TUESDAY November 7, 2023 VOLUME 113 ISSUE 14 www.UniversityStar.com
Prop 5 to increase funding at Texas public universities By James Phillips News Contributor Proposition 5 (Prop 5), a constitutional proposition being voted on this ballot, is a proposal to create a fund for upcoming tier-two research institutions such as Texas State. The proposed Texas University Fund (TUF) would be a $3.5 billion dollar endowment for schools that have spent at least $20 million in private and federal research funds for at least three years in a row. Nathan McDaniel, a lobbyist for Prop 5, said the proposition is a long time coming and will help Texas universities catch up with other states. "The state of California has 10 tier-one institutions, the state of North Carolina has 3 in a one hour drive of each other," McDaniel said. "[This] means we are behind and [Prop 5] is a step in the right direction." The fund is a reorganization and expansion of the previous National Research University Fund with additional funding from the state's "rainy day" fund and a one-time allotment of $3 billion from the state’s budget surplus. Because the money is from existing accounts, Prop 5 will not create any more taxes. "These [surplus] dollars come from sales tax, property tax and online shopping during COVID-19," McDaniel said. "[During COVID-19], tax revenue went through the roof." According to McDaniel, Texas State, one of the qualifying universities, would receive an additional $40 million per year for research-specific activities.
INFOGRAPHIC BY SARAH MANNING
First-time voters exercise their right at the polls
SEE LEGISLATION PAGE 5
The Main Point is an opinion written by The University Star's Editorial Board. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of our entire publication.
Local elections deserve attention
By Lucciana Choueiry News Reporter As the highly anticipated Election Day edges closer in the San Marcos community, a buzz surrounds the Texas State campus as some students prepare to exercise their right to vote for the first time. In the upcoming city general election, eligible citizens are casting their vote for 14 Texas propositions and council members in places three and four. Currently, Alyssa Garza and Shane Scott occupy these positions, respectively.
SEE ELECTION PAGE 5
PHOTO BY CARLENE OTTAH
Academic adviser Claire Richardson (left) receives her access code from team leader Aart Millecam (back), Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, at the LBJ Student Center.
By Editorial Board Though they’re tedious and easy for students to ignore, local elections are one of the most important parts of democracy in the U.S. National elections are often common knowledge. They dominate both mainstream media and social media platforms, allowing people to learn about who and what is on the ballot. Local elections, however, get less coverage which often leads to low voter turnout. An article from The New York Times stated only 27% of eligible voters show up for local elections. According to the Texas Tribune, “Texas was founded with one of the country’s most restrictive constitutions,” which limits
what the government can do. Because of this, Texas is a state with an excess amount of elections to put as many offices on the ballot as possible to ensure citizens “[have] a say in their elected officials on every level of the government.” While these elections were put in place as a positive measure, they caused voter turnout in Texas to be incredibly low, as people have trouble keeping up with each different election. “I think people don't understand the impact of local elections on their daily life and so they just don't turn out for them,” Hays County Elections Administrator and Voter Registrar Jennifer Doinoff said. “People just lose track of when we're having elections.”
Voter turnout in college towns used to be relatively low, however, it has risen in recent years, jumping to 66% in the 2020 presidential election according to a report released by Tufts University. While college students are showing up for national elections, it is equally, if not more important for them to show up for local elections. Of 13 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, there are two that students should pay attention to. Proposition 5 will allow Texas lawmakers to create a $3.9 billion endowment “to help other ‘emerging’ research universities” in Texas, including Texas State, according to San Antonio Express News.
