March 28, 2017

TUESDAY MARCH 28, 2017 VOLUME 106 ISSUE 28 www.UniversityStar.com

ABDUL QASEM | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ANDREW HOMANN’S TERM AS STUDENT

BODY PRESIDENT IS ENDING

By Ashley Skinner Assistant News Editor @Ash_Marie54

W

ith only one Student Government meeting left of the 2016-2017 school year, Student Body President Andrew Homann will finish his term with many accomplishments credited to his administration.

Homann took over the presidency in August of 2016 with plans to change students’ view of the organization.

“I ran because I saw a lack of leadership in Student Government,” Homann said. “I know this organization has a tremendous ability to make change on campus. I felt called to do this, and here I am.”

Homann credits vice president Samantha Martinez and chief of staff Connor Clegg for playing key roles in the leadership of his term as president, as well as all of the cabinet heads.

“Good leadership can definitely take Student Government to a whole new level and create programs with a lasting meaning on campus, and Samantha is the detail side of the process while Connor and I look at the big picture,” Homann said. “I wanted to make Student Government more relevant to students, and become a force on campus by providing needed services to the student body.”

Under Homann’s direction, the Texas State Supreme Court has been given the responsibility of reviewing parking appeals made by students whom feel they were wrongly given a ticket—a program by students, for students.

PAGE 3 STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Andrew Homann, student body president, poses for a photo March 27.

Texas lawmakers begin to reform Child Protective Services

By Shayan Faradineh News Reporter @ShayanFaradineh The Texas Senate and House of Representatives unanimously voted to pass bills for reform of Child Protec-

State of the State Address January 31.

The reform would feature a complete overhaul of Child Protective Services.

House Bill 4 intends to lower the financial barriers to kinship care. It would provide a monthly stipend to

“The salary has always been an issue, even since the beginning. I hope these bills better compensate the social workers who are out there helping families.”

-Joseph Papick tive Services. During the State of the State address, Gov. Greg Abbott noted “over one hundred deaths” of children in foster care services within the last year.

A CPS reform was one of the four policies Texas Gov. Greg Abbott listed as emergency items for the legislative session.

“You will cast thousands of votes this session. Few will involve life or death decisions. Your vote on CPS is one of them,” Abbott said during the

families who provide care to children, creating an incentive for them to remain in a more permeate setting instead of floating through the foster care system.

House Bill 5 would make the Department of Family and Protective Services its own agency, where it would report directly to Gov. Abbott. This would negate the bureaucracy and allow greater funding opportunities.

PAGE 3 POLICIES

CHESS CLUB PAGE 2 ORGANIZATION

PHOTO COURTESY OF BJ Spencer

Texas State takes first in Associated Schools of Construction competition

By Daryan Jones News Reporter @DaryanJoness Students from Texas State’s Construction Science and Management program took first place at the Associated Schools of Construction competition in the Heavy Civil category.

The ASC competition takes place over three days and teams start preparing at their respective schools. Competitors are required to estimate the cost of a real life construction project, create a schedule, create a safety plan and come up with a design before the competition.

This year’s event was held in Dallas, where teams presented projects to a panel of judges. Texas State beat other teams from Texas, as well as teams from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisi-

Top 5 trends in swimwear The spring season is in full force and so is swimsuit season. Find a swimsuit that is both stylish and comfortable.

Here are a few of the latest swimsuit trends and tips to help keep Bobcats chic while at the pool or river.

PAGE 4 FASHION

ana.

“It was a lot of work and a lot of long hours in a short duration of time,” said Jacob Pierce, construction science and management sophomore. “It was satisfying when we won.”

Most of the students on the team have previous experience working in construction, ultimately giving them an advantage over other schools.

“The team is made up of students who work in the industry right now, so of the six participating, four of them have jobs in civil construction,” said Cade Humphries, department of engineering technology lecturer. “We have a good group of students who work a lot and go to school, which kind of gave us an advantage I think.”

PAGE 3 ACADEMICS

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HEADLINES The University Star Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487

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WILDLIFE

Students preserve a home for birds BRANDON VALENCIA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

By Felipe Partida News Reporter @frpartida1 A $1,000 grant was made last November to The Ornithological Society at Texas State to build bird nest boxes around campus and throughout San Marcos.

This project involved students and faculty in the biology department.

Rebekah Rylander, graduate student and current president of TOSTS, applied for the grant last semester with the help of Dr. Clay Green, biology professor.

The grant was funded by Texas State University’s environmental fee from student tuition. The grant covered the tools and supplies needed to spread the bird nest boxes Two undergraduate students have been key roles in this project and have had the opportunity to lead it because of a proposal they came up with. Wildlife biology seniors Joseph Plappert and Phillip Doiron will receive an undergraduate research scholarship this semester for their efforts in studying bird nesting habitats.

The goal of this project is to study habitats in urban settings and observe correlations, Plappert said.

“Habitat loss is the number one reason for species to become extinct,” Plappert said. “There is construction in all directions, and a lot of those old

Joseph Plappert, wildlife biology senior, Rebekah Rylander, PhD Aquatic Resources, and Phillip Doiron, wildlife biology senior, are currently working on a bird nesting project.

trees are being cut down for safety concern. The cavities birds usually nest in for generations might not be there anymore.”

Plappert wants the project to become a larger study, increase its sample size and repeat over time.

The professor overseeing the undergraduate students’ studies is Dr. Scott Walter, biology lecturer. He wants the student body to be aware of birds and the nest boxes.

“They are everywhere; people just

FROM FRONT ORGANIZATION

Chess Club battles in southwest championship

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By Katie Burrell Senior News Reporter @KatieNicole96

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don’t see them,” Walter said. “You don’t have to be a biology student to appreciate wildlife.”

This project helps supplement cavitynesting birds in an urban area due to loss of natural tree hollows, Walter said.

TOSTS and volunteers put 40 bird nest boxes on campus and 28 throughout San Marcos. The society is monitoring them weekly, and Walter has his students collecting data on the bird nest boxes to learn from first-hand experience.

Texas State’s chess club battled in the Southwest Collegiate Championship Feb. 25 in Lubbock for their first competition since its establishment.

The club took two teams into the competition ready to attack, fork and advance pieces against players from University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Oklahoma and Texas Tech University.

The Texas State Chess Club was formed in spring 2017 and is led by Dr.

“

The goal now is to recruit more members and do funding to get money for the Pan-American Championship."

“

Dr. Susana Lis

Susana Villanueva Eguía Lis, Spanish lecturer. The team includes Osvaldo Marquez Rubio, president, and other members from a variety of majors and backgrounds.

The new organization went up against

well-established teams, despite being only a month old at the time. Team A won its last round against the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley and Team B won against Knight Raiders, Team E from Texas Tech University.

Texas Tech was the hosting school.

“We didn’t know much about (the competition),” Lis said. “They were a little nervous, of course.”

The club was invited to the tournament 30 days before it took place, Lis said. Texas Tech has a chess department with funding and scholarships for students, much like fellow competitor

UT-Dallas.

Lis said she is proud of how quickly the team pulled together on its own, and she is pleased to be a part of Texas State’s first chess club.

“The goal now is to recruit more members and do funding to get money for the Pan-American Championship,” Lis said.

The Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship will be held in December and is open to any team with four players. Rubio, team president, looks forward to taking his team.

Rubio was president of North Houston High School’s chess team for three years. The team went to multiple competitions during that time, but this year was his first collegiate competition.

“I didn’t go in with high expectations,” Rubio said. “I just wanted to inspire (my team) to leave their comfort zones.”

Rubio said he started the club out of his love for chess and Texas State’s lack of a team. Rubio walked by a professor on campus who was analyzing a chess game and discovered there were other students and professors on campus interested in having a club.

