TUESDAY April 26, 2022 VOLUME 111 ISSUE 27 www.UniversityStar.com
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
Students explore what transportation services offer as gas prices rise SEE PAGE 2
Opinion: Tattoos are acceptable
Senior - 30 -
Baseball Gallery
SEE PAGE 6
SEE PAGE 3-4
SEE PAGE 8
MAIN POINT
The University Star’s 2021-22 editorial board takes a group photo Saturday, April 2, 2022 outside of Old Main at Texas State University. PHOTO BY LILIANA PEREZ
Yours truly, The Star Board By Editorial Board Like all great things, the 2021-22 editorial board’s term has come to an end. It feels like our year just started and it’s quite surreal that in a few days The University Star’s editorial board as it currently stands will no longer exist. Some of our editors will move up to bigger roles while the rest of us will graduate and be forced to find “real jobs.”
Every year, each editorial board is presented with their respective challenges that force them to adapt and grow in unexpected ways. For us, our main obstacle was navigating staffing shortages and leading a newsroom that, for the most part, consisted of younger staff members. On top of that, this was the first time in nearly two years that we were able to connect with our audience in person and print our work for a campus bustling with students. Throughout this experience, we have
been nothing but grateful for the opportunity to serve our community and share content that matters. Like the editorial boards that have gone before us, our term hasn’t been easy. A year ago when we moved into our current positions, we questioned whether we were capable of doing the job as we stayed in our newsroom until nearly 2 a.m. putting together our first print issue. That was just the beginning of the long days and
SEE MAIN POINT PAGE 6
CLUB SPORTS
Fencing club victory at SWIFA not expected, nor swift By Dillon Strine Sports Contributor For the Texas State Fencing Club, its win at the Southwest Intercollegiate Fencing Association (SWIFA) competitions came as a pleasant surprise. They considered themselves underdogs and took that attitude into the first conference championship victory in the competition's return. SWIFA held three competitions for the South Texas Conference, the first competitions since before COVID-19, from March 5-April 16. Seven schools from across the state competed and all three weapon disciplines were tested in. Texas State University came out on top as the 2021-2022 Grand Champion. The Bobcats defended their hometown with a victory as the top foil and overall squad at SWIFA 1 on March 5, hosted by Texas State in San Marcos. On April 2,
they backed up their victories with wins as the top foil, epee and overall squad at SWIFA 2 hosted by Texas A&M in College Station. Heading into the final event on April 16, SWIFA 3 hosted by The University of Texas at Austin, fencing club president Josh Paez saw that his team had a chance after calculating past results. In Paez’s years with the club, he had never experienced a win in saber, the event that would take the team over the hump for its grand achievement. “We won by a very close margin, and it was an uphill battle the entire time,” Paez, a biochemistry senior, said. “Everything was kind of set against us, all their people had more experienced fencers in their second or third year, their best fencer was in his fourth year.”
SEE CLUB SPORTS PAGE 7
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The University Star
2 | Tuesday, April 26, 2022
NEWS
Arthur Fairchild News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
TRANSPORTATION
Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487
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 Carson Weaver Sports Editor starsports@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
Public & Internal Relations Nadia Gonzales PIR Director starpr@txstate.edu Elle Gangi Assistant PIR Director
Full-Time Staff Director: Laura Krantz, laurakrantz@txstate.edu
About Us History: The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday of the spring and fall and once a month in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 3,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels HeraldZeitung. Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, April 26, 2022. 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 brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible. Visit The Star at universitystar.com
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Students explore campus transportation services as gas prices rise By Hugo Juarez Guest Contributor
A recent rise in gas prices has presented a challenge for Texas State students living off-campus and outside of San Marcos. As they adapt financially and search for solutions to their problems, an expert on Texas State transportation weighs in and offers advice to ease their spending and transportation worries. President of Anime Lovers at Texas State, Yainet Palmero, a criminal justice junior, "" drives from New Braunfels to San Marcos to attend class and hold biweekly club meetings "" on campus. Lately, filling up on gas to make the trips has cost a lot more than usual. “[Gas] lasts me like a week, maybe five days if I have to go to the meetings of my club so it's just very difficult,” Palmero said. In addition to her on-campus classes, Palmero takes online classes at home where she also must care for a child. She has felt the impact of the current rise in prices and said the higher the gas prices are, the more money she sets aside. For her, gas money that used to be $25 a week is now $45. In Texas, gas prices have increased around 65% since last year. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in March of 2021, retail gas prices in Texas averaged $2.40 a gallon. This March, the price of gas was up to an average of $3.98 per gallon. Palmero, who works at Amazon, said that not everyone is fortunate to have a good-paying job to pay the cost of a tank that will last one week. “I feel like it's hard for anybody to just like put, you know, fifty bucks of gas into a car, especially for college students because we don't have that,” Palmero said. “We either get paid minimum wage or we get paid the average.” Palmero does not own a commuter parking permit because arriving early to campus to avoid traffic and park at the Edward Gary Street Garage is a better deal for her given the frequency of her campus visits. She understands that Texas State has no power over gas prices; however, she feels that having available parking closer to campus might encourage students to attend classes. In close proximity to Palmero is U’nyla Johnson, a mathematics sophomore, whose drive to campus from her home in Converse, Texas, lasts nearly an hour. The distance makes it difficult for her to attend campus events or study sessions. “Adding 40 minutes to an hour, or just an unknown amount of time because you never know how traffic is going to be out of that equation, hasn't always been the best,” Johnson said. She plans an hour for driving to campus to ensure she makes it to her lectures. Recently, she missed a class because of traffic caused by an accident. Although gas is not a major problem for her, planning a drive or paying to park at the LBJ Student Center Garage to arrive at class on time is difficult for her as a commuter. “That sucks to have to pay to park when you have a permit but sometimes, I'm getting there