October 30, 2018

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2018

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OPINIONS

LIFE & ARTS

NEWS Texas State Jewish community remains strong after antiSemitic flyers

Students honor loved ones during Día de los Muertos

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Volume 108, Issue 10

SPORTS

Letter to the Editor: University must raise non-tenure line faculty pay

Bobcats crowned regular season champions

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County extends early voting on campus following community uproar

By Kaiti Evans News Reporter Following hour-long voting lines and the threat of a lawsuit, the Hays County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Oct. 26 at an emergency meeting to extend early voting hours on campus.

As lines wrapped around the LBJ Student Center’s construction, students, faculty and staff waited hours to participate in early voting on campus, which was open Oct. 22-24 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. The three-day stint of early voting was inundated with unanticipated voters, as Hays County reported recordbreaking voting numbers.

On the first day of early voting, Hays

County reported among the highest percentage of registered voter turnout out of Texas Counties. Early voting records for Oct. 29, the eighth day of early voting, report Hays County has had 134,403 early voters, totaling at 34.36 percent of the total registered voters. For the 2014 midterm elections, on the eighth day of early voting, there were 10,790 early voters, totaling at 9.88 percent of the total registered voters at the time.

Currently, 134,403 residents are registered to vote in Hays County compared to 106,581 in 2014 and 121,326 in 2016.

SEE VOTING PAGE 2

GRAPHIC BY MCKENNA STRAIN

#FireTeis takes to the air during homecoming game

By Jakob Rodriguez | Sports Editor & By Andrew Zimmel | Sports Reporter

Following multiple losing football seasons, Texas State students, alumni and fans took to crowdsourcing to call for the firing of Athletic Director Larry Teis.

A GoFundMe was set up Sept. 26 to get a banner flown over Bobcat Stadium an hour before the Oct. 27 homecoming game between the Bobcats and the New Mexico State Aggies.

According to organizers who shall remain anonymous to protect their identities, the movement stems from alumni, students and fans' frustrations with the program’s stagnancy.

Currently, Bobcat football has a 2-6 record, and head coach Everett Withers, who was hired

by Teis, has an overall record of 6-26 with the program.

Through social media, the movement's many Twitter pages have cultivated a slim following, including @TXST_FireTeis, which has 192 followers. With #FireTeis, #CutTiesWithTeis and a slew of other hashtags, the account gained enough traction to crowdsource 19 donors to donate the $700 to pay for the banner.

One of the Twitter posts stated, “These are not winning percentages or results of a successful athletic program. It all starts at the top (Larry Teis). He is the one that makes the hiring/firing decisions and the one that is supposed to hold coaches accountable for their on-field results."

SEE ATHLETICS PAGE 8

The FIRETEIS.COM banner flew over Bobcat Stadium and surrounding areas Oct. 27 before kickoff.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEFF CIARDELLO

Sugar daddies: How some students choose to pay the bills

By Sonia Garcia Assistant Life & Arts Editor Editor's note: This story recounts details of a sexual encounter that may be triggering for some readers. Additionally, the identity of a source in this story has been changed upon request.

The source will be referred to as Lily.

Sunlight reflected off the pavement as Lily made her way to a hotel lobby. It was noon on a Saturday. She shook with nerves.

She was a 20-year-old Texas State student with no job. The financial burden of college had begun to take a toll and she needed money.

Recently, one of Lily's friends had made an account on a mutually beneficial arrangement site: a dating site that connects sugar babies to sugar daddies or sugar mommas.

According to Merriam Webster, sugar daddies are older men who support or spend lavishly on a mistress, girlfriend or boyfriend.

Lily's friend made $700 after only having lunch with an older man. Lily liked the idea of getting easy money and was quick to sign up.

Lily was meeting face-to-face with the 50-year-old man she had met on an arrangement site. Lily and her suitor had been texting for a few days about each other's interests and their arrangement. He said he would pay her $200 after they spent some time together. She managed to negotiate for $300.

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Texas State to participate in Microsoftsponsored business pitching competition

By Abby Gutierrez News Contributor Microsoft selected Texas State as one of four universities to hold a businesspitching event to help grow San Marcos' economy.

Microsoft, along with Net Impact, a nonprofit organization that promotes using business skills to promote social and environmental causes, will host the

Community Impact Pitch-Off Nov. 30 at the McCoy School of Business.

Texas State's Net Impact chapter, McCoy College Bobcat Net Impact, will compete in a pitch-off event where students and community members are invited to pitch business ideas. Arizona State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Iowa were also chosen to host the event.

Texas State was the only university

chosen not in a state capital.

Teams of two to five participants must submit a proposal idea of 300 words maximum by Oct. 31 based on one of four prompts: extending environmental sustainability, bridging the digital divide, expanding access to digital skills or engaging community stakeholder.

Net Impact will select 10 finalists Nov. 3 to compete in the Nov. 30 live pitchoff event. The week after the finalists are

chosen, they will gain access to virtual and live feedback from Microsoft experts through a webinar, as well as the opportunity to pitch their idea in front of a professional Microsoft judging panel. The winning team of the pitchoff event will receive $1,000 in prize money and $5,000 seed money to help implement their idea in San Marcos.

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NEWS Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487

Editors Editor-in-Chief: Carrington Tatum, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor: Sawyer Click, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Associate Managing Editor: Bayley Bogus, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu News Editor: Sandra Sadek, starnews@txstate.edu Life & Arts Editor: Diana Furman, lifeandarts@txstate.edu Opinions Editor: Zach Ienatsch, staropinion@txstate.edu Sports Editor: Jakob Rodriguez, starsports@txstate.edu Design Editor: Gloria Rivera, stardesign@txstate.edu Multimedia Editor: Cameron Hubbard, starmultimedia@txstate.edu Engagement Editor: Tyler Hernandez, starsengagement@txstate.edu

Advertising Staff Account Executive: Katy Goerss starad3@txstate.edu Account Executive: Carmel Lujan starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive: Jazmine Barrios starad1@txstate.edu Account Executive: Mykl Miller. starad2@txstate.edu

Full-Time Staff Director: Laura Krantz, laurakrantz@txstate.edu Media Specialist: Dillan Thomson, thomson@txstate.edu Student Publications Cordinator: Mayra Mejia, mm1894@txstate.edu

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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, October 30, 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.

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2 | Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Sandra Sadek | News Editor

The University Star

RIVER ALLOCATION

San Marcos begins Blanco River flood control designs

By Christopher Green Senior News Reporter The city of San Marcos recently received a $34 million allocation fund from the U.S. Housing Urban Development Disaster Recovery to begin infrastructure repairs along the Blanco River.

The Blanco Riverine Flood Mitigation Project aims to prevent flooding, erosion and environmental impacts along the Blanco River. According to City Council, formal preliminary designs need to be done by 2019 with the design finalized by 2020. Construction is projected to begin between late 2020 and early 2021, with a projected completion date by December 2022.

Laurie Moyer, director of engineering and capital improvement for the city of San Marcos, said the project may impact residents living near the affected area, which is expected to go through some privately-owned properties along and near River Road in the Blanco Gardens area.

