October 31, 2017

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 @universitystar | universitystar.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

The second annual Phi Kappa Psi and Delta Zeta haunted house began Oct. 29.

The entire house was funded and put on by eight members of the fraternity.

PHOTO BY FELIPE GOMEZ

Volume 107, Issue 10

Tuition might increase next year

By Shayan Faradineh News Editor

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL For spooky stories and pumpkins patches visit pages 4-6

Scholar by day, drag queen by night

By Ashley Brown Lifestyle Reporter Face contouring, stunning outfits and performing on multiple stages only begins to describe one particular student's out of school activitites.

Jacob Immel is a theater sophomore who performs and competes locally as a drag queen named Mars.

After class on Wednesdays, Mars rushes home and uses the next four hours to get into her hair and makeup.

When she finishes, she is on the road to Austin, Texas to compete in Drag Survivor, a televised show filmed in Austin.

Mars used to make weekly appearances at Stonewall Warehouse on Tuesday Nights. Tuesdays at Stonewall are for up and coming drag queens to perform. After performing there for a while, Mars moved over to Drag Survivor in Austin at Oil Can Harry’s.

Immel got into drag his sophomore year of high school after he found out what a drag race was.

“As a kid, I was always like, different from the boys,” Immel said. "I didn’t really want to play with sports. I was friends with all the girls. And then when I found out what drag was, I was like 'oh, that’s what I want to do.'

It gives you a new found confidence once you start. It’s freeing.”

Immel started practicing privately in

Heritage Association weighs in on Capes Dam controversy The Heritage Association of San Marcos sent a letter to City Council on Sept. 27 requesting the council reconsider its decision to remove Capes Dam.

Mars, a drag queen, competes in a drag race in Austin.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KURSTEN CUTKELVIN

his bedroom shortly after his discovery of drag culture. He would do this without his parents knowing, which is considered a bedroom queen. Thus, Mars was born.

After keeping it private for a while, Immel made the decision to start wearing makeup to school while he was still in high school as a way to come out to his mom.

Immel said his mom talked to him, wanting to know more about it and he

made sure to specify that he was not transgender but instead a performer.

“Sometimes I want to wear makeup to school but I’m still a boy,” Immel said. “When you do drag you’re not actually living your life as this person.

You’re just putting them on for a few hours and taking them off and then you’re back to your normal self.”

car owners to be cautious with their belongings. Most burglars aim to steal physical money or items that would not be identifiable at a pawn shop.

Many of these burglars are not one-time offending criminals. Officer

"There are still a number of steps that must take place before removal can occur."

-Jane Hughson

Otto Glenewinkel said many of these crimes are committed by roving gangs of career looters that hit multiple universities in a row, all along I-35.

Capes Dam closed January 2014. In March 2016, the council voted to have it removed, in accordance with state and federal agencies such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Part of the councils vote was based off Thom Hardy's research. Hardy is the chief science officer for the meadows center.

Jane Hughson, Place 4 City Council member and a patron member of the Heritage Association, reassured locals that there won't be an increase in taxes to fund this project.

“When we voted to remove the dam, we were informed that U.S. Fish and Wildlife would pay for the removal,” Hughson said. “There should have been no cost to the city to remove it, so no cost to the taxpayers.”

SEE CRIME PAGE 3

SEE CAPES DAM PAGE 3

SEE DRAG PAGE 4

UPD reports high rate of vehicle burglaries In light of an increased number of vehicle burglaries on and around campus this semester, UPD is urging

SEE TUITION PAGE 2

By Sandra Sadek News Reporter

CRIME

By Tyler Hernandez News Reporter

Administration is seeking to approve a tuition increase of 2.95 percent for the 2018-2019 academic school year.

The increase will raise tuition cost and affect class tuition, athletics, academic programs and the student center fee.

Eric Algoe, vice president of the Division of Finance and Support Services, gave a presentation to students Oct. 25 and explained the budget and where the increase would be distributed.

A student taking the standard 15 credit hours will pay approximately $161 more each semester. The designated tuition will go from about $219 to $230 per semester credit hour. The student center fee and the athletic fee will increase by $18 and $1, respectively.

According to Algoe, the tuition increase will generate $8,984,460. However, due to recent cuts made in the state legislature, the university will generate a revenue of $5,188,275. The revenue will be applied to new academic programs, insurance and scholarships.

2 | Tuesday, October 31 , 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 Engagement Editor: John Lee, starsocial@txstate.edu

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Full-Time Staff Director: Laura Krantz, Lek46@txstate.edu Media Specialist: Dillan Thomson, djt48@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator: Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu

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 31, 2017.

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FROM FRONT TUITION The new academic programs include adding the following degrees, Master of Science in Engineering, Master of Science in Respiratory Therapy, Ph.D. in Anthropology and a Ph.D. in Computer Science.

However, due to recent cuts made in the state legislature, the university will generate a revenue of $5,188,275.

In addition, the money will add several master's degrees for the College of Business and bachelor's degrees in environmental engineering.

The student center fee will increase from $82 to $100.

The increase was included due to the results of a student referendum which passed Feb.

25, 2016. The renovations done to the LBJ Student center will feature more meeting spaces, offices and resources.

Joanne Smith, vice president of Student Affairs, said the student center fee is not set to increase every year.

“This specific increase was due to the student referendum and was spread out between semesters,” Smith said.

The athletics programs will not receive revenue from the $1 fee increase.

The expansion is needed to accommodate commencement ceremonies for Texas State’s record-setting graduating classes and their families.

In addition, the renovations will provide meeting spaces and a transit bus on the east side of campus.

The tuition was increased by 3.95 percent in 2016, and, in 2015, it increased by 2.75 percent. The tuition increase will be discussed and voted on Nov. 16-17 at the Board of Regents meeting at Sam Houston State University.

THE BREAKDOWN How much tuition will increase for a student taking 15 hours Tuition cost per semester credit hour $219

250

$230

200

Current year

150 100

20182019

50

Students will pay

$161

more each semester

GRAPHIC BY VIVIAN MEDINA

ORGANIZATION

Terry Scholars help local organization for Halloween

By Emily Martin Lifestyle Reporter In anticipation of Halloween, several campus organizations are working to give back including the Texas State Terry Scholars. They've partnered with the PODER Learning Center on events and classes for children this year.

The scholars are a part of the Terry Foundation formed by Howard and Nancy Terry. Their goal is to give back to the students of Texas through a scholarship so undergraduates could graduate with absolutely no student debt. Terry Scholars are students who possess qualities of academic excellence and leadership. The organization is dedicated to community service and has become an integral part of helping the campus and the San Marcos community.

During the Halloween season, the Terry Scholars give back to the city of San Marcos by partnering with the PODER Learning Center to organize Halloween themed activities for children.

The center is located within the Allen Woods section of the San Marcos Housing Authority. It serves as a community center for residents who live in the Allen Woods Homes as well as an after-school learning center for children.

Maria Calcaben, resident services coordinator at the PODER Learning Center, said the center exists to build a safer community, especially during the holiday season.

“The importance of having something like the PODER Center here is to help build a stronger community and safer community and also provide a central location for resources people might need to help them get to a better place in their life."

