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TUESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2019 VOLUME 109 ISSUE 16
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
YEAR IN REVIEW
ALL FEATURED CONTENT CAN BE ENJOYED IN FULL ON OUR WEBSITE AND MOBILE APP
The University Star
2 | Tuesday, December 3, 2019
YEAR IN REVIEW
10 NEWS STORIES YOU NEED TO READ BEFORE 2020
Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487
Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Jakob Rodriguez stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor: Bayley Bogus starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu News Editor: Sonia Garcia starnews@txstate.edu Life & Arts Editor: Laura Figi starlifeandarts@txstate.edu Opinions Editor: Jordan Drake staropinion@txstate.edu
1. AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES IS A LONG-AWAITED MILESTONE FOR STUDENTS By Brianna Ramos News Reporter Texas State launched its African-American studies minor this fall, taking a step toward being a more inclusive university. The African-American studies minor was first proposed in 2014 by the members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, petitioning the school to begin the program. Texas State is among the last of large public universities in Texas to offer the minor.
2. INMATE IMPASSE
Sports Editor: Claire Partain starsports@txstate.edu
By Camelia Juarez News Reporter
Design Editor: Molly Gonzales stardesign@txstate.edu Multimedia Editor: Jaden Edison starmultimedia@txstate.edu
The Hays County Jail inmate population has increased, leading the jail to reach capacity. Inmates are being outsourced to other county jails so much that the direct inmate cost has increased 310% since 2014. The outsourcing is costing taxpayers $10,000-15,000 a day with transport.
Engagement Editor: Isabella Lopes starsengagement@txstate.edu
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4. BENBOW-THOMPSON SWORN INTO OFFICE, MAKING HISTORY By Isabella Lopes Engagement Editor Texas State’s first black Student Government President Corey Benbow and Vice President Tucker Thompson were sworn into office April 17 LBJ Student Center, committing to representing student voices and values. Benbow’s inaugural speech was followed by another from Trauth, who said she is confident the new administration will serve the student body well. At the inauguration, many students said they are excited to see change with the new Benbow-Thompson administration
3. SAN MARCOS FACES CRIME INCREASE By Sierra Martin News Reporter As San Marcos’ population grows, so has crime in the city. By April, there were 76 violent crimes and 150 property crimes reported to the San Marcos Police Department. In past years, San Marcos has shown an upward trend in crime-based statistics and in 2016 had a lower national violent crime rate but a higher national property crime rate by 27.01 percent. Compared to other US cities, San Marcos has a higher violent crime rate than 72.8 percent of the country.
5. TEXAS STATE STUDENTS SIT-IN By Jakob Rodriguez Editor-in-Chief Following the arrest of four Texas State students May 1, student organizations and university community members occupied the fourth floor of the LBJ Student Center for the second time to protest the arrests and demand answers from the university administration. This is the second case in which activism and demonstration has taken place, as TXST Resistance organized a sit-in last year on April 13.
6. ICONIC VILLAGE: FAMILIES FIND STRENGTH ONE YEAR LATER By Sonia Garcia News Editor One year later, the five families who lost their children in the Iconic Village apartment fire remember their loved ones, still with unanswered questions. Haley Frizzell, James Miranda, David Ortiz, Dru Estes and Belinda Moats fell asleep July 19, 2018, not knowing it was their last. The fire was ruled as arson November 2018 and the investigation is still ongoing.
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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 4,500. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor-in-chief. Deadlines: Letters to the Editor or any contributed articles are due on Monday the week prior to publication. Corrections: Any errors that are in the pages of The University Star and are brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible. Visit The Star at universitystar.com
7. GOT PODS? By Daniel Weeks News Reporter Recent deaths related to e-cigarette products encouraged Texas State health professionals to share concerns and nationwide proposals for legal action. Cases of what is described as “acute lung disorder” have recently spread rapidly, including six deaths of the 380 reported lung illnesses in 2019 as of Sept. 16.
8. ANNUAL SECURITY REPORT TALLIES 57 RAPES FROM 2016-2018 By Jakob Rodriguez Editor-in-Chief Texas State released the latest version of its Annual Security Report of Clery-reportable data detailing numerous instances of gross underreporting of crime statistics on campus between 2016-2018. Twenty-nine rapes were left off of Texas State’s previous years’ Annual Security Report, formerly known as “Campus Watch.” According to university officials the new leadership and administrators immediately began to address deficiencies in the reporting of Clery offenses.
9. CAMPUS IMMIGRATION LAWYER LEAVES POSITION AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR By Ziek Sanchez News Reporter Immigration Attorney Mark Kinzler left his position as a part-time on-campus immigration lawyer to return to his private practice of immigration law in Austin. Kinzler held the position for less than a year, and the university is currently looking to fill this vacancy.
