02-27-2024

Hays County Food Bank move to impact students, locals

By Lucciana Choueiry Assistant News Editor

The Hays County Food Bank , a nonprofit addressing food insecurity by distributing over a million pounds of food a year, is relocating to the Hays Co. Bar-b-que buildings in hopes of expanding its scope.

According to Lisa Young, Hays County Food Bank’s executive director, the current food bank, located on Herndon Street, is a 2,200-square-foot building with not enough space to accommodate the growing rate of food insecurity in the county. Young said the funds for the $4.5 million purchase of the new location came from sources like private donors, government grants and over $1 million coming in through American

Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The current building will be sold by March, with a timeline of the relocation to be finalized in summer 2024.

“I could fit two of [our current building] into one of the new ones, so it is something…having extra space is going to allow us to set up more trucks,” Young said. “There is some programming we will also be able to bring in that will transform people’s experience and build community.”

The new location will include two buildings, a large outdoor space and 155 parking spots. Young said the food bank plans to spend $1 million on remodeling, which would include construction for offices and freezer space.

SEE RELOCATION PAGE 3

Defensive lineman suspended from TXST football after arrest

By Lucciana Choueiry Assistant News Editor

Texas State Football suspended redshirt junior defensive lineman Tunmise Adeleye from the football team for his arrest for four charges this week.

Chris Kutz, associate athletics director, sent a statement via email to The University Star discussing Adeleye’s suspension.

“After being made aware of the charges, we have suspended Tunmise Adeleye from the football team pending the investigation. The matter has been referred to the Dean of Students for further review. Due to federal student privacy regulations (FERPA), we are unable to provide more information,” the statement said.

According to the University Police Department’s fire log, Adeleye was arrested on Feb. 21 at Blanco Hall, an oncampus residential hall.

Adeleye faced multiple charges, including unlawfully carrying a weapon, evading arrest with a vehicle, reckless driving and failure to identify. While he pleaded not guilty on the failure to identify charge, his only felony charge is evading arrest, with the rest categorized as misdemeanors. All charges were filed between Feb. 21-23.

Texas State Football announced Adeleye’s transfer on Jan. 17 via X. Previously, he was a defensive lineman for Michigan State University in 2023 and Texas A&M University in 2022.

PHOTO

From taco stand to 'Downtown Legend': The Bobcat Quickie story

By Brianna Bordosky Life and Arts Contributor

Due to the positive impact Bobcat Quickie has had on the community, the city of San Marcos awarded Bobcat Quickie with the “Downtown

City Council approves 'can ban' to limit pollution

By Lesdy Hernandez News Reporter

On Feb. 20, San Marcos City Council approved the can ban ordinance, which bans single-use beverage containers in designated areas around the San Marcos River and certain parks. The ordinance prohibits open containers with a volume capacity of five fluid-ounces or less from both public waterways and riverfront parks in San Marcos. The ordinance also implemented size restrictions on ice coolers, with a limit set to 30 quarts per person on public waterways. The can ban is set to go into effect on May 1 with the first year serving as an education period where no citations will be issued for violations.

Christopher Riggins, fish and wildlife biologist for The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, said there is a safety concern for visitors due to the amount of broken glass and aluminum cans found in the

Legend” award last year for embodying the essence of that title. Feras Abuhweij, general manager of Bobcat Quickie and Texas State alumnus, is known for being the longest working employee. Since the installation of the kitchen in 2010, Abuhweij has worked closely with the owner of the Bobcat Quickie Exxon. SEE

PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA

Ttory Capes (Left) organizes food alongside his coworker Francisco “Chico” Macedo (Right), Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, inside Hays County Food Bank.

A waterfall outside of Kerbey Lane Cafe flows into the San Marcos River, Saturday, Feb.

in San Marcos.

PHOTO BY BLAKE LESCHBER

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

TXST names new Student Government officers

By Emma Hall News Contributor

The results of the Student Government election were announced on Feb. 22 in the LBJ Student Center. Olivia Alexander secured the president-elect position with 703 votes, representing exactly 54% of the total, while Vice President-Elect Donavan Brown received 683 votes.

Senators at the meeting said they want to focus on making housing sufficient by reducing problems such as mold in residence halls.

In addition to making physical changes to better Texas State, senators plan to better prepare students for life after college. Abby Myers, a psychology freshman and elected senator at-large, said she wants to improve the resources provided on campus to students.

“As a senator, I believe it is our job to add better resources on campus to prepare students for life after college,” Myers said. “I want to make ways to keep the community alive after freshman year is over for students. During freshman year, that community is built, but then it’s just gone.”

Along with creating a better community, Myers said she has ideas in mind that will guarantee Texas State University has a positive image. Myers wants to hold Texas State departments responsible for their actions.

“One thing I want the student body to do is ensuring accountability within the athletic department,” Myers said.