-Maria Calcaben “The importance of having something like the PODER Center here is to help build a stronger community and safer community and also provide a central location for resources people might need to help them get to a better place in their life," Calcaben said.

The center recently organized a zombie apocalypse-themed night in anticipation for Halloween. Nia Pierce, service chair for the Terry Scholars, Couldn't find her online and confirm this. said the event was themed to allow the kids to enjoy Halloween while learning first-aid and teamwork skills.

“They try to have some type of theme that is related to life and not just the event,” Pierce said.

Dressed as zombies, the Terry Schol-

Max Estudillo, theatre eduction senior, helps with makeup at the Poder House for Zombie Apocalypse Night Oct. 25. PHOTO BY KIRBY CRUMPLER

ars taught the children about teamwork as they were encouraged to work together to participate in a scavenger hunt.

The kids had to find items to help them survive without being caught by a zombie.

They also organized trick-or-treating and a haunted house. They take the kids in the after-school program to Springtown Villa, an apartment complex for senior citizens and those living with disabilities, to trick or treat with the residents and participate in inter-generational activities.

After trick-or-treating, the kids are brought back to the center where they can participate in a haunted house.

There are also little games available for the children to participate in. Children living in the neighborhood are invited to come.

“A lot of what we do is volunteerbased, even setting up the haunted house. That usually takes all day. Tearing down as well and cleaning up, the volunteers help with that,” Calcaben said, Kathy Israel, Terry Scholar and resident of the Allen Woods community, said she enjoys what the scholars do because it benefits everyone, including children who may not get to trick or treat otherwise “It’s basically just to give the kids an outlet so that they can enjoy the basics of life. Not every kid gets to go trick-ortreating, not every kid has that chance to go to a haunted house. It’s giving the kids an opportunity to be together and have fun and have something positive in their lives.”

The Halloween event is an annual tradition locals and children can look forward to for next year's holiday season.

Luis Maldonado, CIS senior, has his make up done before PODER House's Zombie Apocalypse night Oct. 25 at the Poder House. Maldonadois is a volunteer with the Terry Scholars who helped put on the event.

PHOTO BY KIRBY CRUMPLER

The University Star

NEWS

Tuesday, October 31 , 2017 | 3 Shayan Faradineh News Editor @shayanfaradineh

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

FROM FRONT CRIME “Working with other departments, especially universities, we know that there’s big groups," Glenewinkel said "They love I-35 because there’s universities all up and down. They’ll start in Waco, then they’ll go and spend seven to ten days on one campus or on one town and then they’ll move.”

Due to their experience, the teams are highly efficient; Glenewinkel said that in one instance last semester there were 60 to 70 vehicles burglarized in a single night on the Texas State campus.

“They hit basically every big parking garage on campus,” Glenewinkel said.

“I couldn’t tell you exactly how many we had on that one night, but it was like 60 or 70.”

Curiously, the crime statistics reported annually by the university report that only 21 burglaries were committed on campus in 2015, with 38 occurring in 2014 and 33 in 2013.

Glenewinkel also said the nature of the crime makes perpetrators very difficult to apprehend. The thieves stake out areas and watch police activity before burglarizing vehicles.

“They go walking through, they don’t see a cop for six or seven hours," Glenewinkel said. "Here we have multiple parking garages so they’ll hit one garage and when we start focusing patrols on that garage they’ll hit another one.That's why we don’t catch them very often."

Stephen Prentice, associate director of Parking Services, said that while he was not aware of any increase in vehicle burglaries, the parking areas of Texas State are monitored by a combination

Vehicle burglaries are on the rise on and around campus this semester.

PHOTO BY VICTOR RODRIGUEZ

of cameras and Parking Services officers.

“As part of a (Parking Services) officer’s duty, they patrol the lots to enforce parking rules,” Prentice said. “By virtue of this duty, they are in the lots often and are an extra set of eyes and ears that can report anything suspicious to the UPD.” Prentice said he was not aware of any plans to increase the number of cam-

eras in place to monitor vehicles.

The University Police are urging people parking on campus to practice crime prevention. Glenewinkle said that most vehicle burglaries happen because people neglect to lock doors, roll up windows or hide their valuables.

“Property thefts are the number one crime at the university, but many of these crimes can be averted when you eliminate temptation," Glenewinkel

said.

In the event that a person is the victim of property theft, having the serial numbers of your valuables gives law enforcement a much better chance of finding them.

The University Police Department encourages students concerned about safety while walking on campus to request an escort anytime between dusk and dawn at 512-245-7233.

FROM FRONT CAPES DAM A report indicating the effects on the river as a result of removing the dam was presented to the city by the Watershed Systems Group in 2015. The document reports the full removal of the dam will allow the San Marcos River to return to normal flow depths similar to those currently observed upstream of the backwater section and the channel below the junction with the Mill Race return flow. Furthermore, it will present the best ecological benefits to improve the habitat of Texas wild rice.

The removal of the dam will provide a safe and sustainable recreation corridor without negative impact.

The local public seems divided in regards to the future of the dam, and it has been one of the most popular items on the agenda since Hughson’s return to the City Council in December 2014.

The Heritage Association, however, expressed its discontent with the project despite not taking a stand on any subject in San Marcos for many years. The organization is hoping to be successful in their task by reminding the public that San Marcos would not have been established or been able to thrive without the river and that the dam is one of the oldest existing structures in San Marcos as well as the oldest surviving dam on the river.

According to the letter sent to the City Council, the association claims to “not want to play into the politics of the issue,” however, “the history of the Dam and its importance to the growth

The Gennard family of Cibolo, Texas enjoys the San Marcos River at Capes Dam. STAR FILE PHOTO

of San Marcos are undeniable,” and therefore “its historical significance cannot be downplayed.”

Although voting for the removal occurred last year, there is still much to be

done before City Council can proceed with the demolition. The city has yet to plan a replacement for the structure.

“There are still a number of steps that must take place before removal can occur. There is to be a hearing on the

historical nature of the dam,” Hughson said. “There are multiple permits from multiple agencies required before demolition can begin. It can be months before these permits are issued."

4 | Tuesday, October 31 , 2017

LIFESTYLE

The University Star Katie Burrell Lifestyle Editor @KatieNicole96

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

FROM FRONT DRAG When he came to San Marcos, he met his drag mother at Pride 2016. A drag mom is a mentor figure who has been doing drag longer than her apprentice.

“She called herself a bedroom queen," Mars’ drag mom, Chitah Daniels Kennedy said. "In the teen queen scene, that’s what a lot of the kids do because they can’t go to the clubs, so they’re just getting painted up at home and taking pictures of themselves and that’s their

show."

Mars has been in the top three at Drag Survivor every week for the past four weeks since she started. With Mars being 19, that makes her the youngest contestant in the competition.

Every week the performers are given a challenge for the next week and they compete against each other to be the best drag queen. The winner of all the queens qualifies for a cash prize but the

top three are named winners.

“She always tells a story during her performances and it’s very emotional,” Jakob Sevier, a fan of Drag Survivor, said.

Immel said he loves to perform which is why he chose to major in theater, although he said he would enjoy a drag major or class.

“Drag is for everyone," Immel said.

"There’s always going to be someone

who frowns upon something, but the spirit of drag culture is inclusiveness."

