TUESDAY February 13, 2024 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 20 www.UniversityStar.com
Ralph Foster
Kristin Foster W
First Impressions of Kristin?
First Impressions of Ralph?
“I thought Kristin was beautiful and I'd seen her at a bus stop a few times," Ralph said. “Actually, a couple of times I went out there and I didn’t have class but at least got a chance to say good morning to her, and get to see her.”
“I thought he was super handsome,” Kristin said. “Just my type and then as soon as we met and started hanging out we were just very similar. We like to do the same things at had this great friend group. I mean, we had so much fun."
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What do you love most about Kristin? “The kids are super lucky to have Kristin,” Ralph said. “She's awesome… In terms of work and stuff like that I've had some rough patches along the way, but the one thing I've always had is Kristen. She's like my greatest advocate.”
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What do you love most about Ralph? PHOTOS COURTESY OF KRISTIN FOSTER
TXST LOVE STORIES By Marisa Nuñez Life and Arts Editor
“I just love Ralph's loyalty and his devotion to our family,” Kristin said. “And just how smart is… he maintains knowledge and information and I feel like he's a lot smarter than I am. But if anything else just his complete love and loyalty for our family and his devotion."
Many students are fortunate enough to find their other half at Texas State University. The University Star reached out to couples to share their love stories of how they met on campus. Ralph and Kristin Foster Ralph and Kristen Foster first met in 1988 at the shuttle stop on Windmill Drive. Enamored by her beauty, sometimes he would go to the shuttle stop just to see her. One night, his roommates invited some girls to their apartment. Ralph was happy to see that Kristin was one of them. From there, they hit it off.
SEE MORE LOVE STORIES PAGES 6 – 7
Attorney General seeks to overturn marijuana decriminalization in San Marcos, future plans By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter In 2022, San Marcos voters approved a measure to decriminalize possession of up to four ounces of marijuana. As of Jan. 31, a lawsuit from the Attorney General of Texas seeks to overturn it. According to a press release from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the measure violates state drug enforcement law, a policy cities are barred from doing by the Texas Local Government Code.
"I will not stand idly by as cities run by pro-crime extremists deliberately violate Texas law and promote the use of illicit drugs that harm our communities," Paxton said in the press release. "This unconstitutional action by municipalities demonstrates why Texas must have a law to ‘follow the law.’" In September 2021, Mano Amiga, a local political advocacy group, announced its plan to petition the city of San Marcos to create a ballot measure to decriminalize low-level possession of marijuana. Mano Amiga said
Texas State begins Naloxone distribution program, impacts By James Phillips News Contributor On Feb. 1, Texas State announced students and staff can receive free Naloxone (Narcan) nasal spray at select locations in the San Marcos and Round Rock campuses. Narcan is used to reverse the effects of an opioid or fentanyl overdose. According to an article from The University Star, its distribution comes as "fentanyl overdose cases amongst teens and young people have increased in Hays County."
SEE UNIVERSITY PAGE 3
Distribution of the life-saving medicine will be carried out at the Student Health Center, Student Recreation Center and Alkek Library, as well as the Avery Building in Round Rock. Students and faculty do not have to provide any form of identification when requesting Naloxone and are allowed a maximum of two doses weekly. Sarah Doss, the interim director of the Student Health Center, said this will be a game changer in preventing overdoses in the Texas State community. "[Texas State's] hope is that [students and faculty] will be better prepared, and we can help to prevent a tragedy from occurring," Doss said.
its goal is to decrease what it sees as needless arrests and criminal charges. "It wasn't just about smoking weed; it was about minimizing the impacts because even having a charge for petty possession on your record can significantly impact your life," Sam Benavides, communications director at Mano Amiga, said. In December 2021, Mano Amiga launched its petition campaign, seeking the signatures of 10% or more of registered voters in San Marcos to secure the ballot measure. SEE GOVERNMENT PAGE 3
FAFSA delay impacts Texas State community By Blake Leschber News Editor As the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) form is pushed back further, the effects of unreceived financial aid is felt across campus. According to the Federal Student Aid (FSA) department, the FAFSA form went live on Dec. 30, differing from the normal Oct. 1 date. Now, although universities usually expect to receive financial aid data from students as early as October, Texas State and higher education institutions will not get the data until at least mid-March.
SEE FINANCE PAGE 3
2 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
NEWS
Blake Leschber | News Editor | starnews@txstate.edu
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Texas State to accommodate pregnant or parenting students By Candace Taggart News Reporter Texas State will soon be required to provide additional services to parenting or pregnant students after the 88th Texas Legislature passed new legislation in the Education Code, effective September 2023. This new legislation includes three sections that require universities and other higher education institutions to provide a liaison officer for assisting student parents, as well as early registration and protections for parenting or pregnant students. According to Section 51.983 of the Texas Education Code, these protections include restraining the university from requiring students, because of their status as parent or pregnant, to "take a leave of absence or withdraw from the student’s degree or certificate program, limit the student’s studies, participate in an alternative program, change the student’s major, degree or certificate program or refrain from joining or cease participating in any course, activity or program at the institution." According to Texas State's Director of Media Relations Jayme Blaschke, the legislation will most likely be implemented through the Dean of Students Office, which is awaiting guidance from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board before it acts or speaks on university policy. Jose Zapata, a business administration and management sophomore, has been a student-parent for five months. Zapata works full-time to support his daughter Emilia on top of being a full-time student. “I really have to manage my things and I can't be goofing off,” Zapata said. “I have to work certain days, then I go see her and spend my time with her, and the next day, I do the same thing.” Shalai Cuevas, a psychology senior, has a one-yearold daughter, Ximena, who lives with her grandparents three and a half hours away. Cuevas said being a student-parent away from her daughter can have its
ups and downs. "We FaceTime every day, but it's not the same as being there in person with her every day doing those little things like feeding her, changing her diaper and just playing with her," Cuevas said. "A good thing is that it won't be too much longer until [I graduate]." Section 51.982 requires professors to allow absences, makeup work, late work and extended due dates regarding emergencies with a student's child or pregnancy. This also requires professors to "provide the student with access to instructional materials and video recordings of lectures for classes for which the student has an excused absence under this section." Zapata said the protections could help him do better on his assignments. "Five classes are a big workload while maintaining a full-time job, and sometimes I stay up to one or two in the morning just trying to finish schoolwork before it's due,” Zapata said. Cuevas said there's a strong need for this protection of student parents, especially since some don't have access to the same help she has with her parents. "There are so many student parents that don't get the help they should get because there isn't any leeway for them," Cuevas said. "Students only get that leeway if they're terminally ill, have doctor's notes or things of that nature, but there's nothing that applies to somebody who is just having to take care of their child." Students Who Are Parents is a program with the Dean of Students Office that offers a liaison officer for student parents and provides resources to support pregnant or parenting students, which section 51.9357 of the new legislation requires. Students can also fill out an online request form to meet with university staff about seeking pregnancy-related accommodations. Through the Dean of Students office, students can fill out a questionnaire to decide accommodations once the office receives guidance from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Scan the QR code for more information on student parent resources.
