“WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT OUR SAFETY”
Black students speak out on racism after video
By Blake Leschber Editor-in-Chief
After a video of a student
“mocking” Charlie Kirk’s death was posted by Gov. Greg Abbott, Black organizations at Texas State are experiencing an increased amount of racial threats.
NAACP at Texas State released a statement on Sept. 18, discussing the threats that Black students have faced since the Kirk memorial and
the aftermath of the video shared by Abbott. Sean Harris, president and CEO of NAACP, said after the post from Abbott, Black student organizations at Texas State were attacked in response.
“We have to think about our safety,” Harris said. “There has been many texts, emails, social media threats and videos going around of people just threatening my culture and my community.”
Harris said organizations like Black Student Alliance were attacked to the point where they had to stop publicly showing where they hold their meetings and private their social media accounts for a few days.
Devion Canty, concrete industry management freshman, withdrew from the university on Sept. 16 after a video of him “mocking” Kirk’s death at a memorial was posted by the governor. Canty said he and his
Ghanaian duo’s success helping Texas State soccer rise to the next level
By Juan Pereira Casanoba Sports Reporter
Two current Bobcats were born 150 miles apart in the western African nation of Ghana. Junior Constance Agyemang is from Kumasi, the second largest city in the country, while Sophomore Helen Alormenu lived in Accra, the capital, near the southern coast.
Soccer is the country’s most popular sport, but opportunities in the sport are few and far between.
Alormenu received an offer from Texas State while playing for Ghana’s youth national team, and after talking to head coach Steve Holeman, she decided the opportunity was too good to pass up.
“I had this offer when I was playing on the national team. The head coach of the Black Princesses [Ghana’s women’s soccer team] gave [the offer] to me, so I took it and I started talking to Steve,” Alormenu said. “Then I started to do some research about Texas State, and here I am. I have family I cherish here, my friends, my teammates [and] my coaches.”
OREDSON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
TXST sophomore midfielder Helen Alormenu (10) watches as Stephen F. Austin’s Alexis Miller (13) hits a header, Thursday Aug. 28, 2025, at Bobcat Soccer Complex. The Bobcats beat The Lumberjacks 5-1.
For Alormenu, traveling over 7,600 miles across the world to come to Texas State was not a decision she made lightly. If it weren’t for her
mother, she wouldn’t have made the trip at all.
Student withdraws from TXST after governor shares video from Kirk memorial
By Blake Leschber Editor-in-Chief
A student withdrew from Texas State on Tuesday, Sept. 16, after Gov. Greg Abbott shared a video of him “mocking” Charlie Kirk’s death during a memorial.
The student, Devion Canty, was a concrete industry management freshman. He said the day the governor shared
the video, he was called by the Dean of Students with an ultimatum.
“She called me, then she was asking me am I safe and where I am at,” Canty said. “Then, she basically gave me two options, either be expelled or withdraw. And basically, she persuaded me that if I withdraw, then my college career is still safe.”
roommates received racial threats after the governor shared the video of him.
“[My friend] sent me the post and my heart literally dropped to my feet,” Canty said. “I did not go to class; I literally was walking around campus with my head down… I was stressing at that time mentally, that’s probably one of the lowest mental states I’ve ever been in.”
Appeal denial leaves marijuana decriminalization measure unenforceable for now
By Ryan Claycamp News Editor
The Texas Supreme Court rejected the city of San Marcos’ request to review an appeals court decision to overturn the city’s marijuana decriminalization order on Sept. 12.
The court’s denial comes after the Texas 15th Court of Appeals overturned the decriminalization ordinance on April 17. San Marcos voters passed an ordinance to decriminalize possession of less than four ounces of marijuana with nearly 82% of voters approving it in 2022. The decision means the city must continue to enforce state and federal marijuana laws.
“The Texas Supreme Court had the opportunity to stand up for the will of voters and chose not to,” Eric Martinez, executive director of Mano Amiga, a local advocacy group that helped pass the decriminalization order, said. “Our communities passed decriminalization because we’re tired of people being jailed over a small amount of weed while real public safety needs go ignored.”
The denial of the appeal is the latest court decision in the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against San Marcos to overturn marijuana decriminalization. Paxton believes the ordinance violates state drug enforcement law, which cities are barred from doing by the Texas Local Government Code.
MAYA CONTRERAS | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER Black Men United Members Dalan Hunter (left) and Devine Obi (right) support each other at the protest, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 at The Stallions.
AYDEN
Food Bank’s new location improves distribution
By Candace Taggart News Reporter
The Hays County Food Bank officially opened its new location in San Marcos at 1612 S I-35 South Frontage Road on Aug. 27.
The Hays County Food Bank (HCFB) is the only food bank entirely located in Hays County and has been operating since 1984. The HCFB distributed over a million pounds of food yearly since 2019, and served over 71,000 households in 2024. It was previously located on Herndon Street in San Marcos, but the operations outgrew those facilities.
“[The new facilities] allow us to accept a lot more donations and to plan out much further in the future, so we can really maximize what we can offer people,” Carter said. “The beauty about the location is because it is so big and we have the two buildings here, as we’re now doing our client choice marketplace.”