Myers has confidence that Student Government will be able to make a positive impact and be the voice for students, ensuring they are heard.

In addition, the senators at large want to make changes within campus to promote safety, build community and create a welcoming environment. They believe this goes beyond the structure of student life on campus and into the off-campus San Marcos community according to Pablo Avellaneda, management freshman and elected senator at-large.

“We have a responsibility to create a solid foundation for students,” Avellaneda said. “I plan to continue involvement in our student body in the San Marcos community.”

Alexander, Brown and the newly elected senators will take over at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.

Hays County Joint Primary Elections 2024 voting guide

By Staff

Early voting for the 2024 Joint

Primary Election ends March 1 and Election Day occurs on March 5. The University Star has compiled a guide for voters before they head for the polls in Hays County.

Voters can choose between voting for the Democratic or Republican Party primary ballot; they can not vote in both parties. However, voters can vote for either party's candidates in the November general election.

What's on the ballot:

The following local elections will be featured in ballots in San Marcos.

Judge, County Court-atLaw #3

Elaine S. Brown (D)

Robert E. Updegrove (R)

Hays County Sheriff

Anthony Hipolito (R)

Daniel Law (D)

Alex Villalobos (D)

Tax Assessor-Collector

Jennifer M. Escobar (D)

Vianna "Vee" Garza (D)

Cynthia A. Millonzi (D)

Jessica Sanchez (D)

Commissioner, Precinct 1

Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe (D)

Alyssa Ramirez (D)

Commissioner, Precinct 3

Morgan Hammer (R)

Rebecca Minnick (D)

Teresa Shell (R)

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1

Nicholas "Nico" Costilla (D)

Jo Anne Prado (D)

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 2

Amanda K. Calvert (D)

Janie Flores (D)

Paul Hill (D)

J.R. Mendoza (D)

Andrea "Dre" Villescaz (D)

Constable, Precinct 1

Lorenzo Gonzalez (D)

David Lois Peterson (D)

Constable, Precinct 2

David L. Saenz, Sr. (R)

Michael Torres (D)

Constable, Precinct 3

Don Montague (R)

Constable, Precinct 4

Ben Gieselman (R)

Dave Graham (R)

Constable, Precinct 5

John Ellen (R)

Eligibility:

To qualify to vote in Hays County, residents must: Be a U.S. citizen.

• Be a resident of Hays County.

• Be at least 18 years old.

• Not be a convicted felon.

• Not be determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.

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San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487

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 3,500. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

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Editorial Staff

Editor-in-Chief: Carson Weaver stareditor@txstate.edu

News Editor: Blake Leschber starnews@txstate.edu

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Director: Laura Krantz laurakrantz@txstate.edu

Tickets for TXST presidential debate to be limited for students

By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter

The first 2024 presidential debate will be hosted at 8 p.m. on Sept. 16 in Strahan Arena. The debate, which will have thousands in attendance, will have limited options for Texas State students and faculty to attend.

The Committee on Presidential Debates (CPD), the organization that plans presidential debates, gives the majority of tickets to political party insiders or members according to Mary Brennan, co-chair for the Student Engagement Committee, which is helping plan the debate. However, the university is working on ways for students to engage in the debate process.

"The presidential debates are primarily television productions with limited numbers of audience seats available," a statement by Texas State University on the Presidential Debate FAQ page said. "Distribution of tickets is handled entirely by the CPD, and no tickets are sold to the public."

Brennan said a small number of tickets may be given to the university by the CPD the week before the debate, but the university has not decided how these tickets would be distributed yet.

"CPD have been adamant that [Texas State doesn't] have anything to do with tickets," Brennan said. "Once we get in that week to 10-day period [before the debate], then [CPD] will tell us how many tickets we have available."

Most students will be unable to get tickets, but Brennan said the university is working on ways that students can volunteer to work the debate.

"There will be lots of opportunities to volunteer," Brennan said. "[For example], some volunteers might be running people back and forth in cars from hotels."

According to Brennan, volunteer opportunities are likely to open at the end of the spring semester or during the summer. Postings will be available on the university's debate website.

For students unable to get a ticket or volunteer, Texas State will be hosting a large watch party, and individual programs may host their own parties across campus.

It would be really great if the administration leaned into what a great educational opportunity this is and encouraged students to attend watch parties and get involved in the debate as much as possible,"

Lauren Losh Public administration junior

"There will be numerous watch parties," Brennan said. "[The university's] watch party will probably be in the LBJ ballroom."

Lauren Losh, a public administration junior, said for students with majors like hers, the debate is an rare opportunity, and she hopes the university offers opportunities to engage in the debate even if it doesn't mean attending in person.

"It would be really great if the administration leaned into what a great educational opportunity this is and encouraged students to attend watch parties and get involved in the debate as much as possible," Losh said.

One group of students that may be able to attend are students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Faculty are working to create a program for student journalists to shadow media professionals covering the debate.

