BLACK HISTORY AT TEXAS STATE In 1975, Kenneth Worthing Tucker became the first African American faculty member at Southwest Texas State University. 12 years after the university was desegregated.
SEE PAGE 6 OPINION: STOP BEING AFRAID TO DEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP
SEE PAGE 4 TEXAS STATE RACING TEAM GETS IN GEAR FOR CALIFORNIA COMPETITION
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TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 VOLUME 109 ISSUE 20
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DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
ALCOHOL
Student Government votes to reinstate alcohol in LBJ By Ziek Sanchez News Reporter Alcohol sales could be restored to George's following a vote by Student Government. A resolution calling for the sale of alcoholic beverages was unanimously approved during the Feb. 3 Student
Government meeting after alcohol sales in George's halted September 2019. Student Government hopes the reintroduction of alcohol in the LBJ Student Center George's will increase attendance and improve interactions between the university and its students. Named after Southwest Texas State University alumni George Strait,
George’s is located on the first floor of the LBJ Student Center and serves as a hangout spot on campus to relax or study. It houses televisions, couches, ping pong tables, pool tables and a snack bar. The room also holds late-night weekend events, giving students a place to socialize. George’s has been licensed to sell
alcohol in the past, but according to Assistant Director of George's Sylvia Reyes, the staff's inability to sell alcoholic beverages caused significant inconveniences. In order for alcohol to be sold in George's it had to be sold to customers by an employee from Chartwells, the university's catering service, which employs separately from SEE ALCOHOL PAGE 3
VALENTINES
LOVE IS ON THE SQUARE:
Valentine's dates for every type of love By Laura Figi Life & Arts Editor No matter your relationship status, take the time to enjoy yourself this Valentine’s Day. From the extravagant to the lowkey, the couples to the single and proud, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Cupid’s birthday in San Marcos and support small business while you are at it!
Valentine's mailbox opens in Kissing Alley
FOR THE CLASSIC VALENTINE:
"Love Letters From Downtown" gives San Marcos residents a place to mail their Valentine's letter from Kissing Alley located off of Hopkins Drive. PHOTO BY REBECCA HARRELL
By Madyson Sanchez & Laura Figi Life & Arts Reporter & Editor Tucked away on Kissing Alley sits a red mailbox decorated with hearts and filled with letters of love. The mailbox is part of San Marcos's annual "Love Letters from Downtown" campaign. This week marks the last chance to send out a Valentine's Day letter from the mailbox on Kissing Alley. Once your letter is in the mailbox, the card will be imprinted with a special hallmark that reads “Sent from Kissing Alley.” According to the city, San Marcos was designated in 1986 as an official Main Street City by the Texas Historical Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation and remains one of the oldest Main Street programs in the state. Since 1999, San Marcos has been named a National Main Street City by both the National Trust and the Texas Historical Commission. Main Street set up "Love Letters from Downtown"
in late January. Downtown Coordinator of Main Street Josie Falletta shared her excitement for community members to participate in "Love Letters from Downtown" in a press release on the City of San Marco's website. “There’s no holiday better suited for a hallmarked card from Kissing Alley than Valentine’s Day,” Falletta said. “We’re excited to share the romance and fun of a stroll through Downtown San Marcos with the world, one Valentine at a time.” Since the mailbox opened, San Marcos community members of all ages have made sure to stop by and send out their letters. Theatre and dance lecturer Natalie Blackman said she likes the idea and reminds everyone to be mindful of the message they are sending. "I feel like as long as people are using it responsibly, it sounds adorable and fun," Blackman said. Community members are using the mailbox as a way to surprise someone they have shared many years with.
Kayla Altemus, advertising junior, said she likes the idea because it reminds her of nostalgic high school events. "I like the idea," Altemus said. "(It reminds me of ) high school, we would send candy or candy grams." According to the National Retail Federation, consumers are expected to spend an average of about $200 on their loved ones this year. This year jumped 21% over last year’s record spending for Valentine’s Day. The San Marcos Main Street Program is easing the cost of this holiday with a chance to send out some sweet snail mail right from Downtown San Marcos. The mailbox will be available through Valentine’s Day. Anyone can participate in the program and there is no limit to the number of Valentines someone may send out. Just make sure to address the letter properly, stick a stamp on and drop it off in the mailbox at Kissing Alley, 121 E. Hopkins.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Texas State splits East Coast road trip By Aidan Bea Sports Reporter Texas State (15-10, 8-6 in Sun Belt) split a road trip out east this week, winning against Coastal Carolina in a dominating fashion on Thursday but falling short against Appalachian State (14-11, 8-6 Sun Belt) in a 60-57 heartbreaker on Saturday. The Bobcats were without their
leading scorer, senior guard Nijal Pearson, due to the birth of his baby girl on Saturday. Head Coach Danny Kaspar said the team was able to adjust without Pearson. "You just have to ask players to step up and play hard," Kaspar said. "We knew we were going to lose some scoring, so we knew it had to be a low scoring game. We have to manage our
possessions. That's what we did, and they hit a three with 19 seconds left to go up and we missed a three at the buzzer." Despite this, the Bobcats still managed to compete and put together a strong first half. Texas State was up by as much as 18 points with three minutes left before Appalachian State went on a 13-0 run to narrow the lead to five before the break.
Flowerland, located at 1106 N. LBJ drive, has provided San Marcos with floral arrangements since 1968. The shop has been in the same building since it opened and is currently run by Gayle Jackson. The shop offers fully customizable bouquets and an array of different styles. Valentine’s specials start at $40. “All of our arrangements are special,” Jackson said. “We do custom arrangements and we can capture people’s personality.” Delivery driver Jakob Sevier said his flower deliveries frequently come as a surprise to the recipient. “The best part of Valentine’s Day is seeing their faces when you deliver the flower arrangements unexpectedly; it’s exciting,” Servier said. As stated on its website, Flowerland has been “getting guys out of trouble for 40 years!” but flowers are always a good idea for anyone, on any occasion.
FOR THE FURRY VALENTINE: My Buddy’s Pet Resort, located at 177 Coachman drive, is hosting a Valentine’s Paw-ty Feb. 13 from 4-6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation for the Humane Society of New Braunfels, such as cat food, dog food, blankets or towels, and will receive a free pet portrait and a paw print craft to take home.