10. REGENTS APPROVE NEW TUITION PROPOSAL By Sandra Sadek News Reporter Scan the code above to have The University Star delivered to your email box every Thursday.
A new proposal was approved by the Texas State University System’s Board of Regents to increase overall tuition by 2.6%, adjusted from the originally proposed 3.95%, for the next two academic years—fall 2020 and fall 2021. The Texas State Legislature will reconvene January 2021.
The University Star
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 | 3
YEAR IN REVIEW TOP COLUMNS OF 2019
1 2 3 4 5
Talk it out: Is San Marcos safe? By Laura Nunez and Delilah Alvarado
Take out your earbuds and enjoy the live scene By Elisabeth Harper
Free college for all is a bad idea By Jordan Drake
Repercussions of new Alabama abortion law for women By Haley Schmidt and Bayley Bogus
Jake Spavital is the most important public figure in San Marcos By Jakob Rodriguez
LIVE.
LEARN.
UPGRADE. TXST’s homepage is getting a mobile-first upgrade! We’ve made it easier to find what you need, when you need it. Coming in December.
txstate.edu
6 7 8 9 10
The TPUSA debate does not define Texas State By Laura Nunez
The double standard of feminism
By Elisabeth Harper
Professors should not require Top Hat subscription By Thomas Dunlap
Texas State has had enough of Teis By Jaden Edison
Summer parking is a nightmare for commuters By Jordan Drake
The University Star
4 | Tuesday, December 3, 2019
ONE
YEAR IN REVIEW
Texas State alumnus prepares for Broadway debut Jorrel Javier (center) performing as Grover during the national tour of The Lightning Thief. PHOTO COURTESY JORREL JAVIER
By Brianna Benitez Assistant Life & Arts Editor Texas State alumnus Jorrel Javier showcased his talents on the Broadway stage with a passion for performing and a desire to leave an impact on the theatre industry.
FOUR
“Common” experience event brings recordbreaking turnout By Abby Gutierrez Life & Arts Reporter Common inspired the Texas State community to find and share their own truths by referencing his journey of living life through movie roles, song lyrics, memoirs and community activism. As Distinguished Lecturer for the 2019-2020 Common Experience, Common spoke on this year’s theme of “truth.”
LIFE & ARTS IN
2019
FIVE
TWO
Students create horror web series
Awarded filmmaker gains attention with short film “Baby Nick”
By Kyle Chitwood Life & Arts Reporter A group of film students released “Tales of Phantasmagoria” to draw Halloween season to a close. The horror anthology was created with hopes to produce an exciting show and further students’ cinema experience.
SIX
Professor receives scholarship for research for book highlighting the destruction of Lidice By Abby Gutierrez Life & Arts Reporter Marie was only 10 years old when Nazi soldiers invaded her home in Lidice, Czech Republic, and snatched her out of her mother’s warm embrace. The men were shot and killed. The village of Lidice was burned to the ground.
SEVEN
Texas State senior to become skateboarding professional By Laura Figi Life & Arts Editor Though he is an electrical engineering senior, Ryan Thompson has an extensive background with skateboarding. He started the activity when he was just six years old; his father would take him to Vans Skate Park in Houston.
EIGHT
Thank you, Ms. Susie By Ivy Sandoval Life & Arts Reporter Texas State said goodbye to the viking goddess, Susie Mullen, who had been a shining light to the community and beacon of hope and love for others. Mullen, known as “Miss Susie” by the Texas State community, passed away late March.
NINE
Snapshot of Russell Reed, director of the short film "Baby Nick." PHOTO COURTESY OF RUBEN CABALLERO
By Abby Gutierrez Life & Arts Reporter The short film “Baby Nick” introduces two amateur boxers: Sahar Nicholas and Canu Abel. The two begin their individual journeys toward becoming better men and human beings mentally, spiritually and physically in the midst of struggling with loss, grief and constant tribulation. The film was directed by Texas State marketing senior Russell Reed.
THREE
Alumnus recognized as first Texas State The Syrian Civil War: Rangel Fellow Texas State By Laura Figi Life & Arts Editor
Muhialdin was recognized as Texas State’s first Rangel Fellow, an organization that aims to promote diversity and achievement to those who want to work in foreign service and international affairs. His fellowship will financed a two-year graduate program at his choice of Georgetown or Cornell University.