"There are special considerations for student journalists and [the university] does want [them] to be able to be involved," Brennan said. "I think [there are efforts] to try to get [student journalists] their own area in the media pool."

More information on volunteer positions and how to apply will be posted to the university's debate page when available.

Managing Editor: Nichaela Shaheen starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu

Life & Arts Editor: Marisa Nuñez starlifeandarts@txstate.edu

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Creative Service Director: Jen Nguyen starcreative@txstate.edu

Publication Info

Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, February 27, 2024. 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.

A file photo of the Lyndon Baines Johnson statue located on Texas State's campus.

STAR FILE PHOTO

INFOGRAPHIC BY BLAKE LESCHBER

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

FROM FRONT ENVIRONMENT

“So even with the recreation that is happening, [the safety concern] of people walking around barefoot into the river and that increased litter in there poses a threat to them,” Riggins said.

The ordinance said "No Zones" will be marked to show where single-use beverage containers will be prohibited. If someone is caught violating the ordinance, they will receive a fine of no more than $500, according to the ordinance.

"Go Zones" will also be marked, showing areas without can ban restrictions.

“Go Zones” locations include Ramon Lucio Ballfields, Rio Vista Pool and city facilities including the San Marcos Activity Center, Pauline Espinosa Community Hall and Fish Hatchery.

[The can ban] will help preserve the future and preserve people's values such as keep Texas beautiful,"

David Garcia Project Manager for the Sustainabilty Squad

Thomas Heard, grand senior coordinator and fish and wildlife biologist for The Meadows Center, said with the increase in recreation there has been a significant rise in litter in the San Marcos River.

“Working in the river every day, we’ve definitely seen [litter] increase,” Heard said. “Plastic pollution and bags potentially getting hung up on wildlife, where [wildlife] end up eating that plastic, people come here to enjoy the river and there is trash everywhere.”

David Garcia, project manager for the Sustainability Squad, said the importance of the can ban is to not only aid the preservation of the environment but of the future of Texas as a whole.

“[The can ban] will help preserve the future and preserve people's values such as keeping Texas beautiful, keeping their property amazing and [preserving] people's safety along with that,” Garcia said. “We’re just thinking for the long term and people’s safety.’’

Tyler Hartwick, member of the Sustainability Squad and vice president of the Bobcat Stream Team, said the majority of the pollution in San Marcos comes from non-point source pollution, which according to the National Ocean Service, occurs as a result of runoff and can be difficult to control due to the different sources it may come from.

“When this litter ends up on the ground, it sits there, and when it rains in a large flooding event that litter, oil and stuff flows from your lawn to your local drainage system, and goes straight into the river,” Hartwick said.

San Marcos resident Esmeralda Gonzales said people have dismissed the amount of unwanted trash as they flow down the river and there must be a need to respect the enjoyment of the river by all.

“I hope this [ordinance] will send a message to be prepared on how to dispose of any unwanted litter in the river,” Gonzales said.

PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA

Food insecurity is the lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food for a healthy life. In 2021, Hays County reported an 11.8% food insecurity rate, 1.6% higher than the 10.2% national rate that year. In hopes of addressing the needs of the county, Young said the food bank is going to implement a client-choice model. People would be able to come and pick out their food instead of relying on the food bank’s mobile or drive-thru distributions. However, since the Hays County Food Bank serves cities beyond San Marcos, mobile distributions will still be available.

“This is going to reduce food waste because people will be picking things out that they feel they will cook as opposed to some items we give you that you might not care for,” Young said.

According to Young, the Hays County Food Bank gets its food from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Central Texas Food Bank, grocery stores and community food drives.

As per the National College Health Assessment (NCHA), in spring 2023 Texas State University recorded a food insecurity rate of 56.8%, surpassing the national average of 46.6% among all U.S. colleges.

One of the sites Hays County Food Bank distributes to is Texas State’s free on-campus food pantry, Bobcat Bounty. Bobcat Bounty's Project Director Lesli Biediger-Friedman said the pantry launched on Feb. 1, 2018, but could not have opened if it wasn’t for the Hays County Food Bank.

Biediger-Friedman said at the beginning, 100% of the food the pantry distributed was from Hays

County Food Bank. Now, 90% of the food in the pantry is from the food bank.

Bobcat Bounty runs a client-choice pantry exclusively on Mondays in the Family and Consumer Sciences building due to its status as a student-run pantry, limiting its capacity to operate on additional days. However, Biediger-Friedman said with the Hays County Food Bank expansion, that could change.

"They're going to have space, they're going to have access for trucks to come in, and I think it is a great new location, right off the interstate in a really important area of San Marcos... so that looks good to me and to [Bobcat Bounty]," Biediger-Friedman said.

According to Biediger-Friedman, Bobcat Bounty serves 130-170 “unique households” per week, which is an increase from 65-120 in previous years. In 2023 it served 1,200 students.