The club is comprised of beginners and seasoned players. Rubio believes the chess club is the best example of diversity on campus, as it accepts a variety of members and is comprised of individuals with different ethnicities, majors and gender identities.

The University Star

HEADLINES

Tuesday, March 28, 2017 | 3 Bri Watkins Headlines Editor @briwatkins17

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

FROM FRONT POLICIES

RESEARCH

House Bill 6 serves to establish a working relationship between state and local foster care communities. It recognizes every community operates differently, with different organizations willing to serve children around the state.

According to the Health and Human Services Committee Report, “Senate Bill 11 addresses the statewide foster care capacity crisis; improves accountability throughout the Texas Child Protective Services system; ensures all children and youth have timely access to appropriate and necessary support and services to improve child safety, permanency and well-being; and enhances foster care redesign, which has produced positive outcomes for children and families. In addition, Senate Bill 11 strengthens and streamlines standards of abuse and neglect investigations regardless of setting, strategically focuses prevention and early intervention resources to the highest needs areas of the state, and encourages more efficient use of data to prevent recurrence of abuse and neglect.”

These bills aim to bring noticeable changes in facility quality, child care and policy change. In addition, reform would attempt to combat the challenges social workers encounter within the CPS field.

CPS social workers work many hours and travel thousands of miles to handle cases on a day-to-day basis, and one Texas State lecturer said salary is below par.

“The salary has always been an issue, even since the beginning. I hope these bills better compensate the social workers who are out there helping families,” said Joseph Papick, social work lecturer.

These problems often drive CPS

The Alcance Project

By Alison Quisenberry News Reporter @aliquisenberry

Kathleen Crow, communication studies senior, works with foster care children at Austin Angels.

JAMIE DORSEY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

social workers to leave the field, only to have a new employee come in and resume the casework. This has led to an overwhelmingly high turnover rate.

According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the CPS caseworker turnover rate in 2015 was 25.7 percent. “(The turnover rate) is as bad as I’ve ever seen it,” said Judith Burns, social work lecturer with over fifty years of CPS experience.

The Child Protective Services reform has growing support by Texas lawmakers, social workers with CPS backgrounds and advocates for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. “(If the bills pass), students obtaining BSWs and MSWs at Texas State will want to work for CPS or other agencies that serve children and youth,” Burns said.

FROM FRONT ACADEMICS Pierce believes that the support the team received from Humphries was what helped them achieve victory.

“The support we got from our professor leading up to the competition was imperative to our success,” Pierce said. “I think it’s because of his support leading up to it is the reason we won honestly.”

The process of estimating and creating plans for their project must be done strategically, as students have a limited amount of time to complete these steps.

“They are real projects that companies have done and then the students are expected to estimate them, schedule the project, do a safety plan and a quality control plan in 16 hours,” Humphries said. “This process traditionally takes industry people months to do and they are asking students to do it in less than a day.”

The project this year was a bridge for an underpass in Fort Worth.

“It was kind of a neat project, where they had to dig out underneath an already existing railroad and road to make

an underpass under an existing road that will become a bridge once they finish the super structure,” Humphries said.

Teams meet throughout the year to prepare for the competition learning what software they will need and what responsibilities each student will have.

“We meet about once a month during the fall and then when it gets closer we meet more often, but everybody puts in about 40-50 hours,” Humphries said. Jacob Pierce, construction science and management sophomore, won the first place Best Presenter Award for the Heavy Civil Division. The Heavy Civil Presenter of the Year was Jacob Pierce and the Design Build Presenter of the Year was John Resendez.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the rest of the teammates, I know I got best presenter, but I think anybody could have gotten it honestly,” Pierce said, “It was surprising because I didn’t know that there would be individual awards, so when I found out it was pretty cool.”

FROM FRONT STUDENT GOVERNMENT House Bill 6 serves to establish a working relationship between state and local foster care communities. It recognizes every community operates differently, with different organizations willing to serve children around the state.

Kathleen Crow, communication studies senior, is working with Austin Angels, a foster care organization that serves children in the greater Austin area, including San Marcos.

“A child in foster care will move seven times in a period of two years,” Crow said.

Austin Angels serves by facilitating meetings between families and volunteers and establishing relationships.

Members participate in buying groceries or donating toys and entertainment tools for the children.

“Foster care is big, and it’s messy,” Crow said. “What’s unique about Austin Angels is we decide what’s the most amount of good we can do, without jumping through all the hoops.”

There are over 3,000 children in the greater Austin area in the foster care system, and these bills would help organizations and foster care advocates such as Crow.

Through her involvement in the foster care system, Crow has decided to foster a child. She receives the child in nine months.

“I never thought, at 21, I would be researching school districts,” Crow said.

She advocates for students to get involved in the foster care system.

“They need a place to stay,” Crow said. “It’s not about us, it’s about them.”

According to the Health and Human Services Committee Report, “Senate Bill 11 addresses the statewide foster care capacity crisis; improves accountability throughout the Texas Child Protective Services system; ensures all children and youth have timely access to appropriate and necessary support and services to improve child safety, permanency and well-being; and enhances foster care redesign, which has produced positive outcomes for children and families. In addition, Senate Bill 11 strengthens and

streamlines standards of abuse and neglect investigations regardless of setting, strategically focuses prevention and early intervention resources to the highest needs areas of the state, and encourages more efficient use of data to prevent recurrence of abuse and neglect.”

These bills aim to bring noticeable changes in facility quality, child care and policy change. In addition, reform would attempt to combat the challenges social workers encounter within the CPS field.

CPS social workers work many hours and travel thousands of miles to handle cases on a day-to-day basis, and one Texas State lecturer said salary is below par.

“The salary has always been an issue, even since the beginning. I hope these bills better compensate the social workers who are out there helping families,” said Joseph Papick, social work lecturer.

These problems often drive CPS social workers to leave the field, only to have a new employee come in and resume the casework. This has led to an overwhelmingly high turnover rate.

According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the CPS caseworker turnover rate in 2015 was 25.7 percent. “(The turnover rate) is as bad as I’ve ever seen it,” said Judith Burns, social work lecturer with over fifty years of CPS experience.

The Child Protective Services reform has growing support by Texas lawmakers, social workers with CPS backgrounds and advocates for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. “(If the bills pass), students obtaining BSWs and MSWs at Texas State will want to work for CPS or other agencies that serve children and youth,” Burns said.

To keep up with Kathleen’s story, she has made a blog for the public to follow her foster journey. Her blog can be located at http://gardenofgrace.org/ To see about volunteering with Austin Angels: https://austinangels.com/ volunteer

In order to maintain and encourage a growing diverse student body, Texas State leaders have initiated research projects. Dr. Melissa Delgado, associate professor in the school of Family and Consumer Sciences, started the Alcance Project in hopes of improving the lives of Latino students’ education.

The Alcance Project is a researchbased initiative. Its goal is to gather information that will help Latino children be more successful in high school by starting programs.

Mexican-American families are called over the telephone, and the parents, as well as the children, are asked questions about their identity, schooling and culture. The answers to the questions from several sources will show patterns that can assist in developing programs in schools.

Brihana Landrum, family and child studies graduate student and a graduate instruction assistant, said when the students are asked to identify themselves, the main goal is to determine whether they give themselves an identify based off of their schooling—what type of student they are—or if they remove themselves from student life completely.

The Alcance Project is composed of volunteers high school age or older and not required to be affiliated with Texas State, who aim to create the best atmosphere possible for those who join the cause. Volunteers are offered community service hours, as well as monthly competitions featuring prizes for the winners, to keep morale high in room 154 of the Family and Consumer Sciences building.

Alondra Martinez, family and child development sophomore, says she is passionate about about volunteering. As a Latina with four younger siblings she reads the questions and can apply them to her culture and up-

bringing.

