Although the public enthusiasm and support for the team started last year on the sidelines, behind-the-scenes work for the soccer team started 16 years ago. Elizabeth Darnell, the "group mom" of Boko's Army, emailed former Texas State soccer coach Kat Conners looking for soccer lessons for her then five-year-old daughter. The players on the team at that time began giving Darnell's daughter lessons, attending her games and bringing snacks for her team.
Texas State soccer's biggest supporters
PHOTOS
Next to the bleachers and in front of the pitch, fans and players alike can hear the constant drum beat and the deafening cheers of Texas State soccer's most diehard fans, Boko's Army. They don't need to be there, but the Hill Country Church student organization, known as Boko's Army at soccer games, feels it's their obligation to keep crowd spirits high in order to support the Bobcats. Most of them have been coming to the soccer games for years. Jared Messick, a PhD biology student and member of the fan section, said that by being a loud presence at the games, members of Boko's Army feel that they make a big difference for the soccer team. "Keep the energy up for the girls," Messick said. "It's for the girls... we're just kind of cheering them on."
To return the favor, Darnell has been bringing snacks for the Texas State soccer team at the end of every home game since 2006.
"Our job is to make sure that anyone who is infected in our community understands how to properly isolate so we can identify close contacts as quickly as possible," Carranco said. "Being aware of symptoms, getting tested as soon as there's a concern, isolating yourself from others until you know for sure what's happening and wearing a mask are all things students should be doing."Students like Alexis Runnels, a wildlife biology junior, have no understanding of Texas State's current plan regarding outbreaks."Iwould say I'm slightly concerned. I know a lot of people have various beliefs on its origin and really I would need to get more educated on the matter myself. But I am a little concerned on how Texas State is going to address it," RunnelsAccordingsaid.to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the main cause of monkeypox transmission is close skin-to-skin contact, primarily through intimate activities. Carranco said the disease can take anywhere from two to four weeks to run its course, making it even more crucial to isolate and get tested immediately if symptoms appear.
MONKEYPOX
SEE SOCCER
Texas State announced its first confirmed case of monkeypox on August 23, raising mixed emotions among students about the upcoming school year. As of last Tuesday, the Texas State campus has been buzzing with questions surrounding the individual who tested positive for monkeypox. How this infectious disease could potentially affect the university is an objective school staff is working toward addressing.
San Marcos resident Nick Martin leads Boko's Army into a chant on the sidelines before the start of a soccer game against Houston Baptist, Sunday, August 28, 2022, at Bobcat Soccer Complex. BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
"I try to use... things that incorporate a little bit of healthy but a little bit of sweet," Darnell said. "Today, they're oatmeal jam bars... last week I did Rice Krispies."
Last year, Boko's Army started bringing out all the stops to show their love for the Bobcats. A giant drum, a megaphone, flag carriers and colorful smoke devices are a few of the things the enthusiastic fan section has incorporated into their home game celebration.
Texas State Chief Medical Officer Dr. Emilio Carranco is working with the Hays County Local Public Health Department to protect and inform students about the disease.
Opinion: Loan Forgiveness www.Universitystar comDEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 TUESDAY AUGUST 30, 2022 VOLUME 112 ISSUE 4 Students Seek Change in Financial Aid Requirements Soccer GallerySan Marcos playing cards SEE PAGE 2 SEE PAGE 5 SEE MONKEYPOX PAGE 2
SEE PAGE 6 SEE PAGE 7
INFOGRAPHIC BY CHRIS SWANN By Carson Weaver Sports Editor
Boko's Army:
By Katie Smith Assistant News Editor
PAGE 6 SOCCER
Students express concern over recent monkeypox case
For more information on scholarship opportunities and financial aid, students can visit the Bobcat Online Scholarship System
An optimistic yet cautious approach to dealing with monkeypox on campus is what the university is aiming to convey to students this semester. For additional information regarding monkeypox, visit the Hays County Local Health Department Monkeypox Information Hub, the Student Health Center monkeypox webpage or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. SARAH HERNANDEZ
"I bet you half the kids on campus don't even know what it is and how it spreads," Abdul said. "I feel like instead of informing us they're kind of just gonna treat it like COVID and wait till the last minute to say we actually can't come to school anymore if it does get to thatCarrancopoint." expresses there is "no expectation of huge outbreaks." Students like Abdul, however, have a deep-rooted fear that monkeypox will have the same effects on their college lives that COVID-19 did.
Making the scholarship application process as simple as possible is made easier due to the website's student-based information system. A student's GPA, major and other personal information is recorded within the website, making it easier for the system to recommend options for students to explore based on those specifics.
"There were some years where I didn't qualify for some grants that I had previously qualified for," Crow said. "I will say, as a first-gen student, financial aid was like reading another language, so once I was able to secure funding, I didn't worry until the next Christophersemester."Burr,assistant vice president of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Texas State, oversees student applications.
