DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018
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Volume 108, Issue 06
RESTAURANT GUIDE
LIFE & ARTS
Blue Dahlia Bistro serves up historic value |PAGE 3|
Spring Lake Dam to undergo repairs
New restaurants to enjoy in San Marcos |PAGE 4|
OPINIONS
Jose Hernandez brings perseverance to Common Experience
Local restaurants need your seat at the table |PAGE 5|
Bobcat shuttles are overpopulated |PAGE 6|
SPORTS
Spring Lake Dam will undergo repairs in upcoming months as a result of flood damages from 2015. PHOTO BY CAMERON HUBBARD
Weekend Recap |PAGE 7|
Texas State volleyball remains undefeated in conference play |PAGE 7|
BoreingBecerra campaign investigation postponed
By Malarie Ohrabka News Reporter Texas State is repairing the damaged Spring Lake Dam as a part of the Spring Lake Dam Stabilization Project to meet current state standards. The dam, made of cedar posts and rocks, was constructed in 1849 and purchased by Texas State in 1994. Vice President of Finance and Support Services Eric Algoe, who oversees the department of facilities involved in the project, said the dam was last repaired with a concrete cap 10-15 years ago but suffered damages from floods in 2015 and is in need of repair. As part of the repair, the university plans to recap the top of the dam with concrete and add stones for additional support. Involved in the Stabilization Project alongside Texas State is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
“With the floods of 2015, this entire area of San Marcos was under water for really the better part of two to three days,” Algoe said. “The dam itself was basically overtopped, or underwater, about six to eight feet for the better part of that period of time. As a result, and as a result of its overall age, there’s a need to do some repairs to the dam.” The Spring Lake Dam Stabilization Project is supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency Category B grant, which will fund 75 percent of the repairs for the dam. According to Thom Hardy, chief science officer at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, the remainder of the funds to stabilize the dam will come from Texas State's operations fund, which is funded by the state's higher education fund. The total budget is estimated to cost between $1-3 million but could change depending on the final design of the repaired dam. SEE SPRING LAKE PAGE 2
By Kaiti Evans News Reporter Student Government senators postponed the creation of a committee to investigate the BoreingBecerra campaign during the Oct. 1 Student Government meeting. Sens. Claudia Gasponi and Preston Nieves authored the piece of legislation following allegations made by former Sen. Elijah Miller. Miller alleged that former Student Government President Brooklyn Boreing and her campaign took $2,800 and 25 iPads from Turning Point USA during the election season. Boreing resigned a week after the allegations were made and Vice President Ruben Becerra Jr. was sworn in as president shortly after. SEE STUDENT GOVERNMENT PAGE 2
Contestant skates Sept. 29 in the final round of the Jonathon Broderick Skateboard Competition. PHOTO BY CAMERON HUBBARD
SEE SKATE PAGE 8
Skaters flip local scene with competition
Animal shelter extends adoption special while at max capacity By Kaiti Evans News Reporter
The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter has extended it's $1 adoption special for dogs and cats through the end of October due to max capacity. The usual adoption price of a cat or dog is $90, but the shelter is in the process of becoming a no-kill shelter, meaning they would adopt out 90 percent or more of the animals they take in. As of now, the shelter's live
outcome rate is 78 percent, with last year's rate at 45 percent. The shelter decided to continue the $1 adoption special so its live outcome rate may continue to grow. Jeff Caldwell, director of neighborhood services for the shelter, said the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter includes needed surgeries and vaccines in the adoptions, like most shelters. “All adoptions come with the pet’s spay or neuter, kennel vaccinations,
rabies vaccinations, microchip, and city license,” Caldwell said. The facility takes in stray, lost or owner surrendered animals from all cities within Hays County. Additional services of the shelter include animal control, a volunteer program, public education and a regular host location for Emancipet, a low-cost spay and neuter service. The shelter has had a big push to become no-kill, according to employee Nicholas Pascone. SEE ANIMAL SHELTER PAGE 2
Astronaut, engineer and LBJ Distinguished Lecturer Jose Hernandez visited Texas State Sept. 25 to speak on innovation as a part of the Common Experience program. PHOTO BY MAY OLVERA
By May Olvera Life & Arts Reporter Astronaut and engineer Jose Hernandez recalled his path Sept. 25 from crossing international lines as a migrant farmworker to crossing interplanetary lines as an astronaut. Students, faculty and members of the community all came together for the sold out LBJ Distinguished Lecturer Series held in Evans Auditorium. The event highlighted the Common Experience theme, Innovation, and focused on the importance of family and education. This year's Common Experience theme was the brainchild of the Common Experience Director Twister Marquiss. He said this year's theme needed a change of pace because three of the last four were about commemorating pivotal moments in history. “It had been a while since we had done an event looking forward, and I thought this was just such a great opportunity,” Marquiss said. Marquiss said this lecture was also particularly exciting. He said while it looked toward the future, it also touched on the vision President Lyndon B. Johnson had for higher education. Since 1973, the LBJ Distinguished Lecturer Series has fulfilled President Johnson’s dream of enriching students’ lives through public lectures from renowned individuals. In 1965, President Johnson signed the Higher Education Act, which is responsible for the funding of Upward Bound, an after-school program that helps high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for college. Hernandez said he credits this program for his own achievements. In the crowd, about 50 students currently affiliated with Upward Bound attended the event. “Upward Bound was instrumental in pursuing my dreams,” Hernandez said. “They exposed me to STEM. They made me lose fear in it and helped me embrace it.” In a mix of English and Spanish, Hernandez began his lecture by recalling his life story. Hernandez was born in California to a family of migrant farm workers who traveled between the U.S. and Mexico, staying in each country only for months at a time. Hernandez said constant interruptions during the school year were not conducive to a good education. In second grade, he found stability when his teacher spoke to his parents about the harmful effects of these interruptions. Hernandez said after that talk, the trips between Mexico and the U.S. shrunk to being only weeks long and centered around Christmas vacations. SEE ASTRONAUT PAGE 3
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NEWS
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Sen. Gasponi relayed the message of the legislation to the senators before they began discussion and debate. "Most importantly, [we want] to prevent something like this from happening again," Gasponi said. "TPUSA has a history of doing shady things, not just in our student government but student governments across the country." Soon after, Sen. Kelly Torpey read an amendment she created with a senator she would not name. The amendment included letting Vice President Alison Castillo, choose who would stand on the committee. It also placed a 30-day limit on the investigation. Gasponi said the proposed amendment would alter the nature of the legislation, despite Sen. Torpey's belief the original legislation is unconstitutional. Torpey
Sandra Sadek News Editor @sandra_sadek19
said the constitution stated the vice president has the ability to select which senators would sit on the committee. In Gasponi and Nieves' legislation, they proposed to make the senators in charge of choosing who would stand on the committee under the belief it would be a conflict of interest because Castillo was involved in the Boreing-Becerra campaign. Senators voted to postpone both the amendment and the legislation after a heated debate. The legislation will be voted on Oct. 8 at the next Student Government meeting. Before senators began voting on the legislation, Becerra said he hoped they would vote yes and create the committee to give a resolution to the student body. "I want to say that I fully support this committee," Becerra said. "I know this
is not personally on me, but this is what the student body needs and the Senate needs." During the public forum, Hunter Rollins, public administration junior and College Democrat member, said the senators should pass the legislation and create the committee. "I'm not going to lay out the facts, but I will lay out a plea for you," Rollins said. "You are representatives of 40,000 students. I can tell you that every time it gets brought up in a class or anyone that I know asks me about it and does not know about it or does not have knowledge about it they want to see this investigation. When you tell them about it they want to know." The University Star will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
