DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 @universitystar | universitystar.com
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2018
LIFE & ARTS
NEWS City to introduce bike lanes and transportation improvements
SEE PAGE | 2
Texas State remembers the Night of Broken Glass
Volume 108, Issue 12
OPINIONS
SPORTS
Main Point: Greek Life on track to a better tomorrow
Basketball senior has professional dreams
SEE PAGE | 6
SEE PAGE | 5
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New coffeehouse offers CBD-infused cups of Joe By Peyton Emmele News Reporter
With a sign out front asking passersby to inquire within, a newly opened coffee shop offers CBD oil shots that bring about medical benefits. Lazydaze Counterculture & Coffeehouse, 718 E Hopkins St., offers the CBD-infused cups of Joe for medicinal purposes. CBD stands for Cannabidiol and is one out of over a hundred compounds found in cannabis. The shop offers shots of this oil to be added to your coffee for customers aged 18 and over. CBD is a compound in the hemp and cannabis plants but doesn't hold the same effects as THC, the principal psychoactive chemical of cannabis. Instead, this part of the plant is credited with helping many medical issues, including acne, insomnia, addiction and inflammation. Mark Huron, one of the owners of the shop, said he uses CBD most days to help with chronic back and neck pain from a past accident.
“(CBD) is totally different (than pain meds) because it works," Huron said. "I got hooked on pain meds, and I slowly weaned myself off but was still in pain. I lived with it for a long time.” The coffee shop is at the back of a connected vape shop which features other parts of their CBD line, including vape pens, edibles and even treats for your animals by the brands Infinite and Life's Balance. Though Lazydaze sells many other products, Loria said people come in mostly to try their CBDinfused coffee. Manager LaTisha Loria, daughter of one of the owners, said the business has been open since Oct. 1 but held the official opening Nov. 3. The coffee is self-served and guest have the option to ask for a three dollar CBD oil shot. According to Loria, CBD is clear with only a soft, earthy taste hardly decipherable from the taste of the coffee. Loria recommends CBD to be taken every day for the best results. Because of this, even with only being open for a month, the coffee shop gets regular
customers coming in daily for their morning coffee and shot. CBD, when bound to the vanilloid receptor, a human protein that regulates the metabolism, controls certain things such as pain perception and inflammation. This is the same receptor that would be triggered when eating a habanero pepper. Brandon Bateman, son of one of the owners and a regular CBD user, said he helped get the shop started. “I use CBD for stress, PTSD, insomnia, anger management if I feel like I'm overwhelmed it helps out with a calming effect,” Bateman said. “No one cares about our soldiers when they come back. I've had four or five friends kill themselves because the VA (Veterans Affairs) wouldn’t give them what they needed. I told them why don’t you try this and they try it and say that it changed everything, I don’t need my pills, I don’t need my prescription medication and that's what we’re trying to do, get off of pharmaceutical drugs.” Lazydaze Counterculture &
San Marcos hosts Veterans Day Parade
Workers at Lazydaze Counterculture & Coffeehouse engage in informative conversation Nov. 2 with a customer. PHOTO BY CHINEDU CHUKUKA
Coffeehouse is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m.
Texas State owns the biggest outdoor cadaver farm in the world By Keller Bradberry Life and Arts Reporter
PHOTOS BY JADEN EDISON & ZEPHANIE BATTLE
Human remains can be found in various states of decay across Freeman Ranch, dedicated to forensic anthropological research. The Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, otherwise known as FARF, is a 26-acre plot of land located at Freeman Ranch just Northwest of San Marcos. The ranch keeps human corpses outside in various conditions in order to document data, such as time of death and identification. The size of the facility makes it the largest outdoor decomposition facility in the world. Forensic Anthropologists study how factors like temperature, sun exposure, insects and microbial organisms interact with human decomposition. Because there are several variables involved in the breaking down process, the demand for a large database of research is high. FARF serves as a desirable research facility for students, law enforcement and researchers from all over the world. Cadavers in the field are subject to different controlled variables. Most remains will be placed in a cage to protect them from animals, but some will be left in the open to study the effects large scavengers have, like vultures. Daniel Wescott, Forensic Anthropology Center director, teaches a Forensic Anthropology Methods course to graduate students and a Human Osteology course to undergraduate students at Texas State. He is involved in researching ways to more accurately estimate the time passed between an individual’s death and discovery of the remains: the post mortem interval. SEE CADAVERS PAGE 4
Hughson elected as mayor, beats incumbent Thomaides By Sawyer Click Managing Editor Mayoral candidate Jane Hughson was elected as mayor of San Marcos Nov. 6, inching a 775-vote win over incumbent John Thomaides. Hughson won the election with 52.74 percent of the total vote, according to Hays County’s official records. Early voting records concluding Nov. 2 predicted Hughson’s win with a
6.22-percent lead. Hughson worked at Texas State University for 33 years before retiring in 2015 and has served four terms on City Council, where she is currently the Place 4 councilmember. Additionally, she has served on several policy committees, including the Capital Area Regional Transportation Planning Organization and the Central Texas Clean Air Coalition. “San Marcos has been on an upward trajectory,” Hughson said. “We’ve been in top 10 lists of all kind for retirement,
for having fun. We’re going to continue what we’ve been doing. We’re going to keep reaching for the sky.” Thomaides was elected as mayor in 2016 and had previously served five terms on City Council. He was unavailable for comment and held a private watch party. Thomaides’ platform focused on bringing in more businesses and protecting the San Marcos River. Similarly, Hughson ran on a platform centered around conserving the sensitive local environments and
lowering the poverty level in town through job creation. “We’re going to have quality jobs coming in,” Hughson said. “I want to ensure we don’t forget the residents that are in the low-to-moderate income level. Our Workforce Housing Committee is working to see how we can get more workforce housing here.” SEE ELECTION RECAP PAGE 2
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2 | Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Sandra Sadek | News Editor
The University Star
TRANSPORTATION
City to introduce bike lane and transportation improvements
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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, November 13, 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.