late,” Johnson said. “And if I park in the big parking lot, I don’t have time, or I'll be really late for class.” Johnson drives a 2014 Nissan Sentra and uses economy mode on her commute to Texas State. She owns the $115 annual commuter parking permit and believes it’s a good price. She said the LBJ Student Center Garage is convenient, but she likes the commuter permit because it’s affordable, and she enjoys walking to class. When she has to fill up on gas, she uses the Walmart app to save money. “I try to use the Walmart app because if you have a gift card on the Walmart app and you go to a Walmart gas station specifically, you can get like three cents off the gallon,” Johnson said. Steven Herrera, director of Transportation Services, oversees the Bobcat Shuttle and parking services at Texas State. His responsibilities include monitoring fuel prices and managing a fuel budget. According to Herrera, transportation services is sometimes able to save money by budgeting more for gas than they expect to use. Recently, however, gas prices have exceeded the department's expectations. "The increase has affected us as well as everybody that goes to the gas pump,
The Bobcat Shuttle approaches its next stop, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at Uptown Square. PHOTO BY JEFFREY HALFEN
but we have to monitor it and we, you know, we budget for a certain amount of fuel," Herrera said. "Currently it's way higher than what we budgeted, so we have to monitor it. And then we need additional funds, and we would look at our reserves to define that.” Tucker Shepherd, a business senior, lives south of Kyle, Texas, and has also been affected by the recent rise in gas prices. In March, the price he pays to fill up his 2018 Kia Forte increased from $20 to $50. He uses a spreadsheet to budget his fuel expenses and hopes that prices will go down soon. “When I heard that it was going up, I went and filled it up in full,” Shepherd said. “And then I just, you know, ever since then, I've been paying in spurts until it goes down again.” Shepherd said that he always drives in economy mode to maximize his gas mileage. He also gets most of his assignments done at home so he can limit the time he spends driving. Since he is currently unemployed, saving money on gas helps him with his other expenses. When the pandemic put a hold on face-to-face classes at and there were fewer students on campus, Transportation Services adapted to the decrease in shuttle riders by changing
its route frequencies. When face-to-face classes resumed, they increased to what it was before the pandemic. He reminds students to benefit from using alternative transportation like Bobcat Shuttle, The Bike Cave, Spin Scooters and Nite Cats. "" In 2014, Transportation Services opted into adding the Bobcat Shuttle to an app called DoubleMap "" that monitors real-time bus activity. Commuter students can use it to track buses on Off-Campus and Campus Routes, which include stops at Bobcat Stadium, Bobcat Village and the Campus Loop. Herrera said most commuter parking takes place on the parking lots at Bobcat Stadium and Bobcat Village on Mill Street, lots he said fill up quickly in the morning. Since there are more shuttles on the routes during peak hours, he recommends that drivers park off campus and use the bus to get to campus. “It's pretty convenient, in my opinion, to come into campus right off the highway, park at the stadium and within eight minutes, you're on the bus coming back to campus,” Herrera said.
A photo of Spin scooters, Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at the Quad Bus Loop.
PHOTO BY JEFFREY HALFEN
Bikes are secured to the bike rack, Wednesday, March 31, 2021, near the UAC. PHOTO BY JEFFREY HALFEN
The University Star
Tuesday, April 26 2022 | 3
SENIOR -30-
Editor’s Note: “-30-” has traditionally been used throughout journalism to indicate the end of a story. Each semester, The University Star encourages its graduating seniors to write a Senior 30 — a farewell piece to readers — indicating the conclusion of a journalist’s time as an active member of our organization.
From hello bestie to goodbye bestie By Viviana Faz Design Editor
Where do I start? My journey to The Star is different and I never would have thought I would be where I am today. In the fall of 2019, I came to look at what The University Star had to offer before I made my decision on transferring. I later transferred to Texas State the next semester in the spring of 2020. I applied to be on the PR team and Design team and I got both of the jobs. I was over the moon to start working for The Star. Going back to when I first started at The Star, I loved being a page designer. I was so excited to be making my first paper with The Star. My first event with the PR team was a river clean-up at which I got to meet so many people in the organization. Who would have thought that this would have been the last PR event of the year? Being on the street team in the fall of 2021 was so much fun and eye-opening. It showed me a different light of connecting with our readers. I handed out the paper to hundreds of students on campus to read the weekly issue every Tuesday morning. This year my position as the design editor has impacted me on a designer level and on a personal level. It has shown me that I can do more things than I could imagined. This position has been something that I never imagined myself in but I have loved every second that I have gotten to be this year's design editor. Thank you to Molly Gonzales for being my first design editor and showing me new things I can do in page design and for answering all the questions that I
Viviana Faz says farewell to her term as The University Star's 2021-2022 design editor PHOTO BY LIZ LOPEZ
put you through to help me grow. Brianna Benitez for being one of the first people I met at The Star and being willing to talk about design. I am truly going to miss our design talks. I want to thank Krantz for pushing me to try new things and for always being there, from the beginning of my time at Texas State to now, helping me with what life throws at me. To this year's editorial board, thank you for being on this journey with me. From working on the paper in the newsroom until 2 a.m. to going to TIPA. From crying because we are so tired or playing pranks on each other. So many memories were made this year and I am glad that each and every one of you was a part of it. To this year's design team, thank you for letting me be your editor. I am glad each and every one of you is a part of the design team. I can't wait to see what great things you do at The Star and with your future. The two and half years I have spent here have taught me many important lessons. They have shaped me into who I am today. I will miss the sleepless nights, the laughs, cries and many memories we made through my time with The University Star. Thank you to The Star for letting me grow from a page designer to a design editor. From designing the paper in-person to designing on Zoom to being back in person. I will cherish my time with The Star for a lifetime. It has taught me the powerful means of student media. Thank you to everyone who helped me call The Star my home away from home. This is truly one thing I will miss at TXST. If you are reading this and are thinking about applying to The Star, just do it. The impact The Star has on me has changed my life and can change yours too.
