March 10, 2020 by The University Star

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TUESDAY MARCH 10, 2020 VOLUME 109 ISSUE 24

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DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

Colorful murals take over city traffic boxes

The Main Point: Our vote should not be silenced

SXSW Canceled: The City of Austin raises health concerns over economic growth

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WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH Women's History Month fact: 58.9% of students at Texas State University are women and 6 out of 10 current college deans are women: Dr. Denise Smart, Dr. Andrea Golato, Dr. Ruth B. Welborn, Dr. Heather Galloway, Dr. Mary C. Brennan, Dr. Christine E. Hailey

COVID-19

Texas State responds to spread of coronavirus By Daniel Weeks Assistant News Editor Campus administrators prepare for the possibility of a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak by introducing guidelines for self-quarantine and cancelling all education abroad programs for spring and summer. As of March 9, nine Texas State students and one professor are in selfquarantine. There are no confirmed

cases of COVID-19 in Hays County. Faculty, staff and students returning from countries assigned Centers for Disease Control travel warning levels 2 or 3 are required to self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to campus. Currently, countries with a level 3 travel health notice include China, Iran, South Korea and Italy, while Japan is level 2. The 10 quarantined individuals returned from Italy, South Korea, Japan and Germany.

Director of the Student Health Center Dr. Emilio Carranco said the 14-day isolation period is important due to health professionals' knowledge of the COVID-19 incubation period and tendency to initially exhibit no symptoms. "Researchers know that the incubation period for coronavirus is two to 14 days, so it's very important that people either self-monitor or selfisolate for that 14-day period to make

sure that they are beyond the incubation period," Carranco said. Texas State’s newly implemented coronavirus information page states it is also required for students with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection and mild to moderate illnesses to self-isolate at their homes to protect the public. The CDC's recommended actions for self-quarantining can be found on its official website. Travel warning SEE COVID-19 PAGE 3

POLLING

MEN'S BASKETBALL Students wait in line to vote on Super Tuesday, March 4, 2020, on the third floor of the LBJ Student Center at Texas State. PHOTO BY JADEN EDISON

LONG LINES AT LBJ Student center polling location packed on Super Tuesday By Chase Rogers News Editor Long lines of students ready to cast their ballot stretched across the LBJ Student Center Tuesday, March 3, with some waiting for five hours before getting to vote for their chosen representatives. According to voter check-in data from the Hays County Election Office, students were casting ballots for five hours past the 7 p.m. cutoff time, with the last voter check-in registered at 11:54 p.m. Of the 49 polling locations in Hays County, the 10 voting machines from the LBJ Student Center were the last ones brought to the Hays County Government Center to be votes tallied.

Testimonials of students' long wait times on social media prompted a response from MOVE Texas, a nonprofit organization that aims to register students on campus to vote, who provided pizza and water as an incentive to keep students waiting in line. Two days following Super Tuesday, Texas Civil Rights Project President Mimi Marziani addressed a letter to Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs to express "alarm over the widespread voter suppression our organization documented across the State of Texas during the March 3, 2020 Primary Elections," later citing Texas State as one of the examples. Rachel Stevens, dance junior, waited in line for over three hours and

believes the county can do a better job to accommodate students attempting to vote. "I think having a polling location on campus is a great accommodation for students, but I do think it should be improved upon," Stevens said. "People need to realize how many students want to vote and put more workers, polling locations and more polling machines here on campus." According to Hays County Elections Administrator Jennifer Anderson, the long lines were a symptom of a majority of students arriving close to the 7 p.m. closing time and the length of the Democratic ballot. "Specific to (the LBJ Student Center polling location), we've looked at those numbers and we know that SEE POLLING PAGE 2

ORDINANCE

Cite-and-release ordinance scheduled for a vote next month By Gabriella Ybarra News Reporter The San Marcos City Council will soThe San Marcos City Council will vote on a proposed ordinance encouraging the use of cite-andrelease. If passed, it will be the first ordinance of its kind in the state of Texas. The council met March 3 to discuss the proposed ordinance for the first time in a public setting. The discussion

comes after being rescheduled in February, eight months after it was first proposed in July of 2019. 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. One of the central questions was whether the proposed ordinance would move forward as an ordinance or resolution. Advocates of the ordinance gathered outside city hall and in the lobby to voice their support for the ordinance pushed by local grassroots organization Mano Amiga. A majority of council members support it as an ordinance, effectively setting the stage for a permanent SEE ORDINANCE PAGE 3

Texas State to play in conference quarterfinal By Aidan Bea Sports Reporter

Texas State senior guard Nijal Pearson attempts a free throw in the fourth quarter against UTA, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, at Strahan Coliseum. PHOTO BY JADEN EDISON

Texas State men’s basketball will host their first-ever Sun Belt Conference Tournament game at 7 p.m. on Wednesday as they face No. 6 Appalachian State to fight for a spot to New Orleans for the semifinals. After winning eight out of the last 10 games and rising to the No. 3 seed in the tournament, the Bobcats rode a wave of momentum to close the regular season. Despite a historic rise and the first backto-back 20-win seasons since the 19771978 and 1978-1979 season, Texas State lost the chance at grabbing the second seed in the conference to South Alabama with a 58-54 loss to finish the regular season. Mason Harrell led the way offensively on 13 points and an efficient 5-6 shooting night, while star senior guard Nijal Pearson went cold in the game, going 3-14 from the field and 1-10 from three. According to Head Coach Danny Kaspar, the loss did not properly show the ‘Cats’ tough performance. “They had four guys in double digits scoring,” Kaspar said. “It was a game where we thought that we would have to scratch and claw and fight hard. We did, we fought. We had a six-point lead with 3:20 to go and we didn't score again and they scored 10 and beat us by four.” The tooth-and-nail South Alabama loss does not reflect Texas State or Pearson’s historic season, however. Wednesday’s game will come a week after Pearson was named Texas State’s first Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. Pearson, who was also named to the First Team All-Sun Belt team, achieved the award after leading the league in scoring and taking Texas State to the third seed in the conference with a 2011 (13-7 Sun Belt) record. This year saw many milestones for Pearson as he reached the program’s alltime leading scorer, became the first Bobcat to score 500 points for three consecutive seasons and became a father to a baby gir; this season. Kaspar said he was proud of Pearson and all of his accomplishments. “We’re very happy for Nijal. He’s worked SEE MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE 8

The University Star

2 | Tuesday, March 10, 2020

NEWS

Chase Rogers News Editor starnews@txstate.edu

SXSW 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

IMAGE COURTESY

News Editor: Chase Rogers starnews@txstate.edu Life & Arts Editor: Laura Figi starlifeandarts@txstate.edu Opinions Editor: Laura Nunez staropinion@txstate.edu

SXSW PHOTO BY SH

ELLEY HIAM

SXSW CANCELED The City of Austin raises health concerns over economic growth By Sonia Garcia Managing Editor

Sports Editor: Claire Partain starsports@txstate.edu Design Editor: Molly Gonzales stardesign@txstate.edu Multimedia Editor: Jaden Edison starmultimedia@txstate.edu Engagement Editor: Isabella Lopes starsengagement@txstate.edu

PR Team Bianca Landry PR Director

Matthew Hawkins PR Specialist

Meredith Martinez PR Specialist

Lynsey Lamoureaux PR Specialist

Trinity Dayton PR Specialist

Nadia Gonzales PR Specialist

Full-Time Staff Director: Laura Krantz, laurakrantz@txstate.edu Student Publications Coordinator: Mayra Mejia, mm1894@txstate.edu

Advertising Staff Amanda Luevano starad1@txstate.edu Jasen Rodriguez starad2@txstate.edu

