April 3, 2018

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

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Volume 107, Issue 25

Tennis player strives for excellence

Students have a right to know

MERMAIDS FIND HOME

SEE MAIN POINT PAGE 5

SEE CITY PAGE 3

SEE TENNIS PAGE 7

SAFETY

GREEK

By Brittlin Richardson News Reporter

Fla., shooting that left 17 students and teachers dead.

The bill passed March 14 with few objections in the House of Representatives and has been received by the Senate, who read the bill twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

This legislation is essential to combatting school violence before it occurs, with the training of school officials at the forefront of the resolution, Cornyn stated in a press release.

All of the families of the Parkland, Fla., victims support the bill, Libby Hambleton, Cornyn's Texas Deputy Press Secretary, stated.

A letter signed by all 17 of the victims' families to congressional leaders stated, "frankly, much more needs to be done to prevent a mass murder from ever occurring at any school.

This issue cannot wait. The moment to consider these key pieces of legislation is now."

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, joined by 21 other Senators, introduced a bill March 3 that would allocate funds to increase safety precautions in schools.

The Student, Teachers and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 would authorize funding to train law enforcement, school personnel and students on how to identify warning signs and intervene before school violence happens. The legislation also would establish an anonymous tip line and improve school security infrastructure.

The bill would amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 that furthers school security procedures and would reestablish the Secure Our Schools Act grant program that awards funds.

The proposed bill comes in response to the ongoing public outcry against gun violence in schools.

The current movement was spurred by the Parkland,

SEE SAFETY PAGE 2

Greek organizations apply for reinstatement, commit to training program

By Andrew Terrell News Reporter Greek fraternity and sorority chapters are officially applying for reinstatement under new university guidelines.

The fraternity and sorority chapters had until March 30 to complete the first step of reinstatement. All 30 eligible chapters completed the first step and are able to hold meetings, plan programs and plan events. The chapters are prohibited from hosting events with alcohol until August under the new guidelines.

The organizations are returning after a four-month-long suspension caused by the death of a fraternity pledge.

The next steps will be occurring over the remainder of this semester and during the 2018-19 academic year.

“Our goal is for the 30 eligible organizations to complete the reinstatement process," Bob Dudolski, assistant dean of students said. "At this stage, it is up to the individual organizations to make that decision if they wish to return to Texas State.”

SEE GREEK PAGE 2

FIRE

Restuarant closed due to fire, expected to reopen soon

By Tyler Hernandez Senior News Reporter Hacienda El Charro Tapatio had to close after there was a fire March 8.

The downtown Mexican restaurant is expected to reopen within a few weeks.

The owners did not comment on the incident but their son, Jorge Robles, stated that the insurance company was going to cushion financial consequences of the fire.

“We’re going to be fine,” Robles stated.

“The insurance company is paying back the employees for all those weeks the restaurant was closed.”

Robles stated that the restaurant was not expected to be closed for long and expects to see customers again within a couple of weeks.

“The restaurant is opening up soon," Robles stated. "In one or two more weeks; I'm not too sure.”

The incident was investigated by Hays County Fire Marshal Clint Browning.

Typically, the city has a fire marshal on hand to conduct investigations involving fires, but the position is currently unfilled.

Trey Hatt, a communications specialist for the city of San Marcos, said the process of getting a new city fire marshal is underway, but that Browning would be investigating during the interim.

“We’ve got a fire marshal department, but right now... that position is vacant. I think that’s why we’re getting help from the county fire marshall,” Hatt said. “It’s in the works.”

While neither firefighters or employees suffered injuries from the fire, there was significant damage to portions of the building and the cooking equipment that was in use at the time. Browning said the damage could potentially end up being thousands of dollars. Although, there was not an official number reported by the company handling the insurance of the building.

SEE FIRE PAGE 2

Hacienda El Charro Tapatio, awaiting repairs after a kitchen fire forced the

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restaurant to close its doors. PHOTO BY CHELSEA YOHN

The University Star

2 | Tuesday, April 3, 2018

NEWS

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FROM FRONT SAFETY Kathy Martinez-Prather, Texas School Safety Center Director, is tasked with ensuring Texas public schools are kept up-to-date with security training, protocols and research. She said the ability to identify a student in distress and in danger of harming themselves or other is very important.

"You can never do enough to prepare our schools; there is always more you can do," Martinez-Prather said. "I think by-and-large our schools are doing well when it comes to school safety. Texas has never seen something as catastrophic as Columbine, Sandy Hook and the Florida shooting, but you can never become complacent. It is not a matter of if it's going to happen but when something like this is going to happen."

Andrew Fernandez, San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District Executive Director of Communications and Community Relations, said SMCISD is ahead of the curve in preventing school violence.

"As a district, if students feel safe and employees feel well supported, that is when the best learning can take place," Fernandez said. "Yes, learning is important. It's our top priority as well, but we need our students to feel safe."

Fernandez said the district's mobile app includes a service called STOP!T, which allows students to submit anonymous tips concerning illegal or improper behavior. The tips are received by all campus and district administrators.

Fernandez also said every SMCISD

secondary school has a school resource officer and maintains a partnership with San Marcos Police Department, which regularly brings police officers to campuses.

President Donald Trump tweeted his support for the S.T.O.P. Act. "Today the House took major steps toward securing our schools by passing the S.T.O.P. School Violence Act," Trump tweeted. "We must put the safety of America's children FIRST by improving training and by giving schools and law enforcement better tools. A tragedy like Parkland can't happen ever again!"

Appropriations for the bill would include $75 million for the 2018 fiscal year and $100 million for the upcoming 10 years.

PARKING

Officials seek to solve downtown parking

By Triston Giesie News Reporter The limitations of parking in San Marcos are more apparent as the city and university grow, leading officials to take action.

Parking on campus and around San Marcos entered a stage of reform. This is likely due in part to students taking to the Square to find free parking.

Students park south of campus to avoid additional fees, holding spots on the Square that would otherwise be for customers throughout the day. This has put a strain on the few places there are to park.

Kevin Burke, the economic development administrator for the City of San Marcos, said the city has been working toward a solution to the parking problem since 2016 when the Parking Management Program began. The first steps were to contract with KimleyHorn, a planning and engineering firm, and to host a series of stakeholder meetings.