PR director leaves with lots of love and knowledge By Nadia Gonzales Public and Internal Relations Director Back in August of my freshman year, I joined The University Star just as a means to build my resume. I just wanted to show up to the meetings and put the title of “Public Relations Specialist” on my resume. I was not excited to be a part of a newspaper because at the time, working for a newspaper did not really sound cool to me. If you would have told me in high school that I would love working for a news organzation, I would have told you that you were a liar. In high school, I wanted to be a physical therapist so I started to volunteer at my local hospital to gain experience for physical therapy school. I was a horrible writer that needed a lot of help with writing and editing my essays. So never in a million years would I have imagined that I would have fallen in love with writing. I came into college not very assertive and shy around all the new people I met at Texas State and at The Star. So I never said a word to anyone except my section director. Once COVID-19 hit in March of 2020, I distanced myself from The Star and stopped showing up to the Zoom meetings and contributing my time to the organization. I’m honestly surprised I didn’t get fired the first year I was at The Star. Once everyone got used to being virtual and The Star started to get things rolling again, that was when I realized that I needeed to do my job and step up
in the section (lol). As I became more involved with The Star during my second year in college, it became clear to me why everyone was passionate about the work they do within the organization. It also became clear to me why working in media is so amazing. Something within me completely changed and I started to find different and all the ways that I could play a bigger role in The Star. I was then promoted to the assistant public and internal relations director and I also became an opinions columnist. With this being said, I want to thank my section director at the time, Bianca Landry, for believing in me to take over the section once she left. I also want to thank Valeria Torrealba for not only being my very first editor in the media world, but also a good friend and colleague. I am being so honest when I say that without The Star, I would have no passion or career aspirations. Because of the time and work that I spent and contributed to The Star, I was able to get my internships and now my future fulltime job. I have learned so much during my time in this organization that I do not think I would have learned if I never would have joined. My perspective on my life and the work I want to do for the rest of my career has changed during my time here. Before working here, I had not known what it was like to work and be around people who are like-minded to me. I never knew what it was like to work with a purpose. Being around other student journalists, editors and directors
have pushed me to want to be like them and be better every day. During my time at The Star, I also met some of my greatest friends and the best people on the planet. My friends that I met at The Star encouraged me to become a better writer, become a better leader, and also helped me during times when I was stuck. So thank you to Timia Cobb, Hannah Thompson and Sumit Nagar for always having my back and being the best support group when I needed one. I got through some of my hardest times with them as my support system, and I will forever be thankful. I also want to take the time to thank my public and internal relations team for allowing me to be their director and for being so awesome all year long. Our events and other outreach projects would not have been possible if it weren’t for the team. I am forever so thankful for the great ideas and creativity they always brought to the table during every meeting. The University Star has taught me how powerful students can be when they put their minds and hearts behind something that they love. Student media is important for the growth of students trying to learn and be better. I will forever support The University Star and its work and a piece of my heart will always stay with this organization. I am proud of myself for going out of my comfort zone to become a writer and leader during my time here at Texas State. I am so grateful to have been a part of an organization that is bigger than myself, and I am proud of all the
about missing something important, that I ended up taking around 1,400 photos just to see 12 get published. It’s funny but now that’s just become standard practice for me. It was also a crazy time to get hired because about a month later, Texas State announced over spring break that classes would be going fully remote. And it would be a long time before I stepped foot into the newsroom again, and even longer before I actually got to see my photos in print. In fact, I’ve still never quite spent as much time in the newsroom as I hoped. So many people have come and gone since I’ve been at The Star, including those I never got to meet in person. I sometimes wonder what my experience would’ve been like and if I would’ve been able to make more friends and memories had COVID-19 not gotten in the way. But I honestly couldn’t be more grateful for what I’ve done and learned throughout my time here. My favorite moments have been the ones where I’m just wandering around campus with my camera, not
looking for anything specific yet finding something striking nonetheless. My love for photography came from growing up in the middle of nowhere, where I had no choice but to learn to find beauty in the simplest things, in the dirt, trees, sky and objects around me. I hope that this translated into the photos I took for The Star and through the people I photographed on the Quad, at Sewell Park, at the LBJSC, under the UAC arch and other various spots around campus. So to anyone who ever let me take their photo or interview them for a project – thank you. To the 20212022 editorial board – y’all crushed it (especially Natalie and Vanessa, I couldn’t be more grateful to have you both as my editors). I’d also like to thank all the professors I’ve had throughout the years as well as everyone within the multimedia team I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. And I of course have to thank my family and, most of all, my mom for her for unwavering support and encouragement; I love you and wouldn’t be where I am or who I am without you.
Texas State public relations senior Nadia Gonzales poses for a graduation photo in front of the UAC arch, April 1, 2022 PHOTO BY NATALIE RYAN
awards and milestones this organization has accomplished. I cannot express the amount of love I have for The Star and all the people in it. I am forever grateful for the opportunities it has given me and the doors it has opened for me. The impact that The Star left on my life is so great. I am truly sad to leave this organization, but I know that its legacy will continue to live on as one of the best collegiate newspapers in Texas.
My longest cutline ever ... and my last By Liliana Perez Multimedia Reporter
Liliana Perez says goodbye to San Marcos and The University Star in April 2022. I’ve been writing cutlines like this for over two years now, so it seems only fitting for me to write this Senior 30 in the form of a cutline, too. As photojournalists, we can write a sentence or two with additional context at the end of our cutlines if applicable. I sometimes have the habit of making those sentences really long, but this is by far my longest. And sadly, it’s also my last. I got hired during my sophomore year on February 7, 2020. I remember because the first assignment I ever did for The University Star was a Valentine's Day Sweetheart’s Ball photo gallery a week later. My editor at the time told me not to worry and that I didn’t have to stay for the whole event. So guess what I did? I stayed until they cut the music and long after the life and arts reporter writing the story left. I was so worried
Liliana Perez poses for a self-portrait, Monday, April 25, 2022, at Old Main.