“I would want to see how other families respond to these questions because… coming from a family who is really education based, we grew up with goals because we know how important (education) is seeing how our parents immigrated to here with no education,” Martinez said.

Martinez said it is interesting to hear other families answers and relate them to her family. Her parents— who were immigrants from Mexico—had no educational background, but reinforced the importance of school to her and her siblings.

Volunteers that devote at least six hours a week can volunteer to take part in the project. Graduate, undergraduate or high school, everyone is welcome. There is also no need to be bilingual.

The Alcance Project impacts Julie Valdivieso, merchandising and consumer studies graduate student and Columbian international student, by helping her understand what it is like for families in the United States.

Valdivieso said even though her emotions vary, she knows she is helping.

“To me, it’s interesting because I’m from Columbia… so every time I am interviewing families, I feel something because they express what they feel here in the United States and sometimes that makes me feel happy, and sometimes sad,” Valdivieso said.

Landrum said she hopes they can be done with the interviews by August. In January, the project had 118 families left to interview. If the volunteers complete 10 families a week then they will meet the deadline, and begin deciphering the information.

Landrum said the goal is to detect patterns. Once patterns are detected, the research is observed and written over, and used to create programs to encourage and help Latino kids excel in the school system.

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4 | Tuesday, March 28, 2017

THE PULSE

The University Star Denise Cervantes Lifestyle Editor @cervantesdenise

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

FROM FRONT FASHION

5

swimsuit trends for this season

By Paola Esquivel-Oliveros Lifestyle Reporter @paolaoliveros The spring season is in full force and so is swimsuit season. Find a swimsuit that is both stylish and comfortable.

Here are a few of the latest swimsuit trends and tips to help keep Bobcats chic while at the pool or river.

ONE PIECES This year, one pieces are hitting the fashion scene with various styles. The most seen styles so far are low plunges, side cut-outs, high leg cuts or the traditional single-colored one piece.

Emily Ferris, fashion consultant at O’Neil House of Fashion, said she likes one-piece swimsuits because they are more modest than most swimwear.

“I want something that is not a bikini and still looks fashionable and this style

is it,” Ferris said. “One-pieces provide a little more coverage than most swimwear but still looks cute.”

SIDE CUTOUTS One-piece swimsuits with side cutouts were a huge hit this season on the runway. The strategically placed side cut outs help accent the waist.

Aliyah Granger, accounting sophomore, said this swimsuit style is one of her favorites this year.

“I have not gotten one yet, but that is the style I am looking for,” Granger said. “They are really cool, look fashionable and are in right now.”

HIGH - WAISTED

BOTTOMS

LARA DIETRICH | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

One pieces, cutouts, mesh and all black swimwear are just some of this season's trending swim pieces.

This trend creates a classy retro effect and provides more coverage than the traditional bikini bottom.

Ferris said those looking to get a tan should avoid the high waisted bottom swimsuits.

“I really like high-waisted bottoms,” Ferris said. “The only problem is it can give you a really bad tan line.”

ALL BLACK SWIMWEAR In the fashion industry, black never goes out of style, so there’s no surprise it got the most favored color in swimwear.

Christina Moore, nursing freshman, said black is her favorite color in swimwear because it is a staple color.

“Black is a really easy and simple color to wear,” Moore said. “You can match it

with anything, which makes it so great to wear.”

MESH SWIMWEAR Mesh and sheer fabric on swimwear is being used to create graphic shapes, making it a new and unique swimwear.

“This style is more conservative than a plain cut out swimsuit,” Moore said.

“But the mesh gives it a cool effect.”

Ferris said she is a supporter of the mesh trend, but shoppers should beware of the easy-tear fabric.

“It looks really nice and styles really good,” Ferris said. “The only inconvenient part is it can rip easily, so I would be careful where I wear it to.”

ACADEMICS

Scholarship program serves LGBTQIA students

By Stacee Collins Assistant Lifestyle Editor @stvcee The Bobcat Pride Scholarship Fund is the first private scholarship to exclusively support members of the Texas State LBGTQIA community, according to its website. The organization has raised over $40,000 for around 37 students over the past six years.

The BPSF was initiated in 2010 to support students of all minority gender identities and sexual preferences through financial assistance and representation. The program’s mission is to support a culturally diverse community, assist scholarship recipients with educational goals and promote leadership.

The organization offers three different scholarships for LGBTQIA students: Academic Achievement, Leadership Development and the Jeremy O. Torres Emergency Stabilization Fund.

The Academic Achievement Scholarship awards $3,000 to students who are able to maintain a 3.0 GPA while engaging in community involvement. Any undergraduate or graduate student who meets the requirements are eligible to apply before the May 15 deadline.

The BPSF has given this award to 16 students, amounting to $25,400 total.

Madi Tabersmith, director of student programming for BPSF, was a recipient of the Academic Achievement Scholarship for the spring 2016 semester.

Tabersmith and her wife had moved to San Marcos from Austin, and had one vehicle. She found herself paying for Uber and Lyft rides to get back and forth from class, and it was becoming unaffordable.

“It was a rough semester for sure,” Tabersmith said. “I went for the scholarship and got an awesome recommendation. When I found out I was awarded, I used it to help buy a car.”

Tabersmith said the scholarship changed her life, and she probably wouldn’t have been able to get through the spring semester without receiving extra financial support.

“Through my interactions with picking up the check, being involved and working with everybody, I realized this would be a good volunteer opportunity for me,” Tabersmith said. “I liked my experience so much that I ended up on the board of directors.”

Tabersmith said the BPSF wants to offers students a home, community and

network.

Jeanne Heinen, executive director for the BPSF, said the organization is not affiliated with the university, so recipients can allocate the scholarship funds toward anything they see fit.

“All of the funds that go to students don’t affect financial aid,” Heinen said.

“They earn the money, so they can spend it however they need.”

The Leadership Development Scholarship awards recipients with airfare and conference registration for Camp Pride—the nation’s only leadership conference for LGBTQIA students.

Applicants must have a 2.25 GPA and submit their applications before the April 1 deadline. The BPSF has awarded 5 students with $6,500 total.

“Often times, students who get this award are very involved on campus,” Tabersmith said. “We want to foster our student leaders, help send them to the camp and then bring them back to campus to share their experiences.”

The Jeremy O. Torres Emergency Stabilization Fund Scholarship is open year-round for students needing immediate assistance. Due to unforeseen medical, accidental and unemployment circumstances, the funds can be used toward any bills that could interfere with completing the current semester.

Students who apply must have a 2.00 GPA and have a 67 percent completion rate. However, transcripts proving continual improvement will still be considered for the scholarship.

The Emergency Stabilization Fund has been awarded to 16 students, totaling $19,335.

Tabersmith said this specific scholarship is important because some LGBTQIA students have to go through extenuating circumstances, like being financially cut off from parents after coming out.

“The Emergency Stabilization Fund is sort of a safety net,” Tabersmith said.

“It’s important to recognize there are situations real people go through.”

Heinen said the program wants to praise resilience, because despite all of the challenges LGBTQIA students have to go through they are able to persevere and maintain academic excellence.

Maria Wasley-Valdez, director of operations for BPSF, said every marginalized group has to endure unique situations, so it is important LGBTQIA students have a program to support them.

“We’re always here to provide resources to students, and invite them to come hang out with us,” WasleyValdez said. “We want to keep in touch with our student recipients.”

One of the fundraising events the BPSF invites former recipients and the entire community to is Drag Out Funny.

Local and Texas-based entertainers will perform at the drag, comedy and variety show at 8 p.m. April 1 at San Marcos’ only LBGTQIA bar, Stonewall Warehouse.

In 2016, Drag Out Funny raised over $13,000 from over 500 attendees. The BPSF aims to increase that number to $15,000 for the 6th annual event in April.