“The intent was always to move forward to a system of paid parking downtown," Burke said. "Not that the council has ever determined we’re going to start charging for parking downtown, just that when we hire a consultant, we define a scope of work. In that scope, it was very clear that we were moving toward the council making that decision.”

Community stakeholders' ideas centered around the idea of increased enforcement to limit long-term parking in the downtown area, rather than implementing paid parking.

“One of the solutions that came to light was the implementation of the license plate recognition system," Burke said. "All that really does is extend the ability of our parking enforcement staff to do their job more efficiently. It’s not as easy as installing a bunch of parking meters downtown and calling it a day; it’s going to be a nuanced plan. That’s what we’re expecting and we want to lay that out for the council.”

Citizens find themselves struggling to find parking in downtown due to the limited number of spaces. PHOTO BY TYLER JACKSON | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Josh Martinez, advertising junior, is a commuter student from Austin.

He doesn’t like to come to campus without his car because of the lack of information about the shuttle system and the inflexibility of his schedule.

“I have 8 a.m. classes every day, so I'm usually here early enough to find parking on the Square or in the various spots close to campus," Martinez said. "I choose to do this rather than buying a parking pass because the pass is expensive, and I've decided that I'll take my chances that I don't get enough tickets to reach the cost of a parking pass.”

Martinez said the advice he gave would be unpopular, but if freshmen, due to their proximity, were not allowed to have parking passes it would leave more room for off-campus and commuter students.

“I understand why the city would want to step up enforcement, but I don't think the answer to the parking problem should be to give more parking tickets to students," Martinez said.

Andy Howard, owner of the HUB Cyclery on the Square, attributes most of his success to Texas State students.

"I wish I had more space," Howard said. "That's one of the biggest handicaps I have here... I only have two parking spots in the back, I could use 20."

Howard acknowledges the pressure it puts on business for his customers to have to park down the road by HEB, which is another obstacle the HUB Cyclery has to overcome.

"Parking is a big issue, I mean it really is," Howard said. "That's the only thing that's made me look for other locations."

For Burke, this has pros and cons.

According to Burke, the City of San Marcos generated about $1.4 million in sales tax revenue downtown because of activity on the Square, even with limited parking, according to Burke.

“The way I always try to look at downtown is we’re incredibly lucky to have the problems that we do have," Burke said.

will be completed during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Key components of the document include new membership education, risk reduction events, monitoring and training, chapter advisors and faculty/ staff advisory certification; leadership development and submission of The Chapter Advancement & Awards Program.

Fraternity or sorority chapters that do not comply with the conditions of reinstatement may face sanctions through the university’s student organization conduct process and from the Fraternity/Sorority Conduct Review Board. A noncompliant organization could lose its recognition if it is found to not meet the conditions of the reinstatement.

Smith said she believes the culture

and philosophy involved with Greek fraternity and sorority chapters can have a positive impact on the university, its students and the community.

“The goal of the suspension was not to punish the chapters." Smith said. "(The goal was) to take a step back and explore how we could improve our Greek affairs system so it has both a positive and more impactful outcome for students and the university.”

Greek Governing Councils include the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and Multicultural Greek Council. The organizations will be expected to show consistent progress in developing a positive Greek culture, make a commitment to the core values of Texas State, and to the ideals of their respective national organizations.

space above actively cooked foods.

The hood ventilates heat and smoke out of the work area and circulates air in. Browning said the fire started accidentally and expanded to the back of the building.

"It started on the grill," Browning said." It could’ve been (the) cooking method or what they were cooking, they were preparing for breakfast that

morning. It got into the structure and into the back wall.”

San Marcos Battalion Chief Jim Montano said the fire was dealt with quickly and safely.

“We had the situation under control in about five minutes,” Montano said.

“We had the building clear, so no firefighters (were) hurt and no people (were) hurt.”

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FROM FRONT GREEK Joanne Smith, vice president of Student Affairs, presented the Fraternity and Sorority Recommitment & Reinstatement Program document Feb. 26 . The program outlines the eight key components that are expected of all returning chapters.

According to the program document, all fraternity and sorority chapters will be required to attend a Phired Up Recruitment training to educate all members about the appropriate recruitment process for their specific governing council.

All chapter leaders will be required to attend social excellence training, which will help guide potential members to make informed decisions about their lifelong membership choice in a fraternity or sorority. Training will be completed May 1. Additional training

FROM FRONT FIRE “I haven’t gotten anything back from the insurance company as far as what the extent of the damages was," Browning said. "I do know they sent their private investigator out as well.

I’d say a couple thousand dollars at least because the hood system was destroyed.”

The hood system installed in commercial kitchens is located in the

The University Star

LIFESTYLE

Tuesday, April 3, 2018 | 3 LeeAnn Cardwell Lifestyle Editor @leeanncardwell

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

CITY

Mermaid statues assigned locations after months in storage

By Paola Quiroz LIfestyle Reporter City Council members approved the locations of the mermaid statues months after they were unveiled to the public.

Lisa Morris, recreation programs manager, is in charge of the placing of the mermaids throughout the city. She said she does not have an exact date for when the mermaids will be placed, but hopes it will be in the next six to eight weeks.

"This project was delayed because the selection committee kept changing (its) mind on the locations," Morris said. "Some locations that they had chosen could not be used because of upcoming construction projects that are happening."

There will be one mermaid placed at the Visitors Information Center, the Children's Park, San Marcos Plaza Park, the corner of LBJ and Hopkins, the Price Center, Eddie Durham Park and the corner of Guadalupe and MLK. Three will be placed along Hutchinson's St. Morris said the mermaids can be easily installed in some locations, but others will require digging and setting cement. Each spot has different factors that affect how the mermaids will be installed.

A different artist created each of the ten mermaids and they all tell a different story. The name of the artist and the mermaid will be displayed on a name plate for the statues when they are placed around the city.

The mermaid project was started in 2015 by the San Marcos Arts

on an artist’s palette. Over that pattern is a thermochromic paint that turns black when it is cooler than 86 degrees and clear when it is warmer.

“During the winter months the mermaid would look totally black, but if you put your hand on her, your body heat would warm up the area of your hand and your handprint would be left on her making the splashes of color underneath visible,” Layman said.

“However, when it is hot you will see all the colors underneath, but you can pour ice-cold water on her and she will turn black where the water runs.”

Ruben Becerra, arts commissioner, said the placement of the mermaid statues are centered around the downtown area to promote a walkable tour around the city.