FOR THE VALENTINE:
SHOW-STOPPING
Stonewall Warehouse, located on 141 E Hopkins St., has been a Square staple since becoming San Marcos’ first and only LGBT+ bar in 2014. The bar has made a name for itself in the drag community and become a show hub. The bar is hosting a joint show with queens from San Antonio to hold the “Mr. and Mx. Stonewall Pageant.” Entertainment director Rivers Wright said anyone is welcome to attend and participate in the pageant, and there will be a crown for the winner. SEE VALENTINES PAGE 5
SEE MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE 9
The University Star
2 | Tuesday, February 11, 2020
NEWS
Chase Rogers News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
CRIME
Criminal justice reform discussion postponed
Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487
Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Jakob Rodriguez stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor: Sonia Garcia starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu News Editor: Chase Rogers starnews@txstate.edu Life & Arts Editor: Laura Figi starlifeandarts@txstate.edu Opinions Editor: Laura Nunez staropinion@txstate.edu Sports Editor: Claire Partain starsports@txstate.edu
By Gabriella Ybarra News Reporter A proposed ordinance incentivizing the use of cite-and-release will be considered by city council March 3. Pushed by local grassroots organization Mano Amiga, the ordinance seeks to guide San Marcos Police Department officers' discretion, allowing them to issue citations for class C misdemeanors and some cases of class A and class B misdemeanors instead of making an arrest. According to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, officers can issue citations for low-level offenses but are allowed discretion. In the proposed ordinance, individuals suspected of possession of marijuana less than four ounces, driving with an invalid license, graffiti, theft of property, theft of services and any class C misdemeanor other than public intoxication, assault or family violence could be eligible for cite-and-release. During a Jan. 28 Criminal Justice Reform Committee meeting, Assistant Chief of Police Brandon Winkenwerder presented data collected by SMPD showing the total low-level arrest offenses in 2018 and 2019. According to the data, there were 543 arrests for low-level offenses in 2018, 146 of which were eligible for cite-andrelease. This is comparable to 398 arrests in 2019, 103 of which were eligible. A total of 22 citations were given in 2018 and 31 in 2019. More than half of citation-eligible offenses in 2018 involved possession of marijuana under two ounces and driving with an invalid license. In September, Hays County released data showing SMPD's use of arrests for citation-eligible offenses in 2018. The data showed that 72 eligible cases involved a black individual and all of them resulted in an arrest—a detail that was vehemently challenged by activist organizations and local residents. Winkenwerder said the increase in citations given in 2019 for possession of marijuana is both the result of communicating with sergeants and the changing of public opinion on the drug's legalization. “The citation increase was the direct result of us meeting with sergeants and getting their people on board to start giving more (citations),” Winkenwerder said. “A lot of that was in relation to possession of marijuana because the driving message seems to be that everyone is hearing in the media that (people) want it legalized. I think a lot of their opinions are that it’s not that big of a deal.” Mano Amiga co-founder Jordan Buckley said despite the newly released data there is still a need for improvement, citing SMPD chose to arrest for the majority of cases where cite-and-release was an option. accurate—which an ordinance ensuring data transparency would enable in the "ASSUMING (SMPD'S) future—by SMPD's own calculations, they arrested Hays County residents FIGURES ARE 77% of the time for citation-eligible offenses in 2019,” Buckley said. “It's ACCURATE—WHICH clear San Marcos officers direly need guidance from (city council) on how to AN ORDINANCE use their discretion.” ENSURING DATA According to the draft ordinance, a subject would not be eligible for citeTRANSPARENCY and-release if they can not provide WOULD ENABLE satisfactory personal identification, is not a resident of Hays County, there is a IN THE FUTURE— reason to believe the safety of persons— including the subject—would be BY SMPD'S OWN endangered by the release of the subject CALCULATIONS, THEY or the subject demands to be taken before the magistrate. ARRESTED HAYS Additionally, if a subject has an COUNTY RESIDENTS outstanding arrest warrant or is of committing an offense that 77% OF THE TIME FOR suspected is not protected under cite-and-release they would also not be eligible. CITATION-ELIGIBLE According to Winkenwerder, if a OFFENSES IN 2019." person is caught with more than one type of drug under current law they are not eligible for cite-and-release; however, person can have more than one class C -JORDAN BUCKLEY, amisdemeanor and still be eligible. MANO AMIGA CO-FOUNDER A resident of Hays County is defined as anyone having a Hays County address. According to Winkenwerder, “Assuming (SMPD's) figures are that includes all Texas State students
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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, Feb. 11, 2020. 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
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CITE ELIGIBLE
NOT CITE ELIGIBLE CITATION GIVEN GRAPHIC BY MOLLY GONZALES
even if their permanent address is not in Hays County. If passed, the ordinance would also require the city manager to make public a quarterly report of every instance SMPD makes an arrest for a citationeligible offense. The ordinance has received over 500 petition signatures and is supported by groups like MOVE Texas, Texas Rising, Latinas Unidas, RFK Young Leaders, Black Women United and Texas State’s NAACP chapter. Mano Amiga Policy Director Eric Martinez said outlining to officers when it is appropriate to make an arrest will bring in noticeable results. "While we're encouraged to see the committee resolve to bring the ordinance for discussion at council, it's imperative to realize the importance of guiding officer discretion via disqualifying circumstances in order to see the largest impact,” Martinez said. An education forum on the cite-andrelease ordinance will be held by Mano Amiga Feb. 16 at the Hispanic Culture Center of San Marcos at 5 p.m. San Marcos City Council meets every first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. The agenda can be accessed through the Agenda Center on the City of San Marcos website.
The University Star
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 | 3
NEWS
Chase Rogers News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
ELECTION 2020
TX45 race heats up with ballooning fundraising totals and endorsements By Chase Rogers News Editor Five candidates vying for the Texas House District 45 seat received several high-profile endorsements and over $220,000 in fundraising contributions from individuals, entities and political action committees. Incumbent State Rep. Erin Zwiener faces Liliana Posada in the Democratic primary while Kent “Bud” Wymore, Carrie Isaac and Austin Talley are running in the GOP primary. Both primaries are slated for March 3. According to campaign finance records from Texas House Ethics Commission, Zwiener, D-Driftwood, raised nearly as much as her three Republican challengers combined, totaling $109,400 from July 1-Dec. 31, 2019. "With the most recent fundraising deadline behind us, I want to extend my sincere thanks to all of our amazing supporters!" Zwiener wrote on Twitter. "It’s my greatest honor to represent Hays and Blanco Counties in the Texas House. I couldn't do it without y'all." Wymore, former chairman of the Hays County Republican Party and owner of The Wymore Law Firm, raised $57,500 in the last half of the year, out raising his Republican primary opponents. Isaac, wife of former District 45 State Rep. Jason Isaac, raised $51,700 during the same period. Talley, a Kyle resident, raised $780 and Posada did not file a fundraising report. The strong fundraising on the Republican side indicates the upcoming primary and subsequent election against the prevailing Democrat could be competitive.
Constituting Hays and Blanco counties, Texas House District 45 (illustrated above) was held by a Republican representative, former State. Rep. Jason Isaac, from 2011-2018. GRAPHIC BY MOLLY GONZALES
District 45 is among 12 Democratic seats targeted by the Republican Party after having turned blue during the 2018 election cycle. Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey said the party is ramping up efforts to retain the GOP's control of the state house. "We have raised more money, recruited more candidates, hired more staff and instituted more efforts at this point than in any prior cycle," Dickey stated in a press release. "We are not just talking about winning Texas, we’re putting in
the work to keep Texas red." Texas Democrats issued a press release Jan. 27 laying out their plans to hold onto the seats they flipped in 2018 and aims to gain nine seats in 2020 to seize control of the state house. "Twenty-two Republican-held seats were won by less than ten points by the top of the ticket in 2018. We are targeting every single one of these seats in 2020," Texas Democrats stated in a press release. "Together, Texas Democrats and allied organizations have developed a modern
and unprecedented data-driven strategy, which includes a robust allied organizing infrastructure, candidate support services and cutting edge technology." Zwiener reported having $75,300 cash on hand at the time of the filing deadline while Wymore and Issac reported $61,200 and $108,500 cash on hand respectively. Issac touted having the most cash on hand in a press release. "(Issac) announced raising over $50,000 in the most recent fundraising period. This brings Isaac's total funds raised since her announcement to over $150,000—more than any other Republican or Democrat candidate." Issac and Wymore have both netted significant endorsements from major players in their party. Issac, a Wimberley resident, was officially endorsed by many current statewide officer holders, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian. In addition, the National Rifle Association endorsed Issac Jan. 21 for the primary. Wymore, who resides in Driftwood, netted endorsements from Hays County Commissioners Mark Jones and Walt Smith, 2018 Republican Hays County Judge candidate and Commissioner Will Conley and former District 45 Republican candidate Ken Strange. Zwiener received endorsements from the Texas State Teachers Association, Texas State Employees Union and Clean Water Action Texas. Early voting is scheduled for Feb. 18-28 and the primary is slated March 3. Election Day will be Nov. 3.
