November 28, 2017

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017

SWIPES FOR HUNGER

Volume 107, Issue 13

Compost program faces funding cuts

By Sandra Sadek News Reporter

Nohely Chavez, athletic training freshman, hands in her Texas State ID for a meal swipe Nov. 27 at Jones Dining Hall.

Anyone with leftover meal swipes on their plans this semester is able to make donations to the "swipe our hunger" program. PHOTO BY LARA DIETRICH | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Student Government utilizes unused meal swipes to help local charities and shelters

By Jakob Rodriguez News Reporter Student Government, in conjunction with Chartwells dining services, passed legislation to “swipe out hunger” across campus, utilizing students' leftover meal swipes.

This allows students with extra meal swipes after each semester to donate their surplus to local charities, homeless shelters and food banks.

The initiative, with a cap of $5,000 (10,000 swipes) set by Chartwells, will allow anyone with leftover meal swipes on their plans to make a $0.50 donation.

Chartwells will accept donations for swipes at Commons and Harris dining halls, Paws N Go, and Paws Market at

Round Rock Campus launches clinic

By Monique Flores News Reporter Texas State’s Round Rock Campus has launched Bobcat Babies, a developmental assessment program providing free evaluations for children age zero to three who may be experiencing developmental delays.

In the fall of 2016, Debbie Baylor of the physical therapy department and Jessica Bowers of the communication disorders department teamed up with Mary Elizabeth Parker, clinical associate professor, in pursuit of their common goal: to identify delays before they affect a child’s progress in pre-school and beyond.

The assessment process begins with a Norm Reference Test, which compares the child to his or her peers. If a child is eight months old, the test will determine if they function the way they should. Bobcat Babies then performs assessments in development skill domains: motor, cognitive, language, social and self-help.

SEE CLINIC PAGE 2

LBJ Student Center between Dec. 4 and Dec. 14.

Students who have upwards of 150 meal swipes at the end of the semester can donate at any of the four locations on campus.

Brooklyn Boreing , senator and director of Programs and Marketing for Student Goverment, said the legislation doesn't just help students, but San Marcos residents as well.

“The majority of people that are benefitting from this program are Texas State students, this is the best and most productive way to give back to them directly,” Boreing said.

According to the legislation, an estimated 40.4 percent of San Marcos residents live below the poverty line,

compared to the Texas average, 21.1 percent.

“These statistics display the financial disparities common among students and San Marcos citizens alike,” the legislation stated. “Students often pay hundreds of dollars for a meal plan, often finishing the semester with leftover swipes that result in wasted food and money.”

While it is the Student Government’s goal to meet the cap set by Chartwells, the true mission of the legislation is to improve community relations between the Texas State and San Marcos residents.

SEE SWIPES PAGE 2

The on-campus composting program, Bobcat Blend, has been reducing the amount of organic waste discharged from campus, while educating the community on the value of composting through research.

Despite the benefits, a lack of funding threatens to shut down the program.

Bobcat Blend has not received any funding from the Environmental Service Committee since 2015 and has since struggled to maintain their chapter on campus. Unlike other university compost programs who are merged and funded in part through the home departments or the Facilities Department, this organization is entirely economically self-sustaining.

The compost created by the program is reused as potting mix in the greenhouse and gardens on campus.

Some of it is also sold to the community or used in labs.

Claudia Gasponi, general studies senior and Student Goverment senator representing the University College, is a former member and student manager of Bobcat Blend.

Gasponi advocated for legislation that would bring the program consistent funding.

"Besides one local restaurant that pays for Bobcat Blend's waste management services, Bobcat Blend is entirely grant-funded. That means that for all the money Bobcat Blend has, their management and coordinator Tina Cade has had to apply to receive," Gasponi said. "This method of funding is not reliable and sometimes results in periods of time where one grant has been exhausted and the next has yet to be awarded.

Waste management programs need consistent funding to maintain operations."

SEE CUTS PAGE 2

Student pantry coming soon

By Shayan Faradineh News Editor Faculty and students of the School of Family and Consumer Sciences are partnering with food groups on campus and potentially the Hays County Food Bank to create the first studentrun pantry.

Bobcat Bounty, a student-run pantry, derived from research found through a survey done by Texas State’s dietetic interns. Dietetic interns are graduate students seeking to become registered dieticians.

According to Hannah Thorton, senior lecturer and dietetic internship director in SFCS, the study showed that 40.6 percent of Texas State students have some kind of food insecurity.

“Just over 40 percent is huge when talking in terms of our total population almost being 40,000,” Thorton said. “Food insecurities is a big issue that creates serval other issues.”

Following the quantitative portion of the survey, a qualitative study was done. Students who said they experienced some kind of food insecurity were asked to participate in face-toface interviews.

“From the interviews conducted, we found that even though some students

Graduate students and faculty meet Nov. 27 in FCS room 177 to discuss the Food Pantry, opening February 2018. The Food Pantry will help students that are food insecure. PHOTO BY HANNAH FELSKE eat three meals a day, the food insecurity can affect their education,” Thorton said. “Some students claimed they had to skip certain classes to pick up another job, just to have enough food

to eat. Other students have to commute long distances just to get fed at home.”

SEE PANTRY PAGE 2

2 | Tuesday, November 28, 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

FROM FRONT SWIPES

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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Student Government has passed legislation to "swipe out hunger" by giving students the option to donate leftover meal swipes. STAR FILE PHOTO

“We will not let any resource go to waste while our neighbors go hungry,” the legislation added. “It is crucial that we improve communal relations in order to further advance Texas State’s exceptionalism with the approval of the local residents.”

Boreing advocated that the initiative of the Student Government mission will affect student life.

“I think a lot of people, quite often with Student Government, (wonder) 'what are you actually doing for the students," Boreing said.

"And this is something that’s not just an awareness campaign or an event that we’re having, it’s something that is directly benefitting our student population and the Texas State community.”

FROM FRONT CUTS According to the 2015 ESC Bobcat Blend report, Bobcat Blend has received a total of $767,004.97 from grants and contracts, since the program's creation in 2006. The ESC has given $136,113.59 over the last six years and for every dollar the committee gives, other internal and external grants contribute around four to five dollars.

This inconsistent method of funding has lead the management to find other ways to support their program, like through the generation of sales by selling student-grown plants from the greenhouse.

"Myself and a few other senators are working on legislation to fund Bobcat Blend permanently but the program is running out of time. The current ESC has rejected Bobcat Blend's most recent application..."

-Claudia Gasponi Tina Cade, agriculture professor, is the coordinator for Bobcat Blend and believes the program is still lucky to have been able to continue its work despite the low funding.

Kevin Walsh, graduate student manager of Bobcat Blend, guides a hose into the mixing chamber. Walsh and his team brew compost tea once every two weeks.

