DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017
@universitystar | universitystar.com
Volume 107, Issue 09
HOMECOMING EDITION PHOTO BY JOSH MENDS
AN EMPTY STADIUM’S IMPACT Correlation between fan support and team performance By Brooke Phillips Assistant Sports Editor At Texas State, it is no secret that every Saturday when cleats run across the turf and helmets knock against pads at Bobcat Stadium, rows of bleachers in the stands noticeably reflect the sun. Bobcat Stadium has the capacity to hold a little more than 30,000 people, but attendance rarely ever reaches 20,000. With a 2-10 overall record and losing every conference game last season, the Texas State football team entered this year with positivity and hope for a better season. Seven games into the season, however, and the Bobcats hold a 1-6 record after losing six consecutive games in a row. For head coach Everett Withers, he not only wants students to enjoy college football, but to also see the value in it. “Fan support is really critical to the growth of the football program,” Withers said. “College football Saturdays, you get about six or seven of them a year at any institution across the country, and they should be a part of the student experience.” By having a larger fan base to support the school’s athletics, like the football team, the impact alone has the potential to change the atmosphere of what Texas State is. “To me, if you want to turn Texas State into a true college university and not a commuter school, then football Saturdays have to be important to students,” Withers said. Although the homecoming game is just another football game, it gives the team an opportunity to share its culture with as many people as it can reach. “We look forward to our fans and the families,” Withers said. “The players’ families and students’ families coming to campus and joining the environment of Texas State, the football team and the program.” While Bobcats are hoping for a large turnout at the homecoming game against New Mexico State, they also do not want fans to forget about the rest of the season.
Willie Jones III, freshman quarterback, escapes defenders Sept. 23 during the game against UTSA. PHOTO BY KIRBY CRUMPLER
Along with New Mexico State, Texas State will finish out the rest of its season competing against all conference teams; Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Arkansas State and Troy. Five more games mean five more opportunities for the Bobcats to improve their record, and coach Withers likes to focus on one game at a time. “I think the thing that you don’t look at is you don’t get too far ahead of yourself,” Withers said. “You worry about the next day and getting better the next day. If you worry too much then you will get discouraged. You have to take every day to get better.” Opportunities are what the team likes to take, rather than only looking at the losses. While the overall record of the team shows many losses, the statistics from individual play-
ers show wins. “We’ve got a number of guys who are playing hard and winning football,” Withers said. “We’ve just got to hope what they’re doing rubs off on some of our young guys to learn how they compete, how they prepare and how they play on Saturdays.” At the end of the day, whether Bobcats have the numbers in the stands cheering them on or not, they will never be shy of support from the role models who coach them every step of the way. “It’s always about the players,” Withers said. “I don’t necessarily do this for wins and losses, but I do this for the relationships with the players more than anything else. That’s really what you do it for. This team has been awesome to be around.”
DEBATE
Student media hosts City Council candidate debate By Shayan Faradineh News Editor The University Star and KTSW 89.9 hosted the four candidates running for Place 3 and Place 4 in the LBJ Teaching Theater Oct. 18. The candidates discussed Senate Bill 4 and controversies in San Marcos including Cape's Dam and the social media of the San Marcos ethics commissioner. The candidates include incumbent Ed Mihalkanin and challenger Amy Stanfield for Place 3. For Place 4, Jane Hughson serves as the incumbent and is challenged by Joshua Simpson. When asked about Senate Bill 4, candidates explained the difficult position City Council is put in when having to make decisions in support or against state law. Mihalkanin and Hughson said they made the decision to file an am-
icus brief and wanted City Council’s amicus brief to be like the Major Cities Police Chief Associations brief. Stanfield and Simpson advocated that immigration is a federal issue and the council was put in a tough situation. All candidates advocated for police officers and residents to follow the law. On Oct. 16, Naomi Narvaiz, ethics commissioner appointee to an advisory role for the San Marcos school district, was appointed to the Student Health Advisory Council. Activists and residents of San Marcos called for Narvaiz to be removed from the council, due to tweets by Narvaiz labeled as discriminatory toward immigrants and LGBTQIA members.
SEE DEBATE PAGE 2
From left to right, city council candidates Ed Mihalkanin, Amy Stanfield, Jane Hughson and Joshua Simpson Oct. 18 during the student media debate. PHOTO BY VICTOR RODRIGUEZ
2 | Tuesday, October 24 , 2017
The University Star
NEWS
Shayan Faradineh News Editor @shayanfaradineh
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487
Editors Editor-in-Chief: Denise Cervantes, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor: Bri Watkins, starmanagagingeditor@txstate.edu News Editor: Shayan Faradineh, starnews@txstate.edu Lifestyle Editor: Katie Burrell, starlifestyle@txstate.edu Opinions Editor: May Olvera, staropinion@txstate.edu Sports Editor: Lisette Lopez, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief: Claire Abshier, starcopychief@txstate.edu Design Editor: Vivian Medina, stardesign@txstate.edu Multimedia Editor: Lara Dietrich, starmultimedia@txstate.edu
PHOTO BY VICTOR RODRIGUEZ | ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
FROM FRONT DEBATE When asked if Narvaiz should be removed from her public position, three candidates said they would have to look further into the issue. Simpson said no, not because of a tweet. Stanfield said all social media posts should be considered being made public. “I do think that if you are appointed or elected to a public position, you should be held to a higher standard,” Stanfield said. Although candidates had similar responses for SB 4 and Narvaiz’s tweets, while discussing Cape's Dam, candidates disagreed. Cape's Dam has been closed since 2014. The council voted last year to remove the dam. No progress has been made to remove it. Stanfield believes more information should be gathered about the dam, she believes it should be resorted and preserved for history. Simpson claimed the motives of the research were just for profit. “So much of the data that was taken, to me, looked like lazy work,” Simpson said.
Hughson voted in favor of removing the dam. “I have learned a lot more since then,” Hughson said. “There is still a hearing that needs to happen on that issue, that hasn’t happened yet.” Mihalkanin is in favor of keeping Cape's Dam. He said the history behind the dam is important to San Marcos residents and should be reopened. Before questions from students in the audience, candidates were asked why students should participate in local government and to expand on the importance. Candidates advocated that local government is not only the closest government, it's where change is possible. “Local government is the government closest to its citizens,” Mihalkanin said. “I hope you will participate.” City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month, 5:30 p.m., at City Hall located at 630 E. Hopkins. Election locations can be found on the city of San Marcos website.
Engagement Editor: John Lee, starsocial@txstate.edu
Advertising Staff Director of Media Sales: Christina Castro, christina.castro@universitystar.com Account Executive: Andrew Stock andrew.stock@universitystar.com Account Executive: Carina Cruz, carina.cruz@universitystar.com Account Executive: Folee Hall folee.hall@universitystar.com Account Executive: Cameron Goodall cameron.goodall@universitystar.com Graphic Designer: Stephanie Cloyd Marketing and PR Manager: Ashley Lujan ashley.lujan@universitystar.com
Full-Time Staff Director: Laura Krantz, Lek46@txstate.edu Media Specialist: Dillan Thomson, djt48@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator: Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu
SEMINAR
Women Entrepreneurship Week at Texas State By Sawyer Click News Reporter Texas State hosted a collection of seminars on Oct. 19 to celebrate the 2017 Women Entrepreneurship Week. The event aimed to connect, motivate and advise business owners across San Marcos. The seminar included a keynote by Greater San Marcos Partnership President Andriana Cruz that addressed women entrepreneurship in San Marcos, resources for business owners, financial resources, legal considerations and a workshop for lean-launch startup businesses. Jana Minifie, management professor, helped organize the event and moderated several panels. "Entrepreneurship here at Texas State is really blooming," Minifie said. "San Marcos has so much to offer. Right now we're in this time of growth, not only in Austin and San Antonio, but right here in San Marcos. How exciting is it to be a part of that? It's thrilling." The American Express OPEN's 2016 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report used U.S. Census Bureau data to compile business trends that have occurred since the 2009 recession. In the report, Texas is ranked second for the most women-owned firms. Texas also
houses four of the top 10 U.S. metro areas for women-owned businesses based on economic clout: San Antonio (2nd), Dallas (3rd) Austin (5th) and Houston (10). The women entrepreneurs in the San Marcos panel included Carla Risk of ColorMix Graphics & Printing, Pamela Steger of Steger's Chiffonade, and Maxine Schaffer of Floral Studio. The three women discussed what helps make a business successful and gave individualized advice. Pamela Steger, Texas State alumna, began Steger's Chiffonade off the advice of a friend and learned by trial and error how to run a business. Over the course of the first few years, she was able to learn what it means to own and operate a business by relying on her relationships with community members. "I did everything on my own and I didn't know a lot of things," Steger said. "I started asking my friends that had business backgrounds if they could help me in the beginning with marketing and accounting. At the same time, however, I was looking over their shoulder and learning so that I could begin to do it all myself." Maxine Schaffer advocated that continued education has allowed her to stay ahead of the game. Her knowledge
and experience have given her a strong word-of-mouth reputation. "Customer service is my number-one priority," Schaffer said. "When you walk into my shop, you will learn about flowers." Following the women entrepreneurs in San Marcos panel, Michael Pena of Wells Fargo and Dana Rygwelski of Mass Challenge spoke in regards to financial resources for entrepreneurs in San Marcos. Alexis Stokes, an associate professor in the department of finance, gave legal considerations for entrepreneurs in her own panel. A lean launch startup workshop hosted by Mike Breck of Mike Breck Consulting concluded the day's seminars. The workshop advised how to successfully begin a business and avoid common pitfalls. According to Amanda Mouchette, an intern at the city of San Marcos' Main Street Program, 52 of the 253 businesses located in the downtown San Marcos district are owned by women. Compared to the Texas average of only 20 percent, downtown San Marcos is steady with the trend. 1,152 of the total 3,544 businesses in the city of San Marcos are owned by women, making the city's business sector 33 percent women-owned.
