November 9 2015

MONDAY

NOVEMBER 9, 2015 VOLUME 105 ISSUE 28

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UNIVERSITY

University officials propose tuition increase to Board of Regents

By Exsar Arguello ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @Exsar_Misael

ery week as opposed to the 5,000 pound weekly haul this year, Walsh said.

The reason can be attributed to the construction and renovation that has caused Jones Dining Hall to close temporarily.

Walsh said Bobcat Blend has a fantastic relationship with Chartwells, the food service of Texas State, and will begin collecting scraps from Jones once it reopens.

“As soon as Jones opens up, we will be picking up food waste to become composted,” Walsh said.

Breanna Harlan, president of Bobcat Blend, said the organization used to collect from the LBJ Student Center, but upon renovation, officials felt there was an “aesthetic problem” with the waste bins that didn’t suit the new design of the building.

“We’re waiting for funding to get new bins to go with the interior of (the LBJSC),” Harlan said.

Harlan doesn’t believe the university’s amount

A tuition increase is something students may need to prepare for as the Texas State University System Board of Regents is set to consider a proposal on campus next week.

On Nov. 12-13 the Board of Regents will consider a proposal that would raise tuition by $9.12 per class hour next year.

Although the President’s Cabinet leads the decision process about tuition increase, faculty, staff and students have specific roles to play, said Eric Algoe, vice president for finance and support services. An open hearing for public input will be hosted if the Board of Regents approves the increase.

If the increase is approved students taking 12 hours will have to pay an additional $100 per semester. The proposed increase includes a $2 addition per class hour.

Tthe proposed increase would bring tuition up 2.75 percent, which amounts to $7.12 per semester credit hour a student takes, Algoe said. The money would go toward renovation and construction projects of Albert B. Alkek Library.

“We question every penny we have to increase,” Algoe said. “We second-guess every decision we make because we are committed to making college affordable.”

Joan Heath, associate vice president and university librarian, said the proposed money would not only go for renovation cost, but toward providing more technology support in the library.

“We are celebrating 25 years of the Alkek library, which means this library has seen a lot of change in the past 25 years,” Heath said. “The huge change in information technology throughout the years has told us that we need an upgrade to our current technology here in the library.”

Alkek is currently at full capacity and does not have adequate room to grow, Heath said. University officials are working to have an off-campus storage facility built, designed and inspired by similar structures of large institutions such as the University of Texas at Austin and Rice University.

With the money collected by the fee, the library could further fund the storage facility, allowing an off-campus transfer of some of the university’s collection. The relocation would leave more room for technology, infrastructure and study space in the library, Heath said.

Algoe said the proposed tuition increase is set by natural inflation, which is based off a cost index. The university has found that with 2.1 percent inflation from last year, the tuition increase is substantial to help facilitate the university’s growth.

All the institutions included in the Texas State University System are proposing tuition increases ranging from 1.8 percent to 8 percent increases, Algoe said. Texas State is on the lower end of the proposals, asking the Board of Regents to increase tuition by less than three percent.

Algoe said Texas State remains one of the most affordable institutions in the state in regards to the value of the education offered.

See FOOD, Page 2

See TUITION, Page 2

DARYL ONTIVEROS MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

David Macklovich, of Chromeo, performs Nov. 8 the 10th annual Fun Fun Fun Fest.

So much Fun, Fun, Fun

By Mariah Simank LIFESTYLE EDITOR @MariahSimank

Fun Fun Fun Fest rolled into Austin this weekend, featuring rain, flying tacos and a successful onstage marriage proposal.

The festival celebrated its 10th anniversary with a diverse roster of performers, including headliners like Lauryn Hill Cheap Trick, ScHoolboy Q and Jane’s Addiction, as well as emerging artists such as Kembe X and Grifters.

Those in attendance could take a break from one of over 80 bands to see comedy acts and sports such as skateboarding and wrestling throughout each day.

The festival began at 12:30 p.m. Friday with performances by Think No Think, Kembe and Future Death.

Each of these shows seemed to set the tone for what people could expect from each stage, named after different colors, during the weekend.

The stages featured eight to nine performers throughout the day. The Blue Stage starred rap and electronic musicians, while the Orange

Stage was heavy on rock ‘n’ roll and the Black Stage took on an alternative/punk-rock spin.

The festival also had a Yellow Stage that featured stand-up comedy and poetry.