FROM FRONT ALCOHOL
THIS WEEK:
Audrey Busch, art education freshman and George's employee, converses with Alex Humphrey, animal science freshman, over lunch, Feb. 10, 2020, at George's in the LBJ Student Center. PHOTO BY CHASE ROGERS
LBJ. George's staff consists of mostly student workers employed by the LBJ Student Center, so finding a Chartwells employee was a troubling process, according to employees. In the past, Blimpies was the easiest place to quickly find a Chartwell employee. Because Blimpies was relocated away from the LBJ Student Center September 2019, this solution is no longer viable. With no Chartwells employees in close proximity to George's, the process of selling alcohol became problematic. Reyes said she believes the inclusion of alcohol would not have significant impact on attendance and sales. “I don’t think the sales were worth it. The selection wasn’t great and timing was inconvenient for the customer. I don’t think people (saw) George’s and thought 'I’m going to go there to drink,'” Reyes said. “I think most of the customers are first-year students, so I’m not 100% sure that alcohol sales would increase attendance or sales.” Student Government’s nowpassed resolution will go to Student Government President Corey Benbow’s desk to be either signed or vetoed. If signed, the legislation will be sent to the Vice President of Student of Affairs Joanne Smith for consideration. Benbow said he believes the legislation will help George’s become
a more popular place for gathering even though it's frequently visited by underage students. “Just because a particular crowd frequently visits George’s does not mean George’s is isolated to that crowd. Perhaps selling alcohol will interest other people and cause them to visit the space,” Benbow said. “Like any other venue on other campuses where alcohol is served in the presence of underaged students, it’s still a place for everyone.” Liah Brown, nursing sophomore and George's employee, said she believes alcohol could increase attendance and sales. “Selling alcohol here would definitely increase sales. So many people are already asking about it,” Brown said. “It’s hard to distinguish who is visiting George’s. I would say it’s mostly freshmen, but a lot of upperclassmen are still asking for alcohol.” According to Reyes, if George’s sells alcohol again, proper licenses to sell and distribute will need to be acquired and staff will have to train under the terms of new contracts. If demand arises for craft beer or other specialty alcohol, notable changes in infrastructure and operation would be considered. To read more about George’s visit the LBJ Student Center’s website.
Workshop: RefWorks Tuesday 10 - 10:50 AM Alkek 440 Galentines Pub Trivia Night Thursday 6 - 8 PM Alkek Conference Halls A & B
NEXT WEEK: Workshop: Intro to Remote Sensing Tuesday 3:30 - 5 PM 5th Floor GIS Lab Book Club & Crafts Tuesday 5:30 - 8 PM Alkek Open Theater Discussing Dune by Frank Herbert Workshop: Introduction to Hydrologic Modeling Thursday 3:30 - 5 PM 5th Floor GIS Lab
The University Star
4 | Tuesday, February 11, 2020
LIFE & ARTS
Laura Figi Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
RACING
Texas State racing team gets in gear for California competition By Samuel Cravey Life & Arts Reporter Tucked away in a room in Ingram Hall sits the BR20, otherwise known as the UnderCat, a skeleton of metal tubing and wiring now but on the fast track to becoming a fully-fledged racing vehicle. The UnderCat is being designed and built from scratch by a team of Texas State students known as Bobcat Racing. Bobcat Racing is creating their own formula car to compete in Formula SAE, a collegiate engineering competition organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers that takes place nationally and internationally. The Formula SAE competition is less about how fast the car is and more about building the car itself, vice president of Bobcat Racing John Ivey said. Car design plays the biggest role in the competition, especially when it comes to being smart with the limited money the team has for parts. "There's a lot of strategy in the business side of things like how much funds you raised yourself and how efficient you are with those funds," Ivey said. The competition is based on a 1,000-point scoring system. Around 600 of those points are awarded based on how well the car performs dynamically. This includes measuring how fast the car accelerates, how well it handles sliding sideways, its performance around the race track, fuel economy and overall endurance. The remaining 400 points are for statics, which include car design, cost to build, analysis of manufacturing and presentation. All parts for the formula car are either designed or selected by the team. Some parts, like wheels and tires, do not make sense to manufacture at the makerspace. President of Bobcat Racing and lead engineer Kyle Oldham said in previous years, certain parts were beyond the
team’s manufacturing capabilities and had to be outsourced. That is until the team started working in the makerspace. “For the most part, we design and build everything here,” Oldham said. “Things are different this year with the makerspace. We can pretty much build anything we design.” In the Ingram Hall makerspace, Bobcat Racing is equipped with the resources they need to design and fabricate nearly all their own parts, such as soldering stations, laser cutters, metal and plastic mills and tools for welding and shaping sheet metal. The chassis (the base frame of the car) of the UnderCat is one of the many pieces of the UnderCat designed and fabricated in the makerspace Bobcat Racing treasurer Stephanie Hotchkiss said. “The whole chassis we got done by a company called VR3 in Canada. They sponsor most SAE teams, so they will supply the tubing according to our dimensions,” Hotchkiss said. “Then, we weld it in-house. All of the welding was done by our team.” Bobcat Racing engine and electrical lead Grant Seligman said SAE cars are typically made with motorcycle engines because they are small and lightweight. This year’s car has an edge over the competition due to some tweaks in the tuning of the engine. “It’s a triumph, three-cylinder engine,” Seligman said. “We chose it because it has a little more torque off-the-line and more power. It’s a little more detailed and finicky and takes more time to engineer and tune the engine, but we like the challenge. We want to prove Texas State Bobcats can do it.” This year the team hopes to complete the entire competition. In 2017, the car arrived at the racetrack in Michigan without the wheels, forcing them to make do with the parts they could muster.
(Left to right) Greg Seligman, Stefanie Hotchkiss and Kyle Oldham work on the chassis of the UnderCat, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in the Ingram Hall Makerspace. PHOTO BY SAMUEL CRAVEY
Despite this, the team still competed in the static events and learned a lot in the process. “Less than 40% of cars actually finish the competition,” Ivey said. “If we can make that 40% that’s a huge break. That’s big. But we are also hoping to bring back some sort of award.” This year Formula SAE will be held in Fontana, California at the Auto Speedway Club June 17-20. This leaves Bobcat Racing less than 130 days to complete the UnderCat. However, Bobcat Racing plans on having the car ready ahead of schedule. The reveal ceremony for the UnderCat will be May 29 in the Ingram makerspace, open to the public. Bobcat Racing is made up of over 160 contributing student members and a core group of 15 students. Some of the core group members are seasoned in Formula
SAE competition, like Ivey, who started the program at Texas State in 2016. The Bobcat Racing team is still currently looking for members and people interested in becoming officers and encourages students to stop by the Ingram Hall makerspace. “Bringing in students from all different backgrounds is important to this team and the university," Seligman said. "With a race car, a lot of people are intimidated because they haven’t worked on cars or they aren’t an engineering student, but it's not just about engineering. It’s about building something from the ground up and making it happen.” For more information visit, Bobcat Racing's website, https://bobcatracing. wp.txstate.edu/.