About Us

Fears of the coronavirus brought Austin city officials to cancel the major technology, film and music festival South by Southwest, just seven days before it starts during spring break. Austin City Mayor Steve Adler declared a “local disaster” and issued an order that effectively cancels SXSW by recommendation of Austin public health officer, director of public health and consultation with the city manager, at a press conference March 6. The cancellation means a great economic hit to the area and artists who rely on SXSW for business growth. The festival had a $356 million impact last year, according to a report released by the company. Austin city officials faced public pressure to cancel SXSW, as it brings in people from all over the world—more than 100,000 last year. Last year, 26% of total attendees were from 105 countries outside of the U.S. The coronavirus (COVID-19) has not reached Travis or Hays counties but multiple people are under quarantine in San Antonio. “(The cancellation) was an effort to carefully consider and weigh the risk of introducing the spread of COVID-19,” Austin Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said at the press conference. “After careful deliberation, there was no acceptable path forward that would mitigate the risk enough to protect our community.” EMS System Medical Director for the City of Austin and Travis County also announced the signing of a companion declaration, applying to festival gatherings that are attracting

individuals of countries of person to person transmission of COVID-19. The declaration lasts seven days and is up for renewal as requested. The cancellation comes just days after Austin public health officials said no good would come from the cancellation of the festival. However, a petition was also posted on a solutions platform, Change, to cancel the event and reached 55,126 supporters. Adler said all ramifications including the economic impact to the city are second to health. “It’s really unfortunate to cancel South by Southwest; it’s a really important event to the city in a lot of ways, tied to who we are in this city,” Adler said. “I look forward to the next generation of South by when it comes back.” Leading up to its start on March 13, public concerns of the global pandemic led multiple major companies and speakers to drop from the festival lineup, including Facebook, Amazon and Apple. SXSW released a statement the same day as the press release stating its devastation to cancel for the first time in 34 years. The company is exploring options to reschedule the event and stated it will be in touch with registrants and clients. “We understand the gravity of the situation for all the creatives who utilize SXSW to accelerate their careers; for the global businesses; and for Austin and the hundreds of small businesses– venues, theatres, vendors, production companies, service industry staff, and other partners that rely so heavily on the increased business that SXSW attracts,” the press release states. “Though it’s true that our March 2020 event will no longer take place in the way that we intended, we continue to strive toward

In the wake of coronavirus concerns, South by Southwest 2020 was canceled; the festival brought in more than 100,000 people last year. IMAGE COURTESY SXSW PHOTO BY DAVE PEDLEY

our purpose–helping creative people achieve their goals.” Texas State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication has been sending a student media “street team” to cover the festival’s events since 2008. This is the first year the selected group of students will not be attending due to the cancellation. Anne Cox, digital media innovation senior, was part of the street team last year and was accepted to be part of the street team for a second time this year. She saw the news about the cancellation on Twitter before being contacted by the program adviser. “Its best we’re being safe,” Cox said. “(Being on the SXSW street team) is an amazing opportunity, so it really is a rough situation that (first time) seniors won’t be able to take part in it.” Austin public health officials will issue a series of public health orders in the coming days to enhance community preparation and protection of COVID-19.

FROM FRONT POLLING

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, March 10, 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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(Left) Students wait in line to vote on Super Tuesday, March 3, 2020, on the third floor of the LBJ Student Center at Texas State. (Right) Texas State students walk past reminder signs about voting at the LBJ Student Center on Super Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in the LBJ Mall. PHOTOS BY JADEN EDISON

almost 40% of the voters that voted there on Election Day came after 5 p.m.," Anderson said. "On top of that, the Democratic ballot was the longest ballot we had and most of the voters that voted there were Democrat." The polling location was subject to deliberation during the 2018 midterm elections, then only maintaining a "temporary" status and facilitating only three days of early voting, excluding Election Day. Amid calls to extend the timeframe and reports of long lines, the Texas Civil Rights Project, coordinating the League of Women Voters of Hays County and MOVE Texas Action Fund, threatened legal action against the county, declaring the limited schedule unconstitutional. Hays County commissioners later voted to expand voting hours on campus, also adding Election Day hours. In 2019, the commissioner court discussed the validity of the location when transitioning to election centers.

The commissioners court, after a scathing public workshop from students concerned the location would be removed, voted to retain the location for early voting and Election Day use. Anderson said students are better accommodated now since she has been in office, but she believes coordination with the university to educate students on how to prepare to vote could benefit wait times. "Since I've been in this office, we now have a full-time early voting site on campus, and an Election Day site. Those are not things that we had in the past," Anderson said. "Students learning how to prepare before they come to the polling location would be very helpful on Election Day, and it would help move things a little faster." Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra has submitted a formal request to have Anderson present before the Hays County Commissioners Court 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 24.

Becerra requested Anderson compile and present information assessing the polling locations, including the number of hours respective polling locations were open, the number of election workers assigned to the polling locations, total hours worked by the election workers at each location, number of voting machines at each location, how many voters used each location and the total number of voters in the county. "Now that the election is over, but still fresh in our minds, I have reached out to (Anderson) for a report on the process with our new machines," Becerra wrote in a Facebook post. "I want to learn what worked and keep that going and identify growth opportunities and make adjustments where needed." Coverage and election results for Super Tuesday are available on The University Star's website.

The University Star

Tuesday, March 10, 2020 | 3

NEWS

Chase Rogers News Editor starnews@txstate.edu

FROM FRONT ORDINANCE

law. If implemented, San Marcos will become the first city in Texas with a cite-and-release ordinance. Among those in favor is Councilman Mark Rockeymoore, chairman of the Criminal Justice Reform Committee, who said he personally spent a night in jail for a class C misdemeanor. “I spent the entire night in jail and it affected a full decade and further of my life,” Rockeymoore said. “So I understand the necessity of having this type of reform.” Mayor Jane Hughson said she would like to continue to monitor officer discretion in cite-and-release cases and review reports after 90 days before considering an official ordinance. “I am not ready to do an ordinance at this point in time and that’s my opinion for today,” Hughson said. However, Hughson said arresting and jailing when not needed is a waste of police time and county funds, and can have a profound effect on an individual’s life. Later, Hughson vowed to make the reform as effective as possible if it were to move forward as an ordinance. "If an ordinance is to be, I am going to work really hard to make it as good as it can be," Hughson said. Concerns were raised over some of the qualifying misdemeanors for cite-andrelease, specifically criminal mischief, graffiti, theft of property and theft of services, as all of them involve damage to citizens or their property. Additionally, the council discussed whether to keep the word "only" in the ordinance where it lists specific circumstances in which an officer can make an arrest for a cite-eligible offense. Hughson and council member

Texas State applied sociology senior August Kutac (left) holds a sign advocating for a new cite and release ordinance, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at a city council meeting at San Marcos City Hall. PHOTO BY REBECCA HARRELL

Ed Mihalkanin were concerned the inclusion of the word would be too limiting of officer discretion. However, the council ultimately decided to keep the list of qualifying misdemeanors and the original verbiage as-is. 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. The data showed that 543 arrests for low-level offenses were made in 2018, 146 of which were eligible for cite-andrelease. This is comparable to 398 arrests in 2019, 134 of which were eligible. A total of 22 citations were given in 2018