The 2017 theme is Candyland, and the event will feature burlesque and ac-

robatic performances in addition to comedic drag.

A silent auction raffle with a grand prize for a two-person trip to anywhere Jet Blue flies will be offered.

All proceeds from the event will directly benefit the scholarship funds, so every penny raised will go into the pockets of students.

“Creating a sense of community, providing this opportunity for students and encouraging their academic growth and future leadership in order for them to grow their own communities and make change is really what it’s all about,” Wasley-Valdez said.

For more information on scholarship registration or how to donate, visit the Bobcat Pride Scholarship Fund website.

The University Star

THE PULSE

Tuesday, March 28 , 2017 | 5 Denise Cervantes Lifestyle Editor @cervantesdenise

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

ACADEMICS

Doctoral student brings STEM resources to girls in Ghana

By Amanda Heileman Lifestyle Reporter @busybeeamanda One Texas State student is putting his research to action by creating science, technology, engineering and math resources for young girls in Ghana, West Africa.

Owusu Boakye, doctoral research assistant at the LBJ Institute for STEM Education and Research, has helped set up an educational club for female students in Ghana. In addition, he is in the process of establishing a free library.

Boakye said growing up in a household filled with women sparked the inspiration behind helping them in STEM fields.

His late grandmother founded Eben International School in Ghana in the 1980s, and Boakye’s mother is now the director.

Boakye said his grandmother was a feminist, although she never labeled herself as one.

“I remember when boys would come to chase my aunties, she would say ‘can somebody pass me my handgun?’ The boys would run away,” Boakye said. “A lot of people in my house were females, so I have a very soft spot when it comes to supporting women.”

Boakye and Laura Rodriguez Amaya, assistant site director of the LBJ Institute for STEM Education, founded the Big Bang Girls STEM Club. It is meant to help middle school female students in Kumasi, Ghana. Rodriguez and Boakye began research in 2015, and decided to organize the club. The study was meant to explore the influences of female students when selecting a STEM academic program in secondary education.

“We are very interested in working

with girls early on in their education to provide experiences that can create awareness of career opportunities in STEM,” Rodriguez said. “(We want) to increase competency and just give

The first step was to collect books to enhance the girls’ interest in STEM education.

“In the United States, we have summer camps, guest speakers, events after

“We are very interested in working with girls early on in their education to provide experiences that can create awareness of career opportunities in STEM.” -Laura Rodriguez the girls a space where they can create a community of learners that can get them excited about some of these disciplines girls usually don’t go into.”

Rodriguez and Boakye’s research found 35 percent of female students in Ghana and 38 percent in San Marcos said they did not have a role model in the STEM field.

Rodriguez and Boakye decided to devise a program that would help girls venture into STEM fields.

school and different ways students can engage in STEM education,” Rodriguez said. “But in Ghana, we saw there was a need to create those opportunities for students.” Boakye decided to take it upon himself to see how many books he could collect for the girls.

He began by asking his friends, classmates and professors for books and donations. He even used his own money to ship them to Ghana.

Boakye uses his own funds to pay

the science teacher in charge of the Big Bang Girls STEM Club.

Boakye helped ensure the students receive the best education by providing training to their teachers.

“When I was home in 2016, we did a teacher training course,” Boakye said.

“Because some of (the teachers) only have high school diplomas and they are teaching in primary school, I gave them the needed skills because my masters is in curriculum and instruction.”

Boakye set up a GoFundMe account and has used the profits from the account to buy a computer and other supplies the girls need to run their science experiments.

Boakye hopes to open a community library where people can borrow books.

He wants a teacher to be staffed so students can receive assistance.

“If we get this library built, it will help bring a lot of kids who can come there and just study for free,” Boakye said.

Skyller Walkes, associate director of disability services, and her parents have donated resources to Boakye’s future library.

“When Owusu shared his recent engagement with trying to get books and supplies to the girls in the school his grandmother founded and his mother is now directing, I thought this was a no brainer and anything I could do I’d be more than happy to help,” Walkes said.

Walkes said she believes education is the key to changing a society.

“Global liberation starts with young girls because it presents to them opportunity,” Walkes said. “More than anything, it allows them to impact change in their immediate environment and beyond.”

FOOD

Five tips for meal prepping in college

By Ana Deloza Lifestyle Reporter @Sami_loza95 Meal prepping isn’t only for the gym buff. These five tips will help make meal prepping easier, tastier, and healthier.

PICK A DAY Norma Diaz, bilingual education senior, said she recommends picking one day out of the week to meal prep.

“Sunday nights are usually good because that’s the beginning of my week,” Diaz said. “If I do not meal prep at the beginning of the week, I get too busy to do it later.” Diaz said setting aside a day to meal prep can be time consuming but it pays off during the week.

MEAL PREP IN BULK Preparing food in bulk can help save time as well.

Jamela Mavrakis, exercise and sports science junior, said she prefers to cook her food in bulk.

“I cook about a pound of beans and then put them in the freezer,” Mavrakis said. “I defrost a little at a time and this lasts about a month.”Karen Brasfield, nutrition and foods senior lecturer, said preparing salads in bulk can also be helpful throughout the week.

“Many of my students will pour dressing into the bottom of few mason jars and then put the lettuce and other toppings on top of that,” Brasfield said.

“They store it and when they are ready to eat it they just take the jar and shake it up.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ABBRETTA BONER

ADD SNACKS Don’t feel constrained to only prepping meals. Include some of your favorite snacks to add variety.

Brasfield uses her snacks to incorporate different food groups.

“I cut up red bell peppers as a snack and they last me several days,” Brasfield said. “I also know a lot of people that buy baby carrots or regular carrots and wash them and cut them down.”

Mavrakis said smoothies are one of her favorite prepped snacks. “I’ll make my smoothie in the morning and take it out of the fridge late in the day so I can take it to work with me,” Mavrakis said.

START WITH BASICS

Mavrakis said she likes to prep a few basic foods at the beginning of the week then add in other foods later.

“If I already have rice and beans, I can just cook a chicken breast when I want to during the week and add it to what I already had,” Mavrakis said.

Brasfield said adding sauces can make a bland meal taste better.

“I like to add mushrooms and a sauce or green chicken curry,” Brasfield said.

ADD VARIETY Brasfield encourages adding whole foods to meals because it is a healthy way to add variety.

“Lean meats, whole grains and fresh vegetables are good foods to add into your diet,” Brasfield said.

Brasfield also said she uses a crockpot to meal prep with whole foods.

“Everyone thinks crockpots are for old people,” Brasfield said. “But students can incorporate vegetables into the rice and beans they made in bulk.”

6 | Tuesday, March 28, 2017

OPINIONS

The University Star Mikala Everett Opinions Editor @mikala_maquella

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

POLITICS

President Trump could do more for black people than President Obama

By Carrington Tatum Opinions Columnist @th3unt0uchable President Donald Trump can do more to help the black community in ways President Obama never could, based solely on his race. Obama could not do much for black people because of the way others may perceive the extension of help to people of the same ethnicity and socioeconomic background as the president.

Seven score and fourteen years ago, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation to legally free the slaves. President Ulysses S. Grant followed in Lincoln’s footsteps by fighting for the enactment of the fifteenth amendment and giving slaves the right to vote.

Lincoln’s and Grant’s actions would inspire presidents like Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower to support the fight for Civil Rights by protecting activists and enforcing integration.

President Lyndon B. Johnson pushed the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act through Congress filibuster and resistance with dogged determination and guerilla negotiation tactics.

In the 1990s the lowest unemployment rate in history for African Americans was 8.2 percent under the administration of the United States’ “first black president,” Bill Clinton—a facetious title given to President Clinton first used by author, Toni Morrison.

Now we have finally had the first true black president Barack Obama, who revolutionized the black community and delivered the justice it deserves by being black.