STAR FILE PHOTO

"The Environmental Service Commitee funds 20 percent of our total funding. Although our operations hits all of the issues the ESC wants to address, there are laws that do not allow it to provide us with consistent funding," Cade said. "Therefore, we must always come up with new projects to try and qualify for more money."

The City of San Marcos placed sanctions on places that improperly disposed of their waste, which prompted the creation of Bobcat Blend in 2006, when the university cafeterias were charged for flushing food waste down the drain.

"Once I became a senator, the first initiative I put forth is consistent funding for Bobcat Blend," Gasponi said.

"Myself and a few other senators are working on legislation to fund Bobcat Blend permanently but the program is running out of time. The current ESC has rejected Bobcat Blend's most recent application for funding under the claim that the only students who ben-

efit from the program are the employees."

In order to encourage more funding, the management has been working to document the value of the program by highlighting the research studies done there. It has also been offering master composting classes for the San Marcos community and is currently working on establishing a Master Program.

"I feel that we are extremely lucky to have been receiving some funds since 2009," Cade said. "However, most of our money goes towards maintaining our equipment, which doesn't leave us with much. It is also not easy to find students who are willing to work with waste. If the program was to be shut down, it would take half a million to start it back up. It's a model program that I don't want to end."

Bobcat Blend is expected to be at the next ESC meeting on Nov. 30th to appeal for more funds.

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, November 28, 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

FROM FRONT CLINIC Based on these results, staff members match and refer each candidate to a clinic that will satisfy the specific needs of the child. Common signs of delay include poor eye contact, inconsolable tantrums, and disinterest in food or sleep, among other less obvious milestones delays.

Some delays are the product of cultural or situational circumstance. Cultural differences in caregiving, such as the timing of new skill introduction, may affect early childhood development. Similarly, situational circumstances, such as overwhelmed caregivers, may have the same effect.

If the assessment reveals that the cause of the delay is neither cultural nor situational, it is possible that a neurological or genetic condition may be present. At which point, Bobcat Babies will set families on the path of diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

“In a lot of cases, (the problem) is really simple to fix,” Parker said. “But if you’re living it and seeing it every day, you need another set of eyes and some professional suggestions.”

While Bobcat Babies does not provide any developmental therapy services, they are the facilitators of a growing network of clinics that do. The program strives to connect families with facilities near them as to eliminate any obstacles a family might face in accessing care for their child. A common

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LARA DIETRICH | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

obstacle for parents of children with developmental delays involves inaction by pediatricians who dismiss their concerns as overreactions or simply irrelevant to the child’s health.

“We have heard this story over and over again,” Parker said. “(The parents say), ‘No one listened to me. There was something wrong with my baby and no

one listened.’”

Bobcat Babies hope to reach out to the community in the following year to help the program grow. They believe that if families experience the benefits of this program, other families and clinics will join their mission in improving the lives of children in all communities.

The University Star

NEWS

Tuesday, November 28, 2017 | 3 Shayan Faradineh News Editor @shayanfaradineh

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

MAJOR

Changes coming to School of Criminal Justice and Nursing

By Alyssa Newsom News Reporter Texas State administration has introduced changes to curriculum for the upcoming semesters. The School of Criminal Justice is changing degree requirements and the School of Nursing is adding a new masters program.

The School of Criminal justice has proposed to shift their degree plan so students will keep only the general major in criminal justice and cut the more specific majors of law enforcement and corrections.

The school of nursing will be offering a new master of science in nursing with a major in leadership and administration.

The proposed changes to the criminal justice major will take effect in Fall 2018.

Students currently in the law enforcement and the corrections majors will be able to finish their current degree programs with no change in the availability of required courses. Students in these more specified majors will have until Fall 2024 to complete their chosen degree program. After this availability expires, these major courses will be offered as elective courses rather than required ones.

Christine S. Sellers, professor and director of the School of Criminal Justice, noted that there were many factors that

prompted this change.

“First and foremost, we believe that all of our (students) should be broadly educated in all aspects of the criminal justice system,” Sellers stated, “No one working in the criminal justice system should be so specialized that they are unaware of the impact that decisions made in one system have on another system.”

The school surveyed employers at their Criminal Justice Career Fair to theorize the potential impact of the proposed change examining if they had a preference for hiring a graduate with a general versus a specialized degree in criminal justice.

“All indicated no preference for a specialized degree,” Sellers stated.

The new nursing major will be coming January 2018, with applications opening the week of Nov. 27 through Apply Texas.

The requirements for admission into the M.S.N. program are a bachelor of science in nursing degree from a nationally accredited nursing program, minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 undergraduate semester hours earned at a four-year college or university and three forms of reference from professionals.

Marla Erbin-Roesemann, director and professor within the school of nursing, indicated that “the major is designed to prepare nurse executives for both hospital and outpatient settings,” where

The Hines Academic Center is home to the Criminal Justice Department, which is introducing a new major. PHOTO BY LEXI ALTSCHUL

students would need, “a minimum of a masters preparation to effectively manage those types of environments.”

The major looks to provide experience for students in “a number of different roles they could serve in but it’s the executive positions we are looking to prepare them for,” Roesemann said.

Students admitted to the program will receive mentored hours with a nurse executive, where they will get to see things upfront, at that level. This opportunity would allow students to “translate innovative practice research into actual care models in the hospitals and organizations,” Roesemann said.

MUSIC

Texas music experiences economic boom

By Sawyer Click News Reporter The Texas Music Office has released an analysis which breaks down the state music industry's commercial growth with specific insight into job creation, earnings, revenue from sales and tax revenue.

The 2017 Economic Impact of Music in Texas report recognizes the industry has experienced substantial growth when compared to the 2015 study.

When combined, music business and music education directly account for almost 95,000 permanent jobs, $3.6 billion in annual earnings and over $8.5 billion in annual economic activity. This is an increase of almost 3,000 permanent jobs and $1 billion of annual economic activity from the 2015 report.

Music plays a crucial role in Texas' tourism and branding. Festivals such as Austin City Limits and South by South West bring tens of thousands of visitors and hundreds of millions of dollars into Austin. Direct, indirect and induced influences are responsible for the economic influx. A 2016 report commissioned by ACL confirms 75,000 visitors attended the festival each day and more than $277 million was injected into the economy as a result of the two-week-

The Texas music industry has experienced substantial growth since 2015. Music continues to serve as a big part of the San Marcos Community.

PHOTO BY JOSH MENDS

end festival. This would include hotel stays, taxi rides and food, which boosts the economy in an indirect and induced fashion.

"Both the hotel operator and taxi driver experience increased income from the visitor’s stay, for example, as do the cleaning supplies outlet and the gas station proprietor," the report stat-

ed. "Induced effects capture the way in which this increased income is in turn spent in the local economy."