INFOGRAPHIC BY MELANIE CAMARA
Student Government presidential candidates debate platforms By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter On Monday, the Student Government held its student body presidential and vice presidential debates. The debate for vice president began with a small personal biography for mechanical engineering and computer science sophomore Donavan Brown and political science junior Antonio Romo. Brown was unable to attend, only Romo was present for discussion. When asked how he would interact with Black student organizations, Romo said he would trying to grow student government's connections to those organizations. "It has been a long process and [Student Government has] been meeting other organizations, but I want to make sure that we are having these communications," Romo said.
The Student Governement presidential debate began with an introductory biography for the three candidates: political science junior Olivia Alexander, criminal justice junior Nicole Collins and urban and regional planning sophomore William "Will" Moore and their opening remarks. While both Alexander and Collins have past experience in Student Government, Moore does not, something he has made a large part of his campaign. All three candidates said they wanted to implement policies to protect the local environment, with Alexander supporting a recycling initiative at tailgates, whereas Collins and Moore both supported giving more money to environmental services. "I would like to increase the environmental services fee because it is $1," Collins said. "It has not been increased in 20 years and I feel like we should be trying to take better care of our environment." All three candidates said they want to increase student engagement in Student Government. The previous student gov-
ernment election saw the winning presidential candidate, Kiersten Florence, receive 259 votes. "I've had people tell me when when they found out I'm running for student body president, 'That's awesome, but what does it mean? What is Student Government?'" Moore said. "I think the size of the audience here is a clear indication that students don't know about student government." The most debated issue was how Student Government should handle relations with Texas State Athletics, especially following the controversy involving the university's signing of Jayden de Laura. Collins and Moore favored holding ath-
letics accountable, whereas Alexander focused on maintaining a working relationship with the administration. "I believe that disengaging from athletics would be an extreme disservice to the student body," Alexander said. "Communication leads to conversation and that's what creates productive change." After the prepared questions ended, the public asked questions to the presidential candidates. Questions ranged from clarification on previous statements, to addressing a rumor that Alexander and Brown were campaigning for the university to get a live bobcat for a mascot, something Alexander quickly denied.
PHOTO BY LUCAS KRAFT
Antonio Romo, a political science junior and Student Government vice presidential candidate, speaks at a podium, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 in San Marcos.
PHOTO BY LUCAS KRAFT
Nicole Collins, a criminal justice junior and Student Government presidential candidate, answers a question at a podium, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 in San Marcos.
Publication Info
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NEWS
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 | 3
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Blake Leschber | News Editor | starnews@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT GOVERNMENT On June 1, 2022, San Marcos City Council received 11,256 petitions, officially making the marijuana decriminalization the largest ballot initiative in San Marcos' history. "It wasn't just Mano Amiga collecting the signatures. We had dozens of volunteers doing this work unpaid to create change," Benavides said. The ballot measure, known as Proposition A, received 81.84% percent of the vote on Nov. 8, 2022. With approval by the voters, it officially went into effect in San Marcos. "I think Texans are tired of being left in the dust," Benavides said. "Over half the states in our country have already ceased the criminalization of [marijuana]." Now over a year after the measure went into effect, the Office of the Attorney General of Texas launched legal challenges against San Marcos and four other cities for decriminalizing marijuana. If Paxton wins the case, the cities would have the policies invalidated.
"I wonder how this will play out with voters because we always talked about how this campaign was more than just about weed," Benavides said. "It was also about ending criminalization, but also about building people power and showing our neighbors how much they're able to change at the local level." Blake Coe, co-chair for the Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) at Texas State, said he believes this lawsuit means it's time to take marijuana decriminalization and legalization efforts to the state legislature. "We're always open to organizing at the state level," Coe said. "We definitely want to build coalitions with other SSDP chapters across the state and figure out organizing and ways that we can push for policy that'll make a difference." The city of San Marcos declined to comment. City councilmembers did not respond for comment.
