Texas State will reinstate associate history professor Tom Alter, pending a “due process hearing” after a Hays County judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block Alter’s termination.
483rd District Judge Alicia Key issued the order on Friday, Sept. 26, writing that Alter’s defense showed a strong likelihood that he would win the case. The TRO requires the university to follow the summary dismissal policies under the TSUS and Regulations Section 4.53 and Section 51.942 of the Texas Education Code. Both the TSUS Rules and Regulations
and the Texas Education Code require a hearing before dismissal of a tenured professor.
“Before being summarily dismissed, a faculty member will be provided with written notice of the allegations against the faculty member together with an explanation of the evidence supporting dismissal and an
opportunity for the faculty member to respond to the allegations in a hearing with an administrator designated by the President,” Section 4.531 of the TSUS Rules and Regulations states.
According to Amanda Reichek, Alter’s attorney, the reinstatement is pending the due process hearing, not the final outcome of the lawsuit.
By Cara Cervenka Life and Arts Reporter
Among the coolers of snacks and drinks usually in Sewell Park, Rodrick Hockley carries one filled with bags of homemade pickles.
What makes Hockley, a former Bobcat cornerback from 2020-23, stand out isn’t his football past or the pickles themselves, but the way he’s blended both into campus life. From handing out pickle bags on campus to stocking local convenience stores, Hockley turned a middle-school hobby into a business that became part of the San Marcos community.
By Linae Lewter Life and Arts Contributor
“The Selena Effect,” an exhibit celebrating the enduring allure and inspiration of Selena QuintanillaPérez, opened on August 8 at the The Wittliff Collections. The exhibit seeks to capture the effect of her mythic appeal.
To welcome the collection of photographs, art and fashion memorabilia, The Wittliff invited Martin Gomez, Selena’s fashion designer and close confidant, for a special conversation on Sept. 25. He sat with Hector Saldaña, The Wittliff’s music curator, with an image of his late friend projected above them.
Gomez first met Selena in June 1993 at the Sunrise Mall. He had recently moved to Corpus Christi,
“[San Marcos] is actually where I built my foundation in general,” Hockley said. “I do have a following back home in Galveston, but the support here was different. [It’s] just that atmosphere. So, to have the opportunity to be out here when people are going to push me up to, I can’t run from that.”
In middle school, Hockley wanted to make money, so he would bring pickle bags to class and sell them to his classmates and football teammates. Hockley was close with his grandmother and initially learned the recipe from her because he liked her sweet and spicy take on the pickles. Hockley continued to grow his new hobby, testing flavors and realizing people loved what he made.
when he saw her at a café. At the time, Gomez was on track to become an executive designer at Dillard’s. He approached her because her beauty and style “took [his] breath away.”
“I was infatuated with fashion, and I had not ever seen someone like her in Corpus Christi,” Gomez said. “I remember gasping, looking directly at my friend and colleague, Roseanne, and saying, ‘Wow, who’s that?’” Gomez and Selena instantly connected from their shared passion for design. She implored him to design for her. He was committed to his executive career path at Dillard’s yet wanted to help her achieve her dreams. She pursued the talent and spark she saw in him, and after four months, her tenacity convinced him. Together, they
Rodrick Hockley (right) sells his grandmother’s homemade sweet-and-spicy pickles for his business Pickley Pickles, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at Sewell Park.
Hector Saldaña (left) ,The Wittliff’s music curator, sits with Martin Gomez (right), Selena’s fashion designer and close confidant, during The Selena Effect, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in the Alkek Teaching Theater. The event celebrated and discussed Selena’s life as a Mexican-American Tejano superstar.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MEG BOLES, RYAN CLAYCAMP & ARABELLA DICHRISTINA
San Marcos Municipal Court officially relocates
By Arabella DiChristina Assistant News Editor
The San Marcos Municipal Court relocated to 350 Barnes Drive and reopened to the public on Sept. 29.
The San Marcos Municipal Court was previously located at the Hays County Government Center since 2013, with its last operational day on Sept. 22. The city held a ribboncutting ceremony for the new space on Sept. 26.
The San Marcos Municipal Court is responsible for all minor offenses, called Class C misdemeanors, and violations of city rules within the city limits of San Marcos.
According to Texas Law Help, Class C misdemeanors include traffic violations like speeding and driving with defective equipment, which carry fines up to $500. Non-traffic Class C misdemeanors include public intoxication, theft of items valued at less than $100, possession of drug paraphernalia, assault without injury and many others, all with fines not exceeding $500.
Texas Law Help defines city ordinance violations as leash law, health and safety ordinances and solicitation. The maximum fine for violating city ordinances does not exceed $2,000.
