September 27, 2022

STUDENT LIVING Overpopulation force freshmen to hotel living

By Nichaela Shaheen News Editor

Each year before the beginning of the fall semester, frantic parents and excited students fill the dorm halls of Texas State during move-in day. This year, the move-in day looked different for some students. Instead of finding the crowded halls of a dorm, they found themselves swiping keycards to enter hotel rooms.

On Sept. 23, the Office of Media Relations at Texas State confirmed the largest freshman enrollment at the university. The record-setting freshman enrollment of 7,573 students is a 14% increase over the past year. While the number of students increased, the number of dorm rooms available did not.

About two and a half miles away from campus, freshmen like Jayden Booker, a business major, are spread throughout three floors of a Holiday Inn along with resident assistants (RA) for each floor. They all share a common sentiment about the inconvenience and little communication they have with Texas State and the Department of Housing and Residential Life (DHL).

Mermaids swim through the streets at annual Festival and Promenade

By Marisa Nunez Life and Arts Editor

The sound of music, the smell of food and the sight of mermaid couture brought the community together for its sixth annual Mermaid Festival and Promenade on Saturday.

Organized by the Mermaid Society of Texas, The Mermaid Capital of Texas Fest has been an annual San Marcos event since 2016. Founder of the Mermaid Society of Texas, July Moreno, was inspired by the rich mermaid history of San Marcos that traces back to the Aquarena Springs amusement park to create The Mermaid Society.

does that by utilizing San Marcos' title as the Mermaid Capital of Texas.

“The mermaid for San Marcos just puts San Marcos on the map," Moreno said, "It’s truly unique in that way people expect a mermaid in maybe coastal towns, but in San Marcos, maybe to some people, it doesn't make sense which gives us an opportunity to talk about that and why that's important for us. There we go into segue into talking about our San Marcos River.”

“We don’t get any emails other than when they tell us it’s time to move or that they found a space for us,” Booker said.

Texas State requires all freshmen under the age of 20 years old with fewer than 30 credit hours to live on campus. For students like Isaiah Theus, a business administration freshman, living on campus was something he looked forward to.

“I was excited to be on campus and close to my classes, I’m pretty sure I would’ve definitely been able to make more friends if I was on campus,” Theus said. “It changes having to take the shuttle back and you can’t be on campus too late because the shuttle stops at certain times. That’s the big difference for sure.”

The organization's main goal is to raise awareness of the San Marcos River, and the Mermaid Festival, its biggest event,

Lauren Vecchio, an education alumna, has lived in San Marcos for seven years but had never made it out to Mermaid Fest. She was eager to attend the Mermaid Fest for the first time this year dressed in full mermaid gear from head to toe.

Vecchio was also in the promenade

that started at the corner of CM Allen and Cheatham St. The parades festivities continued at the Downtown Street Faire.

Vecchio said the mermaid symbol in San Marcos makes her appreciate the city for its uniqueness and small-town big culture feel.

"A town needs something to come together for and I think what better thing than the mermaid itself," Vecchio said. "It's so mystic everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I love it. I feel like the idea of a mermaid and a unicorn and all those special things, I feel like that's what San Marcos is to everyone that comes here."

Moreno's goal for the Mermaid Fest is to have people across Texas, the U.S. and the world celebrate San Marcos' unique culture like they do other popular festivities such as San Antonio's Fiesta and New Orleans' Mardi Gras. She is already halfway there as San Marcos residents are not the only ones who show up to enjoy the magical event.

Hula halau Kae'epa Hawaiian dancer Noenoe Dyer performs on the street during The Mermaid Capital of Texas Fest, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Downtown San Marcos.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

We don’t get any emails other than when they tell us it’s time to move or that they found a space for us.” - Jayden Booker, a business freshman

Local artist Ana Carolina displays her paintings in her pop-up booth during The Mermaid Capital of Texas Fest, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Downtown San Marcos.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487

Editorial Staff

Editor-in-Chief: Arthur Fairchild stareditor@txstate.edu

Managing Editor: Sarah Hernandez starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu

Design Editor: Kadence Cobb stardesign@txstate.edu

News Editor: Nichaela Shaheen starnews@txstate.edu

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

Opinions Editor: Dillon Strine staropinion@txstate.edu

Sports Editor: Carson Weaver starsports@txstate.edu

Multimedia Editor: Vanessa Buentello starmultimedia@txstate.edu

Engagement Editor: Meadow Chase starengagement@txstate.edu

Digital Products Developer: Monica Vargas starasstweb@txstate.edu

Creative Services Director: Michele Dupont starcreative@txstate.edu

Public & Internal Relations

PIR Director: Elle Gangi starpr@txstate.edu

Full-Time Staff

Director: Laura Krantz, laurakrantz@txstate.edu

Student Publications Coordinator: Caitlin Mitchell cf1188@txstate.edu

About Us

History: The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday of the spring and fall and once a month in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 3,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels HeraldZeitung.

Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, September 27, 2022. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor-in-chief.

Deadlines: Letters to the Editor or any contributed articles are due on Monday the week prior to publication.

Corrections: Any errors that are in the pages of The University Star and brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible.

Visit The Star at universitystar.com

Alumni to take on Austin Film Festival

By Marisa Nunez Life and Arts Editor

In an industry where finding connections and making a mark is incredibly difficult, Texas State alumni have found each other and created a story to resonate with those who are stuck in their own blank spaces.

Before the pandemic in early February 2020, Ryan Love, an electronic media alumnus, was inspired to make his own path by creating a feature film. Love was in a place where he wasn't satisfied with his career so he took upon the challenge to co-write, direct, edit and co-produce a film. His film, "The Beauty of a Blank Space," now two years in making, will make its world premiere in the first wave of the Austin Film Festival in October.

Love and Laurel Toupal, BFA acting alumna, began their nine-month cowriting process for "The Beauty of a Blank Space" in March 2020. From the start, Love knew he wanted Toupal to star in the film, and Toupal was eager to finally be able to work with Love and embark on the journey of creating their own opportunities.

"That's what we're [in Los Angeles] to do," Love said. "We're out here to be in the movies, to write movies, to direct movies, [Laurel] is to be in them. And we got to create our own opportunities and that was kind of where it stemmed from. For me, it was like, no one's going to hand it to me, no one's going to unless I do it myself."

After finishing the script, the cast and crew packed their bags and took a road trip from Las Vegas to Portland, Oregon, and shot the film over a span of two weeks working 14-16 hour days.

"It was a lot of really just filming all the time," Toupal said. "Like when we're on the road going to these places we were filming. When we got to these places we set up to start filming or if it was like late at night, we would, you know, set the equipment up go to bed and wake up super early and start filming."

During the process of filming, the cast and crew underwent several calamities. Toupal's car, which they were using throughout the film, broke down the first couple of days of shooting, the lights in the Airbnb kept flickering and ultimately went out and someone threatened to start a fight with Toupal while they were filming. Besides the bumps in the road, the cast and crew admit that it was a busy but fun experience.

Prior to "The Beauty of a Blank Space," Love and other Texas State alumni, Riley Songer, James Herrera, theatre performance and production alumnus and Emily Reas, BFA acting alumna, had been working on projects with one another under their shared company Blind Salamander Films, named after the animal that resides under San Marcos in the Edwards Aquifer.

Love started the company after moving to Los Angeles and meeting Reas. Reas, the producer of "The Beauty of a Blank Space," was introduced to Love by a mutual friend. Although they were never close at Texas State, they had classes together. Love pitched the idea to Reas and his two friends to start a film company. Since then, the four alumni have been working as one.

“I think it kind of just developed over time,” Reas said. “It was like one of those things. It's like, ‘yeah, let's do it,’ and then it became like, ‘oh, we're actually doing it.’ I feel like that's the best way, you know, to create something … we're all really good friends [and we] also really have an interest, we really have cared in what we develop and create. And we're all just very driven, which is really, I feel like, the key components that really helped cultivate [Blind Salamander Films].”

Herrera, who is an actor, co-editor and the associate producer of "The Beauty of a Blank Space," loves working with his fellow Bobcat alumni because they all respect one another's ideas.

"It's the fact that we're all friends and we that we're very collaborative," Hererra said. “Like if someone has an idea, we're gonna listen to it, we're going to try it out and if we don't try it,

we're going to talk about it to see ‘okay, what can we use from that to make it better?”

"The Beauty of a Blank Space" follows the main character Haley, played by Toupal, and her brother Mac, played by Trevor Person, BFA acting alumnus, and their relationship as brother and sister. Both characters are on their own journeys of self-discovery and are stuck in the space of trying to find the beauty in it. The film highlights the struggles of sibling relationships and the hurdles that come in life when the path isn't clear.