Immel wants to continue with drag for the rest of his life. He said he hopes to make it into the spotlight with the big names in drag to be an inspiration to others. Mars can be found on an Austin stage every week.

ORGANIZATION

Sanderson Sisters sweep LBJ Student Center

By Madison Tetrault Lifestyle Reporter Hocus Pocus Drag Show hosted by the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion With LGBTQIA history month coming to a close and Halloween fast approaching, some Bobcats celebrated with a Hocus Pocus themed drag show.

The Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion held a Hocus Pocus drag show in the LBJ Student Center Oct. 23. The Sanderson sisters, characters from "Hocus Pocus" were played by three San Antonio based drag queensKristi Waters, Cherry Poppins and Natasha Bendnfeel. They put on a lighthearted, hour-long show complete with songs from the original soundtrack and pop music, with a Q&A session to finish it off.

The coordinators of the drag show, Quynh-Huong Nguyen, graduate student and Robert Garcia, finance senior, started planning for the event in June.

“The really cool thing about drag shows is whether or not you’re trans, you’re queer, you’re asexual, gay, lesbian, it allows for those communities to come together in an environment that is entertaining,” Garcia said. "At the same time, even if the audience doesn’t recognize it, it’s also educational."

The show itself, however, was created entirely by Waters, Poppins and Bendnfeel. They were given a few rules and policies from Texas State officials to fol-

low but otherwise had creative freedom in the content and production of the show.

Bringing the show to campus was very important to Nguyen and Garcia, who both realized the benefit of exposing young adults drag culture as a means of education and a way to represent intersecting identities or those struggling with their identity.

“When I was growing up I didn’t see a lot of myself, more particularly queer (people in the media),” Nguyen said.

"The appropriate representation of the queer community is important for students, or even people, who are growing up right now to understand that there are other folks out there who are just as much as like them. Who have these intersecting identities and who are not just white queer folks, but also a person of color, who maybe has disabilities and what not."

Dating all the way back the Stonewall Riots, drag has been a means of expression widely unaccepted by society. Nonbinary and trans people were, and still are, verbally and physically abused for stepping out of what's considered the norm according to Waters “Coming out as a drag queen (to my parents) was actually harder than coming out as a gay man," Waters said. "My dad was all for it. My dad was like, 'hey, yeah that’s my son up there!'"

Although Waters' father was supportive, he said his mother feared for his life and struggled with understanding the

culture.

Garcia said showcasing drag and LGBTQIA culture in a positive and accepting environment opens the conversation on identities and the way young adults feel about their identities, which is an invaluable asset for members of the LQBTQIA community.

“Texas State really does embrace (the)

value of diversity and inclusion, but I’ve also seen within my time here that there are definitely areas of improvement and opportunity in which we could be more inclusive,” Garcia said. "It revolves around making sure that our student community, faculty, and staff are educated, and just more aware."

Professional performers from San Antonio perform at the LBJ Student Center for a drag show. PHOTO BY MADISON TETRAULT

CHURCH

Local church raises money through pumpkin patch

By Erika Conover Lifestyle Reporter From Four Corners, New Mexico to San Marcos and all the way to Port-auPrince, Haiti, 77,000 pumpkins are making quite the impact.

The First United Methodist Church San Marcos held its annual pumpkin patch in October, and this year’s profit is going to School Fuel and For His Glory Outreach.

School Fuel is a program in Hays County which provides food for children who may not have access to meals on the weekend, according to Lou-Marie Heath, chairman of the pumpkin patch. For His Glory Outreach is a nonprofit ministry in Haiti with an orphanage named Maison des Enfants de Dieu, meaning “House of the Children of the Lord.”

“We chose these two (organizations) because they involve children and if we don’t provide for our children, then our world wouldn’t exist,” Heath said. “We can’t live forever, so we have to protect the children.”

The pumpkins are bought from a Navajo reservation in Four Corners where the seeds are planted and harvested. A percentage of the money goes back to the reservation, while the rest is evenly donated to School Fuel and For His Glory Outreach, according to Heath.

School Fuel is a local project that First United works with frequently, church volunteer Penny Slavik, patch volunteer

The University Star

Lou-Marie Heath, pumpkin patch chairman, measures the width of a pumpkin Oct. 26 at First United Methodist Church. The price of the pumpkins is determined by their size, and all of the proceeds are donated to different charities.

PHOTO BY LARA DIETRICH | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

said. During the week, the food bags are prepared for the children and many church members come out to help.

“With School Fuel, that’s helping kids that may even come out to the pumpkin patch and it’s a really nice for thing for people to see that we’re doing something for our town,” Slavik said. “It brings a sense of community.”

According to their website, each month For His Glory Outreach rejects

over 80 children to their orphanage due to limited finances and space. However, for children in the orphanage, there is a school that teaches curriculum up to fourth grade.

“Haiti was chosen because they had a hurricane and then an earthquake right behind it,” Heath said. “They’re a very poor country and the orphanage is set up and run by people who are Christians, and we just feel like that’s what we

should be doing.”

Slavik said the pumpkin patch itself draws out quite a crowd, with people hosting photo shoots and bringing their pets and children out to see the pumpkins. The patch is the closest one to Texas State making it accessible for locals and students not wanting to drive.

“It’s fun to sit here and watch,” Slavik said. “Not everyone who comes purchases a pumpkin, and that’s fine because it’s become a tradition for a lot of people to come out each year.”

At the beginning of October, the pumpkins were unloaded and several university fraternities volunteered their time. Students can also volunteer while the patch is selling pumpkins and Heath said more students are always welcome.

“I really think the students benefit a lot because they’re seeing what’s going on in their community while they’re going to school, and maybe they’ll take some of what they’re learning back to their hometowns,” Heath said. “It’s really a good thing all the way around.”

First United supports the community through donating to programs like School Fuel and by reigning in student volunteers to help San Marcos,according to Heath.

“I think we have one of the best cities in the state as far as I’m concerned,” Heath said. “That’s because of all of the people we have here. Any student that wants to come and volunteer their time, learn something and exercise a little, they’ll have a good time.”

The University Star

LIFESTYLE

Tuesday, October 31 , 2017 | 5 Katie Burrell Lifestyle Editor @KatieNicole96

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

GREEK

Greek life continues tradition of haunted houses

By Lauren Rexroad Lifestyle Reporte The smell of pumpkin spice is in the air, from the free candy to the creepy costumes, the season for haunted houses is here.

During the month of October, haunted house attractions sprout up across Texas to bring thrilling experiences to fans of spooky adventures. These haunted attractions even show up on Texas States campus through student organizations.

The tradition of haunted houses is a long-standing tradition although many who enjoy them do not know how they got started nor where they came from.

According to Monsters Inc. by Lily Rothman in Time Magazine, haunted houses date back centuries, but in the form of “ghost Shows." As time has passed the attractions have become more and more horrific partly due to the increasing terror in Hollywood movies.

The fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi and the sorority Delta Zeta are two Greek organizations at Texas State teamed up together to bring a scary experience to students for $5 a person. The proceeds

from the haunted house will go to the Starkey Hearing Foundation and The Boys and Girls Club of America. The houses ran until 10:30 p.m. at the Phi Kappa Psi house at 428 N Comanche St. Oct. 29-30.