About Us History: The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday of the spring and fall and once a month in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, October 24, 2017. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor-in-chief. Deadlines: Letters to the Editor or any contributed articles are due on Monday the week prior to publication. Corrections: Any errors that are in the pages of The University Star and are brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible. Visit The Star at universitystar.com
IMMIGRATION
Student Government subcommittee serving international and immigrant students meets for first time By Jakob Rodriguez News Reporter Following the vote on the piece of legislation that would add an immigration attorney as an on-campus resource, Student Government representatives met in a public subcommittee dedicated to serving international and immigrant students. Members of the president’s cabinet, senators and the president and vice president met briefly after the vote and decided tackling the issue head-on was the best course of action. Ruben Becerra Jr., subcommittee chair and political science senior, said the subcommittee consisted of five senators who voted for the bill, five senators who voted against it and one additional senator to break any possible ties.
This was done to ensure the passage of any legislation that should come out of the subcommittee and allow opinions on both sides of the aisle to manifest themselves in what the subcommittee chooses to do or not to do. Student Government representatives took the opportunity to update constituents on what was happening post-vote. Officials are working toward getting a pro bono immigration attorney on campus to address student questions. They have also scheduled a DACA presentation for Oct. 25. Student Government has yet to find a definite solution to the original problem of getting a permanent immigration attorney on campus. However, it is not impossible. Representatives are trying to produce solutions to efficiently reap the greatest
amount of good. "People need this sooner rather than later," Becerra said. Becerra believes the subcommittee meetings bring more awareness to the issue through the weekly updates committee members present. There's also been speculation the subcommittee will be a permanent group because immigration reform is a pertinent issue. The subcommittee chair will speak to Connor Clegg, student body president, on whether or not to extend the committee. “I know we aren’t working as fast as people want us to, but the wheels of bureaucracy turn very slowly," Becerra said. "Nothing is instant. It takes work and effort and time."
The University Star
NEWS
Tuesday, October 24 , 2017 | 3 Shayan Faradineh News Editor @shayanfaradineh
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
MEDICAL
Organization conducts medical mission trip at Texas border By Josie Soehnge News Reporter Medical Explorers, a Texas State student organization, traveled to Del Rio Oct. 13. Del Rio is a border town in Texas. Medical Explorers have traveled to for numerous medical mission trips. Medical Explorers serve on these missions with The Christian Medical and Dental Association. Medical Explorers are invited to every CMDA mission trip since 1992. Although many colleges around Texas were involved in these trips in the past, the Medical Explorers are now the only undergraduate organization that receives this invitation to serve with CMDA. Charles Johnson is a retired faculty member active in the student organization. “They invite us to go on these trips because we are so well trained and we can contribute to the skills needed,” Johnson said. “Sometimes, our students end up teaching first-year medical students how to do some things that you’d be surprised they don’t know how to do, but we do.” In Del Rio, children were able to enter the U.S. for one day in order to receive necessary medical care. "The children get a one-day pass to come to the U.S., then Border Patrol brings them over. We outfit them for their wheelchairs and then they get back on the bus to go back over to Mexico,” said Kiley Schlortt, biology senior and hospice volunteer coordinator for Medical Explorers. The students in Medical Explorers were able to get hands-on experience assessing patients and crafting these wheelchairs. “We had a wheelchair clinic for children from Mexico,” Johnson said. "There is no market for used therapeutic wheelchairs in the United States. As the children outgrow them, they take them to the dump. These wheelchairs are custom made wheelchairs for their prescribed needs. We tear them apart and remake them at the border. The wheelchair technicians, medical explorers and rehab doctors can redesign them and we make the children wheelchairs to take home. These are children that don’t have access to wheelchairs in Mexico.” This mission trip also provided dental care in Del Rio. There were many patients who waited for years to receive dental care. “This past weekend was the weekend of ACL and everyone was going out
“For some, this was the first time they had received this medical care. There were kids who were 12 or 15 years old who had never been to the dentist before."
-Francesca Agobe and having fun, but I had a better time improving myself, helping patients, talking to doctors who spent their whole weekend serving people and talking to people that don’t have access to medical care ever,” said Francesca Agobe, microbiology junior and member of Medical Explorers. “For some, this was the first time they had received this medical care. There were kids who were 12 or 15 years old who had never been to the dentist before. It was a unique opportunity to get to touch people’s lives like that.” Juan Castillo, biology junior and member of Medical Explorers, also attended the mission in Del Rio and extended gratitude to his fellow mission workers for their contribution to towns similar to his own. “I am from a town very similar to Del Rio,” Castillo said. “I don’t have medical insurance. My family doesn’t have medical insurance. I have family that doesn’t go to the dentist or to the doctor and just has to deal with pain every day. It’s really so hard (not being able) to get help, to feel like you can’t go anywhere. Like when you have this huge ache in your mouth and you can’t do anything about it. So I just want to say thank you to you guys, because you are making a difference in people’s lives.” Medical Explorers conducts six mission trips throughout the school year in Eagle Pass, Del Rio and Laredo. The organization also volunteers at football games, Special Olympics and Wimberley Market Days.