"We're all very hopeful that we're going to have a fairly normal fall semester and that our students will be able to enjoy all the things they expect to enjoy at a university."Thereisa population of students who share Carranco's hopeful sentiment like Kelly Standish, a business senior, "With monkeypox, it's probably going to be more manageable than COVID," Standish said. "I don't think it's going to be as big of a deal since it's only transferred through skin to skin or clothes and stuff so I think just checking yourself and taking care of yourself should be the key."
FROM FRONT MONKEYPOX INFOGRAPHIC BY CHRIS SWANN ILLUSTRATION BY
"I'm a little bit scared that it's gonna be the new COVID just because of social media and other fear mongering going on," Abdul said. "I'm trying to get all my going out of my system just in case anything happens and we have to shut down again." Shutting down the campus and reverting back to remote learning because of monkeypox is a step Carranco said the university does not foresee happening.
Students seek change in financial aid requirements
For students whose parents qualify as low-income, financial aid has proven to be helpful in providing funds to get them through college. This raises the question of whether parent-based income indeed correlates with a student's ability to fund a college education. Students like McWright feel as if financial aid should be based on personal income instead of parental income because having a guardian with a high income does not always equal them helping with school.
"We have what we call negative pressure examination rooms that allow us to evaluate people with contagious diseases in a way that reduces our risk of exposure," Carranco said. "So we are prepared at the Student Health Center should we see any sort of case and a lot of preparation occurred before that first case was ever reported." Other forms of preparation the university is taking include conversations with housing and staff on symptom evaluation, isolation and general awareness of all infectious diseases including monkeypox and COVID-19. A new monkeypox webpage has also been created on the Student Health Center website that students can visit to get additional information.
By Katie Smith Assistant News Editor
In cases of students like Mcwright's friends, who do not qualify for financial aid and do not have the funds to pay for their education, they find themselves forced to take out student loans. Texas State alumna Lydia Crow used financial aid at Texas State for a total of six years.
"We've been working for the last several years to consolidate and get most of the scholarships on campus onto a central application system," Burr said. "The Bobcat online scholarship system, or BOSS, allows students to view what types of scholarships are available and how to submit an application."
As tuition payments are underway and with parental income being the foundation of financial aid requirements, Texas State students who receive little to no monetary support from their parents are finding it hard to qualify for financial assistance and struggle with the burden of tuition. The basic eligibility requirements for financial aid rely heavily on expected family contribution, otherwise known as EFC. This is the amount of assistance the student or family is expected by the federal government to contribute toward the tuitionThroughoutcost. the pandemic, Texas State has provided students with Bobcat Cares COVID-19 relief grants, which are extra payments to help alleviate financial burdens brought upon by the Psychologypandemic.seniorSarah McWright has utilized financial aid for the last three years at Texas State and qualified for a Bobcat Cares"Mygrant.experience with using financial aid has been pretty pleasant for the most part," McWright said. "But I do have some friends that have struggled with it, because their parents make too much money on paper, so they don't get enough financial aid and have to take out a lot of money in loans."
"Even though financial aid is based off of your parents' income, a lot of my friends' parents aren't willing to help them with school," McWright said. "Sometimes I think financial aid shouldn't have anything to do with that because of those situations, but at the same time, my parents' lower income helps me, so it's a tricky topic."
Sheila Abdul, a nursing junior, worries about how monkeypox will be handled based on the university's past actions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I know students are concerned that they're going to go through that experience again but at this time I would say that it's very unlikely with either COVID or monkeypox," Carranco said.
According to Burr, these "additional student loans are always an option of last resort" and scholarship opportunities should be explored before taking such drastic measures. Making students more aware of scholarship requirements and how the application process works is a goal Murr said the office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is working toward.
"I think often other routes for students in a situation where their parents may provide no help is looking into scholarship opportunities," Burr said. "Unfortunately, for some students, it also may mean investment in their education where they may need to get additional student loans as well."