PHOTO BY LILIANA PEREZ
The University Star
4 | Tuesday, April 26, 2022
SENIOR -30-
Editor’s Note: “-30-” has traditionally been used throughout journalism to indicate the end of a story. Each semester, The University Star encourages its graduating seniors to write a Senior 30 — a farewell piece to readers — indicating the conclusion of a journalist’s time as an active member of our organization.
Shooting for The Star(s) By Natalie Ryan Multimedia Editor I never thought I would work in journalism, but I knew I wanted to be a photographer before I was in high school. By the time I graduated in 2019, I had taken all of my friend’s graduation pictures, done some concert photography and professional work and felt secure in my skills. Texas State was the only college I applied to because I knew they had a photography program and it wouldn’t just be a concentration like a lot of other schools in Texas. I was so excited to live on campus, be independent and experience college in every way. In the second semester of my freshman year, the pandemic hit and I had to move back home until the fall. This was a huge blow to my mental health, stability and overall experience with school.
The semester after that I was feeling a little better, moved into my own apartment, had some classes online and in-person and was enjoying San Marcos again. I applied for The University Star after hearing about how great it was from some people close to me and joined the Multimedia section in January of 2021. I really enjoyed taking photos for Wild Art (now Star Snaps) and getting to know the people in the section, especially our editor at the time, Hannah Thompson, who has done so much for me. That summer, there was no one in town to make content except for me, and I was cranking out photos from so many things I was going to. I got to know the local music and art scene really well, and loved going to all the concerts and markets and discovering and getting to know San Marcos more and more. At the end of the summer, I applied to be the Multimedia Editor and
I got the job. I was surprised because I was one of the newest people on the team, but I was proud of the work I was producing and was so excited to lead the section. My favorite thing being at The Star has allowed me to do is take photos at the Austin City Limits Festival last year, which has been the highlight of my career thus far and an immense privilege. This past year has been quite the challenge for me. It was difficult balancing The Star, classes, running a fashion show, an internship, my photography thesis work, and trying to keep my mental health and personal life in check. I would not have changed any of it, though, because I got to lead a section of talented people, learn from everything we did and experience The Star to its fullest. Graduating in three years has made my time at Texas State tougher but I had an incredible
Natalie smiles for a photo, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, at Ivar's. PHOTO BY NATALIE RYAN
experience, and I will always hold a special place in my heart for The Star, this school and everyone I have been privileged to meet and work with here.
The 'superstar' signs off By Brianna Benitez Editor-in-Chief Throughout my three years at The University Star, I missed my deadline maybe a handful of times. After writing over 100 articles, I don't think that's a bad rap. So, it's only fitting I missed my deadline to submit my final byline at The Star. I've tried to write my -30a dozen times. It's almost unbelievable that this is the last thing I will ever write at The Star. Ever since I knew Senior 30s were a thing, I'd always pictured how I would write mine, the experiences I would talk about and the people I would thank. When I first started, I didn't expect to make it to the point where I could write a Senior 30. Nor did I ever expect to have held the positions I've had. After first joining The Star, I was so anxious and would sometimes have fullon anxiety attacks before walking into the newsroom (so dramatic, I know). I didn't feel like I belonged or that I was as talented as everyone around me. Even after I moved on from my role as a reporter and became an assistant editor and later a full-time editor, those feelings continued. This time, however, I wasn't walking into the newsroom but logging onto Zoom meetings. Even now, as the leader of the organization, I have periodically had those same emotions resurface. I used to think I wasn't cut out for the news industry if I couldn't walk into the newsroom without my hands shaking or have the ability to call a source without my heart pounding. However, as cliché as it sounds, the more I kept doing it, the easier it got and the less anxious I began to feel. If there's one thing The Star did for me it was make me comfortable with being
uncomfortable. I've had so much personal growth working here and that's something I'll always be grateful for. When I entered the world of student media, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I honestly just applied because I figured the title of "life and arts reporter" was kind of cute. However, as I started interviewing strangers, putting together a story every week and seeing my words in print, I felt like I was a part of something greater than myself. I devoted my entire college experience to sharing the stories of the students and community members who surround this town. It's been such an honor learning about where people come from, how they think and what living means to them. I’m thankful for all the conversations I had with everyone I’ve ever interviewed. I never pictured being someone who could hold a conversation with a stranger, so it was pretty surreal to have interviewed over 100 people just in my first year working at The Star. To everyone I ever interviewed, thank you for sharing your stories and inviting me into your space — whether it was your jewelry studio, the foyer of the performing arts center, a bench on the Quad or even your Zoom screen. I'm truly sad to be leaving such a great place. As memorable as the experience has been, a part of me is also glad this chapter is over. Leading a newsroom isn’t easy. In fact, it’s one of the most emotionally and mentally taxing things I have ever done. I spent a lot of days second-guessing myself and fighting to prove myself to those who doubted my abilities. As I close out this experience, there are some feelings that will be hard to forget and things I