SEE EDITORIAL PAGE 6
Texas Rising at TXST encourages students to vote, find individual voices By Haley Velasco Life and Arts Editor According to Statista, in 2022, adults from the age of 1824 were the lowest group of registered voters in the U.S. with only 49.1% being registered. Texas Rising at Texas State is here to change that. Texas Rising is a nonprofit, nonpartisan project within Texas Freedom Network, a statewide grassroots organization with a mission toward equality and social justice. The main mission of Texas Rising is to promote voter education and outreach to college students. Since 2018, Texas Rising has created chapters on more than 20 col-
SEE CLUBS PAGE 5
lege campuses in Texas, including the University of Texas at Austin, Baylor University, Texas A&M and Texas State. “Our main goal is to empower young people,” Isabella Nieto, Texas Rising’s regional program coordinator for San Antonio and San Marcos, said. “Those are the people that we’re trying to reach and get more involved to feel like they have the skills, capacity and the voice to advocate for themselves and others.” Along with encouraging students to register to vote, Texas Rising also advocates for reproductive justice, climate justice, LGBTQ+ equality, immigration and criminal justice reform and more, according to Nieto. ILLUSTRATION BY ITZIE PULIDO
The University Star
2 | Tuesday, November 7, 2023
NEWS
Blake Leschber News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
City Council Place 3 Candidate By Ryan Claycamp News Reporter
San Marcos City Council Place 3 will appear on the ballots for the Nov. 7 election. City Council Place 3 is an elected office that serves alongside the San Marcos mayor and other city council places. The incumbent for Council Place 3, council member Alyssa Garza, is running unopposed, meaning she will be reelected for the 2023-26 term.
Bio Garza, a sociology graduate of Texas State, works for the local political advocacy group Mano Amiga and was previously elected in to city council in 2020. After serving her first three-year term Garza feels more experienced and believes she can now make more informed votes and more impactful decisions for her community. Garza feels the current structure of city council prevents her from fully being able to voice the desires and needs of the community, which she said has resulted in her disliking being in office. "I hope that [voters] don't take that as me saying I'm not going to show up for them 110%. I want to be authentic about the experience of a regular person being in office,"
Alyssa Garza
Garza said. "For people that have heard me say I hate being in office, or that I am miserable in office, that's true, but I love serving my community." One of Garza's major goals for her next term is to understand the conversation around affordable housing in the U.S. implement solutions in San Marcos. "I have been challenging myself to seek different resources, materials and I have been attending virtual zoom conversations," Garza said. "Just really trying to understand the different theories and strategies that folks have applied to tackling affordable housing in their communities."
History •
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Did not approve Meet and Confer Agreement with San Marcos Police Department. Approved freezing utility payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Did not approve renewing the juvenile curfew ordinance.
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Did not approve raising San Marcos city tax in 2021. Approved requiring lobbyists to register and elected city officials to report their communications with lobbyists.
• Terms in Office: 2020-23
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALYSSA GARZA
City Council Place 4 Candidate Alyssa Garza.
INFOGRAPHIC BY BLAKE LESCHBER
Publication Info
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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 3,500. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.
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The University Star
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | 3
NEW S
Blake Leschber News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
City Council Place 4 Candidates By Jessica Galvan News Contributor San Marcos City Council Place 4 will be on the ballot for Hays County voters. City Council Place 4 is an elected official who will work beside San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson and five other council members on the San Marcos city council. Shane Scott and Atom Von Arndt are the two candidates running for this position.
Shane Scott
Bio Shane Scott, the incumbent and a Texas State alumnus, is one of the candidates running for Place 4 and has been elected for three terms on City Council Place 4. Scott, who owns German Elite Autos, started the dealership while in college and continued to do so for 30-plus years to this day. He had a full career in the automotive industry before going into politics. Joining politics for Scott was to help “[bring balance] between the university and town [of San Marcos] together.” The reason why Scott keeps running for Place 4 is he wishes to keep that balance around the city of San Marcos. Scott chose to live in and represent San Marcos because he attended Texas State University. “It’s just the vibe of the stu-
dents, the learning and just the overall camaraderie that you get going to school here [at Texas State University],” Scott said. “I loved it. I didn’t want to leave." Scott wishes to share the great time he has had here in San Marcos with those around the community and bring everyone together. “There [has been] a lot of naysayers that don’t want students here […] I do because I was one of them,” Scott said. Scott hopes to bring the city and university together to create an atmosphere of community in San Marcos. “[That experience] you get going to [Texas State], it’s a real blessing to have this place around,” Scott said.
History PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANE SCOTT
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San Marcos Police Officer's Association supported his 2020 race. Approved Meet and Confer Agreement with San Marcos Police Department. Approved Youth Program Standards of Care. Approved $40,000 grant to Hays County Food Bank. Approved removal of juvenile curfew ordinance. Approved property tax revenue increase.
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Approved temporary agreement to sell Edwards Aquifer water to Kyle. Approved elminating five-day holding period exception for impounded stray cats having no traceable identification. Approved public transit system interlocal agreement with CARTS. Approved four-hour parking restriction between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
City Council Place 4 Candidate Shane Scott.
“It’s just the vibe of the students, the learning and just the overall camaraderie that you get going to school here [at Texas State University]. I loved it. I didn’t want to leave." Shane Scott City Council Place 4 Candidate
• Terms in Office: 2010 to 2012, 2012 to 2015, 2020 to 2023
Atom von Arndt
PHOTO COURTESY OF ATOM VON ARNDT
Bio Atom von Arndt is running for City Council Place 4. von Arndt is a New Braunfels native, though he moved to Florida for about a decade, then came to San Marcos in 2018 to be closer to his son. “When I was a little kid, San Marcos was the magical place to go to,” von Arndt said. von Arndt said his journey into politics is a little different than some. von Arndt recalled a big construction that took place on Hopkins Street that took over two years to finish which sparked his interest in local politics. “What got me started on the road to office, were the roads themselves here in San Marcos,” von Arndt said. “Who’s looking at these plans?” This led von Arndt to run for
San Marcos City Council to give citizens a chance to understand what is going on throughout San Marcos and what they are signing when renting or purchasing homes. von Arndt is known for promoting his race in the election as “City Clouncil”. City Clouncil gives dedication to von Arndt who has been a clown for 15 years. von Arndt is running to be able to give San Marcos's young renters a chance to have a voice and understanding of leases. von Arndt wants to try to stop what he calls "crooked leases" from impacting young renters. "The main thing right now... is finding a way to make sure that these predatory leases aren't allowed to be pushed out," von Arndt said.
City Council Place 4 Candidate Atom von Arndt.
History •
What got me started on the road to office were the roads themselves here in San Marcos. Who's looking at these plans?" Atom Von Arndt City Council Place 4 Candidate
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Approves prioritizing affordability crisis. Approves focusing city council on individuals and not corporations. Approves prioritizng renters when they sign leases.
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Approves expansion of public transportation services. Does not approve development that impacts the aquifer recharge zone.
• Previous Employment: Performance clown and salesman
The University Star
4 | Tuesday, November 7, 2023
“ “
Overvoted 55 people in The University Star’s Oct. 16 survey Over 100 people in Thevoted University Star’s Sept. 12 survey about commuter parking. According to the voters:
about Texas State shuttles.
86% of voters thought $40 parking tickets that
86% of voters believe the increase to $55 after 10shuttles days areare too expensive. overcrowded.
thought there should be more available 90.8% 68%ofofvoters voters say they’ve been late to class parking for commuters.
because of shuttle wait times.
13.3% of voters risk a parking ticket or a tow every time they park on campus.