Love, Toupal, Reas, Herrera and Person appreciate Texas State for the tools it gave them in preparation for their respective careers and the making of the film.

"That was what was great about Texas State is that ... in the program, they taught you a bunch of different things like a bunch of different techniques and you kind of pick your own that works for you and so I just kind of had that with me, which I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else," Person said.

The cast and crew of "The Beauty of a Blank Space" were ecstatic when they discovered that their movie was going to have its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival. Feelings of excitement, shock and nervousness still weigh on the film team as they anticipate the world premiere.

For more information on Blind Salamander Films visit https://www. blindsalamanderfilms.com/. For more information on the Austin Film Festival visit https://austinfilmfestival.com/.

FROM FRONT COMMUNITY

Friends Lori Dowty from Seguin, Texas, and Becky Wiggins from Austin, Texas, traveled to San Marcos to celebrate the Mermaid Fest. Dowty discovered the festival last year but said she felt left out because she wasn't in costume. The minute Dowty arrived home from the festival last year she started planning out her costume for this year.

“I randomly came one day because my daughter and I were bored so we just got in the car and came here dressed normal, and were like, 'we're going next year and we are going to dress it up. We are going all out,'" Dowty said.

Not only was Dowty decked out in mermaid attire, but she invited her friend Wiggins to come and enjoy the event with her. Both Dowty and Wiggins said they love the event for its peaceful feel, the comradery of San Marcos civilians and the bright smiles of everyone that surrounded them. Wiggins enjoyed her first Mermaid Fest and plans to attend next year.

"I really love how whimsical it is, and just fun," Wiggins said. "I like celebrating the women's energy."

Dowty and Wiggins plan to make the event their own annual event, making their costumes bigger and better every year.

Before the pandemic, the Mermaid Fest spanned two weeks

with events like the Mermaid Promenade, The Downtown Street Faire, The River Guardianship Symposium, The Art and Culture Symposium, The Mermaid Society Art Ball, The Aqua Faire and The Mer-tini Shakedown Competition, with dates open in between for businesses to host their own contributing mermaid events.

This year, the Mermaid Fest was only a combination of three events: the Mermaid Promenade, the Downtown Street Faire and the River Guardianship Symposium, a community conversation and celebration of the growth of the Great Springs Project. Next year they hope to bring back all the events and add on a Dash and Slash 5k event and the EcoFashion Runway event.

Moreno is proud to see how far Mermaid Fest has come since 2016. At one of the first Mermaid Fests, people discouraged her expectations of the number of people who would actually attend. Seven years later, however, San Marcos continues to show up.

Forever fueled by the community and volunteers that help Moreno make Mermaid Fest possible, The Mermaid Society plans to continue to put on the annual event.

“It is to unite our community,” Moreno said. “To unite our community and to have this sense of one community where the university and San Marcos are one community. Everything that happens in San Marcos involves all of us. It benefits all of us."

The Mermaid Society won’t stop at the festival to bring together the community and raise awareness for the San Marcos River. They plan to continue to participate in river clean-ups, preserve and foster a greater mermaid culture in San Marcos and further expand their eco-education program for kids.

“Stay tuned to Mermaid Society, our vision is far and wide,” Moreno said.

For more information on The Mermaid Society visit www. mermaidsocietysmtx.com/.

Texas State alumnus Ryan Love shoots his feature film, "The Beauty of a Blank Space," October 2020, in Portland, Orgeon. COURTESY OF BLIND SALAMANDER FILM

Seguin resident Lili Dowty (right) gets her face painted with mermaid art during The Mermaid Capital of Texas Fest, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Downtown San Marcos.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Construction science program builds students a better future CAREER

By Nichaela Shaheen News Editor

Texas State has one of the seven accredited construction programs in Texas, allowing great things to take shape in the bachelor of science program in construction science and management (CMS). By gaining hands-on experience and securing job offers before graduation, students are building a foundation for success.

The American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) is the body responsible for accrediting construction and construction management programs. Texas State received the honor from ACCE in 2013 and has since been reaccredited until spring 2024.

Will Holder, a professor of practice in the Department of Engineering Technology who joined the university in 2019, said the program has grown from the ground up.

“This program grew out of the ground from nothing, Dr. Winek [Professor Emeritus] pretty much birthed it and got us accredited,” Holder said. “We’ve gone from a handful of students to now we have like 600.”