that the reality of it is let’s just fix the dam we’ve got and we’ll get a new dam later.” According to Hardy, the temporary fix is intended to only stabilize Spring Lake Dam to meet the requirements for dam safety, and he said he is absolutely supportive of the dam undergoing repairs. There is a long-term design for the dam on the way. "The exact engineering fix for a longterm solution is still being designed," Hardy said. "We don't know what that final design will look like, but the shortterm fix is going to be there for [1020 years] because this other process is going to take that long." The repairs to the dam were put on hold because of the endangered species living in Spring Lake. A recently completed biological assessment from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed the university to move forward with the repair. “The biological assessment was submitted in November of 2017 and was kind of the last piece of the puzzle,”
Algoe said. “The assessment was looking at all the endangered species and things in the water and making sure that the plan to do the repairs is not going to further harm any of those species.” Mayor John Thomaides said citizen access to Spring Lake is also of utmost importance to him, and he supports the efforts of the dam’s stabilization project. “[Spring Lake] is a favored spot of many of us, including me, and I’ve been meeting with Dr. Trauth and Mr. Algoe and the university team since I got elected for two years and asking them over and over when we can get this spot reopened to our citizens,” Thomaides said. “That’s been paramount to me, but they’ve been very clear that because of the safety implications and the damage to the dam, they had to take these prudent steps and unfortunately restrict some access for safety purposes. Although none of us want that, I think it has been a pretty reasonable path to take.” The University Star will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
FROM FRONT SPRING LAKE “The project will involve recapping the entire crest of the dam and in particular, on the eastern side of the spillway, a lot more stone (is) being brought in to basically create more mass and to replace the stone that has been washed away over the years,” Algoe said. “This is a temporary stabilization project for 10 to 20 years to eliminate any immediate risks that the dam may pose.” The project is projected to be completed in May 2019. Algoe and members of the Stabilization Project intend to return recreation to the lake, with this project as a stepping stone toward it. Will Holder, San Marcos resident and Texas State alumnus, said the return of recreation to the lake is the most important thing. “I think what is best is to implement the temporary 10 to 20-year solution, and there’s probably a lot of momentum to work on the ultimate, long-term plan right now,” Holder said. “I’m not in favor of waiting 10 years and doing nothing in that time, so I am in favor of a temporary stabilization. I just think
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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 5,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels HeraldZeitung. Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, Octovber 2, 2018. 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 ANIMAL SHELTER "We take in a lot of animals from all over Hays county, so everyone wants to have a say in what happens to the animals," Pascone said. "There's been a big push for no-kill and we are doing our best to make it happen." Despite the process, the shelter's visitors were ready to start adopting. “The process was a little longer than I thought it would be, but I’m excited,” said visitor Megan McCabe. “I already have a cat at home, and I want to hopefully find her a friend.” Caldwell encourages families to adopt a pet from the San Marcos Regional Animal
Shelter to save a life. “This is the perfect time to make an addition to your family and provide a forever one for one of these special animals,” Caldwell said. For anyone interested in adopting, the shelter is located at 705 River Rd. with business hours from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm. on Saturday. To view all animals available for adoption, visit www.sanmarcostx.gov/ animaladoptions . For more information, contact the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter at 512.805.2657.
VOTING FAQS
If I am in college, should I register in my hometown or in my college town? Either is acceptable - whichever you consider your permanent residence. If you are registered in your hometown and will not be in that county on election day or during early voting, you may request an application for ballot by mail from the elections administration office. Where do I vote? You will need to know your voting precinct number to be able to find which polling place you should vote at. Your voting precinct number appears next to your birth date on your voter registration certificate. Check the Current Year Elections page and select the desired election for polling locations. Local newspapers also list polling locations. You can also call the Hays County Election Administration office at (512) 393-7310.
To adopt a pet If you rent your home, you must provide a letter from the landlord giving you permission to have a pet on their property. A pet addendum to your lease will not be accepted. If you own your home, you must provide proof of ownership through a closing agreement, mortgage statement, or county tax records. All people living in the home must meet the pet. If you are adopting a dog, and you or someone who lives in the home owns a dog, that dog must meet the potential adopted dog.
What is early voting? Early voting is really convenience voting, allowing a voter registered in any precinct within Hays County to vote at any early voting location. What if I lose my voter registration card? Notify the Election Administrator’s office in writing and you will be issued a replacement certificate. You may vote without your certificate by presenting acceptable proof of identity at the polling place and signing an affidavit. OCT. 9 - LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE OCT. 22 - FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE OCT. 26 - LAST DAY TO APPLY FOR BALLOT BY MAIL NOV. 2 - LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE NOV. 6 - ELECTION DAY
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Tuesday, October 2, 2018 | 3
LIFE & ARTS
HISTORIC WALLS
Blue Dahlia Bistro serves up historic value By Jenna Carroll Life & Arts Contributor Draped in vines and soaked in sunlight sits the oldest walls in San Marcos. Blue Dahlia Bistro, located on The Square, features a back garden dining area, completely encompassed by white brick walls. The walls of this small bistro, rustic and covered in chipping paint, are considered the oldest walls in town. Jessi Devine, Blue Dahlia general manager, said the walls are a free-standing structure. She said the building was constructed in the mid 1800s, so the garden walls were possibly built before that. It is believed the walls originally housed a blacksmith's shop. “The back garden (resembles) the environment of the Blue Dahlia; it’s kind of rustic,” Devine said. “It’s very cute. It’s comfortable. You want to just sit and enjoy yourself. I’ve had customers say they feel like they are in Europe when they’re sitting back here.” Gary Fields, philosophy lecturer, has visited Blue Dahlia before and prefers sitting in the back garden. “It kind of reminds me of the Epicurean concept of the garden,” Fields said. The restaurant is a European style bistro that serves a variety of people. “In one night, we will have college kids, high school kids on dates, there will be older folks getting together with their friends,” Devine said. “During brunch, there’s always tons of large families. It’s a broad spectrum.” Jose Congo, Blue Dahlia cook, said the establishment offers vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
“I feel like it’s a French-oriented cuisine," Congo said. "However, we do implement a lot of American classics, like meatloaf. We put our own spin on things as well. It’s simple food for great people.” Fields said he comes to Blue Dahlia to sit, drink wine and read in between obligations. The restaurant is a place people can sit down and enjoy their experience while being served. “I think it’s a very unique experience for San Marcos,” Devine said. “San Marcos (restaurants) lean towards faster, easier food like burgers, pizza and that sort of thing. We try to cultivate more of an experience where you kind of sit down and relax and eat a little more slowly.” Blue Dahlia has two other locations in Austin. The San Marcos location opened July 2017. During the year they have been open, the eatery has had an impact on the community. “Over the summer (Blue Dahlia) hosted a fundraiser for the Iconic (Village Apartments) fire, and that is when I realized we really do play a role in the community," Congo said. "What we do here affects San Marcos as a whole." Congo said an upwards of $10,000 was raised from the fundraiser. “The people (of San Marcos) should know Blue Dahlia is not one of those Austin chains that came to town to make money,” Congo said. “We came here to make an impact in the community and I think we’ve shown it.” Blue Dahlia houses history, community and experience inside its walls. It will continue to strive toward its mission of creating an impact on San Marcos for years to come.