OSCARS
Parasite breaks records and sets new bar By Andrew Zimmel Life & Arts Reporter Sunday night’s Academy Awards saw Bong Joon-Ho’s masterpiece— “Parasite”—walk away with four Oscars including Best Picture, making the film the first foreign film to win the award in the shows 92-year history. When I wrote my “Parasite” review, I said it was the best movie the majority of American audiences hadn’t seen, either due to circumstance or the fact the South Korean film came with no English dub. The Oscars, like most award shows, are normally bad. Between the awkward hosts (or lack of hosts), the musical performances that nobody asked for (sorry Em) and jokes that fall flat (why was Corden there?), this year was no different in the execution with the run time of the entire show being close to three and a half hours. The entire reason people tune into award shows is for the awards, not for M&M commercial after M&M commercial. If you cut away all the fatty and awkward parts of the 92nd Academy Awards, you are left with some genuinely good moments. Brad Pitt won his second Oscar and his first as Supporting Actor in his role as Cliff Booth in “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” to start the show. Pitt has been in the weird middle ground for most of his career, good enough to get you to the box office but not good enough to carry a movie on his own. This award, in my opinion, represents years of carrying half the weight in most of the films he’s been part of, now he’s finally recognized for that contribution. “Toy Story 4” won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. A Pixar movie winning any award for animation is a layup when it comes to scoring these things. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is better than Pixar when it comes to
pulling at heartstrings and winning Dern’s award is more of a symbolic one awards for animation. than one for her singular portrayal. The Academy awarded the For an actress who has been in creativity of Bong Joon-ho and the industry for almost four Taika Waititi, handing out Original decades, it is hard to pinpoint a and Adapted Screenplay to the two singular role. I don’t think I will directors. Joon-ho’s “Parasite” was remember her for her role of of course the big winner of Nora. However, I do know the night, but winning the that winning this award award early into the show will only secure her spot was a good indication to on the Mount Rushmore fans that their dark horse of actresses in the past 50 favorite had a chance of years. racking up some wins Best Actor and Actress throughout the night. felt predetermined before For Waititi, adapting the award show even Christine Leunens’ book started. For the past month, “Caging Skies” into what Joaquin Phoenix has been on would become “Jojo Rabbit” every award stage imaginable, had its own special moment, accepting congratulations on especially when you consider his performance in “Joker.” the preserved snub in the Best Renée Zellweger similarly has Director category. only been receiving praise for In 2019, Laura Dern had his role “Judy.” While her film some of the most critical roles was not nearly as successful of in pop culture. From playing Phoenix’s, she also had the job Renata Klein in “Big Little Lies” of creating a character that fans to Marmee March in “Little from across the spectrum could Women,” Dern’s finger prints are agree stayed true to the real-life all over form. movies and television. But no Portraying the legendary role was more impactful than actress Judy Garland is arguably playing Nora Fanshaw more challenging than in “Marriage Story.” The doing a Heath Ledger most surprising part impersonation. This was of the award was not Zellweger’s second Oscar the fact that she won, win and Phoenix’s first. but the fact that it was This was the third time her first Academy however that Phoenix Award. The only had been up for real challenge Best Actor, proving in my eyes was once again we live her “Marriage in a society where Story” co-star third time is the Scarlett Johansson charm. for her role in “Jojo ILLUSTRATION BY MOLLY GONZALES None of the wins Rabbit.” To me, tastes as sweet or
means as much as "Parasite’s" win. Winning Best International Film, the first movie to win since the category’s name had been changed, was a no brainer. Winning Best Screenplay, beating out other Best Picture nominations (“Marriage Story,” “1917” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”), was huge for Bong Joon-ho and his producers and cast. Once Joon-ho walked away with Best Director there was a real hope that this movie could win Best Picture. Coming into the night, critics, media and fans all were split between “1917” and “Parasite” to win the night’s biggest prize. With "Parasite" walking away with Best Picture and only a year after “Green Book” left so many movie fans at home scratching their heads, it further advances movie making all over the globe. If a movie from South Korea with a moderately under-the-radar director and a hard no dub movie can win Best Picture, then young filmmakers all over the globe can feel like their creative projects and idea can also make an impact. At the end of the day, that’s what award shows are supposed to do. Award talented people for their work and give other young talents a blueprint of how to get to that same platform. So were the Academy Awards good? There was still a lack of diversity in all the major categories and well-known female directors snubbed at every turn. Fan favorites like Jennifer Lopez and Adam Sandler, who both had breakout projects this film season, were left off the ballots and the show is still about an hour longer than it needed to be. The Oscars will always be the litmus test of “How do Americans feel about award shows,” and without seeing any television number yet, I can only assume people still care about the awards. So yes, the Awards were good this year, but the bar isn’t very high overall for next year’s crop of films.
The University Star
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 | 5
LIFE & ARTS
Laura Figi Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
TELEVISION
Texas State alumni to take on Amazon By Ivy Sandoval Life & Arts Reporter In a digital era of streaming and bingewatching, people are always looking for new shows. Two Texas State alumni will soon have a new show coming to Amazon Prime Originals. Texas State alumni Shane Scott and César Manzanera took on to direct the 8-episode project, "Father Militant." The action thriller series follows a war veteran, now priest, who becomes a church militant. Over the past two years, Scott and Manzanera have been filming the first four episodes of the series in the Los Angeles and San Bernardino areas. Scott, main director of the series, is a San Marcos native who graduated from Southwest Texas State in 1990 with a degree in criminal justice. Despite having a degree in criminal justice, Scott decided to take an alternate route in his career and has seen much success in the film industry. Post college, Scott started working on cars, which then led him into the movie industry working on sets. Scott has worked on multiple films including “Spy Kids” and “XXX,” which starred Vin Diesel, as well as his own independent films. “You gotta do what you enjoy doing and money will come," Scott said. "Focus on what you enjoy doing. Doing what I love opened up all sorts of doors for me.” Scott said he believed in "Father Militant" so much when it was pitched to him that after expense battles with
a production company, he decided to finance the project himself. “I wasn’t originally supposed to be doing it for me but I thought it would be fun and it tells a good story so I ended up owning it,” Scott said. “One thing about working with Amazon is that it also gives more opportunities for people to put their work out there.” Scott said although making films is a lot of work, the work makes the whole process worth it. “For some reason, I’m kind of addicted to it and I enjoy storytelling,” Scott said. “I enjoy creating these worlds that don’t necessarily exist and tell some type of moral story.” Manzanera, assistant director of the series, graduated from Texas State with a degree in exercise and sports science pre-physical therapy in 2017, but always knew his passion was in acting and film. Manzanera worked closely with Scott traveling back and forth to California to help bring "Father Militant" to life while maintaining his job as a video creator for the city of Austin. Manzanera said while the series still needs a lot of work, he is excited about the outcome. "I think it definitely has a shot," Manzanera said. "We're just taking it slow and making sure it has the right stuff to pitch to Amazon. It's about making something people really want to watch the whole way through and want to see more." Scott and Manzanera have worked tirelessly for the past two years to put together a seemingly promising series that will show success.