“[With the expansion] it will continue to be a conversation with the Hays County Food Bank, Bobcat Bounty and with the university in general, just trying to see are there ways we can do more,” Biediger-Friedman said.

Archana Aryal, a microbiology freshman, said she frequents Bobcat Bounty because as an international student, she struggles to find income and having a resource like the pantry is vital to her.

“With the Hays County Food Bank, it works as cycle for me because they provide food to this pantry which provides food for me... with them growing that will only help me even more,” Aryal said.

A look at candidates for Hays County Sheriff

By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter

The position of Hays County Sheriff is up for election on March 5. The sheriff is the highest elected law enforcement official in the county and is also in charge of the Hays County Jail.

The sheriff is responsible for upholding the law in

their county, enforcing court orders and presenting grand jury summons. Sheriffs also work to support local city police departments when necessary. With current Sheriff Gary Cutler choosing not to run for reelection, multiple candidates are in the run for the

Anthony Hipolito, Republican candidate

Hipolito's law enforcement career began in 1998 with the Austin Police Department, where he worked until 2021. Hipolito now works for the Hays County Sheriff's Department in community outreach.

Hipolito said growing up and working in law enforcement led to his desire to one day be sheriff and

Law began his career in law enforcement at the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office in 1989. He served as the sheriff for Caldwell County from 2001-20 and now works as a deputy constable for Hays County Precinct 1.

Law said he decided to run for Hays County sheriff to address issues in the community that he kept hearing about from community members, such as transferring inmates to other facilities and budgeting issues.

"I started getting a bunch of phone calls

position this year. The candidates on the Democratic primary ballots are Alex Villalobos and Daniel Law. The uncontested Republican candidate is Anthony Hipolito.

to protect and serve Hays County, where he grew up.

"I just felt it was best for me if I was able to serve [other law enforcement officers] and to ensure that they have a safe place to work," Hipolito said. As part of his role in community outreach, Hipolito has been working with schools to educate students on the dangers of fentanyl and how to avoid it, something he plans to

continue if elected.

Hipolito also said he must work to address manpower issues in the sheriff's office, both with deputies and corrections officers. He plans to do this by working at job fairs and working with military institutions to find qualified candidates.

"I think it is important to work on how we retain people and find a way to continue to recruit," Hipolito said.

Daniel Law, Democratic candidate

about problems. Instead of just listening, I decided to stick my nose in it," Law said.

According to Law, he wants to implement educational and vocational services for inmates in the Hays County Jail to lower the rate at which previous inmates recommit crimes. He said a similar program he established in Caldwell County shows signs of success.

Having previously been the head of a 12-county Regional Narcotics Task Force, Law wants to use his experience to crack down on

Alexander Villalobos, Democratic candidate

Villalobos, the current Hays County Chief of Staff, is a former adjunct professor for criminal justice at Texas State, who previously served as a city councilmember for Kyle and ran for sheriff of Hays County in 2020, but lost to Cutler. He began his career in law enforcement with the Texas State University Police Department in 2009.

fentanyl in the county and mitigate its harmful impacts on children.

Law also plans to address the understaffing issues of the sheriff's department by providing quality training, competitive hiring and employee compensation plans.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIEL LAW

Villalobos said he chose to run for office because he previously encountered issues getting in touch with local government.

"A long time ago, as a new homeowner, I had to engage the government and the government did not allow me access to the resources that I needed," Villalobos said.

the sheriff's department is a priority on Villalobos' agenda. Paying higher wages to deputies and corrections officers is also a part of his plan. As a former educator, schools and students are important to Villalobos, as he wants to partner with schools to increase education and awareness of the ongoing fentanyl crisis.

Workers at Hays County Food Bank help each other move boxes and organize food, Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in San Marcos.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANTHONY HIPOLITO

SB 17 hurts drag community within Texas State

By Aili Ortega Opinions Contributor

On June 17, 2023, Gov. Greg Abbot passed Senate Bill 17 (SB 17), which prevents state-funded universities from having diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices.

In addition, the bill prevents universities from having required diversity training and restricts "applicants from [talking] about their commitment to building diverse campuses," according to the Texas Tribune. Sen. Brandon Creighton said DEI programs are politically charged and weaponized.

SB 17 contradicts the core ideals of higher education. Along with the restriction of DEI offices, universities will no longer be able to host events such as the annual Texas State Drag Show due to the language of the bill and its restrictions.

SB 17 states, "The purpose of this subchapter is to prohibit institutions of higher education from requiring or giving preferential consideration for certain ideological oaths or statements that undermine academic freedom."

The legislation restricts public institutions in Texas from organizing or facilitating any activities that specifically reference race, color, ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation. Because of this, the annual drag shows hosted by Texas State must come to a halt.

Lauren Hopkins, an integrated studies junior, had never seen a drag show before attending Texas State. She was introduced to a new community through campus events.