The new location is the former Hays Co. Bar-B-Que buildings. Carter said it is five times bigger than their previous location. The front building holds the market and offices and the back building allows for the food bank to store 25 to 30 pallets of goods, while the Herndon Street location could only store 6 to 8 pallets. A pallet is, on average, a 48 in. x 40 in. wooden or plastic platform used to store boxes of goods.
According to Carter, the majority of the food bank’s past services were distributing 20 to 30 lbs of pre-packed food kits or boxes. The HCFB’s client choice marketplace model will allow clients to make an appointment once a month, where they will come and pick
out or “shop” for 80 lbs of food based off their needs and preferences.
“We’re trying to provide an entire month’s worth of food, so you can really stock a pantry, and it gives you a lot more options,” Carter said. “Not just for picking what your family will eat, but also being able to plan ahead and shop the grocery sales if you need to supplement or know what you’ll have for next week. So I think for our clients, it’s a lot more dignity and just a lot more efficiency.”
The food bank had its first client choice market appointment on Aug. 19 and has had approximately 100 appointments Monday through Thursday since then, according to Carter. Felicia Nelson is a new San Marcos resident with three kids and a new client for the food bank.
“[Client choice market] is amazing, because we have a couple of particular food needs,” Nelson said. “It helps us not wind up with so many things we can’t use, and we can select the things that will work.”
Nelson said the frontage road location helped her discover the food bank.
“It was super helpful to drive by and just know it was here,” Nelson said. “Our first experience was very friendly, very welcoming.”
HCFB’s reach increased by 25% from 2023-24. Carter believes the recent press coverage and new location is contributing to this.
“We’re still seeing most of our regular clients at the same rate, with some folks that maybe hadn’t heard about us before are finding us now as well,” Carter said.
Carter said the city of San Marcos’s Route 5 Bus has a temporary stop
outside the food bank right now, and they’re working with the city to make it a permanent stop.
“The location difference for folks on their feet or on bikes is more challenging, but we really would love people to use the bus system or the CARTS system,” Carter said.
Food insecurity is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods,” or a limited way to acquire these socially acceptable foods.
15.9% of Hays County residents experience food insecurity according to Central Texas Food Bank’s Community Needs Assessment. A 15% increase from the food insecurity level in 2023.
“We are on track to have another significant increase this year,” Carter said. “We won’t know until we reach the end, but it is certainly something we’re seeing.”
FROM FRONT LAWSUIT
Catina Voellinger, executive director for Ground Game Texas, another advocacy group behind the campaign to decriminalize marijuana, called the state Supreme Court’s decision not to review the decision cowardly. She believes the Texas Supreme Court let the lower court ruling stand so they wouldn’t face political pressure for overturning the will of voters.
Voellinger also said voters should pay more attention to the politics and rulings of judges to make informed decisions when voting.
“We have to realize there are three branches of government, and one of those branches is the judicial branch, and these are the people who decided, ultimately, to go against the will of the people,” Voellinger said.
According to Voellinger, while decriminalization has been ruled illegal, city council could vote to deprioritize marijuana enforcement. Under a deprioritization ordinance, marijuana enforcement would be codified as the lowest priority for the San Marcos Police Department.
Voellinger said Ground Game Texas and Mano Amiga are considering running a campaign to deprioritize marijuana in San Marcos, but haven’t finalized any plans.
“We’re not leaving Hays [County], and if the city wanted to, right now, they have the full ability to deprioritize marijuana,” Voellinger said. “They can do it without a ballot measure.”
Voellinger also said deprioritization could save the city thousands of dollars. An analysis done by Ground Game Texas claimed that the decriminalization ordinance saved the city $444,150 from 2023-25.
“It is necessary, and especially when city budgets right now aren’t getting federal money and we’re going to be running low on resources here under this new administration,” Voellinger said.
The city of San Marcos is still considering how to move forward with the case.
Editorial Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Blake Leschber stareditor@txstate.edu
Managing Editor: Rhian Davis starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu
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Laura Krantz,
Carter said support from the community, including individual and church donations, funding from San Marcos, Buda, Kyle and Hays County is the largest portion of their funding and keeps them from concerns about statewide or national program or policy changes.
“We’re not worried about shutting the doors anytime soon,” Carter said.
“If the support levels were to change, we might have to reconfigure things a little bit, but we are prepared to be here for the foreseeable future.”
“The [Texas] Supreme Court’s denial of the city’s petition does not finally dispose of the matter,” a city spokesperson wrote in an email to The Star. “The city is considering its options.”
According to Gilbert Martinez, J.D., the city could be considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Because that involves time, expense and an assessment of likelihood of success, I imagine the city is considering whether it would be worthwhile to appeal,” Martinez wrote in an email to The Star “I’m guessing, but they could ask the U.S. Supreme Court: 1) whether the Texas Supreme Court erred in denying the appeal and/or 2) whether the state’s overturning of the ballot initiative was legal.”
Much like the appeal to the Texas Supreme Court, an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is not guaranteed to be heard. According to the U.S. Supreme Court’s website, they only hear 100-150 cases a year out of the more than 7,000 requests they receive annually.
If the city wanted to, right now, they have the full ability to deprioritize marijuana,”
Catina Voellinger, Executive Director
Ground Game Texas
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Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, September 23, 2025. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor-in-chief.
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CANDACE TAGGART | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
A Hays County Food Bank employee helps local residents pack up their food, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025 at The Hays County Food Bank.