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 HeraldCopyrightCopyright:Zeitung.Tuesday, August 30, 2022 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 LettersDeadlines:editor-in-chief.totheEditor or any contributed articles are due on Monday the week prior to AnyCorrections:publication.errorsthat are in the pages of The University Star and brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible. Visit The Star at universitystar.com About EditorialUsStaff cf1188@txstate.eduCaitlinStudentlaurakrantz@txstate.eduLauraDirector:starcreative@txstate.eduMicheleCreativestarasstweb@txstate.eduMonicaDigitalstarengagement@txstate.eduMeadowEngagementstarmultimedia@txstate.eduVanessaMultimediastarsports@txstate.eduCarsonSportsstaropinion@txstate.eduDillonOpinionstarlifeandarts@txstate.eduMarisaLifestarnews@txstate.eduNichaelaNewsstardesign@txstate.eduKadenceDesignstarmanagingeditor@txstate.eduSarahManagingstareditor@txstate.eduArthurEditor-in-Chief:FairchildEditor:HernandezEditor:CobbEditor::Shaheen&ArtsEditor::NunezEditor:StrineEditor:WeaverEditor:BuentelloEditor:ChaseProductsDeveloper:VargasServicesDirector:DupontTrinityBuilding203PleasantSt.SanMarcos,TX78666(512)245-3487Krantz,PublicationsCoordinator:Mitchell Full-Time Staff Public & Internal Relations Nichaela Shaheen News starnews@txstate.eduEditor 2 | Tuesday, August 30, 2022 The University Star NEWS MONEY PIR Director: Elle starpr@txstate.eduGangi
A different kind of housing crisis: students living in shambles
“We’ve been living here for almost two weeks now, and every maintenance request we put in has been marked completed, even though they haven’t come to fix any of it," Pye said. "When my boyfriend and I were trying to talk to the office about the bathroom sink, all they did was talk to us like we’re stupid, and then finally after asking them multiple times, they resorted to turning the water off and not fix anything. On top of that, when maintenance did finally come to fix something, it wasn’t even for Studentsus." like Kaitlyn Ponce, a consumer affairs junior, who have been living in their units for over a month at CastleRock apartments have yet to see any attention paid to maintenance requests. CastleRock's four-bedroom unit's rent starts at about $497 and advertises itself as having the largest dog park in San Marcos. “My biggest problem moving in is that my door was broken in half," Ponce said. "My roommate who was living there before said the fire department needed to get in the room for a nonemergency situation, and instead of going to the office and getting a key they broke the door in half."
After living in San Marcos for a couple of years, chances are residents know someone who has experienced student living or have experienced it firsthand. Sometimes, the process is painless: a lease is signed, insurance is aquired, keys are picked up and a hot summer day is spent moving in. However, for some of the students in San Marcos, the process isn't always simple. This year's move-in cycle for Texas State students has consisted of moldy bathrooms and kitchen cabinets, broken appliances and even carpets stained with animal feces, causing Texas State to grow weary of the declining standard of student living in San Marcos.
The process of trying to get these issues fixed was met with difficulty by management and maintenance staff who only seemed to do a half-job on most of the repairs her unit required. According to Pye, the staff at Villagio's front office offered little help.
By Maya Hicks News Reporter
Resident of CastleRock at San Marcos, Kaitlyn Ponce, has been living in her unit with a broken door since move-in.
STUDENT LIVING
Nichaela starnews@txstate.eduNewsShaheenEditor Tuesday, August 30, 2022 | 3The University Star NEWS
Emily Kent, a finance senior, tells of her experience at Copper Beech, a townhouse-style apartment complex that has over 40 buildings. Rates start at $675 for an upgraded four-bedroom unit and amenities such as a resort-style pool, grilling stations and basketball and sand volleyball courts attract many residents including Kent. “When I first moved in, I immediately got the wrong apartment. I was supposed to be in an upgraded unit, but instead, I got an old one," Kent said. "My roommates and I all went to the office to complain, and they told us that there was nothing they could do, and we’d still have to pay full price for an upgraded unit even though ours wasn’t fullySheupgraded."accounts for the condition of their apartment and how the complex could have done better. “We were missing half of our furniture, and there were multiple holes punched in the wall," Kent said. "In general, the move-in process was also super messy. It taught me that you should never set your expectations high when it comes to studentTaylorliving.”Pye, a psychology senior, also had a grueling move-in process at Villagio. Villagio advertises itself as an upgraded student living experience with four-bedroom units starting at $539 and amenities like a theater room are used as a key selling point. However, as soon as she walked into her apartment it was apparent to her she was not getting her money’s worth. During her first night at Villagio, she compiled a list of things wrong with her unit which included a bedroom door not shutting, wall outlets painted over, water damage on the ceiling and in the cabinets, a bathroom sink that flooded the bathroom, dirty tubs, a broken dishwasher and a hole in the wall that was attempted to be covered by the dryer.
Ponce has submitted numerous maintenance requests to the office and tried calling, but a month later, she is still living with half of a door. She also moved in to find baby cockroaches in her unit, which has her living in fear that her apartment is cockroach-infested.“I’velivedinother places and it’s all the same story; apartments that don’t look great and management that couldn't care less. The standard of student living in San Marcos is definitely on the decline. Now I have this perception that no matter where I go, it’s just going to suck," Ponce said. As time goes on, the perception of student living continues on a downwards spiral. Student feel like they are being cheated out of their money when they move into an apartment with almost unlivable conditions. “I remember when I first walked into my apartment sophomore year I wanted to cry. I was so tempted to just drive back home because I was like ‘why should I even unpack when this isn’t what I asked for?'” Kent said. Students moving into their first college apartment expect the unit to reflect the advertisements of the complex. However, that is not the case for students like Kent, Pye and Ponce. “I should be focusing on my first week of school, but instead I'm stressed because I feel like I’m living in a nightmare,” Pye said. Per management of all complexes mentioned gave no comment.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KAITLYN PONCE
Sierra and Arroyo are passionate about providing ways to better people's health for those who are willing to comeCEOout.of J&M Jewelry, Cory Moore, exercise sports science alumnus, founded J&M jewelry in 2005 while he was a student at Texas State. Already having previous experience with managing and creating businesses he took on the challenge of creating another business J&M Jewelry. On a trip to Israel with his now wife, Moore was introduced to the jewelry industry through his wife’s cousins who were involved with jewelry manufacturing and decided to take part in the jewelry industry by starting his own business. Through prioritizing making a professional website nearly 20 years ago when e-commerce wasn’t as popular, and building business relationships, J&M was able to grow into the business that it is today.
