February 22, 2022

TUESDAY Tuesday, February 22, 2022 VOLUME 111 ISSUE 5 www.UniversityStar.com

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

Victim Service Center plans to provide resources for sexual assault survivors SEE PAGE 3

CHAARG at Texas State empowers women through fitness

Baseball's offense shines in opening season series

Opinion: "Dr. Pimple Popper" highlights flaws in the American health care system

SEE PAGE 4

SEE PAGE 6

SEE PAGE 8

CULTURE

MARDI GRAS

By Sarah Hernandez Life and Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu

Mistick Krewe of Okeanos celebrates community, culture

Colorful parade floats and live music will fill the streets of the city this weekend as the annual Mardi Gras parade hosted by the Mistick Krewe of Okeanos rolls through town on Saturday.

The Mistick Krewe of Okeanos is a nonprofit organization that seeks to foster peace in the community and support local art and music through annual Mardi Gras celebrations. Similar to other Mardi Gras krewes across Texas and Louisiana, the San Marcos organization takes its name from the Greek river deity, Okeanos, to honor the San Marcos River.

Diana Baker, founder and krewe captain of the Mistick Krewe of Okeanos, and her husband started the organization 10 years ago when they moved to Texas after losing their home and business in Louisiana to Hurricane Katrina. Baker said the organization and its service is their way of paying back the community that took them in.

"It started in my house with just a simple party," Baker said. "We just had a party at my house just to honor some The Mistick Krewe of Okeanos people who had done a lot for the city Mardi Gras Parade, Saturday, and a lot for historic preservation here Feb. 22, 2021, in the San in town because I live in a historic Marcos Historic District. neighborhood and a historic house. And PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANA BAKER so, we, you know, being from Louisiana, the only way I really knew how to honor celebration took place before the anyone was to crown them king and pandemic halted the festivities was in queen."

February 2020. In place of the parade What began as a house party has last year, the Mistick Krewe hosted blossomed into a city-wide celebration a "Yardi Gras" in which community of community, music, food and art. members decked their homes in Mardi The celebration took place at Baker's Gras fashion to compete in a home house for three years until it eventually decorating contest. grew enough to be moved into the Danielle Knott, a Mistick Krewe Price Center. Now an annual parade volunteer, and her husband joined the recognized by the city, Baker said Mistick Krewe two years ago to help it's amazing to see how interest and with the 2020 parade. As a native participation have grown since the Louisianian who would visit home to beginning. celebrate Mardi Gras, Knott said she is "It just keeps growing. And without excited to experience Mardi Gras in San us even really trying, it just keeps Marcos again. growing," Baker said. "People want to "It's exciting. We're like, 'yay finally, be involved which is surprising to me we're back,'" Knott said. "People from because it's sort of a Louisiana thing. Louisiana — Mardi Gras is part of our But everybody likes the food and the soul. It's like in our soul. I grew up with tradition so much and it's just so much it ... and so I'm just excited to be more fun that, you know, people just like it for involved, and just to share our love with some reason. I think that people need a Mardi Gras with everybody around little Mardi Gras in their life, right?" here. It's fun, it's food, you know, it's French for "Fat Tuesday," Mardi beads ... it's nice to be able to share a Gras signifies the celebration period little bit of Louisiana Mardi Gras with before the start of Lent, a Christian other people." fasting period, on Ash Wednesday.

The theme for this year's 10-year The traditions of today's Mardi Gras anniversary parade is "Okeanos Salutes celebrations involving intricate masks, San Marcos" to highlight the relationship colorful beads along with lavish balls that the organization has with the and parades can be traced back to 1800s community. A large component of the New Orleans and the original Carnival Mistick Krewe of Okeanos' mission is krewe, the Mistick Krewe of Comus. its philanthropic efforts. Each year the Regardless of what city the festivities organization pays a local artist to create are in, the Carnival celebration is a the poster for Mardi Gras week. This culmination of Cajun and Creole food, year, the Mistick Krewe also donated jazz music and brass bands, colorful art $2,000 worth of musical instruments plus glamourous costumes and beads to San Marcos' Goodnight Middle of gold, green and purple, traditional School's orchestra.

Mardi Gras colors symbolizing power, In addition to the parade, Baker said faith and justice. the group also introduced a "restaurant The last time the San Marcos SEE CULTURE PAGE 4

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The University Star

2 | Tuesday, February 22, 2022

NEWS

Arthur Fairchild News Editor starnews@txstate.edu

HISTORY

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Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Brianna Benitez stareditor@txstate.edu News Editor: Arthur Fairchild starnews@txstate.edu Assistant News Editor: Madelyn Weirich starasstnews@txstate.edu Life & Arts Editor: Sarah Hernandez starlifeandarts@txstate.edu Opinion Editor: Dillon Strine staropinion@txstate.edu Design Editor: Viviana Faz stardesign@txstate.edu Multimedia Editor: Natalie Ryan starmultimedia@txstate.edu Assistant Multimedia Editor: Vanessa Buentello starasstmmedia@txstate.edu Engagement Editor: Meadow Chase starengagement@txstate.edu Podcast Editor: Carly Koon starpodcast@txstate.edu

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Hays County works to tell untold story of local Indigenous community

By Arthur Fairchild News Editor starnews@txstate.edu The Texas Historical Commission is set to install a historical marker in Kyle, Texas, honoring the history of Hays County vaqueros (cowboys), ranch hands and stock raisers.

