TUESDAY
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
VOLUME 111 ISSUE 25
www.UniversityStar.com
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
Opinion: Award shows must reform to recapture audiences
Opinion: Venture out to a movie theater
Star Snaps: Campus Life
Student-led magazine brings new 'Lewk' to campus
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FOOTBALL
LOCAL ART
Football looks to enhance program with coaching staff additions By Carson Weaver Sports Contributor
Texas State football is preparing for the upcoming season with the addition of several members to the coaching staff. A first look at the program will kick off on Saturday at Texas State's Spring Football Game and Fan Fest. Joining the Bobcats this season are assistant coaches Chris Buckner and Clay Jennings as well as running back coach RJ Fleming. Former tight ends coach Brian Hamilton will now oversee the offensive line while former graduate assistant Boone Feldt has been promoted to tight ends coach. Coming off a brief term at the University of Delaware as the Blue Hens' wide receivers coach, passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator, Buckner will serve as Texas State's co-wide receiver coach, joining current assistant coach Bryson Abraham. During Buckner's 12-year coaching career he has primarily worked with wide receivers but is experienced in training quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends. "He's an area guy," Head Coach Jake Spavital said. "He's familiar with how we run this offense." Buckner is a New Mexico State alumnus where he played both wide receiver and defensive back before starting his coaching career in 2010 at Jackson State. Before starting his role as Texas State’s wide receiver coach, Buckner has coached nearly every offensive position during his coaching career. During his coaching stint at Jackson State, he helped bring home the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division Championship every year he was a part of the staff.
HE'S AN AREA GUY. HE'S FAMILURE WITH HOW WE RUN THIS OFFENSE -JAKE SPAVITAL, TEXAS STATE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Serving as Texas State's defensive back coach and passing game coordinator, Jennings is no stranger to Texas football having coached 18 of his 26 years in Texas. He joins the Bobcats after coaching cornerbacks at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas during the 2021 season. Jennings, a Waco native and a longtime secondary coach, has had coaching stints at North Texas, Texas Tech, Houston, Texas, TCU, Baylor and Sam Houston. He began his coaching career at North Texas as a student assistant in 1996 after spending his entire collegiate career playing there. Jennings has also coached for top-ranked defenses throughout the years. During his stint at TCU, he helped establish the program's leading defense from 2008 to 2010. "He brings a ton of experience to the program," Spavital said. "He's unbelievable with his presence ever since he's been here." Fleming will serve as Texas State's primary running back coach this upcoming season.
SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 2
The "Common Thread" Mural, Sunday, April 3, 2022, at E Martin Luther King Drive and S LBJ Drive. PHOTO BY JEFFREY HALFEN
San Marcos exhibit reveals how alumnus finds beauty in resilience By Sarah Hernandez Life and Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
It was a pen and ink drawing of an African warrior that became Robert Jones’ first award-winning piece of work. He was in middle school at the time and was mostly encouraged by his mother to enter the contest. While he's long surpassed middle school art contests, Jones' family continues to motivate his work today. He still remembers the intricate wooden sculptures of a horse, tree and cactus clump that his father carved with a pocketknife from old apple crates and the colors and patterns of his mother's handmade quilts. Jones' latest exhibit "Walking in My Shoes," reflects his life experiences and the resiliency he's carried with him. The exhibit is set to run at the San Marcos Art Center from April 6-30. One of the original pieces included is a painting of an old, torn-up pair of Chuck Taylors that is reminiscent of a pair Jones wore when he was younger. "Anything can be beautiful. A
rusty pair of shoes or a person that's heartbroken and whatnot in some of the paintings that you see," Jones said. "'Walking in My Shoes' is kind of a synonym or resemblance to what I've had to go through — ugly stuff to get to where I am now with the beautiful artwork and fine art that people see." Jones grew up in Gonzales, Texas, and was involved in art throughout school. During his senior year of high school, Jones placed second in an art contest and received a scholarship that would help send him to Southwest Texas State University where he earned a degree in commercial art. Upon his graduation in 1978, Jones began working jobs for the City of Austin in which he used his creative gift and newly acquired expertise from Southwest Texas State. He took photos and wrote captions for local newspapers, designed brochures as a public information officer and even created the official logo for Austin Energy, something he said is his "claim to fame." He credits his motivation to pursue his art career to his parents who supported him from when he began