Blue Dahlia holds the Landmark award Sept. 29 that was recieved in 2017. PHOTO BY JENNA CARROLL
Sam Chammas finishes her beverage Sept. 29 after enjoying breakfast for lunch at Blue Dahlia. PHOTO BY ALI MUMBACH
Diana Furman Life & Arts Editor @Dianna9696
FROM FRONT ASTRONAUT Hernandez said his dream of space exploration began soon after when he was only 10 years old. He recalls adjusting the antenna on his television in 1972 to watch a fuzzy Apollo 17 launch into space with his father. When Hernandez told his father of his dreams, he was supportive and gave him a roadmap to success. “He said, ‘Mijo, I think you can do it. But if you want to do it, you have to follow a simple fiveingredient recipe’,” Hernandez said. The first step was to decide what he wanted to be in life. The second step was to recognize how far he was from his goal. The third to draw a roadmap from where he was to where he wanted to go. Fourth, go to college and get an education. Fifth, always deliver more than people expect. Hernandez added his own sixth ingredient: perseverance. The first time Hernandez got rejected from NASA, he did not give up. He was rejected 10 more times. On attempt 12, Hernandez became a part of the 19th class of NASA astronauts and joined the crew of mission STS-128. After showing a video summarizing mission STS-128, Hernandez said upon his return to Earth, he landed at the Edwards Air Force Base in California, some 80 miles from where he picked strawberries as a farm worker. Lecture attendee and public administration senior Catherine Wicker said Hernandez’s emphasis on perseverance was what stood out most to her. “He really hit on the fact that it doesn’t matter what your roots are,” Wicker said. Brandon James, Austin resident, said the most interesting part for him was when Hernandez spoke about how his perspective both literally and figuratively changed when he went to space. James said Hernandez's comments about the political geography of the earth falling away impacted him greatly. “We really think about things from a very small level sometimes, but that bigger perspective changes you," James said. "That was one of the most profound things he shared.” Hernandez said while he was in space he could make out the general shapes of some countries, but he could not tell exactly where borders ended or began. “I had to go to space to realize we are all one,” Hernandez said. “Borders are only created to separate us.” At the end of his lecture, Hernandez received a standing ovation. For more information on the Common Experience, visit their website or follow them on Twitter @TXSTCE. To stay up to date with Jose Hernandez, follow his Twitter: @Astro_Jose.
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The University Star Diana Furman Life & Arts Editor @Dianna9696
LIFE & ARTS
MEXICAN FOOD
Where to satisfy Mexican food cravings By Sonia Garcia Assistant Life & Arts Editor San Marcos restaurants offer students a variety of options to indulge in homemade tortillas, frijoles and enchiladas. Hispanic students looking for a taste of home and others who appreciate Mexican foods may be unaware of where they can get their fix. However, there is an array of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Loli’s Café Located on Aquarena Springs Dr., Loli’s Café offers a drive-thru service for breakfast and lunch tacos from 5 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Customers are welcome to build their own breakfast tacos with ingredients like bean, potato, chorizo and egg. Lunch tacos include fajita, carne guisada and barbacoa. Martha Carillo, owner of Loli’s Café, established the food joint 13 years ago. Carillo was born in Los Angeles and spent a lot of her childhood in Mexico. At the age of 10 she began cooking in
the kitchen with her mom. To this day, her recipes have not strayed from what her mom taught her, except for modifications made for spices not found in Texas. Carillo said she never imagined being able to own her own business with the food she enjoys making. “I have pressure, but I really love what I do; it’s my passion,” Carillo said. “I like when people come back and (say) they were craving my tacos because that’s my work and that doesn’t have a price.”
El Milagro of Texas Inc. For about eight years, San Martians have been buying tortilla products from El Milagro of Texas Inc. Located at 400 Barnes Drive, this company supplies residents with flour and corn tortillas, tostadas and chips. Hector Ramirez, manager, said the business dates back to 1950, when Raul Lopez opened the company in Chicago. In 1997, the company branched out to
Austin, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona. However, in 2010 the Austin location maxed out their plant, so they bought a building in San Marcos and have been functioning here ever since. The company does not add any preservatives to their food and utilizes non-GMO corn product. Due to this, their products are heavily authentic. “The tortilla is a staple in a Mexican community,” Ramirez said. “Mexican food is one of the most popular foods in the world, so our demographic is not only Latino communities, it is many different cultures.”
Garcia’s Restaurant Curtis and Antonia Garcia have taken their family recipes and made their customers happy in a restaurant setting for 30 years. Garcia's has two locations. The first is located at 403 S. LBJ Drive and the second at 1917 Dutton Drive, off of Wonderworld. Their children have opened up five additional locations in surrounding areas. They are open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The breakfast menu includes huevos a la Mexicana, migas and various breakfast tacos. They have lunch specials and specialty dinners, including traditional dishes like chile relleno. On weekends they make caldo and menudo. For a dine-in Mexican experience, San Marcos residents choose Garcia’s Restaurant.
Santi’s Tacos If students are looking for late night tacos on The Square, Santi's Tacos is the way to go. Located at a food truck park on Guadalupe Street, Santi’s Tacos offers street tacos and other treats. Street tacos are small and wrapped in a corn tortilla with the choice of bistec, pork or chicken dressed with onion, cilantro, avocado, cheese and salsa. Tortas, corn in a cup and mangonadas are also featured on the menu. Arlie Wood, studio art junior, said she tried Santi’s Tacos for the first time this September. “I’ve never really had those kinds of tacos and they seemed really authentic,” Wood said.