San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson (center) listens to citizens comments as San Marcos citizens listen outside of the Council Chamber Tuesday, March 4, 2020, at the City Council meeting. PHOTO BY REBECCA HARRELL

and 31 in 2019. Additionally, in September 2019,

Hays County released data showing that of the 72 eligible cases that involved a black individual in 2018, SMPD arrested in all instances. According to Mano Amiga, members of the council promised to allow the grassroots organization to be included in the Criminal Justice Committee. On March 3, Austin City Council Member Greg Casar, sponsor of the Freedom City Policy - which aims to stop both arrests and citations for lowlevel offenses - sent a letter to the San Marcos City Council at the request of Mano Amiga detailing the policy's success and the importance of including members of the community into their community stakeholder meetings. Mano Amiga Policy Director Eric Martinez said although he is pleased with the outcome of the council's discussion, he hopes they will fall back on their previous commitment. "Mano Amiga appreciates that council members have, at long last, followed through in bringing the ordinance to a vote, and we're especially pleased by Mayor Hughson's dignified pledge to make the ordinance as effective as possible," Martinez said. "However, we'd also appreciate them honoring their commitment to us last summer to bring Mano Amiga onto the committee, given our expertise on these issues." The council is expected to vote on the proposed ordinance after spring break April 7, 2020. San Marcos City Council meets every first and third Tuesday at 6 p.m. of each month. The agenda can be accessed through the Agenda Center on the City of San Marcos website

FROM FRONT COVID-19 updates can also be seen on the CDC Travel Warning site. The university announced March 6 the cancellation of all education abroad programs for spring break and summer 2020. This is the latest of Texas State's enactments to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19. Director for International Affairs Rosario Davis said the Education Abroad Office is prioritizing senior students receiving the credits they need from the cancelled abroad trips. "We asked graduating seniors to immediately speak with their advisers," Davis said. "Advisers will be looking into how we can make sure that the credits they need are met. It's definitely a high priority concern that we're working on." There are approximately 25 exchange students currently abroad in a variety of locations, said Davis. Despite COVID-19's spread in Central Texas, no cases of the virus in Hays County have been confirmed. In a March 5 press release, Hays County Local Health Department Epidemiologist Eric Schneider stated: "No cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Hays County, and only a few individuals who believe they may have been exposed to a confirmed case are in self-quarantine and are being monitored as a precaution to protect our community.” As of March 9, there is no community spread in the state, but Rice University

became the first Texas university to issue cancellations of in-person classes in response to an employee testing positive for COVID-19. Rice's in-person classes and undergrad teaching labs are temporarily cancelled for the week of March 9-13, although the university's official statement said: "Rice is preparing for the possibility of delivering the majority of its classes remotely if that should prove necessary." In the case of a COVID-19 outbreak on campus, changes to class schedule and campus procedures are possible, according to Carranco. The extent of these potential changes have not been publicly communicated as of March 9. An email to Texas State faculty from Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Gene Bourgeois recommended preparations for potentially transitioning in-person classes to an online program. The email states: "Recent events related to COVID-19 have many departments and faculty discussing strategies for the continuity of teaching in the event that circumstances temporarily disrupt our ability to deliver face-to-face instruction." Bourgeois advocated for faculty to prepare for such circumstances even if the university does not need to immediately use the plans. A "30-day contingency for teaching remotely" was recommended. Carranco said the university keeping COVID-19 off campus is dependent

Texas State's self-quarantine guidelines are more strict than Centers of Disease Control recommendations due to the large size of the student population. PHOTOS BY JADEN EDISON

on the community's cooperation and responsibility. "It is very important that we all be responsible members of our Bobcat community, because if we don't follow the guidance that's been shared with us about, you know, staying away if you're sick and making sure that you self isolate... if you don't do those things, then no matter how much we try to do at the university level, we won't be able to keep the virus out of our campus,"

Carranco said. Individuals concerned they may have been exposed to COVID-19 are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider or the Hays County Local Health Department at 512.393.5520. For updates on COVID-19 in the area, visit the Texas State official coronavirus web page: https://www.healthcenter.txstate. edu/coronavirus.html. News Editor Chase Rogers contributed to this article.

The University Star

4 | Tuesday, March 10, 2020

LIFE & ARTS

Laura Figi Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu

TRAFFIC BOXES

Colorful murals take over city traffic boxes Nation said it is heartwarming to be able to give back to the community she was part of. She said it feels great being able to influence the community in such a creative way. "Having lived in San Marcos, it's a part of me," Nation said. "I feel like I have left some kind of footprint in the city." Each of Nation's pieces will be printed and applied to the traffic boxes by the San

By Brianna Benitez Assistant Life & Arts Editor San Marcos intersections are getting a makeover. What are now plain, metal traffic control boxes will soon be transformed into colorful artwork that is bound to make traffic jams more tolerable. San Marcos announced a contest for the city's Traffic Control Box Art program December 2019. The contest is part of the city's Call for Artists project which encourages artists to submit designs for public artworks such as murals. The Traffic Control Box Art program invites artists to create mini murals that would be placed on three traffic control boxes along Ranch Road 12 at the intersections of Holland Street, Hughson Street and Craddock Avenue. Of the 80 applications submitted nationwide, 60 met the requirements and were reviewed by the San Marcos Arts Commission. The Traffic Control Box Art program was created to enhance the San Marcos community by adding works of art throughout the streetscape. San Marcos Art Coordinator Trey Hatt said the traffic box mini murals function to beautify public spaces in the community and decrease the instances of graffiti around the city. "If you put designs on a blank space or wall people tend to avoid vandalizing it with graffiti," Hatt said. "They won’t usually mess with something that has art or a cool design on it." Hatt said San Marcos actively looks at other art programs in neighboring cities and towns for inspiration on public art projects. "It's even better when other cities can look at the cool things we’re doing and take it to their cities too," Hatt said. " I think we’ve got a really good two-way flow of ideas and inspiration going on among cities in the area." Funding for the Traffic Control Box Art is provided by the city's permanent art fund. Hatt said the fund is supplied by the Hotel Occupancy Tax that the city receives from hotels in the area. "That money is used to help enhance tourism in the city and one of those uses that we can use that money for is public art," Hatt said. Since the majority of traffic control boxes in the city are owned by the Texas Department of Transportation, Hatt said only boxes owned by San Marcos can be eligible for the Traffic Control Box Art

"HAVING LIVED IN SAN MARCOS, IT'S A PART OF ME, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE LEFT SOME KIND OF FOOTPRINT IN THE CITY." A painting of a turtle decorating a traffic control box sits, Thursday, March 5, 2020, at the intersection of Sessom Drive and Peques Street. Artists who participated in the contest derived inspiration from local wild and aquatic life to depict the San Marcos environment. PHOTO BY HANNAH THOMPSON

program. The city will announce another Call for Artists submission contest for three traffic control boxes later this spring. The Traffic Control Box Art program began in 2016. There are currently five traffic control boxes that have been designed for various intersections throughout the city including the intersections of Sessom Drive and Comanche Street, Sessom Drive and N LBJ Drive, Sessom Drive and Peques Street, Centerpoint Road and the Tanger Premium Outlets and McCarthy Lane and Leah Avenue. When Ksenia Nation, an Austin-based architect, received the news that she was selected as this year's Call for Artists recipient, she said it felt amazing to know she would be able to give back to the San Marcos community. Nation submitted three thematically related designs for three traffic boxes located on Ranch Road 12. All three of her submissions were selected and will be digitalized and printed on a vinyl wrap. Nation's enthusiasm for art bloomed at a young age. At 11 years old, Nation enrolled in art school and primarily focused on drawing and painting. After an interest in wanting to create a more physical form of art, Nation moved to Texas from Russia to pursue a

-KSENIA NATION,

AUSTIN-BASED ARCHITECT

An electrical box depicts the face of a man, Thursday, March 5, 2020, at the corner of Sessom Drive and North LBJ Drive. The Traffic Control Box Art project calls for three more decorated traffic control boxes along Ranch Road 12. PHOTO BY HANNAH THOMPSON

career in architecture. For the past nine years, Nation has lived in Texas. She lived in San Marcos 2013-2015. "I thought if I could work on buildings then technically I would be making tangible art," Nation said. Being an architect, Nation said she felt a responsibility to submit a series of work for the Traffic Control Box Art program that not only embodied the local environment but incorporated references to architectural design. All three designs are watercolor based and feature vibrant shades of pink, purple, blue, yellow and orange. Digital images of local aquatic wildlife such as turtles and salamanders are placed throughout the designs. Although each piece is different, they all evoke the blend of nature and city. "I hope that when people drive by the traffic box and see a fish or a turtle they will realize that nature is all around us," Nation said. "Even though you are sitting in traffic, there’s still nature all around you."