painting at five years old. If his father, an artist who never had the time to practice his passion, could find time to create, Jones knew he could do anything. "[My dad] just said, you know, 'go for it.' And my mom did too," Jones said. "So, they were proud of me that I made it and had my artwork all over Austin and you know [I'm] making a living and feeding and supplying for my family." After working for the City of Austin for over 10 years, Jones moved on to the museum business, working as a designer and curator. He helped establish the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum in Austin in 2001 then moved to the George Washington Carver Museum. While he was working to make a living, he was also completing freelance design and commission work outside of his regular job. "I tell my wife all the time, that if I'm not creating something, I feel like I'm not alive," Jones said. "I feel like just a bump on a log or dead in the
SEE LOCAL ART PAGE 5
CIRCA
Social media app launches to connect Texas State students By Brianna Chavez Life and Arts Contributor
Circa, a new social media app, seeks to spark friendships among college students by fostering a location-based community both on and off-campus. Co-founders Daniel Davidson and Eli Yazdi created the platform in order to bring students together and connect them with local activities and groups tied to their interests. "It's an online community, but it's really your community," Yazdi said. "We believe in having continuing relationships with our users because we're here to make it better for you." While Circa made its Apple App Store debut in June 2020, Yazdi and
Davidson recently started marketing the app at universities. In February, the duo decided to start their campaign at Texas State, making it the first university to be targeted. Yazdi said they wanted to market the app to college students and their local communities rather than focus on merely trends and analytics. "We believe that existing social media prioritizes what’s viral and not necessarily relevant information that can help you make daily decisions,” Yazdi, who also serves as Circa's product designer, said. "When I was post-college I was thinking 'Where's the next experience? Where can I create the next memory?'" Even though the app recently
began targeting Texas State students, Bobcats like Drew Summers, a public administration junior, have already started taking advantage of the app's features to connect with fellow students. “Texas State has Facebook groups and Instagram pages, but they don't have one social media platform to unite the whole school," Summers said. Summers also works as Circa's community engagement manager and helped establish Texas State as the first university on the app. His job consists of working with the community to find out how Circa can better serve Texas State.
SEE CIRCA PAGE 6
2 | Tuesday, April 5, 2022
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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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Texas State graduate offensive lineman Liam Dobson (69) pushes against training equipment during fall camp drills, Thursday, Aug.12, 2021, at Bobcat Stadium. STAR FILE PHOTO
He will return back to the Sun Belt Conference after playing wide receiver for Arkansas State from 2010 to 2013. Before being appointed as the Bobcats' running back coach, Fleming spent the 2021 season as a wide receiver coach at Eastern Michigan University after serving as the offensive quality control coach at Liberty for two years. Before coaching at Liberty, Fleming was an offensive graduate assistant at TCU. Fleming is no stranger to the spotlight, appearing in eight bowl games in his playing and coaching career. His most recent bowl game was the Mortgage Cure Bowl with Liberty in 2020. Fleming said he's wanted to coach for Texas State for a while now. "It's something I always wanted to be a part of," Fleming said. Like Fleming, Feldt has always wanted to work with the Bobcats. Feldt graduated from Hays High School in Buda, which is about 15 minutes
from San Marcos. Growing up in close proximity to Texas State, Feldt is familiar with the program and said he will do whatever he can to benefit the Bobcats. "I worked my way in as a graduate assistant where I was helping with recruiting and coaching," Feldt said. "I've been around football my whole life ... as far as day-to-day, it's come to work and see how I can help the team as best I can." With these hires and promotions, the Bobcats have filled out the allotted 10-member coaching staff for 2022. Texas State football has started spring practices, and after just nine wins and 27 loses in the past three years, new faces in the coaching staff could prove to be a big step for the Bobcats. Senior linebacker London Harris said that the coaching staff always pushes him to better himself on and off the field. "All of them are very smart," Harris
said. "They've been around football for a long time ... played at a high level and coached at a high level." Spavital said the new regime of coaches is made up of good men, teachers and leaders — something that has made his team more open to the new coaching staff changes. "This program is so much bigger than one person," Spavital said. "There's a lot of moving parts to this game ... I think everybody has been receptive to these new coaches." Texas State, under the fourth year of Spavital, will open the 2022 season on Sept. 3 in Nevada against the Wolf Pack. The first home game of the year will be on Sept. 9 against Florida International University. Before the upcoming season kicks off, Texas State will spring into action this weekend at the Spring Football Game and Fan Fest. The team's first look will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.