VEGAN
Vegan and Vegetarian options near campus By Nathanael Lorenzo Life & Arts Contributor
Nostimo Mediterranean Café Nostimo Café offers a wide variety of options for vegans and vegetarians. With a list that spans from spinach pie to falafel gyro’s, Nostimo does its best to give customers a Mediterranean taste. Patrons over the age of 21 are allowed to bring their own beer or wine. Glasses and corkscrews are provided. Julia Reino, Nostimo server, said the destination is frequented for its vegetarian and vegan dining options. "A lot of people come for (the vegan and vegetarian) choices we have, but we don't get many students; it's usually an older crowd," Reino said.
"We definitely want more students to try us out." Nostimo Café is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays. Sunday’s they are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Torchy’s Tacos Torchy’s Tacos offers meals with a bright green “V” next to its vegetarian options. Although there are not any vegan tacos on the menu, some of their ingredients are vegan. The pico de gallo, escabeche carrots, avocado, black beans and guacamole without garnish are all vegan. All it takes is a request for no cheese and no margarine on the grill when cooking corn tortillas. The eatery is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.
Buzz Mill
AquaBrew
Buzz Mill splits their menu in half: hunters and gatherers. Everything on the gatherers menu is completely plant based. Sarah Latiolais, Buzz Mill manager, said the restaurant carries seven different vegan beyond-meat burgers, vegan breakfast tacos, vegan shrimp tacos and vegan wings. Latiolais said Buzz Mill attracts a lot of people who are curious about their beyond-meat burgers, and even nonvegans tend to enjoy them. “Our plant-based patties are usually better than other vegan options around town, so I think that's a big draw for a lot of customers," Latiolais said. Buzz Mill is open 24 hours.
AquaBrew is a brewery and beer garden that serves modern American cuisine. Their menu does not offer many vegan options, but vegetarian options are varied and cover pub snacks, brunch and garden options. Damien Cavazos, AquaBrew executive chef, said their current menu of vegetarian options are pretty popular items. "We're working on making an actual vegan and vegetarian menu that we plan to roll out soon" Cavazos said. "Anytime someone asks 'can you make this vegetarian?' we like trying to come up with alternatives to give them, with side options and everything." AquaBrew is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday, Friday and Sunday. On Saturday, the restaurant is open 10 a.m. to midnight.
Nostimo Cafe holds many options Sept. 29 for vegan and vegetarians who crave mediterranean food.
Torchy's Tacos serve vegetarian options Sept. 29 to the San Marcos community.
PHOTO BY NATHANAEL LORENZO
PHOTO BY NATHANAEL LORENZO
NEW RESTAURANTS
New restaurants to enjoy in San Marcos By Ryan Torres Life & Arts Contributor
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Binge Kitchen This vegetarian kitchen has a wide menu of green eats to choose from. Located on 121 N Fredericksburg St., Binge Kitchen provides feelings of comfort, and a safe place for anyone to come enjoy a meal and socialize. The eco-friendly eatery emphasizes genuine, flavorful food to make sure each dish is made especially for the consumer. Yarnisha and Balazsi Lyons, owners of Binge Kitchen, said they want to make sure people know the restaurant has a friendly environment. "We serve compassion (and) a variety of healthy food options," Yarnisha Lyons said. Beau Gentry, aquatic biology freshman, said he recommends the Chipotle Burger. "You couldn't even tell the difference," Gentry said. "The veggie burger's flavors tasted more like a burger than a traditional beef patty."
Industry After two years of being built, another new food choice will finally be available to visit in the square: Industry. This brand new restaurant has a pristine, laid-back environment to lounge in and enjoy a bite to eat. Located on 110 E Martin Luther King Drive, Industry owners' goal is to invite all who want to enjoy a flavorful meal in a comfortable setting. Cody Taylor, owner of Industry, said he believes a lot of the healthier options on the menu will be more popular. The restaurant has a mixture of both meat and veggie-style dishes. "We have a smoker in the kitchen that we use for a lot of ingredients," Taylor said. This adds to the many flavors you might get from any of the menu items.
Brooklyn Pie Co. Brooklyn Pie Co. has made a name for itself in locations all over Texas, and now in San Marcos. The company maintains a rule for making their foods with only the finest ingredients. Most of the ingredients are made fresh daily, and guests can be assured everything on their menu from the calzones, to wings and even pasta, is prepared professionally for the customer.
Kawa Sushi If students want to stay on campus to eat, there is a new addition to Jones Dining Center that may hit the spot. Kawa Sushi is a sushi bar that opened Sept. 27. The sushi eatery gave out free sample rolls from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Hawaiian poke bowls to the first 200 people that day. They are now an available choice anytime at Jones. Swing on by for a quick grab-and-go meal to enjoy with friends. Each roll and rice bowl is made with the freshest ingredients daily.
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Tuesday, October 2, 2018 | 5
OPINIONS
Zach Ienatsch Opinions Editor @zachnatch
Local restaurants need your seat at the table With so many dining options around San Marcos for locals and Bobcats to dine with, picking a place for lunch may not always be an easy choice. But when deciding where to spend your money when the hunger sets in, San Martians should make a considerate effort to eat locally. Balancing a full course load, a parttime job and extracurriculars can leave very little time for anything other than fast food. But if time permits it, making the choice to dine with small business restaurants owned and operated by local community members will make San Marcos strong in the long term. When you spend your money at a national chain of restaurants, you are definitely getting what you expect in terms of food quality, selection and atmosphere. It is usually the safer bet and when money is tight, taking chances while your stomach is on the
line can be daunting. But money spent at these restaurant chains will only be funneled into a corporate entity who does not necessarily care if local diners are forming a relationship with the owner or if San Marcos has a healthy variety of establishments to choose from. When kitchens and passions intersect, nothing is more potent than the local restaurant. The local restaurant is a testament to the American Dream. It's a risk a savvy individual takes on because of their faith in the community. It is a chance that only succeeds if people come to the table and eat up. According to studies conducted by University of Denver foodservice professor HG Parsa, nearly 60 percent of restaurants fail in the first three years. Common failures of small business restaurants include poor location and management, which is
not the duty of the potential customer to remedy. But another huge killer of restaurants is faulty promotion. Local restaurants often fail to attract visitors not because the food is subpar and the service is inattentive, but because their target demographic simply does not know they exist. Most small businesses already start with very little capital, which makes marketing a low priority while more immediate costs take precedent. This is where an enthusiastic, supportive community can step in to help. When local residents make an effort to seek out new eating establishments in their community, they are giving the small businesses a chance at patronage they would not receive if every customer immediately went to a fast food joint when mealtime arrived. Restaurants are also important centers of culture. According to Census data, immigrants own nearly
30 percent of restaurants and hotels in the U.S., which is twice the rate for all businesses overall. These are places for other cultures to share a little bit of themselves with others. Overall, this cultural exposure helps to bridge the gaps between one another while eating good food too. This semester, students should make an effort to branch out and explore the local eatery options San Marcos has to offer. Invite your friends, bring your dates and suggest these places to your parents when they come to visit. Get to know the proprietors and their stories. Tell all your followers on social media about the hidden gems and keep returning as a customer if you enjoyed the experience. This kind of support makes San Marcos strong and benefits everyone involved.