wish I could tell my younger self. To the freshman who woke up every morning overwhelmed with anxiety, you'll be okay. To the life and arts editor who loved her job, there are bigger plans ahead. Lastly, to the annoyed news editor who dreaded covering six-hour-long City Council meetings, yeah I can't argue with that one, that was the worst. I've had the opportunity to work on remarkable stories during my time here and I'm so thankful for it all. While I pictured student media being a place where I would cover alumni accomplishments or studentowned businesses, I didn't think it'd be the place where I'd also cover student deaths and house fires or even help produce the most important project the organization has ever done. This job has challenged me in more ways than I can express but I've grown because of it. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the friends and great leaders I’ve met along the way so it's only right I thank them as well. Diana, none of this would be possible if you never hired me to your life and arts team. Bianca and Trinity, thank you for the lunch dates and for being some of my first friends at The Star. Jakob, those Tuesday DMs encouraged me in more ways than you know. Jaden, you’re my best friend and I couldn’t have done this without you. Viviana, thank you for always having my back and reminding me to breathe. Lastly, thank you mom, daddy, grandma, Ashley and Penelope for being my number one fans. This is it, my last little story. I can't say thank you enough. [insert “no tears left to cry” by Ariana Grande here]. Brianna Benitez (second top left) takes a photo after her first production as editor-in-chief on April 27, 2021, at The University Star newsroom. She cried afterward. PHOTO BY BRIANNA BENITEZ
Marisa Mendoza outside a Wimberly store front, September, 25, 2021. PHOTO BY AVA DOMENICHELLI
A pretty neat gig By Marisa Mendoza
Engagement Specialist
I joined The Star the summer before my senior year. It was a pretty late-in-the-game move for me to make in college and I felt a lot of trepidation going in. Even though I had taken some journalism classes, I was by no means the best writer and skated by with a cool 'B' in the courses. I chose to apply for the engagement section because it felt like the section I would be able to do the most good while doing the least amount of writing. Over time, I wanted to make a bigger contribution to The Star. I wanted to write for The Star, but I had no interest in hard-hitting news (too scary), or opinions (too much research), or sports (self-explanatory)... So what could I write? I grew up in the DFW area and my go-to source for weekend festivities was always The Dallas Observer's 'Things To Do' section. I wrote my first 'things to do' article for the weekend on July 4th, 2021, and have never looked back. As of the time I am writing my Senior 30, I will have 24 published 'weekend things to do' articles all under my very own tab in Life and Arts on the website. I hope to write at least one more before I graduate. It is an incredible feeling to look back on all the articles and know that I did something in my time at Texas State — that I got to leave a mark. I hope that 'This Weekend On The Town' is a series that will go on long after I have graduated from The Star. I want to thank retired Engagement Editor Eryka Thompson, current Engagement Editor, Meadow Chase and Editor-in-Chief, Brianna Benitez for helping me edit and publish my article every week. I hope you guys have had as much fun with it as I have. I also want to shout out to my friend Payton Russell for encouraging me to get involved with The Star and for being so supportive of all my journalistic endeavors. Without Payton, my ideas would have just remained ideas. Thank you to everyone who read my articles and took my suggestions. Be safe and enjoy your weekend!
The University Star
Tuesday, April 26 2022 | 5
LIFE AND ARTS
Sarah Hernandez Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
FASHION
Students prepare to showcase hard work and creativity at FMA fashion show By Marisa Nunez Life and Arts Reporter
Students in the Fashion Merchandising Association (FMA) are sewing final stitches, touching up hair and makeup and making final photo shoot edits as they prepare to get their glam on at the spring 2022 fashion show on April 30. For over five years, FMA has been putting on biannual fashion shows for fashion-loving students at Texas State. From the head coordinator, videographers and photographers to the glam squad, models and designers, more than 80 students participating in this semester's show have been working hard since January to bring their creations to the runway. Fashion Show Coordinator Natalie Ryan, a photography senior, has been working hard to plan the spring show by securing the venue, booking catering, coordinating photo shoot schedules and accepting applications to be a part of the show. This is her second semester being the fashion show coordinator and although the work has been stressful, she has loved every moment of it. “I just like working with so many different people that I never would have met if it hadn't been for the show. [I’ve met] so many awesome models, so many really cool photographers, and makeup people and stylists and designers. I just love seeing handmade clothes. I love seeing what they come up with every semester because it's so different,” Ryan said. "I just love that everything is by students. It's all student-run. It's so cool to see." Ryan started out as a photographer for last spring's fashion show. It was then that she became interested in running the show for the rest of her time at Texas State. Since becoming the head coordinator, she has incorporated new aspects into the show's process like photo shoots that designers and models can use as memorabilia or portfolio material, as well as the videos that are played during the show. As she also prepares for her graduation in May, Ryan said she is sad that this fashion show will be her last one. “It is so bittersweet. I love the fashion show so much and I'm really sad. It's gonna be my last one, but it makes me want to make this like the best one,” Ryan said. This semester's designers will utilize their own unique styles and techniques to fill the runway with fun, summery
and bright colors. Some of the clothing that will be featured include crocheted, thrifted, upcycled and handmade pieces. Lucy Pietsch, a fashion merchandising senior and one of the show's designers, will have five upcycled pieces on the runway and will also be selling some of her own clothes and previous creations from her Depop shop, LKPDESIGN. Pietsch was always interested in fashion but got more involved in high school after competing in competitions for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), a nonprofit Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for middle and high school students enrolled in family and consumer sciences courses. Pietsch recycled, redesigned and created clothing out of paper plates and soda box containers, inspiring her love for sustainable fashion. For the fashion show, inspired by childhood toys like Polly Pockets, she wanted to make pieces based on colors she hasn’t used before from thrifted fabric or clothes she already owned. “I like expressing my creativity [while] also doing something that's like sustainable related [since] I've always been into a lot of sustainability stuff,” Pietsch said. "It was just fun getting to do this in college because I remember freshman year and my sophomore year, I was in FMA but I just never really had the courage to actually do a collection because I was like, ‘I can't do that. I [hot glue] dresses and like [staple] stuff,’ But then I just was like, ‘I'm just gonna do it,’ and I did it." After she graduates, Pietsch plans to continue pursuing a career in the fashion industry by interning with Nordstrom in Seattle. In addition to unique student designs and outfit creations that will be on sale on Saturday, retail shops such as Pitaya and a student-run pop-up shop called Big Kid Vintage will display their merchandise at the show. Big Kid Vintage was created by Sean Lukic, a manufacturing engineer freshman, and his brother in 2018. They began thrifting in 2010 as a means to save money rather than a way to be trendy. Since opening his business, Lukic said the business has helped his family and he enjoys being able to make and spend his own money. "I didn't expect it to turn until what it has. I didn't expect it to make the impact it's made on me. For me, it was always just like something that was