TIMELINE BY QUINN FANTA
FROM FRONT UNIVERSITY Doss said Texas State's main goal with Narcan distribution is to make sure the life-saving medicine is in the hands of those at risk or who know someone at risk of an overdose. However, Doss said these distribution sites are not for those suffering from an active overdose but to prevent one from happening in the first place. "If someone were to encounter someone experiencing an overdose, the right thing to do is call 911," Doss said. "The idea of the program is to be there ahead of time if you or someone you know is at risk [of an overdose]." Overdoses happen when parts of the brain that control breathing and consciousness are blocked by an overload of drugs in the body, according to Ty Schepis, a psychology professor at Texas State who researches substance abuse. "[During an overdose] what happens is the... drug links up with the nervous system in specific parts of the brain that regulate breathing and consciousness," Schepis said. "There is so much of the drug that is bound [in the brain] that breathing slows down or stops [and individuals] lose consciousness; and that's how [individuals] die." Schepis said Naloxone works by preventing loss of consciousness and breathing during an overdose. Texas State is not the only group working to distribute Naloxone for free in Hays County. Janel Rodriguez, the co-founder and president of the Forever 15 Project, wants to set up Naloxone distribution sites in parks across Hays County. "[The Forever 15 Project] is currently working with [Kyle] to put Naloxone cabinets in parks," Rodriguez said. "[We] have purchased 10 Naloxone cabinets... and they would be open to anyone in the park." Rodriguez and her husband Brandon founded the Forever 15 Project after the
INFOGRAPHIC BY MADELINE CARPENTER
death of their 15-year-old son Noah from a fentanyl-related overdose on Aug. 21, 2022. You can get students who think they are buying an Adderall or another stimulant, but they are using it [recreationally], and it turns out that's a drug laced with fentanyl, and they had no idea." - Ty Schepis Texas State psychology professor The proposal by Rodriguez for the Naloxone cabinets has been brought forward to the city of Kyle. "The Parks and Recreation board unanimously approved [the Naloxone cabi-nets proposal]," Rodriguez said. "Now, [the Forever 15 Project] is just waiting for city council to grant final approval." Law enforcement within Hays County also received access to Naloxone on Sept. 6, 2023, as part of the One Pill Kills campaign. The One Pill Kills campaign, initiated by Gov. Greg Abbott, aims to address the escalating national fentanyl crisis by coordinating an effort in Texas to combat the deadly impact of the opioid. Still, within Texas State, students and faculty fear fentanyl-related overdoses will persist, leading to ongoing serious problems. "The risk from fentanyl is [large]," Schepis said. "You can get students who think they are buying an Adderall or another stimulant, but they are using it [recreationally], and it turns out that's a drug laced with fentanyl, and they had no idea."
FROM FRONT FINANCE "Based upon estimations for completing that work, the department will begin transmitting batches of FAFSA information (ISIRs) to schools and state agencies in the first half of March, which will include the updated Student Aid Index (SAI) tables," a Jan. 30 FSA announcement said. "We anticipate catching up with the majority of ISIR transmissions to schools in the weeks following the beginning of ISIR delivery." The SAI is a number universities use to determine the amount of federal aid a student will receive. According to the FSA, it is calculated through adjusted gross income, deductible payments, tax-exempt interest, untaxed portions of IRA distributions and pensions and foreign income exclusion. As students are left with less time to decide on their education plans, this can possibly impact enrollment for the upcoming semesters, according to Terrance McClain, director of the Student Success Center. "If it doesn’t get resolved, we’re probably going to see a decrease in enrollment,” McClain said. “I think that’s the bare bone basics of it. Their education is being impacted even if they do a payment plan or take less hours. Their graduation plan can be affected as well.” According to the Feb. 6 email from Damphousse, enrollment for the spring semester rose by 3%. This increase is threatened to lower due to
the delay. One financial aid opportunity that will be widely impacted by the delay is the Pell Grant. The Pell Grant is determined through the FAFSA form and is awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional financial aid. However, since the FAFSA data is delayed, the time students have to receive the grant and decide on pursuing higher education lowers. "Without FAFSA information, students and their families are in limbo and not able to make financial decisions about attending or staying in college," a Feb. 6 email from Texas State President Kelly Damphousse said. "The later Texas State receives this information, the less time prospective and current students have to weigh their college choice options. This is especially concerning for low-income and first-generation students. To put this in perspective, more than 54.8% of our [first-time in college] undergraduate students are federal Pell Grant eligible this year, so this delay could potentially be devastating for their dreams of a college education." Ashley Chasco, a political science freshman, is filing as an independent for the first time this year. This means the FSA will not use her parents' financial information to determine aid. The FSA reviewed her application, meaning she is waiting before she can make any decisions on her future at Texas State.
“I’m just frustrated because I’m not sure if they’re gonna approve of me being independent,” Chasco said. “I’m not sure how much they’re gonna give me and I have to find a way to pay for school.” According to Damphousse's email, Texas State is making plans to help students with the delay. The university will announce merit scholarship awards sooner, allowing students to have a clearer financial picture before the FAFSA data is released. Texas State will discuss increasing the adjusted gross income (AGI) level for students to qualify for Bobcat Promise, which covers tuition and mandatory fees for incoming freshmen who take 15 credit hours or more per semester. Currently, the AGI level is at $50,000. McClain recommends students consider using a payment plan to make it easier to pay, which requires a 25% payment of university dues at the time of enrollment and three additional payments at designated due dates. Despite the frustration felt by the student body, Damphousse said this being a federal issue might bring a sense of peace to some minds. "The only comforting news is that every university in the country is facing the same problem," Damphousse's email said. INFOGRAPHIC BY ITZIE PULIDO
4 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 Jen Nguyen | Creative Service Director | starcreative@txstate.edu
GAMES Tuesday, February 13, 2024
VALENTINE'S DAY ISSUE Tuesday, February 13, 2024
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 | 5
Sarah Manning | Design Editor | stardesign@txstate.edu
ILLUSTRATION BY EVA BOWLER, MADISON WARE, ABBY FUNDERBURK, DEVON CREW, MEAGAN WALTERS, MADELINE CARPENTER, DJ ROSS, SARAH MANNING
6 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
LIFE & ARTS
Marisa Nuñez | Life and Arts Editor | starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
Tuesday, February 13 , 2024
Scott and Amber Muhoberac
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMBER MUHOBERAC
A m b e r Mu h o b e r a c was supposed to graduate in spring 2015 but had to take summer classes after having an emergency gallbladder removal surgery. On the first day of her international marketing class, Scott Muhoberac sat next to her. They were required to share their LinkedIn profiles and also briefly studied for a quiz together. After two weeks Amber dropped the class, graduated and moved to Houston. Four years later, Scott reached out to Amber on LinkedIn looking for a job in the area. “It just popped up on LinkedIn that she was in staffing and I needed a posi-
tion,” Scott said. “The position didn't work out but I got something much greater.” Scott and Amber began dating after reconnecting on LinkedIn. They share a common and unique connection with the campus and come to San Marcos every year to visit and see the spot where they first met. On one of their yearly trips to San Marcos, Scott surprised Amber with a proposal outside of Lampasas Hall in 2022, which was the building that held their international marketing class in 2015. “ We w o u l d n ' t b e together if it wasn't for Texas State,” Amber said.