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4 | Tuesday, April 5, 2022 Dillon Strine Opinion Editor staropinion@txstate.edu
The University Star
OPINIONS
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.
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT
Award shows must reform to recapture audiences By Tiara Allen Opinion Contributor
The Oscars, the Grammys, the Emmys and other shows are no stranger to drama, and arguably, thrive on it. Kanye West's infamous mic-steal from Taylor Swift and Beyonce's pregnancy reveal at the MTV Video Music Awards are moments still ingrained into pop culture. And who can forget pop culture's latest phenomenon after the shocking slap at the Oscars. Will Smith's decision to get up and slap Chris Rock for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, has been polarizing viewers and celebrities ever since it happened. While Smith was allowed to stay in the Dolby Theatre after the incident, many celebrities decried his actions. Actor Jim Carrey stated Smith's ability to stay in the building "really felt like this is a really clear indication that we aren’t the cool club anymore." While some criticized Carrey for his statement, referring to it as melodramatic and hypocritical, he may be right about one thing: the Oscars just aren't as cool as they used to be. In fact, Nielsen viewership for the Oscars, as well as other awards shows like the Grammys and the Emmys, has been declining rapidly for the past decade. In 2010, 41.62 million viewers tuned into the Oscars but that number has been falling over time, and hit a record low in 2021, clocking in at 9.85 million viewers. While viewership for the 2022 Oscars showed a 56% improvement from the viewership for the 2021 Oscars, 2022 viewership was still the second-worst turnout for the Oscars in recorded history. The Grammys were met with a similar decline, as the 2021 Grammys hit its own record low with 8.8 million viewers, down 53% from the year prior. The music award show’s 2022 ratings saw more of the same but encountered a slight 1.4% increase. It seems that awards ceremonies such as the Oscars and the Grammys, once centerpieces of American celebrity culture and massive opportunities for artists, have lost the stronghold they once had on the general public. One of the main reasons is that media consumption habits have changed. While viewers of decades past had limited options on television whenever a major event like the Oscars was occurring, viewers today have an endless number of channels, streaming services and even platforms like YouTube or TikTok to surf through instead. This new media has allowed people to watch awards shows in their own way. With the advent of YouTube, viewers are able to watch the presentation at any time and don't have to sit through the full programs when they only want to view a specific award or performance. As a result, only the most dedicated viewers feel the need to catch the broadcast live in full, which is in part contributing to the declining views. However, media habits aside, the perceptions of prestige and honor at the various academies have been shifting throughout the years. Discriminatory behavior, protection of abusers and scandals both new and old have clouded the reputation of establishments such as The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and The Recording Academy. In the backlash to the incident
ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON WARE
between Rock and Smith, some celebrities claimed the slap was the ugliest incident in the history of the Oscars. However, viewers were quick to point out previous incidences that made them hypocritical. One common example is Roman Polanski, who fled the country to avoid a prison sentence after being convicted for sexual abuse of a minor, he was awarded an Oscar for directing in 2003 and received a standing ovation by attendees even though he was not in attendance. In 1973, Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American actress, came on stage on behalf of Marlon Brando to speak out against the mistreatment of Native Americans both in the film industry and in American society, her speech received a mixed reaction from the crowd. While many years have passed since these instances, the racism and sexism that caused these occurrences still linger. In 1988, Eddie Murphy commented while presenting the best picture award that he didn't want to attend the show because of how infrequently Black people were nominated for awards. Not much has changed since then; after becoming the first Black woman to win best actress, Halle Berry gave an emotional speech about how important the moment was for women of color but reneged on her statement 15 years later as no other Black woman has won since. Sexism also remains rampant as women represent only 14% of all nominations at the Oscars, including just five women out of 449 total nominees for best