Marcos based graphic design company, Lucky Sky Graphics. Jeannene Herber, owner of Lucky Sky Graphics, said the digital format of Nation's designs will be enlarged and printed on material that is identical to vehicle wrap. Heber said the printing process takes about an hour and the actual application of the wrap to the traffic boxes can take anywhere from two to three hours. Lucky Sky Graphics last printed and applied three traffic box designs for the city at the end of 2018. Herber said the process of applying the design to the traffic boxes is fun due to the positive response from the community. "People that are driving by will honk and wave," Herber said. "Everyone is very appreciative of it and it's really a lot of fun to be involved." If the weather is decent, Herber said Lucky Sky Graphics will apply the artwork to the traffic control boxes this week, if not by mid-March. She said it is a neat experience being able to work with the Call for Artists program and transform a plain object such as a traffic box with meaningful artwork. "We have a lot of artists here in San Marcos and it's nice to showcase them," Herber said. For more information on the Call for Artists program visit https://www. sanmarcostx.gov/486/Calls-for-Artists.

DRAG

Mars is out of this world Local drag queen redefines the San Marcos scene By Laura Figi Life & Arts Editor Which planet is the hottest, Mercury or Venus? Trick question: it’s Mars. Since his early years in high school, 21-year-old theater senior Jacob Immel has been honing his craft and building an audience doing what he loves: performing. What started as sneaking makeup from his mother and playing dress-up as a child quickly evolved to becoming Mars, the darling of the San Marcos drag scene. Mars, named after the Roman god of masculinity, has been performing all over central Texas since 2016. She got her start via Instagram and performing at San Marcos' own Stonewall Warehouse on Friday and Saturday nights. Now, Immel’s Mars account has over 5,000 followers. “People make me feel so important when I’m in drag—not even my friends, but the public,” Immel said. “To me, that’s so not a lot because I aspire to have a much bigger audience.” He’s part of what he calls the “RuPaul Baby Boom,” a group of kids who discovered the show “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in the early stages and created a booming population of up-and-coming young drag queens. “As soon as I started watching season five, I was like, ‘okay, that’s what I want to do,’” Immel said. “It was just a matter of finding out that it’s an actual thing people do in the world and that I can do that too.” Since turning 21, Mars has been able to start performing at venues in Austin, including Mondays and Fridays at Sellers Underground at 11 p.m., Oil Can Harry's and Volstead Lounge periodically and Mars is now cast member for Vixen's Brunch at Javelina. Matt Canon, who performs as Tequila Rose, got his start performing alongside Mars at Stonewall Warehouse. They often performed as a troupe, called the Haus of Heaven, which also consisted of Jakob

“Cherry Haze” Sevier and Tripp “Sandy C Biscuit” Spires. Now, Tequila Rose has over 1,300 followers on Instagram. Canon said he thinks Mars will be successful because she knows what she wants and thinks outside the box by connecting old drag to modern drag. “She’s a damn star and she’s electrifying,” Canon said. “She knows she’s on top of the world and she can do anything she wants to do in a wig and a pair of eight-inch heels.”

"SHE’S A DAMN STAR AND SHE’S ELECTRIFYING, SHE KNOWS SHE’S ON TOP OF THE WORLD AND SHE CAN DO ANYTHING SHE WANTS TO DO IN A WIG AND A PAIR OF EIGHT-INCH HEELS." -MATT CANON, DRAG QUEEN

Like most prospective queens, the path to stardom has been an uphill climb due to factors like difficulty building an audience in a small area and the struggle to feel just as important when not in drag. Immel said the hardest part of entertaining an audience is they only get to see Mars from the surface level and never interact with her. “A lot of people at Stonewall, they know Mars,” Immel said. “I don’t act the same way in drag; I’m still very much me while in drag and Mars is very much still part of me, but they don’t know Jacob.” However, the struggle does not end there. Canon, Sevier and Spires all said that it can be very scary to start up a career in drag, especially when it comes to

Mars looks through the bars of the cage before a performance, Saturday, March 2, 2019, at Stonewall Warehouse. PHOTO BY LAURA FIGI

buying the essentials. “When I first started drag, I was so scared to go buy makeup and go buy wigs and stuff in public,” Spires said. “That took a lot for me to get over. It was like a second coming-out.” Despite all the hardship, Immel said he is lucky to have been born into a supportive family and doesn’t really remember what living without Mars was like. He someday hopes to make it onto “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” the show that started it all. “At the end of the day I just want people to enjoy what I do,” Immel said. “I think a lot of people just need a drag queen in their life.” Mars can be found on Twitter and Instagram @ marsduh.

The University Star

Tuesday, March 10, 2020 | 5

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.

EQUALITY

Trans athletes are not the problem By Delilah Alvarado Opinion Columnist Competitive sports try and promote a fair and equal competition, but there is obvious discrimination toward women. From football, to wrestling and weightlifting, gender should not matter when it comes to competitive sports. Women can compete in any sport or activity that a man does, and vice versa. Unfortunately, competing with one's preferred gender is not always that easy. Competitive sports thoroughly supervise hormone levels for competitions to ensure fairness within competitors. The rules and regulations vary at all levels and that is both discriminatory and unfair. Some trans people are allowed in certain sports while some are not. The fine line needs to be concretely defined. In 2019, The International Association of Athletics Federations said that women with high levels of testosterone had to take medications to suppress it or else they would be barred from competing. Caster Semenya, South African Olympic champion, challenged this in court after she was told to take suppressive medication or else she would be barred from running. She was unable to win her case and now women who want to compete in the Olympics must take suppressants if their testosterone levels are too high, regardless if the levels are occurring naturally or due to any hormone therapy or transitions. Semenya is only one of many women who have been asked to prove their sex to compete. Throughout the decades, the Olympic Games have faced controversies around trans athletes or sex verification. Women in the past have been subjugated to chromosome therapy, genital mutilation and sterilization. While the Olympics have rules regarding appropriate hormone levels, lower competitions usually do not,

ILLUSTRATION BY JADEN EDISON

especially at local levels. In Texas, a person can only compete in a division based on the sex represented on a birth certificate. Mack Beggs, a trans male from Cypress Trinity High School was barred from competing in the boys division for wrestling and had to compete in his weight class in the girls division. Female competitors and their parents were outraged by the unfair "advantage" and many competitors forfeited in apparent fear of injury. Beggs simply wanted to wrestle. He was taking testosterone and asked to compete with boys, yet he was barred from competing that way. The state policy was the problem, not him.