In the past year, the historical commission received applications from over 64 councils seeking to obtain a historical marker for their respective county. Out of the applications received, the commission selected 15 councils across Texas including the Council for the Indigenous and Tejano Community (CITC) in Hays County.

The CITC applied for the grant on behalf of the descendants of Pedro Veracruz, a former Hays County vaquero who first visited Texas in 1836.

According to CITC Chair Gina AlbaRogers, Veracruz likely worked on his own farm in Hays County as evident from his cattle brand that was registered with the state of Texas.

“Pedro Veracruz was born very early in Texas history and was present during the Battle of the Alamo,” Alba-Rogers said. “He married in Hays County in the late 1880s, and then raised 14 children there.”

As of now, the historical marker is set to be installed at the Rand Hand/ Native American Cemetery where Veracruz and other Mexican ranch hands are buried. The burial was created to provide a proper burial ground for Mexicans of the Kyle area.

The story of Mexican American history is often difficult to piece together as much of the history is oral and told through stories rather than recorded in documents. However, Veracruz's daughter, Teresita Veracruz Candelaria, kept a journal detailing her family's births, marriages and deaths.

"These records are stories that should be shared with the greater public," AlbaRogers said. "There's so few accounts where you can actually document the Mexican-American history and we were just so fortunate that the family had maintained records of these records of their lives."

The CITC was established by Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra in January 2021 with the goal of preserving historic stories of the local Indigenous and Tejano community, much like the

Pedro Veracruz and and his wife Juanita Tejeda, 1884.

COURTESY OF COUNCIL FOR THE INDIGENOUS AND TEJANO COMMUNITY

story of the local vaquero.

Originally, Veracruz's story was denied by the Hays County Historical Commission, a county committee that aims to preserve the history and cultural resources of Hays County. Becerra said in the past, the historical commission has been reluctant in telling the story of Indigenous people which is why he set out to create the CITC. "I said let's create our own organization that will focus on telling these stories that the Hays County Historical Commission has refused. I will happily say it that way, they refused to engage in," Becerra said.

The historical marker is intended to honor the people that lived in Hays County. Becerra wants the accomplishments of Indigenous people to be seen as a celebration of where the county came from. “[The historical marker] can be used as a reminder, don't dim your lights and shine bright, however, bleak your story may have been made to look like vaqueros were a key part of our history as Tejanos, and there's no getting away from it. So, honor that history and honor your past,” Becerra said.

Maria F. Roccia, a member of CITC applied to be a member of the Hays County Historical Commission to push

for more representation of Indigenous people. After being denied, Roccia worked with other activists and Becerra to form the new council.

“Since our representation wasn't welcome, we decided we would create our own community board or community commission," Roccia said.

"So, we talked to the judge who was willing to form a council and help us to get started in telling our stories ."

Despite the group's victory in securing a historical marker, Roccia and the council plan to continue pushing for recognition through sponsoring historical markers and educating Hays County on the oral history, art and culture of the Indigenous and Tejano communities.

“We have cemeteries, we have sacred sites. We have families who have lived here for 100 years and more and they're not recorded anywhere. So, it's important that their untold stories be recognized," Roccia said.

For more information on the Hays County Council for the Indigenous and Tejano Community visit, https://www. citc.us.

The University Star reached out to the Hays County Historical Commission for this story but did not receive a response.

The University Star

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 | 3

NEWS

Arthur Fairchild News Editor starnews@txstate.edu

UNIVERSITY

Victim Service Center plans to provide resources for sexual assault survivors

By Madelyn Weirich Assistant News Editor starasstnews@txstate.edu

Last November, Maria Haiyasoso and Paulina Flasch, assistant professors in Texas State's psychology department, were awarded a nearly $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women to create victim services for the university.

While this victory came recently, the process began years ago when the professors noticed the flaws in Texas State's current resources and how they could cause a lack of faith among the student body. Instead of feeling discouraged, they took the opportunity to brainstorm how they could best advocate for students who needed the university on their side.

For two years, Flasch and Haiyasoso met with campus and community offices to gauge the climate surrounding sexual assault and developed plans for a coordinated community response.

During the grant application process, they were required to demonstrate a clear plan of how they would allocate funding for the initiative and who in the community would be involved.

About 20 community and campus organizations are at the table and assisting with the planning period for the REACH Project, which stands for Response, Education, Awareness, Care and Healing.

This month, Flasch, Haiyasoso and the organizations gathered together for the first time to discuss how to develop better resources for student victims of sexual assault. One of the main goals of the REACH Project is to create a "onestop-shop" where victims do not have to spend time searching for resources like they currently do.