University Police Department Class C misdemeanors do not fall under the court’s jurisdiction, according to Chief Matthew Carmichael.
Municipal Court Presiding Judge Dallari Landry said the city’s real
estate team had been searching for a new location for the court for two years, due to the Court’s lease at the Government Center being terminated on Sept. 30, 2025.
“We’ve had some really inappropriate places that we looked at; we could never be a courtroom there,” Landry said. “So we came and looked at the building, and [City real estate specialist Brandon Tomasini] said, ‘I think this is a really great building’ so we gathered everybody up and we came and looked at it and said, ‘This is the one.’”
Facilities Project Manager Darren Lubbock said the new space allows San Marcos to have its own Municipal Court rather than sharing space with the county’s location.
“I feel super great about [this project]. It was a little challenge ... to get [the court] to this point here; it’s a milestone that the city has reached,” Lubbock said.
The building on Barnes Drive was found by the court in March 2024, and in May 2025, architects were hired to design the interior space of the building and estimate the costs.
Lubbock said he picked up this
project when it was halfway done.
“[The project] started, I believe, about this time last year. We had a very short duration to make this all happen,” Lubbock said.
San Marcos public safety communications specialist Russell Wilde said the interior design was completed in August 2024 at an estimated cost of $2.6 million.
Wilde wrote the anticipated build cost includes the interior build-out, upgrades to the major systems, like lighting, to convert the building into an office space.
Wilde wrote that, during the term of this lease, city council will be given a right-of-first refusal if the landlord decides to sell the building.
According to the National Association of Realtors, a right of first refusal in a lease agreement, or other formal real estate property agreement, grants its holder the first opportunity to make an offer on the property and buy it if it goes on the market.
“Every effort has been made to use as much of the interior finish-out as possible to minimize total build-out costs. Because of the significant cost, staff recommends a 20-year lease term,” Wilde wrote in an email to The Star.
County adopts fiscal year 2026 budget, increases tax rate
By Candace Taggart News Reporter
The Hays County Commissioners Court adopted the Hays County Budget and an increased tax rate for fiscal year 2026, which starts on Oct. 1.
The increase tax rate is 39 cents ($0.3999) per $100 valuation of property, which is over 4 cents more from last year’s. It is expected to raise $16.9 million in revenue from property taxes, which is an 11.27% increase from fiscal year 2025, according to Hays County Budget Officer Vickie Dorsett.
According to a press release on the fiscal year 2026 adopted budget, new property this year will increase the property tax revenue to $6.9 million, and the average home value is $460,169.
The Hays County Central Appraisal District (Hays CAD) sets the values of homes, while the county government sets the tax rate. According to Dorsett, this means counties can benefit from new homes or improvements because those values are not in the “no-new-revenue rate” and counties or residents can live off.
“If you have tremendous growth in your county, then you get the benefit of all of the new growth within your footprint,” Dorsett said. “If values remain flat, then you don’t see increases in your tax revenue because your home values are generally flat.”
This also means a tax rate increase doesn’t automatically means taxes will increase, as it varies based on individual property value. Dorsett explained that after the housing market boomed and home values increased in 2021-22, the county was able to drop the tax rate.
“The values of the homes are coming down now, and so when your values come down, your tax rate may have to go up to provide the same amount of services to your constituents,” Dorsett said.
Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487
At the Sept. 16 public hearing, some residents expressed negative feelings about the tax rate increase or how the county’s funds were being used. Hays County resident Diana Boyd spoke on behalf of her and her husband.
“I would like to express my encouragement for you all to not raise taxes,” Boyd said. “We are retired, and it’s very difficult to keep up with the taxes when you’re on a fixed income.”
After the 2024 Road Improvement Bond was ruled void because of its violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act in June, the court moved forward on posting a notice of intention for the issuance of Hays County, Texas Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation (CO) that will include projects from the voided road bond program at the July 29 commissioners court meeting. The same tax rate increase of 2 cents per $100 of value that was approved for the 2024 road bond will occur if the certificates are issued.
“So two pennies on our tax rate generates over $8 million,” Dorsett said. “Two pennies of our tax rate went to our increase in our debt rate, and that
Managing Editor: Rhian Davis starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu
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debt rate increased because of the 2024 voter approved road bond [now COs].”
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was national funding for response and recovery from the effects of COVID-19. Hays County previously received over $44 million in ARPA funding in 2021 and 2022. 22% or approximately $10.5 million of this went toward additional judicial services such as the mental health specialty court, the pre-trial diversion office, a magistrate judge and contracting with a company for the public defender’s office.