“The goal is to make them a tourist attraction,” Becerra said. “Someone could make a fun day of it and walk mermaid to mermaid checking them all out and taking pictures in front of Artists stand near their mermaid creations Sept. 16 during the unveiling of the ten them.”

Becerra said he hopes the project new statues at the Aqua Faire, held at San Marcos Plaza Park. STAR FILE PHOTO continues to expand because it helps Commission to add to the beauty and that we know how to take care of the educate everyone on the city's history as vibrancy of San Marcos. Mermaids are river because we want to keep it for well as the San Marcos River.

“Also, I hope to have other people iconic in San Marcos and originated from generations to come.” or businesses sponsor future mermaids Angela Zumwalt, mascot mermaid the underwater mermaid performers at so that one day we can be the mermaid the Aquarena Springs theme park which for the Mermaid Society, said she hopes the statues will bring awareness to river capital of Texas,” Becerra said. closed down in the ‘90's.

Moreno said this project is close July Moreno, founder and executive pollution. to her heart because she grew up in “I hope when people see the artworks director of the Mermaid Society, said San Marcos watching the mermaids mermaids have become symbols for they are more inclined to keep the river and its surrounding areas clean,” perform. protection of the river.

“To be able to see these mermaids “The mermaid is our river guardian, Zumwalt said. have a presence again in our community Local artist April Layman was selected and she sparks the interest of our little makes my heart so happy,” Moreno ones about how they can protect the to work on one of the mermaids. She river,” Moreno said. “It is important took inspiration from splashes of color said. “We, San Marcos, have wanted this for so long.”

HUMANS OF Actively assisting autism SAN MARCOS AUTISM

"I got vitiligo when I was 16.

Basically, it's the loss of pigmentation of the skin. After I got it my hair started coming out white. I've been to so many doctors and no one really knows why it happens and there is no cure for it.

I was on medication for about 3 years and it kind of helped but it made me an ugly person; it changed my attitude so I stopped taking it. It took me a while to get used to it and now I'm just like 'this is me' and I can't do anything about it.

I have learned to embrace that. It was scary (at first) because I was in high school and it's a phase with bullies and kids and they don't really understand it.

I went through a little depression with that, but my family is very supportive and they helped me through that. I have learned to love myself."

-Monique Valle, social work graduate student CARES Clinic sits on the first floor of the Education building.

PHOTO BY TYLER JACKSON | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

By Diana Furman Assistant Lifestyle Editor

Monique Valle, social work graduate student, studying in Rhea's Ice Cream Shop on the square. PHOTO BY ARIELLE RAVENEY

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World Autism Awareness Day was on April 2 but the Texas State community offers aid for those with autism yearround.

C.A.R.E.S., a Texas State clinic for autism research, evaluation and support, provides education for community members with autism and other developmental disabilities.

The clinic works closely with school systems to ensure a productive learning environment for the autism community and provides assistance for families.

Molly James, special education graduate student, is a research assistant with C.A.R.E.S. James said she has always been interested in and involved with special needs populations. Once she found out about the type of therapy involving social skills training and behavioral intervention programs C.A.R.E.S. offered, she was eager to assist. James said the approach C.A.R.E.S. takes is the best way to teach social skills and build up academic confidence for students who have autism.

“I fell in love with the practice right away,” James said. “It sets up a solid foundation for those with autism to succeed socially and academically.”

James said the most rewarding part of her job is witnessing students begin to achieve independence. She enjoys the looks on clients' faces when they realize they don't need to rely on someone else’s help.

“I love when I see (clients) realize, ‘Oh wow, look, I can now wash my hands or go to the bathroom and do tasks that other people may take for granted,’” James said.

James said she believes World Autism Awareness Day is important because it

generates an awareness that not everyone learns or looks the same.

“Just because we look a certain way or talk to people a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the only way,” James said.

James said when an individual is confronted with someone who looks or sounds different, it may be intimidating.

She said stereotypes about the autistism community can make it hard for people with autism to feel accepted in society.

The Office of Disability Services also offers optional academic accommodations to those on the autism spectrum.

Bruce Coonce, assistant director of ODS, said the office provides a point of contact for students with disabilities and ensures equal access to programs and courses.

Coonce said while students with autism tend to be very intelligent, they may face challenges on campus because they sometimes lack certain social skills that typically make it easier to operate in a college setting. “(Some students) also struggle with being away from home for the first time.” Coonce said. “That can kind of be magnified for students with autism.”

Coonce said not all students on the autism spectrum are required to register with the office. He said students with autism do not make up a large percentage of the Texas State student population.

Only about 14.95 percent of those with autism attend a 4-year university, according to The National Center for Biotechnology Information.

A college setting can be daunting for any young adult, but those with autism can face extra obstacles. World Autism Awareness Day provides an opportunity to learn about the struggles students with autism face and how to be more compassionate towards them.

4 | Tuesday, April 3, 2018

LIFESTYLE

The University Star LeeAnn Cardwell Lifestyle Editor @leeanncardwell

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MUSIC

Attacca Quartet gives back to music students

By Alyssa Weinstein Lifestyle Reporter One internationally acclaimed modern quartet is bringing its professional experience to Texas State music students.

This spring Attacca Quartet will be making its biannual visit to Texas State April 9-13.

The group is composed of violinist Amy Schroeder, violinist Keiko Tokunaga, violist Nathan Schram and cellist Andrew Yee. Attacca Quartet was selected to be the Quartet in Residence for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in 20142015. The quartet has gained prestige by receiving an array of accolades such as the 2013 National Federation of Music Clubs Centennial Chamber Music Award and the Arthur Foote Award from the Harvard Musical Association.

Michael Ippolito, assistant professor for the School of Music, knew the young artists before their career launched.

Ippolito attended Juilliard alongside the Attacca Quartet musicians.

“They play everything from the earliest string quartets to music that was written yesterday,” Ippolito said. “They are engaged in re-inventing what it means to be a string quartet. They play with jazz musicians, pop musicians; they’re willing to play in unconventional venues for classical music and they’re also playing

in the most prestigious concert halls in a traditional context."

Ippolito said Attacca Quartet is unique because it actively transforms the string quartet genre.

Ippolito was one the minds behind bringing Attacca Quartet to Texas State.

Now the quartet visits campus for a week at a time, once in the fall and once in the spring semester, each year.