Coyne and Merchant met at Wonder World Cave and Adventure Park where they worked together for two years prior to becoming business partners. When Merchant mentioned the card idea to Coyne, they started bouncing ideas back and forth to begin the process of creating the themed deck. Merchant has lived in San Marcos his whole life and saw the cards as something he had to commemorate to the city itself for all the love and memories that it has given to Althoughhim.Coyne has only lived in San Marcos since his freshman year at Texas State, he also has fond memories of family visits to San Marcos since his brother and dad also attended Texas State. Their love for the city made the selection of the 54 spots of San Marcos tough. They didn't want to exclude popular San Marcos spots, but knew they couldn't include them all. They began their selection by matching cards to places and figuring out what cards would be assigned to certain values and suits.
San Marcos playing card creators Creighton Coyne (left) and Luke Merchant sell their playing cards at the Farmers Market Saturday, August 27, 2022, on The Square.
MCDONOUGH
Merchant, a history senior, got the idea for the deck last summer in June 2021, and he quickly reached out to Coyne, a business and management alumnus who holds San Marcos as close to his heart as he does, to join him in creating the deck. Originally, they thought the task was going to be much easier than they planned it to be, but after a year of hard work, they released their product to the public on July "Playing24. cards are sort of this perfect medium for having a lot of different things on each card. There's 54 potential little opportunities for having either art or just somebody's favorite thing," Merchant said. "I think it's sort of a way to engage with it too. You know, everybody's gonna be looking at it, everybody's gonna be interacting with it, so we thought that to have people's favorite places and the experiences that they have in a town would be a good way for people to connect over those things."
Before using the distributor, Herbalife Nutrition, Sierra and Arroyo were in a place where they didn’t feel confident with themselves, now, Sierra has lost 65 pounds and Arroyo has lost 30 pounds and they say they both feel happier and healthier than ever. “Rene and I got into the business and completely out of not even knowing what we were doing. We were completely out of shape. Sierra said. “We were in a really bad health situation and we knew we need to do something about it, so we got into nutrition and we started you know, working on ourselves losing weight and finding new ways.”
Perez's artwork features many symbols of San Marcos that are pictured near the start of the river. Some symbols that can be found include a rattlesnake for the San Marcos High School Rattlers, a bobcat for Texas State, a mermaid and Ralph the Swimming Pig from the old Aquarena Springs water park. The San Marcos playing cards can be purchased at the local farmers market held on The Square every Saturday, and are also sold at some local business locations like Jo’s Café, The Wake of The Dead Coffee House and Alvin Ord's. They are hoping to also extend their sales to the campus bookstore and Wonder World Cave and Adventure Park. Now that the product has been released, Coyne and Merchant have loved the reaction that they have gotten so far from the playing cards. They have already been successful in completing their goal to create an interactive and engaging product that gets people talking about their memories in San Marcos. "I love seeing it like whenever someone sees a card and then they just like immediately to start like telling this funny story or something that happened to them," Coyne said. For more information visit their website at www. smtxplayingcards.com or Instagram @smtxplayingcards
PHOTO BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
San Marcos playing card creators Creighton Coyne (left) and Luke Merchant sell their playing cards at the Farmers Market Saturday, August 27, 2022, on The Square. OF MIKAYLA
After a year of late-night phone calls, hours of editing and several photoshoots, Luke Merchant and Creighton Coyne have made it possible for locals to hold San Marcos in the palm of their hands with their new San Marcos-themed playing cards. Each of the 54 playing cards represents a different local place, animal or symbol. With cards for things like The Square, Summer in the Park and Herbert's Taco Hut, the San Marcos-themed deck brings together students, locals and visitors alike to share stories and get to know the town on another level.
Afer losing weight Sierra and Arroyo have grown passionate about helping others find themselves in the ways that they have. Sierra and Arroyo feel fortunate and blessed to have the business, and just want to continue helping others and the community after all the help they have received from others. Every month they have sponsored a non-profit organization and have given back to the community by giving every tip earned that month to that non-profit. “I absolutely love what we do,” Arroyo said. ”You know, we love helping people and we love helping the community.”BalancedNutrition is open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm and offers healthy meal replacement shakes, sugar-free teas, iced protein coffees and gluten-free baked goods. They also have a free fit camp, a Sunday morning running club, and will sometimes have Zumba classes.