According to Phi Kappa Psi’s president, Todd Podbielski, an urban plan-

ning junior, the Greek organizations started the haunted house as a unique way to raise money for their respective charities. In future years, Phi Kappa Psi and Delta Zeta intend to make it more of a carnival in addition to a haunted house to serve a greater audience, since scary is not for all.

A masked man stares at haunted house victims Oct. 29 during the second annual Phi Kappa Psi and Delta Zeta haunted house. PHOTO BY FELIPE GOMEZ

“We are always trying to find new and innovative ideas to do fun philanthropies that will get more than just Greek and one organization involved,” Podbielski said. "Trying to get more people in the community involved, to get people that live on campus or live near campus something to do that’s fun and not super expensive and all the money goes to something that matters."

Porter Chase, computer science senior, said he has been to several haunted houses throughout his lifetime.

“I feel like when you go to a haunted house everyone is on an even playing field," Chase said. "So, if you get scared and your friend gets scared and their girlfriend or friend gets scared, it’s a lot more fun as a group."

Laura Ross, fashion merchandising senior, has not had the best experiences with haunted houses. When Ross was ten years old, she went to a haunted house with her family at the state fair and only made it about halfway through before they had to carry her out because she became too scared.

"It was just the popping out parts that really scared me," Ross said. "I don't like clowns and it was filled with clowns."

EVENTS

The Dead live on at Tales and Tours

By Leeann Cardwell Lifestyle Reporter The dead came back to life at the 5th annual Tales and Tours event hosted by The Friends of the San Marcos Cemetery where an Austin artist carved a headstone live for on-lookers.

The event took place on Oct. 28 to raise funds for a new, major restoration project in the Roberts Section of the San Marcos cemetery. Local theater students portrayed 10 notable, deceased San Marcos community members as a way to educate the public of the fascinating figures that once lived in the city and live art entertained audiences.

At the end of the event, Cat Quintanilla, an Austin stone sculptor, demonstrated how sculpting was once and still can be an aspect of funerary work, though it is essentially lost to modern American culture.

Quintanilla is a contemporary sculptor whose work can be found in various galleries and sculpture gardens throughout the Hill Country, which is how she ended up performing her carving at Tales and Tours.

A graphic designer trained in fine arts, Quintanilla’s work depicts the quintessential essence of the objects she sculpts. Common themes prevalent in her work include subtle motion, metamorphosis and iconography.

Frequently found in cemeteries today are tombstones engraved with words or images that represent or describe the deceased. However, this traditionally has not been the way graves were marked.

“At one time there was a rich tradition of people getting an individual sculpture of something done that would sit on the deceased’s grave,” Quintanilla said. “It was how they would make a final statement forever.”

A man who was unable to find a unique memorial for his wife who had recently passed away approached Quin-

Actors at the 5th annual tales and tours event dress as famous, decease community members Oct. 28 PHOTO BY LEEANN CARDWELL

tanilla to commission a sculpture for her grave. In white Macedonian marble, Quintanilla sculpted a couple in a circled embrace.

Since then, the demand for Quintanilla’s funerary work has grown, so much so that she has started a guild with other sculptors across the country to ensure that anyone who wants a unique memorial is able to have one made. This new venue for sculpting serves as a companion to her contemporary and outdoor work.

Quintanilla said that she hopes someday the tradition of incorporating sculpture in funerary work will once again be prevalent in cemeteries as a way to celebrate and remember the lives of the dead.

The funds raised at this year’s event are dedicated toward beautifying and

QUOTE

Frankie Child, geography and environmental science freshman rescues a stray dog. on Oct. 31. PHOTO BY LEEANN CARDWELL

highlighting the secluded Roberts Section of the cemetery.

This section existed during the years of segregation and was historically used as the location to bury persons of color or poor persons in the community. A few years ago the use of ground penetrating radar revealed the location of what The Friends think are up to 20 unmarked graves.

Shannon FitzPatrick, former president of Friends of the San Marcos Cemetery and Director of the Office of Attorney for Students, said that The Friends hope to set the Roberts Section apart with various landscaping and a monument.

“We want to start talking about the people that aren’t always remembered,” FitzPatrick said. “We want to make that section a destination of historical roots in the cemetery.”

FitzPatrick said after The Friends draft initial proposals for the project they intend to meet with the board of directors at both the Calaboose African American Museum and the Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos to receive feedback and make edits to the proposal before setting the plans in motion.

Gloria Fortin, member of The Friends of the San Marcos Cemetery, helped conduct research on the deceased individuals that were portrayed in this year’s tour. She said that she wishes Tales and Tours would be an event that encourages community members to visit the cemetery more often.

“I hope that students at the university come out here and see how pretty this cemetery is,” Fortin said. “I know the word cemetery may be a little spooky, but it’s really just a beautiful and peaceful place.”

HUMANS OF SAN MARCOS "I'm a geography and environmental science major. I have a lot of experience with K-9 units from working in a class (about) cops in high school. I really care about both the environment and animals, that's how I ended up here. As a kid, I took in a lot of strays as a kid and took care of my teacher's dogs.

Today I saw this (dog and there were) a couple girls chasing him. I just sat down and waited and he came up to me. I put a scarf on him and he took to it easily. I couldn't just leave him, I'm always helping homeless pets.

Animals have always just been a big part of my life, they're easier than people. It's simple, there's no expectation

other than just being a good friend to each other.

This one's too cute, I brought him to the Texas State police and they are contacting animal services. Animals are normally treated pretty poorly, so I'm hoping it turns out okay for him.

I'd like to see (animal shelters) better funded.

Then there's this guy, we've been calling him Buddy. I hope he finds his way home.

I came to San Marcos to save the world. I don't use plastic, I clean up trash and I try to stay vegan."

-Frankie Childs

6 | Tuesday, October 31 , 2017

LIFESTYLE

The University Star Katie Burrell Lifestyle Editor @KatieNicole96

Legends of ghosts haunt San Marcos, campus UniversityStar.com @universitystar

STORIES

By Diana Furman Lifestyle Reporter

For thousands of years, citizens have lived San Marcos, while embedded in the historic town lurk stories of those who have died but cling to the life they once had. Legends of ghosts on campus live on.

Sterry Hall

Every year students walk in and out of Texas State’s doors, leaving their footprints and a moment of their life behind. Sterry Hall has housed students since the late 1960’s, and myths of ghosts have come to haunt the dorm.

“It couldn’t have been anything human. It was so freaky.”

-Madison Cabrera Mia Nevarez, child and family development freshmen, said she encountered what seemed to be a spirit one day while in the shower.

Nevarez was showering one day, completely alone in the restroom, with music playing on her phone. She soon realized she could hear someone singing along to the music.

“There was no one there,” Nevarez said. “I was sure of it.”

Madison Cabrera, criminal justice freshman, has had firsthand experience with one of the ghosts who supposedly haunts the dorm.

Cabrera said she was in her friend’s room one night and around 2:30 AM a loud bang was heard on the dorm room’s door. A large shadow seeped into the room from under the door, however when they opened the door no one was in the hall. Suddenly, posters and decor came crashing down onto the floor although no one was near them.

“It couldn’t have been anything human,” Cabrera said. “It was so freaky.”