Texas State fashion merchandising junior Niko Guzman (left) and applied mathematics senior Audrey Larson model for Rolling Stoned Goods by Rachel Roosth, Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at Devil's Backbone Tavern. PHOTO BY NATALIE RYAN
there," Lukic said. "But then I realized, unknowingly, [that it] relieved a burden from my parents because...we were able to earn this money it's like one less thing that you have to worry about." Lukic and his brother started thrifting and selling their clothes on eBay and Poshmark and have since done several pop-up shops around Austin. Big Kid Vintage's collection consists of vintage clothes for men and women with styles ranging from the 1960s to the early 2000s. At the show, Lukic will have over 75 items for sale. Meeting new people and creating an inclusive market for all shapes and sizes to help others look their best has kept Lukic and his brother inspired to keep growing their small business. Lukic's peer mentor, who is in FMA, is the one who suggested he apply for Big Kid Vintage to be a retailer at the fashion show. Lukic has enjoyed seeing the work and creativity that goes into putting the show together and is excited to meet more people who share his love for clothing. "I just really like being around creative people. I feel like I've only done half of
everything that's gonna happen," Lukic said. "I'm really excited about the show. I feel like I'm going to be able to meet more Texas State people, more people are going to be able to know about like, my personal interest." The fashion show will take place from 6-9 p.m. in the LBJ Ballroom on April 30. Tickets are on sale until the day of the show. General admission tickets are $15 and VIP tickets are $20 and include VIP seating and a tote bag with FMA merchandise and other goodies. To purchase tickets to the fashion show, visit https://www.eventbrite. com/e/ss22-fma-fashion-showtickets-313137401397. Editor's Note: Natalie Ryan is also a member of The University Star.
UPCOMING EVENT
San Marcos to celebrate clay, community with return of Dirt Dauber Festival By Cassie Butterfield Life and Arts Contributor
After a year-long hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Dirt Dauber Festival is back in person at Eye of the Dog Art Center and will feature local ceramic art vendors, pottery competitions, live music and free food and drinks from May 14-15. The family-friendly ceramic art event is free to the public and will welcome 50 of the best potters in Texas, 12 live music performances, free hot dogs and pickles on a stick. The owners of Eye of the Dog Art Center and creators of the festival, Billy Ray and Beverly Mangham, have been selling and teaching art for over 30 years. Dirt Dauber is the second festival they’ve started, the first being the over 30-year-old Texas Clay Festival that runs annually from Oct. 23-24 in Gruene, Texas. Billy Ray Mangham, the director of Eye of the Dog Art Center, is looking forward to the festival’s return after last year's cancelation. “We’re very excited to be back because people really need that chance to go out on a nice day and socialize with each other, especially after the pandemic. As much as anything, it’s a public service to give people a place to go to that’s safe, secure and free,” Mangham said. Eye of the Dog Art Center offers ceramic classes, workshops, gallery shows and special events. It’s a communal space for people of all ceramic levels to learn from experienced local potters. Billy Ray Mangham thinks that the pandemic has created more awareness of the daily objects in our lives, such as how important it is to have a really good coffee cup or cereal bowl. The event’s contest categories include bestblindfolded pot, best 2-pound and 2-minute pot, longest pulled handle and more. All festival attendees are welcomed to enter contests and the winners will receive handmade trophies uniquely made for each
category by Billy Ray Mangham. Nick Fletcher, a ceramic artist originally from Nashville, Tennessee, moved to San Marcos in February 2020 to pursue a career in pottery and has since been teaching at Eye of the Dog Art Center for two years. This is Fletcher’s first year attending the festival and having a booth to sell his artwork and he is eager to spend time with the community again. “I’m looking forward to this place buzzing with activity, new people coming out and seeing engagement from the community,” Fletcher said. Sharing the same sentiment Ceramic teacher Lindsey Browning shows her class how to shape their clay bowls, is ceramic artist and Dirt Dauber Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at Eye of the Dog Art Center. Browning teaches ceramic vendor Kym Owens who is looking workshops every Tuesday at Eye of the Dog and she will be selling her pottery at the forward to seeing her friends and festival. customers at the festival, especially PHOTO BY CASSIE BUTTERFIELD since the pandemic affected the way she interacted with them. artists and sharing the love of the medium,” Browning “Because of COVID-19, it’s been so long since anyone’s been able to see my work said. “It brings me so much joy to see the knowledge get passed down to the next generation.” in person,” Owens said. Browning said that the people who come to the Owens has attended the festival and participated as a vendor since 2011 and hopes to win a trophy in festival will have the opportunity to experience what the contest this year. She has been making ceramic art it is like first-hand to be a part of the clay community, for 30 years and now works full-time as a studio potter, and she is eager to see people get introduced to it. The Dirt Dauber Festival will take place from 10 selling her ceramic art online and at KO Pottery down a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 14 and from noon to 5 p.m on the street from Eye of the Dog Art Center. May 15 at Eye of the Dog Art Center located at 405 Ceramic artist Lindsey Browning, a fine arts Valley View West Rd in San Marcos. Admission is free alumna, is a ceramic workshop instructor at Eye of the Dog Art Center. Browning started attending the and the music and vendor lineup will be available on festival in 2017 and became a vendor in 2018. Her the art center's website soon. love for the art form and teaching new generations For more information about the Dirt Dauber Festival visit of artists has been her favorite part of being involved https://www.eyeofthedogartcenter.com/. with the art center. “I love teaching, being able to connect with other
The University Star
6 | Tuesday, April 26, 2022
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.