To have been accredited, a self-evaluation study was written that allowed the approval of the next step, a site visit. The next accreditation visit is scheduled for spring 2023, and if approved will allow Texas State to remain among the elites.

Holder, who recently published a textbook titled "The Production Homebuilder" which is only being taught at two Texas universities, said the program's growth has not only been in student size but in companies' involvement in career fairs hosted by the department.

“We had 77 [companies in 2019] when I got here, now we’re going to have 148 [companies],” Holder said. “400 students with these employers, it's like speed dating.”

In order to graduate with a degree in CSM, students must complete an internship. Students like Joseph Delgado, a CSM senior, have found this requirement to be beneficial.

“It's in our degree plan to get an internship, so that’s what really separates us from a lot of other people,” Delgado said. “That's why our professors stress so much how we have to go to the career fairs because we need field experience before we graduate. They want us to get our foot in the door before graduation.”

Delgado, who started working in construction at 16 years old, interned for MW Builders, a general contracting company out of Pflugerville, Texas. There they sent him on a three-month assignment to North Carolina.

“I did off-campus housing for UNCC, University North Carolina and Charlotte, it was like a $50 million project and I was one of the general contractors on site. We had about 150 people on site and there was about 15 of us,” Delgado said.

The opportunity of internships also benefited alumna Simone Smith who graduated in the wake of COVID-19 and still landed a job as a purchasing coordinator at Highland Homes.

“My degree has been helpful, but I feel like what helped me a lot was doing a lot of internships, in networking, like in the career fairs,” Smith said. “Most things have helped me even just meet people as far as getting my current job and getting previous jobs that I've had before.”

Smith is grateful for professors like Holder that have helped create and maintain a successful program at

FROM FRONT STUDENT LIVING

Theus isn’t the only one having issues with utilizing the shuttles, Booker also feels as if he doesn’t get the convenience other students living on campus do.

“Everybody else is on campus like they can wake up five minutes before class, we have to wake up 30 minutes to an hour just to make it on time,” Booker said. “If we do drive then we have to worry about parking, but most of us don't take our cars because there's no parking left.”

Students were left surprised when latest bus shuttle routes were changed on them without an email sent. Instead of having their own route, the hotel residents now have to share a shuttle with the Wonder World route which stops at multiple locations, prolonging their ride to and from campus.

“The Wi-Fi is really slow, it’s not strong enough for all of us to be on it at the same time, and if I want to work on homework late at the library I can’t take a shuttle to get there,” Sosa said.

While these students are staying in the hotel, other guests are also on the same floors as them which raises safety concerns for the RAs like Evelyn Calixto, an accounting sophomore.

“It is concerning because you never know how people are, we were supposed to have door decks, but there’s an AD [assistant director] staying here and she doesn't feel comfortable with other people, just random people knowing where students stay,” Calixto said. “You never know what other people's intentions are.”

The timeline for students to be relocated is unclear, however, when they do get their new room assignments, they are only given a short period to move according to RA Asia Cathey, a political science sophomore, who has recently been given a move-out date.

“I feel just how a lot of the residents feel because they also got assignments to the halls at random times in the week and they're like, ‘you have to be out by like this weekend or in the next few days.' So I feel like how they're feeling,” Cathay said.

Not only has it caused inconveniences for these freshmen, but it has made room for loneliness to linger. Ethan Aguilar, a civil engineering transfer student, said the disconnect has affected his first year at Texas State.

“I remember I visited a friend of mine last semester, and I was just sitting in his dorm and we were like watching a TV show, and then there would be probably like five or 10 people that would walk just past and like spend like a couple of minutes just drop by, you know, and you don't get that at the hotel,” Aguilar said.

“There's a bit of a disconnect between hotel life and dorm life.”

Brandon Sosa, an electrical engineering freshman, struggles with the Wi-Fi connection at the hotel and sees that as a major issue for students trying to get coursework done.

Students who did not bring their cars with them to Texas State and are forced to move-out in such short notice have to make arrangements to move all their belongs while also balancing classes and homework. Not having adequate time worries both the freshmen residents and their RAs.

RA Yarene Garcia, a psychology sophomore, feels left in the dark and hopes a change is on the way before it is too late.