More than 178,000 jobs stem from the total impact of the music industry.

In reference to the total impact, Texas utilizes more than $323 million in tax revenue from the $19.8 billion in sales.

Gary Hartman, the director of the

Center for Texas Music History at Texas State, said the economic boom is a result of effective marketing and heightened populations.

"My sense is that the state’s population growth is driving much of this (economic growth)," Hartman said.

"Plus, Texas music is being actively marketed to national and international audiences. The growth in music, especially live music, enhances the quality of life in Texas."

With Austin labeled as the live music capital of the world, the Texas Music Office recognizes the importance of music in the branding of Texas and the effects on an entrepreneurial level.

"Texas is a place that appreciates creativity and culture in a variety of evolving forms, and the incredible diversity of the local scene undoubtedly serves to both attract and retain talented people," the report stated. "This in turn has a significant impact on business recruitment, retention, and expansion, as well as local entrepreneurship. As Texas looks to its economic development future, creativity is a fundamental comparative advantage—the goal remains to identify the key investments, policies, and regulatory changes that can support the infrastructure necessary for sustainability and growth."

FROM FRONT PANTRY Jennifer Wible, dietetic intern, said Bobcat Bounty intends to provide nutritious food to Bobcats in need, while also facilitating a warm and welcoming environment.

“We hope to empower our clients with resources and education to responsible health choices in the future," Thornton said. "The food pantry is available to anyone with a valid Texas State ID.” The pantry will operate out of the Family and Consumer Sciences building. Students with a valid Texas State ID will have access to the pantry and select foods they need. Typically, food pantries operate on a bag system. In this system, bags are prepared for recipients, but Thorton claimed the food is easily wasted this way.

Bobcat Bounty will allow students to select what their diets require. For example, if a student was in need of vegan or vegetarian options, they would be able to select food that satisfies that diet.

“We anticipate that Bobcat Bounty will be more than a sustainable food system establishment that allows volunteers to take ownership in serving their fellow students,” Wible said. “It will be a place that focuses on maintaining client dignity and minimizing a negative stigma that may be associated with utilizing a food pantry.”

Thorton said food pantries sometimes create an embarrassing stigma

“It will be a place that focuses on... minimizing a negative stigma that may be associated with utilizing a food pantry.”

-Jennifer Wible for students. Bobcat Bounty is trying to combat this negative connotation.

“Again, 40 percent of people on our campus have this challenge,” Thorton said. “Let’s give students resources to help them. There is no shame in asking for help.”

Bobcat Bounty is drafting a contract with the Hays County Food Bank in hopes that it will source food. In addition to the Hays County Food Bank, Bobcat Bounty is seeking to partner with other groups on campus.

Bobcat Bounty is expected to be opened by the SFCS starting Feb. 1, 2018.

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4 | Tuesday, November 28, 2017

LIFESTYLE

The University Star Katie Burrell Lifestyle Editor @KatieNicole96

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

TRAVEL

FROM SAN MARCOS TO SOUTH AMERICA Professor travels to Guatemala to study deforestation

By Lauren Rexroad Lifestyle Reporter A professor travels from San Marcos to Guatemala and back to determine the cause of deforestation in South America.

Jennifer Devine is an assistant professor in the geography department who studies the impacts of drug trafficking on deforestation in Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve.

Devine double majored as an undergraduate earning her degree in international studies and geography. Devine first became interested in the country of Guatemala when she took a capstone course during her undergrad that focused on the impacts of the Central American Free Trade Agreement.

Devine visited Guatemala for the first time in 2005 as a tourist. She went during her first year as a master’s student at the London School of Economics on a Marshall Scholarship and visited Guatemala to decide what to do for her master's Research.

Her first day there, Devine said she visited the National Palace. While at the palace, she witnessed a demonstration and protest put on by the widows of the civil war that had lasted for 30 years.

“One thing just led to another," Devine said. "I became fascinated with the rich but violent history, the rich cul-

“It was through studying tourism and living and working with the people in this area that people explained that ‘Tourism, large scale tourism development, is a threat to our land rights, but so is drug trafficking.’”

-Jennifer Devine

Dr. Jennifer Devine, assistant geography professor poses with her research group in Guatemala.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER DEVINE

ture, the geographic diversity (and) the cultural diversity."

Devine’s work eventually led her to the Maya Biosphere Reserve, which is a stretch of trees that is one of the largest patches of forest left in Central America. Devine lived and worked with locals in the Maya Biosphere Reserve. She was in a rural area that surrounded a massive archeology site that was developed for tourism.

“It was through studying tourism and living and working with the people in this area that people explained that tourism, large scale tourism development, is a threat to our land rights, but so is drug trafficking,” Devine said.

According to Devine, “narco cattle ranching” poses a threat to the people living in that area. Since the Maya Biosphere Reserve is a protected area, cattle ranching is illegal, but the drug cartels cut huge swaths of the forest away to make room for their cattle as well as build landing strips for their planes that carry their drugs.

The communities Devine worked with lived in the area before the Maya Biosphere Reserve became a protected area in 1990. When the area became a protected area, they organized themselves into 12 groups call “cooperatives” that communally manage the forest.

Under the organization of the Association of Petén’s Communities, the communities demanded the government give them a 25-year lease on the land they historically called theirs.

The drug cartels that take up the west of the reserve outside of community hands threaten the organization’s conservation efforts. The communities have been confronted by the drug cartels wanting them to sell the land they

Dr. Jennifer Devine, originally visited Guatemala as tourist, but returned years later to research deforestation. PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER DEVINE

live on to the cartels. The cartels pressure the people in the area and have even killed some of the leaders of the communities according to Devine.

Yunuen Reygadas is a doctoral student in the geography department.

Reygadas started out as Devine’s and professor Nathan Currit’s research assistant. Devine hired her to help with statistical and remote sensing analysis.

She visited Guatemala with Devine and Currit in May of 2017 and helped her with the analysis of aerial photographs of the area.

“We got some aerial photographs, like 1,500 images over the area to classify the land covers and land uses," Reygadas said. "For example, how big is the area that is covered by forest? How big is the area that is covered by ranching or

agriculture? So, what we did is that we went to the field to take some samples.”

Devine plans to create a study abroad trip that would concentrate on sustainable development strategies.

Devine is bringing Academy Award winning and Emmy nominated documentary filmmakers Pamela Yates and Paco de Onís to screen and discuss the film "500 years: Life in Resistance" March 27, 2018 at Texas State for this year’s Common Experience theme. The film is one of three Devine has produced that concern social justice in Guatemala.

“The filmmakers will also do a documentary filmmaking workshop with students at Texas State and visit my political geography class,” Devine said.