MAIN POINT

Our vote should not be silenced By The Editorial Board The voting machines at the LBJ Student Center were the last of 49 polling locations in the county to be turned in to be tallied, with students waiting upward of four hours to cast their ballots. This fact showcases a system that is broken and fails to provide students with the means to exercise their rights. In a just representative democracy, elections administrators are tasked to create a system by which most people can vote with as little resistance as possible. This is a notion that Hays County must implement in order to better serve its community—both students and longtime residents. The LBJSC was granted a temporary polling location for three days of early voting in the 2018 midterm elections, excluding Election Day. After the third day of early voting, it was obvious the university polling location would need an extended timeframe as long lines were wrapping around the building. Overwhelming cries to extend the duration of in early voting were further fueled in an email correspondence from North Hays GOP President Wally Kinney urging the community to vote against the voting extension for the students of Texas State. Kinney claimed that allowing the extension would benefit the Democratic party. He was not completely wrong in raising concerns. In 2020, according to data from the Hays County Election Office, 94% of the people who voted at the LBJSC voted on a Democratic ticket. “If we are to change the rules in the middle of the game, it favors Democrats and we sure don’t want that in this—what is going to be—a close election as it is,” Kinney wrote in the email. The fact that Kinney wanted to make it harder for the student body to vote because it would benefit the Democratic party is an act of blatant political partisanship.

Democracy in America should be coddled, not disrespected. The Texas Civil Rights Project sent a demand letter to Hays County threatening legal action if they did not allow the extension and claiming complete removal of the polling location would be unconstitutional. Hays County commissioners quickly voted to expand voting hours on campus, also adding Election Day hours. Voting is a right, and accessibility should be required, not demanded. Hays County saw voter turnout in 2018 that surpassed turnout in 2016— this outcome should have served as an indicator for elections to come. Nearby universities do not struggle to accommodate their student populations with on-campus polling locations, including The University of Texas, which holds roughly 13k more students than Texas State. Its two on-campus polling locations moved without significant issues and were aided by extra polling booths and check-in resources. The Texas State student body makes up more than half of the San Marcos population. Even still, some members of the San Marcos community would rather students avoid voting because on average they only inhabit the city for four years. Although the sentiment is endearing, the fact that four years accounts for a presidential term should relay that that time span means something. For four years, the student body makes San Marcos their home. We pay taxes and contribute to the community businesses and events. Hays County should actively be working to make sure a delay like that of the LBJSC does not happen again. Whether they implement another location on campus or merely work harder on obtaining the proper resources to ensure the voting process runs smoother, a change must be made. For four years, we are here and that matters. Our vote matters.

MAIN PO NT

Said policies fail many athletes. Fallon Fox, for example, became the first transgender athlete in the MMA, but not out of her own volition. Fox had to out herself after wanting to fight in the women’s division of mixed martial arts and being questioned about whether her remaining birth-given gender characteristics gave her an advantage against female opponents. Since the sport of martial arts is inherently violent, it is valid to know if there is any chance that a transitioned woman would have an unfair advantage. However, Fox had been transitioned fully for years before she started fighting. The concern of an unfair advantage should have never occured. Cyd Zeigler, OutSports sports news website cofounder, has covered trangender issues in sports for decades and believes the process of taking estrogen and transitioning over years is able to block any male benefits that might come out in these sports. Women are the constant target, whether they are getting the beating or whether they have to prove they do not have an advantage. Cisgendered women have faced a lot of scrutiny for just seeming more masculine than average. But if an apparent trans male wants to compete with men, it is not always allowed. Hormone tests need to be less invasive to cisgendered women, but able enough to prove that a trans women can compete on the same level. Trans women and men must be able to show they can compete in the division they want, but they should be provided with concise rules to follow. Athletic organizations need to reevaluate the rules for competition and find a balance on inclusivity. Remaining unclear with their guidelines has led to discrimination toward women in the sport and that is unacceptable. - Delilah Alvarado is a journalism senior

The University Star

6 | Tuesday, March 10, 2020

OPINIONS

Laura Nunez Opinions Editor staropinion@txstate.edu

ENVIRONMENT

MENTAL HEALTH

Emotional abuse is still abuse By Delilah Alvarado Opinion Columnist While violent abuse is becoming a more prevalent issue in society, emotional abuse is being ignored. According to Break the Cycle, 57% of college students reported having been in an abusive dating relationship while in college. Due to that finding, it is important that college students recognize isolation, gaslighting and control as common signs of emotional abuse in order to prevent emotional abuse. Although emotional abuse may not be visible, it causes long-term effects that can be damaging and can lead to violent abuse if it continues to go unrecognized. Emotional abuse, although subtle, is manipulative. Emotional abuse includes various types of bullying and controlling behaviors that negatively impact the victim in a relationship. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, emotional abuse can include threats and make one feel fearful of their abuser. When a person notices physical violence, an outsider will say something or notify an appropriate source to prevent any more harm. But, 57% of college students report that emotional abuse is difficult to notice until the victim speaks out. Once the victim brings attention to their emotional abuse, it may not sound like a big deal even though that is not the case. Millions of victims of domestic violence report their abuse, but not necessarily emotional abuse. One sign of emotional abuse is isolation. It may seem like a friend or family member is just spending a lot of time with their significant other, but they are slowly being taken away from trusted ones in order to have control over the victim. If someone says their significant other is telling them they cannot interact with their family members, it is important to take it seriously and not brush it off. Another sign of emotional abuse is gaslighting. Gaslighting causes the victim to question themselves and the abuser might make them feel “crazy.” Victims may reach out to say their significant other constantly puts them down, tells them lies or makes up scenarios. The victim is not being sensitive or going through a hard time. They are experiencing emotional abuse.

Be considerate of wildlife this Spring Break By Toni Mac Crossan Opinion Columnist

ILLUSTRATION BY JADEN EDISON

Emotional abuse can last for years and can be as severe as mental and physical abuse. Victims of emotional abuse can suffer from anxiety, depression and insomnia. The psychological effects can last years after the victim has left the relationship. Psychological wounds can make it difficult to form new relationships and trust again. In order to provide assistance to someone experiencing emotional abuse, one has to be open and a safe space for them to confide to. If the victim feels they are not being taken seriously, it will only further cause them to believe their abuser and prevent them from reaching out. In addition, it is equally important to believe someone when they think they are getting emotionally abused. The consequences can be severe and have a detrimental impact on someone’s life. People should learn the warning signs of emotional abuse, how to get help and help someone through it. This can be possible through hotlines, organizations and counseling centers. Just because someone is nice to you, does not mean they act the same behind closed doors. Abusers do not deserve any more sympathy just because they might not have physically harmed their victims. Emotional abuse needs to be taken just as seriously as physical abuse and not be ignored. The social awareness could prevent the problem the problem from becoming lifethreatening. - Delilah Alvarado is a journalism senior

Migratory birds already face major threats to their lives on their journey— window collisions against large glassy buildings and disorienting artificial light at night can kill hundreds of birds in one night. But when party-ready Spring Breakers are added into the mix, even more risks to wildlife appear. As Spring Break draws near, many Bobcats are considering a fun getaway on the Texas coast with their friends—a much-needed break from the stresses of academic life. Places like South Padre Island can attract 18,000 visitors at a time and thousands more converge on Galveston and Corpus Christi. However, March also marks the beginning of many birds’ spring migration, during which more than 380 species pass through the Texas coastal region, stopping for food, drink and a rest on their way home to their breeding grounds. Last year alone, more than 30 tons of litter were removed from the beaches of Port Aransas and Corpus Christi. This trash is often eaten by birds, starving or poisoning them and can otherwise injure birds through entanglement, which can trap birds until they starve and die or leave them with wounds that are vulnerable to infection. Students enjoying their Spring Break are likely to bring several things to the beach—beverages in plastic, metal and glass containers; cheap plastic accessories like sunglasses they don’t mind losing; disposable plates food—without even thinking about where they will end up. Despite well-publicized efforts to ‘save the turtles’ by using reusable straws, students are likely to leave behind hundreds of pounds of trash—whether on purpose or on accident—this year. As Bobcats plan their coastal vacation, they should remember to stay aware of their surroundings and notice wildlife, such as the gulls and terns often seen on the Texas coast, trying to use the same spot— and leave them alone. They use the beach longer than these few day vacationers, for foraging and nesting, and the overwhelming tourist presence can cause them stress or leave behind trash that can injure them. Spring breakers can also be considerate and bring their own bags to collect their