TEN
Local family creates safe haven for tortoises By Brianna Benitez Assistant Life & Arts Editor Once Krista McDermid, executive director of Central Texas Tortoise Rescue, had adopted a pet tortoise, people began asking her if she could take in their pet tortoises. It was not long before McDermid learned a large majority of tortoises are often abandoned and left to fend for themselves.
alumnus fights alongside volunteer Kurdish army By Diana Furman Former Life & Arts Editor Warren Stoddard, Texas State alumnus, graduated in 2018 with a creative writing degree and March 2018, he bought a one-way ticket to Iraq. He completed college with the goal in mind to join the Kurdish militia, a mix of Western volunteers and Kurds fighting to reclaim Syria from militant control.
The University Star
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 | 5
YEAR IN REVIEW
5
SPORTS SHOTS
3
THAT TOOK OUR BREATH
AWAY
1 Senior Dakota Redmond celebrates a Bobcat touchdown Nov. 9 during Texas State's homecoming football game vs. South Alabama at Bobcat Stadium PHOTO BY JAMIE DORSEY
2 Texas State volleyball players celebrate a victory against Coastal Carolina to win the Sunbelt Conference Championship Nov. 24 at Strahan Arena. PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS
Junior guard, Jaylen Shead, shoots to score for the Bobcats. Feb 21 against ULM. PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS
4 Senior guard Toshua Leavitt applies pressure to UTA's defesnive front. PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS
5 Junior linebacker John Brannon (44) and the Bobcats run onto the field in excitement before the Sept. 29 game against Nicholls State at Bobcat Stadium. PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS
The University Star
6 | Tuesday, December 3, 2019
YEAR IN REVIEW TOP SPORTS STORIES OF THE YEAR THE UPS AND DOWNS OF TEXAS STATE SOCCER, EXPLAINED By Jackson Short Sports Reporter Bobcat soccer had a rollercoaster of a season in 2019, matching a nation record with a 17-match undefeated streak before falling into a seven game losing streak and playing several scoreless games. The ‘Cats came back with a bang, however, scoring a whopping five goals against ULM to retake their chance at postseason play.
DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS By Claire Partain Sports Editor Texas State’s athletic programs have athletes from all over- from Malaysia to Norway. Despite being thousands of miles from home in a completely different culture, these athletes manage to adapt and become Bobcats on their way to their goals as professional athletes.
CAT OSTERMAN: SHE’S BAAAAAAACK SOCIETAL NORMS? THIS BOBCAT DOESN’T GIVE A PUCK! By Atkyn Garza & Claire Partain Sports Reporter & Sports Editor Texas State’s only female ice hockey player, Courtney Weeks, was encouraged out of hockey in high school but continued to defy gender stereotypes on her way to becoming the starting goalie for the Bobcats.
BOBCATS KNOCK OFF PANTHERS IN TRIPLE OVERTIME THRILLER
By Andrew Zimmel Sports Reporter As a legendary UT softball alum, two-time Olympic medalist and assistant softball coach for Texas State, it’s difficult for Cat Osterman to be more accomplished. Osterman proved she wasn’t done yet, however, ending a 15-year hiatus to make the US women’s national team last spring.
WE ARE ATHLETES: STUDENT JUGGLES LIFE, MACHETES AND GOLF By Andrew Zimmel Sports Reporter Senior men’s golfer Calvin Ross proves that student athletes can have many interests. The jack-of-all-trades was the second current Bobcat to compete in the US Amateur Championship this summer, but he’s also a talented machete and torch juggler, a former hockey player and a pageant competitor.
By Colton McWilliams Sports Reporter Texas State football was briefly undefeated in conference, toppling the Georgia State Panthers in a triple overtime battle after a controversial call as the clock struck zero. Senior Joshua Rowland kicked in the game winning field goal and senior Bryan London II tied a school record in the upset home win.
BOBCAT BASKETBALL WINS BIG ON DANNY KASPAR NIGHT By Sean Anchondo Sports Reporter
TEXAS STATE LOSES HEARTBREAKER TO UTA
In a game that saw thousands of fans adorn fake mustaches to imitate head men’s basketball coach Danny Kaspar, the Bobcats came out strong with a 65-57 win over Coastal Carolina. The victory also made Kaspar the third most winning coach in program history under the leadership of stars Nijal Pearson and Alex Peacock.
By Colton McWilliams Sports Reporter Women’s basketball went to the buzzer in their final regular season game against the University of Texas at Arlington, taking a 44-41 loss in the rivalry game. The article earned a national nomination with a fourth-place spot in the Sports Game story category for the Student Press’s Story of the Year.
BOBCATS BRING OUT THE CLAWS FOR TWO CLOSE WINS By Cade Andrews Sports Reporter For the first time in years, head volleyball coach Karen Chisum was nervous as the Bobcats performed a miraculous 3-2 comeback victory over Appalachian State. The game came after a 3-1 win over Coastal Carolina, who would later go on as the second seed behind the Bobcats in the Sun Belt Championship Tournament.