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LIFESTYLE

Tuesday, November 28, 2017 | 5 Katie Burrell Lifestyle Editor @KatieNicole96

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

FITNESS

Four friends adjust to a fit lifestyle

By Sonia Garcia Lifestyle Reporter Four friends went from mentoring students together to hitting the gym everyday to support each other.

Karissa Marks, psychology and anthropology senior, Prisila De Leon, graduate student and their group of friends are Texas State students who work out together at Camp Gladiator in San Marcos.

A year-long friendship that begun from working on campus as Peer Mentors in the freshman PACE program evolved into a workout group. The girls started training at Camp Gladiator this summer and have been consistent since.

Collectively, they do not have a past of working out regularly and have had a hard time being able to maintain a fitness lifestyle on top of a job and school work.

They find that the recreation center at Texas State is full of more experienced athletes and are intimidated by the other students who utilize the facility.

However, choosing to attend Camp Gladiator has benefited their lives and has kept all four of them motivated.

Camp Gladiator has a unique program for their customers that makes it different from the recreation center and other gyms in the area.

Each week the trainers focus on

building their customers in all areas; the first week is focused on building endurance, the second on strength and agility, the third on interval, the fourth is the peak of all the training and lastly the fifth week is exclusive workouts to Bold Campers to recover from four weeks of work.

With a set plan from the trainers, it avoids the uncertainty of not knowing how to use equipment or feeling shy next to the frequent gym goers.

De Leon, enjoys working out with her friends, rather than on her own because on her own there is no accountability to actually do it. In a group, she is able to feel motivated and encouraged to attend Camp Gladiator every day.

"We will text each other the night before things like 'CG WUT WUT 5 a.m. tomorrow,'" De Leon said.

While Camp Gladiator is not free after student fees like the recreation center on campus, it is what this friend group said works for them. They each paid a year contract of approximately $70 to attend.

Each person has their own personal fitness goals and hopes to keep growing in the body and health they envision.

Marks has a family history of deterring health issues and is proud to be working out with Camp Gladiator to ensure a healthy future for herself.

"It's going to sound really, really silly

Some students have found that the Student Recreation Center is full of experienced athletes, and are intimidated working out in that environment.

STAR FILE PHOTO

and small, but at this point, I want to be able to do a proper push-up," Marks said.

Being able to incorporate Camp Gladiator into their daily routines has made fitness a priority. They tend to go together at 5 a.m., but sometimes they

will attend on their own at different times. They still check in on each other to make sure one does not fall out.

These peer mentors are fighting for their health and confidence by uniting and enjoying the act of breaking a sweat.

DANCE

Broadway dancer steps out of spotlight to teach

By Diana Furman Lifestyle Reporter Tucked away in a studio with creaking wood floors, a group of students surrenders to the movement of their dancing bodies and the beat of the bass rattling the studio's mirrors.

“Plié, relevé, press those knees wide,” Kiira Schmidt Carper, a ballet and jazz technique professor said.

Her lively spirit flutters around the room, correcting the dancers’ warmups.

This fiery redhead with a slender, elegant frame has a vast professional experience in dance, including a career in New York spanning ten years, consisting of touring shows and Broadway productions.

Carper’s dancing history dates back to the beginning of her life. Her grandmother, two uncles, and her mother owned a dance school which Carper grew up dancing in. There she fell in love with the theatrics in dance.

She trained in various styles of dance growing up including ballet, tap, jazz and modern. She later majored in dance at Harrison School for the Arts, performing art high school in Florida. It was her experience there that propelled her into the world of musical theater and Broadway.

She quickly became enamored with her vocal lessons and acting classes, leading to a transition into musical theatre. She later obtained a degree in musical theatre from Elon University and stepped onto the stage in New York.

Her notable works on Broadway include "Follies," "Anything Goes," "White Christmas" and "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." Carper, however,

remains humble about her work alongside big Broadway actors and shows.

She acknowledges the massive amount of work and dedication she threw into her career and knows she did not end up where she is by chance.

“The reality of that lifestyle is taxing with auditioning constantly, but the payoff is really rewarding,” Carper said.

Family has always played a large part in her life. She always keeps photos of her family near to her while traveling and can even still recall the smell of her family’s old dance studio. Shortly after joining her first touring show, the cast and crew became her temporary family while on the road.

“I’ve always had a very supportive family back home and I’m lucky that way,” Carper said. “Transiting to New York was really rough but they helped me through it.”

Carper moved to New York in her 20s and fell into the flow of auditions and work and it slowly started to pay off.

“Auditions are always daunting at first and you have to get used to being told, ‘no.’” Carper said. “But the longer you stay and make connections, those ‘no’s turn into ‘yes’s and auditioning becomes life.”

After her many years of professional dancing, Carper felt it was time for a change. She and her husband moved to Texas and she chose to teach rather than take center stage.

This year is Carper’s third within the musical theater program at Texas State.

Previously, she was a visiting assistant dance professor at Sam Houston State University.

SEE DANCE PAGE 6

Kiira Schmidt Carper, ballet and jazz technique professor, rehearses a dance for a production of A Chorus Line. PHOTO COURTESY OF KIIRA SCHMIDT

6 | Tuesday, November 28, 2017

LIFESTYLE

The University Star Katie Burrell Lifestyle Editor @KatieNicole96

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

FROM PAGE 5 DANCE Mathew Kennedy, acting freshman, credits Carper as one of the most encouraging and fun dance teachers she has ever had.

“Her teaching environment is really positive, but it definitely pushes you to your limits,” Kennedy said. "It really helps you break through and grow as a dancer.”

Camille Duvall, musical theater freshman, said she Carper to be revolutionary. Duvall said Carper has emphasized that dance is an expression and dancers should not be confined to a box or limited by rules.

“I’m used to being berated when I get something wrong in a dance class but it’s so different with Kiira,” Duvall

said. “I’ve never heard someone scream so loud with excitement when you get something right.”

She encourages her students with counts, claps and loud vocalizations.

This method simultaneously allows room for them to try, fail and succeed all on their own.

A life full of dancing and artistic ex-

pression has taught Carper many things but the most important lesson she has learned and hopes her students walk away with is the versatility of happiness.

“Trust the process, everyone is on their own path,” Carper said. “Success doesn’t just mean one thing, it looks different for so many people."

RESTAURANT

Ivar's River Pub re-opens to commemorate late owner

By Diana Furman Lifestyle Reporter The newly renovated Ivar's River Pub re-opened its doors to the community Oct. 2.

Since the pub first opened in 1996, the restaurant, formerly known as The San Marcos River Pub and Grill, has been a staple of the city for years. The riverfront, bar-style hangout hosted locals daily before closing its doors in 2013.

The building was forced to close due to damage from flooding. Curtis Gunnarson, owner of the restaurant, chose to restore the restaurant to commemorate his late father.