Butler Hall

Butler Hall was constructed in 1965 and has collected haunting stories since. Recently, rumors emerged regarding the haunting of Room 222.

D’Erica Poucarter, nursing freshman, said she has heard many of these rumors.

Poucarter said she has heard rumors about a ghost haunting the girls who previously lived in the room. She said drawers would open in the middle of the night, noises were heard and items would fall to the ground without cause.

“Apparently one night, one of the girls fell asleep and she woke up to pictures of her sleeping on her laptop,” Poucarter said. “Her roommate said she was asleep too, so it couldn’t have been her who took the pictures.”

Butler hall is one of the many sites in San Marcos that is supposedly haunted, but are the legends true? PHOTO BY JOSH MENDS

"Scary Sterry" is one of the many sites in San Marcos that is supposedly haunted.

PHOTO BY JOSH MENDS

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The University Star

OPINIONS

Tuesday, October 31 , 2017 | 7 May Olvera Opinions Editor @yungfollowill

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

MCCAIN

John McCain and American unity

By Kaiti Evans Opinions Columnist Sen. John McCain delivered a speech after accepting the 2017 Liberty Medal.

He spoke with truth and respect by expressing the powerful ideals every American must hold in their patriotic hearts.

McCain's speech was inspirational.

It's not common to see a leader of the Republican Party speak out about American ideals and its prosperity in a positive way.

McCain's love for America and its citizens radiates throughout his speech.

He understands our country has as

It seems as though patriotism has become a dying way of life in America, but many people still dream of coming here and seeking a better life for themselves and their families.

ILLUSTRATION BY HALEY PRIETO

many flaws as it does virtues. He still believes "we are blessed." Many people take our beautiful country for granted because of dislike for extreme partisanship or the path our leaders take.

If we took a moment to reflect, we would realize just how fortunate we are to live in America.This is the land of the free. This is the home of the brave. This is the American dream. Yet, Americans do not act as such.

It seems as though patriotism has become a dying way of life in America, but many people still dream of coming here and seeking a better life for themselves and their families.

Meanwhile, generations of spoiled

brats sit around the TV, eating their favorite junk foods and complaining about a president they did not vote for.

There is no way I am the only one who sees anything wrong with that picture.

McCain describes America as the place where anyone can go from "aimless rebellion to a noble cause."

America must begin fighting for a noble cause with unity and patriotism.

If the country to do so, we may as well get ready for another civil war, a gender war, a race war or a partisan war. Without unity and coherent ideas, America falls short of what it could be.

McCain discusses the good deeds America achieved during the world

wars because of patriotic commitment.

By no means was America perfect, and it never will be. McCain reminds us we can continue to better our country together.

America cannot abandon its unity or ideals. This country has progressed and should not backtrack. This calls for a spirit of togetherness and patriotism.

There is no better way than to have citizens who want to make a change together.

Obviously what I call many to do is easier said than done. America is full to the brim with diversity. However, the possibility for unity amidst diversity does exist. We can have it. We just have to want it.

McCain said, "to abandon our ideals ... to refuse ... our duty to remain the last hope for Earth ... is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past."

We as Americans must leave the past behind and look forward to creating a better future. That does not mean we forget America's history. We have done too much good and too much bad to forget. Despite everything this country has gone through, the American citizens must band together in order to continue being "the last hope for Earth."

McCain's speech was spot-on in every way. Through positivity, a snippet of insulting the president and sheer truth about unity, he got his idea across. The only option now is to get the rest of us to understand how vital unity is to the American future.

If togetherness in America continues to fade, there will be nothing left of this country. America is divided right now, but it has not fully fragmented. If it does, God help us all.

-Kaiti Evans is a Journalism major

LOW INCOME

The horrors of day to day student suffering

By Tafari Robertson Opinions Columnist The spookiest part of day to day student life is the normalized hunger and financial suffering students are expected to endure as a part of the college experience.

Once you leave behind the invisible spending spree of Texas State's meal trade options, the limited food choice on campus that fit within a reasonable budget become a harsh reality for many students’ eating habits.

In most major cities and even small towns, it is relatively easy to find a sufficient meal for less than $5. Whether it is gas station tacos or street side food vendors, quick and cheap food options are an essential equalizer for any moderately populated area.

However, given that the dining options of Texas State are monopo-

generous underclassmen. The latter is only a limited option for even the most socially apt and the former results in tired, over-worked and frustrated students who have a much harder time performing in classes than their sufficiently fed peers.

Many students work off-campus jobs in order to mitigate the growing expense of college tuition. The mental strain of balancing class and work, along with impending bills and other potential expenses, is often overlooked.

The idea of working your way through college is a part of the American dream. If one is truly capable of working hard in both aspects, they can pay off their loans and lead a successful life. However, this is simply not a reality with financial aid constantly being threatened and the minimum wage as low as it is. Beyond just the financial impracticalities, the disillusionment

The horror is not only of the physical effects of this reality but also of the mental toll this situation can accumulate over two to three years of someone’s college experience.

lized primarily by the major corporate interests of Chartwells inc., much of the food on campus is neither cheap or quick. This leads students who cannot afford full meal plans to persist on campus through hunger or to seek out

the hardest working students are left to deal with can ruin a college experience, at best, or produce severe mental health issues, at worst.

When we address food insecurity, it is easy to look at the financial or

ILLUSTRATION BY HALEY PRIETO

geographic reasons people do not have access to healthy, sustainable food options. However, it is important to factor in the mental labor it takes to navigate a grocery store and identify what’s healthy.

Consider a student who is taking 15 hours, involved in an organization and works at least one part-time job; if their day regularly starts at 9 a.m. and they often don’t get home until 10 p.m., they likely don’t have much energy left to spend making grocery lists, shopping and cooking. The best options become fast food or quick, usually unhealthy snacks in between responsibilities. There is also an unspoken mental tax on someone who knows that health should be a priority but simply doesn’t have energy leftover to make it one.

For some students, the final decision of the day is between a sufficient meal, homework or sleep. Sometimes it can

be two, but rarely are all three viable options.

The horror is not only of the physical effects of this reality but also of the mental toll this situation can accumulate over two to three years of someone’s college experience. As the university continues to accept larger freshman classes and raise tuition and fees, it needs to recognize the simple fact that frustrated and hungry students do not make good alumni.

The idea that suffering is essential to success is one plague on our society that we can address proactively. Let us demand more sustainable, cheaper food options for students on the go, not as a means of charity or good will, but as a practical investment in the future of our country.

- Tafari Robertson is a Public Relations senior

8 | Tuesday, October 31, 2017

OPINIONS

The University Star May Olvera Opinions Editor @yungfollowill

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

MAIN POINT Texas State woke up Oct. 30 to a white supremacist banner hung on the eastern wall of the Alkek library with the words “America Is a White Nation,” along with the Nazi slogan “blood and soil,” sprawled across white cloth.

The banner, hung by the same group that has been posting white nationalist flyers across campus for the past year, is a reminder of the on-going barbarism that people of color have endured for centuries. The university’s response is also in line with history, with seemingly little being done to put an end to these incidents.

This anonymous hatred has plagued campus for over a year. It is difficult to fathom that a school with surveillance cameras and patrolling officers has used sufficient resources to deal with racial violence only to come up empty-handed and lacking any explanation that makes its students of color feel like their school cares about their safety.