director in the history of the award. Meanwhile, former Grammy President Neil Portnow received backlash from artists and the audience in 2018 after stating that women "need to step up" in order to receive recognition in the industry. This was after only one woman received a solo Grammy award during the entire telecasted award program, spawning #GrammysSoMale. Portnow claimed that his commentary was taken out of context, but later resigned from his position after sexual misconduct allegations arose against him. Award show programs have stated they are working on inclusion and diversity initiatives, especially after movements such as the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and #MeToo movement brought greater scrutiny to the brewing issues in these governing academies. On April 3, Jon Batiste became the 11th Black act to win album of the year at the 2022 Grammys. Meanwhile, the Oscars have implemented a diversity policy for any film being considered for a nomination. These are steps in the right direction, but the improvements will take a long time to be fully implemented not only in the awards shows but in the culture surrounding them. It's worth noting that for many, the whole concept of awards shows seems largely out of touch these days. In a world where income inequality has been growing, inflation has been exploding and the threat of war is looming, many find the ceremonies irrelevant or even
grating. These sentiments have been amplified during a global pandemic where celebrities sit together unmasked as COVID-19 cases continue to live on. It seems to be an insult and furthers the sentiment that celebrities and regular Americans live by two separate sets of rules. Awards shows aren't all bad. They can do a lot for smaller creators. Forbes reported a "Grammy bounce" for winners of the coveted gramophone; a survey showed that musicians saw a 55% increase in concert tickets and producer fees after the win. Oscar winners also see a similar bump in salary; the average best actor winner can expect up to a $3.9 million increase in pay for roles. Arguments can be made that awards shows are good because they serve as a form of escapism, and that many find it therapeutic to focus on the life of celebrities and the artwork they create. Anyone that tunes in should not be criticized for still wanting to tune into the ceremonies. After all the scandals and with the evolution of media, people have found newer forms of escapism to relish in, and if industries do not learn to adapt, they will be left behind. -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.
Tuesday, April 5, 2022 | 5
The University Star
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.
ENTERTAINMENT
Venture out to a movie theater By Dillon Strine Opinion Editor staropinion@txstate.edu
While industries have used the financial strain of everyday Americans as an opportunity to raise prices due to inflation, movie theater tickets are one of the few forms of consumption where prices have remained reasonable. On average, it costs under $10 per ticket to see a blockbuster flick. Having time to see a movie at the best-priced matinee time may not be ideal for everyone but at the local theater of your choice, it's likely affordable to see Academy Award-winning films like "Coda" at a prime hour and day. Theaters are cold and dark inside, so it also does not take the amount of effort to do other activities on any given night out. So collectively there should be more of an effort to seek out affordable forms of entertainment. This is contrary to the rising price of doing anything else involved with going out. A night out for dinner costs 58.1% more for gas and then after you order, there is another 6% increase in food cost. Preference for other forms of entertainment like sporting events is also taxing on your wallet and mind. For these events, there are multiple secondary market ticket brokers that can be sifted through to find the bestpriced tickets. These sites have seen substantial percentage rises in prices for pro sporting events, as the cost of a ticket for a Major League Baseball game through SeatGeek was up 40%, from $58 on average in 2019 to $81 in 2020. For frequent sports events attendees, this is just one of the many costs you will endure. After your arrival at a sporting event, you must figure out parking if you have not already. For a San Antonio
ILLUSTRATION BY AFAAF ALNAHAS
Spurs game that is an extra $15 for the furthest AT&T Center parking lot. But other sporting events can be a lot less kind as AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, had parking priced at $75 in 2016, making it one of the top three most expensive stadiums to watch an NFL game. These same venues host concerts, and other events, and charge similar prices if that is more your medium for inflated entertainment, as they all use dynamic pricing. Going out can obviously be a stressful, overwhelming experience and that could be why fewer people are going out to the movies. Sitting at home sifting through a favorite streaming service could take a lot less time. But there are currently over 200 streaming services available, and it can be a challenge to find something to begin watching. These streaming services are fully aware
of this problem as well. Researchers at Netflix found that if subscribers do not find something in 60-90 seconds they will quit looking. They have certainly tried to combat this by doing things like attaining as much personal information as possible to curate more informed lists of recommendations. For those who are not into giving up this much information, local theaters have as few as 16 movies to choose from, rather than Netflix’s selection of movies that is approaching 4,000. Therefore, it can also be a more personable experience as moviegoers alongside are more likely to have similar viewings. Going to a movie theater is not a perfect experience by any means. It can still cost up to $9.09 for a large popcorn at AMC and $5.45 for a large drink at Cinemark. Also, blockbusters like