“As part of the bank improvements, there are properties that we will have to acquire in order to construct this, so it may be portions of properties or full takings,” Moyer said. “The council has directed us in the workshop to try to minimize those property acquisitions.”

Moyer said some residents will be able to sell their properties to the city as a part of the project, but the city doesn't

know how much property will need to be taken under acquisition.

“There are some folks who understand it and will be willing to sell to the city,” Moyer said. “I don’t have a count in term of the number of properties that we will have to be acquired because we’re still trying to determine how to do the bank improvements.”

Half Associates, a consulting firm providing full-service engineering architecture and other related services, is advising the city for the project, according to Half Associates project manager Eric Ratzman.

“We just do the design side," Ratzman said. "The process is to go through preliminary engineering through the first quarter of next year and then do an environmental assessment that we hope to get approved middle of next year by the Housing Urban Development, so there will be review agencies for (the environmental impacts). After we get approval next year, we could begin design and clearance for the project and the actual construction would be bid to a construction company.”

Ratzman said Halff is working with the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development and Cox McClain Environmental, an environmental consulting firm specialized in National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and state antiquities code compliance, to look at

environmental impacts the construction could have on the river.

“We’ll have an environmental team to do some of the analysis for threatened or endangered species or waters of the U.S. or cultural and historic resources for hazardous materials," Ratzman said.

"There’s a whole gamut of different things they’ll analyze in respect to our project and how we might affect any of those resources.”

Halff Associates requested an additional $14 million in funding for land acquisitions from City Council during a staff presentation. Councilwoman Lisa Prewitt questioned the request, given the $34 million already allotted.

“The $14 million you guys are proposing does not include land acquisition?" Prewitt said. "How much room do we have with the $34 million that we have? Do we have enough to go past that $14 million and stay within the Community Development Block Grant?”

Ratzman said the additional $14 million includes an estimate of the land acquisition, which he said is highly variable, and the number errs on the side of caution.

Moyer said the city may have to apply for additional funds from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery to further economically support the project.

FROM FRONT VOTING After the Commissioners Court deliberation, a unanimous vote concluded the early voting hours would be extended at Precinct 1, 3 and 4, which includes the on-campus LBJ Student Center polling place. All precincts received two extra early voting opportunities. Polling locations will be re-open Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In response to a high student turnout, democratic candidates originally urged Hays County commissioners to extend early voting days at Texas State by sending a letter to the commission asking for extended days and hours from Oct. 30 through Nov. 2, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

After the letter from democratic candidates was sent, an email screenshot from North Hays GOP President Wally Kinney was released on social media asking Hays County Republicans to oppose the extension of early voting on campus.

"To change the schedule in the middle of the election is in my opinion wrong," Kinney said in an email statement.

"Since there was no apparent emergency, I urged my colleagues to oppose this change. Therefore not only is there no voter suppression but there is more than ample opportunities for people in Hays County to vote – especially students who have much more flexible schedules than those voters who work 8 to 5.”

In a letter to the court, Texas Civil Rights Project stated they would file a lawsuit if the on-campus polling location was not re-opened for all early voting days, which lasts from Oct. 22 through Nov. 2. The letter stated the court had until noon Oct. 26 to make the changes or a lawsuit would be filed.

Precinct Three Commissioner and Republican incumbent candidate Lon Shell said voter suppression was a misunderstanding. Shell said the polling

Commissioners Lon Shell and Ray Whisenant return Oct. 26 from executive session and take their seats.

PHOTO BY KAITI EVANS

locations were set in early August and gave an allotted amount of days and times for early voting. Due to the potential lawsuit and over 1,000 emails the court received, Shell said he hopes to amend the limitations for the polling location on Texas State’s campus.

“We have had a massive response, obviously, and an amazing turnout of a lot of registration toward the end of the registration period,” Shell said. “You know, the voting we’ve seen across the county is very exciting. I spent two days on campus during early voting talking to students and it’s amazing how engaged they are and how concerned they are.”

San Marcos resident David Crowell attended the meeting and asked if he could address the court but was denied as the court went into executive session without public comment. Once the commissioners had gone into executive

session, Crowell stood up and delivered his speech on the Commissioners Court’s duty to provide voting opportunities.

“There may be some effort afoot to not have students to vote,” Crowell said. “It is kind of coincidental, I believe, that we have a Commissioner’s Court here that is four Republicans and one Democrat.”

Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe said the commissioners made an appropriate decision.

“Well, we provided it for the entire county, so we just hope everyone goes out and votes,” Ingalsbe said.

For more information about when and where to vote at Texas State, visit their voter registration and information website.

innovation we’re doing all throughout the campus,” Hale said. “We at Texas State have the opportunity to deal with the entrepreneurs and residents but also in cross-cooperation with other colleges around campus.”

Nikita Demidov, finance senior and event coordinator, is in charge of spreading the word across campus and the San Marcos area, inviting students of all majors to submit an idea.

“The challenge specifically addresses the community because it is super important for us as a huge university to give something back to San Marcos and the people around us,” Demidov said.

“In simple terms, if you have an idea of how to build a business and at the same time find how it benefits the community around it, that’s what they ask you to

pitch.”

Cedrik Chavez, digital media innovation junior, is helping plan the event and is submitting a proposal idea with his team.

“We have been reaching out to people locally and to the community like the Food Bank (and) the City of San Marcos (to) find out an actual problem that’s in the community, so we’re not just solving something that doesn’t need to be solved,” Chavez said.

Students can submit a proposal to the competition until Oct. 31 by applying through the website: https:// www.netimpact.org/programs/2019Microsoft-Application.

For more information, contact Janet Hale at jh29@txstate.edu.

News Editor Sandra Sadek contributed to this story.

FROM FRONT BUSINESS Janet Hale, finance and economics senior lecturer and the McCoy College Bobcat Net Impact adviser, said it is an honor to be selected by Microsoft despite not having a Microsoft Azure Datacenter, which the other selected universities have. McCoy College Bobcat Net Impact has been chosen as the winning undergraduate chapter of the year three times in the last seven years, including in 2017.

Hale said having the event on campus is an opportunity for Texas State to show the world what the university can accomplish.

“Being one of the four campuses in the United States selected, this gives us the opportunity to showcase what Texas State is doing as an emerging research institution and looking at the

Tuesday, October 30, 2018 | 3

The University Star

COMMUNITY

Texas State Jewish community remains strong after anti-Semitic flyers One year after the “blood and soil” flyers, Jewish students see little change.

By Hannah Wisterman News Contributor

In March 2017, Texas State's Jewish community woke up to white supremacist and anti-Semitic propaganda plastered on campus. In the aftermath of the flyer's rally against the community, they face isolation and negligence.

The Swastika-laden flyers, taped to the columns outside of the Alkek Library, stated, “White man, are you sick and tired of the Jews destroying your country through mass immigration and degeneracy? Join us in the struggle for global white supremacy (...)”

It wasn't the first white supremacist messaging found on campus, as Patriot Front and other white supremacist organizations have circulated antiMuslim, anti-black, anti-immigration and anti-liberal agenda flyers since the November 2016 election of President Donald Trump. As recently as October 2018, white supremacist propaganda has been found on campus.