BY QUINN FANTA

"I really liked how diverse it was and how it expands our community [through] people being themselves," Hopkins said.

The drag show served as a vibrant celebration of creative expression and a crucial platform for introducing students to the LGBTQ+ community. Experiencing drag shows for the first time allows students to expand their horizons and engage with communities they may have not encountered otherwise.

Drag encompasses various interpretations, but it generally involves exaggerated performances that defy traditional male or female stereotypes.

Students must learn why their vote is crucial

By Emma Hall Opinions Contributor

Voting has always been expressed as a significant duty for citizens, especially on college campuses. Despite most college students being politically engaged, universities do not do enough to educate students on how crucial their vote is.

The majority of U.S. citizens who attend college are more likely to vote. However, universities often do not prioritize educating students on the importance of voting and the power their vote holds. In college, students are more exposed to opinions outside of what they grew up around, which makes filling out a ballot daunting.

Students at Texas State could benefit by taking courses, such as The American Presidency (PS 3324), that educates them on who and what they are voting for. PS 3324 instructs students about the everyday decisions of the president and the other branches of government that impact the lives of U.S. residents.

When casting a vote, most people base their decisions on the views of each candidate and what they intend to do within their new position, which is why proper education is immensely important.

Michael Faber, a political science professor at Texas State, believes students could understand the impacts of voting through courses such PS 3324.

“The presidency course is a great opportunity to open the eyes of students into more politics,” Faber said. “[The course] gets students to think about [voting] and just pay attention to what is going on.”

Students should learn the power of all levels of government, local to national. Though U.S. government is often a basic course that all students are required to take, knowledge about the inner workings of the U.S. government must go further. Useful information includes the everyday jobs of elected

officials, the different branches of government that maintain democracy and the changes that one community can make.

In addition, Faber said voting is a responsibility U.S. citizens need to take advantage of, as it allows them to be directly involved in the democratic process the U.S. government is based upon.

“It’s about civic responsibility,” Faber said. “Without voting, [democracy] falls apart.”

Faber said students should unquestionably pay attention and participate in politics by voting. Voting makes lasting impacts on society students will continue to live in, even after the president they voted for is out of office.

“Students should care about voting because it matters. It’s getting harder and harder to convince people their votes matter, but you should [vote] because it affects you,” Faber said. “Policy decisions made now are going to affect students for the next 40 and 50 years. The policies made now will have repercussions for the rest of their life.”

Although national politics are given the most attention, local politics have more impact on day-to-day lives than citizens believe. Both state and local politics impact the everyday lives of students in a more obvious way than national. State and city governments draft policies that can create safe, clean and suitable environments for students.

Students should take action to become knowledgeable in government and vote in all elections. Voting has an impact, and whether you believe it or not, your vote matters.

-Emma Hall is a journalism sophomore

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.

Through vibrant costumes, bold makeup and distinctive characters, drag embraces the innate desire for imaginative expression.

Tequila Rose, a prominent drag figure in San Marcos, said she did not know the impact she would make at Texas State. The community she found in San Marcos lit her fire.

"Performing at Texas State is still one of the best things to happen to me during my studies," Tequila Rose said. "Getting to serve as a pillar in the community over the years has been rewarding. Texas State and San Marcos provided me the resources to become who I envisioned after I graduated high school."

Students at Texas State come from many different areas and backgrounds. Upon arriving on campus, many students are weary of drag queens. Introducing new or controversial topics in higher public education allows people to be more open-minded.

–Aili Ortega is a marketing senior

CFP expansion aids small programs nationwide

By Jacob De Luna Opinions Contributor

The College Football Playoff (CFP) expansion from four to 12 teams will bring positive effects to all smaller Division One programs around the country, including Texas State.

The expansion will help smaller Division One football programs because it will create better job security for coaches, programs will see an increased amount of revenue and more winning seasons will be considered “successful."

According to CBS Sports, the total revenue brought in from the four-team CFP in 2022 totaled $600 million and is assumed to double to an estimated $1.2 billion due to the increase of playoff teams from four to 12.

CBS Sports said it would be beneficial to split the last 20% of revenue from the new CFP expansion between each school from the Group of Five conferences (AAC, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West and Sun Belt). Due to the increase in revenue across collegiate football, every school from the Group of Five Conferences, including Texas State, will receive an additional $3.9 million per year.

With this revenue, Texas State and other small D1 universities will have more opportunities to spend on their football programs. They can use additional money for upgrading facilities and increasing coaching salaries.

Despite these projections, the exact increase in revenue for the expansion will not be known until playoffs conclude. However, there is no evidence showing programs will not see the expected increase in revenue from the expansion.

In addition to increased revenue, more football programs will now have better chances of having "successful" seasons. According to Sports Illustrated, rather than a program ending their season on a bowl win or loss, they now get the chance to play in the CFP and

keep their season alive.