According to Dorsett, there is no longer ARPA funding to put toward these programs, so they will have to be funded from the general fund, and represent a one and a half cent ($0.015) impact on the increased tax rate.
Out of the total expenditures for the fiscal year 2026 budget, 14% of it is toward “Community and Public Service.” This is an increase from Hays County Fiscal Year 2025’s budget expenditures where 2% was set aside for community and public service. Dorsett said this was because of the Hays County 2020 Parks and Open Space Bond program and projects that will be funded this year.
“Our commissioners want to provide these green spaces,” Dorsett said. “That’s important for them, for our constituents.”
According to the press release, total funds approved were $373.8 million, which puts $248.2 million to operating funds, $55 million to debt funds and $70.3 million to construction funds.
“Our responsibility is to balance fiscal accountability with the needs of our community, and I believe this budget strikes that balance for the people of Hays County,” Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra wrote in the press release.
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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 3,300. Printing is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Director: Laura Krantz, laurakrantz@txstate.edu
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City of San Marcos Presiding Judge Dallari Landry (center) leads the ribbon cutting event at the new San Marcos Municipal Court location, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025.
CARSON RODGERS | CREATIVE SERVICE DIRECTOR
Company audits university’s parking, transit
By Ryan Claycamp News Editor
The Texas State University Police Department hired an outside company to overhaul the university’s parking and transportation policies.
UPD and Walker Consultants, the company performing the audit, held several public town halls on parking from Sept. 16-18. At the same time as analyzing parking, Walker Consultants are also looking at making improvements to campus transit, such as the shuttle services.
“Internally, parking’s going to change,” UPD Chief Matthew Carmichael said. “We’re on a new path
and this is gonna help us to ensure that we’re taking the right approach.”
According to David Lieb, a member of the Walker Consultant team, Walker started as a parking structure design firm 60 years ago, but now serves as a firm that provides parking consulting to academic institutions as well as private clients. Lieb said he has worked with about 90 colleges and universities since he joined the Walker team.
The audit comes after five years of record enrollment numbers, which have placed increasing strain on parking availability. According to UPD Parking Lt. Michele Fox, as of Sept. 22, the university sold 6,760
Alter has already been reinstated, with his Texas State putting his faculty profile back on its website. According to Jayme Blaschke, assistant director of media relations, Alter is back on payroll and is receiving his benefits again, but is not currently teaching.
“Texas State University respects the court’s decision and will reinstate Dr. Alter with pay, pending the outcome of a due process hearing which had been previously scheduled,” Blaschke wrote in an email to The Star. “Dr. Alter will not be permitted to teach classes at Texas State until due process has run its course. The university looks forward to resolving this issue in a timely manner.”
Alter was fired on Sept. 10 after Karlyn Borysenko uploaded a video of him speaking at the Revolutionary Socialism Conference. Borysenko calls herself an “anti-communist cult leader.” Texas State President Kelly Damphousse said in a statement that Alter was terminated for “conduct that advocates for inciting violence.”
Alter filed a lawsuit to fight his termination on Sept. 16. According to the complaint in the lawsuit Alter is seeking reinstatement, back pay, compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorney’s fees. He is
also asking for a declaration that their actions violated the due process and free speech clauses of the U.S. and Texas constitutions.
“Texas State University and the Texas State University System failed to comply with this law and its own policy on all counts,” the complaint states.
“Provost Aswath’s email fell far short of what due process requires.”
While Texas State has been ordered to give Alter a due process hearing, Alter will remain unable to teach until after the hearing’s results.
purple commuter permits while only having 3,445 commuter spaces available, and 3,178 red restricted permits sold while only having 2,805 spaces for the 2025-26 school year.
According to Carmichael, the audit will analyze the number of parking spaces on campus, permits sold and even different parking permit types offered. Carmichael said that based on the audit, Walker Consultants will recommend policies to bring Texas State in line with “peer institutions.”
“We try to balance the needs of faculty, staff, resident students [and] commuter students. [They] all have legitimate needs to access the campus,” Lieb said. “It is a balancing act to try and do that.”
Lieb said each university he has worked with had similar parking challenges, such as rapid campus growth, before their audits, but that because of the geographical and environmental differences of each campus, parking solutions are different at every location. According to Lieb, one of the most common proposals he has heard is to ban freshman from having cars on campus. He said doing so would require alternatives to driving.
“It does no good to count on pricing or just limiting the number of permits that are sold,” Lieb said. “People have to [have] alternatives. That’s why we are looking at the transit and transportation shuttle system at the same time.”