Francesca Adobe, microbiology junior, is hard at work Oct. 14 building a wheelchair for a patient. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLES JOHNSON
Helen Ball, prenursing freshman (left), and Emily Kamar, microbiology senior (right), sterilize dental equipment Oct. 14 in Del Rio, Mexico. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLES JOHNSON
DISORDER
Steps to Recovery: Eating Disorders By Alyssa Newsom News Reporter A recent survey from The Walden Center for Education and Research showed eating disorders affect 20 percent of all college students. When this is applied to Texas State, data shows over 6,000 students struggle with this hardship every single day. Casey Tallent, national collegiate outreach director for the Eating Recovery Program, spoke about their newly launched V-IOP Program. This new intensive outpatient program is a virtual resource for students who find themselves struggling eating disorders. The program is similar to an in-person program, Tallent said. It involves three-hour groups that meet virtually three days a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday nights. The online meetings include an hour of individual therapy, meetings with a dietician and family counseling. “(The online setting) eliminates the barrier of being concerned about body size and shape since everyone takes up the same size on the computer screen,” Tallent said. The first months of freshman year are the most common times for a person to develop an eating disorder, according to Tallent. “It’s a time where they are away from their family and friends for the first time," Tallent said. "It’s a perfect storm with being away from your support system and a new, stressful environment." Genetic predisposition can determine if someone will develop an eating disorder. In some cases, eating disorders can
take up to six years for recovery, according to Tallent. To seek help, students at Texas State may also contact the counseling center where Laurie Westfall is the case manager. The center focuses on assessing patients on an individual basis by speaking and connecting with students about what they feel like is going on with their body and mind. “Depending on how severe the problem is, we would personally determine whether we could serve them here or if they need to be referred to a specialist,” Westfall said. If a student is in dire distress they are more likely to be sent to outpatient care, where they can get help sooner and more frequently. The center recognizes the intense physiological and mental health consequences that these eating disorders entail. They focus on quick action to mitigate the damage. Though, eating disorders are mainly categorized as a mental health concern, Kayli Bass, nutrition junior, is able to look at these disorders through the lens of a nutritionist. “Overall these disorders cause the individual to become deficient in macro and micronutrients that are vital for growth and health,” Bass said. These deficiencies cause the metabolism to slow down and other areas of health become at risk. Irregular heartbeats, kidney failure and high blood pressure are a few of the health consequences of an eating disorder. “My personal definition of nutrition is ‘to be healthy is to be happy’ meaning
There are many types of eating disorders, but two that are well known are binge eating and anorexia nervosa. In the United States, over three percent of people suffer from eating disorders. PHOTO BY HANNAH FELSKE
you should enjoy what you eat while giving your body the nutrients it needs to survive," Bass said. "Eating something unhealthy for you doesn’t have to be bad if it makes you happy; it’s okay to treat yourself once in a while." Few courses at Texas State provide education about these disorders. Bass admits that her formal education on these topics was brief and only covered the symptoms of each disorder. “As a nutrition major I believe eating
disorders should be more of a concern and should go into depth in our curriculum,” Bass said. The Eating Recovery Program does free assessments and works with insurance so that patients can receive the treatment they need. This resource, along with more information on eating disorders and treatment, can be reached on their website at eatingrecoverycenter.com
4 | Tuesday, October 24 , 2017
LIFESTYLE
The University Star Katie Burrell Lifestyle Editor @KatieNicole96
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
FILM
FROM PARK TO FILM SET
Actress Lorelei Linklater, (left) and director Vanessa Pla (right) visit Wonder World Park the location their upcoming movie When We Burn Out was filmed at. PHOTO BY VICTOR RODRIGUEZ
Indie Film set in Wonder World Park to premier at Lost River Film Fest By LeeAnn Cardwell Lifestyle Reporter Wonder World Park might sound like a tourist attraction from the '80s rather than a movie set, but for one indie film director it had the perfect charm. “When We Burn Out,” a psychedelic slacker comedy directed by Vanessa Pla, will be shown at the inaugural Lost River Film Fest hosted by the San Marcos Cinema Club. The festival will be held Nov. 2-5 throughout several venues across San Marcos. “When We Burn Out” was primarily filmed at local Wonder World Park and depicts a group of misfits who are left to run Wonder World Park after the owner, Buddy, dies in a tragic accident. The story also follows Buddy's son, Mike, who, in dealing with his father's death, spirals down a path of destruction. Although the storyline sounds linear, Pla said it was important to try and capture the realities of everyday life. The film additionally contains a parallel story that subliminally speaks to the darkness, or the negative events and negative mindsets that affect everyday life. “There is also this surreal note to (the film) where there is this darkness that kind of comes through Wonder World and in a way it sort of reflects on everyone’s darkness,” Pla said. “They have
to deal with it whether they want to address it or not.” Pla said part of the intention of the film was to heal a certain aspect of her life she was outgrowing. “Bad things happen and then people go out and party to immediately escape from what is happening, “ Pla said. “Part of what began the story was thinking about how to get my friends to wake up and have a little bit of awareness.” Lorelei Linklater, Austin actress and star of the Oscar-winning "Boyhood" movie, stars in the film. Linklater said she chose to be an actress based on the need to escape herself and get into the mindset of others. “I think a big theme of this movie that everyone can relate to is the aftermath of someone dying,” Linklater said. “That is something many of us have been through already or will go through and no one really knows the right way to deal with it.” Jordan Buckley, co-director of the Lost River Film Fest, said the Cinema Club is grateful to be able to show the director’s cut of “When We Burn Out” because it was shot in San Marcos and highlights local culture. “I think (the film) is a momentous capturing,” Buckley said. “It really captures our moment in this culture. It’s a true zeitgeist.”
Actress Lorelei Linklater (left) and director Vanessa Pla (right) pose on the counter of the gift shop at Wonder World Park. PHOTO BY VICTOR RODRIGUEZ
There will be a few special events surrounding the screening of the film. James Hand, musician and actor in the film, will be performing a few acoustic songs before the screening. Following the film, there will be a psychedelic honky-tonk concert co-sponsored by
KTSW 89.9 at Cheatham Street Warehouse. The director’s cut of the film will be screened at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at Wonder World Park.
ORGANIZATION
The Tampon Club provides free sanitary products By Diana Furman Lifestyle Reporter Inside the fourth floor women’s restroom in the Undergraduate Academics Center sits a caddy stocked with women’s sanitary products provided by the Tampon Club serving as a communal pad and tampon site for students on campus. The Tampon Club began supplying these products in the UAC bathroom a year and a half ago. The products are provided by members of the club but donations of sanitary products are accepted. Notes of positivity are scrawled out on colored paper behind it and occasional candies are left out to enjoy. Positive messages left by the caddy have been the largest form of support for the Tampon Club. There are signs on the bathroom walls provided for women to write these messages, and they fill up the quickly. Notes of positivity such as, “Women
are amazing,” and, “This saved me,” have been left on the signs. Anonymous writings of thanks and encouragement continue to pour in. Alyssa Garza, administrative assistant at the Center for Diversity and Gender Studies, and graduate students, were inspired to create the project after hearing about the anonymous provider of communal tampons and pads at Taylor Murphy Hall. After experiencing several students coming into their office and asking for pads and tampons, the Tampon Club acted. Maggie Chamberlain, former sociology graduate student and co-founder of the Tampon Club, said students spend hours of their day on campus and have little access to cleanliness for something that occurs naturally, which can be really inconvenient. “It’s a normal part of women’s lives, especially (cisgender) women, and to not have access to products on campus strikes me as odd,” Chamberlain said.
Bridgette Dobesh, English senior, said she should have more access to these products. “It’s something that’s considered a luxury and not a necessity which is sad,” Dobesh said. “I should have it there if I need it.” The founders of the club said apart from the LBJ Student Center, there are no sanitary product dispensers inside women’s restrooms on campus. Chamberlain said it's frustrating that student health services are part of tuition and yet a portion of those fees aren’t allocated to women’s sanitary products. According to the Women’s Clinic at the Student Health Center, condoms are available over-the-counter although it does not show pads or tampons for sale. “The attitude that people have toward women’s bodies and, generally speaking, is totally inappropriate and backwards,” Chamberlain said. “There’s a huge portion of our Bobcat family whose health needs are ignored because of that.”
Sarah Rodriguez, English sophomore, noticed the lack of women’s sanitary products on campus and said she also attributes the absence to the negative stigma about periods. “If there are condoms in a vending machine in my old dorm, why is there no dispenser in the bathrooms around campus?” Rodriguez said. Chamberlain said the negative stigma inspired her to be a part of this project. While the crafty nature of the founders played a part in the colorful display in the initial discussion, Chamberlain was focused on making the presentation inviting. “Yeah, it’s adorable but it’s also a statement,” Chamberlain said. “We shouldn’t be ashamed of something that’s natural.” The Tampon Club is always seeking donations to its bucket, which can be found in the UAC fourth floor bathroom, in an effort to increase the accessibility of women’s sanitary products at Texas State.