Ivar Gunnarson, the original owner of the restaurant, was a World War II veteran from who moved to San Marcos after his service. Surviving the war led him to return with a fearless, businessminded attitude. This new worldview led to eventually ended with the opening of the San Marcos River Pub and Grill.

The Gunnarson family chose to rename the restaurant after Ivar Gunnarson, who passed away in 2005. The maple leaf logo pays homage to his Canadian roots, and black and white WWII photographs adorn the walls of the restaurant, memorializing his life and achievements.

"His war experience really shaped him as a business man and that's how we pay tribute to him and other veterans as well," Curtis Gunnarson said.

Gunnarson said that after returning from war, Ivar believed life was not as difficult as he once thought. He approached business without the fear of failure and the belief he could overcome any obstacle.

Jermaine Frazier-Collins, general manager, said the restaurant was very important to Ivar Gunnarson during his life and his family chose to keep it for that reason.

During his lifetime, Ivar Gunnarson worked alongside community members of San Marcos. Frazier-Collins said he was a prominent businessman.

The original pub garnered regular customers that were ready to help when the Gunnarson family chose to re-open the doors.

“When we chose to renovate it, we got the help from everyone that he had helped previously,” Eli Zablosky, marketing coordinator, said. “It’s more than just a building, it has history.”

The building is 60 years old and the Gunnarson family wanted to set it up for success. Previously a casual hangout, it is now an up-scale, dine-in restaurant serving an array of comfort food. It has large windows that overlook the San

The entrance to the newly re-opened Ivar's River Pub. Located near Rio Vista Falls, the pub is named after the late Ivar Gunnarson, his family now operates the business on the river. PHOTO BY LARA DIETRICH | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Marcos River, located beside the Rio Vista Dam. “The river is such a big part of San Marcos,” Michael Bazan, the head chef, said. “You can be having a bad day and come out here and just get lost. It’s nice out here.”

Owned and operated by the Gunnarsons, Bazan said the restaurant has developed a family-like atmosphere. Although only having been open for seven weeks, Ivar's River Pub has already developed new and long-time regular customers.

HUMANS OF SAN MARCOS “I’m born and raised (in San Marcos) and my mom used to come in to buy stuff to make jewelry with. She taught me the basics when I was little kid. So, I’ve grown up coming here.

It’s a very interesting job to have and it’s a lot more work than people expect, but I’m doing something I love to do. This is a great business, it’s been here for 40 years and amazing people run it.”

– Indica Smith, Paper Bear employee

Indica Smith, Paper Bear employee creates jewlery during her shirft.

PHOTO BY ERIKA CONOVER

The University Star

Tuesday, November 28, 2017 | 7

OPINIONS

May Olvera Opinions Editor @yungfollowill

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

Net neutrality vital for democracy In the last decade, war has been continuously waged on a free and open internet in the name of corporate interest.

Today, Obama appointee and Trumpdesignated chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Ajit Pai is once again threatening to end net neutrality.

The FCC’s newly proposed plan, deceivingly named the “Restoring Internet Freedom Order,” would effectively remove consumer protections placed on internet providers by the FCC in 2015.

The plan goes up for a vote in the FCC on Dec. 14, and if passed would mean that internet providers like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T have the freedom to slow down speeds for internet users and limit access to specific information unless customers pay for higherspeed plans. This would not only create a discrepancy between who has access to what information but would also hurt or kill many tech companies including industry giants like Netflix and Amazon.

More importantly, the death of net

neutrality would mean that corporations have the ability to effectively silence certain voices and opinions by making them completely inaccessible.

Net neutrality has given historically unrepresented people the ability to create communities and amplify their voices on their own terms.

Historically, mainstream news outlets have failed at representing marginalized communities, often misrepresenting or completely ignoring them. The rise of the internet made way for these communities to voice and cover their issues with care, and push otherwise-ignorant journalists toward fairer reporting.

Additionally, at a time when the price of education has skyrocketed, people have turned to digital resources and communities in order to stay informed and educated. Large companies, with the help of the American government, are reducing the access of information and ensuring that literacy rates continue to go down while wealth inequality rises.

As journalists dedicated to the spread

The rise of the internet made way for these communities to voice and cover their issues with care, and push otherwise-ignorant journalists toward fairer reporting.

of information, accessibility of discourse and diversity of opinions, we find attacks on net neutrality in favor of corporate interest detrimental to our democracy.

Net neutrality has encouraged transparency and accountability within our profession, which ensures transparency and accountability of government officials and corporations as well. Pushing the internet under the table and into a largely inaccessible darkness would suppress, among many things, equality and truth.

Although the FCC is doing everything they can to ignore the massive public pushback, there is only so much they can do before their actions are finally seen as blatant attacks on our democracy. We urge all of our readers to pressure their elected government representatives to take a stand against the FCC’s proposed plan and secure a free, open and democratic internet. We’ve won this battle before, time and time again—but not without a fight.

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.

CROSSWORD OF THE WEEK 1

ACROSS

2

3 4 5 6 7

10

DOWN

9

11

12

1. University's designated free speech area 3. Who wrote Texas State's fight song?

7. Alumni who blows bubbles through campus 8. Oldest building on campus 10. University mascot's name

Answers: (ACROSS) 2. Strutters, 4. Jackson Hall, 5. 1911, 6. Normal College, 9. Lyndon B. Johnson, 11. George Strait, 12. Gaillardia (DOWN) 1. Fighting Stallions, 3. Paul Yoder, 7. Bubble Believer, 8. Old Main, 10. Boko

8

2. First dance team organized on major Texas campus 4. Where is the Victory Star on campus?

5. Year The University Star was founded 6. First name of Texas State 9. Former U.S. president and editor of The University Star 11. Country artist George's is named after 12. Texas State's flower

8 | Tuesday, November 28, 2017

OPINIONS

The University Star May Olvera Opinions Editor @yungfollowill

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

SUSPENSION

A campus with no Greek life

By Tafari Robertson Opinions Columnist Last week, after yet another student death in a Greek-related incident, President Denise Trauth released a statement announcing the suspension of all Greek life from Texas State until further review. As only one of a series of universities across the U.S. that have taken similar actions, it seems time we seriously consider what it really means to attend a university with no Greek life.

The Greek community is historically exclusive, financially elitist, and, according to EndRapeOnCampus.org, have been described in academic journals as “dangerous places for women.” Without the pervasive influence of Greek life, younger students can now look elsewhere for their introduction to college culture.

The social aspect of the Greek life should be the least missed for the sim-

ple fact that it’s likely not leaving. An institutional suspension of Greek life can do nothing to change who someone sits next to in class or calls on the weekends. Within legal limitations, these people can even still throw parties together so long as they don’t brand them with their national letters.