Attacca Quartet has served as the Ensemble-In-Residence at the School of Music for the past two years.

Nathan Schram, Attacca Quartet violist, said he enjoys seeing students improve and learn from their visits to campus.

"I think it’s really exciting to see the concepts we teach develop and to see these players developing into their own," Schram said. "It is beautiful.”

Attacca Quartet will be working with string students individually. The group will host a masters class and visit an honors western civilizations class that studies history through music.

“Teaching is something we have always been passionate about,” Schram said.

“It’s one thing just to be as great of musicians as we possibly can be. But it’s another thing to really invest in the next generation of musicians and to help pass on the concepts, virtues and the artistry that we’ve inherited. It is an artistic lifeline that’s bigger than us.”

John Fleming, dean of the College of

ORGANIZATION

(From left to right) Keiko Tokunaga, Nathan Schram, Amy Schroeder, and Andrew Yee of Attacca Quartet will be visiting Texas State early April to teach and perform during their week of residency.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ATTACCA QUARTET

Fine Arts and Communications, said it is important for students to interact with music professionals who can share their musical and business experiences.

"One of the reasons we’ve brought (the group) back a second year is because how giving (the members) were with students," Fleming said. "It keeps having a profound impact on our students every time they visit Texas State."

Attacca Quartet will perform on April 11 at the Performing Arts Center alongside four musicians from the Texas State faculty. The octet will perform pieces from Beethoven and Mendelssohn.

Attacca Quartet will perform alone on April 13 at the Performing Arts Center, playing pieces from Haydn, Brahms and Ippolito.

RESEARCH

Engineering department collaborates with companies

By Sonia Garcia Lifestyle Reporter

Director Wayne Kraemer stands among trophies from past speech and debate tournaments. PHOTO BY STACEY RAMIREZ

Speech and Debate team brings home victory

By Stacey Ramirez Lifestyle Reporter Speaking in front of large crowds tends to be a daunting task, but one group of students gained national recognition for its ability to stand and deliver.

The Speech and Debate team, made up of the LBJ Debate and Elton Abernathy Forensics Societies, won the Pi Kappa Delta Division I National Championship March 14-17 in Nashville.

PKD is an honor society made up of students, alumni and educators. It was founded in 1911, making PKD the oldest national collegiate forensic organization in America. Texas State received its charter in 1934 and was signed by LBJ’s coach, H.M. Greene. This year's tournament consisted of individual and team events and hosted 626 students from 82 colleges and universities from 25 states.

Wayne Kraemer, director of the LBJ Debate and the Elton Abernathy Forensic Societies, has been coaching the team since fall 1990. Before coming to Texas State, Kraemer coached at Texas A&M for eight years then at William and Mary in Virginia for four years. He was honored by The South Central Region of Cross Examination Debate Association as coach of the year in 1997 and 1998.

Kraemer said over the years he has seen the impact of speech and debate on students’ lives.

“Oral advocacy skills and critical thinking skills are very important, especially today,” Kraemer said. "You know, there was an outcry after the shooting in Florida. A lot of these students were speaking out, and a lot of the most articulate students were kids that competed on that school’s speech and debate team. Some people were saying those aren't really students because they can’t be that articulate, but they can because that’s what speech and debate does."

The first speech and debate team on campus was The Chautauqua Literary Society founded in 1903 as a male-only society. The society underwent various name and structural changes, but the

program persisted.

After getting permission from the Johnson family, the debate component of the team’s name was changed to The LBJ Debate Society. President Lyndon Baines Johnson was a member of the team during his undergraduate studies in 1927 to 1930 and the name change was made to honor his legacy.

The speech component of the team's name was changed to The Elton Abernathy Forensics Society in 2003, named after Elton Abernathy, former communication studies department chair.

Matthew Anderson, communications senior, has been on the team for four years and said he has seen a lot of benefits from joining.

“When I came to Texas State, one of the first things I looked at was 'do they have a program like this?'” Anderson said. “It’s been very helpful in developing as a person and getting over social anxiety, so I felt I needed that environment in college."

Lily Montemayor, communications freshman, said there is so much more to being a part of the speech and debate team than people realize.

“A lot of people think it’s just getting up and giving a speech about politics, but it goes beyond that,” Montemayor said. “There’s the whole confidence aspect that you find, there's seeing your teammates succeed and working with the coaches and just the culture of all of it.”

The team travels to compete at the local, regional and national levels. The team won the National Forensics Association title in 2011, but this is its first PKD national championship win. The team will be attending the American Forensic Association's National Individual Events Tournament, April 6-8 at Colorado College.

The speech and debate team is open to any students who would like to join.

Meetings are held at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays where the teams may work together or split up to practice individual events, but much of the practice is done outside of the meetings. Anyone interested in joining should contact Kraemer at wk02@txstate.edu.

Research is expanding resulting in technological innovations going from Texas State into the hands of major corporations.

Companies and government organizations are collaborating with the engineering department to sponsor the development of the newest innovative technology. Professors are guiding their seniors and graduate students in their senior design and graduate thesis projects to create work for companies.

Companies such as NEC Corporation, NASA, Intel and government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education have partnered with professors and students in efforts to gain access to the most accurate, innovative research.

Forms of sponsorship may include funds, equipment or time to support the needs of the projects. Often, students are able to meet representatives of the companies and network for postgraduation.

Engineering professors and students work closely with one another to build relationships among themselves and the company sponsoring their project.

Not all senior design projects or thesis projects are sponsored.

Semih Aslan, associate professor of engineering, has been working with 12 graduate students to complete the research they need for their thesis projects.

Multiple projects can be sponsored by different companies and agencies and still all lead back to a single concept to learn about.

"One area (of study) can be theses for ten different people," Aslan said.

Sensory technology is one area of study heavily used by the engineering students to collect data.

Sensors are used to detect the values of all kinds measurements, such as the temperature of water and stores the information or processes the data.

Then, engineers are able to collect the data and decide what to do with it and

in the students case decide what is in the companies best interest.

The sensory technology used in the engineering department has allowed Aslan through eight different projects with students to learn about the relevance of clean solar panels. Aslan said a dirty solar panel can reduce solar energy up to 70 percent or more.

He is currently working with several companies to create the technology to eliminate dirt on the solar panels.

Aslan said this is the first time some students are getting hands on experience with this technology.