According to the Walker Consultants team, the goal for parking services should not count on parking citation revenue for funding.
“The goal should be that you don’t have to write tickets,” Lieb said. “The goal is to generate [parking] compliance.”
Carmichael echoed the same sentiment at the Sept. 2 Campus Safety Committee meeting. At the meeting, he proposed revising the way parking citations are priced, so that tickets that are paid off quickly are given a discount instead of the full $40 fee that comes with most citations.
“Our excessive violation fee doesn’t necessarily conform with what happens in parking nationally,” Carmichael said at the Sept. 2 meeting. “That excessive fee usually applies if you do not pay your fines, not if you’ve paid your fines.”
Student Government President Abby Myers proposed that the number of times a discount can be given for paying off a citation be limited to three, with that number resetting if the individual purchases a parking permit of a different type.
“I think operating under the assumption that students are not maliciously trying to park poorly, I would say it should reset, because you’re now experiencing a different kind of parking issue,” Myers said at the Sept. 2 meeting.
While the Campus Safety Committee did approve of Carmichael and Myers’ suggestions, Walker Consultants also plans to look at the pricing structure of citations, meaning the changes suggested at the Sept. 2 meeting may not go into effect.
The Walker Consultants team will also look at changing the enforcement methods parking services use, so enforcement is more consistent. Lieb said that current enforcement leads to people taking the risk, which he called “gambling,” since they may not get a citation every time.
An hour before the hearing in which Key issued the TRO, 23 history graduate students sent a statement to The Star. In the statement, the students called for Alter’s immediate reinstatement, saying his termination had a “catastrophic impact” on the History Department’s mission.
“First and foremost, the termination of Dr. Alter has left five master’s graduate students without their thesis chair. The chair is responsible for guiding students on their projects and is required for students to complete their graduation requirements,” the graduate students wrote in their letter. “Now, these students are forced to find alternate chairs
who likely lack the same historical specialization and who are already chairing other students.”
In a previous interview with The Star, Alter said being unable to teach has been the hardest part of his termination.
“There’s multiple things that have been really tough about this, but not being able to be there for my
students ... I mean, I was the faculty advisor to a number of student organizations, students in my classroom, my graduate students,” Alter said. “I was advising a number of graduate students for their master’s theses and comprehensive exams.”
This is a developing story. The University Star will update as information becomes available.
ROBERT RAYA | STAR ILLUSTRATOR
Associate History Professor Thomas Alter speaks at a rally in favor of his reinstatement on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 at the Hays County Historic Courthouse. Alter was previously terminated on Wednesday Sept. 10, but was reinstated on Friday Sept. 26, 2025
FROM FRONT PROFESSOR
RYAN CLAYCAMP | NEWS EDITOR
Tuesday, September 30, 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.
Texas State cannot decide policy by politics
The Main Point is an opinion written by The University Star’s Editorial Board. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of our entire publication.
By Editorial Board
U.S. politics are driving evergrowing polarization and division. At Texas State, this climate has turned the university into a political battleground, undermining the institution’s effectiveness through political pressure.
Throughout September, Texas State felt the weight of polarization more than most institutions. With events drawing national media attention, outside actors have influenced university policy, shifting focus from student success to political demands, and creating division across campus
This has resulted in weeks of protests, ongoing court battles and a growing atmosphere of fear and distrust. Institutions that prioritize political victories over their own integrity inevitably undermine the communities they serve.
Political pressure on campus reached a peak with two events: the firing of Professor Tom Alter, spurred by online pressure by Karlyn Borysenko on X, who calls herself an “anti-communist cult leader,” and the withdrawal of a Texas State student after their actions at a Charlie Kirk memorial went viral on social media. Platforms like X appear to
have become de facto deciders of institutional policy, with the university responding to pressures amplified online rather than the wishes of students, faculty or staff.
Social media pressure doesn’t come only from independent actors; it comes from the state government. Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas State Rep. Brian Harrison have publicly posted about Texas State multiple times on X, prompting immediate responses from campus administrators.
Both politicians have deliberately used social media and polarization to apply pressure and score political points with their base. Concerns that would traditionally be addressed through official channels, such as the Board of Regents, have instead been bypassed, allowing
unaffiliated social media users to influence university decisions.
Harrison has had an outsized role in campus decisions over the last year, previously putting pressure against the university after buses with Texas State branding brought people to the “Hands Off,” protest in Austin over the summer, despite the buses being privately chartered. Harrison also levied attacks against the university for a course titled “LGBTQ+ Communication Studies,” leading to its cancellation and showing the university’s willingness to appease more radical politicians.