Passionate alumni owned businesses
"I was stressed pretty intensely on what places to have and what places to not have, Merchant said. "We were trying to please everybody because there are so many different people in San Marcos who experienced the town through different lenses, and we wanted to have places that can make the college kid happy where the places that he goes is being represented but also those local Merchantspots"said he felt an immense obligation to represent certain aspects of San Marcos since he grew up in the city. Pieces of his childhood can be seen in a couple of cards such as the four of hearts card that shows his parents eating at their favorite date spot, Italian Garden, and the three of hearts card which displays a picture of Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, a museum that his grandmother and human rights activist, Ofelia Vasquez-Philo, founded. Coyne and Merchant paid extreme attention to detail to create each individual card, making sure that each picture was true to its spot. From waiting for a cloudy day to take photos for Wake The Dead Coffee House to adding additional hearts to surround Valentino's, they made sure every card had a piece of San Marcos within them. Even the outside of the box is creatively designed with a hand of cards of the San Marcos zip code 78666.
Christi Cuesta, marketing senior, was a marketing intern for J&M over the summer and got hands-on experience in sales and marketing ads through various platforms. Throughout her internship she has liked how connected Moore has been with the company. Even as the CEO and founder he would take time out of his schedule to offer his guidance to help her truly understand her task. “I'm so excited about J&M.” Cuesta said. “Because the company is great and I've just learned so much so I can't wait to see other students learn from them as well.”Cuesta is now working part-time for J&M Jewelry and will be working full-time after she graduates in Dec.Moore offers internship opportunities for Texas State students because of the lack of access to the entrepreneurship that he experienced as a student. He believes that the pathways for many students are corporate ones and he wanted to provide a platform where students could learn and be encouraged to start their own “Everybodybusinesses.thathas been successful, has been given some type of assistance somewhere down the line. And that's true for me and that's true for everyone else,” Moore said. “So I think that it's important to continue to invest in those younger generations and give back, you know, to those students where I can”
"It's a lot of just like finding that point that can like capture everything. You know what I mean? It's like you only have one angle one shot to get the whole experience of a place just by looking at it," Coyne said. The artwork on the back of the cards was done by San Marcos artist Rene Perez. Perez's wife was Merchant's 8th-grade teacher, and one of her favorite students. Still having contact with them both, Merchant reached out to Perez to create artwork for the back of each playing card."Yeah, they've [Merchant and Coyne] been great. And just watching this whole process with them with the way they've been, you know, just working in and talking to people and they're just they put in so much work into it," Perez said. "I'm really happy for them and really honored to be part of it."
"Getting my degree in art at Texas State helped me launch my business," McDonough said. "I was getting back in touch with those artist roots and being able to make a product that's really consumable is really great for my own professional art practice as well." When starting her business, McDonough knew she wanted to incorporate her cat Keiko into the name somehow. The name Catnip Studios is not only a homage to her cat but a metaphor for something that sparks joy in a person's life like her products. Catnip Studios products consist of jewelry, home decor and ceramics with products like wall art, earrings, mugs and more. McDonough has made Catnip Studios into her full-time job and she plans to create a more online presence in the future to take her work“I'venationwide.alwaysbeen a super self-starter. I don't really like I like to do things my way. I have like really bad ADHD brain.,: McDonough said. "So it's helpful for someone like me to, you know, be the person holding myself accountable and it really just gives me so much more joy, like working for myself and doing the art projects that I want to do rather than working for someone else on the side, which is what I was so used to.”Maria Sierra, education alumna, and her husband Rene Arroyo started their business Balanced Nutrition through Herbalife Nutrition in 2015. Their business first started as a storefront out of their home, but after the business got more popular they decided to open up a shop Oct. 25, 2021. Sierra taught at San Marcos public schools on and off over the span of ten years, but after Covid-19 she decided to quit altogether. She missed in-person contact and being around the children and it wasn't the same after the pandemic. Although she had stopped teaching Sierra still has a passion for helping others and still wants to utilize her passion in her everyday life, and she does so through Balanced Nutrition.
J&M Jewelry offers marketing and event marketing, as well as jobs on the administrative side of the business, and the design and manufacturing side for Texas State students only. For more information about Catnip Studios follow their Instagram @catnip.studios For more information about Balanced Nutrition follow their Facebook at Balanced Nutrition San Marcos. For more information about J&M Jewelry go to their website at https://www.jandmjewelry.com/who-we-are.
San Marcos playing cards
By Marisa Nunez Life and Arts Editor
ALUMNI By Marisa Nunez Life and Arts Editor Catnip Studios was created by Mikayla McDonough, studio art alumnus, in the wake of COVID-19 after she lost her job due to the pandemic. After gaining a surplus of unemployment money from government stimulus checks, she decided to put the money to good use in a way that could benefit her future. She started off by selling her art to friends, and after slowly gaining popularity she started selling on a bigger platform. By going to the San Marcos Farmers Market and other local pop-ups where she could interact with her customers in person, McDonough created a successful business. Growing up McDonough was always very artistic. She said that as a toddler she was known to draw on the walls and take costumes, clothes and shoes and upcycle them to her liking. In high school, McDonough was introduced to ceramics and instantly fell in love with the art and decided to pursue art in college.