According to The Fraternity Advisor, “Greek life is all about maintaining a tight-knit social circle, making lifelong friendships, and learning about leadership.” This is perhaps the most confusing part of the uproar over the suspension because a ban on the Greek system at Texas State University is in no way a ban on socializing, networking or philanthropy. These supposed primary elements of Greek life are not at all at stake, unless, of course, there is some other element that draws this community together.

An institutional suspension on Greek life can do nothing to change who someone sits next to in class or calls on the weekends.

What is actually at stake is the social control that the Greek community holds over campus life, primarily for underclassmen.

The first taste of college freedom for many students is the week before classes start. During the day, incoming freshmen are confined to packed schedules of college preparatory workshops on topics ranging from good study habits to drug abuse and sexual assault. The real learning, however, begins at night, as crowds of over-dressed pre-students fill the sidewalks on the way to their first college party, the majority of which are hosted in fraternity houses near campus.

Utilizing Twitter hashtags and word of mouth, the parties during this week are marketed to new students as the only place they’ll be able to drink and to introduce them to the power dynamics of this new social structure. Their unspoken rules become immediately clear as it is not a rarity to get turned away ILLUSTRATION BY CHANCE BROWN from an otherwise open-invite party for

being deemed not attractive enough (if you’re a woman), if there are too many guys, or at frats such as previously-suspended Kappa Alpha, simply for being black.

To be clear, getting turned away from a party dominated by toxic masculinity, hormonal outbursts and a high potential for sexual assault is not the bad part. This culture that is promoted and upheld by the Greek system also exerts its influence on the overall college experience. The sexism and racism that hide within the walls of various Greek organization slow the progress of the modern university as it tries to address its institutional issues.

The gang-mentality of such organizations insulate the students who most desperately need a diverse educational experience. Besides the pisspoor cultural awareness Texas public schools equip students with on their way to higher education, the price point alone is enough to limit the diversity of said organizations.

The University of Central Florida, one of the few schools to produce information on the average costs of Greek life, suggests a new sorority member can expect to pay $1,280 per semester and pledging a fraternity can cost an average of $605 per semester. This estimate does not include the cost of events that first-year pledges are often required to attend. This financial cap plays a deliberate role in maintaining the Greek communities’ upper-middleclass-and-higher standard and is a defining factor in their notorious exclusivity.

Without this institutional framework, students who may otherwise default to Greek life can start or join professional organizations more closely related to their majors and upperclassmen can devote their energy to the growth of their educational communities rather than gendered loyalties rooted in elitism. Greek life is the firmest stance Trauth has taken on any of the pressing issues Texas State faces. Hopefully, it is the start of a trend to make the school’s educational goals a new priority over its financial ones.

HBCU

HBCU elitism stifles black excellence

By Carrington Tatum Opinions Columnist The debate between predominantly white institutions (PWI) and historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) is an age-old discussion among black students. However, the conversation crashed through the floor and onto the heads of HBCU students when University of North Texas President Neal Smatresk showed up in full participation for the black student’s “#DuragDay” homecoming event, an event #BlackTXST would also host for our own homecoming festivities.

Via Twitter, HBCU students arrived to remind UNT that the tradition of “#DuragDay” began at HBCUs and even accused UNT of enabling the appropriation of black culture by allowing white students to participate. Even though UNT is a minority-serving institution (MSI), that did not stop HBCU students from hurling insults at the PWI. While the cultural relevancy of “#DuragDay,” and whether or not a white university president should participate in such activities could be de-

bated, it is more important to move beyond such pointless debates and attack a much larger issue: the apparent elitism that emanates from HBCU students.

In a somehow-more-annoying fashion than Rick and Morty fans, HBCU students find a way to inject their enrolment at an HBCU into any conversation amongst black students at PWIs. They never fail to shame and question the cultural priorities of black PWI attendees. The idea that an HBCU college experience is superior to PWI college experience is a subjective, pointless debate.

This posturing of HBCU students adds a line of division within the community where one is not needed. Such arrogance would be justified if HBCUs were the only places where black students were succeeding and going on to become impactful individuals, however that is simply not the case.

There are more reasons why a black student may choose to attend a PWI beyond the assumption that they are rejecting their black identity. This also ignores the power and tenacity of black students who carve out black spaces and communities on white campuses.

Furthermore, if HBCU students were as pro-black as they portray, then they would be dedicated to the success of black students regardless of where they are enrolled. Instead, HBCUs would much rather shame and exclude black students who do not fit a monolithic vertical slice of black culture. Not to mention that the presidents of these supposed-bastions of unapologetic blackness rolled over quite quickly for President Trump and his administration when it came time to discuss funding for the schools.

Ideally, historically black colleges founded in response to slavery, Jim Crow and the racial exclusivity of white universities continue to have a role in the 21st century in protecting the inter-

ests of all black students-- even those that are a thousand miles away. This becomes ever more important because the solidarity needed to overcome the plight that African-Americans face in this country is much too important to be stifled by the type of college one attends.

HBCUs are important and valuable institutions but not valuable enough for students to be arrogant in their attendance to one. The difference between an HBCU and a PWI in the context of the actualization of a black student is not as drastic as HBCU students would like to think; the blacker than thou attitude serves no one but the powers that seek to exterminate blackness in all of its forms.

RECYCLE THE

UNIVERSITY STAR ILLUSTRATION BY HALEY PRIETO

The University Star

OPINIONS

Tuesday, November 28, 2017 | 9 May Olvera Opinions Editor @yungfollowill

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

WEALTH

The Gospel of Wealth was a good start

By Zach Ienatsch Opinions Columnist In June of 1889, Scottish-American business titan Andrew Carnegie published his article, "Wealth," more commonly known today as "The Gospel of Wealth." Carnegie asserted the wealthy upper class had a duty to contribute their personal funds to philanthropy.

Carnegie personally helped fund over 2,500 libraries in the United States and abroad, believing access to educational resources served the public interest and the greater good.

Today, the spirit of Carnegie lives on most notably in the Giving Pledge, a charitable organization founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. The Giving Pledge’s intention is to convince billionaires to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes during their lifetime, not unlike Carnegie and his libraries. The organization has 158 committed individuals and couples, with a combined net worth of nearly $734 billion.

Regardless of whether billionaire commitment to philanthropy stems from genuine altruism or an effective PR boost, their charity is certainly the better alternative to hoarding their wealth in offshore accounts or splurging on decadent luxuries. This should be an obvious assumption, considering the acquisition of wealth without purpose benefits no one but the holder. But this is where the success of the Gospel of Wealth ends.

At first glance, the donations from wealthy benefactors are seen as service for the public good. But we have to ask: how was this wealth acquired in the first place?

In most cases, billionaires make their fortune in some form of commercial business. Instead of distributing the company’s income more equally among their workers, executives will pocket the lion’s share of the profits directly through bonuses and dividends. If they do not, the chances of even reaching billionaire status are unlikely.