IDENTITY
Tattoos are acceptable By Kadence Cobb Opinion Contributor
Having always admired the art of tattoos, I used to believe that tattoos were strictly sentimental art pieces that have additional meaning. While that may be true for some individuals, it is not mandatory for those choosing to get work done. Tattoos are an art form of self-expression. The art of tattooing has been around for thousands of years. The first documented tattoos were discovered on a mummy known as Ötzi the Iceman who lived over 5,000 years ago. The prehistoric iceman had lines across his knees, wrist, ankles and lower back. While tattoos were not extremely popular in this era, historians believe that he used tattooing in order to treat physical pain. Although the purpose of tattoos has drastically changed since Ötzi was alive, the art has gained popularity in recent years. A survey conducted by the Statista Research Department in 2021 revealed that 17% of Americans had a tattoo. This number has increased significantly in recent years and continues to. As the number of individuals with ink grows, it is important to note that tattoos should not have to hold additional meaning in order to be accepted by others. Tattoos can simply be a form of self-expression, a display of artwork and have become more accepted in the workplace. Getting a tattoo can be an outlet for people to express themselves. One in ten people find it difficult to recognize their emotions. Where an individual's verbal expressions of emotion fail, tattoos can assume responsibility to showcase their values and the things in their life that hold the most importance. 25% of those with tattoos explained that their tattoo held deep personal meaning. It provided a way for them to showcase an important aspect of their lives. Tattoos allow a subject to display their individuality, even when they do not symbolize a deeper meaning. The
ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON WARE
process of selecting a design and its placement results in an outcome that is unique to each individual. The freedom that accompanies selecting a tattoo's font, design, placement and color permits the individual to collaborate with the artist. This practice of expressing individuality has been shown to significantly increase an individual’s self-esteem. For example, students' tattoos have helped them gain more confidence in themselves. A study of American college students showed that individuals with four or more tattoos had much higher self-esteem levels than those without tattoos. Tattooing is an artform that should be appreciated regardless of whether the piece has underlying meaning. The process of creating a tattoo is extremely intricate. The artist must use a needle to inject ink into the second layer of skin called the dermis. Whether it is
simple line work, requires shading, shadowing or highlighting — the artist is meticulous throughout the entire process. Those who get a piece of body art are displaying the tattoo artist’s work, which should be celebrated regardless of the design selected. Students like Juliana Arciszewski, a nursing freshman, believe that the popularity of tattoos has stemmed from their acceptance in the workplace. “I think they have become so popular because employers don’t seem to care about tattoos as much as they used to," Arciszewski said. "I think people are starting to get tattoos to express their personal styles.” While visible tattoos have been frowned upon by businesses in the past, they have begun to become much more accepting of body art. 91% percent of managers say the workplace is much less formal than in prior years. In fact,
one third of company employers have claimed they are accepting of employees with visible tattoos. The previous issue of ensuring that tattoos be covered up during office hours is much less prevalent today. The increasing number of tatted individuals has caused body art to become much more normalized in society. A survey conducted by Statista Research Department indicated that 41% of millennials had at least one tattoo. Born between 1981 and 1996, their generation had the highest percentage of tattooed individuals. With the average age of a first-time manager in the United States being 30 years old, many millennials are already in the leadership positions that set workplace dress codes. While the number of individuals getting tattoos has increased, tattoo removals have also become more common. At least 11% of Americans have looked into removing a tattoo after receiving their design. With the technology available today, people are able to remove a tattoo through a series of laser treatments. The cost of removal can range between $100 to $1000 depending upon size, location, color and time elapsed since getting the tattoo. The action of getting a tattoo can be helpful in expressing oneself, displaying works of art and has become much more acceptable in the workplace. Whether or not you have decided to get a tattoo, we can all appreciate the beauty found in the art form. - Kadence Cobb is a journalism freshman 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.
FROM FRONT MAIN POINT longer production nights that laid ahead. To produce the work we do, our staff members spend hours putting stories together, taking photos at sporting events (sometimes multiple games in one day), editing podcast episodes and working on everything in between. It’s been a trying time for student media. Our editorial board watched on as some of our fellow student newsrooms faced threats of censorship and complete shutdowns due to budget cuts, university infringement and COVID-19. We recognize the privilege we have to produce the content we do. As great as student media is, there are institutional problems that have haunted organizations like ours for decades. We work long hours with very little pay, the majority of us without any pay at all, and oftentimes feel like we are all on our own. Burnout seems to be inevitable. There are moments when we feel like giving up, times when we question ourselves and instances when we compare our work to other newsrooms — newsrooms that usually have better resources than we do. So, as we sit and ponder all the things we did and didn’t do, all the areas we fell short and came out on top in, our goal has always remained the same: to serve you, our audience. We strived to produce content our audience deemed valuable and functioned as a platform to share stories that often go untold. If you’ve ever read our articles, engaged with our posts on social media, listened to a podcast episode or even just picked up our paper to play Sudoku, thank you. To our amazing team and all that you do, thank you. Whether you’ve been on staff for four years or four weeks, your contributions to our organization matter. Lastly, thank you to our team behind the scenes – our staff members who sell our advertisements, keep our website running and deliver our newspaper every Tuesday morning, none of this would be possible without you. As we wrap up our final print issue of the semester, we pass the baton to our upcoming editorial board who is leading the way with editing and designing this week’s paper. It’s been a great year, now it’s time for the next editorial board to shine.