“We should put more resources into other forms of transportation like more buses... If building parking lots is a must, then I would suggest building parking lots underground,” “It’s a battle to get onto the bus, especial- Andrew Bauer
ly if you’re going from the campus to the parking “I have beenstadium over an hour latelot.” to class already
several times because I could not find parkLea ing… There needs-to beHartman direct, and faster transportation from the lots that are further away as well… Maybe present this problem to the engineering students… Give a free parking pass to the student or team that comes up
The University Star
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | 5
NEWS
Blake Leschber News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT LEGISLATION This bill comes as Texas State works to achieve tier-one status by 2027. An institution's research rank is determined by the Carnegie classifications of research institutions which defines tierone institutions by various categories. Tier-one research universities are "the highest possible rank among research universities," meaning they spend $50 million on research and award at least 70 research doctorates annually. Universities such as University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M both fall under the classification of tier-one. Texas State, however, is currently a tier-two research institution, meaning it only spends $5 million in annual research and awards at least 20 doctorates annually. According to The Texas Tribune, Texas State would split the funds with three other institutions; "Texas Tech [receving] $44 million in the first year; UH [receving] $48 million and UNT [receving] $21 million." TUF, while starting as a $3.9 billion dollar endowment, would receive an additional $100 million annually from interest coming from the rainy day fund. According to McDaniel, there are limits to how the funds could be spent.
INFOGRAPHIC BY EVA BOWLER
"[TUF funds] would have restricted funding," McDaniel said. "It can only be used for research activity, whether
they are doing research in the lab, recruiting professions, obtaining grants." Funding from TUF would go to-
ward the establishment of new Ph.D. programs and toward the expansion of current research activities – such as the STAR park complex. Some groups, such as the Texas State Employees Union (TSEU), would like to see these funds directly reinvested into the facility. TSEU is currently asking for the Texas State administration to use the possible funds from Prop 5 for wage increases and for the hiring of additional staff and faculty. "I am all on board with us becoming a tier-one institution," Thomas Edgar, a representative of TSEU, said. "[But] if you're going to be R1 you need [more] people, it's more work. Faculty and staff salary has had its first significant raise in years, but it has to be more." Edgar said TSEU's hope is that additional funding from Prop 5 will help the employee retention rate at Texas State increase. "[Employee retention] has been difficult," Edgar said. "[People] know that pay at Texas State is not up there... to attract a lot of people. It's not enough to retain people [because they are] doing the work of two of three people and not getting compensated for it."
FROM FRONT ELECTION
INFOGRAPHIC BY AFAAF ALNAHAS
David Rodriguez, a political science graduate student and a first-time voter in the San Marcos election, said he is looking for transparency in the candidates he chooses. “Historically [in other elections], there have been candidates who I voted for that when push came to shove they did not vote the way I thought they would on an issue,” Rodriguez said.
Being a political science student, Rodriguez said he learned the importance of voting, specifically in a city like San Marcos that he believes has a predominantly student populous. “The university has a large economic benefit to the area, and more than that, it has a large impact on Texas,” Rodriguez said. “These are the kids who are going to go out and work in the places and make differences in different areas of Texas.” Jermari Rini, a marketing freshman, said being a first-time voter in San Marcos is one of the final steps in his transition to adulthood. “It gives me more sense of responsibility because you see older people voting, but now I’m going to vote,” Rini said. “It’s now something that I do, especially as a college student.” Rini said he hopes the newly-elected councilmembers focus on addressing the pressing issues of parking and transportation, which have remained persistent obstacles for him as a resident and student. However, Braeden Aubrey, a geographic information systems freshman, said while he’s been given the opportunity to vote, his decision is based on what would work best for long-term residents and not people like him who are leaving after college. “The perspective of Texas State students is different from that of local San Marcos residents,” Aubrey said. “I just look around and think what would the people actually living here want.” Aubrey said he only got invested in politics recently and wants to take that newfound interest to make a difference. Having never voted before, Aubrey said he did not run into any issues with voter registration, but he struggled to find out where the polls were. “I didn’t know where to vote until I went to the local library and I asked a nice lady and she told me as a Texas State student I can go to LBJ [Student Center],” Aubrey said.
For many freshmen like Rini and Aubrey, this marks a significant year of first experiences — from navigating independent living for the first time to transitioning into college life and, most importantly, being a first-time voter. However, this new voting experience brings with it the responsibility to make wellinformed decisions. Rini said he is committed to remaining well-informed about the various ballot measures he votes on, emphasizing the importance of staying engaged beyond the election period.