The March 2017 incident, however, marked the first affront to the Jewish community at Texas State. Katie Cohn, consumer affairs senior, said although she knew anti-Semitism existed, it was shocking to face it on campus.

“It doesn't necessarily surprise me that that's an attitude that people

have,” Cohn said. “The posters were surprising because that was a very big expression written on paper in black and white.”

University President Denise Trauth did not immediately publicly respond to the March incident but did meet with Keely Freund, political science junior, and other members from Jewish Bobcats, an on-campus organization for Jewish students, after white supremacists posted a white nationalist banner over Alkek Library stating “America is a white nation."

“We did talk to Trauth after the big banner incident on Alkek, and it was kind of disappointing because her response was like, ‘These are people probably not at school. They came here. There’s not much we can do about it,’” Freund said.

Trauth’s lack of action mirrors a larger history of silence by the Texas State community, including on-campus student organizations. Talya Morris, political science senior, said though she feels like most Jewish students identify as politically left-leaning, there isn't much support from political peers, leaving the group in a state of limbo.

“What are people doing? Nothing,” Morris said. “You don’t feel like anyone has your side. The flyers were put up by the alt-right, but you can’t really turn to liberals. Who is really saying that anti-Semitism is alive other than

Jews?”

According to 2013 Brandeis University data, it is estimated there are 7,600 Jewish people in Travis and Hays county combined. Because of the small Jewish population in the area, most Jewish students believe their demographic is more or less forgotten by their peers and community.

“What are people doing?

Nothing. You don’t feel like anyone has your side".

– Talya Morris

“The number of times I’ve had people say, ‘Wow, I’ve never met a Jewish person before,’ and you’d think they’d discovered a unicorn,” Morris said. “(The) follow up is, ‘You don’t look Jewish.’ I usually go off: ‘By Hitler’s standards? Eugenics? What am I not meeting?’”

Morris isn’t alone in feeling ostracized. Cohn said students’ reaction to the anti-Semitic fliers was perhaps unintentionally hurtful to those who were personally targeted.

“I don't think the majority of people on this campus inherently agreed with those attitudes or anti-Semitic opinions or beliefs, but it's kind of sad to see people walking by looking at it kind of as like a spectacle,” Cohn said.

“They didn't take it down and I don't know why that is.”

Cohn said only Jewish students voice their concerns when anti-Semitic incidents occur. She encourages other students to defend their Jewish peers as well.

“We're always welcoming other people to step up and say something,” Cohn said. “I think sometimes people are like, ‘That's not my place.’ But more than likely, we're going to appreciate the effort.”

Students interested in joining Jewish Bobcats can sign up for a community email through the website: www. jewishsmtx.com.

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LIFE & ARTS

4 | Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Diana Furman | Life & Arts Editor

The University Star

DATING VIOLENCE

Dating Violence Awareness Month addresses lasting issue

Domestic violence awareness pins were given out Oct. 25 at the Red Flags and Relationships event, hosted by Men Against Violence.

PHOTO COURTESY BY MEN AGAINST VIOLENCE

By Ivy Sandoval Life & Arts Contributor Spooky season may have arrived, but the fear of domestic violence is no joke. October is Dating Violence Awareness Month, providing a platform for the community to discuss the reality of dating violence.

The legal definition of dating violence is any behavior that is considered physical, mental or emotional abuse, and is done in a romantic or intimate relationship.

It is important to be aware of the signs of dating violence. Isolation, jealousy or a relationship moving too quickly are potential red flags. If a person is in love or has a strong connection to the abuser, the relationship becomes even more difficult to leave.

Kelsey Banton, Student Health Center health promotion specialist, is a peer education group advisor for Men Against Violence. She said the organization focuses on conversations about domestic violence and ways to challenge it.

“There are multiple avenues in which we try to (challenge and prevent violence), like holding weekly meetings, tabling at outreach events, usually in The Quad and training officers to do presentations centered around sexual violence, hate crimes and dating violence,” Banton said. “We talk about issues at an individual level, but also within our

communities and on campus.”

The most recent MAV event, Red Flags and Relationships, discussed red flags in dating, relationships and violence.

In The Quad on Oct. 25, MAV provided red flags with written examples of unhealthy or abusive aspects of relationships. Students were able to look through them or create their own to find one that resonates with them.

They then wrote a message to help challenge the idea and rid normalizing the abusive behavior.

Meetings for MAV are held every Monday at 5:15 p.m. in room 202 of the Student Health Center.

Melissa Rodriguez, Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center director of community partnerships, said resources like the Women’s Center can help and educate friends and family of dating violence victims who may be in denial or afraid to speak up.

“Our mission is to provide education, violence prevention services, shelter, counseling and crisis intervention to victims of family violence, dating violence, sexual assault and child abuse,” Rodriguez said. “The best thing for a friend or family member (to do) is just be there for them. Let them know you’re there if and when they are ready.”

"Bringing awareness to the issue can help victims who may be too afraid to speak."

- Madison Williams

A lot of challenges with getting out of abusive relationships is the fact that the victim is made to think they are dependent on their partner, causing a power and control dynamic. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, people tend to go back to abusive relationships seven times. The reality of trying to successfully leave a bad situation is difficult.

Otto Glenewinkel, Texas State police officer and crime prevention chief, said there are ways to increase awareness about dating violence.

“I definitely don't think there are enough support groups to help victims or survivors," Glenewinkel said. "A lot of people may see something happening but won’t say anything. It’s tough to step up. In today’s society, it’s seen as socially acceptable. We should come together to change that. Step up, step in or call the police.”

Although October may be ending, dating violence is a year-round problem. Bringing awareness to the issue can help victims who may be too afraid to speak.

For resources, contact the Texas State Counseling Center at 512.245.2208 or HCWC 24-hour hotline: 512.396.HELP.

HALLOWEEN

Root Cellar hosts Halloween celebration for witches

By Ryan Torres Life & Arts Contributor San Marcos' Root Cellar Bakery & Catering Co. invites the community to enjoy spooky activities to celebrate witchery in San Marcos.

"Witch What?! Halloween Party!" will be hosted at the Root Cellar Bakery for the first time Wednesday Oct. 31., Halloween night.

The event celebrates the history of witchery that San Marcos is well known for. The party is going to be a ticketed event where attendees can learn all about the spine-chilling era, circa 1682 to 1691, when witches in San Marcos were said to be at their prime.

Ashley Miller, manager and cake designer, came up with the idea to host the witchy party to capture the Halloween season.

"I've always had an interest in witches and their spiritual practices, so I thought it'd be a great, fun way to show people their own city's spooky past," Miller said.

The party will include a stations where guests can create their own sage bundles or smudges to help cleanse any dark

Austin. The readings can be done for creative problem-solving to learn about what influences someone's spiritual life the most.

A variety of Halloween treats will be available to those that are interested in attending the party, from caramel apples to a popcorn bar. The bakery will provide some its own decedent creations. There will be festive, witchy cocktails offered for the adults.