“Although we didn't spend our college years together, we would not be together if we hadn't met on campus… We didn't really spend those years together, they're special to both of us individually, and we wanted it to be special together so proposing [at Texas State] did that for us.” Amber graduated in 2015 and Scott in 2017 both with bachelor's degrees in mass communication. They got married in 2022 and visit San Marcos each year since it holds a special place in their hearts.
Jeremy and Liza Leonhardt A former Managing E ditor for The University Star, Liza Leonhardt was invited by a friend on staff to go to a football game on Oct. 19, 2013. Jeremy Leonhardt, her friend's roommate, was in charge of picking everyone up to go to the game. “He drove up in a green truck,” Liza said. “I didn't know him at the time, he was a mutual friend's roommate… We went to the game together, and I was definitely flirting with him most of the time. At the end
of the night, I went back to my apartment, and I was like, ‘I hope I hear from him again.’ I really liked spending time with him.” Their mutual friend gave him Liza’s number and he reached out to her a couple of days later. They began hanging out with each other nonstop and found they had several things in common. “She was easy to talk to and it was very easy to carry on conversations,” Jeremy said. “We had some similarities. It's kind of interest-
ing…we had birthdays that were right next to each other, and we really didn't live that far from each other growing up we just didn’t know it.” Liza graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s in mass communication and Jeremy in 2015 with a bachelor's in accounting. They got married in 2017 and have two kids. They said they're thankful to The University Star and Texas State for bringing them together. PHOTO COURTESY OF LIZA LEONHARDT
Robert Dorsey and Hayden Dooley
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT DORSEY
Rober t Dorsey and Hayden Dooley never knew each other while attending Texas State. Instead, they met after they both had graduated at an alumni choir performance on July 25, 2014, at the then new Performing Arts Center. Dorsey was in the audience as Dooley performed with the alumni choir. For about an hour and 30 minutes of the performance they kept locking eyes with one another. “I am just in there doing my thing, singing with my friends and my colleagues and I see this handsome face in the audience,” Dooley said. “I went ‘Oh, okay, that was fun.’ I continued singing… and then I just keep noticing
that we keep looking at each other and I'm like, ‘Well, that seems intentional.’ Dorsey originally attended the performance to see a good friend who was the director of the alumni choir. After the performance, his friend introduced him to Dooley. They went out to The Square that night and were inseparable from one another. Do r s e y a n d Do o l e y didn’t officially start dating until COVID-19. Throughout COVID-19, they had dates with one another at parks and at each other's apartments. They believe this time together helped them connect on a deeper level.
"I credit [COVID-19] to what made us so incredible together," Dorsey said. "We didn't have outside influences [like] our friends that were constantly asking questions and judging or anything like that. We got just pure time with one another to really get to know each other on a deeper level than most people I think get the opportunity to do." Dooley graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s of arts and music and a bachelor’s in math education. Dorsey graduated in 2014 with a master's in business and management. They live in San Marcos and moved in together in June 2023.