“The Batman” have seen increases in ticket prices that may start to resemble dynamic pricing that has cast a dark cloud over the rest of the entertainment business. It can be a struggle to make it through a movie without going to the bathroom which poses an inconvenience since, at home, one could just pause the movie. Some may also have reservations about supporting bigger studios and the corporations that run theaters as that is what makes up a majority of what is now playing. Even after all of the doubts that may creep in, now is still the time to see a movie in theaters. The average movie length in 2018 was 96.5 minutes, this is plenty of time to eat beforehand or afterward for those worried about concession costs. And for those who prefer to not miss anything, plenty of time to plan around when to map out the restroom location beforehand. As for the dislike of having to support the remnants of the flawed movie industry, independent films still find their way into movie theaters and receive major critical acclaim. The theaters' employees also consist of high school students' first jobs, as one-third of ushers and ticket takers have less than a high school diploma. So, for your next adventure out consider going to support your local movie theater. - Dillon Strine is a journalism 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.
COMIC BY MADISON WARE
6 | Tuesday, April 5, 2022
The University Star
LIFE AND ARTS
Sarah Hernandez Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT LOCAL ART water or dead man walking or whatever. So, I try to just create something if it's just, you know if I just see a leaf or something, or you know, or some crumbs on a table, I'll try to pattern them on the table where they look like a design or something." When Jones retired in 2018, he saw it as an opportunity to return to his roots and get back into fine art from graphic design. Conversations about giving Jones a show at the Art Center began two years ago but the pandemic put plans on pause. When the center finally opened back up, manager Nancy Brown contacted Jones to ask if he was still up for the event. "I believe his work represents what we're trying to do with Art League, which is to foster and encourage artists and art in some markets," Brown said. The San Marcos Art Center is a part of the San Marcos Art League and is an art hub for local artists, acting as a gallery space, studio, social venue and sales floor. Brown, who was not yet a member of the San Marcos Art League when the board first reached out to Jones, said she was impressed with the work he had done on the diversity mural downtown titled “Celebrate Diversity: Our Common Thread." Mittie Miller, a longtime friend of Jones and his family through their shared church, recommended Jones to the mural selection board that was comprised of the San Marcos Main Street Program and several other city organizations. Miller, who is a member of the Dunbar Heritage Association, said Jones was the first person who came to mind when they made a call for artists. "Once we put out the search for artists in the San Marcos area – because we did
want somebody from San Marcos – he responded on time, ready to create it," Miller said. Located at E Martin Luther King Drive and S LBJ Drive, the mural depicts a group of individuals holding hands and silhouettes of them performing different actions like riding a bike. The subjects, which range in age, race, ethnicity, disability, gender and culture, are all connected by the colorful "common thread" that runs through the painting. The mural was revealed in January and is the largest piece Jones has created, totaling 16 panels and 500 hours of work. Although he was given some instruction and guidance from the mural committee, Jones was free to incorporate his own ideas and create something that illustrated San Marcos' diverse community. "I think is absolutely amazing. I knew his artwork, so when it came out of his creativity, he didn't have to pull so much from the committee. It's like we gave him a sentence and he took it and made a paragraph out of it," Miller said. The meaning behind Jones' exhibit incorporates the message he hopes all of his artwork gets across. As a Black man, he said, those who make quick judgments of him will never know the depth of his knowledge or extent of his skills until they walk in his shoes. "People that are very critical about other individuals can look at these paintings, look at me, look at these pieces and say ... 'hell, this guy's an artist and he still had all these barriers and barricades that were against him, but yet he still has enough desire and enough emotion and enough encouraging from other folks that he can create beautiful art,'" Jones said. "Walking in My Shoes" will open in
Texas State management senior David Craig plays an ophicleide, Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at Sewell Park. Craig described the rare instrument as a half saxophone and half tuba, and he believes it might be the only one in Texas. Craig plays tuba for the Texas State Orchestra and Bobcat Marching Band. Craig initially got the ophicleide as a joke because the orchestra only accepts one tuba player every year, so he wanted to audition with something different to compete with the graduate students who usually get the part.
