a nice moment to bring everyone together and have fun with friends,” Copeland said. “I think it’s a nice exclamation point end to four years of high school.” Copeland said she and her friends dressed up and spent time cooking and eating dinner during the virtual prom. At her own senior prom, Copeland said she and her friends had more fun eating dinner and conversing rather than the actual dance part which is why she wanted to incorporate that aspect into the virtual prom. CONTINUE READING ONLINE