Md Syadus Sefat, electrical engineering graduate student, is completing his thesis project with Aslan's guidance. He is using field programmable gate arrays to try to accelerate faster than normal through matrix operations.

"I knew most of the sensors and other equipment, but I had to learn some new technology," Sefat said. "Working on the research is a combination of previous experience and new knowledge."

It is thanks to the companies that Texas State students and staff are able to gain a better understanding of how certain things work.

NEC Corporation is sponsoring a project being worked on by Md Toufikul Islam, engineering graduate student from Bangladesh. Islam’s thesis project is a water leakage detective system to be used underground. His simulation will be able to detect water leakage in pipes through sensors. The project is expected to be completed by this summer.

“I'm getting so many resources here that I didn't get back in my country,” Islam said.

These partnerships are wins for both the companies and students. Aslan said it has proven to be beneficial for students by helping them land jobs at major companies or allowing them to further their research to pursue doctoral degrees while simultaneously providing relevant, innovative research to companies.

The engineering department is giving students a chance to engage in real world work and preparing them for their next step after college.

Semih Aslan, associate professor of engineering, conducts research on solar panels with his students. PHOTO COURTESY OF SEMIH ASLAN

The University Star

Tuesday, April 3, 2018 | 5

OPINIONS

Carrington Tatum Opinions Editor @mogulcarrington

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

Students have a right to know As the administrators of a public institution and the stewards of tuition dollars, the Texas State administration has an obligation to be open with the student body, but the recent record of administrators does not reflect this obligation.

Over the past few years, individuals have posted racially charged flyers across campus. Other individuals have scared and inconvenienced students with a series of bomb threats. The University Police Department has the identity of the individuals responsible for these attempts but has chosen to protect these individuals over the interests of the students. Meanwhile, the student body remains in the dark about the details or any developments around the events after constant requests.

UPD has chosen to give anonymity to individuals who have fueled the charged campus climate over supporting inclusivity for the students who appreciate Texas State. Our university gives far too many liberties to people who have only sought to harm students.

What makes the Texas State administration's behavior even more peculiar is that The University of Texas at Dallas, one of our peer institutions, had a similar issue with flyers on campus and obtained the identities of the individuals responsible. Unlike Texas State, The University of Texas at Dallas released that information in a police report obtained by The University Star.

If this is how one of our peer institutions is handling a similar situation, then there is significant reason to expect

Texas State to do the same.

We can see that students are fed up with the secretive and sometimes apathetic attitudes of administrators as a Twitter account named "Expose TXST" recently surfaced. The account has a goal of deterring prospective students from enrolling at Texas State unless the administration makes an affirmative effort to correct its shortcomings.

Students are entitled to public information by law. Therefore, any resistance to be transparent with students is a betrayal of the administration's duty to students.

Administrators can continue to offer, "no comment" for students' questions but students will not be pacified much longer.

The lack of authenticity in President

Denise Trauth's statements sent via email has resulted in students disregarding them as public relations fodder. This idea that administration members feel comfortable treating students' issues as no more than opportunities to practice good public relations is a testament to how invincible they currently feel in their positions. And as with any position that is meant to serve the public, they should not feel secure while their constituency is unhappy.

Texas State administration is not responding to the demands of the student body authentically and in turn, is eroding the image and credibility of the university. The Texas State administration owes transparency to its students.

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.

SHOOTING

It's ok to be critical of Parkland students

By Jordan Drake Opinions Columnist After a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. students from the school began a crusade against gun violence. The students featured on most media including a Time Magazine cover are primarily, Emma González, David Hogg, Cameron Kasky, Alex Wind and Jaclyn Corin. These students have begun spreading their opinions and prominently headlined the recent "March for Our Lives," a movement for better gun control.

For those who disagree with these five individuals, it has created a conflict in how to go about criticizing the opinions of those who have experienced a major tragedy. CNN’s Don Lemon stated, "you are the bad guy" in agreement with the idea that if you criticize the rhetoric of the students you are, "the bad guy."

The difficulty in this line of thinking is

that it prevents anyone from challenging the falsehoods and hateful rhetoric used by the victims without being subject to personal scrutiny.

These students have put their ideas on the open market and must be open to conflicting opinions and criticism of the persuasive methods they have chosen. While there is no need to use ad hominin attacks on the individuals, being a victim does not shield you or your opinions from being pulled apart and examined. While enduring a terrible tragedy should never be minimized, experiencing trauma does not make someone the authority on the issue.

While the activism is admirable, their opinions and the way they have gone about it are not.

One of the biggest issues with the students is the falsehoods they have spread. On HLN's "Cupp Unfiltered," CNN's Brian Stetler admitted that there were times he did not correct Hogg on false statements during an

CARTOON OF THE WEEK

interview because Hogg is a victim.

If these individuals are going to stand up at a podium and call for stricter gun control they are in danger of their message being tainted and cast aside as uninformed if they are not careful to stick to facts.

Another issue is the way these students have attacked those who disagree with them: NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch, Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Governor Rick Scott and supporters of the Second Amendment. Many of these students have engaged in the same ad hominin attacks that they themselves have not appreciated. Hogg referred to those who did not want change as “pathetic fuckers” that “could have blood from children splattered all over their faces and they wouldn’t take action because they all still see those dollar signs.”

This type of rhetoric is problematic.

It insinuates not that the NRA is misguided or making poor policy

decisions but that they kill kids and enjoy it. Kaskey likened looking at Sen. Marco Rubio to "(looking) down a barrel of an AR-15," during CNN's townhall. These types of inflammatory statements are the exact things that entrench positions and drive people from having productive discourse.

There is nothing wrong with these kids using their voices and being active but there must be some type of responsibility while doing it. Being a victim does not give someone free reign to attack those with whom they disagree, nor does it give them liberty to perpetuate falsehoods. The victims of this tragedy have a right to talk and those who disagree have a right to criticize the opinions being given.

Being a victim does not make you above criticism nor does it shield you from differing opinions.

- Jordan Drake is a communications senior

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CARTOON BY STEPHANIE CLOYD | GRAPHIC DESIGNER

6 | Tuesday, April 3, 2018

OPINIONS

The University Star Carrington Tatum Opinions Editor @mogulcarrington

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

IPHONE

The dark history of iPhone manufacturing

By Zach Ienatsch Assistant Opinions Editor Nothing encapsulates the culture of the modern age better than Apple’s iPhone. Limitless technology and information in the palm of every hand connect people from around the globe and streamline everyday tasks.