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Transportation Master Plan projects change Nov. 10 throughout San Marcos. PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN CURRAN
By Sawyer Click
Managing Editor & Christopher Green
Senior News Reporter
In an ongoing update to San Marcos' Transportation Master Plan, the city has made a move toward autonomous vehicles and paid parking, as well as building on the foundations of increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The original plan, created in 2004, centered around pedestrians and bicycles. Since then, the city has grown rapidly, adding over 18,000 residents in the past eight years alone. In correlation, bicycle lanes and several walkways have been added across the city. To ease arising traffic jams, the city proposed an update to the plan in 2014. The initial draft was released in March 2018. Since then, the city's Engineering and Capital Improvements Department has met with City Council and residents multiple times to receive critiques, including an Oct. 30 special City Council meeting dedicated to revising the plan. At the meeting, Mayor John Thomaides said the updates are critical to San Marcos' future. "Our City Council recognizes the future increased projections of traffic from (the) western part of Hays County and, without alternative roadways, the impact of that increased traffic on congestion within our city," Thomaides said. "It is the desire of this council to balance the needs for future mobility with the protection of these sensitive environmental features and areas." In early August, City Council directed the engineering department to revise several parts of the update to include a more focused list of goals and more modes of transportation. Senior project engineer Rohit Vij followed by including sections on the plan’s goals, community engagement, existing documents, surveys and City Council's recommendations. “We have updated the TMP process and included a section on what TMP does and how it was developed,” Vij said. “We have revised text to clarify existing vehicular performance analysis. Then we revised the code to provide more emphasis on multi-modal goals
and performance measures. Under recommendations, we added a new section where we talk about the goals and objectives of the performances of sustainable multi-modal performance measures for the next TMP update.” The plan has an immediate focus on improving and expanding the alreadyin-use thoroughfare bike and trail plans through proposed improvement. Construction is expected to begin in April or May and end in the summer. At an Oct. 18 open house, Vij said the city has been planning the project for two years but doesn't yet know who will do the contracting and construction. “Right now, the contract is open to the highest bidder, so it could be any local or state-level contractors who pick up the construction,” Vij said. The updated plan also included a section on autonomous vehicles, added by Vij following a City Council recommendation. Mayor John Thomaides said autonomous vehicles are positive for San Marcos and the engineers should reference Austin’s extensive plan on their implementation. Following, Councilwoman Lisa Prewitt said the city should look into the prospects of autonomous mass transit. “Previously, we didn’t mention anything in here about shuttles that might be autonomous, which might be what we see before we see mass singleuse autonomous vehicles,” Prewitt said. “I think the reason we even have the tiniest reference in this (updated plan) is that we didn’t even have it in here at all. We at least wanted to have a placeholder in our Transportation Master Plan for autonomous vehicles: single-use, mass transit, whatever that might be. This is our first stab at getting it in there.” Vij also said the improvements are necessary because of the faded bike lane stripes around town. “People who ride their bikes are having a hard time seeing where they need to be in order to maintain their position within the bike lanes," Vij said. Christopher Bishop, public information officer for the Texas Department of Transportation, handles the communications between the city and the Texas Department of Transportation. Bishop said TXDOT
is going to re-surface Guadalupe Street between University Drive and Grove Street. “As part of the arrangement we have with the city, we’re going to re-stripe the road, which currently has three lanes, down to two lanes," Bishop said. "The city is going to follow our part and they’re going to be adding bicycle lanes with a curb to separate bicycles and cars,” Bishop said. Bishop also said there will be construction done to benefit pedestrians who are walking, including better lighting and lampposts. According to Bishop, the City of San Marcos will fund the project. In the Oct. 30 special meeting, Councilmember Melissa Derrick said the engineers should consider implementing metered and license plate recognition parking for neighborhoods surrounding the San Marcos River to help mitigate the parking demands. City Manager Bert Lumbreras said paid parking has primarily been used for the downtown area, but its extension to parks could help generate revenue. “As much as I understand it, I think the focus is on the downtown area,” Lumbreras said. “When we start talking about areas of paid parking and designated residential parking districts, it could even extend to the parks. The way I view it, and coming in from other cities, like Austin for example, they do have parks that have designated paid parking areas. If we were to go that route, we can certainly consider it, but everything we’ve done with license plate recognition software to this point has just focused on the downtown area.” Stepheny Uresti, an interdisciplinary studies senior, said she walks around downtown and there should be improvements to the area because it could be beneficially safer for residents. She also said there is not a lot of parking and biking lanes and she has seen many hazards take place. “The sidewalk, I believe they could increase more areas where we can walk as in the street availability where you can walk,” Uresti said. “Very frequently, I see potential accidents.” Another public meeting will be held early next year, according to Vij.
should keep their eye on local seats. “I think local elections are more important than the national elections,” Inbody said. “Local elections include county commissioners, City Council, school boards. Those are the people who make decisions that really affect your daily life. Sure, national elections are important and I get that, but when you talk about the impact on daily lives, what the Senate and president do has an impact, but you don’t feel it directly. With these, you do.” In addition to the mayoral seat, several City Council seats were open. Incumbent Melissa Derrick was reelected as the Place 6 councilmember, but the two additional seats, Place 4 and Place 5, will go to a Dec. 11 runoff election because no candidate received over 50 percent of the vote. Shane Scott and Mark Rockeymoore will compete for the
City Council Place 4 seat in the runoff election, and Jocabed Marquez and Rick Henderson will compete for City Council Place 5. Senior news reporter Chris Green contributed to this story.