The forecast didn’t seem to scare off any festivalgoers, who arrived wearing rain boots and ponchos as early as 10 a.m. each day to secure their spot in line.

Regan Glowers, Austin resident, said he decided arriving before the gates opened was the best call after last year’s long Friday lines kept him from the music for hours.

“I told myself it would be better to get here and wait the two hours so that I wouldn’t end up missing any of (Friday’s) music,” Glowers said. “My friends thought I was crazy, but after the mix-up that happened last year I wasn’t taking any chances.”

Light showers Friday gave way to a chilly evening that included performances by Babes in Toyland, Peaches and Toro Y Moi. Babes in Toyland brought their signature punk-rock flare to the stage while Toro Y Moi delivered a relaxing

vibe, but the concert that seemed to leave the biggest impression in this 5 p.m. time slot was Peaches.

The electronic performer kept the audience interested by appearing onstage in multiple costumes throughout the course of her show. As if that wasn’t enough to surprise members of the crowd, she concluded with an audience member’s surprise onstage marriage proposal that left everyone speechless.

Alicia Donovan, Round Rock resident, said she has been a fan of Peaches ever since the artist made her debut at the 2006 festival.

“I have been looking forward to seeing her back here again ever since,” Donovan said.

Cheap Trick and Rae Sremmurd each seemed to dominate totally different age groups during their 7:15 p.m. and 7:35 p.m. performances.

Sremmurd showed teenagers and college-age students what debut album SremmLife is all about, while Cheap Trick performed hits such as “I Want You to Want Me” and “Hello There” with Austin’s downtown skyline dazzling in the background.

Chvrches closed out the

UNIVERSITY

Emergency fund recipients increase as donations decrease

By Erik Kiluk NEWS REPORTER @ErikKiluk

From time to time there are situations that put a severe

viduals may be eligible to receive emergency funding from Texas State.

The Dean of Students Office maintains emergency funds to be distributed to

ties, as long as the individual can prove the severity of the situation and has exhausted all available options.

John Palapala, an international student from Kenya in the public administration

ASHLEY GALVAN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER A student emergency services funding application Oct. 28 provided by the Dean of Students Office.

financial burden on students working toward earning their degree—some of these indi-

any student who is struggling with any number of a wide variety of financial difficul-

graduate program, found

See FUNDS, Page 2

night on the festival’s main Orange Stage with an animated performance by lead singer Lauren Mayberry, whose high energy delighted the audience and got people up and dancing.

Saturday featured mudspattered clothing and chilly temperatures, with bands such as Jane’s Addiction, Wu-Tang Clan and NOFX working to keep crowds moving well into the night.

A Giant Dog, American Sharks, Master Pancake, The Secret Group and Sandbox with Rob Gagnon were forced to cancel their Saturday performances due to substantial overnight and early morning rains.

According to Austin360, the park reopened just after 1 p.m. once organizers and officials with the city had checked the grounds for standing water.

The rest of the day went seamlessly, with American Football, Neon Indian and American Nightmare each treating audiences to afternoon performances complemented by the grey skies overhead.

Jane’s Addiction took the stage at 8:30 p.m. and never seemed to stop moving for the entirety of their

set. Lead singer Perry Farrell delighted each member of the crowd with howls and charged moves across the stage, while guitarist Dave Navarro laid down multiple solos.

Friday and Saturday’s dreary weather gave way to clear skies for the final day of the festival that featured performances by Chromeo, Lauryn Hill, Future Islands, ODESZA and Venom.

With Samuel Herring singing vocals, William Cashion on the electric guitar and Gerrit Welmers playing the keyboard, Future Islands had the crowd hooked on every beat during the band’s Sunday performance on the Blue Stage.

Canadian synthpop duo Chromeo took over the Orange Stage as the sun began to set for a performance that was sometimes groovy and other times totally over-the-top.

Although the band’s routine was impressive, it was Hill’s powerhouse vocals and emotional performance that seemed to win the night.

Even though she hasn’t released a studio album since The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998, Hill’s onstage passion seemed to mesmerize the crowd and proved to be a perfect ending to the festival.

CITY

Food scraps put to use

By Autumn Wright NEWS REPORTER @autumnwright697

Over 1,000 pounds of food scraps are produced

by Harris and Commons dining halls every day, and environmentally conscious students have made sure the leftovers do not go to waste.