Hailed as the pinnacle of scientific advancement and entrepreneurial success, it is an understatement to call the iPhone an icon of American exceptionalism and the template for what the system can produce.

This rhetoric is very attractive and uplifting, but the digital multitool in our pockets has a sinister history.

The criticisms of mobile phones are assertions, usually from the elderly, that it limits genuine communication between humans and turns consumers into mindless drones. But there is not much evidence to support this besides prejudice against the young and progress of any kind. The truly sinister history of the iPhone is not in its uses; it is in its creation.

Apple will proudly label their products as “designed in California,” but they are less likely to boast of the step after design. In 2016, The Washington Post revealed one of Apple’s prime sources of cobalt for iPhone manufacturing are “artisanal” mines in the Congo, where adults and children dig by hand for a negligible wage.

The cobalt deposits require miners to dig hundreds of feet deep at times.

This prompted Apple to verify and map where their resources came from, but the company did not explicitly pledge to abstain from the source until 2017, when Sky News aired footage of the child workers and their living conditions.

ILLUSTRATION BY JADA WEBB

The mines in the Congo are not unique either. Apple continues to use materials extracted from unsafe locations in less developed nations, such as Bolivia and Indonesia. In these locations, miners regularly die from accidents and mine-related health complications. Child labor is still being used as well. This is a direct contradiction to Apple’s suppliers code of conduct, which states “all workers in our supply chain deserve a fair and ethical workplace."

Even after the materials are mined and manufactured, the poor treatment of workers continues. Apple has received a significant amount of labor criticism regarding factory practices in

the People’s Republic of China. Often mislabeled as the place iPhone parts are built, the manufacturing plants in China actually assemble the parts into the finished product. The majority of such facilities are owned by the Taiwanese company Foxconn.

Conditions in these assembly plants are also grossly inhumane, as they are in the mines. The factories have dormitories, so workers live and work in the same facility and can be monitored by their employers. Workers have detailed long, stressful hours and poor treatment by managers and supervisors, who often humiliated them for mistakes or exhaustion.

Suicide became common at these

factories, with 18 recorded suicide attempts resulting in 14 deaths in 2010 at the Longhua facility alone according to Brian Merchant's novel, "The One Device" in which he documents the conditions of the factories.

As a remedy to increased suicides, Foxconn installed nets outside the building to catch workers who threw themselves from the roof. Workers were also pressured into signing agreements that they would not attempt suicide. When confronted with these numbers, late Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs responded that suicide rates of these facilities fell within the national average in China and defended the Foxconn facilities as factories, not sweatshops during a 2010 interview.

It would be difficult to ask Americans to boycott smartphones, even given these conditions. So much of our life requires us to have access to the resources the iPhone gives its users. But perhaps more sustainable consumption can be practiced to limit unethical byproducts. With new versions of the device being released every six months to a year, consumers should really consider holding off on upgrading each time. iPhones can easily last several years and fewer being purchased means fewer materials being mined in unsafe conditions and fewer products being assembled in unhealthy factories. At the very least, we should acknowledge technological achievement comes at a high price, and while it may serve as a champion of American innovation, it continues to be built off the backs of black, brown and Asian workers who do not have the opportunity to share in its success.

- Zach Ienatsch is a journalism senior

POLICE BRUTALITY

MENTAL HEALTH

Black lives still matter

Let's teach kids about mental health

By Jaden Edison & Carrington Tatum Opinions Columnist & Editor "March for Our Lives" showed us there exists a certain unity among parts of the country around the issue of gun control. However, the unity is overdue as Americans, particularly poor African-Americans, have been demanding gun control for decades as it pertains to police brutality.

Two years ago Alton Sterling, 37, was killed by police officers. Now, family, friends and people around the country have revisited the horrific moment as the Baton Rouge Police Department has released the body camera footage from the 2016 incident which resulted in the shooting of Alton Sterling.

Additionally, the Lousiana Attorney General, Jeff Landry decided the officers would not be charged with state-level crimes.

Additionally, police officers shot Stephon Clark, 22, eight times on March 13 because they assumed his cell phone was a gun. Six of those shots were fired into his back while he was standing in his grandmother's backyard.

While the persistent work of conservative media and the monopolization President Donald Trump may have derailed the message of the Black Lives Matter movement, the police and the states that decide not to press charges against overly aggressive officers remain morally dishonest.

The narrative is still the same now as it was two years ago. In 2018 alone 277 people have been shot and killed by police. To ignore that this is still an ongoing issue is simply willful ignorance. But above all, it is a reminder of how much more work is left to be done.

In the wake of Stephon Clark's death and the release of the neverbefore-seen video that documented Alton Sterling’s last moments, it is paramount that young people remain united while also channeling that energy into all areas of gun reform.

Black survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have already expressed feeling underrepresented as reported by CNN. Their feeling of underrepresentation comes as

Ask that people see the same humanity in Alton Sterling and Stephon Clark that they saw in the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. the kids that have received national platforms for their voices have been a narrow slice of their student body.

The kids who were invited to CNN's townhall, placed on the cover of Time magazine and have become the face of "March For Our Lives" have been mostly Caucasian-American students.

Requesting representation is not to discredit the tragic experience or the work of the students but rather to ask that people see the same humanity in Alton Sterling and Stephon Clark that they saw in the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Even if both men may not have been leading perfect lives, their lives should not be worth less than others and that should not disqualify them from the compassion of their fellow Americans.

Some of the biggest changes in American history came when people united around a single issue.

Intersectionality or activism around issues across different identities is important now more than ever.

The most important thing that can happen right now is congregation among people across ethnic and socioeconomic lines.

As the country navigates the growing movements around gun reform, it is important that police brutality is not forgotten about in that movement.

- Jaden Edison is an electronic media freshman - Carrington Tatum is an electronic media sophomore

By James Debbah Opinions Columnist It may be safe to say much of the public education system understands the importance of exposing children to subjects outside of the standard curriculum.

This is apparant in that many students are required to take extracurricular classes including the arts, computer based classes and physical education at some point.

The degree to which these classes are taught may not be universally agreed upon, but it is generally understood that supplemental classes can offer equally as important lessons as general curriculum subjects. Supplemental classes like the aforementioned, teach young students about areas of life that cannot be navigated simply by applying academic knowledge.