CARSON RODGERS | CREATIVE SERVICE DIRECTOR
The Texas Attorney General appealed the case.
SMPD Chief Stan Standridge released a memo saying SMPD would comply with the ordinance. amounts of marijuana forceable.
Harris said departments at Texas State, other than Student Government, have not reached out to the NAACP about the threats or put out statements; however, NAACP is bringing it up in meetings.
Canty, Harris and Charles Onwukwe, president of Black Men United, told The Star that people at the Kirk memorial on Sept. 15 directed slurs toward students of color in attendance.
“We know who everyone is talking about and there were only [three] members of Turning Point at that event that day. All of the accused were not affiliated with Turning Point USA,” a spokesperson for Turning Point at Texas State told The Star.
Onwukwe said these were not given the same treatment that Black students, like Canty, were given.
“The same day that video was taken, there were many complaints that Black students are getting slurs thrown at them and there’s no statements or investigations going on from the school,” Onwukwe said. “It just looks one-sided.”
Harris said five students reported getting racially profiled at the memorial, yet there’s little coverage on it.
“When I go back to the five students, barely anybody remembers that situation,” Harris said. “We had them get statements and go to our meetings and actually discuss what happened. Some of them are putting police reports in with the campus because they feel unsafe and because they feel uncertain about being a Bobcat. That’s not what we want as student leaders.”
Onwukwe furthered his statements on the unbalanced treatment of students, stating that the university has not done anything in response to the threats directed toward Black students. He pointed to Sept. 24, 2024, when a Black student had the n-word keyed into his car in the Woods Street Parking Garage. The person who committed the crime was arrested on Oct. 14, 2024, and was not immediately removed from the university, differing from the immediate removal of Canty.
“Black student organizations have
Withdrawing from the university has different effects on a student’s record than getting expelled. If a student withdraws, they can receive a refund, and it will not be reflected on their record. However, Canty said the Dean of Students told him that if he was expelled, he would not be able to go to any Texas State system schools, and it would stay on his record.
“A student who has been expelled from any Texas State University System component shall be ineligible to enroll at any other system component during the period of expulsion,” Texas State’s Code of Student Conduct states.
According to the Code of Student Conduct, disciplinary procedures start with the Dean of Students investigating information that a student may have violated university policy. The code states that “During the investigation, the Dean of Students or designee will give the student an opportunity to explain the incident, unless the student is unavailable ... the absence of a student if the student does not respond within the time period specified in any notice to the student.”
The video shared online is 40 seconds long, with Canty gesturing to his neck, stating, “Charlie Kirk got hit in the neck [expletive], he’s dead homie,” before gesturing to his neck again, jerking his head and getting on The Stallions to act out
been under attack recently, especially BSA on Twitter, Facebook; so much racial slander toward these Black student organizations,” Onwukwe said. “The school has not said anything or done anything about it. So that’s just a clear example of the double standard.”
Harris said the trend of racism is more than just a Texas State issue. After Kirk’s death, multiple HBCUs across the country were shut down due to threats.
The NAACP is looking to draft legislation on the university level to address the concerns Black students are facing and to call on administration to make a statement.
“The goal is to ... find a route for all students to be able to express themselves safely,” Harris said. “It’s to make legislation, sending it to our SGA, so that it can be implemented on campus. It’s also for an open statement to be made regarding the threats, regarding how we feel. We want to be acknowledged.”
Harris raised concerns about how Black student organizations can have meetings with the threat of racism still looming. He said that he knows one meeting will not fix the problem, but they will continue to work to make sure all Black students are safe.
“We want to just ... say we’re proud to be at Texas State because they’re proud to have us,” Harris said. “Actions will always speak louder than words, and we’re in a place where now we have to act as a campus. I want to see change as positive and as conducive to us as a people.”
That sense of community stayed with Onwukwe, who said that while Canty was not a part of BMU, he believed it was crucial that the students stepped up to protect him.
“I think we’ve taken it into our
own hands,” Onwukwe said. “That’s why BMU stepped up and did this, because… we don’t know this young Black student, but we just felt like we needed to put that barrier for protection because he is receiving threats and the university’s not doing anything to counter that, I guess we had to counter ourselves.”
BMU was out at The Stallions on Sept. 17 after Canty withdrew to raise awareness on the issues the Black community is facing.
“We didn’t come out to fight or debate or argue; we simply came out to give the students our perspective on the whole matter,” Onwukwe said. “We did say we’re against all types of political assassinations, no matter who it is. But still, there’s so many double standards and that’s what we talked about.”
Student Government issued a statement on Sept. 19, saying all students deserve equal rights and treatment, but there are current inconsistencies and politicization of campus policies.
“We are appalled at the current brigade of hatred and unwarranted attacks, including death threats, being made against specific communities
within our student body,” Student Government wrote in its statement. “We stand in solidarity with our Black Student Organizations that are actively facing discrimination and blatant racism online and on campus … We call for the Black Student Organizations and all students to be given respect and protection by every sector of Texas State.”
Black Student Alliance also released a statement on Sept. 22, calling for Texas State administration to ensure that Black students are protected as they experience threats and racism.
“We must highlight the disparity in the university’s swift and attentive response to the video, but lack of condemnation and response to the subsequent narratives being shared about the Black Student Alliance online,” Black Student Alliance wrote in their statement. “The lack of support and continuous threats have left our community shaken and questioning our belonging at Texas State University.”