The University Star’s 2021-22 editorial board takes a group photo, Saturday, April 2, 2022 outside of Old Main at Texas State University PHOTO BY LILIANA PEREZ
The University Star’s 2021-22 editorial board takes a group photo, Saturday, April 2, 2022 outside of Old Main at Texas State University PHOTO BY LILIANA PEREZ
The University Star’s 2021-22 editorial board takes a group photo, Saturday, April 2, 2022 outside of Old Main at Texas State University PHOTO BY LILIANA PEREZ
The University Star
SPORTS
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 | 7
Carson Weaver Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT CLUB SPORTS
Gold medal bout and the winning point against University of Texas at Austin Fencing Club (UTFC). Texas State fencer on the left, freshman Jengo Russell, ended, senior Dillon Henry's undefeated streak in the conference. Saturday, April 16th, 2022. PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE FENCING CLUB
“THIS IS ABOUT FAMILY, COMING TOGETHER AND BONDING OVER A SPORT. NOT NECESSARILY GRABBING TROPHIES AND KICKING ASS AND TAKING NAMES.”
JOSH PAEZ, BIOCHEMISTRY SENIOR
The structure of the tournaments took form on the final day of competition, as club member Jengo Russell, a business administration-management freshman, who has taken up fencing as recently as last September, was set to take the strip in a saber competition. The atmosphere was intense as Russell took on a competitor with whom he had previously fallen short to 5-1. The Bobcat fencer thrived this go around, doing so with his own unique mentality. “I went in thinking we are going to get second place, so I was much more relaxed,” Russell said. “When I am fencing at a tournament, in my head, most people give in to pressure and are like, 'oh my gosh nerves.' I am just meowing, just on the strip, meow. Calm as I can be.” Russell described the bout as wiping the silver paint by him. He defeated the fencer, winning the event for the Bobcats while shouting phrases like “le meow” and “Huzzah," expressions he says while competing that are written on his glove. Under a direct elimination format, the tournaments follow standards set by USA Fencing with bouts being fenced up to five points. With the points even at four, the club's treasurer Peter Cu, an accounting junior, had the opportunity to win his saber match in the decisive ninth bout. “It was crazy, that ninth match. By that point my brain was fried, it was the end of the day,” Cu said. “I just had one card in my playbook, I just went for straight attacks, and it worked out. I lost a lot of points, but I pulled ahead.” The entire team was excited as it was the first time since joining the club that any member had beaten The University of Texas in saber. Members new and old were there to celebrate, just as they are present for practices and other club-led activities. With the new trophy additions to the storage closet in Jowers Center, Room 221, where practice is held three times a week, Paez is excited about the team's future and not worried about collecting spoils. Instead, his sights are set on keeping the club fun, diverse and inclusive. “I want to continue to have good results. But at the end of the day, I always have to recognize that this is about community,” Paez said. “This is about family, coming together and bonding over a sport. Not necessarily grabbing trophies and
Texas State Fencing awarded Top Sabre Squad of SWIFA III, pictured afterward. Left to right: junior Peter Cu; freshman Jengo Russell; freshman Maddy McJilton. Saturday, April 16th, 2022 PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE FENCING CLUB
kicking ass and taking names.” Despite the conclusion of the SWIFA season, the Texas State Fencing Club is not done fine-tuning its craft. Practices are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7-10 p.m. in Jowers Center, Room 221, and no prior experience is required to join the team.
COMIC BY MADISON WARE
8 |Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Carson Weaver Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu
WEEKEND RECAP
The University Star
SPORTS
Baseball Gallery
Texas State sophomore outfielder Jose Gonzalez (23) high fives his teammates in the dugout during a game against Little Rock, Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Bobcat Ballpark. The Bobcats won the series 3-0. PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
Texas State sophomore catcher August Ramirez (18) winds up to swing at ball from a Trojans pitcher during a game against Little Rock, Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Bobcat Ballpark. The Bobcats won the series 3-0. PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
Texas State freshman infielder Ryan Leary (12) makes a run for first base before Trojans defense can tag him out during a game against Little Rock, Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Bobcat Ballpark. The Bobcats won the series 3-0. PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
Texas State sophomore pitcher Peyton Zabel (40) pitches the ball to a Trojans batter during a game against Little Rock, Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Bobcat Ballpark. The Bobcats won the series 3-0. PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
Texas State junior catch Peyton Lewis (21) slides into third base before Trojans defense can tag him out during a game against Little Rock, Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Bobcat Ballpark. The Bobcats won the series 3-0. PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
Texas State senior infielder Wesley Faison (24) makes a run for third base during a game against Little Rock, Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Bobcat Ballpark. The Bobcats won the series 3-0. PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
The University Star
MULTIMEDIA
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 | 9
Natalie Ryan Multimedia Editor starmultimedia@txstate.edu
Texas State applied mathematics junior Lydia White (left) and geographic resources and environmental studies junior Sydney Rivera study for final exams, Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Mochas and Javas. PHOTO BY STEVEN PHIPPS
Texas State health sciences junior Isabelle Donnelly shares a smile during her poem at Open Mic Night, Friday, April 22, 2022, at Our Lady of Wisdom University Parish. PHOTO BY LAUREN LIGUEZ
iSky Productions photographer Kristin Nunn (right) takes graduation photos for criminal justice
Texas State psychology sophomore Madison Kemp stands at a table full of Hillside Ranch
senior Justin Mason, Tuesday, April 19, 2022, near Old Main. PHOTO BY JEFFREY HALFEN
apartment complex and was trying to persuade students to sign a lease with them for the
goodies, Thursday, April 21, 2022, on the Quad. Kemp is a leasing professional for the upcoming fall semester. PHOTO BY JAKE BELLINGER
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10 | Tuesday, April 26, 2022
The University Star