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.
SPORTS
School sports rivalries promote sexual violence By May Olvera Opinions columnist In anticipation of the Sept. 22 football game between Texas State and the University of Texas at San Antonio, Roadrunners took to Twitter for some pre-showdown banter using #TexasStateHateWeek. Although most of the tweets under the hashtag were light-hearted jabs, sexual objectification was obviously present. Jokes of its kind are almost always vile, but they feel particularly problematic in our current socio-political landscape. Multiple tweets under the hashtag included pictures of a homemade banner with the words “TAKE IT LIKE A BITCH #TEXASSSTATE” sprawled across a white bed sheet and accompanied by a picture of a humanlike roadrunner engaged in a sexual act with a bobcat. The banner was posted on social media on Sept. 19, less than a week after Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was accused of sexually assaulting a woman when they were both in high school. Of course, it’s unrealistic to expect every college student to stay informed on current events and the banner itself was probably not heavily influenced by Kavanaugh, but it does highlight the extent to which sexual assault has
been normalized, particularly by young people. In fact, the culture that surrounds college football seems to be notably susceptible to sexual harassment. A recent study co-conducted by a Montana State University economics professor found significant evidence that sexual assault reports filed by 17 to 24-year-old women at Division I schools increased by 41 percent on home football game days and 15 percent on away game days. In July, a Baylor student settled a
other individuals and institutions, it is diminishing the act of sexual assault and is viewed as a light subject. To be clear, these are not sweeping judgments on all college football players and fans, but rather a serious concern with the toxic hypermasculine presence in college football culture. It’s even more reason for concern when it shows up in one of the least competitive rivalries in the state. No one is disputing that Texas State football is, historically, pretty atrocious. Rape normalization aside, sexually charged insults are gross overkill. Still, the itch to use such language seems to be too difficult for some people to ignore. College campuses are where culture ILLUSTRATION BY CAROLINE JANES breeds. The prevalence of sexual assault highlighted by the #MeToo movement major rape case that resulted in the either starts with or is exacerbated by removal or resignation of its football the attitudes displayed on campuses coach, athletic director and university across the country. As students, it’s president for mishandling the incident. our responsibility to consciously The victim alleged she was gang-raped denormalize sexual violence and engage by eight Baylor football players. in healthier displays of school pride. Still, it seems like every fall there Perhaps when next season's rematch are people who find it acceptable to comes around, student fans of both be sexually aggressive in their team schools can focus their attention on rivalry. This display of carelessness school pride and the love of the game toward sexual assault gives context to and leave the misogynistic rhetoric out the allegations against Kavanaugh. of it. When references to rape are considered jokes to establish dominance over - May Olvera is a journalism senior
IMMIGRATION
Tribune festival panelists miss the big picture on immigration By May Olvera Opinions Columnist A massive movement for immigrant justice has gained momentum in the past months after reports surfaced highlighting the separation of immigrant families at the border as well as the brutal mistreatment of undocumented minors. The public outrage toward these inhumane acts made immigration a focal point of the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin. A panel regarding family separation at the border was made up of nonprofit leaders, a congressman and an immigration policy expert. While the panel was helpful in dissecting Trump’s immigration policies, it lacked crucial historical context. At the beginning of the panel, moderator and immigration reporter Julian Aguilar found the panelists disagreed on whether Trump's policy of
separating children from their parents at the border would ever happen again. While it’s certainly possible for Trump to move forward by creating humane immigration policies, history suggests it is unlikely. To confidently assume otherwise is both naive and dangerous. For example, legal expert panelist Celina Moreno cited psychotherapist Satsuki Ina, a Japanese-American born in a California internment camp during World War II. “(Ina) went to visit the families that had been separated (at the border) and said it was reminiscent of what she went through,” Moreno said. “While I think the level of outrage is unprecedented, some of these issues are not new.” In fact, the U.S. government has an atrocious track record in the treatment of most migrant groups, documented or otherwise.
As a result of growing immigration in the 19th century, the nativist American Party gained traction in American politics. The party’s primary focus was extreme opposition to Catholic Irish immigrants, using them as scapegoats for economic hardships. This fueled violence like the 1831 arson of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New York City and the 1844 Philadelphia riots that left thirteen dead. In 1917, with the rise in popularity of eugenics, literacy tests for immigrants became a requirement for entry and in 1924 a quota system was enacted. The system increased available visas for Western Europeans and limited that of Southern and Eastern Europeans, who the U.S. Immigration Commission labeled as “undesirable.” These quotas eventually resulted in the U.S. turning away thousands of Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. Time and time again, the American
standard proved to be one of vile nativism in response to economic hardships and it remains characteristic of government policy today. However, democratic Rep. Filemon Vela said during the panel he does not think these issues would arise again because of competing factions within the Trump administration. “At the end of the day, when the policy was revoked, the right faction won," Vela said. "I think we’re beginning to see them have more and more influence. I get a sense that they are really beginning to focus on coming up with a plan to see what is wrong in Central America and how we can help so we don’t have to deal with this.”
SEE IMMIGRATION PAGE 6
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OPINIONS
Zach Ienatsch Opinions Editor @zachnatch
FROM PAGE 5 SEXISM In saying this, Vela completely ignored the fact that the current Central American crisis is due largely in part to U.S. involvement, with some of the only positive effects in immigration policy coming from organized resistance against it. The displaced victims of U.S. proxy wars during the administrations of presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan were denied asylum and deported back to the horrific conditions they were fleeing. In response to religious protests, Reagan’s Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 allowed millions of undocumented immigrants to apply for legal status. However, 10 years later, President Bill Clinton swiftly returned to the same old institutionalized xenophobia and signed the brutally aggressive Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act. This law effectively laid the foundation for the current mass detention and deportation crises. The act radically expanded the eligibility for mandatory detention to include virtually any offense and made it substantially harder for people to obtain citizenship. Subsequent administrations followed this same trajectory of mass deportation and even family separation that people believe began with Trump’s policy. Executive director of the National Immigration Forum Ali Noorani said President Barack Obama's administration deported over 2 million people, a number of whom were parents, effectively separating families. “We saw when the unaccompanied minor crisis first really spiked in the summer of 2014, quite frankly President Obama set the wrong tone out of the gate,” Noorani said. “He talked about it as enforcing the law at the border to make sure these children were not able to stay in order to deter more from coming.” Passing the baton of state-enforced nativism to Trump, the current administration is only continuing a long and truly violent tradition of antiimmigrant policymaking. Ignoring this history while creating promises of an idealized future will make it harder to achieve humane immigration policy. While the festival panel was filled with solid criticisms of the Trump administration’s policies, it is impossible to have a genuinely constructive conversation with half of the panel ignoring the foundation on which the problem is built.