FROM FRONT VALENTINE'S
ILLUSTRATION BY HANNAH THOMPSON
“We’re opening it up to everyone,” Wright said. “Drag queens, drag kings, cingender, transgender—you don’t have to be in drag. Just come out in your best dress and show us what you got.” This Valentine’s Day celebration will be a throwback for seasoned fans of the bar and will feature some queens from years past, including Gia De La Flor. More information on this event can be found on Stonewall’s Facebook or Instagram page, @stonewallsmtx.
FOR THE VALENTINE:
ARTISTIC
The San Marcos Art Center is hosting its Hot Date Valentine’s market on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 6-9 p.m. Attendees are promised a very hot experience. Michael Fisher of Fish Daddy Glass will be hand-blowing glass and giving a live demonstration at the market. If
art interests you, this is a good time for you and a loved one to pick up a new, exciting hobby together.
FOR THE VALENTINE:
CASUAL
If you want a romantic night out but you want to keep it low-key, EVO Entertainment, located at 1180 Thorpe Lane, is selling tickets for a date night dinner-and-a-movie package. The package includes a bottle of house wine or champagne, an appetizer, two entrees and a dessert but does not include the movie tickets. The package is $50 and you must be 21 years of age or older to buy tickets. The event will be Friday, Feb. 14 and tickets can be purchased on its website. ...And if you do nothing else this Valentine’s Day, remember to tell your friends and family that you care!
Assistant Director of "Father Militant" César Manzanera (front) and Shane Scott (back) work on set of the show. in Los Angeles, California. PHOTO COURTESY CÉSAR MANZANERA
Mark Alvarez, Texas State alumnus, is the CEO and owner of Light Wings Promotions. Alvarez was asked to help promote the series and helped hold a screening in town at the Embassy Suites Jan. 25. Over 100 guests attended the event. Alvarez said he is excited about the premiere of the promising show. He said it felt special returning to San Marcos to showcase such a big project done by Bobcats. “I think it’s really humbling for Shane
Scott to return to town and showcase his work within a community he’s really familiar with,” Alvarez said. “It brings a special sense of pride as a Bobcat.” With the series heading into postproduction, Scott is hoping to hold one more screening at Texas State to get students' opinions on the pilot episode before producing the next four episodes in order to release on Amazon. There is no definitive premiere date yet.
The University Star
6 | Tuesday, February 11, 2020
OPINIONS
Laura Nunez Opinions Editor staropinion@txstate.edu
Opinions expressed in The University Star are not necessarily those of Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Student Publications Board.
STREAMING
ENVIRONMENT
Binge-watching is a direct source of cultural dissonance By Haley Schmidt Opinion Columnist
ILLUSTRATION BY JADEN EDISON
Texas State should commit to bird-proofing campus facilities By Toni Mac Crossan Opinion Columnist As you walk through campus today, consider what birds see—a green live oak tree to roost in, a perch atop the Comal building, a delicious bug on the sidewalk, endless clear blue sky—oh wait! Oh no! That’s a window! Window strikes—when birds collide with glass—are one of the biggest dangers to wild birds in the U.S. According to the American Bird Conservancy, about one billion birds are killed in window strikes every year. That number is so large that it is only beaten out by one other danger—feral and domestic cats— as the biggest bird killer. You have probably witnessed a bird strike, or found a dead bird at the bottom of a building. Students have found several here on campus including the House Wrens, Yellow Warblers, Cliff Swallows and more. Often, these birds are in the process of migration along the Central Flyway, one of the four major migratory paths birds take across the U.S. This flyway brings birds right through central Texas, including San Marcos and Austin, on their way to and from their established breeding grounds. Texas State administrators often tout their dedication to following green building guidelines, making campus structures energy-efficient, planting trees, recycling and collecting rainwater. However, none of their current sustainability practices make room for birds—ironic on a campus known for its strong Wildlife Biology program and commitment to research on endangered bird species like the Golden-cheeked Warbler. Administrators are proud of their new LBJ Student Center expansions, which are necessary to keep up with a growing
student body with diverse needs. However, this expansion comes with a vast expanse of reflective glass windows—a death trap for birds. Texas State is proud of its star alumnus Lyndon B. Johnson’s legacy, but one of the best ways to acknowledge his impact as president, which included signing over 300 pieces of conservation legislation, would be to make his namesake building not only a great place for people, but a great place for nature. The windows are already installed in the expanded student center, and there are countless more windows across our large campus, but it is never too late to begin birdproofing. The American Bird Conservancy details several guidelines for bird proofing, as does conservationist Heidi Trudell, author of the Just Save Birds blog. Paracord can be stretched vertically across the outside of any window, evenly spaced from 3.5 to 4.25 inches apart. The same may be done with UV-reflective tape, easily available from businesses like CollidEscape, which provides several other solutions for homes and businesses alike. These solutions are relatively cheap and should be included in construction and upkeep budgets as part of Texas State’s commitment to sustainability. Funds from the Environmental Service Fee, also, would be well spent on materials to prevent window strikes. Between booming cat populations, air pollution, habitat loss, fragmentation and loss of critical vegetation, birds face enough hazards without having their migration journey cut short by a painful crash into glass. Through a relatively small step, we can provide a safe space through which birds can fly. - Toni Mac Crossan is a biology graduate student
Prominent streaming services are creating a decline of productivity and growth in our society. Not only does each streaming app promote binge-watching, but it makes being introverted and inactive more acceptable. Binge-watching has become a mainstream term that means a person will sit and watch a rapid succession of content. What started as a simple form of relaxation has taken a dangerous turn to obsession. Recent studies show that ages 18-34 defined binge-watching TV as consuming five hours of content in a single sitting. Five hours would be a realistic understatement considering the fact that students thrive off of sitting around and doing absolutely nothing of value. The act of binge-watching is so acceptable in today's society that an overwhelming 73% of Americans report they binge-watched videos, either on TV or another device.The acceptance of such an unproductive hobby is making people, especially the younger generations, far less active and engaged. Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ were created with specific algorithms designed to entice viewers to stay engaged for as long as possible. The algorithms include features that allow viewers to skip intros or instantly plays the next episode unless manually told otherwise. These systems are used to offer ease in viewing content with little to no interruptions. The less people are reminded that the outside world still exists the more likely they will sit and consume. The reason this is so problematic is that it never exposes users to anything outside what these streaming applications offer. People technically never even have to watch anything new and could forever watch the same popular shows on a continuous loop. Doing this has proven to create a feeling of stability and comfort for people who want to only be exposed to what they know. However, they fail to recognize they are crippling themselves from any type of growth. Not just physical growth from finding other active hobbies, but mental growth from a lack of new content being brought in to their system. College students are directly related to this binge-watching phenomenon as they sit within the primary age group affected. They can stop this trend and gain far more valuable habits to dedicate their time and energy toward. Additionally, more than 60% of students do not get enough physical activity as it is. A fact that is exacerbated by the large percentage of students also spending the time available not sitting in a class, binging streaming sites daily. It is imperative to stop the binge culture and start getting more active. Students need to engage in productive activities again and make a real attempt to grow as people in ways that bring out individuality, rather than cohesive interests and ideals. - Haley Schmidt is a English senior
ILLUSTRATION BY REBECCA HARRELL
DATING
Stop being afraid to define the relationship By Amira Van Leeuwen Assistant Opinion Editor Society has developed a fear of defining a relationship and that needs to be addressed. Dating is a thing of the past. Now all that matters is the online relationships you make before you meet someone. The idea of dating can fluctuate in meaning across different cultures and people. As college students tread across campus, they may hear hushed phone calls and conversations relaying stories of someone's latest hookup adventure. To campus communities, this is the definition of dating; what a tragedy. In the 1950s, dating was straight to the point. Men courted women and pursued them until they developed a relationship. Back then dating was a process that exhibited mutual respect and loyalty. Impatience and selfish needs are clouding the minds of this generation and making it impossible for them to commit to anything real. As one dives into the complexity of what it truly means to date someone the results are always unclear. However, the answer to dating in America often leads to joining hook-up apps like Tinder, Bumble or Grindr. Despite the fast gaining popularity of these apps, it has become increasingly more difficult to establish a human connection. Dating apps are rarely used for their designed purpose— to meet someone, go out on
ILLUSTRATION BY REBECCA HARRELL
a date and find love. Instead, these apps are primarily used as a loophole to hookup. Although the attitude surrounding online dating has grown more positive in recent years, the digital realm is a broad universe where young adults meet, date and break-up with romantic partners months, sometimes weeks, at a time. Advancing technology is one benefactor contributing to the disappearance of classic dating. There is no longer an incentive to go out and meet someone new.