The University Star
LIFESTYLE
Tuesday, October 24 , 2017 | 5 UniversityStar.com @universitystar
Katie Burrell Lifestyle Editor @KatieNicole96
HEALTH
Local organizations provide help during Domestic Violence Awareness Month By Emily Martin Lifestyle Reporter The Student Health Center and other organizations at Texas State are taking action for October which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, in an effort to educate students on their options for finding safety. Domestic violence can be classified as abuse between spouses, family members, children, dating and sexual partners. The abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual or economical. There are several facilities and organizations on and around campus that are trying to do their part to bring awareness to these forms of abuse and end domestic violence. The Student Health Center offers students who are victims of domestic abuse with medical help as well as connecting them to resources. Julie Eckert, assistant director of Student Health Services, says that healthcare providers will offer their services in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “Healthcare providers," Eckert said, "...are going to offer counseling services either here on campus or at the Hays-Caldwell Women's Center, and of course whatever medical help patients may need” Located within the Student Health Center is the Health Promotion Services office. Their goal is to help students academically by promoting healthy lifestyles and a healthy campus for the students. One of the ways they do that is through an organization called Men Against Violence. MAV is a peer education team on campus which helps spread awareness of domestic violence and other forms of violence. Kelsey Banton, health promotions specialist and advisor for MAV, says that MAV is especially active during the month of October to raise awareness. “We do outreach throughout the month of October," Banton said. "We just wrapped up our Red Flags event. This is an issue we’re not talking about. It is very important that we make our communities feel safe,
A love letter is on display from a couple that wishes to remain unnamed. "As Johnny Cash once said, love is like a ring of fire," the man said. PHOTO BY FELIPE GOMEZ
ten referred to as red flags. These red flags can sometimes go unnoticed until things have already escalated. There doesn’t always have to be physical signs; however, for abuse to be present. Controlling behavior, according to Rodriguez, can often be misinterpreted by college students. Students can see jealousy as a sign of caring, but it can also be the sign of a more aggressive and controlling behavior. Rodriguez says she wants students to learn this, and remember long after October. “Sometimes victims don’t see
The Student Health Center offers students who are victims of domestic abuse with medical help as well as connecting them to resources. no matter how you identify.” The Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center is another helpful resource for someone who believes they are a victim of abuse. According to Melissa Rodriguez, director of community partnerships for the center, the center served 1,872 victims face to face in 2016. Services the center provides are a 24-hour helpline, counseling, shelter, educational programs and much more. Despite the name, the center's resources are not limited to females. Anyone who lives within the Hays or Caldwell counties has access to the free and confidential services. “Anyone and everyone," Rodriguez said. "Domestic Violence is not isolated to just one population, including gender. We know disproportionately, that women are more likely to be a victim of domestic violence but men can be victims as well.” Signs of domestic abuse are of-
themselves as victims if they haven’t been physically assaulted in an extreme way," Rodriguez said. On campus, all students, staff, and faculty are given the opportunity to report sexual misconduct to The Title IX Coordinator, Gilda Garcia, or they can report an incident through the Office of Equity and Access Page. Garcia said anyone who sees or believes they are a victim of sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, sexual harassment, domestic violence, sexual exploitation or sexual intimidation may make a report. Students can also visit The Student Health Center, The Campus Counseling Center, The Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, or The Resources for Sexual Assault Survivors tab.
6 | Tuesday, October 24 , 2017
LIFESTYLE
The University Star Katie Burrell Lifestyle Editor @KatieNicole96
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
PETS
Furry friends seek companions at first annual Canine Carnival By Diana Furman Lifestyle Reporter Amidst barking dogs, bow-tied kittens and onlooking students, the Student Association for Campus Activities held Texas State's first Canine Carnival at the LBJ Student Center Bobcat Trail. SACA partnered with the City of San Marcos Animal Shelter to create an adoption event in order to raise awareness about the shelter and its volunteer program. On Oct. 10 at Bobcat Trail, two dogs and about five cats happily greeted students. With surges between classes, the line to sign waivers in order to pet the animals grew soundly. The atmosphere was playful and both students and pets were eager for fun. Recreational events included canine-themed hacky sack games and prizes.
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“Working with pets could give students a sense of fulfillment and responsibility. Especially if it’s their first time away from home and they’re feeling little homesick." -Lauren Volpe Amy Simpson, communication studies junior and SACA's recreation event coordinator, is a volunteer at the shelter. Simpson said she noticed the lack of recognition the animal shelter was
Hanna Hurd, film freshman (left), pets October, the dog at the canine carnival Oct.10 near commons dining hall. PHOTO BY VICTOR RODRIGUEZ
getting in comparison to larger shelters outside of San Marcos. Simpson had the idea to bring the animals to Texas State in an attempt to find homes for these local animals and recruit volunteers. “This is the first time they’ve let shelter pets on campus, which is very exciting for us,” Lauren Volpe, community outreach coordinator for the City of San Marcos Animal Shelter, said. “I really like the idea of the university and the city working together to promote animal awareness.” Despite the popularity of nearby animal adoption centers, the City of San Marcos Animal Shelter is one of the only animal shelters located in Hays County. Local animals are originally sent to this shelter and are then distributed to other adoption centers. Due to a lack of current volunteers, fewer animals
Snuggled up in a large food dish, lopsided bow-tie and all, sat one tiny grey kitten beside its littermate. PHOTO BY DIANA FURMAN
THE UNIVERSITY STAR
were brought to the carnival than originally intended. Animal ownership requires full-time responsibility. Volunteering is an option that allows students to spend time with animals without the commitment. Simpson said due to a lack of volunteers at the San Marcos shelter, some dogs do not receive as much attention as the shelter professionals would like. "I’m all about getting college kids to realize that they don’t have to adopt," Simpson said. "Just volunteer, love on them, give them the sociability they need and then just go home and do your homework.” Volunteering requirements for college students and young adults include attending a one-hour volunteer orientation, completing at least six hours of work each month and paying a $15 ori-
entation fee. Volpe said volunteers are essential to the functionality of the shelter, and helping in any way can benefit both students and the animals. “Working with pets could give students a sense of fulfillment and responsibility,” Volpe said. “Especially if it’s their first time away from home and they’re feeling little homesick, having an animal to come home to is really rewarding.” Alexander Sanchez Estrada, business administration freshman, recently adopted a dog and said interacting with animals is a great way to relieve tension, especially with midterms. “My dog definitely helps me with stress,” Estrada said. “Just being around a dog is beneficial to anyone.”
Alex Thompson, history freshman, pets October, the dog during the canine carnival Oct 10 near commons dining hall. PHOTO BY VICTOR RODRIGUEZ
The University Star
Tuesday, October 24 , 2017 | 7
LIFESTYLE
Katie Burrell Lifestyle Editor @KatieNicole96
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
CARTOONS OF THE WEEK CARTOONS BY STEPHANIE CLOYD
QUOTE
HUMANS OF SAN MARCOS “It’s all about bridging masculinity with femininity and (dabbling) in both. I’m originally from Torrance, California, but I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. I was there until I was six and then moved to California. The musical theater program here is among the top in the nation, so that’s why I’m here, but it’s not the only reason I stayed. I fell in love with the school, the Honors College and the professors. I was sitting in my room one day and I was doing my makeup and I said, ‘well, why don’t you write about this?’ I wanted to bring this message that it’s okay to be in the in-between gradient. You don’t have to label yourself red or blue. You can just kind of let yourself be and allow yourself to be in an
in-between phase. I was never really into makeup until this past year. I’ve always loved the art of drag and I love the community. I’ve always been very active in that and I’ve always been around that community. I never thought it was for me, then this past year my friend was just wearing highlighter to a social gathering. I thought it was so cool that he was dressed so ruggedly and then has this slight touch of femininity to his face. That got me thinking, and it has progressed into a hobby.”
-JORREL JAVIER, MUSICAL THEATRE SENIOR TedxTexasStateUniversity speaker Jorrel Javier poses on a stage in the Performing Arts Center. PHOTO BY KATIE BURRELL
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8 | Tuesday, October 24 , 2017
The University Star
HOMECOMING
Katie Burrell Lifestyle Editor @KatieNicole96
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
OVERVIEW
Texas State announces list of Homecoming events By Erika Conover Lifestyle Reporter Texas State will continue its longstanding tradition of Homecoming celebrations this year with a series of activities and competitions. In addition to the football Homecoming game, there will be activities the week before the game, starting on Oct. 27 with a spirit flag decorating contest. Esha Mohammed, pride and traditions coordinator at the Student Association for Campus Activities, said SACA has been preparing for the week of festivities since June. She said Homecoming Week is to encourage pride in the students. “Everything that we do leads up to the game, but we really wanted to market Homecoming Week as a whole because of the festivities going on,”
A carnival and spirit rally will be hosted Oct. 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the LBJSC mall and the surrounding area. There will be free events, games and food. Prizes will also be handed out, including T-shirts, stadium cups, waterproof phone cases and more. The spirit rally will take place on the same day as the carnival at 12 p.m. where the cheer team, marching band and Boko will teach students the Texas State chants and increase the excitement for the game according to Maria Galindo, pride and traditions coordinator at SACA. “A lot of people only hear about the game, but we want to make sure they know there’s events all week long,” Galindo said. “The carnival is a fun time for students to come out and enjoy themselves.”