FROM FRONT LOVE STORIES
Ralph and Kristin Foster Ralph and Kristin knew they had a connection but remained friends throughout their time at then Southwest Texas State University. After they graduated they both found themselves in San Antonio, Texas for work. Kristin went through the phone book and reached back out to Ralph. Eight months later they were married. "I remembered that he had been [in San Antonio] and it was probably just
fate having me reach out because, it wasn't like today, where you follow people," Kristin said. "We hadn't been in touch in a while and thank goodness his number was listed....Right away we knew we were gonna be back together." The Fosters got married in San Marcos at the Crystal River Inn in 1994. Kristin graduated in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in political science and Ralph graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s
degree in marketing. They have two kids and their daughter recently graduated from Texas State in December 2023. They will celebrate 30 years of marriage this year. “I like, too, that even after 30 years we still say I love you multiple times a day and actually mean it… and we still have a lot of fun together and do a lot of fun things,” Kristin said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTIN FOSTER
LIFE & ARTS
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 | 7
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Marisa Nuñez | Life and Arts Editor | starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
Art and Jeanene Campsey Jeanene Campsey met Art Campsey in fall 1977 at her friend's brother's apartment who was roommates with Art. They enjoyed each other's company and continued to hang out in a group until Art asked Jeanene out on Valentine's Day in 1978. "It just seemed an appropriate time," Art said. "A good day to go out. My parents were married on Valentine's Day many years ago... You could kill two birds with one stone." At the time, Jeanene was in a five year relationship with a boy at Texas A&M. She ended up breaking up with him to be with Art. One year later on Valentine's Day, Art asked Jeanene to marry him. They got married that June after Art graduated. For Jeanene and Art, San Marcos holds a special place in their hearts. They try and
visit every year. "We've made it a point to just about every year to [come to San Marcos]," Jeanene said. "We went canoeing two years ago. We got brave and strapped [the canoe to] the top of our car and then went down there and we put in down past the city park and we went all the way down is where the Falls is." Art and Jeanene are celebrating 45 years of marriage this June. Art graduated in 1979 with a bachelor's in accounting. Jeanene dropped out after her sophomore year to marry Art but got her degree in nursing from San Antonio College when her sons were older. Both of their sons graduated from Texas State in 2004.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEANENE CAMPSEY
Ray Medina-Padilla and Jessica Cruz As a transfer student, Jessica Cruz wasn’t familiar with the shuttle routes which led her to take the Mill Street route where she briefly met Ray Medina-Padilla in 2016. The shuttle ended up breaking down on train tracks and they were transferred to another. A year later they matched on Tinder. “His bio stated to swipe right for a cheesy pickup line or for tacos,” Cruz said
in a written interview with The University Star. “So I swiped right in the hopes of tacos but he said, ‘I’m no photographer but I can picture us together.’ We’ve been together ever since.” Medina-Padilla graduated in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in information technology and Cruz graduated in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in education. They are engaged to be married this March.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA CRUZ
PHOTO BY MARISA NUNEZ
PHOTO BY MARISA NUNEZ
San Marcos residents Mike and Angie Harelick on the dance floor at the Golden Sweethearts Ball, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at the San Marcos Activity Center.
Former Assistant Director, Cindi Schied and her husband Doug dance at the Golden Sweethearts Ball, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at the San Marcos Activity Center.
Seniors dance the night away at Golden Sweethearts Ball By Marisa Nuñez Life and Arts Editor For 23 years, Golden Sweethearts Ball has brought people ages 50 and above to celebrate Valentine's Day with a night full of music, food, dancing and socialization. 100 people from all over Hays County attended the annual ball on Feb. 9 at the San Marcos Activity Center. "It's something that they could come here knowing that it's just for that age group," Nick Riali, the senior program coordinator for The City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation, said. "It's a good safe place... [and] we're able to provide them with a nice evening here in a great location...and it's something special for them." In 2023, only 85 tickets were sold. Riali said this year is the biggest turnout they've had since after COVID-19. Golden Sweethearts Ball will continue to be put on as long as attendees purchase tickets. "We're here to try to help serve the public and show people a good time and hopefully, someday some of these Texas State students will be coming in to join us as they get older." Riali has been in charge of the ball
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH MANNING
since 2014, providing a fun environment at an affordable price, giving seniors a chance to get out of the house, socialize and make memories. Since 2013, Cindi Scheid, former assistant director of accounting at Texas State, and her husband Doug have attended the Golden Sweethearts Ball. Because they are regular ballroom dancers, they enjoy this ball because it has good music and is a fun time. “We've been dancing for a long time and we love it,” Cindi said. “So when we
heard there was a sweetheart dance, we said, ‘Oh, we have to go,’ and so we've been coming every year that they've had it since then.” The Scheid's ballroom dance about four times a month and were out on the dance floor the whole night, only taking a few breaks for food and refreshments. They continue to ballroom dance because it's good exercise, fun to be able to use different dance styles and keeps their romance alive. Dan and Sandi Bryant traveled to
the ball from Martindale, Texas, after having a good time attending the dance in 2023. A group of volunteers dancing with the attendees made them excited to come back. “It was fantastic last year we had so much fun,” Dan said. “The food, the music and the sorority girls last year were just a blast when they were dancing.” The Bryants both have knee replacements so they can't dance as much as they'd like to but they enjoy watching attendees dance just as much. They plan on coming back again next year. “[The San Marcos Activity Center] offers an awful lot that couples can do," Sandi said. "It's something to get out and do things together.” Angie and Mike Harelick attended the Golden Sweethearts Ball for the first time this year. They fell in love dancing and came out to the ball to do just that. "We were seeing other people when we were younger and just happened to run into each other at dances," Mike said. They said dancing at the ball made them feel closer and that was natural for them.
8 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
LIFE & ARTS
Marisa Nuñez | Life and Arts Editor | starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
Tuesday, February 13 , 2024
Pieces of love in San Marcos: Date ideas for Valentine's Day By Rhian Davis Life and Arts Contributor Valentine’s Day outings can often be hard to plan, but luckily San Marcos is full of hundreds of activities for couples, singles and friends to do this Valentine's Day.
San Marcos sits on the edge of the Texas Hill Country making it a spot for views and hiking trails. Though there are many different options for hiking in San Marcos, The Meadows Center offers hikes that are easily accessible to students. The center is not only for boat tours – though that could also be a fun date – but for hikes through the Spring Lake Natural Area. Located 10 minutes from campus, the Spring Lake Natural Area has multiple trails that vary in length and difficulty. Hiking could be a great first date or 50th date. It's a great way to relax and have a simple, easy conversation with someone. It can be the perfect Valentine’s activity for college students because it’s free.
nd a g Hikin r ing o Expl
PHOTO BY ROSEY MENDOZA
A resting area brings peace surrounded by a body of water, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, at Meadow’s Center Hiking Trail.
Cheatham Street Warehouse has been a San Marcos staple since its opening in June 1974. Attending a live show allows the opportunity to create memories and new conversations that can last a lifetime. The dance hall can be the perfect place to go with someone you love. Though there isn’t a show on Valentine’s Day, there are multiple shows the week of including Tyler Halverson on Feb. 15 and the Dustin Toliver Band on Feb. 17.