Additionally, non-government commentators have taken to X to protest student actions, such as the student at the Kirk memorial. Because of the nature of social media, this has
led to attacks on groups, like the Black Student Alliance, by users with no affiliation to the university, operating instead from partisan interpretations of campus events. This creates significant harm for Texas State, as classroom and administrative decisions must now be weighed against how political commentators will perceive them. The university’s focus shifts from academic excellence to appeasing rising polarization, with both commentators and government figures deliberately using social media to politicize and police the campus.
These fears and harms are reflected in the campus’s responses; weeks of protests have expressed frustration with administrators’ actions. This demonstrates that caving to political demands ultimately leaves campus members dissatisfied, as priorities are sidelined, and online commentators remain displeased that further action isn’t taken.
Ultimately, Texas State and other academic institutions must remain independent of political dogfights if they are to maintain institutional excellence. When partisan politics are infused into campus policy, unhappiness spreads. Politicization has no place in education, and students ultimately bear the consequences.
Protecting Hispanic students is vital to Texas State
By Shar Kiefer Opinions Columnist
On Sept. 10, the US Department of Education announced $350 million in cuts to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Texas State has been a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSIs) since 2011, with HSIs now at severe risk due to funding cuts.
Hispanic students are vital to Texas State, and during Hispanic Heritage Month, advocating for Hispanic peers is necessary. Being an HSI not only provides a unique culture to Texas State, but also provides a safe space for all Hispanic and minority students.
Texas State prides itself on serving Hispanic students and claims to provide a safe space for them in the process. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated federal cuts were needed to end government-mandated racial quotas, which MSIs supposedly promote. Due to this narrative, Texas State will see a major decrease in grants. Programs like Spanish and Latino Studies will be more difficult to maintain. These programs allow all students to learn about cultures other than their own, as well as contribute to a shared cultural understanding throughout Texas State.
For decades, minority students have been underrepresented in education, leading to Congress introducing the Education Act of 1992, which created HSI grants. Texas State became a Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2011 after surpassing the 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold,
receiving more than $58.7 million in aid since then.
HSIs are vital because they provide equal opportunities for Hispanic students, who, according to the U.S. Department of Education (ED), are less likely to enter higher education.
Dani Lazo, a first-generation Spanish sophomore, said HSIs provide equal opportunities to all students and do not favor a certain group over another.
“It’s kind of ridiculous to say that just because we get this [HSI funding], we’re being favored,” Lazo said. “We’re already struggling to go to school in the first place; they’re taking away that opportunity from us. It’s actively just putting out more barriers for Hispanic students.”
The ED stated the cuts to MSIs would be redirected to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by claiming that HBCUs have “less discriminatory practices.” The ED claims HBCUs are based on merit and not government-mandated quotas that MSIs are “based on.”
Texas State reported a 40% Hispanic student population in 2024, while also providing services to 18,730 first-gen students. Cuts to HSI funding make services to first-gen students much more difficult to provide.
Lazo said redirecting the funds to HBCUs is deflection and looks good initially, but furthers the negative narrative on Hispanic people.
“They’re both colleges supporting two different groups of minorities. I personally feel like him [Donald Trump] sending the money over is a deflection,” Lazo said. “It just feels like a full deflection being, he’s still doing a good thing, but is actively attacking and taking away from a group that is already constantly
Letters to the Editor Policy
The University Star welcomes letters from our readers. Letters must be
300 words or fewer to be considered for publication. Writers must include their full name, mailing address, major and academic year designation (for students), phone number and e-mail address when submitting a letter.
Submissions that do not include this information cannot be published. This information is seen only by the editors and is used to verify the identify of the
being attacked.” Equity must exist in all forms of higher education; Texas State must continue to provide vital Hispanic programs despite the cuts and continue to keep Hispanic culture alive on campus. Providing minority students with an equal college education will not cause any harm to non-minority students and will uplift all students.
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Letters become the property of The Star and may be republished in any format. The letter may be edited for length and clarity. An editor will contact the letter writer if their letter is a candidate for publication. The Star will not run letters that are potentially libelous, discriminatory, obscene, threatening or promotional in nature.
Letters can be submitted to staropinion@txstate.edu or by mail to Attn: Opinion Editor, The University Star, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666.
-Shar Kiefer is a political science sophomore
JARELL CARR | STAR
FROM FRONT SELENA
launched her eponymous boutiques in 1994, opening “Selena Etc.” in San Antonio and Corpus Christi.
Gomez said Selena was highly creative and ambitious, which was why he took the risk to work with her. They would collaborate on each other’s visions, and he would often get calls from her when she had an idea.