Black student organizations stated they are meeting with President Kelly Damphousse on Sept. 23 to discuss concerns regarding Black safety.
Kirk’s death. He then gets up and spits on the ground before saying “[expletive] that [expletive].”
Abbott reposted the video at 11:17 a.m. on Sept. 16, stating “the conduct is not accepted at our schools,” and to “expel the individual immediately.”
Texas State President Kelly Damphousse posted his statement on Facebook, Instagram and X right after 12:30 p.m., less than an hour and a half after Abbott’s original post.
At 12:56 p.m., Damphousse posted another statement on X, stating that Texas State currently does
not know the identity of the individual, but he has directed university officials to take immediate action to find the person and his affiliation with Texas State.
Canty said he was not contacted until 4:37 p.m., with the only options being to withdraw or be expelled.
“[The Dean of Students] had me text her and email her [my withdrawal] on the spot,” Canty said. “Me or my parents were not a part of any type of process; no meeting or anything. If they had that process for a meeting, I was not included.”
Damphousse’s statement that Canty was no longer a
student was made at 5:12 p.m., less than five hours after his initial statement that Texas State was looking for the individual and less than 40 minutes after Canty officially withdrew from the university.
Canty said that means Damphousse’s statement was made while he was in the police station, waiting for someone to pick him up from campus. Canty is currently in Charlotte, where he is from. He said he was only able to grab a laundry bag of clothes, his computer and his gaming console from his dorm.
In his 5:12 p.m. statement, Damphousse said Canty’s actions were not reflective of
the Texas State community, and they should “consider the impact that our words and actions can have on those around us.”
“Unfortunately, some people are suggesting that the individual’s actions represent the beliefs of TXST students in general or those of specific student organizations,” Damphousse wrote in his statement. “These kinds of insinuations are unfair to our student body, and they cause some of our students to feel unsafe ... The actions of one person do not reflect our entire community or the individuals in it.”
Canty said he should have acted differently, but he believes his punishment does not fit the crime.
“I understand that I could have gone about it a different way, and I acted out of anger and impulse, but at the end of the day, I only used my freedom of speech,” Canty said. “There’s bigger problems to be focused on than just me mocking a podcaster.”
Coming back to Texas State is Canty’s eventual goal, he said. But at this moment, he is staying out of state for his safety.
“I built a family there,” Canty said. “Like, there’s so many cool people. It’s a beautiful campus. I have everything I need there. I loved all my classes; my professors were great. The first month of college was better than what I expected.”
MAYA CONTRERAS | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Black Men United President Charles Onwukwe stands with the BMU flag at a protest, Wednesday, Sept. 17 , 2025, at The Stallions.
MEG BOLES | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
The officers of Texas State’s chapter of Turning Point USA, political science sophomore Leona Salinas (left) and exercise and sports science senior Sara Hassel (right) hold signs at the Charlie Kirk Memorial while surrounded by a crowd, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, on The Stallions.
FROM FRONT WITHDRAWAL FROM FRONT THREATS
September 23, 2025
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.
Silencing faculty will bring irreversible harm
By Editorial Board
Crackdowns on speech have begun targeting professors across Texas, with drastic effects on academic freedom and revealing, once again, how Texas universities act as extensions of the government. Texas State has sent a clear message to its staff: it will not protect or defend them and is ready to act at the behest of an elected or appointed official.
While suppression of student speech continues by state officials, faculty speech is increasingly at risk and has fewer avenues to fight back.
State legislation and university policies have created a web of restrictions on faculty speech at Texas State, fostering an atmosphere of fear. Suppressing faculty speech harms the institution’s integrity, its talent pool and its students. By ultimately failing to fight for speech, Texas State fundamentally discredits itself.
The consequences of failing to properly police faculty speech go up the entire university’s structure. Texas
A&M President Mark Walsh III, a retired four-star general, resigned after facing pressure for defending a faculty
member’s speech, signaling that no one is safe even in the university’s administration.
Following public backlash over the comments made by tenured professor Tom Alter, faculty members have been told to be careful with what they say in department meetings, as the university would not take action to protect faculty members from public pressure. This is incredibly concerning; if the university stands for neither students nor faculty, it ultimately stands as nothing more
On Student withdrawal
Dear Editor:
My name is David L. Tijerina and I am an alumnus of Texas State having earned a BA in PR-mass communications ‘96 and BA Print journalism, 2003, and last week I came across an article that stated that Devion Canty, Jr., had been expelled from the university for mocking the death of Charlie Kirk and using and expletive while doing so. Today, I read an article that stated that Mr. Canty decided to withdraw from the school for his safety and the well-being of the school. Though this situation presented terrible optics for the TSU during a politically tense period in our nation, I believe expelling him or perhaps pressuring him to withdraw from the university was too harsh of a penalty for him.
to win, given the violation of his right to due process. The university knows this, but by silencing Alter now, even if he is later reinstated, it has already bought the silence of every professor, as the fear of repercussions plays directly into the state’s agenda.
The firing of a tenured professor broadens the risk of silence, as tenure has traditionally protected faculty in what they can and cannot say. Following state legislation to restructure faculty senates, a
whispered peer to peer rather than platformed.