Instead, a person is more likely to find their next one night stand or short-lived relationship based on looks, a Spotify link and a short biography that includes a lame, sexually charged pick-up line. College students no longer have an interest in meeting someone new and getting to know them. The terms and conditions one must agree to in order to be considered dateable predominately revolve around sex. In fact, sex is often expected upfront when hanging out for the first few times. After this event occurs a person is usually left wandering in a purgatory realm of a relationship. Questions arise between those who are involved which leads to the common conclusion that they are just not ready to date. Pride and ignorance aid the disillusionment of a real commitment. Thus, the vicious cycle of virtual dating continues. College students need to understand there is more to a healthy relationship than the hook-up culture everyone seems to have adopted. Dating requires more than a simple swipe or super like. People should be able to go on dates without feeling pressured to adhere to the backward thinking dating poses today. The trend of not defining a relationship must come to an end. - Amira Van Leeuwen is a journalism and mass communication sophomore
The University Star
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 | 7
OPINIONS
Laura Nunez Opinions Editor staropinion@txstate.edu
Opinions expressed in The University Star are not necessarily those of Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Student Publications Board.
ACTIVISM
Western philosophy alienates black people By Jacob Montgomery Opinion Columnist The Black college student has more opportunity than ever before to pursue a career in philosophy. Yet, young Black Americans are not showing up in philosophy classrooms because they are unrepresented and pushed aside. The idea that Black people do not care about philosophy is both untrue and unsatisfactory. Black Americans have been routinely dismissed from the larger philosophical conversation. Philosophers have found themselves in an intriguing time and are perhaps on the cusp of moving into another philosophical age or mindset that focuses more around social justice than political and economic justice. Representation being the first issue to face, the Western tradition of philosophy is largely Euro-centric and traces its roots back to Greece. The efforts of Renaissance thinkers to centralize the conversation around European experience has provided incredible thought structures that have helped build Western society, but the Black American has an incredibly unique perspective that has been often overlooked by philosophy. The history of Africans being uprooted and finding themselves all over the world alienated from their heritage need not be repeated for sake of being concise, but speaking from more recent history, Black thought leaders are rarely given the title of philosopher. Angela Davis is largely seen as a political
activist though she studied philosophy under one of the prominent thought leaders at the time, Herbert Marcuse. Her contributions to conversations around prisons, Black Communism and political theory were some of the most important concepts being produced at the time. W.E.B. Du Bois is considered a sociologist. The idea that Du Bois only meant to depict Black experience with no further action to be taken postdepiction is selling him short. James Baldwin, invigorating author, is known for his books and public appearances. The content found in his literature is not simply well-written exaggerations of his experiences, but an analysis of American society focusing on the person-to-person and institutional effects the theory of race has on all ethnicities. Ignoring these philosophers is to deprive the nation of a deeper exploration of oppression and power dynamics as applied to identity. Not seeing familiar faces or even faces that resemble their own is alienating for a Black student and might exhaust whatever passion for philosophical study they might have had. Philosophy is often brought to the masses through dry and outdated mediums. Books are presented as being the main form by which philosophy can be distributed or explained. The writing itself is dry and dense, which only discourages a person who may just have a passing interest in the topics being discussed. Black students are open to the concepts
ILLUSTRATION BY JADEN EDISON
discussed and deal with the same questions all other young Americans deal with, but the mediums by which they receive information and the mediums by which philosophy chooses to distribute information are oftentimes not involved. Many philosophical works are not in audiobook form, there is very little music, film or art that speaks specifically to philosophical concepts and makes them palatable, and Black people often deal with gatekeeping from those already versed in philosophy who prioritize information gathering to achieve moral superiority more than they would be
willing to assist in teaching others. Philosophy, then, has a job to do. It can continue to alienate and discourage Black students from pursuing philosophy because of its overwhelming emphasis on the European perspective and its insistence on remaining within its outdated mediums or it can update its delivery and expand its perspective. In pursuing the latter, we might just discover many more Angela Davis’s. - Jacob Montgomery is a philosophy senior
IDENTITY
DNA test results do not prove race By Delilah Alvarado Opinion Columnist The new fascination with exploring DNA test results is headed into the dangerous territory of being abused to put a false label on someone’s identity. With popular DNA and health services, such as 23 and Me and Ancestry DNA people are now trying to become more aware of what truly makes up their genetic code. DNA tests are meant to inform society of their genetic relative background and they often even present a different ethnicity than originally thought. Discovering unique qualities regarding genetic makeup can be life-altering for some, and might even open up opportunities that seemed unreachable. However, this innovation triggers dangerous, chaotic behavior from a significant percentage of users. Various public controversies showcase what can happen when someone who is not of color claims DNA results that prove otherwise. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, 2020 presidential candidate, exhibited the behavior of a white person claiming a different heritage. In 2018, Warren revealed DNA results to refute
Trump’s claims that she had lied about her lineage. In law school, she identified herself as an American Indian when registering for the Texas bar exam. In fact, she had listed herself as a minority in multiple records since the 80s and she was even named as the first woman of color hired by Harvard Law. It is not surprising that no one ever questioned her claims and even praised her for it. Native Americans are only offered so much in terms of services provided by the government and organizations. When someone who is predominantly white claims Native ancestry, they are taking away from actual Natives who might need these services. As Warren received the title of the first woman of color, it disregarded all other people of color who tried and worked for Harvard Law. Minorities are known to receive little accomplishments and positions compared to white counterparts. So, it begs the question of why a white person would try and fill that gap. People are taking these tests in order to prove they are a minority to gain a type of advantage. A man in Washington took a DNA test so his business could
be claimed as a “disadvantaged business enterprise,” even though his DNA proved he was 90% European. Youtuber Brittany Ann went viral for filming an upset reaction to DNA test results that prove she did not have an Asian background.
"PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO PROVE SOMETHING THAT MINORITIES DO NOT WANT TO ADMIT: THAT THEY ARE MINORITIES." From YouTubers to businesses and presidential candidates, people are trying to prove something that minorities do not want to admit: that they are minorities. Not all minorities suffer, but they do not experience the same privilege as
white people. Statistically, white people do not face as many hardships as other minorities. Native Americans only make up 1.7% of the U.S. population, but the youth have the highest suicide rates among all ethnic groups. Black people are incarcerated 5 times more than the rate of whites. About 20% of Latinx people have been told to “go back to their country.” The list could and does go on. All people of color have to constantly prove they have a place among the white majority in the west, yet the majority want to remove them from their own spaces. The irony of white Americans trying to prove they are apart of a minority group is beyond anyone's comprehension. People should seek out DNA tests for the pure curiosity of knowing their genetic makeup, not for the sake of being manipulative and and claiming minority status. Minority groups have enough issues to face without adding invasive whites to the equation. - Delilah Alvarado is a journalism and mass communication senior
The University Star
8 | Tuesday, February 11, 2020
SPORTS
Claire Partain Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
BASEBALL
Bobcat baseball opens season on Valentine's Day weekend By Claire Paratin Sports Editor
Texas State freshman forward Chelsea Johnson attempts a layup in a matchup against Appalachian State, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, at Strahan Arena.. PHOTO COURTESY TEXAS STATE ATHLETICS
Texas State WBB swept at home over the weekend By Cade Andrews Sports Reporter A week after their first conference win, the Texas State women’s basketball team (8-14, 1-10) went 0-2 on the weekend with losses to Coastal Carolina (19-3, 9-2) and Appalachian State (7-15, 4-7). Despite going into the half with a two-point lead, the Bobcats were outscored by the Mountaineers 36-22 in the second half for a loss at Strahan Arena on Saturday. The Mountaineers started the game hot by jumping out to a 7-2 lead and forcing Texas State to call an early timeout. After the timeout, the Bobcats responded by scoring seven straight points. Texas State then held the Mountaineers to 2-of-10 shooting in the second quarter to take a 25-23 halftime lead. Texas State was outscored 18-7 in the third quarter as the Mountaineers went 7-of-15 from the field (46.7%) and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. Appalachian State never looked back as they kept at least a seven-point lead for the rest of the game. Freshman forward Chelsea Johnson matched her career-high of 14 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, while senior guard Bailey Holle added 10 points and hit the Bobcats' only two three-pointers of the game. Holle and Taylor also grabbed five boards apiece. Holle said that despite their record and losing streak, the Bobcats are not giving up in conference play. “I just want us to keep fighting,” Holle said. “We have had a tough run but we’ve been working really hard so we’re going to keep fighting.” The loss to the Mountaineers came after another home loss against Coastal Carolina on Thursday night. The Bobcats trailed the whole game but cut the lead down to five in the fourth quarter. The Chanticleers were able to close the game on a 6-1 run, however, and took the game 69-59. Sophomore forward Da'Nasia Hood said that the team needs consistency for conference games coming forward. “We need to stop trying to play catch up,” Hood said. “We need to play with that same intensity from the first quarter instead of waiting until the fourth quarter to take off.” At the 3:20 mark in the third quarter, junior forward Jayla Johnson got into shoving match with Coastal’s DJ Williams. Johnson was assessed a double technical and further disqualified while Williams was given a single technical and went to the free-throw line. Head Coach Zenarae Antoine said that the two teams got aggressive because of their willingness to win. “This was a hotly battled game between two competitive teams,” Antoine said. “It got chippy at times but you expect that to happen when Coastal has the opportunity to face some adversity in a team that doesn’t back down.” Hood led the team in scoring with 18 points including a hot hand from the three-point range going 4-5 beyond the arc, while sophomore guard Kennedy Taylor added 14 points to go with her five assists. Senior guard Brooke Holle also finished in double-digits with 12 points. Texas State will travel to Arkansas next weekend for their next two matchups as the Bobcats battle Little Rock on Thursday followed by a test against Arkansas State on Saturday. The Bobcats last fell to Little Rock, who sits at third in the Sun Belt Conference and has won five of their last six games, in a 7866 home loss on Jan. 2. Arkansas State sits at seventh and last beat Texas State in a 56-53 upset after the Bobcats held them without a field goal in the last 5:42 of play. The Bobcats will look to put some more wins under their belt with an away matchup against Little Rock at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday and a Saturday contest at 4 p.m. against Arkansas State. For all things, Texas State women's basketball, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
After six months of preparation following a Sun Belt Championship Tournament upset loss in May, first-year head coach Steven Trout and the Texas State baseball team are set to suit up once again at home on Valentine's Day weekend. The team made history as they became Sun Belt regular-season champions last season for the first time since joining the conference but fell short of a World Series qualification after losing out of the Sun Belt Championship Tournament. Trout, who was appointed the head coaching position this summer after six years of coaching with the program, said he is excited to carry the momentum from last season and keep pushing forward for his first year as head coach. "Friday seemed like a long time away but I'm glad it's here," Trout said. "Coming off last year’s momentum, I'm hoping to continue it and take it even further. That’s the rules of our program now, to get better each year, so it’s a year to keep stepping forward, keep making new goals and keep reaching them." The Sun Belt Preseason poll picked Texas State to finish third in the West Division for this season, a snub that Trout and the team take as further motivation, according to Trout. "To me, it was almost a gift that we were picked to finish third," Trout said. "I think when our guys saw we were picked third on our side after winning last year, that gave us the chip on our shoulder to go prove people wrong especially because guys got snubbed on the AllConference Team (too). Picking us third I think that gives our guys more motivation to show up every day and to prove everybody wrong, and I like when we play that way." The poll also picked redshirt-senior designated hitter Will Hollis to the Preseason All-Sun Belt team as well. Hollis hit .320 as an offensive giant for the program last season, ripping two home runs in the team's upset victory over the University of Texas and knocking in 47 RBIs for the 'Cats. Trout said that Hollis will continue to lead offensively and as a teammate for the Bobcats. "(Hollis) is going to be one of the guys on the team saying, 'Hey, don't let this guy beat you,'" Trout said. "Will's one of those guys who can change up the score really fast and he can actually affect other guys in the lineup because they're going to pitch around him to get to the next guy, but we've packed some good players around him. I look forward to the season he's going to have in his final year." Other returners include senior infielder Jaxon Williams, junior infielder Dalton Shuffield and junior outfielder John Wuthrich, all of which will be invaluable to the team as leaders according to Trout. "One of the biggest keys in sports is having guys who have been around for a long time," Trout said. "They've played a lot of baseball for Texas State, so I'm excited to have these guys back along with the other guys as well. It'll be a fun group to coach, they work hard so I'm excited to watch them finally get out there and play somebody else." Alongside the regular season championshipwinning returners,Trout said that junior infielder Justin Thompson and junior outfielder Isaiah Ortega-Jones are some junior college transfers who could make waves this season. "Those are (two) guys who have all played
really hard in the fall and spring," Trout said. "I'm excited to see what they can do when the lights come on." Although the season has yet to begin, Trout as well as new associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Josh Blakley have already signed 15 recruits for the 2021 season. Trout said the staff looks for hard workers on and off the field to create a successful program. "I think you can see with the recruits they’ve all had success (and) they’ve all been winners," Trout said. "And that’s always something that’s important moving forward. You’re looking for great people who will work really hard, it's more than just what they do on the field, it's also what they do off the field. That’s our goal for recruiting is to never have to have an offseason or rebuilding year. It's just kind of to reload."