There appears to be a split in satisfaction among black people regarding Obama’s years as commander-in-chief.

Writers like Ta-Nehisi Coats claim his administration was rather flippant to

the plight of African-Americans and Reverend Kevin Johnson said President Obama was “a president for everyone except black people.”

I would like to suggest President Obama probably did everything he could to help African-Americans and only white presidents are truly in a space to enact real change for minority communities, even President Trump. This claim is based on one thing, a conflict of interest.

The role of president is to be a president to all Americans, even the ones they cannot relate to. When President Obama was elected, he not only became an icon for the black community, he was expected to be the first true representative of the community would have the power to enact the much needed change for the people. But instead, we were only given an icon that embraced black culture but did not embrace black policy.

It is not like President Obama did not already have to fight the opposing party on all of his policy regardless of its content, but could you imagine the uproar if he presented legislation that exclusively helped a community he is a part of. I imagine it’d be something similar to President Trump providing tax breaks for industries he does business in.

If President Obama presented something overtly direct like reparations for the descendants of slaves, not only would the legislation likely not pass, but it would then alienate a vast majority of Americans to whom he is also president.

Thereby ruining not only his legacy as president, but tarnishing the precedent he would inevitably set for presidents of color to come.

Now think about the reaction to our current President when he makes a move exclusively supporting black people such as his executive order to help drastically increase funding for historically black colleges. The action is proof

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

By K. Brandon Perez This letter is in response to an opinion column published March 7, 2017 titled “Trump’s anti-press rhetoric is dangerous to democracy” I want to begin by agreeing that in order for a democracy to function properly, at least in America, the press has to hold the various office holders accountable. The country needs journalists and investigative reporters to comb through complex information and inform the public about issues.

That said, I think President Donald Trump is somewhat justified in attacking the media and this is not dangerous to democracy. However, blocking The New York Times, the LA times, CNN, and BBC, among others, from attending the informal “gaggle,” in the office of the white house press secretary, Sean Spicer, is inexcusable.

I’m assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that snubbing most of the mainstream media is simply retaliation for their numerous attacks on the president.

Some may argue they are simply reporting the news and doing their job, but I would have to partially disagree.

It is no secret they are against Trump and are actively looking to undermine the commander-in-chief.

What infuriates a lot of people— myself included—is that the mainstream press views itself as untouchable and virtuous because of the work it does. But it is important to note this is a bit misleading.

The mainstream media—NY Times, LA times, BCC, CNN, NBC, CBS etc.—is not unbiased and has an agenda. There is nothing wrong with

having a bias, or a political inclination, but what rubs people the wrong way is the sham that these news outlets portray.

In Europe, the press is clearly defined by what part of the political spectrum they lie on, while in America, the press insists on calling itself unbiased and nonpartisan, but this is simply not true.

Again, I believe banning certain media and press outlets from participating is indefensible, but as for Trump’s attacks on his enemies within the press, I would hardly call it dangerous to democracy.

I would have to side with the President on this one because, in all honesty, what did the mainstream media expect? They wrote article after article attacking and portraying the President in a negative light. They should have expected this kind of reaction from Donald Trump, a man who has filed lawsuits for the most trivial of reasons.

In all seriousness, is calling CNN fake news really that far off the mark?

News outlets are, after all, slaves to TV ratings and advertisers. To think that these factors don’t influence reporting is silly.

CNN isn’t the only perpetrator, as all the news outlets are beholden to their income. This includes President Trump’s beloved Breitbart News.

The topic of fake news is a very complex issue, but I maintain Trump’s retaliation against the media is no more dangerous to democracy than satire is.

I am a history major and a junior at Texas State.

ILLUSTRATION BY JUAN CARLOS CAMPOS

he is not a racist, and diversity is officially cool according to the Trump administration and his constituency.

Like it or not, Trump is using federal resources to support black people, which is the kind of legislation black communities have been requesting for a while. I cannot help but feel like there

would have been some talk of white exclusion had Obama done this. We may not like the way it arrives, but a white president may be the only way the black community can see the true change it is looking for.

- Carrington Tatum is a business freshman

Jimmy

WE DELIVER! TO FIND THE LOCATION NEAREST YOU VISIT JIMMYJOHNS.COM ©2016 JIMMY JOHN’S FRANCHISE, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The University Star

Tuesday, March 28, 2017 | 7

OPINIONS

Mikala Everett Opinions Editor @mikala_maquella

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

OPINIONS

Opinions columns are full of—opinions Main Point We strive to be non-biased, nonpartisan and objective in our news reporting while allowing the opinions columnists to exercise their First Amendment right to free speech. The opinions section is not reflective of the views of the entire paper, which is stated under the Main Point in the physical paper.

“The Main Point is the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Columns are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the full staff, Texas State University Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State University.”

That being said, our Editorial Board has decided to write this Main Point in order to illuminate the difference between our news and opinions sections and address some concerns readers have.

The University Star has been receiving a lot of criticism from commentators and readers of the paper who believe we are headed into the realm of “fake news” and liberal bias. In order to bolster their claims, objectors link or mention “articles” that they deem full of bias. The problem is, they seldom link to our actual articles but opinions columns.

Opinion and news pieces have different titles in order to let the reader know

that they are reading a chock-full of opinion, biased column or a non-biased, objective article. Unfortunately, many of our readers cannot differentiate between the two and question our credibility and demean our organization.

We have also noticed that some “readers” exclaim distaste for a column or article and list concerns that are addressed within the piece. To fully understand a piece, it may take more than a cursory glance at the headline or a quick skim over the story. Whatever questions or concerns that arise could evaporate after reading the piece.

Once that has been done, we will readily answer concerns about possible factual errors and valid critiques of the

paper as a whole or an individual article or column. We do ask that when leaving comments readers do not attack the writers personally or insult anyone with hate speech because those comments are unproductive and do not further discussion in any manner.

The paper’s creative staff is made up of students dedicated to improving their writing and learning the ins and outs of a news organization. They are not perfect. We are not perfect. We will make mistakes and have no issue with you, the readers, holding us accountable.

Thank you.

The Main Point is the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Columns are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the full staff, Texas State University Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State University.

IMMIGRATION

DE ESTE LADO TAMBIÉN HAY SUEÑOS

ILLUSTRATION BY HALEY PRIETO

SB 4 is attacking the trust undocumented people have in their government and law enforcement officials. The American Civil Liberties Union website states the “fundamental constitutional protections of due process and equal protection embodied in our Constitution and Bill of Rights apply to every person, regardless of immigration status.”

The adoption of SB 4 would enforce immigration policies by fostering fear amongst minority groups, which can be largely attributed to the campaign rhetoric of President Donald Trump.

“They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,” stated President Trump at a campaign rally.

CNN reports as many as 50,000 Irish undocumented immigrants are living in the United States. They are often spared the discriminatory taunts and threats Central and South American immigrants and any other colored minority groups face.

Black, brown or white, immigration is something integral to our country since its founding. Immigrants are too often misunderstood, stereotyped and underrepresented.

Being an immigrant will continue to be a challenge in America due to the dif-

ficult migrant experience. From navigating the “new age underground railroad” of border towns and avoiding the horrors of human trafficking, to parents sacrificing their own livelihoods for their children.

Years before my great-grandmother’s death, she obtained a piece of paper affirming she was a U.S. citizen. My mother and grandmother recall my great-grandmother being ecstatic about knowing the presidents on the coins and bills. She was proud to be an American.

Being an American is not an easy or cheap process, and most immigrants know this reality. My grandmother, and others like her, took jobs when and where she could find them to support her family. The road to citizenship and family prosperity is long, arduous and filled with pot-holes.

Most immigrants simply hope for the best.

SB 4 is currently pending motion in committee. Call your state representatives and voice your opinions. Read the bill and talk to your friends and family about it.