“If this is more of a permanent thing like for the rest of the semester, we really hope people start communicating with us, the more higher-ups and the DHL, give us information going forward, especially because the freshmen ask us questions that we have no idea the answer to,” Garcia said. “We hope that further on that they can give us some information that we can get to our freshmen.”

Texas State.

“I just wanted to prove the importance of using your professors and also using those career fairs and career path opportunities that they have in Texas State because of their real-world opportunities,” Smith said. “It honestly just takes one person to help out in order for you to have your next career or for you to meet your next boss or anything.”

Much like Smith, Cole Kirby, a CSM senior, also accredits his success to the passionate professors within the program.

“They just really want you to succeed and are really helpful, some of them are students too. You can see like Ph.D. students also teaching and you can just see that they are also taking their knowledge further and at the same time are helping you so I think it's really cool.” Kirby said.

Kirby started out as a computer science major but quickly changed gears and ended up in construction science for what he said has given him win-win experiences.

“I just thought it would be cool, seeing the construction process, and actually I'm like a big hands-on learner so it being physical in class and not just being behind a slideshow and taking notes was important to me,” Kirby said.

Besides the rigor of the coursework, having an open skills lab allows for the work to be transported off the screen to their hands.

“Seeing it actually translating to the field not just on a computer is really neat. We get to mix concrete and test it ourselves, see how it holds up against different forces on it,” Kirby said. “Seeing how that will translate into the field and how that is going to the foundation. So as far as what I thought it was going to be, has been a lot like that. I was looking for a hands-on major so I'm really happy that I chose it and found something that I could really like. It has been a lot of what I was looking for.”

These hands-on experiences from in-class labs to working in the field during internships have landed Kirby the opportunity of another internship on the corporate side or a job offer as a builder with Highland Homes before he walks the stage in the spring.

“It just felt so rewarding basically that everything I've learned has paid off and I was able to use it to my advantage,” Kirby said.

Texas State construction science and management senior Cole Kirby tests the durability and composure of a piece of concrete, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, at Roy F. Mitte Building.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Volleyball:

Texas State volleyball ended with a 3-0 sweep of the University of LouisianaMonroe at home last week. Across 10 total sets, the Bobcats went 9-1.

The Bobcats swept the ULM Warhawks in three sets on Sept. 22, giving them their first win in conference play.

In a doubleheader the following day, the Bobcats won the first match 3-0 and the next match 3-1.

Volleyball is seeking a sixth straight trip to the Sun Belt Conference Championship finals and now has an undefeated record of 3-0 to start conference play.

Soccer:

Texas State soccer picked up a 1-1 draw at Georgia Southern on Sept. 22 and a 4-1 win at home ULM on Sept. 25, going 1-0-1 last week.

The 1-1 draw against Georgia Southern gained the Bobcats a point in Sun Belt Conference play and showcased the skills of reigning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week, sophomore goalkeeper Katelyn Chrisman, who finished the game with four saves.

The Bobcats' victory against ULM was the second conference victory of the season, putting them at a record of 2-0-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.

Sophomore midfielder Madi Goss paced the Bobcats in the victory versus ULM, scoring three goals, giving her the team lead with five total on the season.

Women's Tennis:

Texas State women's tennis competed for two days in the ITA Texas Regional Championship in Fort Worth, Texas.

Junior Kiana Graham advanced to the main draw by winning two matches on day one and was the only Bobcat to make it out of the qualifying round of 64 in singles.

Senior Mae McCutcheon and Graham moved on to the round of 32 in doubles, as well as senior Kate Malazonia and sophomore Sofia Fortuno.

Tennis' run ended on day two of the tournament, as both singles and doubles competitors couldn't make it out of their bracket.

Football:

Texas State football defeated the Houston Christian University Huskies last week 34-0. In the victory, the Bobcats held the Huskies to 142 yards of total offense.

Junior outside linebacker Jordan Revels accounted for seven tackles, half a sack, and one and a half tackles for loss in the win.

Sophomore running back Lincoln Pare paced the Bobcats on the ground, rushing for a season-high 84 yards on 19 attempts.

The win against the Huskies was the last game of non-conference play, as the Bobcats will travel to Virginia to take on conference foe James Madison University.

Texas State Water Ski gains perspective during this season

By Dillon Strine Sports Reporter

In the hill country at the San Marcos River Ranch, the Texas State Water Ski club takes on the wake, buoys and ramp to further prepare for a season already underway.