Bobcat Blend has partnered with the university to collect food waste on campus for composting purposes. Kevin Walsh, graduate coordinator of Bobcat Blend, estimated that the organization gathers 5,000 pounds of thrown-away food each week. This means members get 20,000 pounds of composting material from the dining halls each month.

Walsh said he joins other Bobcat Blend members every morning to pick up separated food scraps from the dining halls. However, the group has noticed a decline in the amount of material they have received in the past year.

Last spring, Bobcat Blend was given 15,000 pounds of food waste ev-

2 | Monday, Novemeber 9, 2015

NEWS

The University Star Anna Herod, News Editor @annaleemurphy starnews@txstate.edu

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

FUNDS, from front himself receiving emergency funds when an unforeseen illness in his family almost prevented him from paying his tuition this fall.

The grant allowed Palapala to stay at the university rather than withdrawing and returning to his home country.

“They truly helped me and I am so grateful for that,” Palapala said.

Kathryn Weiser, assistant dean of students, said many students are offered help

through emergency grants and loans. She said there has recently been a growing demand for emergency grants and loans.

“Our students here at Texas State are working for their tuition, housing, and basic needs,” Weiser said.

In the past the funds have helped students pay for food, housing, tuition and plane tickets for emergency trips home, she said.

Twenty-nine students

received emergency funding during the 2013-2014 academic year, and there were 35 students recipients during 2014-2015, Weiser said. However, this “already substantial” growth did not account for students who sought financial assistance after the historic Memorial Day weekend flood.

Weiser said the university gave approximately 60 students emergency grants in response to the flood.

TUITION, from front

There have been a number of donations to the emergency fund over the years, but the only one guaranteed to be renewed annually is the donation from the campus bookstore, Weiser said.

John Root, director of Auxiliary Services, said officials at the bookstore have promised to donate 10 percent of any surplus profit over $250,000 the store makes.

However, outside competition has reduced sales in the

university bookstore.

The bookstore was able to donate over $100,000 in the first three years of the program, Root said. However, due to a decrease in sales, the donation has only been the minimum guaranteed amount of $10,000 annually.

The decline in donations contrasts the increase in funding being given to students, Weiser said.

She said between the 2013-2014 school year and

the 2014-2015 school year the funding granted to students increased from roughly $14,000 to nearly $17,000.

The rise in funding given to students is a result of increased awareness of the available funds, Weiser said.

“I’m glad that students are able to get the help they need,” Weiser said, “Unfortunately, we just don’t have the funding to help more students.”

to take to the composting site. She said it can be laborintensive, but the outcome of the work is worth it.

She said the group tries to have certain types of trash in specific bins, but it doesn’t always work out.

“When we go do pick-ups, sometimes we will get a few contaminates that aren’t always compostable in our bins, like plastic,” Moreno said.

“The school goes through a lot of employees and stu-

dents, so we understand that it can be difficult to enforce that understanding of what can be composted.”

Moreno said Bobcat Blend wants people to know materials normally considered waste can be put to use and benefit the environment.

“Not everything is garbage,” Moreno said. “We want students and employees to understand items can be used for composting so food doesn’t just go to waste.”

FOOD, from front

$9.12 TUITION WOULD BE RAISED

of waste is a problem, since it is being used to benefit the environment through composting.

“We don’t refer to it as waste because as long as it’s reused or composted, then it comes out to be something beneficial for the community,” Harlan said.

Laura Moreno, wildlife biology senior and secretary of Bobcat Blend, is one of the few people who go to collect the food scraps each morning

PER CLASS HOUR NEXT YEAR

IF THE INCREASE IS APPROVED, STUDENTS TAKING

12 hours

$100 WILL HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL

BEN KAILING STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Food waste from on an on campus dining hall Oct. 25.

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The University Star

Monday, November 9, 2015 | 3

LIFESTYLE

Mariah Simank, Lifestyle Editor @MariahSimank starlifestyle@txstate.edu

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

MUSIC

World-renowned saxophonist to visit campus

By Taylor Thompson LIFESTYLE REPORTER @tthompson437

When he picked up a clarinet at age 7, Harvey Pittel never dreamed he would become one of the world’s most respected classical saxophone performers.

Pittel,who will take the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall stage Nov. 18 as part of Texas State’s International Concert Series, said he has been credited as a soloist in eight major New York performances.