With few safeguards and repeated instances of faculty speech being suppressed, the most critical blow to Texas State and other Texas institutions may be in the faculty they are able to attract. Legislative committees set up to study freedom of speech do not go unnoticed, and talented faculty will either avoid Texas institutions altogether or leave when given the chance.
University efforts may also be undermined; the “Run to R1” initiative, aimed to be completed by 2027, could face delays as experts reconsider involvement with Texas State. Experienced faculty are critical to the university’s goals, and its speech policies may kneecap those efforts.
Ultimately, in this battle over speech, only the state government wins, expanding its power into institutions once beyond its reach, while universities and their faculty lose. Texas State has shown its loyalties lie with the government, not its faculty, and this will undermine institutional autonomy long after these controversies fade.
criminal justice, had publicly stated that he understood that Mr. Canty was still developing physically and mentally as a young 20 – something adult, or perhaps younger, just like every other student in their early 20s or younger on the campus.
On the firing of Tom Alter
I understand his safety may have been at stake, but Dr. Kelly Damphousse, missed an incredible opportunity as the university’s president to demonstrate godly grace toward Mr. Canty and to show the world that he understood the complex dynamics that could lead a black male student to act as Mr. Canty did. Let no one accuse me of condoning what Mr. Canty did. Despite my not agreeing with Mr. Kirk’s tone and affect in presenting his political stances and his misuse of Christianity for political gain, Mr. Kirk did not deserve to be assassinated for exercising his right to free speech. And his, wife, children, family and friends do not deserve to live through the grief and aftermath of his death. Mr. Canty’s mocking of Kirk’s death was ill advised.
Yet, imagine if Dr. Damphouse, a former police officer, a Presidential
I can imagine, that when that occurred, in such a symbolic place for the university, that Dr. Damphousse faced a difficult decision. After all, universities across the United States have faced the wrath of the Trump Administration. Perhaps he was forced into a decision he did not really want to make. I don’t know him or what he does or does not believe so I don’t know if he acted based on his convictions. Yet, with millions of dollars at stake and perhaps his own position in jeopardy if he did not act, maybe it was easy to sacrifice one student rather than trying to rehabilitate and to support him. Now, other black students will think twice about coming to the school. Either way, his withdrawal from the school only cements the impact one bigoted man’s disrespectful rhetoric can have on a person.
I no longer live in Texas, but I still call San Antonio home, and if I lived there, I would be upset that my governor played politics with a young man’s life, when what we really need is real leadership to foster unity in this country.
Prayerfully, Mr. Canty will learn lessons from this experience and let them propel him to greatness.
By David L. Tijerina
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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
Dr. Tom Alter, who was a respected and valuable member of the History Department. I recently retired as Professor of History at Texas State University, and during my term of service I had the pleasure of knowing Tom first as a graduate student, and then as a colleague. I also chaired the search committee that resulted in his appointment to the faculty. His career has reflected well on Texas State by exemplifying the professional excellence of our graduates and the passionate commitment to teaching and scholarship of our faculty. I was shocked and appalled to discover that his contributions to our institution could be so callously disregarded by university administration. I also am an alumnus of Texas State and I have always been proud of its role it in my professional development. Now I feel shame that it appears in the national press as an example of the political assault on free speech and academic freedom, and I am alarmed at what this means for its future.
In serving as judge and jury, President Damphousse not only
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violated Tom’s legal rights, but he also insulted the integrity of the History Department and of all faculty who take their role in the hiring process seriously. Their role is based on their expertise in their fields and their commitment to building strong cohorts of scholars who can provide students with the academic skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in the world. Are we now supposed to accept fascist bloggers as the arbiters of who is and who is not fit to teach at Texas State? Do the professional credentials of faculty and the needs of students no longer matter? Empowering political demagogues in this manner will do irreparable harm. We cannot let this new version of McCarthyism destroy everything we have worked so hard to build. President Damphousse needs to realize that something bigger than his own job security is at stake here, and reinstate Tom Alter immediately.
By Dr. Rebecca Montgomery Professor Emerita
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Indigenous Cultures Institute plans to return to roots with academic center
By Carlene Ottah Life and Arts Editor
Adjacent to the Meadows Center, walkable paths will lead to an academic center, dedicated to honoring and preserving Native American heritage.
Backed by Hays County and Texas State, a new Indigenous Cultures Center is still in its design phases but is expected to break ground after the new year. The center will be located on a 10-acre tract near Spring Lake, a site of deep cultural significance to Native Americans, as the location of the Coahuiltecan creation story and one of four sacred springs the Coahuiltecan people are committed to stewarding.
Bobbie Garza-Hernandez, community pilām for the Indigenous Cultures Institute (ICI), said the new building is part of Texas State’s 2025-35 campus master plan, which includes restoration and preservation of the natural area around Spring Lake. According to Garza-Hernandez, the center’s location is not coincidental, and she believes the ancestors guided them on this journey.
“The landscape has changed tremendously with all the development around us,” Garza-Hernandez said. “Trails and pathways they once traveled are no longer there or are covered in concrete. I feel strongly that [our ancestors] found their way back and guided us to the place where we will construct the [ICI]. There is no more perfect place than the sacred springs with their significance to Coahuiltecans.”
Ruben Arellano, professor of history at Southern Methodist University and ICI’s repatriation coordinator, believes the new center will be a vital resource for Texas. He said while other urban centers support Native Americans in Texas, none focus on education, research and cultural preservation in the way ICI’s new facility will.