SECOND STRAIGHT WALK-OFF LEADS TO THIRD WIN IN SCHOOL HISTORY AGAINST TEXAS By Jacob Sommers Sports Reporter Texas State baseball made history with their third win ever against the University of Texas, winning a back-and-forth effort at home thanks to a walk off RBI from junior outfielder Skyler Valentine. The Bobcats went on to take the regular season Sun Belt title.
The University Star
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 | 7
YEAR IN REVIEW
WHAT'S THE
POINT?
2019 IN ILLUSTRATIONS TEXAS STATE HAS HAD ENOUGH OF TEIS
The Main Point is the opinion of The University Star's editorial board. The Main Point represents the opinion of the board on a specific matter and does not represent the views of staff and faculty members of the school of journalism and mass communication. ILLUSTRATION BY JEFFREY FOLLENDER, JANUARY
TEXAS STATE DO YOUR JOB
BEES AND STRAWS AREN’T EARTH’S ONLY WORRIES
If Texas State employees make needed corrections to the data and faultlessly report offenses, the numbers will begin to accurately reflect the safety and occurrences at the university. However, with an incompetent administration willing to bury the truth, it remains to be seen if change can and will occur for the betterment of the student body. Texas State administrators, do your jobs. We will continue to do ours.
TPUSA HAS A RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH BUT NOT ATTENTION The middle road is to never amplify TPUSA’s rhetoric by bringing it to a larger platform than their own. And when their misinformation does make it to the ecosystem, never let it be published uncontested without counter information and context. Furthermore, we usually only report on conflicts between Student Government and student groups, but The University Star’s motto is, “Defending the First Amendment since 1911.” We, as an editorial board, would not be holding true to our purpose if we stayed silent on this subject.
ILLUSTRATION BY KENNEDY SWIFT, JANUARY
FIRST-GENS NEED GREATER RESOURCES TO COMBAT DISADVANTAGES
#STUDENTPRESSFREEDOM IS AN INVESTMENT IN DEMOCRACY Attempting to gag student press hinders students from effective civic learning and devalues the First Amendment. Protecting student press is imperative to not only creating future journalists but also to developing citizens who are willing to challenge figures of authority when their rights are infringed upon.
ILLUSTRATION BYJEFFREY FOLLENDER, JANUARY
LANGUAGE DIVERSITY SHOULD BE A STRENGTH IN TEXAS STATE AND SAN MARCOS
Happy Holidays! Come to our Happy Hour Monday thru Friday 3 - 6 p.m Half off Pub Snacks
AB COUPON: 50% OFF PUB SNACKS ILLUSTRATION BY VALKYRIE MATA, FEBRUARY
The University Star
8 | Tuesday, December 3, 2019
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The University Star
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 | 9
YEAR IN REVIEW CREATIVE COMPOSITION MEANINGFUL ACTION PEOPLE
BEST OF MULTIMEDIA
Rapper, writer, actor, activist, author and philanthropist Common gives a speech Oct. 15 as part of Common Experience's LBJ Distinguished Lecture Series at Strahan Arena. PHOTO BY JADEN EDISON
Maxfield Baker celebrates his City Council Place 1 victory over Mark Gleason Nov. 5 at AquaBrew. PHOTO BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ
Mary Ann Vasquez holds a sign in support of veterans attending the San Marcos Veterans Day Parade Nov. 9 in downtoen San Marcos. PHOTO BY JAMIE DORSEY
University Police Department officers make one of four arrests May 1 near the Evans Liberal Arts Building. PHOTO BY CHINEDU CHUKUKA
Members of the San Marcos community stand outside the city hall discussion room with posters advocating for the practice of cite and release to be enforced for local law enforcement, Tuesday, Sept. 17, at San Marcos City Hall. PHOTO BY REBECCA HARRELL
Student Government President Corey Benbow gives his inauguration speech April 17 at the Student Government presidential and vice presidential inauguration in the LBJ Student Center. PHOTO BY CHINEDU CHUKUKA
A Texas State student follows along with the cheerleaders to show support for the team Aug. 29 at the football game against Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS
Texas State student Mena Ashwood sheds tears after a fellow student gets arrested May 1 near the Evans Liberal Arts Building. PHOTO BY CHINEDU CHUKUKA
Former Texas State professor Kelly Stone speaks at the beginning of the April 8 Student Government meeting in the LBJ Ballroom. Stone spoke in regards to the university’s decision to remove her class from campus. PHOTO BY JADEN EDISON
The University Star
10 | Tuesday, December 3, 2019
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