"Pretty much every kind of unit that gets in touch or comes across victims coordinates with each other," Flasch said. "So, it's not like, you know, a victim has to go to every one of these offices individually. That's really exhausting, to tell the story a million times. So instead of doing that, we're basically creating a response team that can support the victim from all these areas together."

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), 26.4% of women and 6.8% of men experience sexual assault while working toward an undergraduate degree.

Roughly, that's one in four women and one in 15 men.

Resources such as the Office of Title IX and the Texas State Counseling Center exist for those who reach out, but some students have little faith in these resources. Anonymous sources have described having difficulty navigating these offices or being placed on long waiting lists because of the large number of students seeking help.

Flasch and Haiyasoso hope to open the center to all Texas States students in the college of Education Building by January 2023. Eventually, there will be a separate building on campus dedicated completely to victim services.

Once open, the Victim Service Center will work to provide emotional support and tangible resources, such as emergency contraception and medical exams. An anonymous student who agreed to share her experience as a survivor of sexual assault believes access to these resources will be a major help.

“Those are things you don't think about after it happened, because you're so focused on the trauma that has occurred that you don't think, 'Oh, [expletive], did he use a condom? Oh, [expletive]. Did this happen? Oh, [expletive]. Did that happen?' So, I feel like if you have that option, that should be something that's a priority,” she said.

The center will be connected with the Dean of Students Office to provide those who have been sexually assaulted with excused absences from class. In the student's experience, taking a moment to rest and process what has happened is vital to the healing process.

"It can take something off your plate.

It gives you time to go through that healing and not push it off,” she said.

“If we have space where we can be told it's okay to take some time off, we'll feel more heard than being told, ‘Well, that happened to you on a Friday, but you

A Texas State student's silhouette, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022, on the Quad.

PHOTO BY NATALIE RYAN

have an 8 a.m. on Monday, so get over it. You have a thing.’”

Unlike other campus resources, the Victim Service Center will be completely confidential, meaning it will not have to report to the Title IX Office. According to Kelsey Banton, faculty advisor for Students Against Violence and someone who has a lengthy experience with Title IX, the requirement that forces university offices and professionals to report often deters students from reaching out for help.

“Something that happens quite a bit anecdotally that I know of is that students are telling someone who's

they're such a good person, they could never do that.'"

The Victim Service Center will also be equipped to connect students with counselors specifically trained for helping victims of sexual misconduct.

Despite 38,000 students enrolled during the fall 2021 semester, the Texas State Counseling Center has a total of 17 counselors, postdoctoral residents, doctoral interns and practicum counselors, only eight of who the office considers permanent staff.

"The Counseling Center, as great as it is, couldn't possibly fulfill every need for every student," Flasch said. "And also,

(UPD) and other professionals in the campus community.

Trauma-informed training will help individuals know how to interact with survivors in a way that recognizes the situation and avoids traumatizing the victim further. It comes from a strengths-based perspective, recognizes that traumatized individuals are not alone in their experiences and explores how people may react to traumatic events. According to Flasch, this is particularly important for UPD and other first responders to be trained when interacting with survivors.

“There are definitely key pieces that happen in our body and our brain, but MAKE SURE THAT THESE they're slightly different for everyone.

And so, one person's reaction might PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING look different than another person's reaction,” Flasch said. “When it comes THROUGH SUCH TRAUMATIC to even assessing this as a first responder to a scene, you know, the response to EXPERIENCES DON’T HAVE trauma can look so different, and that can sometimes affect how someone TO GET TRAUMATIZED ALL OVER AGAIN BE- views a victim or survivor. And so, [it’s about] kind of learning those types of CAUSE THEY CHOSE TO SPEAK UP,” SHE SAID. responses, what to expect, what kinds of ways people respond to trauma when it “IF YOU LISTEN, YOU’LL GET ALL YOUR AN- happens.”

In the anonymous student's SWERS TO EVERY QUESTION THAT YOU COULD experience, many of the people she reached out to for help after her assault THINK TO ASK. YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE THAT did not know how to talk about the subject and ended up perpetuating the TIME TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN AND BE WITH anxiety and trauma she felt. She said those involved in the REACH Program THAT VICTIM SO THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO should undergo training on how to be empathetic and sensitive to the victim's HEAL,” situation and also go through security precautions to ensure the victim is protected.