FROM FRONT ELECTION RECAP At Hughson’s watch party, San Marcos Planning and Zoning Commissioner Mike Dillion said he expected Thomaides to win because of his status as an incumbent. “I’ve supported her candidacy, but John Thomaides is the incumbent,” Dillon said. “I think he has more control of the neighborhoods than Jane (Hughson) does. She’s a long-time politician in town and has been on several committees, so I guess we’ll see.” As early voting concluded Nov. 2, Hays County had the fifth highest early voting percentages in Texas. For comparison, more Hays County residents voted in the 2018 midterm than in the 2016 presidential election. Don Inbody, a senior political science lecturer at Texas State University, said local elections directly impact the day-to-day routines of San Marcos residents and everybody
With treats and friends at her watch party, Jane Hughson was elected as mayor Nov. 6, beating incumbent John Thomaides PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN CURRAN
The University Star
Diana Furman | Life & Arts Editor
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 | 3
LIFE & ARTS
FROM FRONT VETERANS
"It's great to give back to those who gave to us and fought for us." -Alexandria Rodriguez Veterans wave the American flag Nov. 10 at the Veterans Day Parade in San Marcos. PHOTO BY JADEN EDISON
By Ivy Sandoval Life and Arts Reporter Honoring all who served was the theme and focus of the annual San Marcos Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 10. The streets of downtown San Marcos were closed off from 8-11 a.m. to make way for the parade sponsored by the City of San Marcos and Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee along with local veteran organizations. Veteran groups, military organizations, public officials, youth, school and community clubs, bands, drill teams, and the Junior Officer’s Training Corps of the San Marcos area were welcomed to join and participate.
Randolph Goodman, MC for the day and retired Navy Seal, said he was proud to be part of the celebration. “Retiring in 1988, and coming back from Vietnam, celebrating Veterans Day really wasn't a thing and parades were loosely attended but since 9/11 and the importance of the military it becomes more predominant in the fabric of America to give thanks,” Goodman said. “I’m glad to have a piece of this and be able to assist in any way I can.” Not only was Veterans Day not widely celebrated before, but it was originally called Armistice Day because of the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. Before the parade, people were able to get free biscuits and gravy breakfast
sponsored by Cafe on the Square to warm up on the cold day. Children got a chance to decorate their bikes to participate in the parade and enter in a raffle to win a new bike with Kiwanis Club Kids Bicycle Brigade Alexandria Rodriguez, biology sophomore, volunteered with Kiwanis Club. She said she was glad to be able to give back and help the community. “It’s great to give back to those who gave to us and fought for us,” Rodriguez said. Despite the cold weather and a bit of a late start due to rain, there was a large turnout. The square was full of smiling faces both young and old. All walks of life, from local public schools to
newly elected San Marcos mayor, Jane Hughson, took part in the parade. Marsha Daniels, retired Navy Seal, said she was happy to watch the parade and show her pride. She even dressed her dog in a patriotic bandanna. “I served 23 years and now being able to give back and volunteer and help other veterans and their doctor appointments,” Daniels said. “It’s great and I’m just very patriotic and loved serving my country and proud to serve and seeing people so appreciative.” The Veteran's Day parade brought the community together to honor those who have served. Floats and smiling faces offered thanksgiving for their bravery.
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LIFE & ARTS
4 | Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Diana Furman | Life & Arts Editor
The University Star
FROM FRONT CADAVERS
Shelby Garza sifts through soil during a disarticulation. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHELBY GARZA
“There’s a lot of stuff to do,” Wescott said. “You would think we know everything about how a body decomposes, but it turns out we know very little.” Being the largest facility of its kind, FARF attracts researchers from around the world in disciplines such as anthropology, etymology, microbiology and soil science. The facility also educates statewide law enforcement in training dogs to detect human remains. Both undergraduate and graduate students in related fields have access to this asset as well. Deborah Cunningham, biological anthropology and anatomy lecturer, said the facility is very beneficial to Texas
State. “Because our faculty are such active researchers and are helping to move the science of forensic anthropology forward, we contribute to the communities, both locally and across the state of Texas and sometimes across the world," Cunningham said. Students can get hands on, forensic experience at the facility, whether it be preparing experiments in the field or in the Osteology Research and Processing Lab, or ORPL. In these labs, students can gain experience in forensic casework and processing donated skeletons for the Texas State Donated Skeletal Collection in a laboratory. Because of its active researching
faculty, students and donors, FARF attracts prestige in the research community and research grants for the university. Shelby Garza, anthropology graduate student, is the graduate research assistant at FARF. She conducts disarticulations, which is when the anthropologists collect the decomposed skeletons from the sites. She assists with workshops and clearing sites for placement. “Being able to study decomposition in such depth and detail has helped immensely with the amount of opportunities I get," Garza said. Opportunities like these are available to students in fields such as forensic anthropology, microbiology, etymology
and more. Since its establishment as one of Texas State's research facilities in 2008, FARF has been working with law enforcement in casework and medicolegal operations, as well as studying mummification and estimating the countless environmental effects on human decomposition. Researchers are in the process of developing a system for locating clandestine remains using drones and aerial imaging. The work being done at the cadaver farms is giving students the opportunity to move forward in research that has never been done before.
WRITING MONTH
Novel writers celebrate National Writing Month By Mena Yasmine Life & Arts Contributor Writers on campus are channeling their energy into National Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, in a bid to write a 50,000 word long novel by Nov. 30. Inkspot Creative Writing club has extended their Wednesday meetings from 5-9 p.m. in the Alkek teaching theater to also include Saturday afternoons from 12-4 p.m. It works in conjunction with the significance of National Writing Month as a way to accommodate the heavier workload. The meetings act as a way to socialize the normally isolated activity of writing. Cassidy Lapierre, English senior, has been president of the Creative Writing Club since 2016. She said both the club and National Writing Month are open
to anyone who likes to write, not just English majors. "Our main goal is to make a community of writers, since it's such a solitary activity," Lapierre said. "We love to read each others works and be each others biggest fans." Even though November is focused on novel writing, members are still free to work on whatever they want. Lapierre is writing a screenplay as opposed to a regular novel this month because she loves the dialogue. "Even if you aren't going for (the novel writing) goal, this is a great month to work on any project you need," Lapierre said. The meetings are a time to be as productive as possible. Members participate in "Writing Sprints," where they spend 15 minutes writing followed by five minutes of discussion about what
they wrote. Lila Ramos, English junior, said it is her second year participating in NaNoWriMo. The supportive environment is what encouraged her to take part again this year. "Having that dedicated time to just sit down and write makes a world of difference," Ramos said. "It's really nice to be able to talk to someone instead of being holed up in your room. It's really encouraging." Khalia Frasier, pre-vet senior and president of the Novel Writers club, said that they are focused on giving people a quiet, stress-free space to work on writing their 50,000 words. "We give people a break from the stress of trying to get so many words written while also balancing school, work and all other aspects of life," Frasier said.