When billionaires donate their money,

we are dependent on the few to decide where those donations will go and conditions to which they will apply. But if business moguls instead forfeit their personal revenue and adjust their business practices for workers to receive better pay and benefits, many more individuals will have the means to live comfortably on their own terms.

With steadily growing wealth, the upper class is also more equipped to influence lawmakers to implement tax breaks and fewer regulations through lobbying.

This is not to say every billionaire committed to the Giving Pledge is guilty of this, but they certainly all benefit from lower taxes and fewer regulations. If the upper class is keen to donate their money to libraries, museums and scientific research, why would they dig in their heels to pay their fair share of taxes; taxes that will go towards the very programs they’re donating to in the first place?

There are two main reasons for this.

The first is by donating their money, wealthy individuals can give as much or

as little as they want whenever it suits them, unlike taxes and social programs which (in theory) respond to a more concrete degree of the needs of the public. The second is no one gets good press by paying taxes. It’s your civic duty and people ought to do it regardless of their motivation. It makes sense wealthy people would rather pay less and still receive much greater recognition.

The Gospel of Wealth was a good start. Carnegie’s attitude could even be interpreted as radical for the upper class of the Gilded Age. And credit has to be given to Gates, Buffett and the rest of the Giving Pledge for their decision to use their wealth for good. But the key components missing from the Gospel of Wealth are consistency and certainty.

To ensure the domestic welfare, the public must maintain a government committed to providing education, scientific funding, workers’ benefits, healthcare and everything in between, not from the good graces of the wealthy few, but because of a collective commitment to equality.

CARTOON OF THE WEEK

CARTOON BY STEPHANIE CLOYD | GRAPHIC DESIGNER

10 | Tuesday, November 28, 2017

SPORTS

The University Star UniversityStar.com @universitystar

Lisette Lopez Sports Editor @lisette_1023

BASKETBALL

Head coach looking forward to new season with young team

By Orlando Williams Sports Reporter The men's basketball head coach Danny Kaspar has a resume that speaks for itself. Kaspar is ranked in the top 25 winningest active Division I coaches.

This is Kaspar’s 27th year as a head coach. After starting his career as an assistant coach for Lamar University, he became an assistant coach at Midwestern State, Stephen F. Austin and Baylor. He then received his first head coaching job at Incarnate Word, where he had an overall record of 219-52. Kaspar led Incarnate Word to six NAIA National Tournaments.

After leaving Incarnate Word he became the head coach for Stephen F. Austin, where he became the winningest Division I Coach in Texas for seven years since 2007.

On April 4, 2013, Kaspar became head coach of the Bobcats. With his 27th year in the position and fifth season with Texas State, he said he has learned a lot throughout the years.

“I learned things from my high school and junior college coaches," Kaspar said. "Periodically, a player will come up with an idea; my assistant coaches sometimes throw an idea out to me.”

Kaspar said that the recruits he and his coaches brought in, along with the culture they have created, have helped build a winning atmosphere.

“I’m very proud of these young men that we brought into the program,” Kaspar said. “Last year, our team was the only Sun Belt Conference team with a GPA of 3.0 or more. They are a great group and fun to be around.”

Every year at Texas State, Kaspar's team has improved. Last year his team finished 22-14, which was the first winning season in 14 years.

Kaspar knows that fan expectations are high after last year's performance but he urges them to understand that the team is younger than those in the past.

Marlin Davis, sophomore guard, dribbles past defenders towards the basket. Davis is averaging four points a game this season. PHOTO BY JOSH MENDS

“I know people have high expectations for this team, I do too, but I always have to remind myself that this is a very young group," said Kaspar.

"This team has a chance to be the best I’ve had here.”

While some coaches want to be known for their wins or for their championships, coach Kaspar is different. He wants to be remembered for the positive impact he has had on his players on and off the court.

“I want to be remembered for teaching these young men that the good things in life come from hard work, effort and dedication," Kaspar said. "Basketball is a beautiful sport that, when players work together, some wonderful results can come from it; I just get a kick out of that."

Nijal Pearson, sophomore guard, shoots a fadeaway jump shot. Pearson is averaging 7.2 rebounds a game this season. PHOTO BY JOSH MENDS

FOOTBALL

Texas State’s one season quarterback

By Melea Polk Sports Reporter As his first and only season starting for the football team comes to an end, graduate quarterback Damian Williams opens up about the road to San Marcos and plans for the future.

Williams graduated from Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, Louisiana in 2013. He was considered a dualthreat quarterback in the New Orleans area and was ranked No. 17 out of 2013 prospects from all positions in Louisiana.

Williams began his collegiate career at Mississippi State University, making his first appearance as a freshman against Ole Miss where he completed 8 of 18 passes for 82 yards.

“We are trying to build this program for the ones that are coming in after us. Ultimately, we are trying to build a recipe that will lead to wins.”

-Damian Williams “It was definitely fun,” Williams said.

“There was a big atmosphere and a lot of people who loved Mississippi State

Williams competed in the 2017 Annual Maroon and Gold Spring Game and showed promise for the Bobcats.

However, Williams was suspended by the NCAA that summer while waiting for his Graduate Record Examination test scores to come in.

“I wasn’t sure about how I did on the test,” Williams said. “It definitely came down to the end, but it was all worth it.”

Just weeks before the first game of the season, Williams' GRE scores came in and he passed. The quarterback was back on the field competing for the starting spot against true freshman Willie Jones III, who had practiced with the team all summer.

Williams won the starting position and led the Bobcats to a 20-11 win over Houston Baptist, the first win of the season.

Quarterbacks lead the team, calling out plays while on the field. But while off the field, Williams had to find a way to keep the team motivated after so many losses.

Damian Williams, graduate quarterback completes a pass to a receiver. Williams “I kept reminding them about what transferred from Mississippi State University. STAR FILE PHOTO we are working for,” Williams said. “We are trying to build this program for the ones that are coming in after us. UltiTexas State spring 2017. football.” mately, we are trying to build a recipe “The offensive coordinator that that will lead to wins.”

Williams redshirted his sophomore year, then played for the Bulldogs for was here last year was at Mississippi Coming from an SEC football team two more years against teams like South State when I was there,” Williams said. where fan support was always abundant, Alabama and Louisiana State University. “When it was time for me to transfer, I Williams was shocked by the lack of atAfter completing four years at Mis- began to talk to him about coming here. tendance at Texas State games. sissippi State, Williams graduated with Texas State ran a similar offense, and we “You just have to bring your own a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary thought it would be an easy transition energy,” Williams said. “Back in Missishere for me.” studies. sippi there are rarely empty seats, so it is As soon as he got to San Marcos, Wil- a little different for me. We do appreciWith his bachelor's degree in hand and one year left of NCAA eligibility, liams made an agenda for his new team ate the fans that do come out here to Williams decided to further his educa- that came off a 2-10 record in the previ- support us.” tion with graduate school. After a quar- ous season.

