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The classes offered mainly take place in demonstration gardens located across the county such as Dripping Springs Ranch Park, Kyle Library and the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center. These gardens are used to show how different plants could look in one’s own backyard along with what soil the plant could work with, whether it’s limestone, caliche or other types of soil that may be hard to plant in.
Hays County Master Gardener members take in plant inventory at Jacob's Well Greenhouse in 2021.
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The plants sold are grown by about 40 of the organization's members, except for the trees bought through a wholesale garden. Planning for the sale begins in February, so members can plan what plants they want to offer and have enough time to go through a trial-and-error process to see which plants will have the best luck for the sale.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CONNIE WIERMAN
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Connie Wierman, the project lead for the Fall Plant and Tree Sale and the past president of the Hays County Master Gardeners, was certified as a master gardener in 2016 and wants to spread all the information she can about gardening, especially in rough weather conditions that places like Texas endure.“We have such brutal weather and tough soil to work in,” Wierman said. “So with all the extreme conditions, if we can educate folks and spread more information of good practices for our area, people will be more successful and more comfortable with gardening.”
The Fall Plant and Tree Sale will benefit the organization's education efforts by expanding one of the gardens, specifically
With top-notch knowledge of vegetable and herb gardening, plant nutrition, lawn care and more, the Hays County Master Gardeners are ready to spread their knowledge and help others bloom at their annual Fall Plant and Tree Sale from Oct. 3-12.
SEE ENVIRONMENT PAGE 2
By Haley Velasco Life and Arts Contributor
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Sports: Sun Belt Student Media www.Universitystar comDEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 VOLUME 112 ISSUE 5 Life & BoyhoodArts:Alley Opinion: Emergency Resources News: HeritageHispanicMonth SEE PAGE 6SEE PAGE 2 SEE PAGE 8SEE PAGE ENVIRONMENT4
Melissa Tyree, a member of the Hays County Master Gardeners since 2019, volunteered for the sale in 2019 and looks forward to participating in the sale again.
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Founded in 2013, the Hays County Master Gardeners began hosting the Fall Plant and Tree Sale to raise funds to run their horticultural education programs sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. The organization held two smaller sales in the fall and spring before 2019, but the members wanted one sale that everyone could commit to. They also knew that October was the best time to purchase plants as it allows plants to develop good root growth.
"The energy is great, and the trees are amazing,” Tyree said. “I helped unload the trees in 2019 and was just very impressed with the high quality. Other than the trees, the plants are all grown for the most part by the master gardeners, so they’re all grown locally, and they’re adapted to our climate because they’ve grown here and not shipped in from somewhere else.”
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Local gardeners to grow funds through plant sale
Community members push to rename alley after award-winning film
Josh Shuster, a Hays County Master Gardeners member who is part of the Fall Plant and Tree Sale team, said the organization builds a great sense
LIFE &
For those that are interested in going to the sale but don’t know where to start or what to look for, Wierman advises to keep it simple and not be afraid to ask questions at the sale.
A scene from Boyhood (2014) shot in San Marcos in front of the Hays County Courthouse.
"I'm hopeful that others in city leadership would seize this opportunity to show San Marcos' involvement in such an astonishingly important film which is 'Boyhood,'" Buckley said.In addition to inspiring tomorrow's filmmakers and recognizing Linklater's film, Buckley sees the naming of the alley as an opportunity for tourism as well as support for local businesses. Buckley said that with Boyhood Alley, there's potential for film tours through downtown San Marcos and for tourists to check out what San Marcos is all about through its local restaurants, shops and culture.
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, September 20, 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 editor-in-chief. LettersDeadlines:tothe Editor 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.eduDillonOpinionsstarlifeandarts@txstate.eduMarisaLifestarnews@txstate.eduNichaelaNewsstardesign@txstate.eduKadenceDesignstarmanagingeditor@txstate.eduSarahManagingstareditor@txstate.eduArthurEditor-in-Chief:FairchildEditorHernandezEditor:CobbEditor:Shaheen&ArtsEditor:NunezEditor:StrineEditor:WeaverEditor:BuentelloEditor:ChaseProductsDeveloper:VargasServicesDirector:DupontTrinityBuilding203PleasantSt.SanMarcos,TX78666(512)245-3487Krantz,PublicationsCoordinator:Mitchell Full-Time Staff Public & Internal Relations PIR Director: Elle starpr@txstate.eduGangiMarisaNunezLife&ArtsEditorstarlifeandarts@txstate.edu 2 | Tuesday, September 20, 2022 The University Star
Part of the Fall Plant and Tree Sale process is reaching out to vendors in Kyle and Dripping Springs, places the sale has previously been held. The decision to have the sales at those two locations is to bring the convenience of having a sale at the north and south ends of Hays County.
To learn more about the Hays County Master Gardeners, visit hayscountymastergardeners.org/.https://www.
There's potential in an unnamed street that sits between the east 100 block of San Antonio Street and East MLK Drive, right across from the Hays County Historic Courthouse. To some, it's nothing but another backstreet but for others, it's a street of history, art and a celebration of an award-winning film.Boyhood Alley got its nickname during a film screening at the Lost River Film Fest in 2018. The moniker is a reference to the 2014 movie "Boyhood" about a boy who grows up in Texas. A scene from the film, a pivotal moment for the main protagonist Mason, was filmed in the unnamed alleyway and features the Hays County Courthouse in the background.