Frasier said using National Writing Month's website, along with with the club's writing time can be a stress reliever. "(The website) gives you a way to connect with people all around the world that are on the same path as you and working on the same project," Frasier said. Novel writers at Texas State and the Creative Writing Club will be hosting a NaNoWriMo party on Monday, Nov. 26 from 6-9 p.m. in LBJ 3-14.1 to close out the month, as well as their hard work. There will be food, games, door prizes and writing; tickets are $10 presale and $15 at the door. Anyone with an interest in writing is encouraged and welcome to attend.
Humans of San Marcos: Timothy Trujillo "Our trials are used as an education process for other kids in the system"
"Our trials are used as an education process for other kids in the system, to teach them the trial procedure and things like that. A kid, to get to our court, has to commit a class C misdemeanor. They have to go to a real juvenile court for it. Before all of that, the kid has to have a meeting with the juvenile case coordinator. It's a lengthy interview process, they go over the police reports, and security footage if there is any. Going into the case, the adult volunteers like me, don't know anything about the kid. When I meet with a kid, I have about 15 minutes to get their entire story from them before the trial begins. Then when the trial begins, they have to give that story again on the stand. You never know what will come out of that kid's mouth. It's a lot of pressure and sometimes they just flat out lie. When they lie the case coordinator has to intervene, because they know the truth. Usually kids in our system get in trouble for skipping school, or getting caught with pot or theft under $100. The worst is when the kid takes the blame for their parents. I've met kids with parents that are really supportive and caring. They'll sit with them throughout the entire process. That's the best case. These kids need a support system. I've met with kids that have parents that tell them it's okay to steal. I've met with kids with parents that are very abrasive and cold. I've met with kids with parents that blame their kids for everything that's gone wrong. I've met with kids with parents that are the reason the kid is there in the first place. Sometimes, the parents don't even care to show up. Support is crucial. Those kids with no support, you just wait for them to be back again." - Timothy Trujillo, criminal justice senior.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TIMOTHY TRUJILLO
The University Star
Diana Furman | Life & Arts Editor
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 | 5
TALENT
'San Marcos Has Talent' showcases local flair in student-hosted event By Madison Ziegler Life & Arts Contributor Colorful lights illuminated the stage, people of all ages were dressed in crazy costumes and everyone was waiting in their seats to see the talents of San Marcos. Thursday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m. the San Marcos activity center hosted a community wide talent show revealing the hidden talents of the city. Four students in a Texas State advanced programming class partnered with the San Marcos Parks and Recreation department for a semesterlong community project. The idea behind the project, San Marcos Has Talent, was to give back to San Marcos by hosting a fun event for everyone. Ashlie Watson, recreation administration senior, was one of the four students who planned the event. She said the group originally wanted to do an event for the special needs community because each person is passionate about involving people with special needs in events. However, after the students paired up with the youth coordinators for Parks and Recreation, they decided to host a youth-based community talent show. Ultimately, they decided to open the event up to the community as a whole. "We wanted to turn this into more than just a talent show," Watson said. Catherine Marler, youth services coordinator for Parks and Recreation said she was eager to incorporate the
community in the students' event. “I think this is a great new event the students have been working really hard on, so it’s a great opportunity for the community to come together and for people to showcase their talents," Marler said. The students hosting the event contacted the Hays County Food Bank and collected non-perishable food items to serve at the talent show. Auditions for the talent show were held Oct. 30, and performers had the opportunity to win prizes including a weekend retreat valued at $350, or visa gift cards valued $50-$150. San Marcos Has Talent included twelve acts with a variety of talents. From gifted singers to daddy-daughter duos, the performers were of a range of ages, but a younger crowd overall. The father and daughter duo, Derrick David Bryant and Shekinah Bryant performed a comedy and musical skit on the "Get Back Up Again" song from the "Trolls" soundtrack. "I'm so excited to team up with my daughter, that's what I really love," Derrick David Bryant said. Three judges volunteered for the event: a Texas State student, a professor and a city event coordinator. “I know a lot of times schools will host talent shows, but I know there’s really not a lot of opportunities for other people in the community to do something like this that’s fun and laidback," Marler said. With a great turnout from friends and families of the performers, as well as
Derrick David Bryant and Shekinah Bryant singing and dancing Nov. 8 to Trolls' "Get Back Up Again"
PHOTO BY MADISON ZIEGLER
the San Marcos community, the talent show turned out to be a great place for
performers to showcase their talents.
MEMORIAL
Kristallnacht: Students, faculty remember the Night of Broken Glass
Texas State students and faculty come together Nov. 9 for the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass. PHOTO BY JADEN EDISON
By Ryan Torres Life & Arts Contributor Texas State community members gathered together Oct. 9 in remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass. This past Friday, students and faculty were invited to gather at the Honors Coffee-Forum in Lampasas for a remembrance event about the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht, known as the Night of Broken Glass. In history, this event marks the escalation of hostility by the Nazi campaign toward Jewish people during World War II. This event was organized by Louie Dean Valencia, assistant history
professor, who discussed contemporary and historic anti-semitism. The remembrance of Kristallnacht at Texas State brought the community together to share their thoughts and feelings about the importance of discussing this event in history. It has been 80 years since the antiSemitic politics against Jewish people were put in place during the Nazi reign. On Nov. 9, 1938, an order was given by Nazi German authorities to terrorize thousands of Jewish citizens. This moment in history remains very important to discuss in today’s time. “The reason why (remembering Kristallnacht) is important is that often times we think about these events as something totally new, and while there
is a new iteration of hate we need to be able to think about the legacies of the past as well,” Valencia said. The remembrance was followed by several German short poems read by students of Lisa Haegele, assistant modern languages professor, a musical performance by cellist Gabriel Vazquez and readings by Rebecca Raphael, professor in the department of philosophy, from the works of Elie Wiesel author of "Night", one of the most influential books on the Holocaust. Bethany Ortiz, communications studies sophomore, heard about the remembrance event through one of her German classes. Ortiz is also a student of Lisa Haegele and agreed to read a poem to everyone about the Night of
Broken Glass. “To my understanding, the importance of this event is a response to the current acts of hate that are taking place, (attending this event) brings the community together to let others know that this isn’t okay,” Ortiz said. The fight against anti-Semitism and hatred gets stronger every day with the support of the community. As people come together, change can be possible in any way. The 80th Anniversary Remembrance of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, was sponsored by every college on campus in solidarity.