The final event taking place will be a Halloween costume contest. Those who want to compete against others with their most creative costume ideas will be chosen as the crowd favorite and will win a gift card.

The Halloween event is full of fun activities for anyone in the San Marcos community. From 7-10 p.m. Oct. 31., the Root Cellar Bakery encourages everyone to come and enjoy a witchy night like no other. The event will be Root Cellar Bakery brings community together with seasonal social evnts. hosted at The Root Cellar Bakery & PHOTO BY CAMERON HUBBARD Catering Co. located at 142 N LBJ Dr. This event is ticketed at $30 energy from life or at home. A booth ran at the Root Cellar Bakery. admission. Tickets can be found online by the bakery will also give people the Personalized tarot card readings will at Eventbrite or can be purchased at the chance to make herbal teas of any sort be done by Carly Fischer, an official door the night of the event. will also be present with what's provided psychic from Sight Sound Tarot in

The University Star

Diana Furman | Life & Arts Editor

Tuesday, October 30, 2018 | 5

FROM FRONT SUGAR Her boyfriend at the time had no idea, and it was not something she wanted to tell him.

So there she was in a hotel room, having a conversation with a man more than twice her age and feeling guilty.

Eventually, the older man started groping her. She tried to push back, to keep her dignity, but he gave her a look.

It was a look that said, “I'm paying you to do this.”

Her thoughts were rolling down a steep hill, picking up momentum and fervor. Lily knew she had signed up for this. She felt like there was no other option.

The man proceeded to take off her clothes and she did not resist. She decided to let go. She needed the money.

His vascular, large hands scaled her body. He touched her while she lay mute. She knew what was next to come.

With every ounce of her will, she stopped him from penetrating her.

She had endured all she could before hitting her breaking point.

"I have a babysitting job I have to get to," Lily said, lying. She needed any excuse to free herself from him.

He handed her the money and she left.

For months, she felt sick to her stomach thinking about that night, she she said she did not like herself. His hungry hands on her body filled her with guilt and shame. She had cheated on her boyfriend, and she had let that stranger violate her. All for money.

Eventually, she came to terms with what she did to move on. It has been three years since she signed up for the arrangement site. She had two other encounters with older men after that day.

“I think I expected something other than reality, that I was going to get to meet a super nice, handsome, older man with a lot of money that’s respectful," Lily said. "But no, that’s not the kind of people who get on these sites."

More than 800 Texas State students are reportedly active on Seeking Arrangement, according to the site’s Sugar Baby University. From Seeking Arrangement's latest data from 2018, Texas State ranked seventh among universities with the highest number of sugar babies in the U.S. It is one of two

Texas universities to make the top ten list, the other being University of Texas at Austin.

Seeking Arrangement states women outnumber men on the website. The average age for sugar daddies is 40, and the average age for sugar babies is 25.

Approximately 2% of adult females in the U.S. are sugar babies, and the average monthly allowance is $2,200.

Seeking Arrangement's terms and conditions prohibits unlawful use of the site including escorting, prostitution and human trafficking. The website does not conduct background checks on its users although users can go through a third party to do so, resulting in a Background Verified badge on their profile. Seeking Arrangement does not assume responsibility for the conduct of users or the risk involved.

On arrangement sites, students are able to find a sugar daddy or momma to pay a set amount or allowance for the entertainment the man or woman wants.

Students involved on this site all face a similar dilemma: how far am I willing to go for money?

While Lily's experience on Seeking Arrangement was negative, others seem to find more success. Oddly enough, one student unexpectedly found love.

Emily Eiben, fashion merchandising sophomore, said she wanted to be a sugar baby since watching a documentary about sugar babies when she was 16.

She thought it was a practical thing to do. On her 18th birthday, she made an account on an arrangement site. She said she saw it as a business decision more than anything else.

On these sites, sugar daddies and mommas can put their net worth on their account. This played a big role for Eiben, who knew what she wanted. She was only there to talk to men worth her time. Her standards for a sugar daddy included a likable personality, had to be a single man and could not be over her parent's age.

She has had four arrangements. She said there are a multitude of relationship negotiations such as weekly allowances, "pay to play, which means if you have sex you get paid," and payment for attending events. “(Arrangement sites) are definitely frowned upon in society, but it’s my

STAR FILE PHOTO

choice," Eiben said. "I’m going to have sex anyway, so it’s just a plus I’m getting paid. It was never a scandalous thing for me, it was just practical."

About a year ago, she started a sugar relationship with her now current boyfriend.

She made all the wrong decisions the first time she met him. She went to his apartment alone and spent the night.

Neither had gone on the site for love, she had just started college and he had just gotten out of an engagement. He was looking for a young woman to hang out with and she was looking for a man who could give her a more luxurious lifestyle.

Their arrangement was $200-$300 for every encounter. Their interactions usually involved hanging out at his place and having sex. Additionally, he would help her out financially with separate expenses like groceries or manicures.

Both parties enjoyed each others company, and she started meeting his friends and growing more involved with his life. Eiben said even she has trouble understanding and explaining how it happened, but somewhere along the way, they developed feelings beyond friendship and lust.

and we went from this very black and white, 'just sex' kind of friendship, to something more,” Eiben said.

She has been with her wealthy, 41-year-old boyfriend for seven months exclusively. He still helps her out monetarily, but she no longer considers it a business transaction.

Jessica Stebbins, licensed marriage and family therapist, said she has worked with young women who have been sugar babies. "(Being a sugar baby) can have the same or similar emotional impact as prostitution," Stebbins said. "There's a lot of shame. Feeling that they have put themselves in that position, not feeling respected and worthy, they start to feel all they have to offer is their body or the aspects the sugar daddy likes them for."

She said she has only witnessed the negative impacts sugar babies experienced due to her line of work, but she has encountered women online who have had positive experiences.

Arrangement sites may not be for everyone. They can provide an array of experiences, be it positive or negative.

Those considering these sites should take proper precautions in regards to their personal safety.

“Suddenly the switch just flipped

DAY OF THE DEAD

Students honor loved ones during Día de los Muertos

By Mena Yasmine Life & Arts Contributor Throughout the month of October, students have the opportunity to honor friends and loved ones who have passed away through a Day of the Dead alter.

The alter is an ode to Latinx culture and the commemorative holiday, Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos. The holiday lasts three days, beginning Oct. 31 and ending Nov. 2.

Michelle Sotolongo, Honors College student development specialist, said she and a friend decided to put up the alter ten years ago when she was an undergraduate. She said they made the alter because she did not see much of her culture represented on campus.

"We decided to set up an alter using our own private skull collections and different things we had," Sotolongo said. "My friend's mom even sent us some stuff from Mexico to add to it, like actual sugar skulls and things like that."

Sotolongo said the alter is a tribute to

The Day of the Dead alter on display Oct. 25 in Honors College.

PHOTO BY MENA YASMINE

her ancestors, heritage and loved ones who have passed away. "(The alter) is a way of just commemorating our connection to them and our experiences," Sotolongo said.

Sotolongo said the belief is that loved

ones come back to visit the human realm on Earth during Día de los Muertos.