“Homecoming, in general, builds a sense of community for the campus. It’s a chance for current students, staff and alumni to come together, and to bond and make new memories, while meeting new people.” -Sylvia Reyes Mohammed said. “We really just want people to engage in the university.” On Oct. 28, there will be a 4 on 4 coed volleyball tournament. Previously, a powderpuff football game and 3 on 3 basketball competition were held, but this year the tournament will allow students to compete in something different.
There will also be a talent show featuring 10 Texas State students on Nov. 1 and a large attendance is expected according to Coordinator for Student Activities Sylvia Reyes. The top four kings and queens will be announced at the show, along with the other royalty. Voting will run online through Oct. 25.
Homecoming 2017 begins Oct. 27 and runs through Nov. 4. Bobcat Stadium will host the homecoming game against New Mexico State. PHOTO BY JOSH MENDS
The longest Homecoming tradition at Texas State, the Soap Box Derby, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on Nov. 2. Reyes said the event helps showcase the university’s uniqueness. “Homecoming, in general, builds a sense of community for the campus,” Reyes said. “It’s a chance for current students, staff and alumni to come together, and to bond and make new memories, while meeting new people.” The day of the game there will be a 5K race hosted by Pro-Rec, the tailgate and Homecoming halftime where the king and queen will be crowned by last year’s royalty.
“Academics is a huge part of this university, but it’s not the only part,” Mohammed said. “Take some time to be prideful of the events [on] this campus. Homecoming week is really about bringing everyone together and participating.” Galindo said Homecoming is for students and faculty to display their pride, while alumni are able to come back and remember their time at Texas State. “It’s one big week of events to celebrate the student body and embrace their different talents,” Galindo said. “It’s exciting to build the community and have everyone become a part of the Bobcat family.”
CALENDAR
SCHEDULE for 2017
HOMECOMING By Shayan Faradineh News Editor Homecoming at Texas State is the university's longest-running annual tradition that joins alumni, students and the community. The Homecoming festivities below all lead up to a Saturday game at Bobcat Stadium, in which Bobcats will face New Mexico State University.
Friday, Oct. 27: Spirit Flag Competition Any organization may decorate a flag. Flags must be completed and brought to the SACA Office on the fourth floor by Friday, Oct. 27, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
to be displayed in the LBJ Student Center.
Saturday, Oct. 28: Coed 4v4 Volleyball; Student Recreation Center 12-5 p.m.
Get into the homecoming spirit by visiting Texas State's own homecoming carnival for games and food, and then head over to the LBJSC for a spirit rally.
Wednesday, Nov. 1: Talent Show; Evans Auditorium 7-9:30 p.m.
Teams consisting of two males and two females will compete to get 25 points with a two-point advantage. The winner receives bragging rights and a trophy.
The top 14 performances from auditions held in early October will compete on stage.
Monday, Oct 3:
Friday, Nov. 3:
Carnival LBJ Mall 11 a.m.2p.m. and Spirit Rally LBJ Student Center Amphitheater 12-1 p.m.
Soap Box Derby; Read Street 3-5 p.m. Originally sponsored by the Interfraternity Council, the Soap Box Derby has been
held since 1967. For the 50th Anniversary, organizations will build a soap box and race down a large wooden ramp. Soap boxes are stopped by gravity, brakes or sometimes hay bales.
Saturday, Nov. 4: Football Game; Bobcat Stadium 2 p.m. The Bobcats, ranked 11th in the Sun Belt Conference with an overall record of 1-6, will play the Aggies at Bobcat Stadium. For more information about homecoming, students are encouraged to contact the Student Association for Campus Activities at 512245-8263 or homecoming@ txstate.edu.
The University Star
Tuesday, October 24 , 2017 | 9
HOMECOMING
Katie Burrell Lifestyle Editor @KatieNicole96
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
DERBY
Annual Homecoming Soap Box Derby celebrates its 50-year anniversary By Lauren Rexroad Lifestyle Reporter The sound of buggy wheels against the Texas heat concrete can be heard each year as chants fill the air at Texas State's annual Soap Box Derby in homemade cars. The race was originally started in 1967 and is a car race involving registered and chartered student organizations, residence halls and Greek organizations. The 50th anniversary of the derby is being held on Reed Street between Blanco Hall and the Campus Recreation Center on Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. This homecoming tradition is being put together by the Student Association of Campus
interdisciplinary studies senior, helped coordinate this year's race. “I think it is one of the longest traditions that we have actually had not just a part of homecoming, but as a part of the university as well,” Mohammed said. For the event’s anniversary, SACA will have 50th anniversary balloons as well as 50th anniversary T-shirts provided by Jack Rahmann, LBJ Student Center director. SACA and the Alumni Association hosted a soapbox car raffle where organizations could enter to receive a rental soapbox car. The raffle provided four organizations with a soapbox car to decorate and use for the competition. The LBJ Student Center provided three cars for the raffle and the Alumni As-
"I think it is one of the longest traditions that we have actually had, not just a part of homecoming, but as a part of the university as well." -Kathryn Arnold Activities. Each team is put into a bracket and the group that wins each round goes on to compete in the semifinals. The semifinals are split into two other brackets and the winners of those move on to compete in the finals. The winner receives a three-tiered trophy. Esha Mohammed, mass communication senior and SACA Pride and Traditions Coordinator. and Maria Galindo,
sociation provided the fourth. Kathryn Arnold, student and young alumni relations coordinator, said the San Marcos Hall won the Alumni Associations soap box car. “I think it’s a great tradition that we as an association love and many of our alumni are excited to see return each year,” Arnold said. “We are happy to support it in lots of ways and this soap box car has been a lot of fun to give
Soapbox derby racers fly down the hill for the big race in 2015. STAR FILE PHOTO
more students the opportunity to participate in it as well.” Tommy Hernandez, philosophy sophomore and Omega Delta Phi member, said his organization was one of the winners of the raffle and will compete in their winning car. They plan to decorate their soap box car with the help of the Texas State Strutters. They chose to include the
Strutters in the decorating process because they wanted the Strutters to be able to participate in a Homecoming event. “We wanted to get involved in the homecoming events this year because we know that the Strutters can’t really be involved due to their practices and stuff so we wanted to make sure to do all of the events,” Hernandez said.