OPINIONS
6 | Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Zach Ienatsch | Opinions Editor
The University Star
Greek Life on track to a better tomorrow Exactly one year ago, Texas State student Matthew Ellis died of alcohol poisoning following a party hosted by his fraternity brothers. Since then, the environment responsible for his death has reformed and been replaced by something safer and healthier for Bobcats rushing fraternities and sororities. Although the changes in policy and administrative enforcement of Greek Life at Texas State following Ellis' death were seen as punishments, the policy changes have only benefitted Greek Life and strengthened the brotherhood and sisterhood these organizations prided themselves on. The initial reaction by University President Denise Trauth to suspend all Greek Life activity, although disappointing to students and categorically unfair to sororities, was ultimately the right call, as it allowed a clean slate to replace the previous state of affairs that contributed to the deaths of Ellis
in 2017 and Jordin Taylor in October 2016. The reinstatement policy allowed only chapters serious about reforming the culture to continue to operate on campus. Without a blanket suspension, determining who bought in and who was just going through the motions would be much more difficult. For the organizations that chose not to return, their members should not feel shame or scrutiny. It is better to be honest and reject the terms of reinstatement than cheapen the changes in policy by pretending to improve while simultaneously reaping the benefits of official university status. The guidelines for registered events, particularly events with alcohol, needed more university supervision anyway. And if this most recent pledge season is any indication, the policy changes are doing their job. Young men and women should not have to die for the
Greek community to carry out their mission of service, camaraderie and philanthropy. This semester is proof of that message being reinforced by showing dedication from every fraternity and sorority involved. Rebranding the Office of Greek Affairs to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life is the least consequential of the changes since last year, but the name change signifies a new era and a new mindset. The term 'Greek' has a tainted connotation for individuals on and off campus, whether appropriate or not. Focusing on the relationships between brothers and sisters, however, has a much lighter, innocent connotation. Normally, a name change would be nothing more than a marketing ploy used to deflect bad press. But as the name change follows genuine and thoughtful reform, it's a more welcome tactic this time. A name change alone does not change the culture, but a
change in culture can definitely change a name. Texas State should not forget Matthew Ellis or Jordin Taylor or any other tragic student loss. Remembrance remains not like a dark, unshakeable cloud to follow Greek Life forever, but as a commitment to saying 'Never again' and forging a better, safer tomorrow for the generations of young Bobcats who will attend this university and join Greek Life. Ensuring tragedies like these never happen again would be the best legacy to create and as of the last year, this is the direction fraternities and sororities have agreed to. It's unfortunate this is what it took to reach this conclusion, but the best way to move forward is to never forget their loss, make hard promises to ourselves and impose a meaningful change to make the former two actions a priority and reality.
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.
REPUTATION
The language used to describe Texas State has to change By Maxim Foster Opinions columnist Texas State gets a bad rap. Often deemed a “party school”, Bobcats are associated with binge drinking and late night ragers. Alongside this, the university is commonly referred to as a second-choice university after other schools turn applicants down. This reputation portrays Bobcats as crazier and less intelligent than other Texas college students. If students attend Texas State with the mindset that it’s a second-rate university, they won’t feel the need to do as well in their classes. They’ll spend more time looking for areas where Texas State comes up short instead of keeping an open mind. Soon, their school lives up to the bad reputation; it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. To combat this, the rhetoric used to describe Texas State needs to change for the better. “Party schools” are more than the parties students throw. Students are accomplishing much more here than this epithet suggests. Texas State is home to over 400 student organizations. Every spring, nearly 4,500 students take part in Bobcat Build, a community clean-up project that’s the second largest of its kind in the state. An event known as the Undergraduate Research Conference lets undergrads present their own research to scholars and academics, and a similar event exists for grad students. Both are held annually on campus.