Chea t ham S tr ee t Ware house
PHOTO BY CARLENE OTTAH
The entrance of Cheatham Street Warehouse welcomes guests with a large sign out front, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, in San Marcos.
There are a lot of restaurants in San Marcos, but Palmer’s, has been a popular date night spot since it opened in 1978. The building was constructed in the 1920s and has a courtyard that “is a showcase for dozens of plant species” according to its website. The courtyard, along with the architecture of the building, sets the scene for a classic Valentine's evening. Palmer’s is on the pricier side of San Marcos dining, which may be difficult for students. This is why Valentino’s Pizza could be a low-cost date option. Along with having “Valentine” in its name, Valentino’s Pizza is more affordable and has the authentic San Marcos atmosphere that many residents crave.
os c r a M San ts n a r u Resta
PHOTO BY FELIX MENKE
Ask the 'Cats:
"What are your Valentine's Day plans?"
"My boyfriend is taking me out to The Grove in Austin, Texas."
"I'm going to pick up pizza from Pie Society and head to Sewell to spend time with my boyfriend."
I plan on giving my girlfriend flowers after I get out of work and class.
Kyrah Catlin Wildlife Biology junior
Peyton Ashley Psychology sophomore
Ben Williams Finance sophomore
"Me and my roommates are going to make Valentine's cookies and heart-shaped pizzas." Maura Chandler Human Development and Family Resources junior
OPINIONS
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 | 9
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Rhian Davis | Opinions 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.
Texas voters deserve to be listened to By Rhian Davis Opinions Editor On Jan. 31, The Office of the Attorney General of Texas (OAG) issued a statement detailing the lawsuit Ken Paxton has launched against the cities of Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin and Denton. The OAG issued the lawsuits due to the five cities adopting policies regarding marijuana possession that “violate Texas laws.” Proposition A secured its spot on the November 2022 ballot after a local political advocacy group, Mano Amiga, worked to acquire over 4,000 signatures. Prop A, a measure to end citations and arrests for low levels of marijuana possession in San Marcos, passed on Nov. 8 with an overwhelming majority of 81.84% votes. The lawsuits issued by Attorney General Ken Paxton are a childish measure. These actions show Texas residents elected government officials do not respect, nor do they care, what voters have to say – an issue all Texans should be afraid of. In the press release from the OAG, Paxton stated he “will not stand idly by as cities run by pro-crime extremists violate Texas law and promote the use of illicit drugs that harm our communities.” Four of the five cities facing a lawsuit have universities within them, and Elgin is a mere 30 minutes from
ILLUSTRATION BY DEVON CREW
The University of Texas at Austin. When looking at the big picture, it becomes clear the passage of the marijuana ordinances in these cities was likely due to the high population of college-aged adults – hardly what Paxton classified as “pro-crime extremists.” According to a study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 44% of college students reported using marijuana substances in 2020. 26 states and territories have legalized the use of marijuana, including Washington D.C. Marijuana should be at the bottom of the list of Texas government's concerns. It is nowhere near as harmful as
guns, which should be a top priority as there have already been four mass shootings in Texas this year. “It’s ridiculous because the state of Texas is defying the will of its own residents,” Blake Coe, co-chair for the Students for Sensible Drug Policy, said. “Clearly this is a growing movement that’s been building over years and years and they only just now decided that this was something they would take a look at.” According to a 2022 opinion column from The University Star, marijuana is classified in the same category as heroin or crack cocaine, making it
much easier for one to be charged with a felony for possession. “The collateral consequences [for possession charges] can be so detrimental,” Sam Benavides, communications director at Mano Amiga, said. “It can make it difficult for you to find housing, to find employment.” Texas legalized the use of hemp through House Bill 1325 in 2019. Though some may think there is a major difference between hemp and marijuana, the two are both part of the Cannabaceae family according to Healthline. The only “legal” difference between the two is the THC content. THC is “primarily responsible for the ‘high’ associated with cannabis.” The legalization of hemp was a step in the right direction for Texas, however, due to the large number of states that have fully legalized marijuana, it’s clear Texas is miles behind the rest of the country. The passage of Prop A is another movement in the right direction but the backward thinking of Texas officials is on the way to take down the actions of citizens. Texas officials like Ken Paxton must begin to listen to the wishes of the voters. The overwhelming passage of Prop A shows what the community wants and those wishes cannot be ignored. -Rhian Davis is a journalism sophomore
Students need to fight caffeine dependence By Samuel Marentes Opinions Contributor University lifestyle inevitably leads to early mornings and sleepless nights, and energy drinks have become a staple on college campuses. What seems like a harmless staple, however, can lead to a dependence on caffeine. With potentially harmful effects on physical and mental well-being, students should learn to rely less on caffeine for energy, looking toward other avenues to keep up with their schedule.
Caffeine is a tried-and-true method of fighting off drowsiness. The stimulant essentially forces the brain into producing chemicals that promote wakefulness, temporarily masking any feelings of tiredness. Along with keeping the user awake, caffeine also serves to increase alertness. The combination of these effects makes caffeine a useful tool for any student. Unsurprisingly, studies published in the Journal of Prevention and Nutrients found college students consumed significantly more energy drinks compared to the rest of the population. The need for this kind of stimulant is widely recognized, as the demands of higher education might seem impossible to handle without any kind of boost. The issue arises when students grow reliant on the substance, depending on caffeine to keep them awake throughout the day. Though caffeine hasn't been proven to be addictive, caffeine dependence is a clinically recognized disorder in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The DSM-5 also recognizes caffeine-induced anxiety disorder and caffeine-induced sleep disorder, finding it can have adverse effects when consumed in excess.