“When I look back ... it’s crazy [Selena] had such a clear point of view on what she wanted her requirements to be,” Gomez said. “I had the power to illustrate what was in her brain. I would show her, and then she’d be like, ‘Oh yeah, but let’s do this.’ And then I would easily fix it, and create another one.”
Selena and Gomez were close friends in her final years. She made sure he was noticed by ensuring every label on his designs read “Martin Gomez exclusively for Selena.” He’s credited with designing many of Selena’s most recognizable looks, including her 1994 white Grammys dress and the purple jumpsuit worn at the 1995 Houston Astrodome concert.
On display at The Wittliff is Gomez’s original sketch of the periwinkle jumpsuit and quilted bolero jacket ensemble she was laid to rest in. Until the day of her funeral, Gomez wasn’t aware their design sketch from the early days of their friendship had been finished by the Selena Etc. boutique seam-
stresses. Finding out she would rest with a piece of him forever, something he had a fond memory of, was a profound feeling for him.
“You still can’t imagine this could possibly happen,” Gomez said. “I remember thinking, ‘You got your way,’ because I wanted it to be black, and she did it in periwinkle.”
At “The Selena Effect,” Selena’s memory touches the lives of those close to her and her millions of fans. The turnout for the event was one of the largest The Wittliff had seen, Saldaña said. Reservations quickly flew in after the event’s announcement, and it was moved from The Wittliff to the Alkek Teaching Theater.
Saldaña’s curation of “The Selena Effect” is inspired by the continuing attraction people feel for her. In 2022, he displayed photographs of her at The Wittliff and noticed how she drew in people too young to have lived through her tragedy.
“I had a feeling they’re seeing something that’s either a little bit of themselves in her, or they’re seeing her as a jump-off point for inspiration,” Saldaña said. “Whatever it is, it’s happening in the present tense … It’s hard to verbalize exactly what that is, but it is real, and it doesn’t happen with a lot of artists.”
Those in attendance personified Saldaña’s observation, varying in ages, statuses and cultures.
They found a characteristic in Selena that spoke to them the way she spoke to Gomez and Saldaña.
One of them was Cynthia Maldonado, integrated studies senior, who credits her love for Selena to her mom. When Maldonado learned of the language challenge Selena faced to fit in with her Tejano community, she connected with that first, and then later with the art culture Selena created.
“She represents Mexican American women who don’t understand or speak Spanish as well as everyone else,” Maldonado said. “I hope to conquer it one day like her, and she’s also just an amazing singer, fashionista and an amazing person … Her mirror dress, that’s one of my favorite dresses. I redesigned it for my 23rd birthday. I call it my ‘Selena year.’”
“The Selena Effect” will be on view through Dec. 6, 2026, on the seventh floor of the Alkek Library. The Wittliff Collections is free to enter and is open from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday and 12:30-4:30 p.m. on weekends.
“I wasn’t a big school guy,” Hockley said. “I wanted to be an architect coming into college, then playing football reeled me away from that path. So afterwards, it was getting a degree for my mom and grandma.”
When he arrived at Texas State, the business took off. The support of coaches, friends and even President Kelly Damphousse — who once bought pickles from him — pushed him to keep growing Pickley Pickles. He played football for four years, graduated in spring 2024 and left with more than a degree.
At first, Hockley said he wasn’t interested in academics, but his degree in applied arts and sciences taught him skills that carried straight into his business. Marketing, branding and the confidence to pitch himself all emerged from his time at Texas State.
Hockley used those lessons to grow Pickley Pickles into a recognizable brand with merchandise, social media buzz and partnerships with stores across San Marcos. Currently, his pickles are stocked at AJ’s Ranch Road Grill, Mill Street Market, Bobcat Quickie and two Shell stations.
Hockley has nearly 4,500 Instagram followers who keep up with his posts, but most students recognize him by his logo, a green “P” shaped like a pickle that can be seen on his hat and other merchandise. Hockley said he comes to campus at places like the Alkek Library and the TrauthHuffman Hall Arch three or four days a week with about 30 bags, selling each for $5.
“I’m not a salesman, I don’t
go out and sell pickles,” Hockley said. “I’m here to service needs. You’re at the river. It’s hot outside. I got a bag full of ice-cold pickles.”
For Hockley, building connections was as important as the pickles themselves. Outgoing by nature, he said he gets people interested simply by walking up, talking and showing his personality.
Students say Hockley’s personality is as memorable as his product. Alexis Miles, interior design senior, said Hockley’s presence at Sewell Park has become familiar. She first met him in early June 2025, when he introduced himself to her and her friends at the river.