It gives me more sense of responsibility because you see older people voting, but now I'm going to vote. It's now something that I do, especially as a college student." JERMARI RINI Marketing freshman
Rodriguez said he always stays up to date on the local newspapers to see what is going on in the community to make an educated vote. “There’s a lot of resources, like The Star, Community Impact and even Snapchat has a ‘What’s on your ballot?’ resource and I’ve used all of those resources,” Rodriguez said. “The biggest thing is research.” While voting for the first time can be exciting, Aubrey said it can be overwhelming to make the right decision, but he finds solace in looking back on how things are done in a familiar place like his hometown New Braunfels. “Yes, voting is scary. Yes, it’s a lot of responsibility,” Aubrey said. “It is your vote though and if you do it, you may inspire someone else to vote and that makes it a loss less lonely.”
FROM FRONT CLUBS Texas Rising has collaborated with local advocacy group Mano Amiga to collect petition signatures for Prop A to be placed on the ballot and contributed to get an immigrant Legal Defense Fund passed. Although Texas Rising has had satisfactory changes for its organization, the main struggles members see is the lack of confidence students have in their own voice. “A lot of people are just apathetic that their vote even matters,” Jacob Graybill, a public administration senior and leader for Texas Rising, said. “That’s something that I try to fight against and overcome. There’s sensible things that we can work for on a local level where we can actually see our voices being heard.” Graybill came in as a leader this semester, but has been intrigued to join a political organization since 2020 after taking a Texas politics course his freshman year. Since his newfound love for becoming involved with Texas activism, Graybill has spent most of his time this semester helping students register to vote and making greater connections with members in the state capitol. “I’ve met so many [people] through tabling on campus and getting to know so many smart politically-minded students in the area,” Graybill said. “We’ve also gone up to the Capitol and I’ve been able to get more educated and network with a lot of these generous political officials. It has been really beneficial.” The need to join a political organization was the same for Adriana Montoya, a public administration senior and leader for Texas Rising at Texas State.
Montoya joined in 2021 after seeing the work Texas Rising did in her hometown El Paso. Through her time with Texas Rising, Montoya has not only become grateful for meeting new students, but she has become determined to make sure voices are followed through, one student at a time. “I am responsible for getting people registered to vote and making sure that even after people are registered to vote that they still understand the issue,” Montoya said. “It doesn’t just end with them signing the paper. It’s a whole process of keeping students civically engaged.”
Scan the QR code to keep up with Texas Rising at Texas State on Instagram.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ISABELLA NIETO
Public administration senior Jacob Graybill (left) assists students with voter registration forms, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in front of Alkek Library.
The University Star
6 | Tuesday, November 7, 2023
OPINIONS
Rhian Davis Opinions Editor staropinions@txstate.edu
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.
FROM FRONT EDITORIAL Proposition 9 would authorize the state to direct $3.3 billion to raise pensions for retired teachers in Texas. Every year, the Texas State Honors College participates in a partnership with the National Voter Registration Day program and has hosted voter events since 2016. Honors College adviser Michelle Sotolongo said the Honors College also works to provide election information year-round so students know what to expect. “We encourage our students to be involved on campus, but also off campus in the community, and voting is a huge part of that,” Sotolongo said. “These things may affect them now while they’re currently in school. But even later on, you can see the ripple effect of what their voting could do for future generations of Texas State students.” In national elections, it is hard to see the effects of one's individual vote, however, votes in local elections show an impact almost immediately. Local officials, such as those in the San Marcos City Council, make decisions that influence the daily lives of citizens. Sotolongo said city council has the power to approve new apartment buildings, impact affordable housing and other issues within the city that can affect students, even if they’re not directly tied to Texas State. Two city council positions, Place 3 and Place 4, are on the ballot this election. College is often the first instance in which young adults become aware of their political environment. With the newfound right to vote, students begin to pay attention to national politics, and they get excited to wield their power. Though this energy is important in national elections, students must realize their voices are necessary in local elections. The population of San Marcos is just over 70,000 people, with Texas State students taking up over 30,000 of those people. Jacob Graybill, a public administration senior and student leader for Texas Rising at Texas State, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that strives to spread voter education and outreach to college students, said student voices are stronger when they’re organized and educated on local issues. “Unfortunately, a lot of people draw a boundary between the locals of San Marcos and the students,” Graybill said. “There is definitely a group of longtime elites in San Marcos that really think the students should have no voice for how the city is. We, as students, really need to make sure our voices are heard in regard to making sure our rents are affordable, policing is equitable and transportation is better.” Students must realize how important it is to show up for elections in San Marcos. The only way to ensure representation and to make a lasting contribution is to participate in local elections.