"I THINK YOU CAN SEE WITH THE RECRUITS THEY’VE ALL HAD SUCCESS THEY’VE ALL BEEN WINNERS, AND THAT’S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT’S IMPORTANT MOVING FORWARD. YOU’RE LOOKING FOR GREAT PEOPLE WHO WILL WORK REALLY HARD, IT'S MORE THAN JUST WHAT THEY DO ON THE FIELD, IT'S ALSO WHAT THEY DO OFF THE FIELD." -STEVEN TROUT,
FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACH The Bobcats will face Stony Brook as their first competitor in this weekend's series. The Seawolves took home their sixth American East Tournament Championship in 2019 and qualified for the Baton Rouge Regional before falling to No.1 LSU and No.2 Arizona State. As a head coach, winning is always on his mind, but Trout said he is most excited just to see his team get to play after months of preparation. "It's been a long six months, so it's really just about getting to see them play somebody else and watch how they respond to hopefully a bigtime crowd that we get on Friday nights," Trout said. "It’s really about getting to see those guys get to have some fun and get out there. Until somebody else steps into the ring with you, you never know how good you are so it's also kind of just trying to, figure out our rotation, figure out our lineup, is really what I'm looking into. I'm excited to see our guys get after it." Texas State baseball will face Stony Brook in a home series at 6 p.m. Friday (Valentine's Day), 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m. Sunday.
The Texas State baseball team finished the 2019 season with an overall record of 36-20. The Bobcats' season concluded with two losses in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament—one to ULM and the other to Coastal Carolina. PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS
The University Star
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 | 9
SPORTS
Claire Partain Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT MEN'S BASKETBALL The second half, however, was tightly contested. Texas State held the lead for most of the half before slipping late in the period, allowing the Mountaineers to close out the game on a 12-2 run capped off by a three-pointer with 18 seconds left to take the lead. Texas State shot better from the floor than the Mountaineers but managed to only shoot two free-throws the entire game, going 1-2 while Appalachian State made 1321 free-throws. Sophomore guards Mason Harrell and Caleb Asberry both pitched in 11 points and junior guard Marlin Davis had a season-high 11 assists, but it was not enough as three Mountaineers scored in double-digits to lift themselves over the Bobcats. The loss came after the 'Cats increased their win streak to three in a high-scoring 100-63 rout of Coastal Carolina on Thursday evening in Conway, South Carolina. The Bobcats won the game on both sides of the floor, shooting 62.5% from the floor while forcing 16 turnovers and holding the Chanticleers to 37.5% shooting. The Texas State bench made the difference as they outscored Coastal Carolina 4728. Kaspar said that their excellent two-way play led to their victory. "It was just one of those nights where we played well, both offensively and defensively, everyone played well," Kaspar said. "There was a lot of energy and focus. They got it done." Texas State never trailed in this game and came out hot, shooting 4-7 from three in the half and 8-9 from the foul line. The Bobcats went into halftime with a comfortable 48-27 lead. The second half was more of the same as the Bobcats continued their aggressive offense and defense, scoring 52 points in the period while only allowing 36. Kaspar said the team broke the spirit of the Chanticleers. "We came out playing well," Kaspar said. "We shot the ball very well, we were defending them very well. We went up on them 23 at halftime, came out and scored like the first six points and the other team just seemed to melt pretty quick. The other team just lost their desire to play, and that happens sometimes." Five Bobcats scored in double-figures, led by Pearson with 20 including 3-3 from beyond the arc. Sophomore Alonzo Sule had a strong game with 15 points and seven rebounds while sophomore guard Mason Harrell chipped in seven assists to go along with his eight points. Nijal Pearson will be back in the lineup Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. as the Bobcats come back to San Marcos for their next game against the conference-leading Little Rock Trojans. Kaspar kept it short when discussing the game plan against Little Rock and said their goal is simple: play tough as hell. "The game plan is to play tough as hell and win the game," Kaspar said. Little Rock has been playing very well recently and has won seven games in a row. The Trojans have also scored over 80 points four times over this stretch of victories. Little Rock is led offensively by sophomore guard Nowell Marquis who averages an efficient 17.5 points a game behind 90.5% free throw shooting and 38.9% from three. Tip-off against the Trojans is 7p.m. Thursday at Strahan Arena.
SOFTBALL
Bobcats face Osterman on the mound in Olympic loss By Colton McWilliams Assistant Sports Editor Despite associate coach Cat Osterman departing from the Texas State softball team to prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games this season, the two met again-this time in opposite dugouts. The team faced their own coach, who also starts as a pitcher for the Olympic team, in a 5-2 loss against the US National Team on Sunday as part of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida. For both the team and Osterman, a three-time Olympian, the game is one they won’t forget. In the last game of the NFCA Classic Tournament in Clearwater, Florida, Osterman took the mound and faced the players she has coached for the last six years on Sunday. Texas State pitcher Delilah Barrera said the game was unreal for her as she pitched against her childhood heroes. “It was surreal,” Barrera said. “You grew up watching these players when you were little… they (U.S. Olympic players) were our heroes and inspired us to become softball players.” Out of all the players in the game, Osterman said she was the most nervous as she faced her players on the mound.
"IT WAS MORE NERVE-WRACKING THAN ANYTHING, AS A PLAYER, YOU ARE TRYING YOUR BEST BUT YOU ALSO KNOW THESE PLAYERS SEE ME AS COACH O." -CAT OSTERMAN,
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS “It was more nerve-wrecking than anything,” Osterman said. “As a player, you are trying your best but you also know these (Texas State) players see me
as Coach O.” That did not mean Osterman took it easy on her players. Going 3.2 innings, Osterman allowed one hit and struck out eight Bobcat hitters. The lone hit Osterman allowed happened to be a solo home run shot by senior infielder Hailey McKay. Osterman said that the home run was special as she’s seen McKay grow into a softball player in her own right. “I’ve known Hailey since she was 10,” Osterman said. “It’s kind of cool to see her, rather not off of me, but to see her succeed at that level.” According to McKay, it was a memorable moment for her not only to square off with her coach but also to see Osterman pitch. “I’m pretty sure I got lucky on a couple of those hits,” McKay said. “I was speechless seeing Coach Cat in her element on the mound.” At the bottom of the fourth, Texas State was able to escape out of a basesloaded situation, with senior outfielder Christiana McDowell scoring Texas State's second run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Mackay. Team USA scored another run in the sixth to take the game 5-2. After the U.S. Olympic Team defeated Texas State, Osterman celebrated with the Texas State team she helped coach for the last six years in an emotional moment after the game. Osterman was proud of her teams' performances—both of them—and said that the Bobcats will continue to be successful if they keep playing at the level they did on Sunday. “They played the game,” Osterman said. “(Texas State) weren’t scared of playing the U.S. Olympic team…if they can play at this level every single week, there is no telling how far this team can go.” The Bobcats finished the weekend with wins over South Alabama (5-2) and Louisville (7-3) and close losses to 15thranked Kentucky (2-1) and 23rd-ranked Auburn (3-1). Texas State returns home this weekend to play in the Bobcat Classic, kicking off the tournament against I-35 rival UTSA at 6 p.m. Thursday.
10 | Tuesday, February 11, 2020
The University Star
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