SMALL BUSINESS Marisa Nunez Life & Arts starlifeandarts@txstate.eduEditor 4 | Tuesday, August 30, 2022 The University Star LIFE & ARTS
PHOTO COURTSEY
URBAN POLITICS
ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON WARE ILLUSTRATION BY AFAAF ALNAHAS
- Dillon Strine is a journalism senior 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.
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.
Black residents from Black neighborhoods tended to move to poorer areas, and non-Black residents from other gentrifying communities would move to wealthier districts. The latter benefit from better public schools and more public amenities, while the former often find themselves in areas with lower quality schools and higher crime rates. To make matters worse, redlining further limits the options of displaced residents of color. As a result, people of color in gentrifying areas often find themselves in significantly worse living situations, despite promises of a booming economy aroundGentrificationthem. will eliminate an area's unique culture that its members hold dear. According to National Community Reinvestment Coalition, a key component of gentrification is the cultural replacement of an Localarea.businesses housed in such an area have no choice but to close their doors. Not only do their expenses increase in a gentrifying neighborhood, but their clientele is forced to move away. Moreover, they find it difficult to compete with chain stores taking up residence in their neighborhoods. The pandemic only hastened the shutdown of these local businesses, which will change the city's landscape forever. Supporters of gentrification argue that the changes are economically beneficial because the new developments will attract new visitors and inhabitants and stimulate the local economy. However, research has shown that developers and wealthier community members benefit from this more than long-time residents. Additionally, gentrification morphs a town away from its original appeal.While change is inevitable and new people moving to Central Texas is a good thing, gentrification does more harm than good, and we should ensure that marginalized groups are not further marginalized and that the culture and traditions that hold the community together are not washed away. -Tiara Allen is a marketing senior
While gentrification is not the sole cause of the exploding living costs, it certainly does not help. The Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown area saw an increase in costs of 17.8% from 2010 to 2020, and San Antonio and New Braunfels saw a 17.4% increase simultaneously.InSanMarcos, costs are on a similar rise, especially for students seeking off-campus housing. An increasing number of luxury apartment complexes are built in the San Marcos area every year and can be found for as much as $2,820 a month. Luxury student housing complexes frequently raise the costs of student housing in the area and often increase the class divide between students. Students who cannot afford the costs of these apartments often work long hours to afford rent and live in subpar apartment complexes. The rising costs of living contribute to the increase of food insecurity and homelessness. According to a local study hosted by the University of Texas at Austin, seven of the ten most common zip codes that homeless people cited as their last residence were considered gentrified areas. Once lost, those unhoused struggle to find safe living conditions, especially in extreme conditions such as Texas' winter storms and excessive heat waves, and frequently find that resources for aid, such as homeless shelters, are at capacity. Even for those who can remain housed, price increases threaten their livelihood. Food insecurity is exacerbated for low-income individuals in gentrified areas, as residents are unable to afford the more expensive grocery stores in their area. In addition, people with disabilities are at higher risk of food insecurity due to a limited, fixed income, further marginalizing a frequently mistreated group. Gentrification harms Central Texas and other areas like it because it can accelerate racial disparity in housing and education. A study from Stanford University found that in the face of gentrification,
FINANCE Dillon Strine Opinions Tuesday,staropinion@txstate.eduEditorAugust30,2022|5The University Star OPINIONS Opinion: White House’s loan forgiveness does not go far enough
By Dillon Strine Opinions Editor President Joe Biden's plan for student loan cancellation is a start at addressing a national issue but is not sufficient. The president's proposed plan is specific. $10,000 would be erased in federal student loan debt for those with incomes below $125,000 a year or households with incomes below $250,000. Borrowers who received federal Pell Grants are also eligible for an additional $10,000 of relief. This plan will affect 43 million, but will only wipe out the debt of about 20 million, less than half. This relief will undoubtedly lift the weight of financial stress off of students of color, first-generation graduates, those with low-income levels and students affected by the equity gap. Unfortunately, this part of the population is made up of students who are already graduating less than their majority peers. Black and firstgeneration students also tend to take out more student loans, which heightens theThedisparity.costof college has risen by 1200% since 1980. As it continues to do so, the importance of higher education does too. In 1980, male high school graduates earned $44,200, while their higher educated counterparts earned $52,300. Twenty-eight years later, that gap has widened to just $32,000 for high school graduates and $55,000 for those who earned a bachelor's degree. The increasing pressure to attend college has not helped enrollment, as overall enrollment in undergraduate and graduate degrees has been steadily declining since 2012. Furthermore, remote learning and financial hardships from the pandemic have caused enrollment decline to be seven times worse than in spring 2019-2020. At Texas State, we have set a record for freshman enrollment, uncharacteristic compared to the rest of the country. But the retention rate is 77%, below the rate at similar colleges of 84.5%. Not having to bear the weight of future loans with high-interest rates could help keep firstyear students around long enough to do the essential thing: graduate. There has been enough of a fear sparked by student loans to where there is counseling to prepare you for them. In addition, the cancellation of student debt will help enrollment. According to The University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), the top reason a college student drops out is financial reasons. A plan that eases the stress post-graduation debt and will encourage dropouts to return to school. Most college students work because of the unaffordability of being a student. While there seem to be benefits to working in college, like earning higher pay after getting your degree, there tends to be a line. If a student works more than 15 hours a week, their grade point average tends to drop to a C or lower, while those who can work 15 or fewer have a B or higher. Education goals should not be delayed because of the necessity of a job. Texas republican detractors will say that it will come out of your pocket through taxes in a state with no state income tax. Loans have also already been not being paid since March of 2020.