ILLUSTRATION BY KENNEDY SWIFT
Instead of immediately thinking of Texas State as a party school, try thinking about the organizations, the volunteer opportunities and the research being done by students first. Consider the many unique degree programs or the acclaimed professors before looking to the recreation some students take part in. Perhaps much of this reputation
comes from the recent controversy surrounding Greek life. As The Star reported in February, Texas State cracked down on Greek Life activity following the death of Matthew Ellis in November 2017. According to the Dean of Students - Fraternity and Sorority Life office, currently, only 7-8 percent of students are involved in Greek life, amounting to roughly 3,000
out of 38,000 Bobcats. In addition, Greek organizations spend time doing much more than throwing stereotypical college parties. In 2016, the Houston Chronicle ranked the University of Texas at Austin as the No. 1 party school in Texas. UT has one of the best reputations in the nation, and the sentiment this ranking echoes doesn’t seem to take away from that. Why can’t the same be said for Texas State? This is where the “second choice” idea comes in. Due to its high acceptance rate, and the fact that many applicants apply to Texas State as a backup, the school has garnered a reputation for instantly being considered the second choice before all else. But there’s a difference between being an applicant’s second choice and being considered everyone’s second choice. The latter trivializes all the work that Texas State does to make itself a better institution by comparing it to more popular schools in the state. It’s been said many times, but the college experience comes down to the student. Texas State offers myriad resources for students to grow, change and experience new things. If students enroll with a negative opinion of the university, they’ll spend all their time looking for reasons to justify that view instead of seeing all the ways their school excels. Changing the reputation begins with changing the rhetoric. - Maxim Foster is an English sophomore
ACADEMIA
Academic writing should be more accessible By James Debbah Opinions Columnist The education system as we know it was created to serve the people. Its main purpose should be to create a more educated society, a sentiment that still holds true to this day. Universities are a place where many young minds come to be cultivated, to convene and revel in the shared experience of information seeking. And it is where many of those minds go on to find breakthroughs in fields that shape our civilization. However ideal education is, pursuing this privilege is simply not something accessible to all people. Unfortunately,
there are many who do not have the financial means to engage in this academic reverie, and because of this, are left out of the majority of conversations taking place in academia. The way those in an academic environment communicate is in fact, so distinct, that many consider it to be a “language” of its own. And for those who do not inherit that language from educated parents, this can be yet another barrier to information that is otherwise empowering. Institutions of higher education must stress the use of accessible language, especially considering the subject matter of many academic fields centers around the very same people who are not able
to engage in them. Areas of study like economics, social justice and criminal justice are inextricably linked to the plights of less privileged people thus, increasing the burden to avoid flowery writing, obscure jargon and overly complex verbiage. These conversations are not always the easiest to have. They go beyond the base level ideas learned in grade school and grow increasingly detailed and complex. That, however, does not mean that they are conversations that cannot be conveyed using a more common vernacular. The self-gratifying use of obscure language only adds to the cost of entry on learning at the expense of
those who need it most. If academia can make an effort to moderate inaccessible writing, then doors can be opened to those lacking in a higher education to participate in academic discussions. Afterward, there will truly exist a possibility for having a society of people where no one is left in the dark on its complexities. The difference between those who can partake should not come down to class or income and it certainly should not be determined by words. - James Debbah is a digital media innovation junior
The University Star
Zach Ienatsch | Opinions Editor
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 | 7
HISPANIC
Texas State is failing in its Hispanic Serving Institution designation By Carissa Liz Castillo Opinions columnist The U.S. Department of Education defines a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) as an institution of higher education with a Hispanic student population of at least 25 percent for undergraduate, full-time-equivalent students. Only 15 percent of higher educational institutions in the US are HSIs, yet these HSIs are responsible for enrolling 65 percent of LatinX undergraduates. In 2010, Texas State surpassed the 25 percent Hispanic undergraduate enrollment level and was granted the status as an HSI in March 2011. Many students are only faintly aware of the implications behind what it means to be an HSI. One of the main reasons for an institution to apply for HSI status is to obtain grant money. However, the title of an HSI does not guarantee funding, and the funds the institution secures through the HSI program do not have to be allocated toward programs designed specifically for Hispanic students. In 2012, Texas State was awarded $456,387 in federal funds under the HSI program. In March of 2011, after being granted status as an HSI, University President Denise Trauth said achieving HSI status meant the establishment of new goals, such as improved student retention and graduation rates. Texas State is also the fourth — and largest — HSI in the state. The Office of Media Relations states that funds from the
HSI program may be used for scientific and laboratory equipment, construction or renovation of instructional facilities, faculty development, purchase of educational materials, academic tutoring or counseling programs, distance learning programs, teacher education, student support services, along with other activities and services. Texas State boasts many achievements in relation to its Hispanic and LatinX population, such as being one of the top 100 colleges for Hispanic degree earners in 2010 because of its graduation rates, which for Hispanic students is at 50 percent, while the rate for all of Texas is at 40 percent. Texas State is also one of the largest public universities in the state designated as an HSI. Despite having these credentials, though, Hispanic students at Texas State are still greatly disadvantaged. Being an HSI should not just be about enrollment and graduation rates, though those are crucial statistics for Hispanic and LatinX communities when deciding what university to attend. Texas State needs to be able to codify what it means to be a Hispanic and LatinX-serving institution, and enrollment is not the core definition of serving. In 2014, only 15 percent of young LatinX adults aged 25-29 held a bachelor’s degree, compared to 41 percent of young, white adults, 63 percent of young Asian-American adults and 22 percent of young black adults. This is despite that Hispanic people make
up the second largest ethnic group in the country. Hispanic and LatinX students fall significantly behind other ethnic groups when it comes to higher education. The funds received from the HSI program should be allocated to programs that specifically serve the university's Hispanic and LatinX community, and aid students in obtaining a four-year degree. Hispanic and LatinX students face a series of different hurdles than other populations at Texas State, some revolving around cultural expectations. Hispanic men are socialized to be financial providers for their families and may feel the pressure to drop out to help support their families. Hispanic women are socialized to be caregivers and can also find themselves facing an ultimatum between their families and education. These are very specific issues that the Hispanic community faces and Texas State should be prepared to aid students through these situations. There is also an air of anxiety that Hispanic and LatinX students face due to the current political climate in the U.S. The recent uptick of deportations, the uncertainty around the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals act, and conduct of immigration detention centers are all catalysts for Hispanic and LatinX students to struggle with mental, and even physical health while also trying to continue their post-secondary education. One way to adequately represent its Hispanic and LatinX students would