Use your privilege of the pursuit of a degree and citizenship to help those with everything to lose.

- Jakob Rodriguez is a journalism freshman

There are dreams on this side of the border too

By Jakob Rodriguez Opinions Columnist @JakobRyRod “Every time my mother is five minutes late, I worry she has been deported,” said a 9-year-old girl protesting on the state Capitol steps. Instead of worrying about grades, boys or television shows, the threat of deportation plagues undocumented immigrants and their American-born children.

The fates and fears of many “dreamers” and the rest of the undocumented community are again being balanced in the state legislature.

In what started as a Senate bill largely based on cracking the whip on sanctuary cities, undocumented immigrants found themselves at the mercy of state representatives. Prior to the bill’s hearing, many amendments were added directly attacking the undocumented community.

Senate Bill 4, “effectively deputizes state and local law enforcement agencies to enforce immigration laws,” said Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, Austin immigration attorney.. This bill creates a state mandate agencies would have to follow, which no organization on or off campus would be able to combat. Failure to follow would result in a revocation of state funding.

Dolores, whose identity has been changed to preserve anonymity, was brought to the United States as a toddler like many Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients or “dreamers.”

Both of her parents left upper-middleclass jobs in Mexico in favor of work in the U.S. and better opportunities for their children.

DACA, according to the student aid for undocumented students outline, is the name used for a process announced by the Secretary of Homeland Security on June 15, 2012. People who came to the United States at a young age, who met several key guidelines, may contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a component of the Department of Homeland Security, to request consideration for deferred action.

Deferred action does not provide an individual with lawful status, but recipients may obtain work authorization.

This is what all immigrants hope for—a chance.

Thanks to DACA, Dolores was able to attend ACC then transfer to Texas State to pursue her major.

“At the end of the day, people signed

up to be law enforcement officers.

You didn’t sign up to become immigration officers,” said Diana Arévalo, state representative of District 116.

Should the bill pass, Arévalo fears what most officials fear: a deteriorating rapport between communities and law enforcement officers.

Rapport is important because police are only as effective as the information they obtain—especially in a campus environment. Lincoln-Goldfinch, gave the example of a potential victim of sexual assault, afraid of turning to law enforcement officials because of his or her immigration status.

“We enforce local and state laws,” said Investigator Rod Manzanares of the Texas State University Police Department. While this is a blanket answer for mandate enforcement, UPD has assured me in past conversations it has and will continue to foster a helpful environment for individuals, regardless of immigration status.

This is not just a student issue by any means. Faculty, staff and administration across the state and country will all face questionable futures with upcoming legislation. However, organizations and on-campus advocacy groups hope to offer support and a voice for anyone who might need it.

“Anything we can do, we will do,” said Dr. Margarita Arellano, associate vice president of student affairs and Dean of Students. While financial aid is distributed on a need basis, the Dean of Students Office functions primarily to create an environment in which people, regardless of immigration status, can seek support.

Through the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion, outreach and advocacy groups such as the Hispanic Policy Network and Student Community of Progressive Empowerment hope to do the same for the undocumented community. The organizations are also pushing issues concerning DACA students and undocumented persons.

“I’m worried DACA will be taken away from us and we will be left without any documentation,” Dolores said.

Like most DACA students, Dolores fears her status will be taken away from her should pieces of legislation like SB 4 pass. She lives in fear of deportation in addition to worrying about grades.

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8 | Tuesday, March 28, 2017

OPINIONS

The University Star Mikala Everett Opinions Editor @mikala_maquella

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

FILM

Moonlight and Get Out provide more than entrainment

By John Lee Opinions Columnist @ leeeeyonce The films Moonlight and Get Out are phenomenal pieces of art; both contain depth in terms of storylines, character development and symbolism. They have been recognized and praised by the academy or by reviews from various film critics. However, what makes these films exceptional is not the recognition they have received, but the representation and imagery they provide to a minority community.

Moonlight provides representation to homosexual African-American men, while Get Out’s symbolism and imagery speaks volumes about racism in America. These stories are worth more than just a watch and provide a deeper meaning translating far beyond the movie screen.

Representation is important, especially among homosexual black men.

According to GLADD, an LGBTQIA media source, only 4.8 percent of characters in primetime television identified as LGBTQIA and even less were African-American. Representation is important because it provides visibility and validation to people who do not see themselves in the characters they watch.

Moonlight follows the story of Chiron, a gay black man, in three stages of his life—childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Chiron struggles with an abusive, drug-addicted mother, bullying in school and sexual confusion. The film hits key points in which many gay men can relate to: the confusion of realizing your sexual orientation, the disapproval from parents and the constant battle of what people say is right and what you feel is right.

The film brings Chiron’s identity struggles to life and illustrates the struggles of poverty and drug abuse in the black community.

On the other hand, Get Out tackles the subject of racism with countless images and symbols scattered throughout the movie. It serves as a reminder the inequalities black Americans still face today. If people cannot see racism or know it exists, it is impossible to eradicate. Get Out brings these issues directly into the spotlight.

“It became more clear than ever to

ILLUSTRATION BY ISRAEL GONZALEZ

me that race was a conversation people were increasingly uncomfortable having … So this movie, the purpose of it became to represent the black experience …” said Jordan Peele, director of Get Out, during an interview for The Verge.

The story follows Chris Washington, a young black man being introduced to his white girlfriend’s family. Throughout the film, the audience is exposed

to clear racial-themed symbols and images: Chris “picking” cotton, his girlfriend “segregating” her colored cereal from the white milk and a scene directly related to the current issue of racially charged police brutality.

Get Out and Moonlight bring far more than entertainment to the table— they offer realization and remind us of what we need to remember as a soci-

ety. They provide a platform to speak on important issues and more films like them should be made in the wake of their success. The only way to solve issues is to talk about them and come to an understanding—and these movies surely have people talking.

-John Lee is a marketing freshman

BOBCAT CALENDAR March

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

28 29 30 31 STUDENT RECITAL WHAT: Composition Area Recital WHEN: 6 PM - 7 PM WHERE: Music Building Recital Hall (MUS 236) COST: Free

STARS AT NIGHT WHAT: Andrew Marriner Clarinet WHEN: 7 PM - 8 PM WHERE: Performing Arts Center Recital Hall COST: Free

CULTURE FEST WHAT: SACA sponsered event WHEN: 1 PM- 4 PM WHERE: LBJ Student Center Patio COST: Free

STAR GAZING WHAT: Weekly public observing WHEN: 6 PM - 9 PM WHERE: Supple Science Building Roof COST: Free

WRITE TIME!

TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT

WHAT: Tips for writing in college WHEN: 2 PM - 4 PM WHERE: ASBN 108 (writing center) COST: Free

WHAT: Game open to all students WHEN: 5 AM - 7 PM WHERE: LBJ Student Center George's COST: Free

STUDENT RECITAL

FRENCH FILM SHOWING

WHAT: Horn Studio Recital WHEN: 6 PM - 7 PM WHERE: Performing Arts Center Recital Hall COST: Free

For more events, go to universitystar.com/today

WHAT: Screening of Happy NewYear WHEN: 3PM - 5 PM WHERE: Centennial Hall G02 COST: Free

9 | Tuesday, March 28, 2017

The University Star

OPINIONS

Mikala Everett Opinions Editor @mikala_maquella

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

MUSIC

San Marcos needs more girl bands and musicians

By May Olvera Opinions Columnist @yungfollowill The local music scene is something I have grown to love, and is a big factor in keeping me in San Marcos. However, this town needs more female musicians and all-girl bands to push back against a maledominated subculture.

Nearly every show around here features an all-male lineup, but seeing even one all-girl band is a rarity.

Thankfully, there has been a rise in musical acts with front-women like Rachel LaCoss of Muff, Kendra Sells of BluMoon and Leighann Gardner of Night Clerk.