Items like marigold flowers, candles and food are used as guides for the spirits.

"It's more of a celebratory tradition rather than one of mourning," Sotolongo said. "It's definitely not

Halloween, even though many seem to conflate the two."

Cherokee Barnett, psychology freshman, said there are not a lot of things representing Latinx culture on campus, and he is glad to have the alter.

"While I've been here, I've had more friends ask me about (the alter) and what it means, and that's a good thing," Barnett said.

Mark Chávez, graduate student, said he thinks it is important a Hispanic Serving Institution allows students the opportunity to celebrate their heritage.

"Having an alter really allows students to have that outlet in which they can express themselves and honor their loved ones," Chávez said. "Losing a loved one is such a common thing for students their first year, so it's a really nice thing they've done for us."

The alter will be located on the 4th floor of Lampasas through the remainder of October and until Nov. 2.

Students are encouraged to contribute to the alter to honor their friends and loved ones.

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Riley lost a substantial amount of weight during his recovery from his opiod addication.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RILEY LAREN

I took opioids for five years. I just could not get clean because it's got this grasp on you. The hardest part about getting clean for me was the longevity of it. Like, you'll be sick for two weeks and for no good reason. You just have to wake up with it and deal with it everyday and your brain literally feels fried. Seriously, like scrambled eggs or something. You can look up all the symptoms for opioid withdrawal; I had basically all of them besides nausea. The worst symptom was that scrambled-egg-head feeling. I get cravings just like everyone else, but I've already wasted five years of my life. I don't plan on doing it again. Now, I still feel a little scrambled, but I'm back to the real world. Well, the civil world. I am seeing a therapist and it's actually really working out and he's pretty cool. We're trying to get my life pointed in a direction, any direction, instead of being stagnant.

I feel free, and that's the most important thing, like it really is the most important thing to me. I couldn't have gotten in my car and spontaneously driven somewhere because of the grip of those drugs, but now, I can. I can really do that. I can get in my car right now and drive to Mexico and not be sick. The freedom is what drives me now.

I'm unbound, unshackled, unchained."

-Riley Laren, San Marcos resident

OPINIONS

6 | Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Zach Ienatsch | Opinions Editor

The University Star

Campus early voting resources insufficient for midterm turnout Editor's note: Since the initial online posting of this Main Point on Thursday, Oct. 25, students, faculty and candidates voiced their concerns to the county and received a preferable answer. The Hays County Commissioners' Court voted last Friday to extend the temporary early voting location on campus to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

on Nov. 1 and 2.

The County Commissioners have also included an Election Day polling place on campus for the voting precinct which contains on-campus dorms.

Previously, this precinct's polling place was off-campus.

Several candidates have also funded a free shuttle to take students to vote at

the Hays County Government Center, which is open to early voting every day until Nov. 2.

The editorial board approves of all of these measures and believes it will help facilitate voter turnout, alleviate the issues with polling from the previous week and ultimately better represent San Marcos in the Texas

State Government, Hays County, San Marcos local government and U.S. Congress.

The rest of the Main Point is presented as it appeared online Thursday, Oct. 25, prior to the changes in policy.

Texas State served as an early voting location from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 22 to Wednesday, Oct. 24—a mere three days. During these days, students, staff and faculty cast more than 1,000 ballots per day and waited nearly two hours at times for the privilege.

The amount of time allotted was not sufficient for the voter turnout in this election. The polling place in the LBJ Student Center experienced more votes in a three day period than most other polling places in Hays County experience in the entirety of early voting, which lasts two weeks. If any polling place should operate for a full two weeks, it should be the institution with a student enrollment of nearly 40,000 and a sizable faculty as well.

When wait times are long, voters are more likely to be disheartened.

During this three day period, students and faculty alike have class, work, meetings and a commute. A break

between classes may not be enough to cast a ballot if wait times are exceeding an hour or more. Younger students on campus are exceptionally vulnerable to this because if the three days allotted are packed and the chance to vote in the congested student center polls passes, transportation to the other polling places is dubious at best. Not every student has a car and the campus buses do not have routes to the polls.

The location of the polls in the LBJ Student Center is made difficult by the construction. Fewer entrances and complicated walking paths make it harder for students to find the polling area. Compounded with cold and rainy weather, it's understandable why some potential voters would postpone their duty if they can't physically get there.

Thankfully, failing to turn up to the polls is not the problem this year. In the past, the current setup was acceptable because student voter turnout was manageable. However, a

record amount of Bobcats are registered to vote and turned out to the polls to exercise their civic duty. What was once good enough for campus early voting is not enough this year.

To remedy this, several public officials have called to extend campus early voting. Student Government Vice President Alison Castillo announced in an email last Wednesday that the situation was not sufficient and called on the county to extend the early voting days on campus, citing Student Government's commitment to fostering a civically engaged student body. Additionally, San Marcos City Council candidate Joca Marquez, U.S. House candidate Joseph Kopser and State Representative candidate Erin Zwiener have publicly endorsed extending campus early voting.

Extending campus early voting is not a huge feat in terms of resources and cost. The county could certainly make it happen if they wanted. If

public officials are calling for it and a student voter turnout lends legitimacy to the request, then the county has a responsibility to ensure more people can vote. To do otherwise is voter suppression.

To say what is happening is voter suppression is not just a conspiracy theory. North Hays County GOP President Wally Kinney urged constituents in an email to call County Commissioner Mark Jones and urge Jones to not extend the campus voting times because it would benefit Democrats.

"If we are to change the rules in the middle of the game, it favors Democrats and we sure don't want to do that in this—what is going to be—a close election as it is..." Kinney said.

The success of current early voting resources should not be dependent on a lackluster turnout or party affiliation.

Bobcats have committed to the ballot.

The county should too.

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.

RELATIONSHIPS

Sugar relationships are not deserving of their stigma

By Bayley Bogus Associate Managing Editor The “sugar relationship” culture is a controversial, touchy topic. This is partly because it is rarely understood unless from a firsthand experience.

A sugar relationship, be it with a sugar daddy or mama, is an exchange of “sugar” from each party. The sugar baby will come to an arrangement with the sugar daddy or mama in regards to what each person wants out of the relationship. Typically, the sugar daddy will provide financial assistance to the sugar baby in exchange to whatever the agreed transaction between the two people is. They can be intimate, extend to going on dates and trips or just spending time together. Each relationship is different depending on the people and the arrangement.

Seeking Arrangement, a popular site for sugar relationships, attracts about 10 million users, with more than half of users identifying sugar babies.

Tuition at Texas State, on average, can cost about $4,000 a semester. That amount of money can easily add up.

Often, students have to work multiple jobs and balance being a full-time student. However, by seeking the help of a wealthy benefactor, sugar babies get the financial support they need in order to live how they choose.

College students seeking out sugar relationships are on the rise. More than three million students have registered for an account on Seeking Arrangement, and if users use their student email address, they get access to a premium membership. According to Leroy Velasquez, from SeekingArrangement.com, Texas State is one of the fastest growing schools on the site. In 2017, about 850 sugar babies from the school had an account, which was a 30 percent increase from the year before.