With the season coming to a close, “I was planning on winning more Williams has big plans for his next adterback showdown at Mississippi State, games than last year,” Williams said. venture in life. After this season ends, Williams decided to transfer out.

“I came here for more responsibility “My expectations were just to get Williams will start rigorous workouts and playing time,” Williams said. “We around a group of guys and be able to for NFL Pro Day next year. had a quarterback competition and it spread some of that knowledge I have “After this season, I am going to train did not go in my favor so I transferred.” learned in my previous years. I was also for Pro Day,” Williams said. “I definitely After talking to his previous coach, excited to be a part of a different fam- want to try to go to the league.”

Williams made the decision to come to ily.”

The University Star

SPORTS

Tuesday, November 28, 2017 | 12 Lisette Lopez Sports Editor @lisette_1023

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

CHEERLEADING

The college experience of a cheerleader, a student and an influencer

By Brooke Phillips Assistant Sports Editor Coming to a university, many studentathletes hope to give 110 percent to their sport and have a memorable college experience. One cheerleader has done just that as she reflects back on her last four years as a Bobcat.

Tynisha Jackson, electronic media senior, has been on the All-Girls cheerleading team ever since she came to Texas State her freshman year.

Jackson knew her heart was in the sport since the age of four when she first started cheering.

“I was very nervous and I thought tryouts were going to be hectic and cutthroat. But they made it a relaxed environment so you’re not as stressed as you think you might be.”

-Tynisha Jackson “When it came down to what I really wanted to go to practice for, it was more for cheer,” Jackson said. “I was more willing to go to cheer practices or competitions and that’s how I knew I was more of a cheerleader than anything else.”

Arlington is where Jackson calls home, but she wanted to venture outside of the area. Jackson went through the cheerleading team tryouts before her first semester and has become a veteran in the Bobcat world of cheer.

“I was very nervous and I thought tryouts were going to be hectic and cutthroat,” Jackson said. “But they made it a relaxed environment so you’re not as stressed as you think you might be.”

Being a part of the All-Girls team, Jackson cheers on the sidelines at football, volleyball and basketball games.

Fans can find Jackson cheering on and supporting peers and competing with her squad.

“I love the game atmosphere,” Jackson said. “The crowd pumps up our team. I also like to compete against other big schools too.”

The Texas State cheer team competes in various competitions throughout the year, and the All-Girls cheer team’s biggest competition is the UCA Nationals held in Orlando, Florida every year.

The Bobcats have won three championship titles in the past. In Jackson’s time at Texas State, the team won the World’s Competition at the UCA Nationals her freshman and sophomore year.

“It was very cool,” Jackson said. “It was cool to come in my first year and help our team get a win.”

When Jackson isn’t on the sidelines of the field or court, she enjoys participating in the different organizations that the university has to offer.

Jackson is a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Texas State and the Student Ministry. Growing in her faith is important to Jackson, and is grateful for the organizations.

“For Student Ministry, when I first came to college I really wanted to grow in my faith because I really wasn’t too involved in church and those kinds of things before I came to college,” Jackson said. “I always had friends who talked about God and I wanted to learn more about him so I ended up at Student Ministry, and that was a really good decision.”

Staying true to her faith and what she loves to do is why Jackson chose to become an electronic media major.

Jackson started out in the medical field, minoring in mass communication, but Jackson made the switch when she fell in love with her minor.

“I think the time is sometimes a harder part of being a student-athlete,” Jack-

Tynisha Jackson, senior cheerleader, holds up the Texas State hand sign. This has been Jackson's fourth year on the All-Girls cheerleading team.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TYNISHA JACKSON

son said. “It’s not too time-consuming, but you do have those times when you feel very overwhelmed because you have so many tests in one week, but you also have to focus when you get to practice.

You can’t let those things affect how you perform at games or in practice.”

Jackson’s last year is coming to an end as she plans to graduate in the spring of

2018. Jackson has become a leader after four years as a student-athlete.

“It’s pretty cool being a Bobcat,” Jackson said. “We have a diverse student base, so it’s really cool to see how diverse we are and different cultures that come together. Just being able to cheer here also is such a blessing and I’m always so honored to be able to cheer here.”

VOLLEYBALL

Sophomore player looking to improve for seasons to come

By Anthony Flores Sports Reporter Putting together a successful collegiate sports program is a difficult task, and while we mostly focus on the stars, it’s the players around them who bring things together.

Mattie Adams, sophomore defensive specialist, fills her role on the Texas State volleyball team perfectly.

“I feel like I have a secure spot as a defensive specialist,” Adams said.

Adams began playing volleyball at a young age, but has also been involved in several other sports.

“I started playing volleyball when I was 7 years old,” Adams said. “I played softball, basketball and I also ran track.”

It was clear to the athlete volleyball was the sport for her.

Meanwhile, contact sports proved to be at the bottom of her list.

“Volleyball was different because it’s not a contact sport so that’s why I didn’t like basketball,” Adams said.

The team-oriented nature of volleyball played one of the biggest roles in helping the Bobcat make her choice.

“It’s more team-like. In track you would run, throw or jump by yourself,” Adams said. “Same with softball. I was an outfielder, so I was standing in the outfield alone or you’d bat alone, but here it’s all team.”

Adams was raised just 20 minutes from Texas State in Wimberley. She comes from a sports-oriented family.

Not long ago, her older sister, Morgan Adams, was a part of a conference championship-winning track and field team for Texas State.

“My older sister actually did track

Members of the volleyball team celebrate after scoring a point.

The women's volleyball team is set to compete in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.

PHOTO BY HANNAH FELSKE

here at Texas State for five years,” said Adams.

Being close to home made following in her sister’s footsteps and becoming part of the Bobcat family a natural choice. However, San Marcos' atmo-

sphere and the university's volleyball team and coaching staff seemed to be the tipping factors.

“It’s close to home, it’s only 20 minutes away,” Adams said. “I love the atmosphere here and the girls and the coaching staff is amazing.”

With a year of experience under her belt, the athlete's play has improved. Her improvement came from an increase in playing time.

The athlete played 25 matches and 67 sets in the 2016 season. However, Adams has played all 33 matches and 109

sets during the 2017 campaign.

“I think I go for more balls and that why I have more digs than I did last year,” Adams said. “I’m more competitive.”

Adams takes pride in notching up digs during games and aiming for double digits. During the 2017 season, the athlete has achieved that goal multiple times, racking up 11 games with doubledigit digs and totaling 253 on the season. Adams’ current season high is 18 digs against Louisiana-Monroe.

“It’s after the game, knowing I get double-digit digs, that’s what I’ve been working on all season,” Adams said.