TRANSPORTATION
Bobcat shuttles are overpopulated By Jordan Drake Assistant Opinions Editor A common sight around San Marcos is the Bobcat shuttle service whisking students to and from the university. If someone lives off campus but is not in walking distance, then the bus is the way to get around. However, with such limited parking options for commuters, the buses have become increasingly crowded. Although this issue has arisen in the past, the back to back record breaking freshmen classes have brought this issue to a head. This is really no surprise. Texas State has shown an inability to handle other issues related to the growing student population and the buses have been much of the same story. This problem is only exacerbated by ongoing construction and curious route decisions as well. Many of the routes have been increasingly overcrowded. Whether it’s the stadium route or the Mill Street route, students are being forced to fight for spots on the bus. This had created a twofold problem. First, students end up late to class if they must wait for two or three passes before they can finally board the bus. This can affect attendance grades, time for testing and can cause stress and anxiety for the student population. Second, students are required to make room for another student that has disabilities. This is not the fault of the student but of overcrowding. With this problem more students would have to get off the bus and it would slow down the whole process in which that student can get situated. The construction happening around San Marcos has slowed the bus routes down. For example, the waiting time from Bobcat Village to school has been as much as 20 minutes at times. Missing the bus the first time it comes around could keep you sitting at the bus stop for a decent amount of time.
ILLUSTRATION BY JEFFREY FOLLENDER
Contributing to the problem are some of the route changes, such as the stadium route adding two new stops. While this has happened in the past, the changing population has now turned what was perhaps already the busiest spot into a grudge match. If someone’s stop on this route is Summit or Uptown Square, passengers should make themselves comfortable because they are not going anywhere anytime soon. With only twelve routes students are limited in their options. This was a really bad decision on the administration’s part but solutions they can pursue exist. Students pay good money to attend this university and a basic thing like ensuring students can actually get to and from school on time should be a priority. The administration should find a way to make routes more efficient like cutting down on stops or changing where buses go to ensure students can board their buses. Adding more buses and drivers might cost the school money but it would alleviate at least part of the problem by making the routes faster or shorter. Another option would be to add larger buses to its fleet for its busier stops so
overcrowding becomes less of an issue. If the administration refuses to make changes, then it falls on students to do something. Prepare in advance so that getting to class on time is not an issue. If there is an important test that week, consider parking closer and walking or arriving however early one may need. Some apartment complexes even provide their own shuttle to help their residents skip the school shuttles entirely. Too often people say this is how it has always been but that attitude is exactly why it becomes a problem year in and year out. There are solutions and the Texas State administration must look into it because while this year may be tolerable in their eyes, it will only get worse as each class gets bigger and bigger. Do something about it now so that it is not an issue for both these students and those down the road. - Jordan Drake is a communications senior
- May Olvera is a journalism senior
Letters to the Editor The University Star welcomes letters from our readers. Letters must be 500 words or fewer to be considered for publication. Please include your full name, mailing address, major and academic year designation, phone number and e-mail address when submitting a letter. Submissions that do not include this information cannot be published. This information is seen only by the editors and is not used for any commercial purpose. Letters become the property of The Star and may be republished in any format. The letter may be edited for length and clarity. You will be contacted if your letter is a candidate for publication. We will not run letters that are potentially libelous, discriminatory, obscene, threatening or promotional in nature. To make a submission, email stareditor@txstate.edu.
By Claudia Gasponi To the student body that is mad, distrustful or even just annoyed at their student government, thank you. I thank you with the deepest sincerity. I am an elected student government representative and I am so glad you are angry with us. I see your anger and I am here for it. I love it. Your anger is at the abuse your representatives have put you through. That is a just and beautiful anger. Last year, Student Government made incredible errors in its governance of the student body. Our former president, Connor Clegg, put a massive target on a fellow student’s back, he lied to the student body, he misrepresented the students' interests. He abused his power. Our former Chief of Staff, Alec Garza, lost forever dozens of legislative pieces that we wrote and attempted to enact. Our Chief Justice, John Garcia, deceived the student body and pretended to throw a resignation temper tantrum when Dr. Arellano used her constitutional right to review the impeachment appeal and overturn the Supreme Court’s decision
to not impeach, when he vocalized consistently his plan to resign as soon as they published their findings. So many of our previous Senators missed the most important meeting of the semester, possibly out of collusion, abuse of power and a general disrespect for their duty as a representative. Our former president, Brooklyn Boering, and current president, Ruben Becerra, have not yet acknowledged their pain their campaign practices have caused the student body. Neither has answered honestly the extent of their cooperation with the Turning Point or how TP student representatives Stormi Rodriguez and Collin Pruett played hands in their campaign decisions. Your anger is totally justified. But like everything else, it has to change because the situation has changed. Most of those people that wronged you so much last year are not here anymore. If you are going to be angry at us, please, be angry for what we have done. Everything from last year changed because of your anger. Clegg was removed, Garza quit, those Senators did not return because of your
anger at their misrepresentation. Representative government has always worked this way; Representatives being mostly afraid to give the people what they want and need until the people use their power and take it from their government. That’s how we have affirmative action, the right to vote, marriage equality. There were some representatives inside trying to get all of it done, working the bureaucratic channels, writing the legislation, but every time, without fail, it was the people who got it passed. I know you hate Student Government right now, but I have to insist that it’s only because for years no one cared about student government before you came along getting mad at it. And since no one cared about it, it was slowly filling up with representatives who didn’t care about you. But then you got mad, you scared your representatives away and now who you are left with is a different ball game. I can’t speak for them but I feel strongly that the old Senators and the Graduate House shared in your anger a great deal last year. The new Senators, most of them signed up for
the job specifically to be not what the Clegg-Merritt administration was like. So your anger must change. It must change to be effective. I’m not saying to go out and find a reason to dislike us, but I do welcome your scrutiny, your rage, your input, all of your feelings. Representation works only if the governed body is engaged. You can ask us to resign, ask us to vote a certain way, ask us to write legislation or meet with certain administrators. Most of our student body are people with a great deal of privilege. We live in the U.S., most of us are citizens, most of us can afford to go to college, we had quality public or private education prior to attending here. It is our responsibility to use the privilege and remain involved, advocating for what those with less privilege than us have said they need. It’s our responsibility to participate and scrutinize our government because, for the rest of our lives, it will not go away. We must be politically involved because the power of organization of resources can always get more misused by any government. With great appreciation, Claudia Gasponi Senator - University College