Each year since, that number has grown and stabilized to about 100 new signups a year.

There are a lot of issues people have with this kind of relationship. Some may wonder, “why can’t that girl sup-

ILLUSTRATION BY CAMERON HUBBARD

port herself?” Or think the typical, common age gap between the two people is inappropriate. It is often believed these arrangements fall under the definition of prostitution. However, that is not the case. There is no guarantee money will be exchanged for sex. Each relationship is different and completely up to the parties involved.

Some may choose to be strictly platonic, while others might evolve into an actual romantic relationship.

The common thread between all sugar relationships is a consensual relationship between two adults. What two people do in the privacy of their homes and in the intimacy of their relationship is their business and not a sufficient reason for stigma or contempt.

Sugar relationships should be thought of as mutually beneficial, and a way to help each other out. It is no surprise the relationship between rising tuition and college students registering to be sugar babies seems to be positively correlated. Having to obtain a sugar

daddy should not reflect negatively on the sugar baby. Each woman who seeks out financial aid from a wealthier, more established person is not her cry for help. Everyone has different reasoning for being on a site that matches sugar babies to sugar daddies/mamas. Taking part in such arrangements should not only be destigmatized, but attempted to be better understood.

During the 2017-18 academic year, only 45 percent of students were able to finance college education on their own; 51 percent of students who could not finance it dropped out. If a sugar relationship is how a particular student finishes their education, this arrangement should be preferable to dropping out. Students who elect for this option should not feel shame for getting an education on their terms.

Sugar relationships are not inherently abusive or strange. The stigma surrounding these consensual exchanges is unbecoming. Many sugar relationships turn into stable, long term relation-

ships, including marriage. Instances where the arrangements become abusive is not the fault of the sugar component but because of the circumstances which make any relationship abusive.

The inclusion of a transaction is not to blame for this. Stigmatizing sugar babies would only heighten the threat of abuse and violence anyway because the individual would have fewer resources and less support to improve their situation if the relationship becomes abusive.

Students should not be looked down upon for doing what is necessary to survive and get an education. Even if the sugar relationship is a choice not born out of necessity, the individual is still deserving of respect. Autonomy to get paid on one's own terms is liberating and sugar relationships are just one of many ways to do just that.

- Bayley Bogus is a journalism junior

The University Star

Zach Ienatsch | Opinions Editor

Tuesday, October 30, 2018 | 7

MENTAL HEALTH

A more accommodating counseling center is beneficial to every student

By Max Foster Opinions Columnist Homework. Relationships. Clubs. A part-time job. Student loans. Planning for the future. These things and more race through the average college student's head. Learning how to become an adult, away from home, is no small task, especially in today's world. For many students, navigating their new lives can become a burden on their mental health.

The average age for mental illness onset is the early- to mid-20s, which is right around many students’ years in college. To address this, some students visit their school’s counseling centers.

In a poll conducted by the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors, 72 percent of students who sought counseling said that it had a positive effect on their academic performance. Additionally, the rate at which students are requesting to see counselors is going up.

With roughly 38,000 students, it would benefit Texas State if it had a larger counseling center. The Counseling Center is located on the top floor of the LBJ Student Center and houses 15 professional counselors and psychologists, as well as three post-doctorate residents and two doctoral interns, all of whom are qualified to provide counseling services for students. Individual sessions are roughly 45-50 minutes in

length, while group sessions can be longer. However, due to the sheer number of students requesting to meet with a counselor, students cannot attend more than 15 sessions during their entire enrollment at Texas State.

This could pose a problem to students who require more than that. A student may need counseling for a period of time during their freshman year, then again their junior or senior year. Over time, their sessions add up and they find that they can no longer receive counseling in their later years, possibly when they need it the most.

When students reach their session limit, they are then given access to resources off-campus, but these have to be paid for by the student. This is where it can become a struggle for Bobcats who can hardly find enough money for food, much less counseling.

Ideally, more students would have access to more counseling at Texas State, but the session limit is a barrier to this.

Perhaps the answer lies in growing the staff of the Counseling Center. The International Association of Counseling Services recommends one counselor for every 1500 students. Currently— including practicum trainees and one position listed as “TBD"—Texas State just barely misses the mark with this proportional allotment. Adding more counselors—even just one or two more—could assist in handling the large number of students requesting

ILLUSTRATION BY CAMERON HUBBARD

sessions.

This is easier said than done, as new professional hires will cost money. As of right now, funding for the Counseling Center comes, at least in part, from a fee called the Student Service Fee, which students pay each semester. The fee is $10 per credit hour that the student takes, but is capped at $90. If this cap was eliminated, the average student would pay roughly $60 more per semester. This increase in funds would go towards the Counseling Center, among other things. A single session at a pri-

vate counseling center can exceed this tuition increase, even with insurance.

The 15-session limit should be discussed and, with changes, removed.

Students receiving the treatment they need is only beneficial, especially when funded by the tuition they pay. With classes, money and the future weighing on Texas State Bobcats, access to mental health treatment should be a great priority for the university.

- Max Foster is an English sophomore

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.

Editor's note: The author of this letter has requested to remain anonymous due to the possible retaliation. Their identity has been verified by student editors in person and the contents of the letters have been fact checked several times over.

Dear Editor, Tuition costs are steadily rising.

So, students may wonder how their tuition dollars are spent. Given that the university’s mission statement declares its “dedication to excellence and innovation in teaching, research, including creative expression, and service…” it would be natural to think that it prioritizes the salaries of those most responsible for this mission.

It would be natural to assume that instructors’ pay reflects the advanced degrees they earned in order to land a position teaching at a university like Texas State. This would lead some to believe that their college instructors make substantially more than their high school teachers did.

Sadly, all of this is mistaken. As of 2018, about two thirds of all the teaching is done by people like me: non-tenure line (NTL) instructors, faculty members who are not eligible for tenure. We are part of an underclass in the ranks of university employees that are paid far less than tenure line faculty and have less confidence in our ongoing employment.

I write this letter anonymously because at the end of the academic year, the university could terminate my employment without cause, something they could never do to a tenure line faculty member. For example, many of us are paid thousands of dollars less than the average first year high school teacher in Texas, and without any scheduled salary increases that go with those teaching jobs. Nor is there any pathway for the promotion of NTL faculty to higher salary positions. To add insult to injury, our low salaries are not even protected against inflation.

Some of the lowest paid lecturers are

already living within a few thousand dollars of the poverty line. If steps are not taken soon to prioritize our salaries, then in a matter of years some could even fall below it.

You might think that we aren’t paid as much because we aren’t as qualified as the tenure line faculty. Yet, a large share of NTL faculty hired in the last decade have PhDs, meaning that we have received years of training after college to receive the highest degrees in our respective fields. Moreover, it’s not hard to find NTL faculty members who achieve more than their tenured colleagues on almost every measure of a professor’s performance. I have an NTL friend who teaches and researches at the level of his tenured colleagues.

Moreover, he does so even while teaching extra courses to provide for his three young kids, and he lives only on his pay from the university while his wife is finishing her education. By the way, they don’t even get a professional discount on the tuition she pays to Texas State University.