Teams with one loss and unproven teams with a weak strength of schedule will now, likely, make the CFP top 12 teams as opposed to missing out on the CFP top four teams prior to the expansion. Bowl winners, unproven teams and one-loss teams now have a better chance to go on and compete for a national championship.

According to CBS Sports, the expansion will also bring better job security to collegiate football coaches like current NCAA basketball coaches have.

NCAA basketball coaches can keep their jobs until they retire, so long as they are maintaining wins. Teams that make the NCAA basketball tournament have banners hanging in their arenas, the majority of them marking that season successful for coaches and athletes.

The CFP expansion has the potential to have the same effect for NCAA football coaches. Leading a team to the CFP should be seen as an incredible achievement. Football coaches who make it to the CFP deserve the same respect basketball coaches receive for making the NCAA tournament.

Every team with a “successful season” will not make the CFP because there will never be enough room for all teams deemed successful. Job security varies from program to program for college football coaches. A coach from a small school will still be on the hot seat if they consistently lose, even if they have led a past season to the College Football Playoff.

Not only will the College Football Playoff expansion help bigger football programs make the final jump toward a championship, but it will also help smaller programs, like Texas State, in many ways. Smaller schools deserve recognition and the CFP expansion is a step in the right direction.

-Jacob De Luna is a journalism sophomore

ILLUSTRATION

ILLUSTRATION BY SHREYANI PULIGAL

Today is National Pokémon Day!

FROM FRONT FOOD

“It was a sub shop the first year and they would do subs in the mornings," Abuhweij said. "After that, we kind of just evolved, and we brought on Chef Nico... With her, we just started making breakfast tacos until 2 p.m. Then we went to doing our lunch tacos, and we expanded and grew little by little. Texas State students embraced us.”

We love this place and appreciate what the town and Texas State students have given us over the years and the good business and support we've gottten.”

Feras Abuhweij General manager of Bobcat Quickie

For nearly 15 years, Bobcat Quickie has worked to cook what caters to the demands of students and downtown commuters, earning themselves a legendary status along the way. Abuhweij credits the honor of "Downtown Legend" to the support he has seen from loyal locals.

“Winning this award has kind of reinforced the hard work we've put into this place," Abuhweij said. "I mean, we're locals... I was a college student... We love this place and appreciate what the town and Texas State students have given us over the years and the good business and support we've gotten.”

What started as a way to get by as a financially burdened college student turned into an outlet for Abuhweij to pour his efforts back into the community. The Bobcat Quickie staff is warmed by the fact that those efforts are given right back.

“To be named a legend in downtown San Marcos is an honor to us,” Abuhweij said. “San Marcos and the university at the time [of

my attendance] was much smaller... In the first couple of years for us the business was barely surviving... but we're just here to serve the students. It's a pleasure for us to do that, and our employees love doing that.”

Many employees have fostered friendships with regulars and are driven by the connections that have been maintained. Night shift Manager Rosie Saucedo is proud of how big of a family she has gained over her eight years of work.

“I think we're the ‘moms and pops’ for most of the students," Saucedo said. "I've been here eight years myself. I've seen two classes graduate over the years. It's fun to see students grow. I always tell the students if you ever feel unsafe [downtown], run here. We're always open. Someone's always here.”

Some students have adopted the taco shop into campus culture, where it has now become a rite of passage to enjoy their food at least once while spending time downtown. Kai Davis, a photography sophomore, said that many Bobcats have their own unique stories when it comes to getting food from Bobcat Quickie.

“I have had a lot of nights that wouldn’t be complete without a Quickie tale,” Davis said. “I have had conversations with people I would have never thought I would meet [there]."

Abuhweij said the restaurant being passed along through word of mouth is a large part of its identity.

“Every year you get a new batch of students that come in that don't know us," Abuhweij said. "We've seen some of the videos and we've seen some of the funny memes that come across about us over the years. We're busy as it is and we still want to focus on our customer service and the quality.”

Texas State puts on international film fest

By Bianca Thomas Life and Arts Contributor

Two courses from the honors college, "Harry Styles and the Cult of the Celebrity: Identity, the Internet and European Pop Culture" and "Iconic Figures of the French-Speaking World," have put together an event titled "Between Fame and Infamy: An International Film Festival, Symposim, and Art Exhibition on Celebrity." The event is currently showing films and art until March 7. It will end with a symposium.

The film festival deals with issues regarding celebrity influencer culture showcasing films about gender and sexuality. Twenty-three films will be shown over three weeks at different locations on campus with free admission for everyone. The event also features an art exhibit which opened on Feb. 19 and ends on March 7.

Louie Dean Valencia, the professor of the Harry Styles course, believes the festival is important to share with students because the films show how people use the internet to shape their own identities.

“What I'm interested in out of this is the films that show the experiences of young people and how they live in the world that demands a lot of them,” Valencia said. “Either from expectations from the inter net or also, what does it mean to try to have power or to use influence?”

Students in these classes were given the task of thinking about what fame meant to them and came up with some of the films that would be showcased throughout the film festival.

There will be lectures and discussions following the films that are shown. The topics of these discussions range from identity to gender and sexuality.

Soren Jespersen, a history senior who has helped out with promotion and publications, said the turnout at the opening for both events was great.

“I was able to see the fruits of everyone's labor come together and see the culmination of the efforts,” Jespersen said. “That's just a really good big payoff to see. All of [our] hard work [coming] to fruition that, and that's a nice feeling.”

Jespersen will also be helping out with the moderation for the discussion on the film "Marie Antoinette" by Sofia Coppola.

“Now is a very critical time for people to be able to ask those kinds of questions critically about their relationship with celebrities,” Jespersen said.

Stephanie Morales, a photography sophomore, who attended the festival on Feb. 23 said it's important for students to attend the festival because the films let students know that they are not alone.

“It just opens up our eyes and gives different perspectives on how we feel about different things,” Morales said.

For more information on the festival visit their Instagram @txstfilmfestival.

Alumnus in MCU's 'Echo' provides hope for students

By Adriana Villanueva Life and Arts Contributor

The success of Dannie McCallum, a performance and production alumnus, landing a role on Marvel’s new show "Echo," has made her an inspiration to some performance and production and art majors at Texas State.

Alissa DeAnda, a performance and production sophomore, believes getting to see someone who studied the same major in a large-scale production serves as a reminder that it's possible to chase your dreams.

"I am inspired by the success of actors, especially actors in close proximity to me," DeAnda said. "Texas State's theatre department produces very talented performers... Seeing a fellow performance and production major be recognized for something so monumental is very inspiring. It gives me hope that I may be able to be a part of something of a similar scale."

First released on Jan. 9, McCallum started filming for the new Marvel show "Echo" in May 2022. She plays an indigenous ancestor of the main character Maya Lopez named Tuklo.

McCallum said that as a minority in the entertainment industry, it is hard to not be labeled as something you are not, including being stereotyped for roles that minority actors and actresses audition for. McCallum has faced this challenge through casting directors themselves, making her feel like she was not enough because she is mixed race.

“The biggest [challenge] I have found in this industry is they want to label you as something or whatever the media has labeled you," McCallum said. "For me specifically I am mixed

race. I'm Indigenous, I'm Mexican, I'm white, and that's something difficult in this industry because they want you to be one thing,” McCallum said. Another student who found inspiration from McCallum’s success, Mariela Renteria, a communication design freshman, believes seeing more minorities in Hollywood is inspiring for students.

“As an art student, her story truly matters to me as someone who identifies as a minority," Renteria said. "Learning about [Dannie McCallum] inspires me to find my true calling by embracing my talents and roots to achieve my goals, and I hope that her influence does the same for other Texas State students as well.”

McCallum found a sense of

belonging in her degree through her professors. A prominent figure and inspiration in McCallum's life is late theatre professor, Jeremy Torres. McCallum describes Torres as someone who wanted to see each actor as a person before seeing them as actors.

"Everything that came out of [Torres'] mouth was so helpful, not only to being a person but to being in the industry," McCallum said. "He wanted to pull the most out of you. He truly cared about each individual student even with their life outside of school and outside of class... He was supportive of everything we ever wanted to do.”

McCallum said although she didn't have the opportunity to audition to be a musical theatre major, she appreciates the importance of actors seeing and being a part of the production side of the entertainment industry as well as students getting the hands-on experience behind the camera.

“Performance and production got me ready for both sides of this industry; you're never just gonna be an actress," McCallum said. "You're gonna deal with stuff like [the Production assistant] crew and rigging. I just hope that other performance and production majors know they are not limited because they didn't get into a certain program or because they didn't get into a certain class."

"Echo" is about the indigenous superhero Maya Lopez, who is being targeted by Wilson Fisk. She then moves to her hometown in Oklahoma, where she must come to terms with her past and reconnect with her Native American roots. "Echo" is available to watch on Disney+.

Director of "Echo" Catriona McKenzie (Left) and Texas State performance and production alumnus Dannie McCallum (Right) and on the set of "Echo," Friday, May 27, 2022.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNIE MCCALLUM

Professor Louie Dean Valencia presents his new book, Harry Styles and the Cult of Celebrity, as part of the film festival, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in Taylor Murphy.

Business management sophomore Andres Castillo receives his food after waiting in line, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, in Bobcat Quickie.

PHOTO BY CARLENE OTTAH

PHOTO BY ROSEY MENDOZA

Baseball loses two, wins one in Round Rock Classic

By James Vaughn Sports Contributor

The Texas State baseball team (4-3) wrapped up its weekend at the Karbach Round Rock Classic at Dell Diamond with a 1-2 record.