University administrators' reluctance

to actively suppress white nationalism on campus fuels the normalization of this murderous ideology and reassures perpetrators that no action will be taken against them.

Although their lack of action is disappointing, to look toward school administrators to suppress hateful ideologies is to alienate ourselves from our own power as a collective group of students who will not allow abhorrent ideas of racism and anti-Semitism to flourish on our campus.

Instead of trusting the university or the police to take action against these acts of violence, students need to step up and re-appropriate the spaces that have been perverted by a neo-Nazi presence in order to build dialogue and solidarity. Likewise, The University Star and other student journalists must stop only reporting on these events after the fact, and instead use the tools at our disposal to issue our own investigations and understand why the issue has been allowed to live on for over a year.

Students must not forget that this

We have the power to create a sense of solidarity that celebrates America’s true and diverse beauty, rather than the historical distortion that it is a “white nation.”

is our university. We have the power to create a sense of solidarity that celebrates America’s true and diverse beauty, rather than the historical distortion that it is a “white nation.” America was not discovered or built by the white man. Despite white nationalist’s wishes, people of color have persevered and excelled, bringing out the best in this country, this community and this school.

Those allotted the privilege to not constantly worry about racial violence have mistakenly stopped talking about the horrific white nationalist demonstration in Charlottesville and the attacks that have always existed against black, brown and Jewish Americans.

That is unacceptable. We must work harder to question why these events occur and how we can disrupt them.

Let us reiterate: Nazis have no place at Texas State, and we will act on that statement even if our administration will not.

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.

CHINA

A “New Era” for Chinese socialism

By Bradley Crowder Opinions Columnist China is an imperfect nation, but the world will be better off under its leadership.

On Oct. 24, the Chinese Communist Party closed its 19th Party Congress.

This is the biggest political event in China and the foreign press was abuzz with predictions about where China was headed under the continued leadership of President Xi Jinping. Jinping laid out a bold and aggressive vision for a China that is developed, scientifically advanced and an undisputed global leader. It may be taboo to say it, but in the era of Donald Trump and a flailing West, the world will be better off under Chinese leadership.

The rise of China is set against the sinking of the US on the world stage.

“According to a new Pew Research Center survey spanning 37 nations, a median of just 22% of the population has confidence in Trump to do the right thing when it comes to international affairs.” In another recent survey, only 40% of respondents viewed the US as a “positive global influence.”

That is a full 9-point margin when compared to China’s 49% approval rating.

It is in the wake of this gap that Jinping and the CCP are “calmly mapping out global leadership aspirations from trade

For a younger generation raised on nothing but war and austerity, China may be on the verge of showing us that there is an alternative to neoliberal capitalism.

to climate change, drawing distinctions between President Xi Jinping’s steady hand and new U.S. President Donald Trump.”

It isn’t just a popularity contest though. China has blown observers away with its poverty reduction efforts.

“In the 20 years after 1981, the proportion of the population living in poverty fell from 53% to 8%,” according to a study in the Journal of Economic Development. That means in 20 years, China pulled around 500 million people out of poverty. That is the most humans pulled from poverty in the fastest time in the history of human civilization.

China isn’t only reducing poverty. It is also set to take over as the world leader in science, particularly in quantum communication and artificial intelligence. A recently released report commissioned

by Forbes “predicts the country will be a major exchange hub for global talent flow by 2022.” Because of China’s dynamism and state-led support for the sciences, it is the first nation poised to both export the greatest number of students abroad and attract the most foreign-born students to China itself.

Africa has also benefitted from China’s explosive growth, with increased aid on the continent in the form of canceling billions in debt and building infrastructure with no political

strings attached. The Chinese state is also taking bold action against pollution and climate change, recently shuttering thousands of factories, while dealing out fines and even jail time for managers who violate anti-pollution regulations.

This isn’t to say China is perfect, or a utopia; it has serious problems that will need strong reform movements to address. China has achieved historic levels of poverty reduction, but income inequality has reached crisis levels. Also, in spite of Chinese “Founding Father” Mao Zedong’s stricture that “women hold up half the sky,” women in leadership positions are almost nonexistent, especially in the upper layers of the CCP. Additionally, where Cuba was once notoriously brutal to LGBTQIA people and had a major movement to abolish homophobia and transphobia, China has yet to follow suit.

For a younger generation raised on nothing but war and austerity, China may be on the verge of showing us that there is an alternative to neoliberal capitalism. No one may want to say it now, but China’s rise to global power without firing a single shot shows that a warweary world needs new global leadership. A “new era” for Chinese socialism likely means a new era for the world.

CARTOON OF THE WEEK

CARTOON BY STEPHANIE CLOYD | GRAPHIC DESIGNER

The University Star

OPINIONS

Tuesday, October 31 , 2017 | 9 May Olvera Opinions Editor @yungfollowill

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

LOVECRAFT

The

COSMIC HORROR Lovecraftian horror of Neoliberalism

By Brad Waldraff Opinions Columnist Halloween is a time to celebrate the horrific. This holiday is a testament to the revelry that is inseparable from fear and an opportunity to indulge playfully in the seductive anxiety of the unknown. Given the horror and violence that constitutes so much of our existence, perhaps there is an element of catharsis here as well.

The writing of H.P. Lovecraft teems with cosmic horror. In it, humanity comes face to face with the vile incoherency of radical otherness– meaning disintegrates, leaving only madness and death behind. When read within the context of this unhallowed time of year, there is little that can do more to arouse the darker corners of the imagination.

If only such horror confined in the imagination alone.

As if rising directly from the pages of Lovecraft’s seminal The Call of Cthulhu, neoliberalism spreads its tentacular influence across every aspect of

modern life.

Neoliberalism is the doctrine of the unhinged free market. It reduces every object to a commodity and every person to a consumer, organizing society accordingly.

The otherworldly antagonists of many of Lovecraft’s works are known only as the Old Ones; their history reaches back to a time before time, where within the darkness of prehistory they ruled over the young, chaotic Earth. Neoliberalism’s history is equally ambiguous, yet many significant events can be observed.

The philosophy of neoliberalism was first categorically presented in the early to mid-20th century, most notably in the works of Frederick Hayek, Ludwig von Mises, and Karl Popper.

Most fundamentally, it is a call for the unrestrained privatization of the public sphere, the integration of competition at every level of society, and the spreading of free-market ideology across every corner of the globe.

By the eighties, neoliberalism had become the dominant ideology of

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ILLUSTRATION BY HALEY PRIETO the West. Politicians such as Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan served as the faces for this new regime, and behind the scenes, society was restructured in neoliberalism’s own image. The rich received massive tax cuts, resulting in dramatic budget deficits and an inflated natural debt while militant reactionary factions in places such as Latin America and the Middle East were funded to usurp democratically elected governments who struggled against forced assimilation into the neoliberal terrain.

Today, the situation has only deteriorated. Neoliberalism has intensified economic and political crises. The 2008 financial collapse drastically escalated wealth inequality the world over, and the so-called austerity measures that were imposed upon decimated economics such as that of Greece gutted social welfare in the bankrupt nations. The neoliberal crusade abroad has resulted in an endless cycle of ever-present war. The doctrine of the Cthulhu cult foretells a time in which the Old Ones will waken and plunge the world into an

orgy of murder and cruelty. In neoliberalism, this doctrine is at last fulfilled.