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELE DUPONT

trash. Waste receptacles on beaches fill up quickly, so if when one packs out what they pack in, they can avoid unintentional pollution from overflowing bins. Visitors should focus on only bringing recyclables, especially because they can find local recycling centers to drop off waste on the way home—Texas even has monofilament recovery and recycling programs where people can drop off old fishing line. Spring break is a well-deserved break from academic life, but students must consider that, as they let loose on the beach, they could be putting local wildlife through considerable hardship. Beaches are delicate ecosystems, subject to damage by erosion—which can be sped up by inconsiderate driving and walking over them. The dunes many coastal species rely on take hundreds of years to form and host plants and animals only found in those specific locations. It may be tempting to take home shells and sand as a memento of a visit, but if every one of the thousands of visitors to the Texas coast did the same, the beaches would be stripped bare. Take plenty of pictures and support local businesses who sell keepsakes instead. Spring break arrangements are temporary. Visitors get to come back home, but the environment and surrounding habitat remain to deal with the consequences—a week's worth of damage can last an animal's lifetime. - Toni Mac Crossan is a biology graduate student

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letter to the Editor: Re Slave labor dispute floods Cape’s Dam By Joleene Maddox Snider Editor's note: The following letter has been edited for content and clarity. As the “long in the tooth” historian quoted in Gabriella Ybarra’s article on the Cape’s Dam controversy, I want to take the opportunity to step back out of the weeds and look at the entire field. Ms. Ybarra did a very good job of laying out the complicated immediate and local issues related to Thompson Islands and Dam. However, there is considerably more to this disagreement and no better place to air the discussion than on a university campus. Whose history is it, anyway? The older viewpoint is what I like to call “the history of rich, white men in America.” Most of us aren’t rich, over half of us aren’t men and growing numbers of us aren’t white. Most historians have long since given up studying, researching, writing and teaching that history, or, if they do, they do so with attention to gender, race, class, sexual orientation, nationality and other multicultural issues. What about those less fortunate, women, people of color or otherwise marginalized groups? Where are their lives and history? Those lives are in other places. Sometimes in the oral memories of family members, in letters stuck back in a shoe box, in the family Bibles, occasionally in public records, but more often in the dusty recesses of small archives, local libraries and other

obscure places. Additionally, there are two other sources documented in this disagreement, and they are in the Dudley Dobie thesis done in 1932 and signed by Dr. Walter Prescott Webb, a nationally recognized historian. Both quotations Ms. Ybarra cited were from the early 1930s; one from a Thompson family member and one from a McGehee family member. I wasn’t sitting at the table with Dobie that day back then when he interviewed them, but I am willing to trust him and those individuals he was interviewing. We have three sources that indicate some sort of a milling operation was established by Dr. William A. Thompson on the San Marcos River at the site of the dam in the 1850s. We know Thompson was a slave owner. Historians aren’t devoid of common sense and neither should readers be. Of course, Thompson’s slaves were the labor to build the first of the milling operation before the Civil War. Yes, the big dam that is there now dates back to 1867 when Thompson formally purchased the land and formed a business enterprise with several other men to enlarge the operation. Essentially, we are all right. Why, then, is this an issue? Being the elder historian in this community drama I claim the privilege of telling you my theory. It has to do with slavery and race and the unwillingness of some to even admit slavery was there, much less discuss it

openly and frankly. Here are a few facts to ponder. Our country sponsored and supported the slavery of Africans and their African American descendants for 246 years of our history. It was enshrined and protected in our Constitution. Slavery caused the Civil War. In 1860 African American slaves were 30% of the Texas population and the Hays County population. The enslaved across the south tilled the fields, planted the cotton seeds, tended the plants, picked the cotton, ginned the bales, and hauled them to markets where cotton fueled the American economy in the 1st half of the 19th century. The American South produced 60% of the world’s cotton for the mills of England’s textile revolution and resulting industrial empire. We have 155 years of freedom from slavery under our collective national belts and that has been a rough, rocky and sometimes violent century and a half, especially for those people whose ancestors lived and died as enslaved people. But it was real. It happened. There are a lot of books about it, including mine. If you haven’t already done so, read some of them. And then ask yourself a few questions. How much of a role did slavery play in American before the Civil War? What role does the history of slavery play in modern racial attitudes? Are we disagreeing about a dam or the larger question of who owns history? In 2018 I supported and worked with

a group in Rusk County to place a state historical marker at the site of Monte Verdi, the plantation I wrote about in Claiming Sunday. When I saw the draft of the text for the marker I had strong objections. Half the marker was about the slave owner. Then, the bottom half contained the last names the slaves took after Emancipation. Missing were the first names of the slaves at Monte Verdi. Now think about this. Slaves had no last names, only first names, many given to them by their families who often reused family names. Even if their names originated with their white owners those were still their names. Slaves’ names were about the only things they had that were truly theirs and those names were not on the marker. Why? Why did the Texas State Historical Commission refuse to use the slaves’ first names? Why are some in our community so opposed to giving the slaves credit for the history they made in the 1850s at the Thompson Islands and Dam? If there were three sources supporting white activity in the 1850s at the dam and only one supporting black activity, would we be having this discussion? I resubmit my earlier question. “Whose history is it, anyway?” -Joleene Maddox Snider is the author of “Claiming Sunday: The Story of a Texas Slave Community”

The University Star

Tuesday, March 10, 2020 | 7

SPORTS

Claire Partain Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Bobcats beat the odds to qualify for championship tournament By Cade Andrews Sports Reporter With an eight-game losing drought to begin Sun Belt play and only one returning starter, the Texas State women's basketball team faced tough obstacles as they looked to qualify for postseason play. The 'Cats proved they were ready to fight, however, as they went 5-2 to finish the regular season and defeated the University of Louisiana- Monroe in a 59-53 road contest to take the 10th seed in the Sun Belt Championship Tournament on Thursday. The Bobcats split the weekend against the Louisiana schools, beating ULM (3-26, 1-17) in the final few minutes of play and going toe-to-toe with No.4 Louisiana-Lafayette (17-12, 10-8) before falling 70-64 on Saturday. Aside from the last-minute tournament qualification, the ULM battle made program history as senior guard Brooke Holle scored 14 points and surpassed the 1,000 point mark, becoming the 19th player in Texas State history to do so. Head Coach Zenarae Antoine said she is proud of Brooke's accomplishments both on and off the court. "It's exciting anytime you have players reach milestones," Antoine said. "Whether you get the 4.0, you’re inducted into the honors society, which she’s done those things, as well as being able to reach milestones that put you in the history books for the program, (I'm) more happy for (her) than I am for the program because she worked really hard for that and (I) got to be a part of it." Antoine said that the twins' and team's calmness no matter the stakes of the game led to the ULM win and close contest with ULL. "I think it came down to poise and