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SPORTS SPIRIT
The cheerleading team brings energy to fans Soccer team scores win number 200 for coach By Claire Partain Sports Reporter Soccer Head Coach Kat Conner earned her 200-career win Sep. 30 at the Bobcat Soccer Complex after the Bobcats downed Arkansas State 2-1. While Coach Conner may not have realized she had reached her 200-win milestone, she said she looks forward to the rest of the season with her team and the chance to play for a Sunbelt Championship. “We’re focused on what the next step for us is,” Conner said. “The goal has been put down that the kids want to play for a Sunbelt championship, so that’s the next step, well just take it one bite at a time and one step at a time to me this is just a hard-fought win.” The win comes after a double overtime draw to the university of Arkansas at Little Rock. Scoring both goals on the night was junior Kaylee Davis with one coming in each half. Davis led the team with five shots and four shots on goal. Her two goals gave her 10 for the season and according to an athletic department press release, moves her into a tie for eight on the program’s single-season list with Allison Crain, who reached the mark in both the 2003 and 2000 seasons. Netting her fourth matchwinning goal this year, Davis sits in a tie for fifth in school history. The Bobcats improved to 6-5-1 on the season, the first time they are over .500 this year, and currently sit at the top of Sun Belt Conference standings with a 4-0-1 record. Junior mid fielder Heather Martin made three saves on the afternoon. Martin also led the team in saves on Sept. 28 when Texas State played host to the university of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans which resulted in a 1-1 draw. The Texas State women’s soccer team lost their winning streak but remained unbeaten in the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans tied up the game in the second half with a penalty goal shot by senior defender Leisa Seifert. Texas State soccer plays Appalachian State on Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. on the road.
Women's Golf secures 15th place in tournament By Porshea Goins Sports Reporter The Texas State Women's Golf team finished 15 of 15 at the Schooner Fall Classic tournament Sept. 30. The NCAA runner-up, University of Alabama, finished in first place. The University of Texas at Austin ended in second place and the University of Oklahoma finished in third. Sophomore Geraldine Wong garnered back-to-back birdies on her first two holes, finishing the first round with a score of 73. For round two, senior Sarah White led the Bobcats with a score of 71. The final round was led by junior Sasikarn Somboonsup with a score of 72. Texas State's tournament contributors included Wong with a score of 73-73-74 — 220, junior Sean Yi Yip with a score of 78-74-77 — 229, senior Anne-Charlotte Mora with a score of 79-72-73 — 224, Somboonsup with a score of 80-8272 — 234, and White with a score of 80-82-72 — 234. Texas State will be off for the next two weekends before the Oct. 19 Betsy Rawls Invitational at UT.
By Anthony Flores Sports Reporter The Texas State Spirit Team do more than cheer, tumble and act as the face of the athletics department when it comes to game day. At the head of the squad is Spirit Program Coordinator Jocelyn Stephens, a member of the 2015-16 gold medalwinning U.S. National Cheer team. “I care about them as people and I know that it's not going to be game day forever,” Stephens said. “The one thing I really try and preach is that the discipline and standard in our program will help them in whatever they choose to do with their life. At the end of the day, I’m like a proud parent out there.” Alexis Marshall, marketing junior and Texas State cheerleader, said Stephen's success as a cheerleader and hands-on teaching method is a large reason why the team is so successful. “It’s been amazing because if we don’t know what we’re doing, she’ll physically show us,” Marshall said. “We’ll see her doing back tucks. She'll be working out, basically leading by example.” Briana King, management senior and third-year cheerleader, said the squad is asked to do much more than game performances. The spirit program is available for appearances for a variety of events: Texas State sponsored events, school or non-profit organizations,
Texas State's cheer squad practice stunts Sept. 26 for gametime performances. PHOTO BY ANTHONY FLORES
as well as private and corporate performances. “People don’t understand the depth of it, we are not just pretty faces,” King said. “We know that since we are the face of the school, we are its ambassadors.” Hard work aside, the members of the squad enjoy their roles and walk away with satisfaction from providing that extra push teams and fans might need
to up the energy in the stands and on the field, according to cheerleader and recreation administration junior Nolan Griffin. “I feel like the spirit program as a whole just brings a new atmosphere to the game,” Griffin said. “It feels like we’re able to pull the spirit up from when it’s at a low level. We can bring it up more and get the crowd more involved.”
TRAINING
Training and nutrition combine to create more explosive athletes By Anthony Flores Sports Reporter A husband and wife team on campus is combining the fields of strength and conditioning and sports nutrition to keep athletes in top physical condition at Texas State. Coach Aaron Burkart is in his third year with Texas State as the head football strength and conditioning coach. Previously, he served two seasons as the director of football strength and conditioning at James Madison University in Virginia. Sports nutritionist Chelsea Burkart was the first sports dietitian hired by Texas State's athletics program and provides nutrition consultation to athletes. “At its basic form, strength and conditioning is what prepares the athlete to be able to do what they came here to do, to be able to play at the best they possibly can,” Aaron Burkart said. Strength and conditioning are specifically for the improvement of athletic performance and injury prevention, according to the English Institute of Sport. “I would say the number one goal when it comes to strength and conditioning is to prevent injury," Aaron Burkart said. "A lot of people would balk at that and say, ‘Well I thought it was bigger, faster, stronger.’” Techniques like plyometrics, as well as sport specific movement training, are combined with weightlifting to create a more explosive athlete on the field. Aaron Burkart said the training also increases mental toughness.
“We’ll spend months trying to make sure every day is utilized to the best of our ability,” -Aaron Burkart
Strength and conditioning prepares student athletes for physical growth and prevents injury..
PHOTO BY ELZA TAURINS
“On top of the bigger, faster and stronger there’s a mental side to it,” Aaron Burkart said. “Putting them in difficult situations and them gaining confidence from the success they have in those situations, fighting through things that are difficult and not easy to do. I believe those are big positives that come from strength and conditioning.” Chelsea Burkart said the body requires a steady and healthy diet to fuel itself through such high-intensity stress. “An athlete is going to get bigger, faster and stronger because of genetics and because the human body adapts to the stress of training,” Chelsea Burkart said. “You can only get bigger, faster and stronger to a certain ceiling. The body doesn’t build and rebuild out of nothing, it builds and rebuilds out of the food that we eat.” Chelsea Burkart’s approach isn’t an immediate upheaval of an athlete’s diet but begins with small, unintrusive changes to help encourage the player to come to her. “Try to start with some little things versus trying to overeducate them on the things they shouldn’t be doing,” said Chelsea Burkart. “Empower them with small changes or things they could be doing that impact their energy levels, stamina and ability to recover which helps them in the classroom and the field of play.”