KTSW organized a show called “Play Like A GRRRL” March 8 to showcase female artists of San Marcos and surrounding areas for International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of the on-going women’s rights movements throughout the world. It encourages people to engage

in conversations with and regarding badass women. A question I repeatedly heard throughout the day was, “Why don’t we do this more often?”

The same question applies to KTSW’s Play Like A GRRRL show. Why is it not normality?

Seeing woman after woman kill their set at this lady-centric event was one of the most satisfying experiences of my life. As someone who wants to dabble in music, it was beautiful to see ladies demand and dominate their space in a male-reigned sphere. I want nothing more than for this to be the norm.

Re p r e s e n t a tion is important, and all of these talented women are showing girls they can be just as good—or better— than their male counterparts. In fact, right off the bat, female musicians have something extremely refreshing and honest to offer San Marcos and the world.

Andrea Torres, student and organizer of Play Like A GRRRL, says although the San Marcos community is beautiful and encouraging, there is a definite

As someone who wants to dabble in music, it was beautiful to see ladies demand and dominate their space in a malereigned sphere.

I want nothing more than for this to be the norm.

ILLUSTRATION BY FLOR BARAJAS

disparity between male to female musicians.

“When planning Play Like a GRRRL for International Women’s Day, it didn’t take long to realize most of the selections for female acts were going to be from surrounding areas, like Austin or San Antonio,” Torres said. “I’m hoping with the exposure from the female artists at the event there will be a stronger desire for leading ladies in the San Marcos music scene to inspire other local ladies to take a step into the music world.

Males dominate most everything in this country, but it’s time for the other 50 percent to stand together, encourage

each other and create change in every facet of life—from the workplace to art to music.”

The music coming out of San Marcos is nothing short of exciting. All the male musicians I have had the pleasure of meeting have been very welcoming and encouraging to the idea of a growing female presence. With or without their encouragement, there is no better time than now for women to pick up some instruments and claim their rightful space in the music arena.

- May Olvera is a journalism junior

IMMIGRATION

San Martians step up to protect undocumented neighbors

By May Olvera Opinions Columnist @yungfollowill

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, popularly known as ICE, has allegedly arrived in San Marcos after weeks of terrorizing immigrants in Austin. Within a matter of days, the community has come together to protect fellow San Martians—documented or not.

As an immigrant, I cannot say I understand the anti-immigrant sentiment that always seems to be married to nationalistic views. The majority of immigrants I have met throughout my fifteen years in America love this country more than most Americans I know.

They come here to find better lives at the expense of being considered outsiders, and still appreciate every ounce of opportunity this country gives them.

Together, immigrants and natural-born citizens work to make this the best nation it can be.

However, President Donald Trump and his supporters think otherwise. The president may very well be on his way to surpassing former President Obama as the “Deporter in Chief.” Obama deported more people than any other president in history.

In early February, rumors started swirling that ICE made its way to Aus-

“

They come here to find better lives at the expense of being considered outsiders, and still appreciate every ounce of opportunity this country gives them.

“

tin. Soon thereafter, rumors were confirmed as ICE began making detentions and doing what it does best—splitting

ILLUSTRATION BY ISRAEL GONZALEZ

up innocent families.

Usually immigration officers only target individuals with criminal records, however, the raids throughout the Austin area mainly targeted non-criminal immigrants. According to the AustinAmerican Statesman, a February raid swept up 51 people including 28 individuals with absolutely no criminal record.

Now that ICE has been spotted in San Marcos, our neighbors are scared.

Many undocumented immigrants who reside here have no criminal histories and have been living in our community for much longer than most college students have been alive.

The danger of being displaced from the only place you know as home is absolutely terrifying, and the lack of empathy from some people is asinine.

Thankfully, activists and lawyers have already started mobilizing around town.

On March 4, Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos hosted a meeting with free immigration information. They provided them with legal connections and tips on what to do when confront-

ed by ICE. During a house raid, immigrants are advised to not open the door and instead ask officers to slide a search warrant under the door. Without a warrant, they are not permitted to continue their raid unless they are allowed in.

If confronted on the street, it is important people do not run from officers. However, it is perfectly fine to remain silent when questioned. Individuals are advised to not consent to officers searching their cars and are encouraged to write down the officer’s name and badge number.

It is extremely important for people to know their rights when being detained, and although these tips are unfortunately not enough to stop mass deportation, it allows immigrants the chance to have a little more control during a raid.

The real fight against ICE is ultimately up to allies who have a lot less to lose. Right now, there are plenty of opportunities to help our undocumented neighbors, and I encourage everyone to sacrifice a little bit of their time to help.

- May Olvera is a journalism junior

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10 | Tuesday, March 28, 2017

SPORTS

The University Star Lisette Lopez Sports Editor @lisette_1023

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

BASEBALL

STAR FILE PHOTO

Meet the Bobcat baseball team’s first baseman: Ryan Newman

By Logan McCullough Sports Reporter @Logman__ After losing six of the first nine games of the season, the baseball team has won 13 of the last 15 games.

The Bobcats defeated the defending national champions Coastal Carolina, Rice and the University of Texas.

Ryan Newman, sophomore first

baseman, has played a key role in Texas State’s recent success.

Newman had a memorable role against Coastal Carolina March 17 in game one of the three-game series at home.

Newman prepared to lead off the bottom of the 14th inning, as“Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” was being played for the second time in honor of the second, “seventh-inning-stretch.”

“Walking up there, leading off, I was just thinking about trying to get on base,” Newman said. “I got down in the count, saw a breaker up (curve ball) and I just got it. I wasn’t trying to hit it out.

I was just trying to get on base for the team.”

Newsman hit a walk-off home run that hit the the right field scoreboard against defending NCAA College World

Series champions.

Newman finished the game with a career-high five hits (5-for-7), including an RBI and a run scored. Three of his hits came in extra innings.

The Bobcats played again the next day.

As far as the team’s success goes, Newman said the difference between the team last year and this year’s squad believes in never giving up.

“Even when we’re down in the game, we’re not giving up; we play until the last pitch is thrown,” Newman said. “Once we get down, we know we can come back and score. It’s not really a panic or anything, we almost know what’s about to happen.”

Newman is a native of Brenham, and is in his second year at Texas State. He was not used to living in San Marcos his freshman year.

“Year one, I was not adjusted to the life up here; I was pretty new around town,” Newman said. “This year, it feels more like home.”

In high school, Newman was named to the All-District first team, earned the district MVP award, and received Texas All-State recognition.

Newman was recruited by Ole Miss, University of Houston, Rice and a couple of junior colleges.

Newman, chose Texas State because of the beautiful campus Newman has been playing baseball for as long as he can remember.

Newman, who is listed at 6 feet tall and 225 pounds, competed in a smorgasbord of sports in middle school, but decided to focus on baseball in high school.

Newman began playing first base when he arrived at Texas State.

“High school I was catching,” Newman said. “But last year (Texas State) had a lot of catchers, and coach just tried me out at first base.”

This move has worked, as Newman has proved himself a reliable first baseman with a .998 fielding percentage this season.

After three straight wins over championship caliber programs, Newman has the utmost belief in his team.

“I don’t think we have a ceiling,” Newman said. “When we’re playing like this, I feel like we can beat anybody in the country.”

SOFTBALL

Corrina Liscano’s final swing Liscano is a criminal justice major and hopes to get accepted into a police

“

STAR FILE PHOTO

By Melea Polk Sports Reporter @meleadenae Corrina Liscano, senior third baseman, is spending her final collegiate moments staying positive and being a leader for the softball team.

Liscano has loved softball for as long as she can remember.

“When I was younger, my grandfather put me in the sport and I just grew to love it,” Liscano said.To her, softball is more than just a game. Liscano has formed strong relationships through the sport. “I love the friends that come with the game,” Liscano said. “They are my sisters.”