The inhuman neoliberal hegemony has not merely affected the external world, but, like the fateful encounters of Lovecraft’s characters with the horror of the inhuman, uproots our notions of personal identity as well.

Neoliberalism realizes competition and ruthlessness and penalizes those who do not conform to its conception of human beings. As a result, depression and anxiety have drastically increased, and long-established social fabrics are annihilated and repackaged for sale.

The late cultural theorist Mark Fisher once described Lovecraft as the “the great poet of capital.” As we celebrate Halloween, we would do well to meditate on the horror that permeates through the every day, and how its inhuman logic threatens existence itself. Despite the danger of facing such horror, we must bravely look Cthulhulic neoliberalism in the face, answering its darkness with determined solidarity.

–Brad Waldraff is a philosophy senior

ADAM KEY Speech Instructor and Director of the Prison Debate Program at the Lee College Huntsville Center

KEYNOTE ADDRESS “In the First Degree: The Challenges and Benefits of Postsecondary Prison Education” Top Student Research Paper Awards Presentation For more information, please visit gradcollege.txstate.edu/events/conference

10 | Tuesday, October 31, 2017

SPORTS

The University Star Lisette Lopez Sports Editor @lisette_1023

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

SOFTBALL

The final season for a softball star

By Brooke Phillips Assistant Sports Editor After having three successful years on the Texas State softball team, a returning veteran is back to accomplish even more for her last and final year as a Bobcat.

Randi Rupp, senior right-handed pitcher, has been one of the biggest faces of the Texas State softball program since coming here in 2014 after high school.

As a freshman, Rupp was determined to dedicate herself to softball and did so right away.

By the end of the 2015 spring season, Rupp finished her first year as a Bobcat with 293 strikeouts and started in 39 games. She also earned a spot in the 2015 First Team All-Sun Belt Conference and the NFCA Second Team AllRegion selection.

Rupp was off to a good start and only improved from there.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better position to be put in my freshman year,” Rupp said. “I wouldn’t want anything less because I got to learn and experience a lot of stuff as a freshman that I truly believe has gotten me to where I am today. I think that was a good spot for me to be put into and work.”

After her freshman year and learning more about the softball program, Rupp strived to be the best and returned to each new season better than the last.

The next two years of her collegiate softball career was full of accomplishments, appearances, records and becoming the face of the softball program.

Rupp went from Second Team AllSun Belt Conference to First Team All-Sun Belt Conference, was named the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year, and was ESPNW National Player of the Week and is a nine-time Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week.

“My greatest accomplishment is definitely an All-American last year,” Rupp said. “That was one of my big goals to get an All-American, and so for me to get that last year was probably one of my biggest accomplishments since I’ve been here.”

While fall ball is in full swing, the spring season is what the softball team looks forward to. Rupp enters her last season having pitched 779 career innings with 82 career wins and 953 career strikeouts—both ranking second on the all-time list.

Randi Rupp, senior right-handed pitcher, winds up the pitch during a past game against Troy.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE ATHLETICS

Although her resume of success has been rapidly growing ever since she stepped on the Bobcat softball field, Rupp still looks for what she can improve on heading into the 2018 season.

“One goal would definitely be to at least take two out of ULM,” Rupp said.

“Another goal is to just keep growing as an individual. My goal was to get 1,000 strikeouts whenever I first sat down with the coaches my freshman year, so I plan to go as far as I can with that.”

Along with having goals for her statistical record, Rupp wants to focus on the mental aspect of the game and how she can be the best role model for the team as a whole.

“This is my last season here at Texas State and I want to give it my all and see how far and where that takes us as a team,” Rupp said. “There’s a special group of seniors here, and four of us have been doing this together for four years now. I think for us just to continue to put in the work and just relaying that to the underclassmen, it's going to take us a long way.”

Each year, Rupp has earned titles and

awards, but she has also gained more knowledge of the game and life outside of the field.

“I’ve learned to just go after whatever it may be and to work hard and put in everything you have,” Rupp said. “It’s going to pay off and I think these last couple of years it’s really just shown if you put in everything you have and never back off, the sky’s the limit.”

As Rupp reflected back on her time playing softball at Texas State, she credited a lot of her success to the people who have been there with her since day one.

“Coach Osterman no doubt is behind me every step of the way, as well as my sister,” Rupp said. “My sister does a great job at taking my fame and motivating her a little bit. She’s probably my biggest supporter but as well as my parents. My parents come and travel all over just to watch us play, so I definitely couldn’t do it without my parents, my sisters and of course Coach Osterman.”

While she is not quite done playing as a Bobcat, Rupp takes each day at a time.

She also looks forward to an unpredictable but exciting future after college.

SOCCER

“I have no idea what I want to do job wise, so I plan to see how far softball will take me,” Rupp said. “I definitely want to stay around the game, so if I get the opportunity to play in the NPF that’s something I would love to do. I’m not ready to leave the game.”

Rupp will step on the mound for her last season come spring, and she plans not to leave Texas State without giving it her all and leaving a lasting impact— on her fans and the teammates she will leave behind.

“I want people to remember that I put in a lot of work that most people don’t realize,” Rupp said. “I do whatever it takes, whether it’s staying after practice, doing stuff on off days and just putting in as much as I can to this program.”

Although she will graduate and leave Texas State, she never wants her legacy to be forgotten.

“I would like to leave a legacy here that hard work gets you a long way,” Rupp said. “Never stop chasing your dreams.

You can never be satisfied and I want people to notice me as a hard worker and a leader who's just really passionate about the game.”

p o t n o t u o o g o t es

p o h r e d l e i f d i m r o i Sen

By Anthony Flores Sports Reporter Sports affect different people from a variety of backgrounds, each one taking away something different and unique to themselves. Whether you view it as an escape or simply as a game, there’s no denying it builds character.

Alyssa Phelan, senior midfielder, has played soccer all her life and with the end of her fourth year at Texas State on the horizon, Phelan has learned lessons she can take with her to the next stage of her life.

Raised in a sports-oriented family, her father being a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan, Phelan has an affinity towards sports. Despite only playing soccer in her high school years, Phelan is a big fan of two of the most popular sports in America.

“I love to watch football and baseball, the two big ones,” Phelan said.

The sociology major’s soccer career began at an early age, when Phelan was in the first grade.

“I started when I was about six,” Phelan said.

Although she eventually fell head over heels for the sport, the senior midfielder wasn’t too keen on soccer at first.

“My mom put me in it because I didn’t like all the physical stuff,” Phelan said. “She wanted to make me tough, it worked.”

Besides soccer, Phelan dabbled in tennis and track, but it was playing recreational soccer with a friend that really

seemed great.”

The senior’s instant chemistry with her fellow teammates made her decision to attend Texas State easier.

“It was all great,” Phelan said. “I met the team and they all just seemed like a big family.”

Majoring in sociology, Phelan is now at the end of her both athletic and academic collegiate career. She doesn’t exactly have a set plan for the future but intends to use her summer to figure out whether sociology is the field meant for her.