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra and his executive assistant Anita Collins immediately supported Buckley when they pitched the idea to name the alley after "Boyhood" in June. Together they asked the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Downtown Association and the San Marcos Main Street Board of Directors to join them in their efforts to recognize the alley as a significant landmark of cinema.
"I can imagine the Texas Film Commission would put San Marcos on the map for people to see where 'Boyhood' was shot," Buckley said. "While tourists are here, they can enjoy downtown businesses and get to know our city."
“You really need to start out with tried-and-true plants that are going to grow no matter what happens, like lantana, which will grow even despite your efforts to kill it,” Wierman said.
Written and directed by Richard Linklater, the movie follows Mason, played by Ellar Coltrane, as he grows up in Texas and navigates life with his divorced parents and older sister."Boyhood" production began in 2002 and finished in 2013, authentically documenting the lives of its characters in real-time, something that had rarely if not ever been done before. Once the film was released in 2014, it took the world by storm, winning a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Drama in 2015 and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2015 for Patricia Arquette's role as Olivia Evans, the main character's mother.
Hays County Master Gardener members take in and inspect plant donations for the Fall Plant and Tree Sale in 2021.
ENVIRONMENT
"'Boyhood' is one of those very unique ways of telling a story given the amount of time Linklater chose to film it," Collins said. "We watch this child grow up and it's so special."
John Fleming, dean of the Texas State College of Fine Arts and Communication, who previously worked with Buckley on the Lost River Film Fest, has been outwardly supportive of Boyhood Alley. He even sent a letter to San Marcos City Council to express his support for both Boyhood Alley and theWitharts.a drastic rise in theater enrollment at Texas State over the years and the opening of Live Oak Hall, a new film and television building on campus, Fleming saw that Boyhood Alley could be something special.
She admits it has been a challenge to submit the proposal because the city has never had to name an unnamed alleyway before. She, Becerra and Buckley were confident when submitting the proposal knowing that the Convention and
"Everybody was excited that this could bring in tourism of film locations around San Marcos, bring in people to see our city and just adds another perk to San Marcos as well," CollinsCollins,said.who is also a screenwriter, became familiar with the film industry when she would go on movie sets with her daughter who was formally an actress. She said that film is something special that helps to tell stories like the one in "Boyhood," a film Collins said does a great job telling the story of growing up and finding yourself.
By Brianna Chavez Life and Arts Contributor
Since then, the name has stuck. Recently, local film buffs have begun an endeavor to officially designate the backstreet and commemorate San Marcos' contribution to film.
If the resolution passes for the naming of Boyhood Alley on Sept. 20, the Lost River Film Fest would like to celebrate on the opening night of the festival with a ribbon-cutting for the official naming of the alley. In addition, there will be a screening of another Linklater San Marcos shot film "Everybody Wants Some!!" and potentially a visit to the alley from the self-taught writer and director in the near future.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CONNIE WIERMAN
EVENTSFROMFRONT
“Also, the folks that will be working the sale are our master gardeners, so if you have any issues or want more information on a particular topic, we’re going to have a whole field of people to talk to, and someone will always know.”
Buckley, along with the San Marcos Cinema Club, was the first one to coin the name Boyhood Alley during the 2018 Lost River Film Fest to let people know the meeting location of a film screening.
"Texas State and San Marcos go hand in hand," Fleming said. "Naming the alley [after] 'Boyhood' would celebrate both San Marcos' film-making legacy and its blossoming film-making future."
ARTS
of community through volunteer service and guidance on enhancing the environment.Shusteris looking forward to the reaction and satisfaction that he hopes to receive from shoppers when they purchase the plants.
Visitors Bureau and Downtown Association stood with the idea of making Boyhood Alley official.
Lost River Film Fest will take place Oct. 20-23
being held on Oct. 8 and the Dripping Springs sale on Oct. 12.
“I’m excited to get the plants in people’s hands,” Shuster said. “It’s always fun to see their faces because it’s like giving someone a gift. The shoppers walk off with big plans to do something with what they get, and now they’re able to do it. You're just glad to be a part of thatTheprocess.”FallPlant and Tree Sale will be offered both online and in person this year. The online shop will run from Oct. 3-11 with the option to pick up the plants at either the Kyle Public Library or the Dripping Springs Farmers Market. The in-person sale will be held at both locations, with the Kyle sale
PHOTO COURTESY OF LOST RIVER FILM FEST
It was up to the Main Street Board to make it official. Ultimately, they did not support the idea but Buckley is hopeful for the board's next vote on Sept. 20.
Planning gets more intense as the event nears due to some plants not making it to September, especially because of weather conditions. Right before the event on Sept. 23 and 24, the Hays County Master Gardeners plan to have a plant donation drop-off open to itsThemembers.Hays County Master Gardeners have exceeded its goals in past plant sales, which have brought profits of around $4,500. Even during the pandemic, a new online shopping option allowed the organization to raise more funds than it thought it would. When classes held at the organization had to be cut short and held virtually, Wierman said it allowed them to think of a better plan for the sale.“We started up our classes online, but in doing so, it gave us the confidence that we could probably do the plant sale as well,” Wierman said. “When we started the sale, I was just floored at how much people were willing to spend sitting on their couch. Of course, I've been doing the same thing, but it worked out well and we’ve kept what works well along with the in-person sale which we really look forward to.”