Chelsea Burkart leads her athletes down the proper nutritional paths by joining her athletes on excursions to the grocery store and teaching cooking lessons. Training for these athletes goes beyond the season. Aaron Burkart works with his players year-round, spending more time with them than anyone else on the coaching staff. “Football season only runs through the fall, other than that, they’re mine," Aaron Burkart said. Training during the offseason is different than in-season training and requires different levels of fueling, something Chelsea Burkart said she must adjust for. “I have to talk about what to eat before, during and after practice, how does nutrition periodize from in season to out of season, preseason, you know, when they have different training volumes and training intensities," Chelsea Burkart said. The process of preparing an athlete for play takes time and thought before a plan can be developed and put into action. “We’ll spend months trying to make sure every day is utilized to the best of our ability,” Aaron Burkart said. “It’s not as simple as some people think. It’s a long-term process and there’s a lot of thought and scientific method that goes into it.”
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The University Star Jakob Rodriguez Sports Editor @jakobryrod
SPORTS
FROM FRONT SKATE
Skater competes Sept. 29 in the 15th annual Jonathan Broderick Skateboard Competition. PHOTO BY CAMERON HUBBARD
Skaters ready for Jonathan Broderick Skateboard Competition at San Marcos Skate Park By Jacob Sommers Sports Reporter The 15th Annual Jonathan Broderick Skateboard Competition has grown from the ditches, quite literally, and now acts as a catalyst for local kids interested in skateboarding. Dating back to 2003, the competition is held in the memory of Jonathan Broderick, a local skateboarder who died after a motorcycle accident in 1999. The San Marcos skateboard community is continuing Broderick's legacy through the competition, which encourages kids to get involved in skateboarding just as Broderick and his friends did as children. The competition gives prizes for
winners, including skate gear. The contests were separated into age groups that competed in both a street section and bowl section. This year's competition was organized by local skateboarder Brete Anderson, San Marcos Community Enhancement Initiatives Manager Amy Kirwin and Cody Hobbs, the owner of local skate shop Texas Skate. "It's all about giving local kids a place close to home that they can safely go skate," Hobbs said. In its early years, the competition was held at a local skate spot known as the "CFAN Ditch," a drainage ditch on the side of Interstate Highway 35. In 2007, the Jonathan Broderick Skateboard Competition was held at the San Marcos skatepark for the first
time with the help of Texas Skate. With the new skatepark, the contest took on a whole new purpose: involve local kids interested in skateboarding. “We are skaters,” Anderson said. “It didn't matter to us that we didn't have a fancy skatepark. We made use of what we had and we skated it.” Before the skatepark was built, the only place to legally skate in San Marcos was Sewell Park. Anderson and Kirwin decided it was time for someone to stand up for skaters after city ordinances banned on skateboarding at Sewell as well. Kirwin, who worked for the city, got the ball rolling and took the money from the first Jonathan Broderick Competition, a little over $1,000, and started the Skatepark of San Marcos
Non-Profit Committee. Following, she reached out to city officials to help find funding. In 2003, San Marcos had $50,000 available from Community Development Block Grant funding for a low-income project. After years of garnering public support, the city broke ground on the project in 2006. Less than a year later, the street section of the San Marcos skatepark was complete. "Getting the support of city officials Bill Taylor and John Thomaides was the turning point that put our plan into action," Kirwin said. The San Marcos skatepark is located at 625 E Hopkins St, San Marcos, Texas 78666, and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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SPORTS
VOLLEYBALL
Texas State volleyball remains undefeated in conference play By Daisy Colón Sports Reporter The Texas State volleyball team sent a message of dominance to the Sun Belt Conference with two wins over the weekend, extending the team's win streak to eight with a 4-0 record in conference play. The Bobcat offense tallied 121 kills through the weekend, with 29 of those coming from freshman outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald, who focused on her team and getting the job done when the time came. “I just thought it was time to work, time to take everything that we’ve done in practice and try to put it to use,” Fitzgerald said. “We just had to take all of the passion that was in that game and put it through the ball.” The team showed unparalleled chemistry on both nights as they triumphed over Little Rock 3-1 (2522, 25,15, 28-30, 25-18) on Sept. 28 and Arkansas State 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 26-24) on Sept. 29. Coach Karen Chisum said she believes in her team’s ability to win and looks forward to facing the next opponent, UT Arlington, at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 2 at Strahan Coliseum. “There’s a target on our back, I promise you, everybody is (going to) give us their best shot," Chisum said. "We need to take a look at what UTA does. I don’t think there’s any match in the Sun Belt Conference that we can’t take on.” The weekend’s notable players Cheyenne Huskey, 4, jump serves the ball to the awaiting Arkansas State players Sept. 29. PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS
include junior outside hitter Cheyenne Huskey with 20 kills, senior middle blocker Madison Daigle with19 kills, freshman setter Emily Dewalt with 98 assists, and junior defensive specialist Micah Dinwiddie with 32 digs.
"There’s a target on our back, I promise you, everybody is (going to) give us their best shot," -Karen Chisum The Bobcats lead the West Division at 13-5 overall and 4-0 in SBC play. DeWalt said though the team has been playing well, they're always looking to improve their weak spots. “I think we need to get better on the out-of-system ball, so we’ll probably do a lot of that," DeWalt said. "Picking up tips too, that’s a big one on our list of things to work on.” The true freshman said the team trusts one another and the teammates hype each other up. DeWalt said Chisum’s advice of “nothing knocks us off our rockers" has helped her remain confident and poised through each match.
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ANSWERS FROM SEPT. 25
BOBCAT TRIVIA 1. In what year was the SuperCat logo designed? a. 1903 b. 2003 c. 2013 d. 1923 2. Which Texas State coach has the most football wins in school history? a. Bill Miller b. Everett Withers c. Oscar Strahan d. None of the above. 3. Who recommended the bobcat to be Texas State’s official mascot? a. Athletics Department b. C. Spurgeon Smith; biology department head c. Oscar Strahan d. None of the above. 4. What was the original purpose of the Victory Star when it made it appearance in 1936? a. The Victory Star was a Christmas decoration. b. The Victory Star was to be turned on every night. c. The Victory Star was a main point where campus tours would start and end. d. All of the above.
Dine on the Guadalupe River in a 140 year old cotton gin beneath the Watertower, behind Texas’ Oldest Dance Hall in Gruene Historic District.
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