As a result, he teaches almost twice as many courses as his tenured colleagues, for about half of the pay. Why does the university pay him so little? It’s certainly not because of the quality of his work. It’s just because they can.

Universities around the country hand out many more PhDs than they used to and jobs at universities are harder to come by every year, so there are plenty of people like my friend lined up for universities to take advantage of.

The problem for students is this: as faculty salaries get lower and as their workload increases, the quality of teaching inevitably drops. The stress of making ends meet breaks the circuits that power our teaching. NTL faculty are even further demoralized when the university consistently treats us as some of the least valuable of its employees, even though we teach the lion’s share of course hours. The result is that student’s don’t learn as much or as well as they would from better supported faculty members. And this raises the

worry that the university is betraying the very students whose tuition dollars fund it. From the university’s mission statement and recruiting materials, students are led to believe that Texas State University values quality teaching.

From what I’ve said so far, its actions and words seem at odds.

So, if instructor salaries aren’t a guiding budget priority, then where are student tuition moneys going? Look around at all the construction work on campus: 20 million dollars this year are being spent on a new civil engineering program. 120 million dollars are being spent on Ingram hall, the new engineering building. More than 30 million dollars are going toward renovating a library that was already state of the art. Meanwhile, president Trauth has said that it is unlikely that the university can find the six million dollars for so-called “merit pool” increases that could help faculty salaries keep up with steadily increasing cost of living (e.g. more and more expensive housing in and around San Marcus).

Six million dollars may sound like a large sum, but it’s a mere drop in a 725 million dollar bucket. And it’s nothing compared to current and planned facilities expenses.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with the university seeking to better itself. We are cramped for space as it is, and new buildings will relieve that pressure. Some of the funding for these building projects are earmarked for that purpose specifically. Moreover, many of these projects are aimed at becoming a top-tier research university, like UT, A&M and Rice, which will ultimately increase external funding to the university. My worry is that the pace and prioritization of these improvements may be at the expense of student interests. Judging from the administration’s actions, it feels like they are paying only lip service to the university’s mission. Supporting the faculty and prioritizing our pay seems so essential to that mission that it should be a basic operating cost,

comparable to paying the university’s energy bill and keeping the lights on.

After all, what good would it be to build new buildings and power them if there weren’t anybody teaching and conducting research in them? None.

Whatsoever.

But this is not just about consistency with the university’s mission. Most of the university’s budget comes from students for the purpose of educating them. Consequently, the administration should explain the value, timing and necessity of these improvements to their primary stakeholders: their tuition-paying students, most of whom will still be paying off student loans decades from now. Will these exploits provide any real benefits to any of the student now shouldering the financial burden of these decisions? Must the building campaign be so aggressive that essential operating costs are neglected? Are cost of living salary increases (aka merit pool increases) really the only thing left to cut in order to balance the budget? I doubt it, and so should you.

The bottom line is this: if the university really is constructing new buildings and programs at the expense of supporting the faculty and improving student outcomes, it is betraying its mission and violating the trust of the students who pay for a quality education at Texas State. To me, it looks like that is exactly what is happening. What could restore my confidence in the administration?

Showing real support for its faculty and prioritizing their well-being. If it fails to do so, students suffer. They are less likely to acquire the skills they need. As a result, they are less equipped to compete in a job market that is increasingly difficult to enter; less poised to be flexible in the face of a dynamic, global economy. We all lose out if quality education is given second place to growth.

SPORTS

8 | Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Jakob Rodriguez | Sports Editor

The University Star

VOLLEYBALL

Leslie Romero wins individual Sun Belt Championship MOBILE, Ala. – Texas State Women’s Cross Country shined Saturday as junior Leslie Romero set records and won the individual Sun Belt Junior Leslie Romero Championship.

Romero is PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE the first woman to win the ATHLETICS individual title for Texas State since 1994. Romero crossed the finish line at 17:23.0. The time was the second fastest in school history. Romero is the third Bobcat to earn the All-Sun Belt First Team honors.

Texas State, as a team, came in second place in the 5K championship, scoring 46 points. The Bobcats were just one point behind Appalachian State. The one-point margin for the team championship tied for the closest in the history of the Sun Belt Conference.

Redshirt junior Kendra Long placed sixth with a time of 17:49.9, which is the sixth best in the program’s history.

In the men’s 8K, redshirt senior Joseph Meade earned First Team accolades.

Finishing in fifth place, Meade crossed the finish line at 25:01.0. This is the third year in a row he has been an allconference performer.

The men placed fifth on Saturday, with a total of 104 points. University of Texas at Arlington finished in first with 66 points. Next up, the Cross-Country teams go into the NCAA South Central Region Nov. 9 in College Station.

Texas State earns two wins and a tie in weekend series

By Anthony Flores Sports Reporter Texas State softball picked up two wins and a tie over the weekend, facing off against three different teams.

The Bobcats dominated the St. Edwards University Softball Head Coach Hilltoppers 6-1 Ricci Woodard in the first game PHOTO COURTESY of the series.

OF TEXAS STATE Senior outfielder ATHLETICS Mari Cranek led the Bobcats' offense with two hits in three plate appearances, a run and a stolen base.

The Bobcats carried the first win's momentum into Saturday's double header matchup against the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners and the Texas A&M International Dustdevils.

Against UTSA, Texas State picked up a 4-1 win, in part thanks to junior infielder Hailey MacKay, who blasted a three-run homer, bringing home Cranek and freshman infielder Tara Oltman for the three-run score. Sophomore infielder Baliee Carter squeezed the fourth and final run of the game. Sophomore ace Meagan King pitched the whole game, allowing six hits but only one run.

The third game of the series turned into a defensive showdown against the Dustdevils. Texas State’s sole score of the game came without recording a single hit. Freshman outfielder Christiana McDowell earned a fielder’s choice, bringing home freshman infielder ArieAnn Bell.

The Bobcats ended the game with a 1-1 tie, marking them at 4-0-1 for the fall ball record.

Despite the tie, head softball coach Ricci Woodard said she views the fall season's moments as learning experiences and chances to grow for her team.

“Our double header gave us a chance to see how our athletes can handle a double header and the ebbs and flows of the game,” Woodard said. “A lot of players got a chance to get experience in game situations. That experience is what the fall is all about.”

Next, softball faces the Incarnate Word Cardinals Nov. 2 at the Bobcat Softball Stadium.

Bobcats crowned regular season champions

Texas State Volleyball celebrates their 17th consecutive win Oct. 28 and regular season championship.

PHOTO BY JACOB SOMMERS

By Jacob Sommers Sports Reporter Following Texas State soccer's championship win last week, Strahan Arena got it's own taste of ring season as volleyball claimed the Sun Belt Regular Season Championship over the University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks.

Players celebrated the 3-0 title win Sunday by displaying Ring Pops on their fingers to simulate a championship ring. Head coach Karen Chisum said it meant a lot to bring a championship to a school that she believed has long deserved one.

“I am a Bobcat through and through," Chisum said. "(This) means the world to me that all these people are here and we can do this for our program and our athletic department.