"That's the first time the alley had ever received that name, even though it was never officially named that," said Jordan Buckley, the director of the Lost River Film Fest.
Vargas: What music do you love to dance to?
Vargas: Tell me about your journey landing your first internship as a software engineer. Was it challenging?
Vargas: Favorite music to study and do projects to?
Vargas: How did you become the president of SHPE? What was the process like?
Oscar Resindez: My parents. They have a ranch and oversee agriculture on their ranch in a small town in Mexico. I am a first-generation college student. They work very hard and have the grit to help take care of the family and ranch. They support me in getting educated. I appreciate their hard work ethic and I have come to those same work ethics. I was born and raised in Austin.
Oscar Resindez: Liberal arts can teach a lot about what it means to be a human. Most innovation comes from liberal arts, so be curious.
type, even though they seem dull to most, I tend to gravitate to romance inspirations in the artistic realm. I love that I'm an avid reader and find enjoyment in factual and fiction books. I appreciate short stories, critically acclaimed literature and philosophy.
‘Cats Walk: Oscar Resindez speaks on artificial intelligence, internships
Oscar Resendiz's favorite quote: "It is not events that disturb people, it is their judgments concerning them." -Epictetus
By Monica Vargas Web Editor
Being able to spend a summer outside of Texas was also a life-changing experience. I was able to experience Boston with various interns that have become close friends of mine.
Oscar Resindez: Definitely my unending childlike curiosity, which I noticed tends to die off through time for most people. Learning different new skill sets and diverse disciplines. I loved how Leonardo da Vinci was all over the place with curiosity and achieved so much.
Oscar Resindez: I'm a big advocate of timeblocking. Scheduling my time and future events. You have to plan or time can be wasted. Every minute matters.
During my search, I got blessed with the opportunity to join IBM Research as an AI software engineer at a joint lab with MIT. I immediately jumped on that opportunity and rescinded the other interview processes.Outof the 40 interns in the lab, I was one of three undergrads. Surrounded by top researchers and graduate students from MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley, etcetera, I immediately felt imposter syndrome. This only got worse as I realized I was the only Hispanic employee at the lab. I reached out to many mentors and co-workers and soon realized that even they felt this feeling, which is normal for software engineers new to the industry or even with experience. I soon came to the realization that to even feel imposter syndrome meant that you are in a situation that someone from your background is not accustomed to. I used this to my advantage and worked hard to make the most out of my time at Cambridge University.
Oscar Resindez: I started off as an officer. We basically help with organizing the events and give ideas on how we can add or improve the organization and our members. Then this year is my first year as an appointed president of SHPE.
Oscar Resindez: Erik Satie the composer and album "No. 1."
Oscar Resindez: My free time I love art, piano, guitar and learning about music theory. I created for fun a digital jukebox with computer engineering. A smart application, that you scan a card RFID and it plays albums. I create my own jazz improvisation.
For this segment, Monica interviewed Oscar Resindez, electrical engineering senior with a concentration in computer engineering. Resindez interned with IBM this summer doing research in MIT labs. He is also the president of the Society of Hispanic Professionals Engineers (SHPE) at Texas State.
At first, being an undergrad from a state university fueled my doubts, but by the end of the internship, it made me feel proud that I had reached that type of internship with my background, especially as a firstgeneration Mexican American.
Oscar Resindez: "How to Think Like a Roman Emperor" by Donald J. Robertson
Vargas: Who inspires you?
Texas State electrical engineering senior Oscar Resindez smiles with the Dell-funded robot he is working on, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, at the Ingram School of Engineering. The robot will be working with the San Marcos firefighters in future semesters.
Vargas: Tell me three things you love about yourself.
I love that I appreciate liberal arts. I am a romantic
Vargas: How do you balance leading the organization plus the research, classes and projects you are committed to?
Vargas: When did you get into computer engineering?
Vargas: Is there anything you would like to say to anyone interested in computer software engineering or in general?
Vargas: What do you do for fun when you are not in the computer lab with robotics?
Throughout my time at Cambridge University, I was able to dive deep into artificial intelligence. I enjoyed working on the state of the art of AI and developing a cutting-edge framework that will benefit the future of Neuro-Symbolic AI.
To keep up with students featured in 'Cats Walk visit The University Star's Instagram @universitystar.
Vargas: Favorite book?
PHOTO BY MONICA VARGAS
"At fromundergradbeingfirst,an a state university fueled my doubts, but by the end of the internship, it made me feel proud that I had reached that type of internship with my seniorelectricalAmerican."generationespeciallybackground,asafirst-Mexican-OscarResindez,engineering
STUDENT LIFE
Marisa Nunez Life & Arts starlifeandarts@txstate.eduEditor Tuesday, September 20, 2022 | 3The University Star LIFE & ARTS
'Cats Walk is a weekly segment that will highlight Texas State students. Each week, Web Editor Monica Vargas will talk to a different Bobcat about school, self-love and Texas State.
Oscar Resindez's Instagram: @_shugazi.
Oscar Resindez: During my internship search for 2022, I knew I wanted to land a software engineering role. I had previously worked in the oil and gas industry but desired to branch out to Big Tech. In my journey of finding an internship, I applied to several Big Tech companies and did multiple rounds of interviews with the big names. I was rejected by many, but I continued onward with the technical interviews with my grit.