Texas State sophomore forward Da'Nasia Hood shoots over Georgia State defenders in the second half of a game between the two teams, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at Strahan Coliseum. PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS

composure," Antoine said. "It got a little hairy there (and) Bailey had a huge steal. I know for sure that both twins had a good understanding of what needed to be done, they were a hard team to have postseason opportunities against, but I also believe most of their focus was more so on solidifying a win and getting better than it was the pressures of getting a position at the tournament, because if that was the case you wouldn’t have seen

the team battle the way we did to go into a really tough Lafayette at home and take them all the way down to the wire." Despite taking a lead in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats fell short to Lafayette after failing to retake the lead in the final minutes of play Sophomore Da'Nasia Hood finished the game with 16 points, while sophomore center Jaeda Reed also scored in double-figures with 12 points. With Texas State’s win against ULM, they are now in 10th place in the Sun Belt conference and have officially grabbed the final spot in the tournament to play third-seeded UT Arlington. The Bobcats have come a long way since the start of Sun Belt play. It was not until Feb. 1 when the Bobcats won their first Sun Belt game, beating UTA 72-55 at Strahan Arena, and by a twist of fate they will play the Mavericks again on Wednesday to compete for quarterfinal qualification. Following their win against UTA, the Bobcats continued to struggle as they were last in the conference and dropped their next two games against Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State. However, Texas State pulled together and was able to win four of their next five games, losing only to UTA as the Mavericks avenged their loss with a 6949 victory. After a crucial win over Georgia State on Feb. 29 that secured the final spot in conference, the Bobcats are entering the tournament as an underdog but have been given a second chance. UTA enters the tournament as the third seed with the top-ranked scoring defense in the Sun Belt and the best assisting team in the conference. Texas State currently ranks eighth in the conference in scoring offense. UTA is hot off a seven-game win

streak, including five by double digits, and holds an 11-3 home record as they prep for another game in their home court. Texas State is 4-10 on the road but are 3-2 in their most recent away games. In their last matchup against UTA, Texas State was able to force 19 turnovers and register nine steals, but got off to a rough start as they only scored five points in the first quarter and the Mavs repeatedly went on runs of their own to stop the Bobcats' momentum. However, Texas State’s first conference win occurred at home against UTA after a strong performance from Hood, who scored a career-high 28 points in the matchup. Trailing by three going into the fourth, Texas State went on a 19-1 run to open the game and allow them to coast to their first Sun Belt victory. Although Texas State are poised as underdogs, a season split between the two teams are sure to give both the 'Cats and the Mavs confidence as they head into another face-off to advance in the tournament. Antoine said that looking at their previous loss will help them to get a leg up as they look to defeat UTA again. "Taking a look at our loss at their place has probably helped us out even more so outside of the win that we had at home," Antoine said. "It’s really understanding the adjustments that they made to ensure their win and it's important that were going to be able to counter that and be able to compete." Texas State and UTA will battle it out for a third and final time on Tuesday, March 9 at College Park Center for the first round of the Sun Belt tournament. The contest will tip-off at 6 p.m. and will be broadcasted on ESPN+. If Texas State wins, they will take on the winner of South Alabama/Arkansas State in the tournament quarterfinals.

FOOTBALL

Spavital, Peeler forge new identity as spring practice begins By Claire Partain Sports Editor After a 3-9 first season and a series of staffing changes, Head Football Coach Jake Spavital will take to the quarterback room for the first time as head coach in 2020. Spavital, who called plays as offensive coordinator at West Virginia, CaliforniaBerkeley and Texas A&M, made a series of necessary offensive tweaks to an offense that ranked 120 of 130 in the SP+ rankings in 2019. Perhaps the biggest change of all was letting go of former offensive coordinator Bob Stitt and bringing in Jacob Peeler, who previously worked with Spavital at Cal. The team began the first of 14 spring practices on Tuesday and continued early Thursday and Saturday morning as they prep for the annual Spring Game Saturday, April 11. Junior wide receiver Jeremiah Haydel said that he likes the energy that Peeler has brought so far to spring practice. “(He’s) very energetic, he’s a great wide receiver coach,” Haydel said. “I think we’re going to be able to learn a lot from

him. The emphasis we’re going to do is try to move faster, set the pace, set the tone and be more physical. (We’ll try to) run the ball efficiently and eventually open up the passing game.” Alongside Peeler, new junior college recruits Marcell Barbee and Drue Jackson have been added to help with the Bobcats’ new offensive identity. Freshman Jah’Marae Sheread said that the new receivers are merging with the team as they begin to work together. “Everybody’s fitting in well,” Sheread said. “When we came back from the December break, we got to know each other through workouts, grinding with each other, building friendships with all of the receivers (and) putting in that work together through that offseason.” With a new season, new leaders have emerged. On the defensive end of the ball, Spavital mentioned junior defensive tackle Caeveon Patton as a team leader, an honor Patton said he does not take lightly. “I’ve always wanted to be a leader,” Patton said. “It makes me feel really good that my head coach looks at me that way, and my teammates especially, because you can’t be a leader if your teammates

don’t look at you as a leader no matter recruiting on both sides of the ball, some where coach puts you.” positivity may come out of the spring season after all. "IT MAKES ME FEEL Spavital said new athleticism and a different mindset have set this team REALLY GOOD THAT MY apart from last year’s team. HEAD COACH LOOKS “New team, new identity,” Spavital said. “If you look from a team AT ME THAT WAY, perspective, I though we’ve increased in AND MY TEAMMATES length and I think we’ve got a lot more ESPECIALLY, BECAUSE athleticism out there compared to where YOU CAN’T BE A LEADER we were last year.” Spavital said that he is excited to get IF YOUR TEAMMATES back in the quarterback room as they look to transform their offense next DON’T LOOK AT YOU AS season. A LEADER NO MATTER “I’m glad to be back in that role,” WHERE COACH PUTS Spavital said. “The reason that I got this job was for play-calling, so it’s fun to get YOU." out there in the mix. With the addition of the two new coaches, Jacob Peeler -CAEVEON PATTON, and (tight ends coach) Brian Hamilton, who’ve worked with me, it makes it so JUNIOR DEFENSIVE TACKLE much easier. It’s been fun actually getting As the new Bobcat team is forged from back in that quarterback room.” the old, Spavital has already described a The Bobcats’ improvement and work “night and day” difference between the through the offseason will be put to the two. Several years of losing seasons has public test as they prepare for the Spring left many Bobcat fans reluctant to hope, Game 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11 at but with Peeler and Spavital’s aggressive Bobcat Stadium.

The University Star

8 | Tuesday, March 10, 2020

SPORTS

Claire Partain Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu

BASEBALL

Texas State sweeps Bethune-Cookman for fifth straight win By Colton Mcwilliams Assistant Sports Editor An RBI triple by junior outfielder John Wuthrich sealed the deal for Texas State as the Bobcats defeated the BethuneCookman Wildcats in a series sweep at Bobcat Ballpark over the weekend. The wins marked the first series sweep for Texas State as they improve their record to 12-4 overall and have won nine out of their last 11 games. Though the Bobcats struggled offensively throughout the weekend, Head Coach Steven Trout said he was still happy about the win and the sweep. “I’m never going to be upset with a win,” Trout said. “It’s really hard to sweep somebody, no matter who you play. Getting the sweep is huge, getting the win is huge.” SUNDAY Texas State 4, Bethune-Cookman 3 Despite sluggish batting, Wulthrich’s two-run RBI triple in the sixth inning was enough to put the Bobcats over the Wildcats 4-3. Though Trout praised the pitching staff he said he was most concerned about the team's offense. “I didn’t think we played good baseball today,” Trout said. “Now they pitched it well and played good defense, but offensively it was another bad day of bad approaches early and trying to do way too much.” As for the pitching game, freshman Otto Wofford received his first win of his career, going 2.0 innings, allowing