Most sources, including the FDA and the Mayo Clinic, have set 400 milligrams of caffeine daily as the threshold for healthy adults, meaning it would only take two to three energy drinks to pass this limit. Further, as everyone's tolerance to the stimulant varies widely, one's personal limit could be higher or lower. -Samuel Marentes is an English junior The University Star welcomes Letters to the Editor from its readers. All submissions are reviewed and considered by the Editor in Chief and Opinions Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication
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ILLUSTRATION BY ABBY FUNDERBURK
An expanded graduate school would be beneficial for TXST By James Phillips Opinions Columnist Texas State, under the direction of President Kelly Damphousse, is fully committed to becoming part of the class of universities with the highest intensity of research, known as a Tier One research institution. This initiative will only be accelerated by the passage of Proposition 5 on Nov. 8, 2023, the Texas ballot measure that granted millions of dollars in funding for schools such as Texas State. Graduate schools, and the postgraduate research conducted at them, are important parts of universities nationwide. However, the Texas State Graduate School does not currently have the resources or the size it needs to fulfill the needs of the Texas State student population. Expanding the graduate school would benefit the university and provide new opportunities for students. With 4,000+ students, the graduate school is certainly not small. Yet, it still offers fewer graduate programs than UTSA, a school that contains 4,000 fewer undergrad students than Texas State. While programs such as Criminology or Nursing are nationally praised for their excellence, the lack of mass graduate programs is a determinant of the mission of Texas State. Advanced and specialized graduate programs, such as Biomedical Engineering at UTSA or European Studies at UT are not offered by Texas State. Including specialized
programs would not only attract more students looking for advanced training in specific fields but also create a higher student retention rate. Texas State markets itself, through programs, such as TXST NEXT, as an institution that is an affordable and inclusive destination for a wide variety of people, especially first-generation college students. This honest commitment to the mission of "[embracing] a diversity of people and ... [fostering] cultural and economic development" is why so many students attend and love Texas State. In turn, this commitment has resulted in massive growth and setting record-high student admissions year after year. Yet, its failure to apply these same principles to the graduate school and grow into a mass institution that is available to foster
growth among its student populace is easily a failure against that mission. Expansion of the graduate school is also desperately needed as the number of graduate students continues to explode nationwide, with an increase of at least "30% in the last 10 years," according to the Hechinger Report. This, combined with the massive growth of the Texas State undergraduate population, has created a massive need for additional graduate school space. An expanded graduate school would pave the way for more research and upper academic studies at Texas State. University research is a major part of the U.S. economy, with the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics reporting that "Academic institutions... [are] responsible for performing about half of all U.S. basic research."
Research projects are run largely by university faculty who direct large numbers of graduate students as they conduct their research. An expanded graduate school at Texas State would allow the university to participate in more high-level research, increase academic output and provide more opportunities for graduate students. Expanding the graduate school would also greatly benefit the march to becoming a Tier One research institution. Tier One research status is a ranking given to schools that perform the highest level of research relative to the rest of the nation. An expanded graduate school and the increase in research that would come with it would firmly put Texas State on the path to being granted the prestigious title of Tier One. Being Tier One would additionally open the university up to millions more in research grant funding. A study by West Virginia University found that "[Tier One] institutions are awarded significantly larger amounts of funding in comparison to [other] institutions," with the study noting that WVU, a Tier One school itself, received at least "$203 million in external funding for research" in just 2021. Expanding the graduate school is imperative for Texas State and a strategic opportunity to advance and grow the institution. -James Phillips is an international relations junior
ILLUSTRATION BY DELANEY COMPEAN
10 | DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
SPORTS
David Cuevas | Sports Editor | starsports@txstate.edu
Tuesday, February 13 , 2024
Softball Season Predictions The University Star softball beat reporters predicted the record and breakout players for the 2024 season. Brendan Fielding, Assistant Sports Editor Record Prediction: 38-23 Breakout Player: Harvey Ginder "Harvey had at-bats as a freshman and I'm sure she'll get opportunities early this season. If she shows up she could become a bigger name here." PHOTO BY MANDALYN LEWALLEN
The Texas State softball team huddles up before the game against Kennesaw State, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
Adrian Ramirez, Sports Contributor
Texas State softball seeks to build off 2023 season By Jackson Kruse Sports Contributor Texas State softball started the 2024 season off with a boom in its three-game win streak. As Sun Belt Conference play approaches, Texas State seeks to topple big opponents and make a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament with its team full of returners. Last season, the Bobcats went 35-25-1 and lost to the eventual Sun Belt Champions, Louisiana-Lafayette, in the Sun Belt Con-ference Tournament Semifinals. It marked the second consecutive season the Ragin' Cajuns eliminated Texas State from the conference tournament. Despite being eliminated, Texas State earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament and won a game in the Austin Regional against Seton Hall University before being eliminated by Texas A&M. According to the Sun Belt Softball Preseason Coaches Poll, Texas State is ranked third behind Louisiana-Lafayette and South Alabama. After losing in the Sun Belt Semifinals last season, Head Coach Ricci Woodard and the rest of the team have their sights set on a better result this year. “It’s been more about being intentional with everything," Woodard said. "Not just coming out and expecting to be good, but to put ourselves in a spot to execute every day." Even though making the Sun Belt semifinals and the NCAA Tournament are impressive accomplishments, the Bobcats know they have one of the best teams in the conference and have what it takes to accomplish the ultimate goal. With returning stars such as senior pitcher Jessica Mullins and graduate student infielder Sara Vanderford, the Bobcats have a tight-knit group of players who strive to get the best out of everyone. “I think we have a great group that knows how to push each other, so I think it’s been more of a ‘lean on them’ season,” Vanderford said. "I don't know if it's because it's
Record Prediction: 40-21 Breakout Player: Madison Azua "Freshman pitcher who had a stellar high school career breaking Round Rock's strikeout record. Could make noise if she gets time in the circle."