Oscar Resindez: Depends on the people I am with. Bachata, Salsa, Norteña, Cardi, Kendrick Lamar.
Oscar Resindez: I went to Austin Community College and was in the mechanical engineeringrequired computer language class. Python was my first which is in a lot of artificial intelligence.
From this experience, I can confidently say that hard work and a clear vision will allow you to be exposed to various opportunities that you normally do not think are obtainable.
The Department of Sociology launched the Latino/a Studies minor in 2018 for students to learn about Latinx influence as well as the social, political, economic, historical and cultural processes that impact Latinx communities in the U.S.
"Hispanic Heritage Month is all about dancing, eating delicious food, and having a good time with friends and family," Reyes said. "Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is just one way for us to celebrate and represent different Latin American countries and students."
"Just one example of how Texas State supports the Hispanic community is by offering Spanish-speaking tours to prospective Bobcats and their families," Reyes said. "This is a way for students to feel at ease in their surroundings, and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is just one way for us to represent different Latin American countries and students."
Noche de Cine on Sept. 15 consisted of a screening of the movie "Selena" projected onto the Alkek Library wall. The evening also included music, vendors and a performance from Grupo Folklórico Ocotochtli.
"Having a community that is welcoming of all cultures makes the transition from home to college easier," Rodriguez said. "This way, the university can create a home away from home for every student of every background."
President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, a more than $300 billion bill, was signed into law last month and aims to lower prescription drugs, health care costs and energy costs. It also guarantees anyone making $400,000 per year will not have a tax increase.Mekhi Williams, a health science
"We have to allow for all people's stories to be told with clarity and truth," Lee said. "Hispanic Heritage Month means an opportunity to be exposed to some new cultural information."
Texas State advertising sophomore Fiona Zupke observes "Tell Me Who You're With & I'll Let You Know Who You Are," by Daniel Ramos, Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, at Alkek Library. Zupke works as a receptionist at the Wittliff Collections art gallery.
"It used to be $85 max for me to eat for a week, now I spend about $100$150," Weaver said. "There's no way I eat $150 worth of groceries; that's where I see the most difference."
"It's affecting everything. You see it with fast food chains and so on. I'll go buy Wendy's six months ago and I'm paying under $10, but it seems like a meal anywhere is more than $10 now," MarsWilliamssaid. feels the rate of the rising cost of goods will be a constant throughout years to come.
Inflation increase causes uncomfortable reflection in community
Trying new Latin restaurants, dancing and listening to music by legends like Selena, Celia Cruz and Marc Anthony, are all ways that Reyes and many other students with Hispanic roots embrace and celebrate the month.
Genesis Reyes, a marketing junior and vice president of the HBSA helps students embrace their culture while also excelling as leaders. As a Latina student from El Salvador, Reyes can confidently state that the university does an excellent job of supporting and welcoming the Hispanic and Latino community.
Texas State was given the HSI designation by the U.S. Department of Education in 2011. Reflective of the Hispanic-rooted city of San Marcos, 31.4% of staff and 39.7% of students at Texas State identify as Hispanic as of 2021.
"I remember they were giving out paletas and had the university mariachi playing outside," Rodriguez said. "It was very cool to see the university bring authentic parts of Mexican culture out for all students."
PHOTO BY STEVEN PHIPPS
According to the National Low
David Mars, the owner of Vagabond vintage and thrift shop located on The Square, sheds light on the effects inflation has played on his business.
may not be in a financial position to spend large amounts of money on thrift clothes."Iknow I'm dealing with mostly college students, where everyone's not a millionaire or has a trust fund," Mars said. "I'm doing okay, but I'm going to have to translate that over to my customers probably within the next year.”Although he has not made the adjustment yet in his own business, he has noticed the adjustments other businesses have been forced to make.
Nichaela Shaheen News starnews@txstate.eduEditor 4 | Tuesday, September 20, 2022 The University Star NEWS
Mars understands the majority of his clientele are college students and
Madison Weaver, a marketing junior, has felt the effects of inflation primarily through the rise in grocery prices.
"Tips are where all my money comes from," Weaver said. "That's my main source of income, which I do have help from my parents, don't get me wrong, but tips are all of my money. Servers don't make much on the clock, but we make good money in tips."
Texas State alumnus Eugene Lee joined the Department of Theatre and Dance in 2006 as an artist-in-residence as the director of the Black and Latino Playwrights Celebration. Lee said Texas State has created a supportive and inviting environment for all cultures. His opportunity to showcase stories of Latino individuals whose voices have been silenced goes to show the university's mission of inclusion.
The remainder of Hispanic Heritage Month at Texas State will feature guest lectures, community open dialogues and artist spotlights.
This exemplifies that Weaver is not alone when it comes to her new grocery budget. What was once a distant concern is now a common sentiment among Texas State students and San MarcosStudentsresidents.likeWeaver, who works as a server, explains that the tips she receives during the clock have translated greatly into her livelihood.
According to the U.S. Inflation Calculator, inflation has increased from 3.4% in July 2000 to 8.5% in July 2022. However, the federal minimum wage has not changed from $7.25 per hour since 2009.
Cristal Rodriguez, a marketing senior and president of the Texas State Hispanic Business Student Association (HBSA), values Texas State's efforts to promote inclusion and celebrate diversity.
For more information on Texas State's upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month events, visit https://hsi.txst.edu/.