FRIDAY Texas State 5, Bethune Cookman 0 The Bobcats scored five runs in the eighth inning as Texas State defeated the Wildcats 5-0 on Friday night. Junior infielder Justin Thompson broke the 0-0 deadlock in the bottom of the eighth inning with an RBI single to score Wuthrich and take an early 1-0 lead. Both Hollis and Williams broke the game wide open as the duo hit two-run RBI singles to extend the lead to 5-0 and seal the game for Texas State. It was a career day for starting pitcher Texas State junior outfielder John Wuthrich celebrates after hitting an RBI triple to complete a Zachary Leigh, who threw a career-high weekend sweep over Bethune-Cookman, Sunday, March 8, 2020, at Bobcat Ballpark. 11 strikeouts on four hits and zero runs. PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS Redshirt senior Brent Hebert collected his third win of the season, going 3.0 zero runs on one hit with two strikeouts. innings while allowing zero runs on two Junior Tristian Stivors came in for his hits with five strikeouts. fourth save of the season and allowed one run on one hit. PREVIEW SATURDAY Texas State 3, Bethune-Cookman 2 Texas State junior Cameron Gibbons slides to

Senior outfielder Will Hollis’ sacrifice second base as Bethune-Cookman freshman fly in the seventh inning broke a 2-2 Colton Olasin jumps to catch a ball. Olasin deadlock as the Bobcats defeated the misses the catch and allows Gibbons to safely Wildcats 3-2 Saturday afternoon. be on second Sunday, March 8, 2020, at Despite 11 hits by Texas State and Bobcat Ballpark. a Jaxon Williams solo home run, the PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS Bobcats left eight potential runs on base. Redshirt freshman Cameron Bush got strikeouts. Stivors came in for his third the second win of his career on Saturday, save of the game for a shutout pitching allowing zero runs on one hit with five finish.

The Bobcats will have a packed week as they stick to their home field for back-toback games on Tuesday and Wednesday and prep to host Appalachian State for their first Sun Belt weekend series. App State sits at 8-6 overall and are currently riding a four-game winning streak, while the Bobcats are sitting at five consecutive wins and a recent runrule blowout win over Baylor. Texas State will host rival UTSA at 6 p.m. on Tuesday before playing Prairie View A&M at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at Bobcat Ballpark.

SOFTBALL

Shutout pitching, strong hitting bring first Sun Belt series win By Claire Partain Sports Editor Going from one extreme to the next, Texas State softball's strong pitching and offensive performances led them to their first Sun Belt series win at Georgia State over the weekend. The Bobcats scored the most runs in one game this season with a 16-0 shutout in six innings on Friday before falling 3-1 to the Panthers on Saturday. Another shutout rally put the 'Cats over Georgia State as they took a 7-0 victory to take the series. SUNDAY Texas State 7 Georgia State 0

game by bringing in senior infielder Bailee Carter in the first inning before scoring herself on a 3-RBI homer by freshman infielder Sara Vanderford. After another RBI by Vanderford in the third inning and one more run in the fifth, MacKay closed out the game with a two-run homer to left field. Head Coach Ricci Woodard said that the team came together to discuss how they could come back on Sunday. "The first thing we did was just talk about the things we could learn from Saturday because we didn’t do as well as we needed to," Woodard said. "I liked bouncing back on Sunday the way we did and coming out and getting four runs in the top of the first inning just to make sure we knew that it wasn't going to be the same game that it was on Saturday."

This time it was Georgia State who kicked off the scoring run as two wild pitches advanced a runner to third and scored another. A Panther single brought in a final runner in the third inning for a 2-0 GSU lead. A Cassie Valdez RBI brought in junior infielder Tara Oltmann in the fifth inning for the Bobcats' only run of the game, and another Panther run solidified the loss for Texas State as the series reached a tie. Woodard said that the momentum switched as the 'Cats failed to rack up hits and made a few errors. "We just never got anything going," Woodard said. "We made two errors in the books but it my mind it was probably at least four errors that we didn’t do what we needed to do, and we didn’t hit well either."

On the other side of the ball, senior outfielder Christiana McDowell's leftfield homer kicked off a season-high scoring run for the Bobcats in the third inning. MacKay and junior infielder ArieAnn Bell followed suit with homers of their own to head a four-run fourth inning, and Vanderford, redshirt utility player Kaylee Lind, Oltmann and Valdez rounded the bases for the team's seven total homers. With 14 hits and four RBIs from McDowell, the 'Cats easily run-ruled the Panthers in six innings to start off the series with an advantage. Woodard said that momentum led the 'Cats to victory on Friday. "Usually its all about momentum, and once they got going Friday night, it just kept going," Woodard said.

The Bobcats brought their offensive strengths in shutout style to finish the PREVIEW series with a 7-0 victory on Sunday. SATURDAY FRIDAY Junior Meagan King provided the The 'Cats will stick to Texas as they hit team with their second weekend shutout, Texas State 1 Georgia State 3 Texas State 16 Georgia State 0 the road to battle Texas A&Mat 6 p.m. allowing zero runs on five hits with six on Wednesday. strikeouts. The tides quickly turned on Saturday A shutout performance by senior Offensively, senior infielder Hailey after their 16-0 Friday win as Bobcat Dalilah Barrera kept the 'Cats to one hit MacKay provided the first run of the batting came to a halt in a 3-1 loss. in the six-inning 16-0 victory on Friday.

FROM FRONT MEN'S BASKETBALL very hard to earn that award,” Kaspar said. “He’s been the backbone of our team. He’s been a captain for three years. He’s gone from Third Team AllConference as a sophomore, to First Team All-Conference last year, to Player of the Year.” Texas State received a few extra days of rest as they got a double-bye to the quarterfinals of the tournament on Wednesday. Kaspar said despite not having a bye until the semifinal round, there is a silver lining. “I’ve been on both sides of the coin where a team that's been sitting out for quite a while doesn't look good,” Kaspar said. “It just really depends on players on your team. Are they ready to play?” Stakes are high as they face the Mountaineers in the single-elimination quarterfinals to battle App State for the first time since losing 60-57 to the Mountaineers in February. The 'Cats were without Pearson in the last matchup, but the last time App State saw Pearson, Texas State pulled through with a decisive 82-57 win. While App State's scoring defense ranks second in the Sun Belt, the 'Cats

sit at first with 1,990 total points, top the conference in free-throw percentage and are second in field goal percentage. The Bobcats are outranked in defensive rebounding percentage, with App State's Isaac Johnson sitting at second in the Sun Belt in rebounding, which is one of Texas State's weaknesses. The team will also need to watch against junior Justin Forrest, who is second behind Pearson in scoring in the conference. The first 3,000 fans at Wednesday's White Out game will receive a free T-shirt upon arrival. Kaspar said that a strong home crowd brings an advantage to the team. “When fans come to the game and cheer us on and are very supportive, it really raises our adrenaline level and it makes us play harder,” Kaspar said. “Having your fans come out and cheer you on and make a lot of noise I think is very important to us winning the game.” If the Bobcats come out on top, it is anyone’s game in the semifinals as Texas State could face South Alabama in New Orleans on Friday and reach the championship on Sunday for a chance at the NCAA tournament.

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY welcomes new faculty and administrators to the College of Education.

Dr. Lisa M. Baumgartner

Associate Professor, Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education and School Psychology

Dr. Yun-Wen Chan

Dr. Katherine E. Ledbetter-Cho

Dr. Jose M. Martinez Hinestroza

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison

Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin

Ph.D., Michigan State University

Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction

Ph.D., University of Georgia

Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction

Assistant Professor, Health and Human Performance

Dr. Rachel M. Rolfe

Ms. Amy L. Esmiol

Ms. Marina E. Garcia

Ph.D., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Ph.D., The University of Virginia

M.S.R.L.S., Texas State University

Dr. Reem A. Muharib

Dr. Megan E. Mcclendon Lecturer, Health and Human Performance

Lecturer, Health and Human Performance

Ms. Nancy Valdez-Gainer

Lecturer, Curriculum and Instruction M.Ed., The University of Texas at Austin

Ph.D., Baylor University

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The University Star

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