The club competed in two tournaments, the Fall Classic and Bayou Classic, earlier this month on Sept. 3-4 and Sept. 17-18, respectively. Texas State placed fifth overall in the Fall and Bayou Classic, battling it out for the final spot to qualify for nationals.

Next up for the squad is South-Central Regionals, which will take place Oct. 1-2 in the Lakes of Katy, Texas, and National Club Water Ski Association (NCWSA) Nationals, which will be hosted by Texas State this year from Oct. 13-15.

Vice president of the club Peyton Barry, an exercise and sports science junior, sees hosting nationals as a great convenience. Barry, who has been on the team for two years and has been skiing since she was six years old, sees competitive skiing as a rare opportunity not just for her but for everyone.

"I think it is definitely worth joining. A big selling point that we have is that you do not need any experience to join or anything," Barry said. "So, you can just come show up and say you want to learn how to ski, and we will teach you everything you need to know."

The team competes in three different events: jump, trick and slalom. Split into men's and women's teams, members can compete in as many events as they want.

The club faces off against six other schools in the NCWSA south-central region: the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, the University of Louisiana-Monroe, Texas A&M University, Baylor University, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Arkansas.

According to Barry, having to spend sizable portions of the week and travel to different states for tournaments together brings on diverse ways for a community of skiers to become closer.

"I know that there was a lot of karaoke going on the last car ride. There was a lot of me sleeping," Barry said. "Other than that, we get to just talk and bond."

Adam Long, a computer science freshman, found out about water skiing at new student orientation and, since joining the

team, has been to the first two classics of the season.

"It seemed cool," Long said. "I used to do motorsports for a little bit, and so I was like, 'I'm out of a sport, why not hop into a new one.'"

One of the teams' coaches and high-flyers, Cody Overmire, an accounting senior, has been with the club for four years and likes all the tournaments because of the family atmosphere between opposing teams. Overmire also believes that anyone can join, experience does not matter and it can be easy to pick up.

"To stand up takes usually one set; a set is like one time going out skiing for about 15 minutes," Overmire said. "Most people get up their first set, and that is all across ages, bodies and usually they get up their first, and if they don't, they do their second."

Members of the Texas State Water Ski club are also ambassadors for the sport. Over the summer, the team volunteered for Texas Regional Para Sport for its AllCanSki program, which is an adaptive water ski clinic for athletes with physical disabilities. It is club president Taylor Royal's favorite experience with Texas State Water Ski, being that she grew up in a ski world.

"My dad is actually blind, he is on the U.S. adaptive team, so I grew up in competitive skiing," said Royal, a human development and family sciences sophomore. "AllCanSki helps disabled kids and individuals learn how to ski."

Since Royal had previously been around a more competitionfocused atmosphere, she liked getting to enjoy a sport she knows at a different pace than what she is used to.

"We heard about AllCanSki and I got in contact with them and we started volunteering at all of them," Royal said. "Which was really cool because they are just kids, and they are just starting out. I grew up in the competitive world and this was totally just for fun, which was really cool."

To join the club, there are three tiers of fees members pay to join each long semester. A team of top-five skiers' men and women competing is $300, B tier skiers competing team is $275 and C team who ski for fun at practice is $250.

For more information on Texas State Water Ski, visit its Instagram @txstski or the campus recreation sports club's website. The club meets at 9 p.m. every Tuesday in LBJ 3-10.1.

Texas State accounting senior Cody Overmire jumps off a ramp during water ski practice, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at the San Marcos River Ranch.

PHOTO BY CARSON WEAVER

Texas State political science majors Taylor Tade (left) and Emily Morgan encourage students to sign a campus parking reform petition, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, at Texas State University. Tade and Morgan are both Texas State student government senators.

PHOTO BY BRENA ULLRICH

Texas State health science freshman Peyton Dunlap goes head to head in an intense game of ping pong, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at George's.

PHOTO BY JEFFREY HALFEN

Texas State mascot, Boko, pumps up Bobcat fans during the football game against Houston Christian University, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at Bobcat Stadium.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Texas State exercise and sports science senior Sara Otwell cheers on the sidelines during the football game against Houston Christian University, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at Bobcat Stadium.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

OPINIONS

Opinion: Take advantage of student services

By Tiara Allen Assistant Opinions Editor

Tuition payment is a stressful time of year for every student, but when one looks at their tuition bill, it can become even more stressful. Often, students will see charges for items such as "library fee," "student center" and "computer service" and become frustrated about all the extra expenses that they will need to take out loans for or pay out of pocket.