Robert Jones stands next to a cover illustration he completed for a book titled "Claiming Sunday" by San Marcos author Joleene Maddox Snider. Released in 2018, the book told the story of a Texas slave community. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT JONES
the San Marcos Art Center on April 6 and will run through April 30. Visitors are invited to attend the opening reception on April 8 from 6-9 p.m. at the Art Center located at 117 N Guadalupe St. Suite 101 in downtown
San Marcos. For more information on the exhibit, visit sanmarcosartcenter.com. To keep up with Jones, visit his Instagram @robertrjonesart.
Award-winning body artist Margaret Mauthe paints a flower on a student’s thigh during SACA’s Make and Take event, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the LBJSC Mall. Margaret and her husband Mike, a balloon artist, combined their talents to create an entertainment company called Team M&M that entertains all ages. PHOTO BY LILIANA PEREZ
PHOTO BY LILIANA PEREZ
Award-winning balloon artist Mike Mauthe creates a balloon elephant for a student during SACA’s Make and Take event, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the LBJSC Mall. Mike and his wife Margaret, a body artist, combined their talents to create an entertainment company called Team M&M that entertains all ages. PHOTO BY LILIANA PEREZ
(Left to right) Chris Skladal, Jack Brown and Bill Shannon play guitar, Friday, April 1, 2022, at Sewell Park. Shannon noticed Skladal and Brown, both digital media innovation freshman, playing and asked to join them. Skladal and Brown are hoping to start a band and are looking for a drummer. The trio sang songs like “Texas Flood” and “Proud Mary.” PHOTO BY LILIANA PEREZ
Tuesday, April 5, 2022 | 7
The University Star
LIFE AND ARTS
Sarah Hernandez Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT CIRCA Summers transferred to Texas State from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi where he used Wildfire, a social news app for college students, which sparked his interest in partnering with Circa. "I was searching and thought, 'is there something like that for Texas State?' Then I found some people who were doing just that," Summers said. "I thought, 'Texas State is a good place to start. This is exactly what I've been wanting at school.'" Summers shows off his Bobcat pride on the Texas State Circa channel he created which currently has over 50 members. In the channel, students can discuss things like coffee shop recommendations, classes and all things Texas State. More Bobcats are getting on the Circa train to contribute to the general discussions. “When I first got onto Circa, there was no Texas State channel at all," Summers said. “I’ve been proud of it. It’s been really great to see the community grow.” Circa has a proximity feature built into its algorithm that allows students to learn about nearby events, meet up with friends and find campus resources. The app will automatically update to reflect conversations and topics when a user moves. Where users roam, the app will follow. "You can talk to different college students on Circa from anywhere on the global channel. A neat way to connect to everyone at once," Summers said. "Or you can go to a channel that is specific to your university." Besides joining the local channels that are shown to them, users also have the opportunity to create a channel of their own based on their interests and
A student opens the Circa app on their phone, Monday, April 4, 2022, at Texas State. PHOTO BY NATALIE RYAN
hobbies. Ben Bryant, a computer science junior, downloaded Circa at the beginning of the year. He started a skateboarding channel on Circa to connect with local skaters and make new friends who shared his interest. "I think it's cool how Circa can help people in smaller communities," Bryant said. "Especially for freshmen or people just moving here looking to find some friends." Bryant said that since it is difficult to find authentic personal connections
and friendships on other social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, he is hopeful Circa can provide a space to do so. "I definitely appreciate the more person-to-person feel Circa gives compared to other apps, where you barely see people that are part of your community at all," Bryant said. "I definitely think Circa can help people connect on college campuses." The Circa team is working to include direct messaging, links to events and profile personalization so that students
can include things like their major and interests. For now, the Circa team is focusing on their goal of creating a space online in which students can find resources, feel a sense of belonging and make new friends. Circa is available to download in the Apple App Store and will be available on the Google Play Store soon. To learn more about Circa, visit https://www. connectwithcirca.com/.