“The ICI’s center is going to be interpretive and informative, and being affiliated with Texas State University, I hope will allow the center to also develop a thriving research wing to complement the cultural and educational aspects,” Arellano said.
In line with ICI’s mission since its inception in 2006, Garza-Hernandez looks forward to the impact the center will have on the community. There are three components: programs, classrooms, an art facility and a teaching kitchen; a perfor-
mative space and community gathering space; and the administrative offices and archiving area. Garza-Hernandez said the first component is the most important since ICI currently has to find space in the community to conduct its programs.
“With educating our kids and the generations that are coming, it’s going to really bring some power back to the Indigenous communities of this area,” Garza-Hernandez said. “It will be quite meaningful, I believe, not just for the Central Texas area but for the whole state.”
Planning for the acquisition of an Indigenous Cultures Center building began in 2021, when ICI initially applied for Parks and Open Space Bond funding to build a facility. At the time, the center was proposed to be built in a primarily Hispanic neighborhood, near the Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos and Cuauhtemoc Hall.
However, when Hays County approved the bond, Garza-Hernandez said San Marcos’ city manager shared a proposal for the center with Texas State’s Chief Financial Officer Eric Algoe. ICI partnered with the director of facilities planning, design and construction to form a robust planning team of architects and engineers.
“When we were approached by the ICI regarding
the creation of a new facility that they would build, the idea of working with them to create a university-level research center to bring together faculty from across the full range of disciplines who already work in this area [related to indigenous peoples and cultures] felt like it might make sense,” Algoe wrote in an email to The Star.
Garza-Hernandez said the importance of constructing a center that reflects Coahuiltecan history and association with Spring Lake for the last 13,500 years is a point the architectural team understands. A central figure in the project is Chris Cornelius, an indigenous architect and citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, who is leading the building’s design.
In a lecture held at the University of Texas’ School of Architecture, where ICI staff first heard Cornelius present his work, he critiqued architectural designs that apply Indigenous iconography without reflecting Indigenous values or practices. Countering this approach, he shared core values central to his work with architectural designs that reflect human connection to the earth, plants, animals and the cosmos as “relatives.” This ethos of connection will guide the conceptual design for the new center.
“One of the cultural values of indignity that is a big part of my work is the idea of relationality,” Cornelius said. “We think of things as if we’re related to them.”
Despite being a traveling professor and chair of the Department of Architecture at the University of New Mexico, Cornelius’ commitment to help is driven by the mistreatment of the Miakan-Garza Band of the Coahuiltecan tribe.
“Something you all said to me when Dr. [Mario] Garza talked about repatriation and the way that the state of Texas treats y’all with regards to ancestral remains … This is a really important project, and I want to help you,” Cornelius said in a Zoom meeting with ICI founders.
ICI estimates the center at $10 million to complete. A $5 million grant from Hays County partially funds it, but raising the other half will require support from Texas State and the San Marcos community. Due to limited opportunities to obtain federal funding, the center plans to finish the project in two phases, with the first phase expected to be completed by summer 2027.
Alumni explore life changes with TXST exhibition
By Anaiya Brannon Life and Arts Contributor
Creating a space for Texas State alumni to show off some of their most recent artworks, “Letting the River Spill” debuted at the [TXST] Galleries on Aug. 25.
Rebecca Marino, [TXST] Galleries associate director, put together the exhibit in collaboration with several talented alumni and staff from the School of Art and Design at TXST.
According to the [TXST] Galleries website, the exhibit’s goal is to explore a shared point of passage between the artists and how this impacts their personal artworks. Located on the second floor of Joann Cole Mitte, the exhibit showcases many artworks crafted by alumni with different life experiences and interests that influence their work. Each artist brought a unique aspect to the exhibit, using varying mediums and canvases to express their own artistic voices.
“[‘Letting the River Spill’]’s been nothing but awesome, it’s been a great journey,” Monica Mohnot, a School of Art and Design lecturer, said. “I feel it’s a great exhibit to see how a lot of our people came together.”
Mohnot graduated from Texas State in 2019 with a bachelor’s in fine arts. Around this time, she experimented with different mediums such as oil pastels and acrylic, as seen in her ‘In Between These Moments’ series of oil pastel illustrations.
In 2021, Mohnot furthered her education and get her masters at the School of Art Institute of Chicago, where she worked in the fiber department. There, she discovered a computerized weaving technique called jacquard weaving, a textile production method allowing for complex designs in fabrics, which she used to create her piece for this exhibit.
‘Shifting Forms Mind Map Series #11’ blends Mohnot’s painting expertise with her weaving skills to create a unique abstract artwork. It combines many warped shapes of varying colors with lines of different length, width and intensity meant to make people look deep into their subconsciousness.
“I have been a painter for as long as I can remember, but shifting to a different material was a process for me,” Mohnot said. “Having that control
in my hand, just like a brushwork, inspired this piece and many other pieces. The inspiration has always been to bring my painting and my love for textiles together.”
Jacqueline Overby, member of the advisory council at Co-Lab Projects, presented a series of needle-felted paintings in the exhibit titled ‘A Departure In Design.’ Using a combination of foam, rubber, wool, bristles and wood, she crafted a series of soft sculptures for the exhibit, bridging the gap between 3D and 2D works in the exhibit.