By Tiara Allen Assistant Opinions Editor In early June, the local community mourned the loss of the San Marcos location of Half Price Books. After two decades in San Marcos, the store owners cited rising rent costs as a significant reason to close up shop forFurthergood. up the IH-35 corridor, long-time Austinites were disappointed to learn that Lucy in Disguise With Diamonds, a costume shop on South Congress, would be closing at the end of 2022 after 38 years. The loss of these beloved local businesses suggests that increased gentrification in Central Texas is not only affecting the finances of long-time natives and local businesses alike but is also posing to alter the area's culture. As residents, we should not allow this change to take place and should push for growth that is more beneficial to all members of the community. Over the past several years, Austin and the surrounding metropolitan areas, including San Marcos, have seen an explosion in demand. There are many benefits to the increased interest in the area. But the entrance of wealthy businessmen and developers has transformed many of the area's residential areas for those with lower incomes. While these changes may seem like improvements, this evolution threatens to harm the very culture that attracted people to the area in the first Gentrificationplace. harms Central Texas because it causes prices to rise, pushing out lower-income residents. Gentrification occurs because neighborhoods in urban centers, many of which are formed due to decades of discriminatory housing, are often available at lower property values and are close to good jobs and transit, which appeals to those with higher incomes and economic developers.
Fox News was also quick to point out, as they usually do, the national debt, which rose $7.733 trillion under former president Donald Trump. This debt is being taken away as a stressor to a part of the population that needs financial stress relief, just not to the fullest. In 2020, student loan debt reached a record $1.6 trillion. This debt will be knocked down, allowing a generation stuck renting because of said debt to recover and possibly become first-time home buyers. But it is only a start at addressing the mass issue. Under this plan, nearly eight million borrowers will have debt wiped out without lifting a finger. It is also extending payments until January for those who still have payments. Also, those who have been making payments for ten years and have a balance of $12,000 or less will have their debt wiped out. It also caps undergraduate loan payments to 5% of the borrower's monthly income, less than the 10% it previously was. The impact on a specific population of Americans now emerging from a pandemic should be clear. However, that population is also seemingly excited as they crashed the Federal Agency for Student Aid (FAFSA) website after hearing the news. While it may not be sufficient and more can be done, it is still something and will significantly affect those who receive it.
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.
Opinion: Gentrification will erode what we love about central Texas
With an undefeated start to the 2022 season, Texas State soccer has given Boko's Army a lot to cheer for, something that has not gone unnoticed by soccer head coach Steve Holeman. Holeman said it's been great seeing fans show out at the games, and the fan support gives the team home-field advantage. "It's been awesome, love the fans... they make us want to play at home," Holeman said. "We love being at home."
-Boko'smentalArmychant FROM FRONT SOCCER
Through the process of tabling on the Quad and in the Student Recreation Center and through traditional word-of-mouth during the fall of 2021, the club team gained enough players at tryouts to fill out their squad. Serving as secretary and treasurer of the club, Kenley Young, a senior double majoring in political science and public administration, tried out for the team in fall 2021. Young said that the 2020-21 season cancellation meant that the club had essentially disbanded, and the structure and organization the club previously had was"COVIDgone. happened and the team was completely crippled," Young said. "When I went to tryouts there was 40 people... they [officers] were building a new frame, that new program." With the club desperate for more members in order to play games, nearly everyone who tried out made the team. Cade Morrison, a recreation studies senior who also serves as secretary and treasurer of the club, said that the roster for the 2021-22 season guided the club to a new identity.
CLUB SPORTS
PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE CLUB BASEBALL
"Last season the mentality was getting the best group to start in the season games," Valenzuela said. "[This season] the end goal is to have a winning season in hopes to win our division and make it to the national club tournament."