“I’m not too sure, I’m going to do an internship in the summer so we’ll see if I like anything with that,” Phelan said. “If not, I’m going to try to go into pharmaceutical sales.”

Phelan attributes her skill for time management to her time on the team.

“The time management part is big, just because we have meetings, films and then either school in-between pracAlyssa Phelan, senior midfielder, fights for the ball Oct. 8 during the game against tices or before it, and we just have to use our time really wisely and plan things the Ragin' Cajuns. PHOTO BY KIRBY CRUMPLER ahead,” Phelan said.

Athletes at the end of their careers helped grab her attention. tive also achieved the honors of being always look to go out on top and with “I played tennis and track,” Phelan named All-District Second-Team for the success of the 2017 women’s soccer team, going 10-5-1 in the regular said. “Then I played recreational soc- her sophomore and junior seasons. cer with one of my best friends, and we Phelan became a member of the season, Phelan is in position to go out kind of played together and then you Texas State family in 2014 after taking a as a winner.

“It felt like a dream you know, we know rest.” tour of the school, and fell in love with started off tying and losing,” Phelan While playing soccer in high school, the area surrounding campus.

Phelan played in 47 games, scoring 10 “I took an unofficial visit here with said. “But then once conference started goals and helped lead her team to back coach, we walked around the campus we really stepped it up and played toto back District 13-5A championships and I just loved it here,” Phelan said. “I gether as a team, playing together and in 2011 and 2012. The Spring, Texas na- loved the river, the scenery, everything knowing each other’s roles.”

The University Star

SPORTS

Tuesday, October 31, 2017 | 11 Lisette Lopez Sports Editor @lisette_1023

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

SUNBELT

The fight in our ourselves is what is going to carry us."

–Kassi Hormuth PHOTO BY KIRBY CRUMPLER

Soccer gains success after a 2016 losing season

By Andrew Zimmel Sports Reporter The Texas State women's soccer team has been one of the most successful Bobcat teams this season.

After a rough start of the pre-season and regular season, the Bobcats capitalized when the Sun Belt Conference games rolled around, winning eight of their 10 conference games.

That 8-2 record not only was able to secure the Bobcats the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, but it was also a big step from the 3-5-2 record from last season--a season that many players on this year's team will not forget.

"A big difference this year is our finishing," Kassi Hormuth, senior forward, said. "This year we've been focusing on that. Aiming for the corners, and ever since we've (started) focusing on that, we've been putting them away."

Hormuth was one of the upperclass-

men here after the Bobcats finished ninth in the conference, missing the tournament by one game. Over the offseason, the team was able to lick its wounds and came back with more vigor.

"We've been super focused and zoned in on what we want to accomplish this year," Rachel Grout, senior midfielder, said.

According to Hormuth, everything came together this season.

"Good teamwork this year," Hormuth said. "We all are meshing and playing well together. Good chemistry."

The team put away many of their opponents this year, outscoring them 22-6 in the conference. Both seniors had something to say when talking about what they wanted this season to be like for them and the team.

"We took our struggles from last year, and just built on them at the end of the season," Hormuth said. "We just worked on what went wrong last year

and tried to fix them this year to make it to the conference tournament."

The two seniors also worked on their own games during the offseason. After having good seasons last year, both knew they had something to add for their final year as Bobcats.

"Personally, just trying to get everyone involved," Grout said. "Making everyone feel included so that we have that team chemistry and we can be successful together."

Hormuth said leadership from the upperclassmen, has helped everyone step up together.

"I think all of us as seniors have stepped up our leadership this year," Hormuth said. "All of us lead on the field and off the field. I think leadership was a big thing this year. We all lead well and helped the younger ones."

The good leadership from the senior players have been on display the entire season. On a roster that has 16 under-

classmen, the leadership of the veteran players and individuals that have been around the team longer is paramount for team success.

"I think being the underdogs last year, we were wanting to come back from that and prove ourselves," Grout said.

"Especially because we didn't have a very good pre-season either. Coming back from that and wanting to prove something during the conference and even making it to the tournament is a big deal because that didn't happen last year."

The soccer team is a prime example of the resiliency and fight that has become the identity of head soccer coach Kat Conner. Hormuth said having to fight to succeed this season helped the team.

"The fight in our ourselves is what is going to carry us," Hormuth said. "I think, just wanting to succeed and do better than we did last year."

VOLLEYBALL

Senior trying to lead the Bobcats to a ring

By Orlando Williams Sports Reporter From the YMCA to Texas State, Jaliyah Bolden, senior middle blocker, has been continuously perfecting her craft on the volleyball court.

“I was in third grade and a bunch of my friends were talking about the YMCA league. It was called GBA then,” Bolden said. “They were all doing it, so I wanted to do it. I went home and told my mom. And my first season ever playing was playing in the GBA league and my mom was the coach.”

Bolden received her first scholarship sophomore year of high school from the University of Central Florida. However, she instead decided to accept a scholarship from Colorado State. After only two seasons, the athlete decided it was time to make a change.

“I wasn’t getting the playing time that I wanted there,” Bolden said. “I really loved the girls. I loved the atmosphere and the school and everything. I just didn’t get along with the coach that well.

Here, it's closer to home, but not too close to where it’s like I’m right down the street, so I like that.”

Bolden was third on the team with 113 sets played and led Texas State with 322 kills, which ranked sixth in the Sun Belt Conference.

Bolden has also been named to the 2016 North Harbour Marriott Challenge All-Tournament Team and the 2016 Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team.

The Bobcats were 21-12 in the 2016 season, but lost in the second round of the SBC tournament to Coastal Carolina University.

This year, however, Texas State beat Coastal Carolina in their lone matchup this season. Bolden said beating Coastal Carolina was a goal for her and some of the other teammates this season.

"We beat Coastal," Bolden said. "That was a big win for us because last year they came in the conference and they destroyed us and everybody else. That

(Left) Jaliyah Bolden, senior middle blocker, and Tyeranne Scott, freshman middle blocker, reads Georgia Southern University play before getting ready to block the hit Oct. 20 at Strahan Coliseum. PHOTO BY HANNAH FELSKE

was a big goal of mine and (Erin) Hoppe's and the rest of the returners was to beat Coastal."

The Bobcats are 18-8 this season and, before Saturday's game against Louisiana, were on a 10-game winning streak.

According to the athlete, the team's chemistry is the only difference in comparison to other seasons.

“We get along really well and that’s the one thing that’s different between this team and any other team I have been on," Bolden said. "We’ve gotten along in the past, but this year we can

be really aggressive on the court, and we can also go in the locker room and be super goofy. We can bring that goofy to the court, but when it’s time to focus we’re really good at that as well. It’s just like how we all gel together.”

Bolden considers this the best team she has ever been a part of.

"I actually enjoy these girls. I enjoy going to practice. I enjoy being here, and this is the first year that has ever happened," Bolden said.

One of Bolden's main goals was to be a leader on the team, but not just any

kind of leader—the kind of leader to bring the team together no matter the age difference.

"In the past, it’s been very categorized into seniors, freshmen, juniors," Bolden said. "This year, my main goal was to make it into more of a family atmosphere, but still leading them in the right direction for the teams that come in the future."

Bolden has only a handful of games left in her senior season before the Sun Belt Conference Championship. However, she still has one goal left in mind.

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