Overby graduated from Texas State in 2016 with a bachelor’s in fine arts and a focus on painting. Similar to Mohnot, she would branch out and experiment with other mediums, even tually developing a love for needle felting. She used her background in painting to aid in her needle felting projects, which she got into around 2019.
“I worked with raw wool fibers and needle felting needles, and I felt in the shape and then used some other contrasting textured materials alongside it, specifically some rubber tool dip, and also some brushes with some bristles and a plastic ball,” Overby said.
According to his website, McVey was initially drawn to the glass vessels because of their “beauty and how quiet and calm they appeared to be.” They existed with intention and sureness, two attributes he wanted in his life. The paintings became a part of his personal search for simplicity, focus and purpose.
Part of his process is arranging the glass vessels he paints to find the right combination of colors, shapes and textures. This attention to detail is clear in his final pieces, as the artworks strike a great balance between the simplicity of the glasses themselves and the complexity of the arrangements.
“[I was] interested in a basic design approach and exploring some of these textural relationships,” Overby said.
Overby’s body of work largely consists of soft sculpture — many vibrant, round and colorful — while others contain more rigid shapes and monochromatic colors.
Benjamin H. McVey, a community art instructor at UTSA, submitted three works entitled ‘A Glass Vessel Inside Another Inside Another III, VI and I.’
These are still-life paintings, which are paintings of real objects as opposed to paintings conjured up from imagination, created using oil on linen.
“My drawing approach is very architectural and design-based,” McVey said. “That’s part of the graphic design influence I have brought into my paintings.” McVey graduated from Texas State in 1995 with a master’s in communication design. He spent over 15 years working in advertising before shifting his focus to painting and studio art, with his past corporate career influencing his current art one. Returning to TXST for the exhibition and reception, McVey said he enjoyed the entire process, as the artists could make connections, hang out and bond with one another.
“My favorite moments were dropping off and discussing my work with Rebecca [Marino],” McVey said. “I was able to show her some newer paintings that I didn’t submit. Then the actual opening itself was wonderful ... and the after party at Zelicks was lots of fun where I was able to talk to people more one-on-one.”
“Letting the River Spill” will remain at [TXST] Galleries until Nov. 9.
MILLA DEUR | STAR ILLUSTRATOR
Texas State alumnus artist Benjamin H. McVey’s “A Glass Vessel Inside Another Inside Another III, VI and I,” Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at the “Letting the River Spill” exhibition at [TXST] Galleries.
LIBBY ALLEN | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Collaboration leads to growth of Bobcat Boxing
By Grace Darcy Sports Reporter
Collaborations and team-bonding continue to be the key to the immense growth and success Bobcat Boxing is seeing since it re-launched this past spring.
Bobcat Boxing originally started as the “Fight Club” and then the “Taekwondo Club” in fall 2024. The club re-launched as “Bobcat Boxing” in spring 2025 after seeing the strong interest in boxing. Since the relaunch, Bobcat Boxing has grown to have around 150 members, over double its original 50.
Over the summer, Bobcat Boxing organized a trip to Puerto Rico after seeing the exponential growth of the club. Jared Olivares, vice president of marketing and events for Bobcat Boxing, said the trip was meant to provide an outlet for the club to bond with one another and get stronger through training.
“We wanted to do something where we could go out and make it not only like a bonding thing, but just get some training as well,” Olivares said.
Olivares reached out to gyms across Puerto Rico to find one that would partner with the club and provide training. After many phone calls, Olivares landed on Black Dog Boxing in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Members received training throughout the four-day trip, learning and developing new styles of boxing.
Boxing styles are different in Puerto Rico compared to the mainland U.S., according to Olivares. In Puerto Rico, footwork is more fluid, and their movements are loose.
“That also helped members who were kind of confused about their fighting style,” Olivares said. “They saw that there was another option, which was already very established in Puerto Rico, where they could refine and find styles by staying very loose and effective.”
Since coming back from the trip, the club has participated in collaborations with other groups around campus, such as Charge and Diamond Sweethearts.
With these collaborations, Bobcat Boxing provides self-defense or basics in boxing classes for these organiza-
FROM FRONT SOCCER
”It was a very difficult decision to make. Leaving your country, your family, friends and coming to a place you don’t know was really hard for me to do,” Alormenu said. “I had this encouragement from my mom. She’s one of the main reasons why I came to the U.S. She was like, ‘Okay, you just go to college and improve, you have so much time to play soccer anytime you want.’ So I took the chance.”
Agyemang also played in the Ghana youth system, but never crossed paths with Alormenu. Agyemang played the 2024-25 season with Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas. The Bulldogs competed in NJCAA’s top division, and Agyemang was their star.
Eventually, fate and quality talent identification from Texas State soccer found a way to bring Agyemang to San Marcos, where she joined the Bobcats before the start of this season.
“[Agyemang] was playing for the U20s while I was playing for the U15s [in Ghana]; this is my first time seeing her in person,” Alormenu said. “We speak the same language, and I feel like... we do understand each other much more often. [Our relationship is] funny, kind of sarcastic, and… we just laugh and go our way.”
Agyemang and Alormenu aren’t the only out-ofcountry players to call San Marcos home now. Texas State soccer has players from several different countries, including Japan and France. Instead of creating a divide, the diversity has led to a sense of unity on and off the pitch.