Pittel said the stutter he had as a child pushed him to succeed in the music industry.

“I was a severe stutterer from age 5, and I think that had a lot to do with my love for music,” Pittel said. “So, at age 7 I started playing clarinet at my public school in Los Angeles.”

Pittel said he switched to

the saxophone when he was 20, although his stuttering did not diminish until he was 27.

Pittel said playing with orchestras and in festivals across the country showed him it was possible to have a successful career with his stutter.

“Playing would give me confidence and, psychologically, that helped me overcome stuttering,” Pittel said.

“I have now played Carnegie and had my name shown to everybody.”

Pittel said he first discovered the classical saxophone at a party when one of his neighbors played a song for him.

“When I heard the saxophone, it became my dream to become a classical saxophone performer,” Pittel said.

Pittel said his middle school teacher helped him learn the basics.

“My junior high school or-

chestra director was a great viola and saxophone player and he taught me the fingerings on the saxophone when I was about 15,” Pittel said.

Todd Oxford, saxophone and chamber music assistant professor, believes Pittel’s success comes from hard work and dedication to the instrument.

“He is incredibly talented.

He is incredibly diligent and persistent,” Oxford said. “Being a performing musician takes a lot of salesmanship.”

Oxford said he is excited for aspiring musicians at Texas State to hear Pittel perform.

“The level of emotion he creates is world-class,” Oxford said. “I mean, the man is 72 years old and he’s still as excited to perform as he was when I first met him back in the ‘80s.”

Oxford said he sees no reason for Pittel to stop performing, even though the

performer is in his early 70s.

Pittel said his most memorable performance was at the Avery Fisher Hall in New York as a soloist with the Boston Symphony.

“After the concert, Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland congratulated me and we went out to dinner,” Pittel said.

Pittel said Bernstein and Copland are two of the most famous composers to date.

Oxford said Pittel makes a good role model for any aspiring musician.

“He’s one of the most highly respected classical saxophone performers in the United States and around the world,” Oxford said.

Pittel advises aspiring musicians that it is always important to practice.

“I prepare every day, all the time as a classical saxophone player,” Pittel said. “Follow your dreams. That’s the general advice I give to anybody.”

DARYL ONTIVEROS MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

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The University Star

OPINIONS

Brandon Sams, Opinions Editor @TheBrandonSams staropinion@txstate.edu

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

THE MAIN POINT

Show some respect to the craft, Bobcats This is for the general Intro to Fine Arts students out there: stop ruining events and show some courtesy to the performers.

It is no secret that many Intro to Fine Arts classes require students to go to events around campus and even in the greater San Marcos area. These class often necessitate summaries, essays or reviews on what the students saw or heard for a grade.

Generally this would be inoffensive, but for those unfamiliar with undergraduates in the troughs of filler classrooms, the last thing these students are is inoffensive.

Thankfully, there are many ways to remedy this problem. Arriving late?

Probably not the best idea.

Leaving early and talking is just plain rude. So what is a young, unenthused Bobcat to do? One idea: learn proper etiquette.

Many students simply walk into events—often late—and then have the nerve to leave early.

Instead of just dumping callous students on those trying to hone their craft, professors should teach their students what to do and not do when attending an event. Maybe keep the phones on silent, the talking to a minimum and the attitude at the door, because when Intro to

Fine Arts students are in the house, it’s apparent.

Instructors should be more adamant on including a portion of class that offers direction on correct etiquette.

The crowd is a sea of lit phones and habitually unimpressed houseguests, and no one wants to perform for people who clearly do not care. These musicians, artists, actors and vocalists have just as much passion for their craft as the athletes everyone seems so enamored with, yet they only get a modicum of recognition.

This is not high school— show some respect.

Texas State has one of the top 50 best theater programs in the nation.

There are tons of people who actually go to performances in hopes of watching the show—not just to get their extra credit. There are even family members in the audience who may have driven hours with the sole intent of watching their loved one perform.

So put away the phones, respect the craft and pay attention.

Professors need to take action to minimize the negative impact of their wayward students on the artistic crowds of San Marcos. For starters, there needs to be a way to guarantee students are not

KARINA HERRERA STAR ILLUSTRATOR

interrupting the performances with their presence or frequent need to leave less than halfway through the show.

If teachers are going to force students on unsuspecting artists, then at least have the decency to

institute a sense of common courtesy.