Currently, one in five Americans experiences a degree of mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health. Our educational system is made to gear our youthful generations to be productive members of academia as well as the workforce, but if we do not also teach them how to take care of their own mental health, then we may very well be leading a generation of workers down a path of self-destruction. Furthermore, the country misses out on a substantial amount of productivity by allowing mental illness to go unaddressed.

In Texas, children are required to have some sort of physical education in every grade. This comes with Texas being a state that is among the highest in terms of obesity numbers according to the CDC. And while primary education may not be responsible for teaching children about every aspect of life, mental health is easily just as nonnegotiable as physical education.

If the Texas Education Agency can take responsibility for the physical well-being of students, then the same urgency can be taken with mental health. Reflection, meditation and the importance of

therapy are lessons that would cost significantly less than P.E. classes and would benefit students just as much.

Furthermore, it is also of importance for students to recognize from a young age that not everyone they meet in their lifetime may be neurotypical. To destigmatize mental health for society, children should become comfortable with mental health early.

Destigmatization becomes increasingly important as 1.1 percent of adults live with schizophrenia, 2.6 percent are bipolar, and 18.1 percent experience an anxiety disorder, according to NAMI. Additionally, certain illnesses like schizophrenia often do not show symptoms until the late teens or early 20s, according to NAMI. Therefore, destigmatization would not only benefit previously diagnosed students, but every student as no one can be entirely sure if they will develop a mental illness later in life. Learning about mental illnesses earlier in life can help people recognize mental illness as well as answer questions about self-esteem often encountered by people with mental disabilities.

These are experiences that people deal with and if a time should arise where one may have to make a decision on how to handle any of these issues, the proper knowledge would be invaluable. This comes as the conversation around gun control often finds the mentally ill as the scapegoat for gun legislation.

However, an even greater step beyond preventing the mentally ill from purchasing guns is investing in comprehensive mental health resources for Americans.

It is important that we change our society to reflect the fact that mental health maintenance is just as important as being physically healthy or being financially successful.

- James Debbah is a computer science sophomore

The University Star

SPORTS

Tuesday, April 3, 2018 | 7 Brooke Phillips Sports Editor @BrookePhillips_

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

ATHLETICS

CHEER

The man behind the camera

Cheerleader impacts teammates with positivity

By Daisy Colon Sports Reporter

Mark Anthony Osmena, Video Production Coordinator of Texas State Athletics, PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK ANTHONY OSMENA

By Melea Polk Assistant Sports Editor One person and his team stand in the shadows to create the athletics' video content that is seen on game day. This includes everything from the introduction videos to the Whataburger giveaways.

Mark Anthony Osmena, video production coordinator of Texas State Athletics, is the man taking on all of the challenges of creating unique content for each athletic event.

“It keeps me creative and forces me to sharpen my skills," Osmena said.

Osmena began his career in 2010 as the Master Control Board Operator for his local PBS Station, while attending Central Texas College in Fort Hood.

“I stayed there for two years while earning my associate degree in Radio, Television, and Film Broadcasting,” Osmena said.

Osmena has worked for SXSW, ESPN, Indeed.com, Apple and the University of Texas-Austin as a freelancer. The Texas State alumnus joined the university video production team in 2014.

“I joined in 2014 as a student worker," Osmena said. "In 2016, I was promoted to full-time with the athletics department as the video production coordinator.”

Osmena’s job is constantly challenging him because the athletics program is a year-round production.

With so much work involved, Osmena manages to find the positive said.

“The positives of my job are that I work in a field that I love and have been working in for over eight years now,” Osmena said. “My work has allowed me to travel, and experience things that I never thought I would do, which is a huge reason why I love what I do. I don’t always know what direction it will take me.”

A normal day for the Kentucky native consists of working alongside different departments to prepare for each game day.

“I have to coordinate with marketing on how to execute promotions at games and improve the fan experience," Osmena said. "I also have to work with sports information when they have requests for video content for conference or news agency use."

Osmena coordinates everything that is seen on the screens at sporting events.

“Some examples of my work are intro videos and highlights of game footage for volleyball, women’s soccer, football, men’s and women’s basketball, softball and baseball," Osmena said. "All of these sports have had varying levels of my involvement throughout the past four years.”

While Osmena is passionate about his work, the videographer's vision about what he wants from his viewers at the game is simple: to feel empowered that the Bobcats will win.

“My passion is evoking an emotional reaction to our fans,” Osmena said.

“For intro videos, I want my fans to feel empowered that our team is coming out on the field ready to go to work. I want the players to feel empowered to do their best.”

There is a team that is often overlooked. This team not only plays a vital role on the sidelines of the field and the court but also allows both men and women to find themselves as individuals.

Alexis Marshall, marketing sophomore, is from Cibolo, Texas, and is a member of the Texas State cheerleading team. Marshall said being a cheerleader has improved her character and prepared her for life after college.

“Lessons I (take) away from being a part of this team are learning perseverance, taking instruction, trusting others and holding myself accountable,” Marshall said. “As a cheerleader, I've learned that I need to work hard to improve and reach my potential as an athlete. I learned that it takes a lot of sacrifices to contribute to a team and find the success that we all want.”

Marshall has met some of her best friends through cheerleading. Marshall compares the team to a family and knows the girls will always be by her side.

“Cheering has taught me the value of being a team player and most of all, I feel like I'm part of a large family that I can always count on,” Marshall said. “Being a part of this team allowed me to meet so many great people. I've never been around such a funny group.

There has not been an event where we haven't ended up crying-laughing.”

Sarah Southerly, teammate and business marketing sophomore, describes Marshall as selfless.

“Alexis has impacted my life in such a positive and uplifting way," Southerly said. "She’s there literally whenever I need her, and she always knows how to cheer me up if I’m having a bad day.

She’ll go out of her way to help me and

others around her out of the kindness of her heart and that has really inspired me to be a better person.”

Head cheerleading coach Jocelyn Stephens said Marshall's uplifting attitude radiates. Stephens gave each cheerleader a power word, and Marshall's word is “positivity.”

“Alexis consistently brings good energy and positivity to the practice room and games," Stephens said.

"She is an awesome team player, role model and great representation of our program and university.”