Income Housing Coalition’s annual Out of Reach report, the $7.25 minimum wage in the U.S. is insufficient to provide adequate housing for minimum wage workers. Any employee who works a full-time minimum wage job cannot afford a two-bedroom apartment in any state in the U.S. The same workers cannot afford a one-bedroom apartment in 93% of U.S. counties.
Grocery prices began increasing over the last 12 months, the largest increase since March 1979. Items like milk, eggs and other dairy-related products continue to rise in price with a 16.2% increase according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other items like cereal and bakery products increased by 16.4% throughout the year.
The increase translates into more than just groceries, the cost of healthcare and gasoline has also increased. On July of 2000, the average price of gasoline was $1.64 per gallon at an inflation rate of 32.9%. In July of 2022, the average price of gasoline per gallon is $4.76 at an inflation rate of 44%.
By Katie Smith Assistant News Editor
As a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Texas State celebrates the cultural history and contributions of students of Hispanic ancestry. As the community prepares to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, students, faculty and staff reflect on Latinx history and what it means to them.
The exposure of culture shows a progression of ideals that encourages students of Hispanic descent to be proud of who they are while also showcasing their stories and experiences. The university's efforts to highlight the art and other educational contributions made by those of Hispanic descent creates a welcoming environment.
PHOTO BY CASSIE BUTTERFIELD
To commence Hispanic Heritage Month, Texas State observed HSI Week in accordance with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) from Sept. 12-16. The first day, Community Day, consisted of a come-and-go event in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom to engage the community and teach students about the campus resources available to them.
"Luckily, my car is pretty good on gas. But I see some people have older cars, bigger engines, and they're paying $200 a week for gas," Williams said. "One of my roommates, specifically, is paying thatFormuch."local business owners, inflation has brought a time of reflection on the direction of their businesses and ideas of how to keep their doors open are a pressing matter.
"I don't see it slowing down anytime soon, so I'm kind of just preparing for the worse," Williams said.
Texas State embraces diversity during Hispanic Heritage Month
The comfort found in Texas State's celebrations of culture brings many students back to their roots. Rodriguez recalls the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on campus during her freshman year in 2019. Bringing aspects of Latino culture onto campus make students like Rodriguez feel at home.
FINANCECELEBRATION
“My rent has gone up because property taxes have gone up. Where I source a lot of my merchandise has also gone up," Mars said. "I haven’t had to flip that over to my customers because I’ll kind of just eat that for now, but eventually that’s going to translate into the prices customers are paying."
Texas State students and the San Marcos community have started to notice the effects of inflation around them. For students, it's getting gas or buying groceries. The rise in the cost of goods and services is on the forefront of business owners' minds.
senior, who is a clerk at 7-Eleven, has noticed the increase in gas firsthand.
Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 is a time of reflection and recognition of the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans. Texas State has embraced this celebration since 1968 when President Lydon B. Johnson, a Texas State alumnus, issued the first Hispanic Heritage Month presidential proclamation.
By Maya Hicks, Nichaela Shaheen News Contributor, News Editor
Texas State psychology junior Haleigh Johnson (left) purchases items from employee Benny Rice, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, at Vagabond.
Aside from these musical, artistic and culinary acts of recognition, Texas State actively creates a supportive environment for the Hispanic community through education, inclusivity and professional development.
Tuesday, September 20, 2022 | 5
Despite having two productive drives, Texas State had nothing to show for it.
- Jake Spavital, Texas State football head coach
Texas State wasn't able to muster up another score after the half and finished the day with 268 total yards, 114 of them courtesy of Hawkins. The Bears, on the other hand, were able to pad their stats in the fourth and finished with 501 total yards, 293 of which came via the rushing game.
pivotalwasThata moment for us because it was so hard to move the ball on them, that we got it into a one-score game and with having the ball in the second half and now down two scores going into it."
Volleyball:
In doubles, freshman Andrea Pineda and redshirt senior Mae McCutcheon won their semifinal match 6-2 and their final match 6-1.
By Xavier Zamarron Sports Reporter
Texas State tennis went 5-1 in doubles at the Javelina Jam tournament in Kingsville, Texas, while senior Jadeh Chan won the third singles flight.
"We gained more experience and I thought we made a lot of progress," tennis head coach Kendall Brooks said in a press release.
PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
"Going into this game, we said we were going to go for it on fourth down because field goals are not going to beat this team," Spavital said at a post-game press conference. "That’s why we were really aggressive with what we do, we play to win the game."
With the ball back, Texas State's offense began to click. Hatcher's quick decision-making helped the Bobcats go on a strong 14-play drive. That drive included four catches from Hawkins, who had 13 total on the day, setting a new Texas State record for single-game receptions.Likethe previous drive, the Bobcats were faced with a fourth-down decision. With the ball on the Baylor four-yard line, Spavital decided to go for the touchdown. The gamble failed to pay off again; junior linebacker Will Williams broke up a short pass from Hatcher, giving Baylor possession of the ball.
However, Texas State was unable to bottle up Baylor before the intermission. The Bears marched down the field with an efficient two-minute drill. A run from sophomore quarterback Blake Shapen finished the drive off with a 35yard touchdown giving Baylor a 21-7 lead going into the break, a moment
Soccer:
The win in the third singles flight gave Chan a 6-0 in singles to start the season.
Megan Ombres finished 45th overall in the 5K with a time of Freshman19:53.7.runner
Texas State sophomore wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins (2) regroups for the next offensive play during a game against Baylor, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at McLane Stadium. The Bobcats lost 42-7.