"Going into last season, not a lot of us were necessarily prepared and understood what to expect," Morrison said. "It gave us... a brand new look and system for our team."Once the officers had an idea of what their team could look like for the 2021-22 season, thrice weekly practices began right away. The Bobcats began their 2021-22 season by splitting a scrimmage series with Baylor, who at the time was ranked sixth by the National Club Baseball Association (NCBA). "It lit a fire underneath our ass," Young said. "We have one of the toughest conferences... we were ready, we're gonna sweep the conference." With a revamped roster and a big win against the tough Baylor Bears club team, the Texas State club team began to set the narrative for their future: enjoying their beloved game of baseball and competing to the best of their abilities, all with a chip on their shoulder. The narrative, which has been adopted by the team, has carried over to the 202223 team as they prepare for another round of tryouts in early September. After undergoing the hardships that COVID-19 brought upon the club, the officers are better prepared and know better strategies to get more players involved in club tryouts for this upcoming season. Along with the methods they used to gain more attention last season, club baseball has made its presence on campus known through tabling at new student
Vice president of the club Jose Valenzuela, an electrical engineering senior, said that the mentality entering this season is to win ballgames.
Carson Weaver Sports starsports@txstate.eduEditor 6|Tuesday, August 30, 2022 The University Star SPORTS
After Texas State club baseball's 2020-21 season was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions, only a dedicated few stayed committed to the team. With less than the amount needed to fill a baseball diamond returning to the 2021-22 squad, club officers sought out potential baseball players of any and all experience levels to regain momentum.
Before last season, Darnell and Hill Country Church began brainstorming on how to further show love to the team. They struck inspiration when they saw how lively professional soccer games are and began coming up with their own Texas State-themed chants and cheers last Attendeesseason.ofthe soccer game can hear unified chants like "Bobcats 'til we die", "come on Bobcats score a goal" or "put the ball into the net and we'll go freaking mental." The real noise maker is the drum they bring out on the sidelines that can be struck by any Texas State fan who asks. "The [Texas State] band was generous enough to donate that last year," Darnell said. "It was like one of their leftover pieces."
"We just leave it open to anyone who feels the passion and jumps in," Timothy Darnell said. "The invitation is always open."
orientation and a consistent schedule of social media posts. "An unspoken game plan for us, so to say, is to get our names out there and try to reach potential players," Morrison said. "There's a lot of potential players trying out [this season] and a lot of potential ability that comes with it."
Last season, the club finished its season with a winning record of 7-5. Their goal of getting their presence known on campus has been successful leading up to 2022 fall tryouts, and the potential of another winning season for the club seems likely.
Texas State President Kelly Damphousse, who is also an avid supporter of the soccer team, gave Boko's Army his endorsement and took pictures with the group during the first home game of the season on Aug. 18. Timothy Darnell, Elizabeth Darnell's son, said it meant a lot to feel seen by a prominent Texas State"Whenfigure.he came to the first big game and was like 'you guys are awesome,'... it meant a lot to us," Timothy Darnell said. "We have a super high value for connection within the university."
The passion Boko's Army has for supporting the soccer team doesn't necessarily stem from a love for soccer, but rather a belief that no student should do college alone. Timothy Darnell said the group's philosophy comes from a love for students. Boko's Army welcomes anyone on the sidelines who wants to celebrate the team and have fun at the games.
Put the ball into the net and we’ll go freaking
By Carson Weaver Sports Editor
Texas State club baseball will hold tryouts from 12-3 p.m. on Sep. 9 and 10 at the Bobcat Village practice fields. For more information, follow @txstclubbaseball on Instagram or @txstclubball on Twitter.
Texas State Club Baseball gathers for a team photo after their first intersquad scrimmage of the season, Saturday, February 5, 2022, in Stockdale, Texas.
Texas State club baseball rebuilds after canceled season
Texas State junior forward Olivia Wright (20) dribbles the ball past a Huskies defender in a game against Houston Baptist, Sunday, August 28, 2022, at Bobcat Soccer Complex. The Bobcats won 2-1.
Texas State senior forward Bailey Peschel (17) tosses free t-shirts to Bobcat fans before the start of the game against Houston Baptist, Sunday, August 28, 2022, at Bobcat Soccer Complex. ThewonBobcats2-1.
Texas State senior defender Kamaria Williams (7) tosses the ball back into play during a game against Houston Baptist, Sunday, August 28, 2022, at Bobcat Soccer Complex. The Bobcats won 2-1.
Texas State sophomore defender Anna Dunch (14) attempts to steal possession of the ball from Huskies senior midfielder Ryan Ford (24) in a game against Houston Baptist, Sunday, August 28, 2022, at Bobcat Soccer Complex. The Bobcats won 2-1.
PHOTO BYBUENTELLOVANESSA
PHOTO BY BUENTELLOVANESSA
PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
Texas State sophomore midfielder Madi Goss (5) fights to keep possession of the ball during a game against Houston Baptist, Sunday, August 28, 2022, at Bobcat Soccer Complex. The Bobcats won 2-1.
SOCCER GALLERY
Carson starsports@txstate.eduSportsWeaverEditor Tuesday, August 30, 2022 | 7The University Star SPORTS
6|Tuesday, August 30, 2022