my last [season], I don't know if it's because I've become more relationship-oriented over the years, or if it's because I genuinely want to show up for them because this will be their program when I leave." Vanderford finished last season with a .317 batting average and led the team with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. Mullins continued her impressive NCAA career, posting a 1.88 ERA with 176 strikeouts in 201.1 innings. Other standout performances from last season include senior utility Hannah Earls, who led the team with a .328 batting average, and graduate student pitcher Tori McCann, who posted a 2.23 ERA in 100.1 innings. T h e B o b c a t s h a v e m a n y e xc i t i n g matchups to look forward to, including Louisiana-Lafayette, Texas, A&M, James Madison, Arizona State and many more. “I’d like to say I’m going to treat every matchup the same, but of course, in your mind, you’re going to want to beat some teams more than others," Mullins said. “I’m really excited for the [University of Louisiana] series because they have always been a pretty competitive matchup against us.” Woodard said she tries to keep her mind off of expectations when entering a new season. “I’ve just learned over the years that good or bad, I’m not sure that expectations have been real good to us,” Woodard said. “It’s going to be more about us just trusting who we are." Woodard doesn’t want the team to feel pressured and believes the best way to succeed is to go out and play the way they know. She said she’s been preparing the team differently this year compared to previous seasons. “The biggest thing I did differently is we scrimmaged a lot more,” Woodard said. "That was because of experience… I took what I thought [would] be my starting group [very] early and separated the two teams. We will see if it pays off.”
McKenna Ladson, Sports Contributor Record Prediction: 43-18
Breakout Player: Sara Vanderford "She has proven herself with over 100 RBI's and breaking batting records. I expect her role and impact on the team to only grow."
James Vaughn, Sports Contributor Record Prediction: 37-24
Breakout Player: Sara Vanderford "She had .900 OPS and seven homers last season with almost 60 hits.. I fully expect her to compete for Conference POTY."
Kaden Bessent, Sports Contributor Record Prediction: 41-20 Breakout Player: Karmyn Bass "Should improve off an impressive freshman season where she showcased her ability to perform in big moments."
Jackson Kruse, Sports Contributor Record Prediction: 42-19 Breakout Player: Emilee Baker "Baker is an outfield option who had 41 at-bats her freshman year and hit .333 with a .417 on-base percentage. She should see more playing time this season."
Portal chaos leaves Bobcats with unproven quarterbacks By James Horton Sports Reporter After notching the first bowl victory to cap off its most successful season in program history, the Texas State football team enters the spring without a proven quarterback on its roster. Redshirt sophomore quarterback T.J. Finley transferred to Texas State from Auburn University, and was named starting quarterback during the 2023 season. Finley started all 13 games, throwing for 3,439 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. After verbally committing to return to Texas State for the 2024 season, Finley left the program via the NCAA transfer portal one day after the team announced the signing of former University of Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura. Days after announcing his departure from the program, Finley committed to Western Kentucky University. Finley was the third quarterback to leave the team following the bowl game in December. Redshirt sophomore C.J. Rogers, who spent the 2023 season as the team's third-string quarterback, was the first to leave, followed by redshirt junior Malik Hornsby, who was Finley's backup and played sparingly in seven games as a dualthreat option. Hornsby committed to Arkansas State University in the portal, where he will
Texas State redshirt freshman quarterback P.J. Hatter warms up with some practice throws ahead of the game versus ULM, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium.
transition to wide receiver, while Rogers has yet to find a new team. With all three gone, de Laura appeared as the likely candidate to be named as the starting quarterback for the Bobcats next season. However, he withdrew from Texas State after an article published by The University Star about the quarterback's civil lawsuit stemming from a sexual assault that occurred when he was in high school. Texas State lost its top four quarterback options in the span of two months, and now, in February, the Bobcats find themselves without a proven quarterback. Currently, Texas State's top option is redshirt freshman P.J. Hatter. Hatter played in one game in 2023, the week three matchup against Jackson State. He took the final snaps of the game in the 77-34 win but did not have a chance to showcase his abilities as a quarterback. Hatter graduated from Westfield High School in Houston and was a late addition to Texas State's 2023 recruiting class. As a senior, Hatter threw for 2,841 yards and 43 touchdowns. Hatter originally committed to Jackson State before flipping to Texas State late in the recruitment process. Despite Hatter's limited game experience during the 2023 season, Head Coach G.J. Kinne has praised his talent and work ethic.
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STAR SNAPS
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Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Kobe Arriaga | Multimedia Editor | starmultimedia@txstate.edu
This Week in San Marcos
PHOTO BY MANDALYN LEWALLEN
Texas State softball junior outfielder Ciara Trahan (Left) gathers alongside her teammate, senior outfielder Piper Randolph (Right), ahead of the contest versus Kennesaw State, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
PHOTO BY LUCAS KRAFT
Members of the crowd rock out to the music played by The House of Corinth, an Austin-based band, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at Private Park in San Marcos.
PHOTO BY LUCAS KRAFT
Members of the community attend the grand opening of the Green Heron Bookshop, Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at 323 W. Hopkins Street, near downtown San Marcos.
PHOTO BY FELIX MENKE
Students pile up to watch Usher's halftime performance at the Super Bowl Watch Party, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, at George's.
PHOTO BY ROSEY MENDOZA
Engineering junior Romario Mendez hunts for his name on the Dean's List after the recepetion held on Wednesday, Februrary, 7, 2024, at the LBJ Student Center.
PHOTO BY FELIX MENKE
Men's basketball freshman guard Kaden Gumbs gives a young fan a high five after the victory over Ball State, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, at Strahan Arena.
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