In order to ensure students stay the whole time, instead of rudely leaving in the middle of a production or set, professors should require them to take a picture with the conductors or

directors to after the show to prove their continued attendance. If that falls through, then a simple autograph from one of the performers should suffice.

Bobcats are constantly berated for leaving football and other sporting events

early, but no one seems to care when inconsiderate students attend fine art events. Bobcats need to remember that the theater, music and art programs are just as important as sporting events. So be considerate.

The Main Point is the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Columns are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the full staff, Texas State University Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State University.

IMMIGRATION

DISABILITIES

America, closed for renovations

Handicapped-accessible spaces are reserved for a reason

By Rivers Wright OPINIONS COLUMNIST @MonsieurRivers

T

he United States has always been a beacon of hope for refugees and provided freedom for those who sought it.

While offering solace to the weak and miserable is a huge act of honor, the nation needs to focus on problems at home first.

As it stands, there are about 600,000 homeless people at any given time in America. Even worse, a quarter of those people living without a place to rest their head are children.

Most problems stem from the fact that people cannot pay their rent due to high monthly expenses. The amount of affordable housing is so scarce that families are forced to live in places they cannot afford, which eventually leads to eviction.

Government assistance is even harder to find when families are kicked out on the street in an era of sparse living situations. According to a Jan. 18 Economy In Crisis article, there is enough government aid to assist one in four homeless families while the rest of the population is put on multi-year waiting lists.

If government officials are unwilling to step in and stop the homelessness problem, they are not going to step in and help when refugees are allowed to come over, facing similar issues common with displacement.

Another problem that has become increasingly prevalent is the amount of crimes related to racial discrimination. Not seeing a crime of race on television every week is possible, but not likely.

The news has had a steady flow of stories covering people of color being gunned down by the authorities. It is not wise to allow thousands of people who look very different into the country to face the kind of terror they were probably trying to escape in the first place.

Refugees will be in just

The University Star Editor-in-Chief...........................................Kelsey Bradshaw, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor.......................Imani McGarrell, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters................................................................................universitystar@txstate.edu News Editor........................................................Anna Herod, starnews@txstate.edu Sports Editor..............................................Paul Livengood, starsports@txstate.edu Lifestyle Editor.........................................Mariah Simank, starlifestyle@txstate.edu Opinions Editor..........................................Brandon Sams, staropinion@txstate.edu Multimedia Editor..............................Daryl Ontiveros, starmultimedia@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief....................................Abby Marshall, starcopychief@txstate.edu

as much—if not more— danger than people who have lived here their entire lives. They have to learn a new language and face that barrier until their English is good enough to communicate effectively and avoid potential discrimination.

America is unstable for its current citizens due to police brutality and lack of assistance to aid the homeless. It is irresponsible and downright stupid to allow large amounts of people into the country while the nation still has its own problems to smooth out.

The U.S. should focus first on solving—if not drastically improving— the current situations that are happening here at home before bringing people over. While it is common knowledge that this country is “the land of the free,” a sign should be put up that says “closed for renovations.”

The government needs to ensure that refugees’ needs are met so they can have a new problemfree land to call home.

—Rivers Wright is a communication studies and mass communication senior

By Cris Rivera OPINIONS COLUMNIST @cris_rivera13

W

hen living with a disability, close parking is a godsend.

For people with conditions that make walking excessively painful or even life-threatening, reserved parking near a store or building is necessary.

The problem arises when people see open spots in a parking lot and decide they can get away with using one of these spaces reserved for the impaired.

Commandeering handicap-accessible parking spaces is not only simply wrong, but seriously immoral and offensive to people who find it necessary to have closer parking spots. It should be as simple as leaving a spot for someone who needs it, rather than taking up the space because someone is too lazy to walk an extra 50 feet.

One would believe it is

common knowledge and, furthermore, a common courtesy to think of someone else’s needs above one’s own wants, but this kind of issue happens very often.

At Texas State, there has been a huge problem with students taking handicapped-accessible parking in an attempt to walk a shorter distance to their classes. This behavior, which is almost too ludicrous to believe, is said to be very true by University Police Officer Otto Glenewinkel.

“In the past, there has been a large amount of people that have used handicap parking spaces illegally,” Glenewinkel said. “I believe the amount of placards seized by us (Texas State UPD) is higher than anywhere else here in Texas.”