be Texas State to hire more Hispanic and LatinX faculty. However, as of fall 2018, there are 1,062 white full-time faculty and only 151 Hispanic full-time faculty members. For the staff members of Texas State, 1,297 are white and 685 are Hispanic. And while there is a counseling group for immigrant support and empowerment for students with DACA status offered through Texas State’s Counseling Center, there is no counseling program implemented specifically for Hispanic and LatinX students. Texas State prides itself on being a Hispanic-Serving Institution but is not doing much more than the bare minimum to serve its Hispanic students, especially when it comes to Hispanic and LatinX-specific issues. Texas State only recently got an immigration lawyer after student activists pushed for one during a sit-in protest in April 2018. More can and should be done for Texas State’s Hispanic and LatinX populations, especially because that community is particularly vulnerable in higher education. Being a HispanicServing Institution is more than a title and a way to get grants. Serving that population should be the main priority with the funds gained through the HSI status. - Carissa Liz Castillo is an English senior
TEXTBOOKS
Texas State should switch to open source textbooks to save costs By Jordan Drake Assistant Opinions Editor Tuition is routinely complained about by students, as they spiral into debt before their careers even begin. But its not the only outrageous cost. College textbooks have become a major problem in their own right. Publishers continue to publish new books year after year, rendering the old ones obsolete and forcing students to pay up to $300 for the next edition. Since 1977, the cost of textbooks has risen nearly 1,100 percent, which is over three times higher than inflation. The problem is in a free market, consumer choice can drive prices down as companies compete, but textbooks do not have this mechanism. The students are forced to purchase whatever textbooks their professor deems necessary, creating a captive consumer that has no recourse but to get the textbook. Trying to go without one in many classes only leads to failure. Many students turn to renting or buying used books as a solution to these, but each has major problems associated with it. That’s why the university should mandate a switch to open source textbooks in all classes where that is possible. Open textbooks are textbooks that have been funded, published and licensed to be freely used, adapted and distributed. There are around a dozen sites that already host these textbooks and many colleges in states such as New York, Maryland and California are exploring this option to cut down on cost of college. These textbooks are absolutely free as they have been funded through various grants, meaning students can access and download these texts right away. This solves two immediate prob-
lems that textbooks face right now. First, students no longer must spend money on books, which some studies put around $1,200 a year per student. Open source books would mean a significant savings for cash strapped students. All students know the frustration of spending money on a textbook only to crack the book once or twice— or in some cases, not at all. If there is no money being spent, then it’s less of a frustration. The second problem it solves is that of expedience. Many students wait to get their textbooks to see if their professors mandate it. Combine this with waiting for shipping or getting scammed out of a bad Chegg code and students are already behind from day one. An easily accessed online file ensures students will not be playing catch up from the first day. One unique quality to open source textbooks is that professors can change the content within them. Without trademarks or copyrights attached to the material, professors are free to adapt the textbooks to their classes, removing and adding material as they see fit. This could create a much more useful textbook that gives instructors more room to teach what they want. There really is no disadvantage. With many classes already switching to digital textbooks, which ironically carry the same expensive prices attached to them, students are already used to this format. For students who cannot afford a computer, these books are easily accessed from the school library or other places on campus with access to labs. With free, easily updateable and changeable textbooks, students would benefit far more. Regular textbooks are a scam. There is no reason for these publishing companies to price gouge students or
ILLUSTRATION BY JEFF FOLLENDER
make insignificant changes to material and justify an insane price increase year after year. These companies cannot be brought to heel by the current market and so it is up to universities to implement policies that protect their students while also allowing them to
still effectively learn. A competitor is needed, and that competitor should be open source textbooks. - Jordan Drake is a communications senior
SPORTS
8 | Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Jakob Rodriguez | Sports Editor
The University Star
BASKETBALL
Basketball senior has professional dreams Volleyball finishes the season and grabs No. 1 seed in conference championship Texas State volleyball finished up its regular season with a win Friday against the University of Texas at Arlington at the College Park Center. With a final record of 24-6 and 15-1 in conference play, the Bobcats will be the No. 1 seed going into the Sun Belt Conference Championship for the first time since joining the league. Janell Fitzgerald and Madison Daigle led the team in stats with a combined 30 kills and eight blocks. They seek their first conference championship since winning the 2013 Sun Belt Championship. Texas State Volleyball has made it to the semifinals in the tournament every year since joining the league. Texas State enters the tournament following their first season championship since winning the 2011 Southland Conference Championship. The No. 1 Texas State Bobcats are set to begin to play at Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. against either No. 4 Little Rock, No. 5 UT Arlington or No. 8 Troy. Freshman outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald, 16.
Men's basketball opens season with a win By John Paul Mason II Sports Reporter The Texas State men’s basketball team opened up its season Nov. 9 with a 6757 win against the Air Force Academy Eagles in the newly renovated Strahan Arena. The Bobcats took control of the game with a hard-nosed defense, holding the Eagles to only 40 percent shooting. Junior guard Nijal Pearson led the Bobcats scoring with 21 points and converted on three of his five threepoint-line attempts. Pearson also netted his 1,000th career point. “Last year we had some trouble with dribble penetration, which made my shots a lot tougher," Pearson said. "This year we have a lot of guys that can get in and create for others. When we pass it around, we’ve been making the ball happy, and when it’s happy it goes in.” The Bobcats next game, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m., will be a home contest against Hardin Simmons University at the Strahan Arena. Junior guard Nijal Pearson, 22.
Women's XC finishes third at NCAA south central regional meet The Texas State Cross Country team competed Friday at the NCAA South Central Regional Meet in College Station, Texas. Led by junior Leslie Romero with a 12th place finish, the women's team finished third. Romero was one of three Texas State women to earn all-region honors. Sophomore Sydney Cole earned all-region honors after finishing 19th with a time of 21:28. Right behind Cole was senior Kendra Long, who earned all-region honors as well. Senior Devina Schneider ran a time of 21:55.36 and finished 36th in her final collegiate cross country race. Joseph Meade led the way for the men's cross country team, finishing 13th and earning all-region honors for the second straight year. Meade finished with a time of 32:11.4. Freshman Dereck Elkins also finished 30th with a time of 32:52.1. Cross country junior Leslie Romero.
Toshua Levitt and a University of Texas at Arlington Maverick square off Aug. 1 in Strahan Arena. PHOTO CREDIT BILL SPILLER
By Andrew Zimmel Sports Reporter Most basketball sharpshooters are born with it, and Toshua Levitt without a doubt has the long-range gene. Since her time at Nixa High School, Levitt has been a lights out shooter. Jennifer Perryman, one of Levitt's high school coaches, said one of her favorite memories of Levitt dates back to her senior year. “We got the tip and three seconds had gone off the clock, she dribbled twice and pulled up at the volleyball line and drained (it)," Perryman said. "I gave her a ‘what the heck’ look and she said ‘coach I was open.’ I said ‘Tosh, most people on the volleyball line are open!' It was a great moment between a confident shooter and a coach. I’ll never forget it." Last season, Levitt set a school record with 10 three-pointers made in a game against Georgia State, making her one of only two players to make 10-plus 3-pointers in multiple games last season.