GET GAME TICKETS - TXSTATEBOBCATS.COM
10 | Tuesday, October 24, 2017
OPINIONS
The University Star May Olvera Opinions Editor @yungfollowill
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
DEFUND
Underachieving football programs should be cut like public schools By Tafari Robertson Opinions columnist As Homecoming week is upon us, students and alumni who otherwise are completely unconcerned with Texas State football put on their most spirited performances of school pride in exchange for free T-shirts and alcohol. While a simple comparison between the attendance at any weekend’s tailgate and the second half of the game will show you where student’s priorities lie, Texas State continues to spend an egregious amount of money on its athletics program at the expense of the students. Though Texas State fits into a larger trend of increased spending on athletics at public universities, the amount of debt covered by students in tandem with the poor performance of our football team should bring up certain questions. In an era where educators are constantly being told to live within their means or risk being cut altogether, why not hold college athletic programs to the same standard? If performance and revenue were serious considerations in the budgets of athletic programs, it is not hard to imagine Texas State football not living up to the standards of success that educational programs are held to so critically. In 2015, five school districts across Texas were shut down for failing to meet “scholastic or fiscal benchmarks,” a move that affected nearly 10,000 students. Despite consecutive seasons at the bottom of the Sun Belt conference, recently-hired coach Everett Withers is already the highest paid official at Texas State University, surpassing President Denise Trauth’s salary by more than $100,000. According to a report from The University Star last spring, the Texas State Athletics program spends, “over $30 million annually and lost more than $20 million during the 2014-15 fiscal year.” However, students cover $17.6 million of this debt by way of the highest athletics student fee in the state at $300 per 15-hour semester. While advocates for this spending suggest that athletics programs help bring exposure to the university and
ILLUSTRATION BY HALEY PRIETO
unify the institution, tailgates suggest that football is not the most important variable in this function. In fact, Homecoming week serves as proof
Texas State’s athletics program, such as the scholarships and educational opportunities offered to low-income students, could be easy to replace
According to a report from the University Star last spring, the Texas State Athletics program spends, “over $30 million annually and lost more than $20 million during the 2014-15 fiscal year.” that much of the community attributed to our losing football team is easily replicated by well-organized on-campus events and alumni engagement. Even the most pertinent benefits of
with half the amount of student fees without wasting the time of players that the coach himself claims are not as talented as previous year’s team. To be clear, the time wasted is not of
students participating in a sport that they justifiably love, but rather the time taken away from their education and potential opportunities dashed by the strict NCAA guidelines for studentathletes in regards to amateurism. Hopeful fans of Texas State football insist that the team we have now is merely a part of the development stages of a team that one day may be successful in a conference described on Bleacherreport.com as “clearly at the bottom of the (Football Bowl Subdivision) barrel.” Perhaps it is time we prioritize education over athletics and no longer tolerate using the money of students to cover avoidable debts. - Tafari Robertson is a public relations senior
WEINSTEIN
convenience over justice By Kaiti Evans Opinions columnist The recent continuation of sexual allegations against Harvey Weinstein is nothing new to Hollywood. If this is something actors and socialites has swept under the rug for decades, why do they feel inclined to come out with all their dirty little secrets now? The answer is simple: convenience. The sheer fact that no one had ever told the media about Weinstein’s horrific misconduct leads me to believe that everyone was okay with the man doing what he wanted. At that point, keeping quiet would benefit Hollywood. When there is an incomprehensible amount of people who are not interested in seeking justice, but instead a way to maintain their riches, sexual allegations ranging from harassment to rape will obviously not be talked about; especially when Harvey Weinstein is the one doing all the damage and simultaneously signing their checks. Weinstein was, and still is, one of the most well-known producers in the industry. The power he had in his own world led everyone to believe he could crush them at any given moment. The only reason anyone in Hollywood has criticized, mentioned or condemned Weinstein is because everyone else is doing it too; it's easy to take a stand after everyone else already has. If anyone in Hollywood truly cared about what happens to women behind the scenes, they would have spoken up when it happened. Instead, we, as an audience, receive
ILLUSTRATION BY KENNEDY SWIFT
simple-minded tweets from watered down sheep who call themselves “stars.” They are nothing but scared, little children, hiding behind their fame and waiting for an opportunity to make themselves look and feel better. Unfortunately, that comes at a cost.
Women in the cruel entertainment industry are still at risk from plenty of men just like Weinstein who have not been stopped yet because they are deemed too powerful. These monsters keep growing in power because no one in Hollywood
has enough guts to stand up and say enough is enough. Actors, in fact, are more afraid of not getting a not-sointeresting movie role or their desired, self-serving fame.
SEE WEINSTEIN PAGE 11
The University Star
OPINIONS
Tuesday, October 24 , 2017 | 11 May Olvera Opinions Editor @yungfollowill
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
MAIN POINT
We are journalists Sports reporters for various publications have had a difficult time covering Texas State’s football team. Newspapers like The University Star, The Austin American-Statesman, and The San Marcos Daily Record have all faced challenges obtaining interviews with the football players— not because of any lack of talent, but because of the bureaucracy that dominates the university’s athletics department. Despite the wishes of the athletic department’s administration, we have been taught in every mass communications and journalism course we’ve ever taken to get those interviews by any means necessary. This is the second season under head football coach Everett Withers, and the team remains anything but a point of pride for Texas State. The team had a 2-10 record in the 2016 season, with no wins in the Sun Belt Conference. The current season has shown little improvement. Despite the team’s lack of success, coverage should still be a top priority to the university, especially if they ever want to increase game attendance. However, sports information directors have blocked our coverage of the football team. When trying to reach out to players – our very own peers – without first
going through a sports information director, we are punished for it. We are told “to find a new beat to cover,” and, “you are no longer welcome to be around the team anymore.” What the athletics department doesn’t seem to understand is that we are journalists. Our job is to tell the stories of others. It is hard enough for us to tell stories that readers actually want to read when covering a football team that is 1-6— a team that has had two consecutive losing seasons under coach Withers. The student body views the team as a joke, as seen in the low attendance at any regular-season game. It’s fairly understandable for the athletics department to be weary of what kind of coverage coach Withers’ losses will bring; however, we should not be punished. We should not be told what we can and cannot report on as journalists. We have had student-athletes reach out to The University Star requesting more coverage of their teams. We are respected by student-athletes, who, at whatever cost, want their stories to be heard. We respect them too. They don’t need a sports information director to tell them when they can speak and who to speak to. Sports reporters should not have to go through a middleman to obtain
The silhouette of a football and a bobcat symbol is proudly on display at Bobcat Stadium. PHOTO BY JOSH MENDS
their interviews. We all attend Texas interview two players per week. State, and the student-athletes are our We have been defending the First peers. Amendment since 1911, and will What is there that the football team continue to do so for years to come. has to hide this season? We are not We will not be told what to do and allowed to talk to the quarterbacks. how to do it. We will cover the beats We are not allowed to talk to freshthat we want, and will not be stopped men athletes, which, with 46 playfrom doing what we have been taught ers, make up about half of the 2017 is our responsibility as journalists. roster. Even then, the sports inforWe will continue to get the story by mation directors only allow us to any means necessary.
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.
SATIRE
Bobcat football should consist of actual bobcats By Garrett Buss Opinions columnist Football season is finally back and we get to watch the Bobcats duke it out against some of the best college teams in America. As students of this fine university, it is our duty to support our great team in any way we can. Recently, however, there seems to be something missing in our football program, a certain je ne sais quoi that is lacking. I have an idea that could revolutionize our approach to America’s game, and ultimately, the future of Texas State entirely. Our football team should consist of real bobcats. This change would be quite simple.
First, we catch 11 bobcats to draft onto the team. Second, we make cool new football uniforms for the beasts.
While this may seem like an impossible task, I have the utmost faith that our athletic department is fully capable of finding a way. We could follow Hollywood’s example and have an outfit similar to Air Bud’s ensemble in Air bud: Golden Reciever.
FROM PAGE 10 WEINSTEIN Every person who knew about Weinstein’s hobby of raping and assaulting women without ever stopping him did just as much damage as he did to the 30 plus women that came forward. What is even more sickening is that there are probably numerous women who still remain silent. The people who watched from the sidelines and turned their heads are
munity. At this point, anyone who highly regards Hollywood opinion is laughable. Everything they have ever said, what they say today, and choose to say tomorrow will only improve their quality of life. The only thing we, as an audience, can do is take their words with a grain of salt. Hollywood lacks intelligence,
Hollywood only cares about itself cowards. To knowingly let a man like Weinstein do whatever he pleases to whomever he pleases is disgusting. I am nearly inclined to say those who knowingly let it happen are more horrible than the man who committed the crimes. I hope I am not alone in saying that Hollywood and everyone involved, aside from the victims, of course, are inevitably and inherently untrustworthy. They spew ideas about making America a better place, but won't even rise to the occasion in their own com-
Finally, we teach the bobcats how to play some football. Over the course of any given year,
allegiance and most of all, a conscience. They do not care about their fellow Americans; they do not care about the people in their own industry, and they certainly do not care about the women of this world. Hollywood only cares about itself, and the sooner everyone realizes it, the sooner they may start changing their all-about-me attitude. They will continue to do what is best for them if they get to keep their money. - Kaitlin Evans is a journalism major
attendance to football games held at Bobcat Stadium slowly declines at a consistent rate. Implementation of this
new technique will surely keep attendance consistently high. Thousands upon thousands of patrons will flock to the stadium, and the mascot will finally live up to its name. With increased attendance, our campus will see a monumental spike in profits. Once word gets out regarding our innovative team of wild animals, ticket sales alone may be enough for our school to finally get a wrecking crew to demolish Blanco Hall. An extra bonus? Bobcats cannot drive cars, and parking around campus will consequentially improve.
SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 12
12 | Tuesday, October 24, 2017
OPINIONS
The University Star May Olvera Opinions Editor @yungfollowill
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
BIDEN
Joea centrist Biden: chump By Bradley Crowder Opinions columnist After watching his party be decimated, losing election after election, Vice President Joe Biden, a man who consistently claims to not be running for president, published a blog post in September defending the very same centrist politics that saw his party
The hardest part about the Trump administration is knowing this foul stench is likely stuck in the air for another term.
ILLUSTRATION BY ISRAEL GONZALEZ
By this logic, a 19-year-old HEB checker has as much of an impact on the direction of the global economy as Bank of America or Google. Comments so out of touch with the American electorate make it difficult to be shocked at the Democrat's monumental loss in 2016. The Democratic Party is fundamentally incapable of connecting with reality, especially that of working people. When a wave of populism comes ready to sweep that party into the halls of power, the Democratic leadership throws up the wave breakers of centrism. After all their hostility toward the left-wing, painting them as being too tied to principles to be able to achieve
absolutely obliterated by a tiny-handed sexual predator. Shockingly, self-reflection does not seem to be the strong suit of America’s favorite charming, but creepy uncle. Biden tries to strike a folksy tone in his blog as he warns us not to “single out big corporations for all the blame.”
FROM PAGE 11 SATIRE It is no secret that Texas State football, while incredible, is not as well known across the country as that of other Texas collegiate teams. If we instituted this innovative plan of replacing all of our players with deadly, feral bobcats, we would certainly gain a new and unique sense of school spirit. Some may find this idea ridiculous, dangerous and in poor taste. Many people have suggested that since the bobcats will likely reject all attempts at training in the rules of football, it will become less of a game and more of a “wild-bobcats-attacking-everything-they-can” event. To combat these notions, some clarifications are in order. A commonly expressed question is, “Isn’t this like dog fighting?” The answer to that is no. The bobcats will not be fighting each other. They will be fighting human men. Such a concept is more similar to the gladiator matches of ancient Rome, whose legacy lives on to this day.
Another commonly expressed concern is whether football players will die. Some certainly will, but that is a chance we have to take. In any case, the average football player’s career (if they make it to the NFL) is 3.3 years. Given the choice, we all would give up 3.3 measly years of fame and glory for the chance to be slain by a mighty bobcat on the field of dreams. Many also ask, “Is this unethical?” Firstly, bobcats have no ethics. They are brutal killing machines with only one goal: murder. To even think about the “moral implications” of bobcat football is to court death. We must think about the collective good of our university if we want to truly make a difference. This idea is certainly risky, but these risks are worth taking if they help our university create a legacy that we can be proud of. -Garrett Buss is a theatre arts junior and shouldn’t be put in charge of anything
power, the Democrats have conclusively proven that they cannot hang on to neither principles nor power. The politics of the center are over, wrecked upon the hubris of a failed political dynasty. No amount of tonedeaf pandering will revive the corpse of the Clinton Coalition. It took the charm of the world’s coolest war criminal from the Obama era to keep the face of the party intact while the guts inside rotted away. The hardest part about the Trump administration is knowing this foul stench is likely stuck in the air for another term. The Democratic leadership is still too scattered, too incompetent, too cravenly tied to the gauche soirees
of the ultra-rich to take a real look at the world and say plainly that corporations are in fact to blame. As long as we are stuck having to decide between the politics of soft, entitled man-babies like Donald Trump or our very own student body president Connor Clegg on one side, or the insufferable gasbags like Biden or Pelosi on the other, we are literally doomed. If Biden is so concerned about jobs and the economy, let him hire all the hands he needs to finally bury the putrid corpse of his soulless party. We need space for a new party to be born.
RECYCLE THE
UNIVERSITY STAR
The University Star
SPORTS
Tuesday, October 24, 2017 | 13 Lisette Lopez Sports Editor @lisette_1023
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
BASKETBALL
From age five to year four of college, always working toward the next level By Brooke Phillips Assistant Sports Editor Pushing themselves to the next step is something that many athletes strive to do whether it is either on or off of the court or field. One Texas State student, has been pushing herself ever since she laid hands on her first basketball. Senior guard Taeler Deer has been playing basketball ever since she competed in a coed team at age 5. She was first inspired to start playing by her stepdad. Although Deer's first love was basketball, she also played other sports like volleyball and ran track and field. She enjoyed these sports, but it was in her freshman year of high school she realized her passion was in basketball. From that point forward, basketball
“
I would love to play professional basketball, I’ve always wanted to. It would mean a lot because it would show how much work I’ve put in at the college level and the high school level and the middle school level to keep playing. -Taeler Deer
was Deer's primary sport. When it came time to choose a college to play for, her options were more than plentiful. Deer received offers to play basketball at schools like Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi, Southern Mississippi,
Taeler Deer, senior guard, stands near the three-point line in a past game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL SPILLER
Texas Southern University, Texas A&M University-Prairie View and many more. However, being a Houston native, Deer knew she did not want to stray too far away from home, so she decided to accept the offer to be a Bobcat. “My family is probably at 80 percent of my games,” Deer said. “My stepdad, mom and sister are my biggest supporters.” Along with her family, Deer also found support right away from the Bobcat community. “The coaches made me feel like I could change the program here,” Deer said. “It felt like home, the people were accepting and loving. The teammates and coaches really helped me push myself as hard as I can.” During her freshman year at Texas State, Deer played in 27 games and averaged 17.0 minutes per game. Sophomore year, her playing time increased slightly and she played in 29 games. Deer continued to work hard and told herself that junior year would be the year she finds herself, and she proved to herself and the team just that.
Last season, Deer started in 23 out of the 31 regular season games. Being a starter meant that she had pushed herself to what she knew she was capable of. “I love just being able to play the game,” Deer said. “Just continuing to play, seeing myself get better, helping my teammates get better and them helping me get better. It’s a hard grind, but it made me better as a person." Deer’s success on the court did not go unnoticed, and she was able to add a few accomplishments to her collegiate athletic resume. “My greatest accomplishment here has been Sports Madness Mid-Major National Player of the Week and Third Team All Conference,” Deer said. “I need to do better this year and try to get First Team All Conference.” Although she already has success under her belt, she is looking ahead to the upcoming season in hopes of improving and pushing herself even further than where she is right now. “First of all, I have to get my free throw percentage up to around 89 per-
cent,” Deer said. “I also need to get my three-point shot more consistent and be more aggressive and stay focused every game.” Deer’s determination is not just selfish to herself and her own play, but she also considers the team as a whole. “I have to leave everything on the court by trying to get a championship and try to win the regular season,” Deer said. Deer is staying focused and looking in the present, but being a senior, she has already started to think about what her future could look like—which is a motivating factor all on its own. “I would love to play professional basketball, I’ve always wanted to,” Deer said. “It would mean a lot because it would show how much work I’ve put in at the college level and the high school level, middle school level to keep playing. Playing at the professional level would really mean a lot to me.” While Deer is looking forward to her last year as a Bobcat—on and off the court—she will never stop working toward the next level.
14 | Tuesday, October 24, 2017
SPORTS
The University Star Lisette Lopez Sports Editor @lisette_1023
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
VOLLEYBALL
Houston native take volleyball season by
STORM
By Melea Polk Sports Reporter Freshman middle blocker Tyeranee Scott graduated from Jersey Village High School in 2017 and moved to San Marcos the same summer. In high school, Scott lettered all four years and also served as team captain. She was named to the All Cy-Fair District team all four years and was also featured in VYPE Magazine’s “Houston Volleyballers” section. During Scott’s senior year, she led the Cy-Fair School District in blocks, 1.30 per set, and landed in the district top five for total kills with 406. Outside of school, Scott competed with the Houston Junior Volleyball Club where she won a 2014 Junior National title in the 15 USA Division. Scott also played for Asics Willowbrook prior to her time at Houston Junior Volleyball Club.
“My experience here at Texas State so far has been really great and I would not trade the people I have met and lessons I have learned for anything.”