“I know it’s really hard to fit in a community, but at Texas State, I think you don’t have to force yourself to fit in, because the people around you are lovely,” Alormenu said. “You have this kind of feeling when you get here; it’s not like you have to fit in. You are already accepted before you show up on the field [and] outside the field.”
Texas State’s outreach to talents across the globe has certainly been felt on the field. In their last match against Troy, six out of the 11 Texas State starters hail from foreign countries.
“We’re always going to look in Texas first, but we scan the globe,” Holeman said. “We get players
from throughout the U.S., and if we can’t find the player we need, then we’re going to go international. We have a really good blend of domestic and international players, and I think they play really well together.”
The Ghana duo, in particular, has delivered in key moments this season against some of the best college teams in the country. Alormenu scored a free kick in Texas State’s 1-1 draw against Texas A&M and Agyemang scored the equalizer against ranked Oklahoma, which helped the team clinch another draw against a top opponent.
tions to introduce boxing to a wider audience. In exchange, the club participates in crafts, yoga and other activities the organizations are involved in.
“[We] had planned to go out there and kind of break that comfort zone for a lot of students that were not introduced to boxing yet, demographics that might not necessarily be into combat sports.” Olivares said.
With collaborations, philanthropy and profit shares, the club works to introduce boxing to the community. Bobcat Boxing is open for any level of experience, giving beginners the opportunity to learn a new skill and more experienced boxers the opportunity to sharpen their craft.
“Once you learn a new skill or something like that, it brings out the confidence within you,” Erik Brito, co-president of Bobcat Boxing, said. “So we want to also bring confidence within those people while also making it really accessible.”
Bobcat Boxing offers training four times a week, both on campus and at their home gym, SMASH MMA Gym. On campus training is located on the third floor of the Campus Recreation Center
Members can learn from coaches at SMASH to hone their skills or train for competitions the club participates in throughout the year.
The club is looking to expand its competition team to participate in events later this year, such as Golden Glove and Farmer’s Fight Night. Golden Glove is an event where both newer and more experienced members who are interested in the competition team can gain experience in matches.
“Our goals moving forward are definitely being a more competitive team, having more wins under our belt,” Olivares said. “On top of that, being more inviting towards students. We’ve already grown exponentially, but if we can grow more than we have now, then it’s always better.”
The club provides an opportunity for beginners or experienced boxers to join a tight-knit community with fellow boxers.
“Coming to a boxing gym or MMA gym, it’s like a different type of community for meeting new people,” Samuel Sorto, vice president of training, said. “It’s not the same type of energy you get with any other club. It’s more like a family.”
“They have that natural connection, having both played for Ghana and both played at the national team level,” Holeman said. “They’re both really, really good players, so they can connect with each other.”
With the team entering conference play, they’ll need Alormenu to continue their good run of form and Agyemang to return to the squad healthy, as she hasn’t played since the team’s match against Baylor.
Even without Agyemang featuring in the past few matches, Alormenu has stood out as a key contributor, but she still has a point to prove to herself.
“I had a tough year, so I’m trying to bounce back, because I do know myself,” Alormenu said. “I will say I have improved pretty much this year
compared to last year [in terms of] intelligence, strength and all those things.”
Now that she has those tangible improvements in hand, she’s ready to return the favor that was given to her and deliver silverware to the Bobcat faithful.
“My personal goal is contribute to the team and win conference. We almost won the conference last year, but we have so much chemistry on the team right now,” Alormenu said. “We love each other, we understand each other on and off the field, we help each other; [this team] is too good for me to think of anything else.”
Texas State junior forward Constance Agyemang (17) celebrates a goal versus Stephen F. Austin, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, at Bobcat Soccer Complex.
AYDEN OREDSON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Texas State animal science junior Maite Curiel spars with a partner during Bobcat Boxing’s open gym practice Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, at the San Marcos Academy of Sport and Health MMA gym. Bobcat Boxing is a Texas State club that meets on Fridays. Students can join by messaging their Instagram page @bobcatboxing_.
GRACE DARCY | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Bobcat Boxing members participate in sparring matches during open gym practice Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, at the SMASH MMA gym.
GRACE DARCY | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
September 23, 2025
THIS WEEK TXST
Texas State political science sophomore Emily Asmus protests the firing of professor Thomas Alter, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at The Stallions.
Asmus was protesting as a part of the Constitution Day demonstration put on by YDSA.
Black Men United senior advisor Jaden
Ri’Chard (right) and member JT Bowers (left) give a speech about the new free speech policy and the hate Black students are facing, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at The Stallions.
Black student organizations across campus have faced national backlash following a viral video from the
Memorial.
Texas State sophomore safety Chase Davis (26) runs out onto the field prior to kickoff against Nicholls State, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at UFCU Stadium. The Bobcats won the “Battle for the Paddle” 35-3.
The Texas State Strutters and cheerleaders stand ready during the national anthem prior to kickoff against Nicholls State, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at UFCU Stadium. The Bobcats won 35-3.
Scan the QR code to view all photos.
MEG BOLES | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
LIBBY ALLEN | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Texas State accounting junior Ryan Corson waves an American flag at the Charlie Kirk Memorial, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, at The Stallions.
Charlie Kirk
AYDEN OREDSON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
AYDEN OREDSON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER