PAGE 2
TUESDAY
TEXAS STATE MAKES A SPLASH AT
RIVER FEST ‘25
By Diego Medel and Hope Jimenez Engagement Editor & News Contributor
“I’ve done thousands of shows over the past 10 years,” Mike Posner said, looking out over the crowd gathered at Sewell Park. “And I truly believe they were all for this moment. Right now.”
Moments like these defined River Fest 2025, an evening of music, mud and motion at Texas State’s beloved Sewell Park. The festival brought out thousands of students for a day by the San Marcos River, filled with live performances, food trucks, floating crowds and sun-drenched activities spread across the park.
International students face immigration, visa changes
By Ryan Claycamp Assistant News Editor
Editor’s Note: The international student who spoke with The Star was granted anonymity due to concerns about their legal status.
Two Texas State students had their immigration statuses changed revocations of visas and legal status for international students across Texas.
On April 11, Jayme Blaschke, a university spokesperson, confirmed in an email to The Star that two students were notified that there was a change in their immigration status and Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) status.
“To protect student privacy, we are not sharing individual details,” Blaschke wrote in his email. “However, we are assisting the affected students by connecting them with appropriate resources. TXST is committed to supporting our international students while complying with all state and federal laws.”
When asked to clarify what resources would be provided, the university reaffirmed their previous statement, but did not provide additional details.
Airbrush tattoos buzzed beside booths selling thrifted tees, bags and refreshments. Students lounged on blankets across the lawn, floated in kayaks and waded knee-deep in the San Marcos River while DJs spun remixes on the stage.
Somewhere between the euro bungee, the caricature station and the lines for tacos, River Fest created an atmosphere that felt less like a concert and more like a campus-wide block party.
“I love being out in the sun, and I got to get in for free,” Cayden Potter, a first-year transfer student volunteering at the event, said. “I really think this is cool.”
For many, the riverside setting
added to the experience.
“There were people swimming and people in kayaks watching it,” Nora Parkhurst, an English junior attending her first River Fest, said. “Honestly, I thought having it by the river made it more fun.”
Beyond the crowd, local vendors added another layer to the event. From student organizations fundraising for philanthropy to small business owners selling handmade goods, the park transformed into a temporary marketplace.
3
KATE MADDISON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
(Top Left) Journalism junior Maci Gambrell reacts as she notices her friends on the other side of the river at River Fest in Sewell Park, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in San Marcos.
NATHAN MOYA | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
(Top Right) Loud Luxury takes the stage during River Fest at Sewell Park, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in San Marcos.
DIEGO MEDEL | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
(Bottom) Students wave their hands to the left during DJ and producer ACRAZE’s set at River Fest 2025 in Sewell Park, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in San Marcos.
Bobcat Pride Scholarship Fund marks 15 years of advocacy, love for community
By Cady Clements Life and Art Contributor
Sounds of laughter and joy filled Wake the Dead Coffee House on Saturday afternoon as the San Marcos community celebrated the continuous support of LGBTQ+ residents in Hays County.
The Bobcat Pride Scholarship Fund (BPSF) is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that dedicates itself to the LGBTQ+ residents of San Marcos.
On April 12, BPSF reflected on 15 years of supporting LGBTQ+ residents with the theme ‘Love Will Keep Us Together.’ Speakers at the event said the theme was chosen for its powerful resonance with the community, reflecting the spirit of inclusivity and unity that defined the organization’s mission for the past 15 years.
Todd Papke, BPSF’s marketing director and Texas State alumnus, said the organization experienced many
changes over the years.
“It’s amazing that [BPSF] is still going after so long,” Papke said. “There are a lot of things that can trip up a nonprofit organization like this.”
For its 15th birthday bash, the BPSF held a silent auction and hosted live music by Vic Cole. Heather Aidala, BPSF executive director, said her favorite part of the day was seeing a community committed to getting involved and supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
“It just brings a lot of joy to be able to be in community, especially in such a time that can be so distressful,” Aidala said.
BPSF provides two types of scholarships for LGBTQ+ residents: the Jeremy O Torres Emergency Stabilization Fund and the Victor Saldivar Academic Scholarship.
ALLISON DRINNON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Bobcat Pride Scholarship Fund (BPSF) staff member Morgan Bennett (Right) and Simeon Kalvin (Left) dance together at the BSF 15th Anniversary Celebration, Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Wake the Dead Coffee House.
Blood splatter and bodies
local theater crew’s use of special effects
By Trae Solis Life and Arts Contributor
Squirmy special effects told a story of grief and growing up in The Broke Thespians Theatre Company’s slasher comedy “Hookman.”
The play followed Lexi, a college freshman who lost her best friend in a car accident. Soon after, she is plagued by a hook-handed killer. Taking from the world of slasher movies, the story is about “growing up in the face of grief” according to Director Miranda E. Martinez.
“I feel like everybody experiences grief in different ways,” Martinez said. “Even just moving on to a college campus, you have to experience grief from your own previous high school life, and you have to become a whole new person. And you lose family and friends just because you’re growing up.”
Written by Lauren Yee and produced by The Broke Thespians Theatre Company for its 2025 season, the troupe performed “Hookman” on March 28-30 and April 4-6 at the Maurice T. Suttles VFW Post 3413.
The production had many special effects. The cast and ensemble used blood packs for smaller bursts and concealed blood rigs for continuous spurts with strategic gory intent. The actors first practiced by popping water packs, but used two types of fake blood during the performance.
“We have a standard stage blood, and then we have a food-safe, face, mouth and good-to-eat blood,” Martinez said. “We have a few moments [during the play] where chorus members pop the blood packs with their mouths, so we have a cocoa powder corn syrup blood mixture.”
Hailey Heitmeyer, theatre education junior, played the character Yoonji. She said it took a few tries for the special effects crew to get the blood mixture right for rehearsals and the performance.
“We had to figure out the right consistency not only for the blood to look realistic but also so that our eyelids didn’t get glued,” Heitmeyer said. “Once [the first mixture] got on my face and it dried just a little bit, my eyelids got stuck open, and I could barely blink.”
James Vasquez, communication studies freshman and a chorus member, claimed the most difficult aspect of the fake blood came after the play.
“I didn’t know it was so hard to get fake blood
FROM FRONT COMMUNITY
The Jeremy O Torres Emergency Stabilization Fund application is open 24/7 and is open to Hays County LGBTQ+ individuals between the ages of 18–25 who face an unexpected financial crisis. At its birthday party, BPSF announced this award will change from a one-time $300 award to a one-time $400 award to better serve the LGBTQ+ community.
The Victor Saldivar Academic Scholarship opened on April 14 and runs for a month. This scholarship assists in post-secondary education costs for LGBTQ+ students in Hays County. The scholarship will be awarded to three students for up to $1,000.
Papke said BPSF’s goal of the afternoon was to raise money for 15 emergency funds for its 15th anniversary.
“I think the number of applications we see alone is telling that
out of this dang floor,” Vasquez said. “On the first night we had blood, we didn’t know how to clean it. We had one Swiffer, and everyone was getting on their hands and knees with Swiffer pads at first. But now we have 3 mops, so that’s something we have improved at.”
The play’s chorus, an ensemble of background actors, was another special effect. They formed the background of scenes themselves. Martinez said their roles ranged from the beeps, bumps and every crash of a car to a table and windows.
“It was a day I couldn’t go to rehearsal, and so I came back one rehearsal late,” Vasquez said. “They just told me, ‘Hey, guess what? You’re a table.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, OK.’ It was like something I just got thrown into. And that’s part of the gig, you just had to take some of this stuff.”
According to Martinez, the effects, set and choreography convey the experience of the main character.
“This show is really heavy about grief and
the need is out there,” Papke said.
BPSF saw an increase in Emergency Stabilization recipients from past years now into the 70s. It also saw the addition of an academic scholarship last year. BPSF grew substantially in recent years and was proud to serve a larger amount of people.
BPSF brought in Levi Gaines, a past recipient of the Victor Saldivar Academic Scholarship, who echoed the afternoon’s theme. In his speech, he said the best part of the scholarship was knowing there were people who could help financially and a community that wants to make a difference for LGBTQ+ community members.
BPSF saw a caring community at its 15th birthday party who were willing to talk, laugh and share some extra love with those in the LGBTQ+ community who needed it. Aidala shared
Editor-in-Chief: Marisa Nuñez stareditor@txstate.edu
how overwhelming it was that this scholarship fund grew into what it is with the help of an inclusive community that is invested in the support and success of LGBTQ+ community members.
Esteban Puzon, accounting sophomore, attended the 15th birthday party and said the people and environment at BPSF were accepting and uplifting beyond what he had hoped. He initially attended the event for a friend and quickly realized he wanted to be a part of the love and support that BPSF offered.
“This isn’t to say in any way that San Marcos hasn’t been welcoming, but there’s just a sense of security here,” Puzon said.
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how that distills in Lexi’s reality,” Martinez said. “I wanted to be able to be able to destroy and construct the world at will to show what’s happening in her brain.”
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ALLISON DRINNON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Vic Cole sings and plays the guitar during the Bobcat Pride Scholarship Fund’s 15th Anniversary Celebration, Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Wake the Dead Coffee House.
ALLISON DRINNON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER Hookman’s molds of Hailey Heitmeyer’s face for her character Yoonji, Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Maurice T. Suttles VFW Post 3413.
ALLISON DRINNON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Lexi, played by Brenda Salas (Center), accepts a flyer from Chloe, played by Meridian Parham (Right), while comforting her dead friend Yoonji, played by Hailey Heitmeyer (Left) during the play Hookman, Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Maurice T. Suttles VFW Post 3413. Yoonji dies by having her face torn off by the Hookman killer.
LIFE & ARTS
FROM FRONT EVENT
“We definitely felt the love,” Cooper Philpot, owner of @Thriftedfuego on Instagram, one of the many small businesses set up at the fest said. “The Texas State crowd was definitely there to have a good time and meet new people while enjoying a little time away from school. When Mike Posner came on, you could see the swarm of people working their way to the stage.”
Delta Gamma, one of the sororities tabling during the fest, turned their booth into a pop-up drink stand, donating all proceeds to their national philanthropy.
“Delta Gamma is raising money for our philanthropy week. River fest lands right in the middle of it, so we reached out to get a spot,” Kelly Tran, member of Delta Gamma said. “I think a lot of the students here at Texas State are very, great and giving, so we’ve just been explaining that all proceeds will go to our philanthropy.”
As the sun began to set, the crowd grew near the stage, buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming performers.. By the time Staten Island based DJ, ACRAZE dropped his remix of “Do It to It,” students had filled the lawn, the river, and every stretch of shade left in the park.
“The vibes are incredible,” ACRAZE said “I’m looking at a river. I’m looking at a school. What? This is crazy.”
He’s performed at over a dozen universities—but gave Texas State’s crowd “about an 8 out of 10.” Not bad for “fresh meat,” he joked.
The night reached its peak with Mike Posner, whose mix of hits like “Cooler Than Me” and “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” alongside acoustic ballads brought the crowd together. With arms around shoulders, phones swaying in the dark, the crowd sang away his set with a cover of ‘Lean on Me.’ With the lights of campus glowing across the water, it felt less like a festival and more like a moment.
As the final notes of the evening faded and students began to disperse, President Kelly Damphousse stood among the crowd, sharing in the communal joy of the festival.
“The kids are really liking it. Everyone is really happy, which is really good. I think it’s such a fun concert and gives people the chance to relax a little bit, have some fun before finals week, and what a great setting for it too” Damphousse said.
Damphousse has been a strong advocate for student-led initiatives. He recalled the revival of River Fest, stating, “Last year was the first time we did it in a long time. So they came and said, ‘Can we do it again?’ And I said, ‘Yeah.’”
With the sun setting over Sewell Park and the echoes of music still lingering, River Fest 2025 concluded not just as a day of entertainment but as a testament to the vibrant community spirit that defines Texas State University.
The vibes are incredible, I’m looking at a river. I’m looking at a school. What? This is crazy.”
ACRAZE, performer at River Fest
DESIGN BY MEG BOLES
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.
By Shar Kiefer Opinion Contributor
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is a proposed congressional bill that would disenfranchise over 100 million Americans from voting. On April 10, the bill passed in the House.
Aimed at preventing undocumented immigrants from voting, SAVE will also target young voters due to extraneous voting registration requirements. The notion of undocumented immigrants voting has existed for years, but there are very few verified cases.
Valid forms of ID under the bill that “prove citizenship” would now be limited to a passport and birth certificate as the bill aims to remove driver’s licenses as a valid form of ID. American Progress states over 140 million people don’t have a valid passport and not all students have easy access to their birth certificate. Limiting IDs to passports and birth certificates makes voting increasingly selective and inaccessible to young voters.
Madelyn Byers, president of Supporting Women in Political Science (SWIPS), said drivers licenses are the most accessible for students when registering to vote.
“A lot of people have drivers licenses and that’s one of the easiest forms of identification because not everybody brings their passport around,” Byers said. “Not everybody has a passport and student IDs are not applicable to use when voting.” SAVE would also require voter registration to be entirely in person, as all voters would need to prove citizenship and have their identification items checked. Hays County registered 174,668 voters in the 2024 election cycle, according to the Secretary
of State. Students make up a large portion of these voters, meaning those who don’t have a passport or access to their birth certificate would no longer be able to register and cast their vote. The U.S. Census found 49.1% of people aged 18-24 registered to vote in the 2022 election.
This already imposes major concerns since two Texas State students had their immigration statuses changed by the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) program on April 11.
Texas State encourages students to vote, causing students to make up a large portion of voter registration in Hays County. Nearly 50% of Hays County voted in past elections partially due to Texas State’s planned registration events.
Minority voters will be most affected by this bill. Because Texas State is a Hispanic Serving Institution, many students are especially at risk of these proposed changes. Byers said imposing an act like SAVE could lower the turnout among young voters due to the bill’s targets on race, gender and ethnicity.
“Young voters make up a large percentage of our presidential elections. Although turnout is lower during midterms, younger voters are still essential in creating these new policies and electing new politicians,” Byers said. “It is our right to vote and just because people are of a different ethnicity, gender or race, does not mean they should be targeted for going to vote.”
Voting is an American right, and disallowing eligible voters defeats its purpose and undermines the vital voice of young voters.
-Shar Kiefer is a political science freshman
Attacks on international students cannot be ignored SAVE Act won’t save voters from losing their voice
The Main Point is an opinion written by The University Star’s Editorial Board. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of our entire publication.
By Editorial Board
Editors Note: The international student who spoke with The Star was granted anonymity due to concerns about their legal status.
International students are now being punished for utilizing the rights they have been promised.
“The first thing you get when you get your visa approved in the embassy is the [a Know Your Rights document],” a Texas State international student said. “The first thing is freedom of speech, and now just to turn around for this to happen is a slap in the [expletive] face.”
The Know Your Rights document outlines rights for international students such as free speech and freedom of expression.
On April 11, Texas State University confirmed two students had their immigration statuses changed. Over 1,500 international students from 93 countries were enrolled at Texas State this fall.
Jayme Blaschke, a university spokesperson, said in an email to The University Star, “TXST is committed to supporting our international students while complying with all state and federal laws.”
The federal government and the current White House administration are solely responsible for this issue. Texas State prides itself on its diverse campus and international students, and we hope it will continue to aid and protect students.
Texas State is not the only university with international students affected by these visa changes. According to Inside Higher Ed, over 170 colleges and universities across the country have identified students whose visa statuses were changed as of April 14.
In Texas, 15 institutions have identified students with visa changes.
International students are the backbone of many universities and targeting them is aimless. According to NAFSA, international students contributed $43.8
billion to the U.S. economy during the 2023-24 year.
In the same email from Blaschke, he stated both affected students were notified of a change in their immigration and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) status. According to The Texas Tribune, visa revocations prevent re-entry into the U.S. but do not have as immediate an effect as SEVIS removals. Removing students from SEVIS creates a more difficult appeal process.
Currently, the only resource listed on the Texas State International Student and Scholar Services website is the “ImmigrationCases.org,” website. The “immigration law” section on the Attorney for Students website is under construction.
Blaschke stated the university was connecting the affected students with “appropriate resources.” However, when asked for clarification Texas State reaffirmed its general statement on assisting impacted students but did not provide additional details.
The Department of Homeland Security said in an April 9 statement it would begin “screening” international students’ social media accounts for supposed antisemitic content.
“I’ve been very aware of what I’m posting on social media,” the international student said. “At the same time, I still continue to post because I feel like every time I [censor myself] it’s a win for them.”
Providing educational resources to international students should be among Texas State’s top priorities. Many international students are unaware of how the U.S. legal system operates. When visas are revoked or SEVIS statuses change, these students are left stranded with no knowledge of what to do next.
The international student said they are fearful of what steps to take.
“Do I reach out? Do I mobilize? Do I ask if people are doing okay, or does that also put me in a dangerous spot?” they said. “I’m becoming paranoid. I think every move I make is incriminating me.”
While Texas State may not be able to fight off the
Letter to the Editor
The University Star welcomes letters from our readers. Letters must be 300 words or fewer to be considered for publication. Writers must include their full name, mailing address, major and academic year designation (for students), phone number and e-mail address when submitting a letter. Submissions that do not include this information cannot be published. This information is seen only by the editors and is used to verify the identify of the letter writer. It is not used for any commercial purpose. Letters become the property of The Star and may be republished in any
federal government without fear of losing funding for the university as a whole, the administration should still strive to protect its students in every way possible. By providing legal services, proactive communication and clear protocols, Texas State would show the care it has for its students.
The U.S. government wants international students in the classroom, but not at the protests, not in the press and definitely not with an opinion. They’re welcome to fill seats in lecture halls, but the moment they use their voices to disagree, their presence becomes a problem.
At Texas State, the university says it’s building a campus where international students are not only included but heard. Where their perspectives are valued, not penalized. But what does that mean when federal agencies are detaining students, revoking visas, and sending the message that silence is safer than speech?
TXST can offer space and solidarity, but right now, the federal government is taking that space away.
“It’s going to reach a point where international students and non-citizens are not going to be the only ones affected,” the international student said. “Today it’s international and permanent residents. Tomorrow it’s going to be you.”
format. The letter may be edited for length and clarity. An editor will contact the letter writer if their letter is a candidate for publication. The Star will not run letters that are potentially libelous, discriminatory, obscene, threatening or promotional in nature.
Letters can be submitted to staropinion@txstate.edu or by mail to Attn: Opinion Editor, The University Star, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666.
SOPHIA GERKE | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
NOVA FEST
TRACK & FIELD
Drew Donley: The best of both worlds
By Luke Landa Sports Reporter
Drew Donley is a multi-sport athlete as he is a sprinter for the Texas State track team and a wide receiver for the Bobcat football team.
“Football players don’t really have a fear, they just go out and do, and [Donley] has brought that same mentality to the track,” Texas State assistant coach Aries Meritt said. “He always gives God the praise before he gets on the line and even when he crosses the line, he always glorifies God.”
In his first year of collegiate track, Donley has made national headlines this season. After the first outdoor meet, Donley ranked first in the NCAA top 10 rankings in the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.59 seconds.
His high-level performance doesn’t stop there. He also ranked in the top 35 in the 100-meter dash, with a time of 10.22 at the Bobcat Invitational.
FOOTBALL
Donley is the only male Bobcat to earn both an indoor and outdoor weekly Sun Belt Conference award. The indoor award was for his fourth-place finish in the 60m with a time of 6.77 and 10th-place finish in the 200m with a time of 21.51 at the Ted Nelson Invitational. The outdoor award came after the Charles Austin Classic, where Donley won the 200m with the aforementioned blistering time of 20.59. But Donley did not stop there; he was also part of the 4x100m relay team that finished first at the event.
Daniel Harrold, Donley’s teammate
and fellow 4x100 meter running mate, attributes a lot of Donley’s success to his work ethic.
Right after football season ended, track season began for Donley. There was little to no time to rest for Donley, who also takes college courses.
“It’s a lot of just time management stuff, having to wake up early and make time for homework and my bible,” Donley said. “It’s a big time commitment for sure.”
“A lot of people do not know the work everyone puts in, especially Drew coming off of football season and onto the track team, he has put in an immense amount of work on the track to get to where he is now,” Harrold said. “It’s gonna carry him throughout the rest of the season. He’s already one of the top guys in the conference, so he’s definitely about to shake some stuff up at Texas State and in the nation”.
Whether reading his Bible or glorifying God before the race, Donley credits his faith for his success.
”[Faith is] the biggest thing for me. Before my relationship with God, everything was performance-based. Once I gave my life to Christ, it showed me that the track time or football time does not define me,” Donley said. If I get first in the NCAA or if I get 100th, it doesn’t change who I am as a person.”
Donley and the Bobcats track and field team have a couple of meets coming up soon. The Bryan Clay Invitational (April 16-18), MT Sac
Drew Donley Sprinter
Height: 6’2”
Class: Senior Major: Integrated Studies
Hometown: Frisco, Texas High School: Lebanon Trail Career Accolades: - 13 REC, 234 receiving yards & 2 touchdowns as a Bobcat - Fastest 100m Dash in TXST
History - SBC Athlete of the Week (March 27)
-No.15 in NCAA for 200m Dash
Relays (April 17-19), Pacific Coast Invitational (April 17), Long Beach Invitational (April 18-19) and Michael Johnson invite (April 18-19). It is unknown at the moment which one Donley will be competing in.
TXST gears up for season with annual spring game
By Kendall Berry Sports Reporter
The Texas State football program’s annual spring game was held on April 12 inside UFCU Stadium, with what appeared to be an almost entirely new squad on the field.
Spring games not only informs coaches and fans the progress of the offseason but gives them a chance to see what players work on the field. This is especially important for Texas State, which has several key players not returning for this season.
“We had so many new faces, we wanted [to] baby step these guys a little bit and bring them on slowly,” Texas State head coach G.J. Kinne said. “We couldn’t even go redzone, we don’t have one goal line play, these guys don’t know one goal line play [or] one redzone play. It’s base football, it’s been evaluating mode, it’s been competing, we want these guys to know what they’re doing out there.”
The spring game gave Texas State’s quarterbacks a chance to showcase their skills, as there hasn’t been any official announcement on who will earn the starting role.
Three new quarterbacks arrived in San Marcos during the offseason to compete for the starting quarterback job at Texas State.
The three quarterbacks did have a chance to play in the spring showcase where they all had opportunity to display their skills. Brad Jackson the only returned Bobcat from last season did get on the field first to showcase his abilities. Holden Geriner, Gevani McCoy and Nate Yarnell did get playing time but nothing is set in stone with who will be the starter.
With the most experience and stats recorded, McCoy came to San Marcos after transferring from Oregon State. He finished the season with 1,300 passing yards on 123 completions. McCoy started his college career in Idaho, throwing for over 5,000 yards in three seasons.
A memorable game from McCoy’s last season with the Beavers came against San Diego State, where he finished with 181 passing yards on 16 completions, passing for a touchdown with zero interceptions. McCoy has experience going against ranked opponents, where his team took on thenNo. 9 Oregon and No. 11 Boise State and lost both games.
“This offense is very explosive and that’s very exciting for a QB,” McCoy said. “So just [I have] to learn from my mistakes and keep going forward.”
Yarnell, who has played his entire college career at Pittsburgh, is the second most experienced collegiate quarterback on the team. Yarnell, a six-foot-six and 215-pound quarterback, also has experience against ranked opponents. Playing well in both games against ranked teams, Yarnell has something the other quarterbacks do not have: height.
Against Clemson on November 16, 2024, Yarnell completed 34 passes on 54 attempts, racking up 350 passing yards with one touchdown and one INT in a four-point loss.
“I’ve been in four offenses in college, I’ve been in pro style, I’ve played in spread and this is the offense I wanted to be in, this is why I’m here,”
Yarnell said in a spring practice press conference.
“I know coach Keopple can call these plays and get it done, coach Kinne has built a fantastic culture and we’re going to score points and that’s why I came here.”
Geriner is a six-footthree-inch quarterback who formerly played for the Auburn Tigers. He has only completed nine passing attempts in his collegiate career, making him the most inexperienced transfer.
The only returning quarterback from last season is Jackson. He showed flashes on the ground with his running abilities last season, where he gave the team an extra boost on offense. In his first year with the team, Jackson rushed for 164 yards on 22 carries, where he scored four touchdowns and averaged 7.5 yards per carry. Jackson is the only quarterback in the QB room
with experience in an offense led by Kinne.
“I know what we’re trying to do here at Texas State, you know, eight [wins], five [losses], and winning the first two responders bowl two years in a row is great,” Jackson said. “For us our expectation is we want to win a Sun Belt Championship and have a shot to go to the College Football Playoffs.”
With a new offensive coordinator and three different quarterbacks on the depth chart, it’s going to take some time before fans find out this team’s true identity. The team is at the stage now to evaluate the spring game, look over the film and dissect the rights and wrongs from there.
One intriguing aspect for the season is how well the running back and safety rooms looked, according to Kinne. This is important to note after the departures of former star running back Ismail Mahdi and safety Tory Spears this offseason.
Although there are no full answers on who gets the starting jobs for many positions, it’s safe to take away that this team understands what they lost in the offseason and the adjustments that must be made in order to have another successful season like the past two.
“Hopefully we don’t lose any surprises and are able to keep the core guys together because I do think we got a special team with a real special group,” Kinne said. “I think they’re coming together at the right time. I’m really excited about this team, but as always, we’re always going to evaluate the situation, watch the film [and] have personal meetings.”
KRISTEN HADNOT | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Senior sprinter Drew Donley, Friday, March 28, 2025, at the Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos, Texas at the Bobcat Track and Field Complex
NATHAN MOYA | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Senior quarterback Gevani McCoy drops back to pass during drills at spring football game, Saturday, April 12, 2025, at UFCU Stadium.