FOOTBALL
The Bears took advantage of Texas State's turnover on downs by going on a 65-yard touchdown drive. The score
The Bobcats shot 272 as a team in the first round, missing the school record by a single Individually,stroke.
Spavital pointed to as a critical point in the"I’mgame.sitting here looking at Zac [Spavital] and it was the right call, he knew [the run] was coming, we called it out and did the whole thing," Spavital said at a post-game press conference. "That was a pivotal moment for us because it was so hard to move the ball on them, that we got it into a one-score game and with having the ball in the second half and now down two scores going into it."
Volleyball followed that with a loss to Alabama on Sept. 17, surrendering its first three sets, but quickly rebounded by winning three out of four sets against TCU.Graduate
goalkeeper Katelyn Chrisman had nine saves against Arkansas State.
Despite the lack of fourth-down conversions, head coach Jake Spavital stood by his fourth-down decisions.
The win against Arkansas State was the first game of conference play. Junior forward Olivia Wright and sophomore forward Zoe Junior each had a goal in theSophomorewin.
Texas State men's golf tied for sixth at the Streamsong Invitational in Bowling Green, Florida.
Texas State only converted one out of its four attempts on fourth-down, leaving potential points on the board with each failed attempt. Baylor's gambles paid off more often, with the Bears going three out of four on fourthdown, each of which was followed by a touchdown.TheBobcats will try to pick up pieces as they move on and prepare for their next matchup against Houston Baptist University.
gave Baylor a 14-0 lead with 11:45 to play in the half.
Country:Cross
Carson Weaver Sports starsports@txstate.eduEditor 6| Tuesday, September 20, 2022 The University Star SPORTS
Texas State cross country finished ninth and eighth in women's 5K and men's 8K, Sophomorerespectively.runner
The matchup between Texas State and Houston Baptist is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.
With 3:41 to play in the half and the ball already at the Texas State 46 yardline, the Bobcat's offense went on a fiveplay touchdown drive that was capped off by a 12-yard throw from Hatcher to Hawkins. The touchdown made the score 14-7 with just under two minutes to play before the half.
Women'sTennis:
Junior quarterback Layne Hatcher, who started the game with six straight completions, then led the Bobcats all the way to the Baylor 31-yard line but couldn't convert a fourth-down pass to keep the drive alive.
Texas State redshirt junior quarterback Layne Hatcher (3) passes the ball to an open receiver during a game against Baylor, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at McLane Stadium. The Bobcats lost 42-7.
In the loss versus TCU, the Horned Frogs outshot the Bobcats 18-9. The score was 0-0 at the half, but three late scores by TCU cost the Bobcats the loss.
Texas State volleyball had a 2-1 record at the Horned Frog Invitational in Fort Worth,AgainstTexas.Abilene Christian, the Bobcats came away with a victory winning three out of five sets on Sept. 16.
Bobcat football unable to overcome miscues, fall to Baylor
student outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald had a total of 38 kills across all three matches at the tournament.
Men's Golf:
In his first tournament as a Bobcat, Siltala had four birdies on the front nine in the third and final round.
Zachary Kehler finished 61st overall in the 8K with a time of 27:16.7.
Baylor opened the game with a commanding 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Texas State followed that with a three-and-out on its opening possession but returned the favor by forcing the Bears to go three-and-out on the ensuing drive.
Texas State football (1-2) dropped its third game of the season 42-7 to Baylor (2-1) on Saturday in Waco at McLane Stadium.TheBobcats lost by five scores, but three failed fourth-down conversion attempts cost them the loss.
Texas State soccer had an even split last week, losing its first game of the season to Texas Christian University (TCU 0-3 on Sept. 11 and winning against Arkansas State 2-1 on Sept. 17.
"We have a good pack with our men's team, and I like how they are challenging each other to be the No. 1 finisher for the team," cross country head coach Stefan Campos said in a press release.
PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
freshman Sakke Siltala finished 10th shooting — 11 in total throughout the tournament.
"The whole town was talking about it," Matheny said. "Our staff is going to do ... side stories on it."
SUN BELT
"Sports Illustrated put out a feature ... but obviously we wanted to do some stories nobody else is going to do," Cadden said. "It just made us want to put out more content, make content the best we can ... we're still kind of tossing around a few more ideas."
Sun Belt Conference student media reflects on upset week
Chayce Matheny, the sports editor of Marshall University's student newpaper, The Parthenon, was also able to attend his school's 26-21 victory against Notre Dame.
them to go out and get this coverage ... and all these [reporters] are getting their photos and videos retweeted and liked thousands of times ... it's a huge encouragement for the young reporters especially."According to Davidson, following the win, ESPN reached out to The Appalachian for courtesy photos and videos that the network could use in a package for their popular Saturday program "College Gameday."
Sun Belt Conference features its 14 universities at Times Square amid its' 10 wins in week two of college football, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in New York City.
By Carson Weaver Sports Editor
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Sports Illustrated published a story about Clay Helton, the head coach of Georgia Southern, about his plan to rebuild the program.
Cadden said he can see why national media likes to flock to stories about Helton and Frost. The George-Anne sports staff, however, try to create different ideas for coverage content to separate themselves from the pack.