While there are many valid concerns about the high expenses of college, student services are vital parts of the college experience. Therefore, students should fully utilize the services covered in their tuition bills, such as the recreation center and the library.

Students should take advantage of these services because, when utilized, they will enhance a student's physical and mental health.

The health center is one of the most direct applications of this. The Student Health Center (SHC) allows students to fill prescriptions, seek sexual and reproductive care, get immunized against various illnesses, including COVID-19 and receive urgent care. Not only is the SHC within walking distance for many students, but the services are also often at a cost significantly lower to students than that of a traditional doctor's office. In addition, they allow students to seek care as soon as they need it.

Another student service that can help a student with their health is the recreation center. Unfortunately, in a 2017 study, college freshmen transitioning from high school to college reported a significant decline in physical activity levels from their high school years to their college years. However, this should be changed, considering that studies have shown that exercise

STUDENT LIFE

can increase cognitive levels, reduce stress and increase energy.

Exercise can even help build confidence, which can help students get the most out of their college experience. For example, Megan Martin, a marketing senior, has improved her confidence since she started using the recreation center.

"It has definitely made me more confident about myself and more of a social person," Martin said. "I am not hesitant to walk up to strangers or to even work out in front of them."

The recreation center offers various activities such as paddleboarding excursions, lifeguard training and swimming lessons. These activities allow students to get active, make friends and perhaps begin a new hobby.

The LBJ Student Center is also a valuable resource covered by tuition fees. LBJ is not only home to several central student offices, such as the counseling center and the Office of Disability Services. It also offers free leadership workshops, presentations and community volunteer opportunities.

The Student Center also hosts art exhibitions that any student on campus can apply for and participate in, even if they are not an art major. The center is just one of many outlets that students can use to exercise their creativity and meet people with similar creative interests.

Students should take full advantage of these services because they can help them find their first full-time job or even help launch their careers.

Texas State's Career Services office is the most direct example of this. Career Services offers a wide range of assistance for students seeking employment during and after college, from resume reviews to the Career Closet, which offers one

complete professional outfit to students free of charge. These outfits are a potential lifesaver to students attending interviews and seeking internships since, according to Inc.com, a new, high-quality suit can cost up to $1000.

Other student offices offer further opportunities for students to gain employment they would not have otherwise obtained. For example, Alkek Library offers micro-credential courses in topics such as audio and video editing, GIS software and 3D printer design, which can be put on a resume or serve as a starting point for students gaining experience in this technology for their respective fields.

Even locations such as the recreation center offer students opportunities to further their careers. For example, the rec provides classes such as CPR certifications and training courses such as National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) personal training and Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) group fitness certification courses.

Daniel Smith, a nutrition and food science senior, became a personal trainer at the rec after he received encouragement from the Recreation Center's registered dietician, Mitzie Rojas. Smith took his NASM certification course through Texas State, which he found beneficial as he underwent the process.

"[It] helped me because it was cheaper and I got to work with other trainers that I work with now," Smith said. "It also helped me get familiar with the environment that I work in now."

Those who do not use student services may think an opt-out system may be better for students who don't intend to use them. However, it may be best to reconsider this. All college students can benefit from services such as the library, recreation center and career center. It would be unfortunate if a student decided mid-semester that they wished to use their services, only to find themselves unable to use or to pay a hefty fee to access them after opting out at the beginning of the semester.

In conclusion, while students often hunt for ways that the school should cut down on expensive tuition bills, vital student services should not be on the chopping block. But, if they are, their absence will be sorely felt.

-Tiara Allen is a marketing senior

The University Star welcomes Letters to the Editor from its readers. All submissions are reviewed and considered by the Editor-in-Chief and Opinion Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication.

Opinion: College is different for everyone

By Rhian Davis Opinions Contributor

The first semester is something most students dream or worry about for months on end. College is full of life-changing events and preparing for it can be both exciting and overwhelming.

The idea of having the picture-perfect college experience is shoved down the throats of teenagers everywhere as they prepare for the next phase of their lives. While it may not seem like it in the movies, everyone's college experience looks different. It should be okay to take time to adjust to the new environment, rarely go to parties and direct focus toward grades.

Most students are excited to move to college because of the newfound freedom, but adjusting to a completely different environment can be tough. Leaving friends, family and home is a lot of sudden change at once and it can have a large effect on students’ mental health.