“He’s really nice and outgoing, and he doesn’t force you to buy his pickles,” Miles said. “Every time we go out there, he introduces himself, and he gives us a little background history about what he does, and he’s always been very friendly.”
Ali Ditto, who met Hockley in July 2025 during a friend’s birthday celebration at the San Marcos River, said his approach made a lasting impression on her and the whole group.
“He walked up to us and started talking about pickles … it was very sweet and charming, and I think he’s gonna be successful,” Ditto said. Hockley calls his supporters “Pickle Pushers” and wants his brand to reflect positivity and authenticity.
“Having that genuine forefront when you’re going into an interaction, the whole interaction is going to be genuine,” Hockley said. “We’re having a real conversation. I think I’m a very understanding person. I’m here to hear people out, so I tell people I’m pushing people for pickles, but it’s also positive.”
Texas State alumnus Rodrick Hockley sells his grandmother’s homemade sweetand-spicy pickles for his business Pickley Pickles, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at Sewell Park.
MAYA CONTRERAS | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
FROM FRONT PICKLES
Left: An ofrenda honoring Selena’s legacy on display next to her photographs at “The Selena Effect” exhibition. The ofrenda features objects and handmade sculptures relating to Selena’s life as a Tejano star. Right: A retablo of Selena hangs on a wall next to an image of her wearing a gold cap displayed on a wall, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, at the Wittliff Collections on the seventh floor of Alkek Library. Artist Marc Burckhardt created the retablo in 2010, while the wall image is from a 1994 Coca-Cola photo shoot by photographer Al Rendon.
ISABELLE CANTU | ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Sun Belt outlook: conference titles up for grabs
By Adrian Ramirez Sports Editor
Texas State volleyball has officially begun its last slate of conference play in the Sun Belt. A series split with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns puts Texas State at 1-1 after the first weekend. As the defending Sun Belt Conference Tournament champions, the target on Texas State’s back is bigger than most. Here’s how the ever-competitive conference stacks up.
The defending champions
Two teams are looking to defend a crown from last year. Texas State holds the title of conference tournament champions, while Arkansas State is the defending regular-season conference champion.
Both teams split their respective weekend series as ASU went 1-1 vs Georgia State this past weekend. Up to this point of the season, each squad’s record is likely not where they would want it to be, although the level of competition plays a large factor in each team’s respective record.
Texas State currently sits below .500 with a 6-7 record, but stiff pre-conference competition that included top 10 matches against No. 3 Stanford and No. 8 Arizona State contributed to a less-than-ideal earlyseason record.
Arkansas State sits at 8-5. Just
as the Bobcats, ASU has two ranked losses under its belt, coming from No. 21 Missouri and No. 25 Georgia Tech.
Regardless of what happened before conference play, the level of competition that TXST and ASU have already seen should have each team feeling comfortable knowing they have already played some of the toughest teams in the country.
Early contenders
Five teams enter the second week of conference play with 10+ wins. Georgia Southern (11-2), Coastal Carolina (10-4), Appalachian State (10-3), Georgia State (10-3) and Southern Mississippi (10-3).
Of those five, Georgia Southern, Coastal and Southern Miss each went 2-0 in their opening conference series. Between the three, only one set was dropped as GS swept Old Dominion twice, Southern Miss swept Louisiana-Monroe twice and Coastal defeated Marshall 3-0, 3-1.
App State split with James Madison and Georgia State split with Arkansas State over the weekend.
Trailing close behind James Madison (8-6), Marshall (8-7), Louisiana (9-3), Louisiana-Monroe (9-7) and South Alabama (7-6) make up the next group in the Sun Belt. With the season still in its
early stages, any one of these squads has the ability to catapult itself atop the conference.
James Madison leads the Sun Belt in kills per set (14.30), assists per set (13.30), and team hitting percentage
Either ODU or Troy rank last in all seven major statistical categories to this point in the season. Old Dominion ranks last in all the major offensive categories (kills, assists, service aces and hitting percentage), while Troy ranks last in all the major defensive categories (opp. hitting percentage,
Old Dominion (3-10) and Troy (2-8) appear to be the two odd teams out in contention for a Sun Belt title this season.
The deck is stacked against both squads this season, but conference play is all that matters anymore, meaning every team has an equal opportunity from here on
Texas State prepares for final Sun Belt opener vs. ASU
By Ayden Oredson Assistant Sports Editor
Texas State football (3-1, 0-0 SBC) will begin its Sun Belt Conference slate for the last time as it prepares to tangle with the Arkansas State Red Wolves (1-4, 0-1 SBC) on Oct. 4 at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Ark.
The Bobcats, returning from a bye week, are previously coming off a 35-3 home victory against FCS opponent Nicholls State on Sept. 20. Head coach G.J. Kinne emphasized the importance of health after integral players, such as senior offensive linemen Tellek Lockette and junior wide receiver Chris Dawn Jr., among others, were absent from the game as they focus on recovering from injuries.
“We needed this game after Arizona State to get back in rhythm,” head coach G.J. Kinne said following the victory against Nicholls State. “Get healthy and ready for the next game.”
Texas State’s offense will continue to rely on its potent rushing attack from a combination of freshman quarterback Brad Jackson and running backs Lincoln Pare, Jaylen Jenkins and Greg Burrell. The Bobcats are statistically one of the best rushing teams, averaging 221.5 yards per game, good for No. 19 across the entire NCAA, along with 13 touchdowns on the ground.
The offense, while statistically balanced, leans toward rushing and does have the potential to improve the passing game.
Air-wise, Jackson continues to ramp up his passing as he averages 216 passing yards per game and has amassed six scores, five of them to arguably his most reliable target at the moment, junior wide receiver Beau Sparks.
Statistically, Sparks is the standout receiver, leading the way with 28 receptions and 370 yards.
Defensively, the Bobcats have a lot to work on. While the defense gives up just 25 points per game on average, they had yet to force any turnovers at all
this season until junior cornerback Khamari Terrell’s interception against Nicholls State back on Sept. 20, and they rarely get to the quarterback, totaling just seven sacks across four games.
Texas State has dealt with minimal issues while handling the air and ground game, giving up 188 passing yards and 190 rushing yards a game.
“[The interception] felt great, defense hasn’t been playing up to the standard this season,” defensive end Kalil Alexander said during a postgame conference after the win against Nicholls State. “We just have to keep building on top of that to get where we want to be.”
While these are issues Texas State seeks to correct leading up to this week’s matchup, Arkansas State looks to be a team that continues to tumble down.
The Red Wolves, who previously lost in a 41-9 blowout to the Bobcats last season in San Marcos, are currently experiencing a three-game slide stretching back to Sept. 6.
Arkansas State is once again led by junior quarterback Jaylen Raynor, whom Texas State previously played against last season.
The Red Wolves’ offense is a lethal threat in the air as Raynor has the second-most passing yards in the Sun Belt with 1,210 across five games, contributing five passing scores that have been evenly distributed across his wide receiver corps. He is a bit turnover-prone, however, having thrown four interceptions.
While the overall offense has shown promising signs, Arkansas State’s defense is among the worst in the entire country across the first five games of the season.
The Red Wolves’ defense lets up a total average of 467 yards per game, good for ninth-worst in the nation, and has given up 2,335 total yards overall. Arkansas State has trouble containing both sides of the offense, having given up over 1,000 yards each to passing and rushing.
They also have a difficult time preventing teams from scoring, giving up 32 points per game as well. Unlike Texas State, however, they have no problem with forcing turnovers with eight overall, tacking on an even four interceptions and four fumbles recovered.
The Bobcats are set to kick off their final Sun Belt Conference slate in Jonesboro, Ark., at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4. The game will be available to watch on ESPNU.
Texas State sophomore wide receiver Chris Dawn Jr. (1) dodges the Arkansas State defense after a successful catch, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at UFCU Stadium.
STAR FILE PHOTO
Texas State volleyball team lines up for player announcements before the game, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 at Strahan Arena. Arizona State won in five sets, 3-2.
LIBBY ALLEN | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
LIBBY ALLEN | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
THIS WEEK AT TXST
Texas State volleyball celebrates after scoring a point, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Strahan Arena. Texas State beat Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 3-0.
Texas State students gather at The Stallions holding signs for the Unity Protest, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, on The Quad. The Unity Protest was held in reaction to the hate Black students have faced after a viral video from the Charlie Kirk memorial at Texas State that lead a student to withdraw.
LIBBY ALLEN | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Scan the QR code to view all photos.
Co-Owner of the San Market gift shop Janice Hardaway fills popcorn bags for the business’ 1-year birthday bash, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at The San Market. The San Market is locally owned by Hardaway and her partner Kelly Bara.
Texas State music studies sophomore Karla Alvizo performs ‘Bidi Bidi Bom Bom’ during “The Selena Effect,” Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, at the Alkek Teaching Theatre. Texas State’s Mariachi is an awardwinning group.
Texas State students lead a “Unity Protest” across campus in response to hate received after a viral video from a Charlie Kirk memorial at Texas State, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at Harris Dining Hall. Students walked from First Five Freedom Hall to The Fighting Stallions.