Aside from the immorality of the offense, stealing parking spaces from people who live with disabilities is also criminal. A person can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor for parking a car in a disability spot without having a placard given by a physician.

Generally, UPD was called to deal with these kinds of disputes, but Parking Services has been in charge of spotting, responding to and dealing with anyone ille-

gally parked in a handicapaccessible space.

One of the frequent complaints about this issue is misuse of parents’ placards. For example, say a person uses his or her parent’s car for a trip to the grocery store and parks in a reserved space because the parent’s vehicle has a placard—that is still illegal and immoral.

Those who use another person’s placard receive the same charges as those who park without one.

Worse yet, those using their parent’s placard could have it confiscated.

A person’s laziness can cause something their parents may need to be taken away, which is wrong on so many levels.

Simply taking away a parking space from someone in need is deplorable and wrong, but it can also have some serious repercussions.

Before people take a handicap-accessible parking space, they should really evaluate what they are doing, as their actions can harm the people who depend on these reserved parking spaces. Compassion should overlook the laziness or discomfort of a few extra feet of walking.

—Cris Rivera is a music freshman

601 University Drive Trinity Building, Room 101 San Marcos, TX 78666

Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708

Design Editor...........................................Lauren Huston, stardesign@txstate.edu Web Editor........................................................Emily Sharp, starweb@txstate.edu Account Executive............................................Hanna Katz, starad2@txstate.edu Account Executive.................................Morgan Knowles, starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive..........................Angelica M. Espinoza, starad5@txstate.edu Media Specialist.............................................Dillan Thomson, djt48@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator...............................Kelsey Nuckolls, kjn16@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator........................................Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu Publications Director...........................Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu

The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Monday and Thursday of the spring and fall and every other Wednesday in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

Copyright Monday, November 9, 2015. 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.

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Monday, November 9, 2015 | 5

The University Star

SPORTS

Paul Livengood, Sports Editor @IamLivengood starsports@txstate.edu

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

VOLLEYBALL

HOMETOWN HERO TRANSITIONS TO THE BOBCAT LIFE

By Jose Campos SPORTS REPORTER @josewithaj

A Santa Fe High School graduate, Haley Henderson finished First-Team All-County, was part of the All-Houston Area All-Star Team in 2013 and attended Wingate University before transferring to Texas State this season.

However, the journey to this point in her collegiate career is one she never expected to have.

Henderson’s original love was soccer. She played club soccer until her freshman year of high school. Back then, people would ask her why she hadn’t tried out for volleyball or basketball.

Henderson had a change of heart when the high school volleyball coach asked if she wanted to play for the varsity team.

“I was like, what the heck, I don’t really know anything,” Henderson said. “ I was so nervous and ever since then, I ended up dropping soccer and focusing on all my focus on volleyball.”

High school volleyball coach Anna Milligan remembers seeing Henderson grow up. The young girl became very mature for her age.

When Milligan heard Hen-

derson transferred to the university, she was proud of the athlete for coming back to Texas to represent Santa Fe High School.

Milligan knew she was essentially throwing Henderson to the wolves when she.placed the freshman as a middle blocker on the varsity team The learning curve for Henderson would be hard because she had to accumulate experience in a short time with barely any knowledge of volleyball itself.

“Sometimes youth showed.

Her youth showed out more than her experience because we’re trying to get her experience,” Milligan said. “By the time she was junior, she became a leader on the court and our go-to kid.”

After joining her high school’s volleyball team, Henderson became recognizable almost everywhere she went because of her height.

When Henderson visited junior high schools, younger girls asked questions about the sport at a high school level and her expectations for college volleyball.

“My town was a big deal about volleyball and helping the community,” Henderson said. “I guess you could say (my) hometown shaped me

STAR FILE PHOTO

becoming a family-oriented person and always putting other people before you.”

Henderson’s goal for her first season at Texas State was adjusting to the Division I athlete lifestyle. Her biggest

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challenge has been managing academics.

Luckily, the Bobcats have been very supportive in helping each other get through the semester. They maintain the balance between volley-

ball and schoolwork.

Looking to the end of the season, Henderson only has one goal on her mind.

“I’m really wanting a championship ring at the conference tournament,”

Henderson said. “I really want something to show that I played volleyball. I think we have a really good chance of getting it and I just want to end the season with a win.”

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