Working with sexual assault victims, - ANONYMOUS Banton advocates for the importance of trauma-informed training and hopes that it will perpetuate not only in specific offices but across the campus not a confidential resource, and then you know, domestic violence, sexual community. that has to be reported up the chain assault on campus is very different and “We have to be able to make sure that and reported to Title IX," Banton said. requires a different set of support. You we are not perpetuating the experience "Sometimes that feels unhelpful for know, these are students who have to see that they had with someone who already survivors and can be re-victimizing and their rapist, and these are people who took away their control," Banton said. re-traumatizing.” have to sit in the same class as someone "It's about making sure this campus, The anonymous student said some of who, you know, abused them." across departments — that includes her peers have refrained from reaching The counselors at the Victim Service faculty — are well versed and feel out to the university for help, knowing Center will consist of carefully selected confident in hearing a survivor's story." their situations would be reported. graduate students in Texas State's Above all, the Victim Service Center She's also noticed that among fellow professional counseling program. These and REACH Project intended to survivors, fear of retaliation causes them students have been trained in general coordinate Texas State's community in to keep silent about their experiences. counseling and trauma-informed care. an effort to be more helpful to victims While the Title IX office does its best The Hays-Caldwell Women's Center of sexual assault. to ensure only the necessary professionals will also provide counselors with According to a study done by Know within its department learn of reported training on how to approach dating Your IX, 39% of those who experienced situations, the student said that in her violence, sexual assault and stalking. sexual assault in college ended up experience, fellow survivors do not "[The counselors] have been in the transferring schools or dropping out feel comfortable relinquishing control program for two-plus years by the time altogether. Those involved recognize over who might hear their story as the they're seeing clients. So, they're very that the issue is prevalent and hope potential consequences of others finding ready for this, and they already see to create a better support system so out would far outweigh what the Title clients out of community agencies," survivors continue their education.

IX Office provides.

Flasch said.

At the end of the spring semester, "You're not only speaking up against Beyond providing specific training for Flasch and Haiyasoso will release a a person, you're speaking up against counselors, part of the REACH Project survey to the Texas State community that person's entire support system," will be educating and training anyone to gauge what resources students and the student said. "You're not only who might come in contact with a faculty want the most. The survey will gonna be ridiculed by that one person, victim in trauma-informed responses. be accessible online and through email. you're being ridiculed by their friends, This initiative includes students, faculty, their family — anyone that thinks, 'oh, the University Police Department

The University Star

4 |Tuesday, February 22, 2022

LIFE & ARTS

Sarah Hernandez Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu

STUDENT ORGANIZATION

CHAARG at Texas State empowers women through fitness

By Marisa Nunez Life and Arts Contributor Texas State students are getting the opportunity to get fit, break a sweat and create new friends through CHAARG, a women empowerment workout community.

With chapters at over 100 college campuses nationwide, CHAARG and nearly 10,000 total members come together to try out new fitness classes and test their own physical strength while supporting one another.

Jimena Escoto, president and founding ambassador of CHAARG at Texas State, discovered the organization through a friend who is a member of CHAARG at UT El Paso. As a health and fitness management junior who loves to exercise, Escoto was encouraged to start her own chapter and embarked on the journey to bring the organization to Texas State.

CHAARG is an acronym that stands for changing health actions and attitudes to recreate girls. By bringing CHAARG to Texas State, Escoto wanted to live out the organization's name by encouraging Bobcats to exercise in a fun group setting “When you go to the gym what do you see? All the girls [on] the elliptical or the cardio machines, and all the boys … in the weights like that’s the stereotype ... I was really shocked by it because as a health and fitness management major, I love to work out and I love to lift weights," Escoto said. "I want every girl to know how much power and strength they have [and] how empowering it is to be strong."

Escoto applied and interviewed for a CHAARG ambassador position at Texas State in August 2021. She underwent four months of training and then planned out the semester with her executive team to introduce the organization on campus.

Hana Ahmad, an exercise sports science senior and vice president of CHAARG, heard about the organization previously from a friend at another school. Ahmad was intrigued

by CHAARG's premise and wanted to bring it to Texas State.

Initially, she thought it was too late to start a new organization since she is a senior. However, she found out via Instagram that Escoto was going to introduce CHAARG at Texas State and became eager to become a member. She ended up joining the executive team in November 2021.

“I wanted to be exec because when I heard about [CHAARG] I wanted to actually bring it to Texas State, but because I was graduating this semester I didn't want to start it and then leave right after,” Ahmad said.

Although Texas State's CHAARG chapter has just begun, it has been in

after seeing a post on a friend's story. As a first-year student, she wanted to find an organization in which she could fit in.

“I'm so happy with what [CHAARG] stands for and … the girls in it,” Mickley said. "It's changed me. [CHAARG has] brought me out of [my] shell. It's basically like my first year at Texas State so I didn't know anybody and meeting people with kind of the same goals and like morals as [me], health and fitnesswise, made me gain confidence really quick off the bat."

Mickley looks forward to trying out new classes and making connections with the girls in the organization. Since being on the executive team, she has loved witnessing the behind-the-scenes process and growth of the organization. “[I have liked] just watching it unfold, Members of CHAARG at Texas State take part in a group barre class, Tuesday, Feb. because [CHAARG] was nothing, and 8, 2022, at Pure Barre in San Marcos. [the other day], we had a workshop, and PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAARG AT TEXAS STATE it was just a very successful workshop … the girls were talking to each other, and it was just really encouraging seeing it unfold. I'm excited for the years to come,” Mickley said.