According to the Mayo Clinic, at least one in three college students experience depression and anxiety.

When I got to Texas State, I felt as if the people around me had already adjusted to life on campus. It seemed like I was missing out because I was choosing to take my time rather than immediately jumping into things that I wasn't comfortable with.

It’s important to remember that everyone adjusts to new environments at their own pace and that is okay. It can be tempting to give into peer pressure, but taking the time to do what is best for you is incredibly beneficial.

Jenna Watson-West, a criminal justice freshman, agrees that students should be able to focus on themselves.

"I can see where comparison and not really feeling like [college] is right for them could come into play if [they] don't realize that everyone adapts at a different speed,” Watson-West said.

One of the biggest college stereotypes portrayed in the media is parties. Texas State is no stranger to party culture and is often being labeled as one of the top party schools in Texas.

During the college application process, Texas State was my top choice. I knew it had an environment and learning culture that would suit me best, plus the campus is beautiful. When explaining this to people, I could tell they were silently judging my choice.

Often referred to as a second-choice university, Texas State is sometimes looked down upon as it is behind The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M College Station on a list of public universities in the state, according to Best Colleges. However, Texas State is on Princeton Reviews 'Top 388 Colleges' list. But the aforementioned mentality can be detrimental to

some students because they might begin to believe that they, along with their university, aren't good enough.

According to a feature from Huffington Post, representation matters more than we like to believe. The article discusses on-screen diversity, but the same idea can be applied to the way college is portrayed.

Media plays a large role in how people perceive themselves, and because most college students are still young and impressionable, they have a tendency to believe what they see. According to Times Higher Education, over 80% of incoming students use social media to research prospective universities.

The stories that we see in the media, whether it be in movies or on socials, affect the way we think about real-life subjects. When students are surrounded by the mentality that Texas State is “only a party school” or “only a second choice,” it can create a misunderstanding.

students. While classes may be more spread out than they were in high school, students can expect to have more responsibility than they did before.

During freshman year, it's common for the majority of one's classes to be basics. This can make it tempting to disregard attending class and completing assignments on time. Some students may even feel pressured by others to put social events over important school activities.

Texas State often rewards those who do well in their classes. At the close of each semester, students have the chance to make the dean’s list if they have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and are taking at least 12 credit hours. In addition to this, the Bobcat Online Scholarship System (BOSS) is a way for students to receive scholarships throughout their college careers. Scholarships open on Nov. 1 of each year and most of them have minimum GPA requirements.

Though students don't start core classes for their majors until later on, freshman year is arguably the most important year of college. According to NPR, it sets the foundation for the rest of one's college experience. If the first year is spent slacking off, the potential for academic success drops.

Going out and having a social life is necessary, but the main purpose of college is academics. According to a study done by Niznik Behavioral Health, only 27% of students went into college with the intent to party while 90% intended to further their education. Students shouldn’t feel pressured to put school on the backburner; it is okay for grades to take priority.

There are so many ways for students to connect with campus life. According to the Student Organizations Council, there are over 400 registered organizations that students have the opportunity to be involved in.

Over 3,100 students are involved in the intramural sports program, and there are countless other groups and clubs to join. With options such as the Comedy Association, Student Government and the Songwriting Society, there is a group for everyone.

Along with campus involvement, Texas State students have many opportunities to give back to the San Marcos community. Events such as Bobcat Build, a one-day volunteer service project with over 4,000 student volunteers, and Bobcat Break, an opportunity for students to travel to communities and engage in service during university breaks, give Bobcats the chance to make a difference.

With so many new experiences, finding time to focus on grades is something that can be tough for

While everyone adjusts to college differently, new experiences are always great. Making friends and having a social life are incredibly important. Without a solid support system, college can get lonely. Stepping out of one's comfort zone, even just for one night, can lead to personal growth. Freshman year is a once-in-alifetime experience, and that fact should not be taken for granted.

Although I have only been at Texas State for a short time, I have quickly realized that it is okay to experience college in your own way. Despite the media's representation of college, remember to have fun in the way that feels most comfortable to you.

- Rhian Davis is a journalism freshman

The University Star welcomes Letters to the Editor from its readers. All submissions are reviewed and considered by the Editor-in-Chief and Opinions Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication.

ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON WARE

STAR FILE PHOTO