We are all family. I eat, sleep and will die a Bobcat.”

The season's success can be credited to upperclassmen who set high standards for younger players, which

raised the standard level of play for the team.

“We have a true all-around team," Chisum said. "We don’t have the same attack leader every night. You never know who's going to be leading us.”

According to an athletics department press release, the Sun Belt Conference has named freshman setter Emily DeWalt as Setter of the Week for the sixth time. Adding to her accolades, which are totaled at 11 now, Dewalt said the team came together over the weekend to further their win streak. Throughout the three quick sets, DeWalt had 51 assist, 18 digs, and three aces.

“At first we were hesitant because we thought (Lafayette was) going to give us (a loss)," Dewalt said. "We had nothing to lose so we came out of intermission with more energy and fought.”

The win against ULM on Sunday marked the 17th consecutive win overall and the 13th consecutive conference win for the team. The game, which coincided as senior day,

had senior middle blocker Madison Daigle stand out with nine kills, three blocks and two aces.

“It’s been a while since volleyball has won, so I’m just really excited that we could be the team to do it,” Daigle said. “All the fans here for senior night is really special to me and I'm going to miss it so much, but we still have a lot of volleyball yet to play.”

Texas State will be the No. 1 ranked team going into the Sun Belt Conference Championship, but Chisum said she is not worried about the team and the Sun Belt Tournament, and the team is ready for the NCAA Playoffs.

“Honestly I don’t think it will be that hard," Chisum said. "We are focused on NCAA playoffs. I think our RPI’s are high and I think we are getting recognized, but with that said I certainly do not want to fall back on a large bid."

The Bobcats will take their championship confidence and travel to Jonesboro, Arkansas, on Friday to face Arkansas State at 6:30 p.m.

did on Saturday."

In a 2015 Underdog Dynasty article reacting to San Marcos Daily Record beat reporter Joe Vozzelli’s leaked emails with Teis, the director blamed Texas State's losses on the lack of newer on-campus facilities and what he said to be too much of an emphasis on academics. Teis also said, "The media and fans could care less if you walk across the stage, they want you to walk across the end zone."

The #FireTeis movement has also pointed out that of the winning programs at Texas State, there were winning coaches already in place when Teis took the job. As a result, he has been able to “pad his stats” with coaches that he inherited, according to FireTeis.com/performance. The inherited coaches included the head coaches from baseball, volleyball and soccer, the three most-winning sports at Texas State.

In December 2015, a separate group of Bobcats made the Texas State Fans for Change GoFundMe, asking for $60,000 in donations to help promote the same idea as #FireTeis.

Specifically, the movement wanted to raise the money to have billboards, flyers and signs around San Marcos, along with money to help pay for an interim athletic director until Texas State hired a replacement. The campaign failed to raise a significant amount, falling almost $59,000 short.

Will Butler, a Texas State alumni and Bobcat football fan, said he pulled all his financial support to Texas State athletics because of the movement.

“I’ve revoked my donations, and I didn’t bother renewing my season tickets after moving to New Mexico," Butler said. "(It wasn’t) even remotely worth it. If Teis goes, I’m going to see who gets hired before renewing my donations. I don’t trust Dr. (Denise)

Trauth to get this right after keeping Larry (Teis) for this long.”

As the movement has gained traction over the last few weeks, members of the group have faced the university's repercussions to the demonstration.

Twitter user @O_omynsx, a Texas State alumni involved in the Fire Teis movement, was removed from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette home game Oct. 6 when he flashed a “Fire Teis” sign at the top of Bobcat Stadium.

“The only excuse given to me by UPD officer (Cathy Lea) Allen was, ‘because of my flag,’” @O_omynsx said. “When questioned what’s wrong with it, she stated, ‘flags are not allowed.’ I laughed at the comment and then she told me to get moving and (radioed) other UPD officers that she was going to escort me out.”

The way @O_omynsx was treated for his demonstration marked the fear many donors and supporters have of the athletics department.

“I've personally been threatened by people that are no longer in the (athletic department) for speaking out back in 2015,” @TXST_FireTeis said.

“It's just not right that, as a fan and donor, I have to worry about losing access just because I want to see my university succeed.”

Many Texas State donors and supporters use false names and burner accounts on Twitter to keep anonymity and still be able to talk about what they feel are shortcomings of the athletics department. Everyone interviewed for this article was at one time or is currently a donor or season ticket holder.

The University Star will continue to provide updates as they become available.

FROM FRONT ATHLETICS Teis has been Texas State’s athletic director since 2004. Prior, Teis was the director of athletic marketing at Texas Christian University for four years and the assistant director of New Mexico’s Lobo Club for three years before that.

Teis was unavailable for direct comment due to prior engagements and meetings with donors and members of the President's Cabinet.

However, he said he understood the fans' frustration.

“I get it, I am frustrated also," Teis said. "I don’t think anyone thought we would be 1-6 after (seven) games.

I would be worried if people did not care. It’s better to have passionate fans than no fans at all.”

At $325,000 a year, Teis' responsibility is to work with the athletics department and other areas on campus to make Texas State as successful as possible in NCAA compliance, academics, finances, competitiveness and "many other areas," according to Teis. However, this is not the only job of an athletic director, especially at a campus the size of Texas State. In addition, Teis is expected to be the front man and promotional director for Texas State and its athletic department as a whole.

In an email response to the Star, Teis stated the football team is under the most scrutiny and, while not fruitful at the moment, other programs within the athletic department are doing well.

"Last Sunday we celebrated a soccer championship," Teis stated.

"Yesterday, we celebrated a volleyball championship. I love and support all our coaches and student athletes.

Having said that, if football does not win, since that program has the most visibility, people get very frustrated.

We are hoping things continue to get better and we win more games like we

The University Star

Tuesday, October 30, 2018 | 10

BOBCAT TRIVIA 1. Who was the first Texas State Distinguished Alumnus in 1959 and the recipient of the first honorary doctorate in 1962? a. President Lyndon B. Johnson b. George Strait c. Randy Rogers d. Jesse C. Kellam

3. Which Texas State professor assembled the band for the university’s first sanctioned dance? a. Retta Murphy b. Jesse C. Kellam c. Retta Murphy d. Robert Tampke

2. In what year did Boko get his name? a. 1903 b. 1918 c. 1964 d. 1969

4. Which academic building was the campus library in 1960? a. Centennial b. Flowers Hall c. Old Main d. Evans Hall

ANSWERS FROM OCT. 23 1. What was the original color of the Old Main roof? a. Silver b. Maroon c. Brown d. Black 2. What year did the glass bottom boat tours begin of Spring Lake? a. 1930 b. 1918 c. 1923 d. 1947 3. Which Homecoming did Southwest Texas State Teachers College and the city of San Marcos honor Senator Lyndon Johnson with a dedicated “Lyndon Johnson Day?” a. Homecoming 1955 b. Homecoming 1964 c. Homecoming 1965 d. None of the above.

4. How do you pronounce Strahan? a. Stray-han b. Straw-hawn c. “Strand” without the “d” at the end. d. Stray-hen