CHAARG members pay a semester fee of $47, a one-time payment to participate in all the workout classes and socials the organization holds. Students can join at any time throughout the semester, but it is recommended to join at the beginning of a semester so students can get the most out of what they pay for. “[Students] should join because first of all, you make a lot of friends. If you're a freshman, you're gonna meet a lot of people. And second of all, you get to work out every week with different [studio] instructors, and you just feel so empowered by all the people that are there just trying to work out and be their best,” Escoto said.

Ahmad has enjoyed every moment of being a member of CHAARG since she joined. She said the beauty of the organization is that it is more than just exercise. Ahmad looks forward to the strong bond CHAARG members will continue to create with one another through the organization’s group outings like coffee dates and study groups.

Members of CHAARG at Texas State attend a self love workshop, Tuesday, Feb. 15, “I'm excited to see the difference 2022, at Jowers Center.

CHAARG makes on the members. I'm PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAARG AT TEXAS STATE excited to see them grow because right now everyone is like, shy and like to themselves and not really talking [or the works since late October 2021. class members attended was at Pure being] outgoing but once we've been In the time since then, the executive Barre in San Marcos. A yoga class and a doing like workouts together and small team has planned out this semester's class at Orangetheory Fitness are also on groups and socials, by the end of the workouts and workshops in San Marcos the schedule. semester, I'm sure everyone's going to and Austin.

Although the organization has just be like, best friends with everyone. I’m As of now, the CHAARG chapter at started, it has already made a great impact very excited for that,” Ahmad said.

Texas State has 47 members. The group on its members. Like Escoto, Sydney To join Texas State's CHAARG chapter workouts are weekly and take place Mickley, an exercise sports science and learn more about the organization, every Tuesday evening. Members get to sophomore and secretary of CHAARG, visit https://chaarg.com/ or @txstate_ experience different styles of workouts has a deep passion for working out. She inchaarg on Instagram. such as yoga and weightlifting. The first heard about CHAARG on Instagram

FROM FRONT CULTURE week" this year in which local restaurants created their own Mardi Gras menus. Some also participated in a gumbo cookoff event hosted at Zelicks Icehouse this past weekend to officially kick off Mardi Gras week.

Wayne Kraemer, this year's Mardi Gras king and a senior lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies, is a founding member of the Mistick Krewe of Okeanos and has enjoyed seeing the event grow into a big celebration of San Marcos history, culture and people. Kraemer, who is also from Louisiana, calls the holiday an "exploration of the senses."

"It's on the day of the parade. It's hearing the bands, watching the floats, which are works of art go by. It's eating the food. It's hearing the laughter. It's all those sensory things that just make you feel good," Kraemer said. "And it's one time a year when we kind of have that. That confluence of all of these different senses thrust upon us, and it's just wonderful to experience."

Kraemer is also involved in several organizations across San Marcos including The Heritage Association of San Marcos and the LBJ Museum of San Marcos.

As someone who has connections to both the city and the university, he thinks community participation is important.

The Mistick Krewe of Okeanos has several connections to Texas State. This year's Mardi Gras Queen, Ann DuPont, is a former professor who taught classes in the university's fashion merchandising program.

When it came to designing the Mardi Gras regalia, the group turned to Sheila Hargett, a former colleague of Kraemer who previously taught in Texas State's costume design and technology program. She and her niece, Alexandra Hargett, who is a Texas State alumna, designed the costumes for Kraemer and DuPont to

wear at The Krewe of Okeanos’ Twelfth Night Ball on Jan. 8 and during the Mardi Gras parade so it would closely replicate the costumes of New Orleans Mardi Gras.

"I think it's really kind of nice, that, you know, Texas State has really done this and brought this kind of diversity and this kind of artistic ability to the community that we could have something like this," Baker said. "So, there's a definite Texas State link here. The university should be very proud of the king and the queen this year, and also the people from the university who have created different things that are part of the parade."

As the Mistick Krewe of Okeanos prepares to bring its main parade event back to San Marcos, Kraemer hopes the event and the festivities that lead up to it can serve as a way for the community to show off its best qualities and honor the traditions of Mardi Gras.

"I think it's really uplifting. I mean, there's so many things now going on in the world that are depressing and so if we can look to this as a positive, optimistic way of celebrating, you know, Mardi Gras and celebrating San Marcos, it makes you feel really good," Kramer said. "I think it's a way to celebrate the historical and cultural elements that we have here in San Marcos and kind of show our civic pride by bringing this kind of Wayne Kraemer, The Mistick Krewe of Okeanos' 2022 revelry to the city of San Marcos."

The Mistick Krewe of Okeanos Mardi Gras Parade Mardi Gras king and senior lecturer in the Department will start at noon on Saturday, Feb. 26 on Belvin of Communication Studies poses in his king's regalia.

Street.

For more information about the parade and the PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANA BAKER organization, visit http://mistickkreweofokeanos.com/ or @KreweOfOkeanos on Facebook.