The Bobcats seem to carry the mantra “Slam Marcos” wherever they play. Texas State hit three home runs and mashed five doubles across the three games, however, a lack of consistency against left-handed pitching let them down on multiple occasions.

“I look at approach first,” Head Coach Steven Trout said. “We’ve got to get better at getting the ball elevated and hit the ball the other way.”

Texas State struggled against the lefty arms of TCU last Tuesday and continued the trend in losses against Kentucky (6-1), Kansas (3-4) and Washington State's (5-2) lefthanded starter Spencer Jones before turning game three around in the late moments.

Coupled with their southpaw struggles, the Bobcats’ conservative approaches created a frustrating offensive output. On the other hand, things turned around in game three against Washington State.

All weekend it felt like the Bobcats were just missing one big hit, and they got more than just that in their nine-run sixth inning that

sealed their victory against Washington State.

“[It felt like] honestly kind of a sense of relief,” Texas State freshman outfielder Ryne Farber said. “We broke through, we had been on the barrel all weekend.”

Farber, who singled twice with two RBIs in this inning, finished with six RBIs and a .462 average on the weekend. He currently holds a .600 average over 25 plate appearances.

Starting pitchers were a bit lackluster for the Bobcats this weekend as no starter went longer than 2.1 innings and the starting rotation gave up a total of 15 runs.

Texas State to be in upcoming NCAA video game

By Carter Bordwell Sports Reporter

After 11 years, the Electronic Arts (EA) college football video game series is back and the Bobcats will be in it.

Texas State announced via X on Thursday that its football team will be featured in the new NCAA Football video game. The Bobcats were in the latest editions of the game, NCAA College Football 13 and 14, before EA discontinued the series after multiple legal battles between athletes and the NCAA over player compensation.

The teaser trailer published on Feb. 16 revealed the game would be released this upcoming summer, and a full reveal of the game will take place in May.

This will be the 10th time Texas State will be featured in the series overall, having been in NCAA 06 through NCAA 11 as a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program. All 134 FBS programs will be featured in the game, as well including Division I newcomer Kennesaw State University.

The game will feature fan-favorite modes like Dynasty, where players can team up, and Road to Glory, where players tackle from an individual’s perspective. There will also be new features in the game like the transfer portal. Some have suggested that the new game will be built on the same engine that

after a ten-year absence. EA announced they are paying athletes who appear in the game $600 and a copy of the game, valued at $70. EA arrived at this number after comparing compensation to some of its other titles including Madden NFL, NHL and FIFA.

Athletes will have until April 30 to opt into the game through Learfield’s Compass NIL app as OneTeam Partners will handle the licensing for the game. EA will select 85 players per roster. Athletes who choose to opt out of the game will receive a generic avatar and will not be compensated.

While initially there were concerns that many players would hold out in attempts to gain higher compensation from EA, that no longer appears to be the case, as player participation so far has been tremendous. VP of Global Marketing for EA, Jon Reseburg, announced on Thursday per his X account that 5,000 players have already opted in.

There have already been a handful of players who have revealed their appearance in the game including University of Colorado defensive back and wide receiver Travis Hunter, Louisiana State University quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and the University of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Players will also get the chance to make even more money as EA will offer over 100 NIL opportunities that include promoting the game through social media, on-campus promotion and advertisements.

By Jacob De Luna Sports Contributor

Graduate student sprinter Daniel Harrold lives in the Bobcat track and field record books. Already owning the Texas State and Sun Belt Conference records in the 60-meter hurdle with a time of 7.63 seconds, Harrold set a new record of 7.62 seconds at the 2024 Sun Belt Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.

According to Harrold, his love and passion for track came from opportunity. After competing, though, he started noticing how much more complete the sport made him.

“I’d say fate really led me [to] an opportunity to run track and I fell in love with it from there," Harrold said. "I love the fact that it’s about bettering yourself and creating opportunities when they present themselves."

Although Harrold’s records are extensive, only his coaches and teammates understand what dedication it takes to be a successful student as well as a track star.

According to Texas State Assistant Track and Field Coach Trent Edgerton, Harrold has a great character and work ethic and pays close attention to detail.

“Daniel is a great person off the track," Edgerton said. "Truly a leader, very well-spoken, and is somebody who really wants it. He works hard on and off the track, he takes care of himself and his body, and does all the little things right.”

Edgerton said Harrold’s competitive spirit sets him apart from others, and it’s something that certain people naturally have.

“That's exactly what he is, a true competitor,” Edgerton said. “That’s something you can’t make in somebody… it’s something you either have or you don’t and Daniel has it.”

Madden NFL uses.

With the addition of name, image and likeness (NIL) rules in collegiate sports, players can now make money off their names, allowing the series to return

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Ryne Farber

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PHOTO BY MEG BOLES

COMIC BY QUINN FANTA