Political parties are obsolete By Samuel Marentes Opinions Contributor Students entering college are either 18 years old or are only a short period away from turning it. This mark of adulthood comes with plenty of new benefits; one new perk is the right to vote. College-aged students are often the newest to join the voter population, making them one of the most valuable voices for politicians to try and sway in their favor. The new generation of the electorate doesn't have a stake in either donkeys or elephants; they want to work toward a better future. Still, in spite of politicians' various efforts to win the hearts of Gen Z voters, research shows that a majority of the young electorate shows little faith in their current government. The Sine Institute, in a study, interviewed approximately 1,500 people aged 18-34, shedding some light on young voters' sentiments in relation to their government. About half of the respondents believe the government is more likely to impede their life goals, compared to a quarter believing it helps. On top of this, about a third of respondents felt they were worse off than their parents when it came to having a functional, representative government. Across both sides of the political spectrum, practically every popular politician sports a higher disapproval than approval rating, suggesting that America's young voters show little enthusiasm for any of the front-running representatives. It's clear the general consensus on the political future for these young voters is rather bleak. Contrary to the negative view of politics displayed, young voters showed out in record numbers for the 2020 presidential election, with CNBC reporting over half of the eligible electorate casting a vote. A Pew Research article shows that Gen Z made up 8% of the electorate in the 2020 presidential election, meaning they account for nearly a tenth of all ballots cast. Even without the adrenaline of a presidential election, NPR found that similar patterns persisted for the 2022 midterms. Gen Z is continuously setting records for youth voter turnout and making their presence known at the polls, so the question remains: why is their political outlook so dreary? The Sine Institute study emphasized a bipartisan disapproval for the respective leaders of each political party. The Democratic Party is currently being led by an 80-year-old man, one that can barely relate to his young adult voter base. Across the aisle, the Republican Party's most recent leader has just been arrested, his mugshot sparking a significant cultural event. Young voters aren't ecstatic about any of the names on the ballot. While this could easily be pinned onto the individual candidates, it might be worth looking at it as an issue with party politics as a whole. Almost since its inception, the American electoral system has operated on the basis of two competing sides taking the bulk of voters, with very minimal interruption from any third parties.
ILLUSTRATION BY DJ ROSS
From the Libertarians to the Green Party, many unorthodox candidates have tried their hand in the presidential election, but never get the mainstream support to put up a fight. Since the 1850s, the two forces touching gloves have been the Democratic and Republican Party, and though they've gone through some changes, the general system hasn't. If both sides feel insufficient to young voters, party politics deserve a degree of scrutiny. Limiting choices to two options, which seldom differ greatly from one another, narrows the scope of how they can utilize their vote. Such restrictions will naturally create some reluctance. Politicians must move past small college tours or finding better insults than their opponent. Young voters need to see an electoral system that works for them, one that speaks to the issues close to their hearts. Elections might feel like they're based off derogatory accusations, encouraging the mentality of choosing one candidate solely because they're slightly less disappointing than their opponent. It isn't effective and it doesn't solve any of the problems young voters care about. Gen Z is only going to make up a larger fraction of the electorate as the years go on. If politicians want to keep the record voting numbers that have been present in recent years, they need a new approach. Really, these voters are just looking for hope. The party system is over; it's time to move on from our traditional red and blue banners. -Samuel Marentes is an English junior 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.
MAP BY DJ ROSS