The University Star

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 | 5

The University Star

6 | Tuesday, February 22, 2022

SPORTS

BASEBALL

Baseball's offense shines in opening season series

Texas State junior outfielder Ben McClain (4) makes a run for first base during a series against Utah Valley, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, at Bobcat Ballpark. The Bobcats won the series 3-1.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Bobcats finish weekend series 3-1

By Dillon Strine, Kyle Owen, Carson Weaver

Texas State Bobcats (3-1) won their first series of the season against the Utah Valley Wolverines (3-1), forcing run rules in two of their three wins.

With the first game of the season still in the balance, score tied at 3-3, in the bottom of the eighth inning, senior infielder Wesley Faison stepped into the box with junior infielder/outfielder Jose Gonzalez in scoring position with no outs.

“I was really just trying to think middle of the field and move him over, but luckily he left one hanging and I put a good swing on it,” Faison said.

That swing resulted in a two-run home run over the left-field wall for Faison, which made it 5-3. That would be the final score until senior righthanded pitcher Tristan Stivors locked it down in the top of the ninth for Texas State’s first victory of the season. Stivors also pitched two scoreless innings.

The Bobcats cruised through six innings as junior right-handed pitcher Zeke Wood, who got the start, held Utah Valley scoreless through six innings pitched, with the defense behind him stellar throughout. Wood also finished with a career-high 12 strikeouts and took a no-hitter into the top of the seventh, where the Wolverines broke it up with a leadoff base hit by sophomore infielder Garrett Broussard.

Additionally, an RBI single by senior infielder/outfielder Mitch Moralez, a sac fly by junior catcher Copper Handen and an RBI single by junior first baseman Brody Ponti tied the game for an inning and a half.

The ‘Cats offense may not have been able to take advantage of all their opportunities but slugged throughout.

Faison finished the game going 3-4 with two doubles to go along with a two-run homer.

Multiple diving plays by senior infielder Dalton Shuffield and a catch along the netting by freshman infielder Daylan Pena kept the Wolverine offense in check for most of the game.

After the Bobcats took game one of four, the two teams lined up for a twin bill. The Texas State and Utah Valley baseball teams split the two games.

The Bobcats won the first 14-4 in eight innings, and the Wolverines took the second, 5-3.

The first game of the two started off as an offensive slugfest as the two teams scored 15 runs combined in the first four innings. The Wolverines struck first in the top of the first inning, plating two runs. The Bobcats would match the score at the bottom of the frame.

In innings, two, three and four, the Bobcats outscored the Wolverines 9-2 to hold an 11-4 lead entering the fifth.

The two teams wouldn’t be able to find another run until junior infielder/ outfielder Jose Gonzalez grounded out to second to bring Shuffield home in the bottom of the seventh. The Wolverines had no answer as freshman infielder Ryan Leary blasted a two-RBI double to right field to walk the Bobcats off on a run-rule against Utah Valley.

The second game of the two began

Texas State senior outfielder Isaiah Ortega-Jones (17) preps to hit ball from a Wolverines pitcher during a series against Utah Valley, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, at Bobcat Ballpark. The Bobcats won the series 3-1.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

a short, 45 minutes later with the Bobcats in position to clinch the series in game three but would fall short to the Wolverines 5-3.

Through seven innings, the Bobcats and the Wolverines were dead-locked, 1-1, in a pitching duel. The starting pitchers for the two teams gave up only one earned run between the two of them, a home run on sophomore right-handed pitcher Levi Wells from Wolverine sophomore infielder Kayler Yates.

The Wolverines opened up on offense, plating four runs in the top of the eighth. The runs would be enough to hold the lead through the last two innings to pick up the first win of the year for Utah Valley.

Texas State’s offense exploded in the series finale, giving it a series win and momentum on its opening week.

Texas State struck first in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of RBI singles by senior outfielder John Wuthrich and Pena.

Utah Valley answered back with two runs of its own in the top of the second inning, thanks to an RBI groundout by Hansen and a wild pitch by Texas State starter sophomore right-handed pitcher Tony Robie.

After that, the game would prove to be all Texas State. Robie tossed three scoreless innings after his second inning blip before being relieved by junior right-handed pitcher Matthew Nicholas, finishing Robie’s day at a solid 5.0IP, 2BB, 5H, 4Ks, 2 ER. “That was big,” Texas State Baseball Head Coach Stephen Trout said of Robie’s performance. “For Robie, it’s all

Texas State sophomore pitcher Cameron Bush (35) pitches the ball to a Wolverine batter during a series against Utah Valley, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, at Bobcat Ballpark. The Bobcats won the series 3-1.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

about sinking the baseball and getting after it.”

Utah Valley’s starter junior lefthanded pitcher Cole Yocum did not provide the results his team hoped for.

He was relieved by sophomore lefthanded pitcher Coop Rust with two outs in the third inning after allowing an RBI double to Texas State senior infielder Justin Thompson. Texas State scored two more runs in the inning off a two-RBI single by senior infielder Cameron Gibbons, making the score 5-2 Bobcats.