Week two of the college football season treated the Sun Belt Conference well, with a total of 10 wins across the conference.Thebig week for the conference gained national attention. Times Square in New York City plastered Sun Belt Conference football promos and graphics across billboards prior to week three of the college football season, and storylines of upset wins after week two infiltrated major sports media outlets like ESPN and Sports Illustrated.
DJ Cadden, the sports editor of Georgia Southern's student newspaper, The George-Anne, was at Georgia
Carson starsports@txstate.eduSportsWeaverEditor Tuesday, September 20, 2022 | 7The University Star SPORTS
"The other part of me knows I have to write the [game] story afterwards," Cadden said. "There's really just never a moment to sit back and relax ... getting to be there and pump out a lot of content about it is probably the highlight of my career at The George-Anne."
The attention — something that Sun Belt Conference football isn't entirely used to receiving compared to bigger football programs like the University of Alabama or the University of Texas — is more than deserved. Along with the 10 Sun Belt Conference wins, the football teams of Appalachian State University, Marshall University and Georgia Southern University managed to pull off some of the biggest upsets in their respective schools' history.
The wins of those three schools gave its students an excuse to rush the streets with victorious riots, as seen in a viral video posted by an Appalachian State football fan, but perhaps the most affected by the wins are the student media outlets of those universities.
Southern's 45-42 win against Nebraska with his dad. Cadden said that part of him was there for the fan experience, but the reporter in him recognized the upset as an opportunity for The GeorgeAnne to publish more content.
The benefits that student media outlets receive from upset wins can go unnoticed by the casual fan or viewer. However, the national attention that smaller schools get from these victories can prove to be highlights of a young sports reporter's career.
Unlike Cadden, Matheny was able to sit in the press box to witness his school's win, and he said it was a unique experience in regard to his journalism career thus far.
Dan Davidson, the sports editor of Appalachian State's student newpaper, The Appalachian, said the 17-14 victory over Texas A&M University provided him and his team of reporters a sense of encouragement."We'vegotten a lot of new reporters this year," Davidson said. "To have this opportunity where I'm asking
"It was such an emotional game, it was such an emotional weekend for me," Matheny said. "It definitely ranks number one ... the whole atmosphere, everything about it."
The program, which was originally favored to cover the ranked matchup of Miami versus Texas A&M, switched its coverage to Appalachian State's next matchup against Troy following the upsetDavidsonvictory. said that with "College Gameday" coming to town in Boone, North Carolina, the buzz of excitement for him and his team is growing.
The upset win against Nebraska meant that there was more national coverage on both the Georgia Southern and Nebraska football teams. A day after the game, Nebraska head coach Scott Frost was dismissed from the program, which garnered shock and social media discussions among football fans.
Much like Georgia Southern's win against Nebraska, the national coverage on Marshall sparked further discussion on content ideas within The Parthenon sports staff regarding the upset victory.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUN BELT CONFERENCE VIA TWITTER
"Not only did we knock off the number six team in the country, but we also stole "Gameday" from them," Davidson said. "It's so much more than I ever dreamed of."
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.
This practice gained significantly more media attention last week when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made headlines for taking credit for planes of migrant workers landing in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, with no warning to residents.
This mission is excessive in the incredible amounts of wasted money. According to CNN, the state of Texas has paid $12,707,720.92 to Wynne Transportation, the charter bus company transporting migrants to northern states, since Aug. 9, which averages out to $1,400 per migrant. While the state requested donations for this program in April, they only received $167,828 as of Aug. 17, with the remainder of the costs funded by taxpayer dollars.
Furthermore, more diversity in the industry is desperately needed.
However, the tactics used by Abbott and other politicians fall under exploitation, as defined by DHS. In addition, the tactics employed by these politicians are eerily similar to those of human traffickers. These politicians use morality as a platform in the upcoming election cycle, and one of Greg Abbott's campaign issues is working to end human trafficking.
Dillon Strine Opinions staropinion@txstate.eduEditor Tuesday, September 20, 2022 | 8The University Star OPINIONS
Building a better groundwork in needed areas could help recruit genuine community members to help lower response time and recover people.
Texas has various possible natural
Over the summer, Hays County received two ambulances from the federal government. Funds from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan need to be applied as soon as possible, and we must do more to save lives.
EMS and first responders risk their lives during these events, and ensuring their preparedness is vital. Giving emergency services the necessary tools to prepare for emergencies or accidents and supplementing existing resources will save lives.
In April 2022, Gov. Greg Abbott launched Operation Lonestar, a multifaceted border security project. One of the most notable aspects of the project includes sending migrants arriving in Texas to northern states with sanctuary cities.
Desantis stated that he did so in protest of Biden's immigration policy. Abbott has also been sending thousands of migrants from Texas to northern cities such as New York City and Washington D.C. in a Operation Lonestar project.
The most pressing reason this action is deplorable is that it is xenophobic and discriminatory. While Republicans may disagree with immigration policy, using human beings as pawns is unacceptable.
It is unbelievable that the state has spent millions of taxpayer dollars on this project when the money could have directly assisted the "overwhelmed" border towns that Abbott claims to be helping. Directing these funds to bussing migrants to northern cities does nothing to help border towns support the residents it currently has. If Abbott were genuinely concerned about the welfare of border towns, he would have instead used the money to help improve schools, housing or other public services.
This act is similar to human trafficking. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defines human trafficking as "the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act." The website also notes that traffickers seek out victims who are susceptible due to reasons that can include economic hardship, lack of social safety net and political instability.