City makes workforce training accessible for community
By Meg Boles News Contributor
San Marcos is opening a new trades training center inside city hall to help meet rising demand for skilled labor across the region.
The center, launched in partnership with Austin Community College (ACC), replaces last year’s pilot heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) training program at the public library. The space was previously used by San Marcos’ fleet division, which relocated to the Public Services Center on McCarty Lane.
With expanded space at the East Hopkins Street facility, the city will now offer courses in welding, plumbing and automotive maintenance, careers that don’t require a four-year degree but do require hands-on skills.
“This expanded workforce training space allows [the city of San Marcos] to provide additional access to courses teaching skills that will help our residents secure meaningful employment and meet the needs of our local businesses,” Hayden Migl, the city’s director of administrative services said at the March 25 ribbon cutting.
That demand is not unique to San Marcos. According
building
to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report, 80% of U.S. localities report having trouble finding workers for trade positions like welders and mechanics. These aren’t jobs young people are unwilling to pursue; the problem, the report found, is often a mismatch between training programs and actual employer needs. ACC builds its workforce courses around input from nearly 100 local business partners.
Dean of ACC’s Continuing Education Donald Tracy said the strategy is
FROM FRONT GOVERNMENT
The change comes as part of a nationwide crackdown on what the Trump Administration defines as “antisemitism.” According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the administration is revoking visas and immigration status based on activity at pro-Palestinian or anti-Israeli protests, posts on social media or online.
“If you come to this country as a student, we expect you to go this class, study and get a degree. If you come here to vandalize a library, takeover a campus and do all kinds of crazy things, we’re going to get rid of these people,” Rubio said in Oval Office cabinet meeting. “When we identify lunatics like these, we take away their student visa. No one is entitled to a student visa.”
The revocations of visas and immigration status are being done with no advanced notice to universities or the students affected. In an email to The Star on April 10, Mike Wintemute, vice chancellor for marketing and communications for the Texas State University System, said he was unaware of any communications with the federal government.
A Texas State international student said that when they first got their student visa they were given a ‘Know Your Rights’ document, which outlines international students’ rights including free speech and expression.
simple: ask employers what skills they need, then teach those skills.
“We do a lot of listening to employers and others around the community and what the needs are,” Tracy said. “Right now, we’re seeing a huge demand for the skilled trades [in Central Texas], and so those are the very types of programs we’re going to be bringing, initially, into the community through this center.”
The center is also designed to be accessible, which ACC is doing by
partnering with Community Action Inc. of Central Texas to help cover course fees for eligible students, removing a key barrier to entry for lowerincome residents.
“I can’t understand a better way to move people out of poverty than to offer classes that help people get an industry recognized credential that ultimately lead to a job that is in demand, that’s in our area,” Doug Mudd, executive director of Community Action Inc. said.
For local officials and educators, the training center
a human rights and animal protection organization in Palestine. She said that recent experiences of traveling back to the U.S. from the U.K. and the student visas being revoked remind her of the difficulties traveling between Palestine and Israel.
Tyson said she feels it is ironic that this is happening in America, the “land of the free.” She said she doesn’t believe supporters of policies like the visa revocations actually support free speech.
“Nobody really wants freedom of speech. They want to be able to say whatever they want with impunity and then impact other people by doing terrible things like deporting them when they’re here legally, it’s just appalling,” Tyson said.
Lazarus Vasquez, English senior at Texas State, said the university needs to do more to protect students, especially international students.
“We are what keeps the university alive. We are the blood of the university, and they treat us like we’re not important,” Vasquez said.
I’m not thinking about ‘what if this happens to me?’ I am thinking,‘when is it my turn?’ ”
Vasquez said they recognized the university was in a difficult situation, as federal funding could be cut if it did not comply with the administration’s demands. This has already happened to Columbia University, which lost $400 million in federal funding due to perceived failings to address antisemitism.
TXST international student
“Just to turn around for this to happen is like a slap in the [expletive] face, like it’s just stupid,” the international student said.
They also said that they have heard no communication from the university about available resources or legal aid.
“Not that they’ve made explicit enough to where I can see it or I could confirm it. And I’m a very annoying person, like I go through my emails every morning,” the international student said.
The student said they feel like they have doubts about whether they will make it to graduation, or even to the end of the semester.