Another run would not be scored until Shuffield hit a home run that scored himself and Faison, who reached on an error that would’ve ended the inning. This capped off the series for Shuffield who finished his day going 3-4 with three hits, two RBIs, two runs and his second home run of the series.

The Texas State offense continued its pace in the bottom of the eighth inning where the Bobcats had eight men come up to the plate. A barrage of RBI singles

by Pena and junior catcher/outfielder

Peyton Lewis was followed by an RBI groundout by Gibbons, making the score 11-2 Bobcats.

The inning and series were capped off by a long home run from senior outfielder Isaiah Ortega-Jones, which effectively run-ruled and walked off the Utah Valley Wolverines.

“He’s been a spark plug for us,” Shuffield said. “I’m really proud of that guy.”

Texas State (3-1) will play its next game against Wichita State (0-3) at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Head Coach Stephen Trout said his team is excited to play in a major league facility.

“We get in those moments and it’s about slowing our guys down, not speeding them up,” Trout said. “We’re gonna play a really good Wichita State team, so it’ll be fun.

The University Star

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 | 7

SPORTS EQUIPMENT

Football introduces custom helmets for safer spring practices

By Carson Weaver Sports Contributor

Equipped with cutting-edge technology, Texas State football will gear up this spring with Riddell Axiom, a helmet that aims to better protect athletes from head injuries.

Each helmet is custom-made with the help of a scanning application that captures a 3D image of an athlete's head. The Riddell Axiom is produced on an athlete-to-athlete basis rather than a position-by-position basis, making each helmet cater to the safety needs of each athlete's unique head shape.

While the Riddell Axiom is to be released on the market this winter, select schools have been granted access to the helmets for spring practices. Texas A&M, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Tulsa, the University of Texas, the University of North Texas and Texas State are a few schools that have been scanned and fitted for their Riddell Axioms. These select schools have access to test out the helmet before deciding to order more for the fall season.

Although some Texas State football players are excited just to have new equipment, Football Equipment Manager Andrew Johnson said the new helmets will help with the safety of the players.

"It's one of the highest-rated helmets out there right now," Johnson said. "The guys call it their swag and their drip ... they're always happy to get new stuff in here and try it out."

According to the Brain Injury Research Institute (BIRI), football injuries associated with the brain occur at the rate of one of every 5.5 games.

In a given season, around 10% of

A Texas State football player receives a head scan for a custom fit of the Riddell Axiom helmet. The Riddell Axiom is produced on an athlete-to-athlete basis and helps improve impact response to prevent head injury.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT

A custom Texas State Riddell Axiom helmet sits on a table. While the Riddell Axiom is to be released on the market this winter, Texas State and other select schools have the opportunity to test out the helmets for spring practice season.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT

college football players will sustain a brain injury, resulting in football accounting for over 60% of sportsrelated concussions.

The Axiom is designed to have a custom-created flexible shell that

conforms around the athlete's head.

This shell helps improve impact response and in turn, protects the athlete. The new face mask also provides additional flexibility than a traditional helmet which creates a softer impact response and a better view of the football field.

Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Riddell Sports Thad Ide said the Axiom is the new industry standard for player safety.

"This helmet is the product of new design methods, materials and technologies," Ide said. "We don’t want to call it a crowning achievement, we get up every day and try to improve player protection ... but we do feel Axiom is a very different helmet platform than we have seen before, and potentially a great leap forward."

The helmet also comes with InSite Smart helmet technology, which collects head impact data from the football field in real-time. Football programs will receive periodic reports with analysis on the HIE (head impact exposure) their athlete's experience.

CEO of Riddell Sports Dan Arment said the launch of this new technology is an exciting moment for football players and coaches across the nation.

"The Riddell Axiom introduces new technologies that will fundamentally change what the football community expects in a helmet," Arment said in a statement. "Reaching this development milestone is rewarding and will benefit the football community for years to come."

The University Star

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 | 8

OPINIONS

Dillon Strine Opinion Editor staropinion@txstate.edu

Opinions in The University Star are not necessarily those of our entire publication, Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Student Publications Board.

HEALTH CARE

"Dr. Pimple Popper" highlights flaws in the American health care system

By Tiara Allen Opinion Contributor

Back in 2018, TLC aired "Dr. Pimple Popper," a show in which American dermatologist, Dr. Sandra Lee assists patients with skin abnormalities and helps them reclaim their confidence.

Before TLC aired the show, Dr. Lee gained notoriety from her YouTube channel where she uploaded videos of cyst removals, blackhead lancings and other procedures to her engrossed followers, who refer to themselves as "popaholics."

Now, with her television program, she undertakes much more dramatic procedures, such as the removal of massive lipomas, the tumors created by neurofibromatosis and unusually located cysts.

Participants on the show claim they have reached out to Dr. Lee out of desperation. Many have had their conditions worsened by previous doctors, or experienced recurrences of their condition despite having it removed or treated previously.