Liscano played two seasons at Howard College in Big Spring before at-

tending Texas State. She received a first team All-American honor and the 2015 NJCAA Division I National Championship title.

Playing for a four-year university meant higher expectations, more competition and harder workouts.

“Coming to Texas State has really opened my eyes,” Liscano said. “Junior colleges are at a lower level than universities, and Texas State is something different.”

Liscano said her decision to attend Texas State was not difficult. Former assistant coach Kelly Kretschman recruited Liscano and her Howard teammate, Jaelyn Young, junior catcher.“Young was getting recruited, and I just happened to have a really good game,” Liscano said. “Kretschman decided to give

me an offer, and so Jaelyn and I decided to come here together.”

In Liscano’s first season as a Bobcat, she started all 62 games, batted .292, led the team with 37 runs, scored and tied the team-high with six home runs.

She batted .600 percent and posted a team-best of .449 on-base percentage and had a season-high five-game hitting streak. She was named Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference last year.

Liscano spends her time motivating the underclassmen. She preaches positivity and hard work., Liscano wants to claim a Sun Belt Conference title, like the rest of her teammates.

“My biggest goal as a senior is helping everyone through adversity, keeping them positive and keep them on the right track,” Liscano said.

My biggest goal as a senior is helping everyone through adversity, keeping them positive and keep them on the right track.

“

-Corrina Liscano academy.

“I plan on joining the police academy back in my hometown,” Liscano said.

“Hopefully that works out because that is my main plan.”

Although Liscano loves Texas State, she plans to move back home and become a police officer in her hometown of Pomona, California.

The University Star

Tuesday, March 28, 2017 | 11

SPORTS

Lisette Lopez Sports Editor @lisette_1023

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

TRACK AND FIELD

De’Marcus Porter: Putting in work for a desired outcome STAR FILE PHOTO

The Student Publications Board at the Texas State School of Journalism and Mass Communication will conduct a campus-wide petition process to select a student as editor-in-chief of The University Star. The term will begin one week following the final issue of 2017 spring semester publication schedule. Applicants must be available to serve the entire term. Each applicant is asked to complete a written petition, which is subsequently screened by members of the Student Publications Board.

The board will interview qualified candidates for the position. The board consists of the director and assistant director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the journalism sequence coordinator and a member of the professional news medium. The director of student publications and the current editor-in-chief will serve as ex-officio members for the committee.

2016 SBC Outdoor Championships

Gold Medalist — 400-meter 2016 SBC Outdoor Championships

Gold Medalist — 4-x-100 meter relay

Minimum Qualifications

2016 NCAA

Honorable Mention AllAmerican — 4-x-400 meter relay

By Brooke Phillips Assistant Sports Editor @brookephillips_ Attending practices, going to meets and daily workouts are a part the busy schedule of all track and field athletes.

For one Bobcat not limiting his schedule allows him to put in the extra work to strive to be the best.

De’Marcus Porter, junior sprints runner, first started track and field in 2005 at 9 years old. Porter runs in the 60m, 100-meter, 200 and 400—with the 200 being his favorite.

“Growing up, running was always something my cousins and I did, and everybody wanted to see who was the fastest,” Porter said. “I had too much energy, so my mom took me to the summer youth team and that’s how I got started.”

Porter was born and raised Pine Bluff, Arkansas and moved to Fort Worth before beginning high school.

Porter played both football and track and field in high school, but grew to love running the most.

“I just like to run fast and it’s a great feeling,” Porter said. “I think it’s a feeling that everyone should feel at least once in their life. I just like going fast.”

During the summer after graduating high school, Porter competed in a track meet at Texas State where he met former head coach Dana Boone.

Porter believed Boone would help him improve as a sprinter.

Porter’s achievements include being named a 2016 SBC Outdoor Championship Gold Medalist in the 400, 2016 SBC Outdoor Championship Gold Medalist in the 4-x-100 meter relay and 2016 NCAA Honorable Mention AllAmerican in the 4-x-400 meter relay.

“I’m definitely looking forward to getting my team back to Oregon in June to the NCAA’s (tournament), not just in the relay, but the open as well, so I can add that to my resume,” Porter said.

Porter’s success does not come easy for him.

“I do a lot of stuff that people don’t see,” Porter said. “I come in early and leave really, really late. Even after our regular workouts that our coaches assign us, I do personal stuff that helps me too.”

Porter admits he is competitive.

“I’m trying to win every relay, every open and every race. As I got older, they said I was really competitive.”

Porter is a full-time student seeking a degree in applied sociology. What draws Porter to sociology is diversity the his opportunity to learn about the world.

Porter hopes he can continue running after graduating.

“Hopefully I go pro, that’s what I’m pushing for,” Porter said. “I feel like if

I put everything in, then that should be the outcome. The main goal is to get my degree for sure, because that’s going to help me in the long run.”

Porter looks up to Usain Bolt and DeSean Jackson and hopes to be a professional athlete himself. Being a college athlete is an important step in

“

Representing the school is the most rewarding part.

It means a lot to be a Bobcat.

Where I came from, a lot of kids my age didn’t have that opportunity so I’m really trying to take advantage of my opportunity.

“

-De'Marcus Porter his journey.

“Representing the school is the most rewarding part,” Porter said. “It means a lot to be a Bobcat. Where I came from, a lot of kids my age didn’t have that opportunity, so I’m really trying to take advantage of my opportunity.”

Porter is grateful for every hour he spends furthering his college track and field career.

“I like everything, it’s all a blessing,” Porter said. “Being a college athlete is hard but it’s not impossible. My family definitely supports me a lot.”

To qualify, applicants must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours each semester during the term office. Students graduating in spring 2018 may be enrolled in fewer hours as long as they meet graduation requirements.

Applicants must have worked in a professional editorial environment or served as a section editor at a university newspaper. Students of all majors and classifications, including graduate students, may petition for the position.

Applicants must be in good academic standing with the university when submitting an application. Applicants must maintain a 2.5 semester and overall grade point average during their time of appointment. A student who falls below the 2.5 grade point average for a semester will forfeit the office although he or she maintains an overall 2.5 grade point average.

The University Star Mission

The editor-in-chief is the primary student editorial administrator for the University Star, has authority concerning all personnel matters and makes the final decision regarding news, sports, feature, photo, web and opinion content. The editor-in-chief determines daily operation guidelines, is a role model for professional behavior, delegates operational authority and fulfills policies and procedures as determined by the Student Publications Board and faculty adviser. The editor-in-chief oversees meeting, handles personnel problems and evaluates all copy and artwork for the print and online product. The editor-in-chief is responsible for hiring, properly training and supervising all members of the editorial board. The editor-in-chief promotes relations between the publication, the community and campus organizations. The editor-in-chief is also the voice of the publication within the community.

Terms of Office

Term of office begins following the final publication of the spring 2017 semester and runs through the spring 2018 semester. Applicants must be able to serve the entire term of office in order to be considered for the position. A salary is paid during the office term.

Petitioning Process

Applicants must complete a written petition. The petition consists of questions to determine an applicant’s qualifications in journalism, academics and management.

A letter of interest must be included with the formal application. The letter should include personal characteristics with reasons why the applicant is qualified for the position. Applicants will be interviewed by the Student Publications Board once they are certified as qualified.

Petitioning Deadlines

Applicants for the position will be due by 12 p.m. April 10 to the director of student publications in the Trinity Building, Room 106. People interested in petitioning should sign a candidacy list in Trinity, Room 106 and acquire an information package. Qualified applicants will be notified, and interviews will be scheduled beginning April 20. Selection of the editor-in-chief will be made shortly after interviews are completed. Formal assumption of duties will begin one week after the final newspaper of the spring semester is published.

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