Looking back to some of her

most memorable experiences as a cheerleader, Marshall recalls a moment from a game against the University of Houston last season.

“My first game cheering as a collegiate cheerleader was the game against University of Houston last year," Marshall said. "Running out of the tunnel felt blissful. All of my hard work had led up to that moment. It was my first time being in front of such a huge crowd, the liveliness and school spirit of the full stadium was incredible.”

SEE CHEER PAGE 8

Alexis Marshall, marketing sophomore, cheers on the sidelines at football and basketball games. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXIS MARSHALL

TENNIS

Tennis player strives for excellence

By Michelle Joseph Sports Reporter Success requires perseverance, learning, sacrifice and most of all, passion. Dedication to a sport shows a player’s drive to be the best, and that is exactly what one tennis player has.

Julia Navajo-Melendez, physical therapy junior, is an example that dedication does pay off. She is in her second season with the Bobcat tennis team and has transformed into a hardworking player.

The first sport that NavajoMelendez's played was soccer, but she developed an interest in tennis at the age of 12. She played tennis for five years in Segovia, Spain until she came to the United States. Navajo-Melendez then transferred from Nicholls State in Louisiana to Texas State.

“I was told I had an opportunity

to get a degree and play tennis at the same time," Navajo-Melendez said.

"I prepared myself, took the SAT test and transferred here for more opportunities.”

The transition from Spain was an adjustment for the athlete, but she enjoyed all the changes Texas State offered.

“Nicholls State was very small compared to Texas State and it was a huge difference,” Navajo-Melendez said. “It rains a lot in Segovia and I love the weather in Texas.”

Navajo-Melendez appreciates the support system she has away from home since she does not visit her family often.

“The best feeling is knowing you have support from the athletics department,” Navajo-Melendez said. “Our coach makes sure we have everything we need and that we are ready to compete

Julia Navajo-Melendez swats the ball back at her opponent with power March 29 at a tennis match against Marquette at the Bobcat Tennis Complex.

PHOTO BY JOSH MENDS

before every match.”

The athlete’s family misses and appreciates her as well. Her brother, Eduardo Navajo, said he admires the dedication she has for the sport.

“Julia is a very fun person to be around, but she knows how to focus when it comes to tennis," Navajo said.

"She is very good at handling stress in tennis matches. She has always loved the game and listens for ways to improve too.”

Her mother, Carmen Melendez, said her daughter has the determination, willpower, effort and dedication to achieve what she wants in life.

“Julia is very independent which allows her to make the best decisions for herself," Melendez said. “She is also an amazing girl with a great sense of humor.”

Navajo-Melendez has goals for this season as well as long-term goals for the sport.

“I hope to win conference while I’m here at Texas State, it’s always been a goal of mine,” Navajo-Melendez said.

“After that, I hope to continue being involved with tennis as a coach. I have played the game a lot and I want to begin a new path in tennis.”

Navajo-Melendez has important people in her life who influence and contribute to her success as a tennis player.

“My coach from home has been with me since I first started playing tennis," Navajo-Melendez said. "He has helped me every step of this journey.

He taught me perseverance, how to practice every single day and he made sure I was getting better.”

Navajo-Melendez made Texas State her new home, but Spain is where her heart is. The athlete said she misses the little things.

“I miss my mother’s cooking the most, it is an authentic taste,” NavajoMelendez said. “Normally I have summer school to attend but this summer I am going home, and I can’t wait.”

The University Star

SPORTS

Tuesday, April 3, 2018 | 8 Brooke Phillips Sports Editor @BrookePhillips_

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

FROM PAGE 7 CHEER Outside of cheer, Marshall has two very strong influences in her life: her parents.

“My parents have been an amazing support system for me," Marshall said.

"They are always there for me and want

to see me succeed. I appreciate them so much, I don’t think I would be the woman I am today if it weren’t for them.”

After graduating, Marshallhopes to instill the lessons she has learned so far

and prosper on a team working towards a common goal.

“When I graduate from college and pursue my career, I will most likely find myself participating in a group

environment where teamwork is vital to success,” Marshall said. “Being a part of this team has taught me skills to prepare myself for the future and has given me the tools to be an effective leader.”

BASEBALL

Broc Bosse: A boss on the baseball field

By John Paul Mason II Sports Reporter In baseball, the players need to be ready to go into the game if they are needed. For one pitcher, coming out of the bullpen and needing to save the Bobcats is what he does best.

For Broc Bosse, sophomore lefthanded pitcher and technology management junior, helping the Bobcats strike out the opposing team is not unfamiliar to him.

Making important plays in the diamond is a huge aspect for the Bobcats, who are hoping to go far in Omaha at the College World Series.

However, Bosse does not like taking all the credit; he likes to see his accomplishments more as valuable experience.

"I don’t want to say it was more success, but experience in general," Bosse said. "Not (just) me, but everyone as a whole."

Coming into games midway through can be a mental hurdle for many.

Sometimes one is being asked to hold on to a lead, or even keep a game close while trailing. But all it takes is a strong mindset, one similar to Bosse's.

"Mid-game, no matter what the situation is, my mindset is to save the other guys' ERA," Bosse said. "If there are people on base, I have a job, and that is to not let them score."

This season, the Bobcats have been ranked 30th nationally. It is not often

that a Texas State team is ranked so highly, and Bosse, like many fans, saw it as a double-edged sword for the team.

"Honestly I thought it was a good thing we saw the ranking," Bosse said.

"I think some people took it to their heads and let it pump them up a lot.

But we did deserve to be ranked, we were playing well."

The ranking was a bit of a wakeup call to the players, but not to the coaching staff. The coaches did not let it affect the way they worked with the players. "(Head Coach Ty Harrington) never really said anything about the ranking; none of the coaches really did as a matter of fact," Bosse said. "Everyone saw it on social media and was talking about it. Of course, you want to improve your ranking, but I think it was somewhat of a distraction."

Chemistry is another aspect of a winning team. Bosse said having a lot of the same players return for this season has been a big part of the team's success so far.

"I think just having that experience, knowing what to do in certain situations and knowing how to control yourself when your name is called is a big deal," Bosse said.

Bosse's hard work this season has shown in his poise, confidence and consistency as an integral member of the team.

Broc Bosse is one of the leading hitters for the baseball team. He has been on the team since his 2017 freshman year debut. PHOTO BY MARINA BUSTILLO-MENDOZA

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