Additionally, she broke NCAA records with 137 three-pointers in a single season, which was only four behind St. Francis University's Jessica Kovatch who had 141 in a season. Levitt averaged a team-best of 17.9 points per game and shot better behind the arc than almost 80 percent of players in her sport. Levitt was also named to the All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team, but she wants more. Levitt barley missed the first team, falling just behind former Coastal Carolina guard Jas Adams. “Obviously I want to get Player of the Year, that would be great. I want to get the first team (All-Sun Belt) because I should have got it last year,” Levitt said. "But yes, Player of the Year is my goal.” Last year’s team had its best season under Head Coach Zenarae Antoine with the Bobcats going 23 and 10 and losing in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament. The team was led by Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Taeler Deer with Leavitt receiving a majority of Deer’s 6.4
assists per game. With Deer gone, Levitt will have to take on more of the offensive heavy lifting. It should also be noted that Texas State has never had back to back Sun Belt Player of the Year winners, so if Levitt does find a way to win, she’ll have her fingerprints on just another page of the history books. This year’s team however only has a handful of key veterans from last year’s squad making it even harder for many to keep Texas State atop of the preseason rankings. Of all of Levitt’s goals, the loftiest is her goal of playing at the next level, something no other recent Sun Belt grad has been able to do. “I know I want to keep playing. Maybe the WNBA or overseas if I get the chance to,” Levitt said. This coming season will be the first where the spotlight is focused directly on Levitt. If Texas State wants to build a reputation of winning basketball, they will be leaning heavily on their sharpshooter.
FOOTBALL
Mountaineers shatter Texas State's postseason bowl dreams By Claire Partain & Sean Anchondo Sports Reporters Following a two-game win streak, the Bobcats fell to the Appalachian State Mountaineers 38-7 Saturday afternoon, eliminating the team from bowl contention. After what seemed like a promising first drive, quarterback Willie Jones III was sidelined on the fifth play of the game. During the opening drive, Jones and the Bobcat offense were able to drive all the way to the Appalachian State 33-yard line. After an 11-yard gain, Jones took a big hit and fumbled the ball. Jones was seen on the sideline in a sling and did not return for the remainder of the game. True freshman Tyler Vitt stepped up in place of Jones at quarterback. Facing the Mountaineer's nationally ranked defense, the offense was unable to score any points until the fourth quarter. Vitt went 17-28 and had 106 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Bobcats gained late-stage momentum after Vitt threw a touchdown pass to graduate tight end Keenen Brown in the middle of the third quarter. Brown was the leading receiver in the game with 44 yards receiving with seven catches and one touchdown. Sophomore Jeremiah Haydel said while Vitt's appearance in the game may not have been expected, his onfield production and leadership were. “[Vitt’s] a gamer, he gets into that rhythm himself,” Haydel said. “He just does what he needs to do and he’s a leader behind that offensive line.” The defense had a rough day defending Appalachian State’s quarterback Zac Thomas. Returning from a head injury two games ago, Thomas shined against the Bobcat defense, completing 25-36 for 247
Defensive end Ishmael Davis, 11, holds off an Appalachian State player Nov. 10. PHOTO CREDIT KATE CONNORS
yards and two touchdowns. Thomas converted a few critical third and longs with his feet, taking advantage of linebacker Bryan London II being out of the first half because of a targeting penalty from the Georgia State game last week. Cornerback JaShon Waddy was also out with an apparent injury, cause and severity unknown. The Bobcats turned the ball over to the Mountaineers three times, with an interception in the red zone and two lost fumbles. Two of the turnovers turned into touchdowns for the Mountaineers. Head coach Everett Withers said the team failed to convert on third downs, which ultimately cost the team the game. “Anytime you play a really good football team, you have to convert on third downs," Withers said. "You can’t turn the ball over, especially two turnovers in (their) territory. Anytime you play a really talented football team (like) that, you’re not going to win.” Appalachian State controlled much of the tempo in the game. In the third quarter, Thomas led the Mountaineers
offense to 17-play drive that ended with a 29-yard field goal by Chandler Staton to bleed out much of the clock into the fourth quarter. Appalachian State's time-of-possession was 33:36, and Texas State's was 26:24. The dreams of a bid for a postseason bowl appearance came to an end for the Bobcats as they fell to 3-7 for the season. Despite this, Withers and players, like cornerback Anthony Taylor, said they weren't going to quit. "We still have something we can fight for,” Taylor said. “If you have any pride about yourself, you’re not just going to fold and we still have a lot of fight left in us.” With only two games remaining, Texas State will fight for momentum going into the offseason. Texas State boasts one of the youngest rosters in the country to build on for next season. The Bobcats are back in action next Saturday in Alabama against the Troy University Trojans. The Bobcat close out the season Nov. 24 with a home game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
Honey and cayenne pepper do not cure a soar throat. But they do cure meat well!
The University Star
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 | 10
BOBCAT TRIVIA 1. How was The Theatre Center formerly known as? a. The Speech-Drama building b. The Performing Arts building c. Performing Arts Center d. None of the above 2. Which Texas State department chairman and director of theater campaigned for the construction of a new building for the Speech and Drama Department? a. President Lyndon John and Jesse C. Kellam b. Retta Murphy and Robert Tampke c. Dr. Elton Abernathy and Mr. James G. Barton d. None of the above
3. What year did The Theatre Center open? a. 1903 b. 1959 c. 1971 d. 2003 4. What are the measurements of The Theatre Center? a. 400 feet in diameter b. 650 feet in diameter c. 380 feet in diameter d. None of the above
ANSWERS FROM NOV. 6 1. What year did the university adopt the bobcat as its mascot? a. 1923 b. 1921 c. 1918 d. None of the above. 2. What was the original name of Sewell Park? a. Riverside Park b. San Marcos River Park c. Southwest Texas State Park d. Jowers Park 3. Who gifted the Fighting Stallions statue in 1951? a. George Straight b. President Lyndon B. Johnson c. Anna Hyatt Huntington and Archer Huntington d. Jesse C. Kellam 4. What is the official school flower? a. Sunflower b. Bluebonnet c. Gaillardia d. None of above.