Supporters of the bill state that sending these undocumented immigrants to other countries should not be an issue, as sanctuary cities should be prepared to care for the immigrants they claim to support. It is worth noting that many of the migrants in Chicago and Martha's Vineyard have been provided shelter and donations by volunteers and community service organizations in the areas where they ended up. However, the exploitation of migrants seeking a better life does little to help overwhelmed border cities and instead serves as a way for politicians to earn cheap political points from constituents.
In conclusion, Operation Lonestar does very little for Texans. Not only is it unethical and cruel, but it is also a waste of taxpayer dollars and provides minimal benefit to Texans in overwhelmed border cities. If Abbott is interested in having an honest conversation about immigration, he should stop these seedy, immoral tactics.
-Tiara Allen is a marketing senior
Response time in specific communities takes longer, and the minutes spent waiting for EMS resources continue to increase. In lower-income neighborhoods, EMS can take 3.8 more minutes, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The University Star welcomes Letters to the Editor from its readers. All submissions are reviewed and considered by the Editor-in-Chief and Opinion Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication.
ILLUSTRATION BY DILLON STRINE
PUBLICIMMIGRATIONHEALTH
According to Brookings, Latino undocumented immigrants face harsher consequences for unauthorized entry than undocumented European immigrants and are often accused of being criminals and drains on the economy, even though research conducted by New American Economy states otherwise. Moreover, deporting these migrants to other countries to prove a point exemplifies the dehumanization of these undocumented workers in political discourse.
There are doubts about the validity of EMS studies relating to mortality rates. For-profit ambulances have also caused people to get an Uber or Lyft to the emergency room because of how expensive a ride can be without the proper healthcare. Finding the funds to build an appropriate framework to put resources where they need to be is never guaranteed to be the end of all problems solution.Therefore, there is a need for what they are proposing to be in motion, but they must go further.
In life-or-death situations, every minute counts. In Hays County, the response time of emergency medical service (EMS) has been rising by the minute over the past five years, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Overall, these investments will help the community be more prepared for the emergencies that come with Hays County's steady population growth plus unexpected disasters.
disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, winter storms and extreme heat. Non-natural disasters like fires or drownings can occur at any time. Additionally, guns outnumber people in America and Texas has some of the weakest gun laws in the country. Such a populous state with lax gun laws increases the chance of mass shootings.
In the U.S. in 2020, 38,824 lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes, the highest since 2007, according to research from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In addition, according to a National Library of Medicine study, the number of minutes ascending for EMS response will not go down, as the longer the response time for motor vehicle crashes, the higher the mortality rate.
In addition, the example of modeling contracts warns the reader about common tactics scammers use, including "offers in remote locations, faraway states, and foreign cities."
Republicans have celebrated Abbott and DeSantis for this strategy but it is something we should decry as immoral, impractical and unacceptable. This political stunt, which cost $12 million of taxpayer money, does little to help Texans in border cities and speaks more to politicians' hypocrisy.
-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 Opinion Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication.
ILLUSTRATION BY AFAAF ALNAHAS
Finally, the migrant bussing projects are highly unethical and possibly illegal. According to NPR, the migrants sent to Martha's Vineyard reported that a woman named Perla approached them at a San Antonio shelter. There she provided them with food and told them she was trying to recruit migrants for a plane ride to Boston, where they would receive expedited work papers.
Some might say that the hospitality they receive is what the south is allegedly known for having. However, suppose republicans are interested in helping to relieve the burden on border cities. In that case, they should invest the money used for this project into relief programs and social services to support the migrants and the state and city employees working to help with the population growth.
Adding more diverse paramedics in neighborhoods where demand for change is high will also make our community safer.
Opinion: Abbott's Operation Lonestar is a political ploy
Association found that shortening ambulance response times increases the chances of surviving a heart attack.
By Tiara Allen Assistant Opinions Editor
Opinion: Hays County needs to improve its EMS response time
There is a proposal in the county's commissioner's court for $3 million in renovations to a fire department located on the east side of I-35 in San Marcos, where response times exceed other areas and the price for construction continues to rise. This will help speed up EMS response time in those communities
In 2019, 81% of newly nationally certified paramedics were white, according to Wiley. When the people treating patients do not look like them, treatment is different. Also, there are differences in what hospitals Black and Hispanic patients get dropped off at, according to an article by STAT.
A representative for Abbott told the Chicago Tribune that the migrants on the buses to Chicago signed voluntary consent waivers before boarding the buses and that the state did not send them to Chicago against their will.
The DHS website defines exploitation as "treating a person unfairly to benefit from their work" and lists false job promises as a common form of exploitation.
This country should note that this sort of action is not new. In the 1960s, a similar trend of white organizations in southern states sent Black families on buses to northern states with promises of employment and secure housing, calling it "reverse freedom rides." It would appear that Abbott is mimicking the playbook of prejudiced organizations of years past.
In what can be considered vulnerable areas, EMS can take more than 10 minutes to reach its destination. Hays County's government has addressed this problem but this is just a start.
By Dillon Strine Opinions Editor
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. Researchers from the Journal of the American Heart
where, in many instances, it takes more than 10 minutes for EMS to arrive.
Mortality rates are higher when EMS response times are longer. If someone is in dire need of lifesaving services, it can be lethal if it takes longer.