“I’m not thinking about ‘what if this happens to me?’ I am thinking, ‘when is it my turn?’ Because I think at this point, we’ve seen that it can happen anywhere,” the international student said. “Going as far as, what happens if I break my lease because I’m getting deported? What happens to the money that I have in my bank account here?”
On Sunday, April 13, members of the local community gathered outside of San Marcos City Hall for Palestine Solidarity SMTX’s “San Marcos Stands Against Genocide” protest. The protest was mostly focused on the boycott, divest, sanction movement, but also discussed the recent changes to student visa and SEVIS.
Liz Tyson, community member and immigrant from the United Kingdom, previously worked for
is as much about economic development as it is about education. Texas State professor Felix Quayson, who studies workforce development, said centers like these help build the labor pool that attracts bigger employers.
“Workforce centers really serve as the portal… that will attract major companies and major talents across the country … to come to San Marcos to also help develop the regional economy,” Quayson said. “[Workforce Centers] end up creating pipelines, work pipelines they end up …overhauling the whole community.”
ACC and the city plan to continue expanding course offerings based on community needs and employer input. The HVAC program is already enrolling students, and other trades programs are expected to follow soon.
“Partnerships help us to connect with students that maybe don’t initially see the college as a resource for them, and gives us a chance to connect with them and support them in their learning needs,” Tracy said. “Partners help us with facilities like the city of San Marcos is doing now, which helps us to get out into the community where [the] people are.”
Scott Cove, an organizer with Palestine Solidarity SMTX, said Sunday’s protest was partially motivated by his desire to show support for international students.
“It’s important for us to put our footsteps down now for the international students [and say] this is unacceptable,” Cove said. “They have the protections of our Constitution. If they’re in our country and they’re visitors here, they should be protected.”
Cove said Texas State and city council should be making more efforts to uphold the constitution and individual rights in the city and on campus.
“They should be paying for lawyers to actually make a case about our Constitution and how this is an attack on our Constitution. And they shouldn’t just bend over and tell the executive, whatever they say goes, that’s not how our country works,” Cove said. “I hope the university and our city hall can work together and come out and say that they believe in the Constitution and protecting students at our local population from oppression.”
Cove said he was worried that international students could be only the first target of the administration, with other students and activists eventually facing punishment as well.
“First they came for the communists, and then they came for the trade unionists, and then they came for the socialists, and then they came for the Jews,” Cove said, referencing the “First They Came” poem by Martin Niemöller, a poem about the German public’s silent complicity in the actions of Nazi Germany.
MEG BOLES | ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
The
that will house San Marcos’ workforce training facility sits on 630 East Hopkins St., Sunday, April 13, 2025 in the City Hall Complex. The building formerly housed the city fleet division.
ROBIN BRIN | WEB EDITOR
A protester holds a sign at Palestine Solidarity SMTX‘s “San Marcos Stands against Genocide” protest, Sunday, April 13, 2025, at the San Marcos City Hall. The movement advocates for a ceasefire resolution in city council.
LUCCIANA CHOUEIRY | NEWS EDITOR
THIS WEEK IN SMTX
SuniiRae Clown juggles three colorful balls during the first annual Glurpo Fest, Sunday, April 13, 2025, at Triple Six Social. Glurpo Fest celebrated clown culture with local clowns, music, face painting and more.
Local bluegrass musician plays the upright bass during bluegrass night, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Tantra Coffeehouse in San Marcos. Tantra hosts bluegrass night every Wednesday.
ALLISON DRINNON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
ALLISON DRINNON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
KATHERINE REA | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Batty the Clown (Left) and Molly J. Clown (Right) perform a magic trick during the first annual Glurpo Fest, Sunday, April 13, 2025, at Triple Six Social. Glurpo Fest included a talent show for clowns to show off fun skills.
Studio art senior Camille Smith trims her newest piece of art in her garage during the third annual Studio Tour, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in San Marcos.
ALLISON DRINNON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Jeremy Sandoval paints a black nose tip on Oscar Castaneda with eyeliner during the first annual Glurpo Fest, Sunday, April 13, 2025, at Triple Six Social. Sandoval was selling his makeup line, Bloody Blush, which is named after his drag persona.
KATHERINE REA | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
ALLISON DRINNON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Jeff Hindman and his daughter Jules draw on the sidewalk with chalk during the San Marcos Art Fest Chalk Walk, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in downtown San Marcos. The San Marcos Art League hosted the Chalk Walk.