Student-led magazine brings new 'Lewk' to campus FASHION
By Madison Bendit Life and Arts Contributor Walking on campus can sometimes feel like fashion week in itself. Any day of the week, students can be found wearing anything from thrifted pattern skirts to pleather knee-high boots, making Texas State a hub for upcoming fashionistas and designers. Bringing together their love for fashion, inclusivity and community, a group of Texas State students strive to spotlight campus creativity through Lewk Magazine, a fashion-based online publication. Lewk Magazine started as an idea in the summer of 2021 between founders and fashion juniors Gabriella Garcia and Amaya Aztecatl. The duo was inspired by well-known publications like Vogue and other student-led entities like SPARK Magazine, a fashion and culture publication created by students at the University of Texas. In October 2021, Lewk was officially established and has since grown to include over 50 members. “We started online and didn’t really know anyone in the fashion scene except each other, so once we started in-person classes, we began the process which included a lot of trial and error in finding a [faculty advisor] and getting everything authorized through the school,” Aztecatl said. Both Garcia and Aztecatl are passionate about their vision for Lewk and its future. To them, the application process is essential to ensure they recruit like-minded people with the same commitment and excitement. “We are very ambitious and put a lot of passion in our work, but we had to be patient through the process, and at times, it felt like we were constantly running around trying to get everything organized," Garcia said. “We want those same kinds of qualities in our applicants, but we always welcome creatives to join even if you’re not sure what your passions are yet." The Lewk team has dedicated its brand message to serving the community by providing advertising spaces for local businesses in the magazine and creating a safe space on campus for creative students. “We are here to provide opportunities to creatives on campus and anyone
Editor-in-Chief Amaya Aztecatl (left) and Managing Editor and Modeling Director Sydney Bynes (right) pose for a photo published in the first edition of Lewk Magazine. PHOTO PHOTO COURTESY OF EVELYN DEAL
wanting to be in a space surrounded by like-minded and energetic people in a judgment-free environment," Aztecatl said. Lewk's first issue was released in February and was dedicated to Black History Month. Titled “Total Take Over,” the edition focused on sustainability within the fashion industry, introduced the Lewk team and highlighted Black designers and their influences on fashion.
Articles in the issue include “Black Women’s Influence in the Y2K trend" by the magazine's Managing Editor Sydney Bynes, which explains the origins of Y2K style and credits the Black community with sparking the trends often associated with throwbacks to the 90s and early 2000s. “The Black community has come into its own and will forever be influential in our fashion culture," Bynes said. "Whether it is clothes, shoes or hair
wherever you look there is some type of Black influence reflected in the popular trends we see today." Behind the scenes of the magazine, Bynes also works as the modeling scout and is a key player in creating the magazine. She and Aztecatl met in class last year and instantly began discussing plans to launch the publication. The creators of Lewk strived to establish a publication that was inclusive of their community and that sparked discussion on current and relevant topics. These same values are reflected in the magazine's team as members who applied as hair stylists and makeup artists were required to present work samples on all hair types and skin tones. “It’s really easy to feel lost in this time we’re in with everything going on, and also in this age where we’re just trying to find ourselves," Aztecatl said. "I just want us to be the place that people can come to and find themselves." Lewk invites individuals from all majors to apply for a spot on the team. Barry Underhill, the publication's faculty advisor, said it's important for the publication to feature perspectives from different backgrounds. “The magazine is open to contributors from all majors throughout the school. I'm sure it would benefit greatly with students from communication design, photography, journalism, business, sustainability studies, philosophy, theater, sociology, history, just to name a few, involved," Underhill said. "Students from majors other than fashion would certainly have a unique and welcome perspective to contribute.” As the Lewk team continues to create content and prepares to release their second issue, Aztecatl said they are relishing the feeling of putting out the first edition and enjoying the fulfillment that comes with seeing their hard work pay off. "Regardless of what major you're in, a creative outlet is important and it's such a good feeling to have an idea go throughout the process and then to see the finished product," Aztecatl said. "It's very fulfilling for anyone." To learn more about Lewk Magazine, visit @lewkmagazinetx on Instagram.
8 | Tuesday, April 5, 2022
The University Star