-Tyeranee Scott
“The difference between high school and college volleyball is that there are higher expectations and more competition,” Scott said. “Basically, it is definitely harder because the girls here are more competitive and taller.” Scott chose Texas State because of its location and how family oriented it felt on her visit. “I chose Texas State because it is close to home and it is really family oriented,” Scott said. “I felt like I was at home when I came on my official visit last October.” In addition, it was a plus to play for Texas State head coach Karen Chisum, who is currently in her 38th season coaching the Bobcats. “I personally think it is pretty cool to play for someone who has so much experience in the game," Scott said. "She
Tyranee Scott, freshman middleblocker, waves to the crowd Oct. 20 as she is introduced over thoud speaker. The Bobcats took a clean sweep against Georgia Southern University. PHOTO BY HANNAH FELSKE
is a great person to be around. Although she is super sweet, she will yell and get on you. I know it is all out of love and the fact that she wants you to be the best you can be.” She left behind Terrance and Alicia Scott, for the first time to become a member of a bigger family. Although her parents are three hours away, she manages to talk to them every day. “I am the only child,” Scott said. “It was really hard at first but I am adjusted now. My parents come to most of my home games. If they can’t make a game, they usually send me good luck videos and messages. If I am on television, they will send me a picture. They are super supportive.” Scott was welcomed with open arms by the upperclassmen, despite all the stereotypes she had imagined. The business major has continued to build a relationship with her team members, on and off the field. “Usually you would think the seniors are really rude and they're not,” Scott said. “They are so nice and some of my favorite people.” Despite being a freshman, Scott has earned her spot as a starter for the Texas State Volleyball team. “It feels amazing,” Scott said. “I did not know that I would get to where I am so fast. It’s pretty great, but I know I have to continue to work hard.” Scott has continued to make her presence known in each game. The Houston native has averaged 1.61 points per set, 1.24 kills per set and .65 blocks per set against teams like Sam Houston State University, Texas Christian University and Baylor University. Expectations for the season are numerous, and include waking up at 5:30
Tyeranee Scott, freshman middle blocker (right), and Jaliyah Bolden, senior middle blocker (left), double block the ball Oct. 20 during the game against Georgia Southern University at Strahan Coliseim. PHOTO BY HANNAH FELSKE
a.m. even during the summer, lifting weights and practices on top of a regular school schedule. Although it has been difficult, Scott would not trade her experience for the world.
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“It was not the easiest to adjust to, but I managed,” Scott said. “My experience here at Texas State so far has been really great and I would not trade the people I have met and lessons I have learned for anything.”
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16 | Tuesday, October 24, 2017
SPORTS
The University Star Lisette Lopez Sports Editor @lisette_1023
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
SOCCER
Transfer soccer player makes impact Texas State
Kaylee Davis, senior forward, fights for control of the ball during Texas State's 4-2 win over Troy Oct. 20 at the Bobcat Soccer Complex. PHOTO BY KIRBY CRUMPLER
By Orlando Williams Sports Reporter Athletes aren't born knowing what sport they want to play. Life intervenes and eventually, athletes come to find their passions. This was the case for Kaylee Davis, sophomore forward. With the help of her mother, it didn’t take the Bobcat long to figure out soccer was the sport for her. “My mom signed me up for it," Davis said. "She was actually the coach of my first team, so that’s kind of funny to talk about now. I was actually in gymnastics before that and ran summer track and I was pretty quick so we had a couple of family friends that were like 'you should put her in soccer' so they did and here we are.” Davis began receiving scholarships at the beginning of her sophomore year at Allen High School. She made a commitment that same year, but it wasn't to Texas State. The athlete had committed to Sam Houston State. Davis played one year at Sam Houston State and appeared in 19 games. She ended the season with four goals and one assist, but it wasn’t anything on the
field that made her want to transfer. It was her pursuit of academic excellence off the field. “Unfortunately, academic wise, my goals there weren’t really lining up at Sam Houston, and I had the opportunity to transfer,” Davis said. When Davis was looking to transfer, she made sure not to be too far from her hometown in Allen. “I definitely wanted to stay somewhat close to home,” Davis said. When she visited Texas State, the academics allowed her to do what she wanted, and the exciting atmosphere was a bonus. “Outside of school, the city is so much fun," Davis said. "There’s a lot to do and I clicked really well with the girls on the team." Davis' first time in a Bobcat uniform was playing against University of Texas-San Antonio. She said it was a little nerve-racking, but the athlete adjusted to the game and her new school very quickly. “I obviously had nerves and was anxious, but after that first game I felt more comfortable,” Davis said. Davis already has four goals with four
games this year and the Sun Belt Conference Tournament left to play. Two of those goals came against Appalachian State Oct. 1.
“In preseason, even before we started training, we all got on the same page of what our main goal was and that’s to hopefully win a ring and win conference and go to the tournament.” - Kaylee Davis “I was able to score two goals which was super fun," Davis said. "We beat
App State 4-0 which was huge for our team. And it wasn’t just me scoring. We had a bunch of other people shooting and two other people scoring. It was a real confidence booster for the team as a whole, so regardless if I scored or not, it was fun for the team and it gave us confidence and just let us know that we’ve got a good chance at this and we can do it.” Davis and the Bobcats are now at an overall 10-5-1. However, according to Davis, their success has just as much to do with what happened before the season as what has happened during. “Our chemistry is a huge part,” Davis said. “In preseason, even before we started training, we all got on the same page of what our main goal was and that’s to hopefully win a ring and win conference and go to the tournament.” However, Davis believes the team needs to calm down and not get too arrogant. “Definitely not trying to let our emotions get too high with it," Davis said. "We have to stay level headed, we're just taking it one game at a time and focusing on the next opponent."
FRISBEE
Ultimate Frisbee bring out the new season hopeful By Anthony Flores Sports Reporter The argument over what constitutes a legitimate sport has been a heated topic of conversation for as long as most sports fans can remember: one that seems to be getting hotter as various alternative sports arise. Sport is defined as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” By that definition, ultimate, or ultimate frisbee, falls well within the parameters of being a true sport. Established in 1968, the sport was the brainchild of a group of students from Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ. From there the sport gained popularity amongst many college campuses across America, becoming a signature of late '60s American counterculture. In its almost 50 years of existence, ultimate has grown exponentially, spreading across the globe to over 40 countries. In recent years the game has been recognized as an official Olympic and World Games sport. The sport, largely popular amongst college males, has seen a growth in popularity in the female college demographic. Texas State has its own women’s ultimate club, and while compared to the men’s team it is smaller, less experienced and still finding its way, it’s a team made up of players with a strong passion for the sport. “It’s still kind of picking up, I think we’ve been here for like five years, so it’s a relatively new team, new sport,” Keely Freund, team president, said. “We’re still learning about new tournaments to go
to, but it’s just really fun, so it’s not a surprise how quickly it picks up.” Recruiting new members and focusing on the growth of the team is a key priority for the young team. Focusing on incoming freshmen and using the Quad to spread the word of the team are some of the strategies the team utilizes. Despite the difficulty in recruiting women to the sport, the team remains optimistic. “It’s tough for sure but definitely doable, just trying to get Quad days,” Hannah Starkel, team co-captain, said.. “It’s hard. Getting girls to play Frisbee is super difficult. The guys have like 80 people come out to practice and we’re lucky if we get eight.” Part of the team’s pitch to potential club members revolves around the basic idea that the sport can be played by and is meant for anyone, regardless of experience playing. “You don’t need experience to sign up," Freund said. "We’ll show you everything. I think that’s a cool thing, 'cause you can start right from the bottom and be on a sports team. I was in band in high school so I was like 'Woah I can be on a sports team.'” The team begins to play in the fall, which mostly consists of more casual scrimmage games, while the spring season pits schools against each other in competitive play. “Fall season tournaments are sanctioned, which means they’re not super official, just a bunch of scrimmages more so and practices,” Starkel said. “In spring we’ll play other schools around Texas and it gets a little bit more competitive." Playing ultimate can be physically
The ultimate fristbee team poses together on the field. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEELY FREUND
challenging, and good cardio is a must with the amount of running involved during play. “It’s a lot of running," Starkel said. "Your feet definitely hurt after you get done." One of the more challenging and nontraditional parts of the game is the self-officiating, which can be difficult for some players to adjust to. “For new players for sure, the hardest part would probably be getting used to
playing,” Starkel said. “It’s self-officiated; you have to know the rules.” The co-captain enjoys the welcoming, all-encompassing nature found in the ultimate community. “I just love the sport; I love the ultimate community, even outside of Texas State,” Starkel said. “It’s awesome just how close everyone is. (Everyone is open) to letting new people into the sport; it’s just growing and growing.”