One of the most common reasons patients seek help from Dr. Lee is because the cost of the procedure is too expensive for them to afford, thus in exchange for free treatment, they invite television viewers into their lives.

While it is incredible that Dr. Lee is able to treat participants free of cost, this is symptomatic of a broken health care system that considers very essential surgeries "elective," therefore unfairly forcing patients to pay exorbitant prices.

While the select few patients featured on "Dr. Pimple Popper" receive free treatment, the average American patient who seeks the same kind of procedure isn't as lucky. Like cast members on the show, those who are unable to afford the price of essential surgeries can live with low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and loneliness due to their conditions.

Adam, one of the participants on the

ILLUSTRATION BY NOAH NOLET

show, lived with 11 cysts on his head that were highly visible. After a painful, poorly performed surgery before visiting Dr. Lee, he decided to not continue with the process of removal, and instead constantly wore hats to hide the bumps.

However, there were some situations he could not avoid removing his hat for, such as when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. When he did remove the hat, he recalled children and adults "taking attention away from the flag and going to [his] head."

Adam's anxiety surrounding his cysts led to him turning down invitations from friends to the point where his friends stopped asking him and his family to outings because they expected him to say no. This only increased Adam's loneliness. His story is not unique among participants of the show or patients with skin conditions.

A 2018 study by the International Journal of Women's Dermatology, stated 25-50% of surveyed patients living with skin conditions experienced high levels of psychological distress. Additionally, 29% of respondents said their condition was a barrier to finding a partnership,

Texas State resident Myles Bolden hands out homemade gumbo to compete at the Gumbo Cook-Off, Saturday ,Feb. 19, 2022, at Zelicks.

PHOTO BY ELIJAH RENDON

20% cited their condition as a major factor in the breakdown of their most recent romantic relationship and 67% claimed their job opportunities were limited by their condition.

When the inability to afford health care treatment begins to impact one's mental health, it is cruel to continue to prevent these patients from seeking the treatment they need to feel confident.

Additionally, the physical impact these conditions take on their patients is often understated. Many of Dr. Lee's patients claim to have trouble sleeping, experience numbness and other side effects that previous doctors considered relatively harmless.

Other medical conditions have also not been taken seriously in the past despite their very real physical impact.

Patients with macromastia, or overlarge breasts, saw an increasing number of insurance denials from 2012 to 2017.

Some insurance companies say they will not cover the procedure unless 500 grams of breast tissue are removed on both sides, despite studies showing that the amount of tissue removed is unrelated to the relief of symptoms.

The procedure is often considered to be a cosmetic one, but many patients suffer from back and neck pain, in addition to mental health issues related to living with very large breasts. Reduction is considered to be the best way to relieve this pain, but many patients have no choice but to live with it because they cannot afford the procedure.

Some of these conditions can become so painful that it impacts one's ability to obtain a job which affects their way of paying for the procedure. A 2020 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that 17.9% of people with a disability were employed that year, down from 19.3% the prior year.

Unfortunately, this unemployment rate makes it difficult for people with disabilities to afford the care that they need under the current system.

While looser restrictions on what is considered an essential surgery may cause a burden on overworked health care professionals, patients seeking out health care from an overburdened system is not the fault of the patients, but of the greedy system that put the overburdened workers there in the first place.

It is no secret that the American health care system is very different from the systems of other countries. In 2014, the average cost of a knee replacement in America was $28,184, which was 40% more than the average price in Switzerland, 53% more than in the United Kingdom and 77% more than in Australia.

Additionally, the average cost of a nightly hospital stay is higher in the U.S. than in other countries such as Switzerland and Australia.

Because of how expensive health care in America can be, some Americans have traveled overseas where they can get procedures done at lower costs, even with airfare included. This practice has become so popular, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refer to it as "medical tourism."

While traveling abroad is a temporary solution for some, it excludes those without the ability to travel abroad and is not a long-term answer to the problem of expensive surgeries.

The American health care system as it stands is not sustainable for Americans.

Those running the system need to evaluate how it operates in order for patients to be treated with more compassion and equity.

- Tiara Allen is a marketing senior.

The University Star welcomes Letters to the Editor from its readers. All submissions are reviewed and considered by the Editor-in-Chief and Opinion Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication.

San Marcos residents Jacob Montoya and Isaac Daniels sell products from their clothing brand Bad Design Co. at the Gumbo Cook-Off, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, at Zelicks.

PHOTO BY ELIJAH RENDON

Brother Matt of Consuming Fire Campus Ministries preaches to a crowd of students, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, at the Stallions. Though the area surrounding the Stallions is the university’s designated free speech area, the majority of the crowd took offense at Matt’s words and began to counterprotest him until he left.

PHOTO BY LILIANA PEREZ

Local artists Jennifer Khoshbin, Nanako Kishi and Celia Mendoza's collaboration on "Bienvenidos" mural as part of the San Marcos Mural Arts Program, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022, at Conoco Fast Stop Stores #6 on 1101 SH 123.

PHOTO BY CASSIE BUTTERFIELD