Issuu

TXST plans for on-campus housing as enrollment increases

By Lucciana Choueiry News Editor

As enrollment grows, Texas State is adding two new dorms and introducing plans to accommodate on-campus housing options for upperclassmen.

Texas State’s on-campus housing currently fits 9,042 students, including the recently opened Alamito and Cibolo Halls, according to Bill Mattera, executive director of the Department of Housing and Residential Life (DHRL). By 2027, that number is projected to increase to 11,300 with the addition of Canyon Hall and a second Hilltop Housing complex.

Texas State University Provost Pranesh Aswath said enrollment is also expected to steadily increase through 2027, driven by the state’s rising high school graduation rates. On-campus housing plans are

designed to align with this anticipated growth.

Canyon Hall will begin housing freshmen in fall 2025 with the addition of 942 beds and will be located between Supple Science and San Marcos Hall.

Hays County property tax increase to impact rent

By Jacquelyn Burrer News Reporter

Hays County residents could see rising rent prices following the commissioners court’s decision to increase property taxes by nearly 14% on Sept. 17.

The Hays County Commissioners Court raised the property tax rate from $0.3075 to $0.35 per $100 of valuation, effective in October. While the new rate is in effect, payments are not yet due, prompting apartment complexes to adjust in advance.

SEE COUNTY PAGE 2

“Canyon [Hall] helps us quite a bit, it gives us another 942 beds which essentially allows us to fully be okay with the first-year class,” Mattera said.

Students experience increased base rent prices

By Candace Taggart, Lesdy Hernandez News Reporters

Over the last several years, rent increases about 13% in San Marcos with each year increasing 2 to 3% more, according to Eric Algoe, vice president for operations and chief financial officer at Texas State.

Algoe said Texas State aims to provide more housing options for students due to the increase in rent in San Marcos.

“The cost of living on campus is just so much more affordable than living in town,” Algoe said. “We’re not doing that because we just want more housing, we’re doing that because we want more students to be able to get a Texas State education.”

Madison Rodriguez, English sophomore, who is in her second year at The Lodge Apartments said she experienced a significant increase in her

apartment base rent. In her first year, she paid $599 a month, now she pays almost $200 more than that.

“My apartment is supposed to be the cheapest apartment in San Marcos,” Rodriguez said. “Now, my base is going to be around $640, and with all utilities making it around $800 a month.”

The Attorney for Students office offers legal services and advice for students navigating off-campus housing options, and encourages students to have their attorneys help go over contracts with them.

Ethan Chou, Texas State attorney for students, said leasing contracts for off-campus housing are usually complicated and long. Most student housing apartments offer rent-by-the-room leases, where tenants rent individual bedrooms and share common areas, ensuring they’re only responsible for their own rent.

SEE APARTMENTS PAGE 3

“Stand tall”: TXST community bands together after demonstration

By Jamie Moore Life and Arts Reporter

In the days following demonstrators with signs appearing on campus, the Texas State community rallied together to find ways to reconnect and create symbols of unity.

Two demonstrators arrived before 12:20 p.m. on Nov. 6 at the Fighting Stallions, holding multiple provocative signs targeting women and the LGBTQ+ community. A counterprotest from students quickly followed.

The day after, students surrounded the stallions, holding signs bearing contrasting messages from the day before, such as “Free Hugs,” “Don’t Lose Hope”

and “Y’all Means All.”

“Be you, simply just being yourself as a form of protest is a form of resilience, a form of courageousness,” Jerard Mosley, musical theatre freshman, said. “Simply just being yourself makes the world a better place, not falling to the systematic pressures of hate and all the other horrible things in the world.” Mosley stood with his friends to support the community on Nov. 7. He said random students who showed up and wanted to make a positive change rather than the moment being organized made it beautiful.

SEE COMMUNITY PAGE 6

TXST to freeze tuition increase through 2025-26

By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter

Texas State University announced it will not increase the price of tuition for students through the 2025-26 academic year at an open house on Thursday, Nov. 14.

The decision means students will not face an increase in tuition until at least the 2026-27 academic year. The decision does not freeze increases for fees, such as the athletics fee.

Tuition for one year, based on 15 credit hours per semester, is currently $12,220 for in-state students and $24,520 for out-of-state students.

“We are making a commitment. We didn’t increase tuition last year either, we’re not increasing tuition this year,” Texas State University’s Chief Financial Officer Eric Algoe said. “And there is a pretty good likelihood we’re going to try and maintain that commitment in the coming years as well.”

SEE UNIVERSITY PAGE 2

English freshman Celia Strang holds positive signs, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, at the Stallions Statue.

ISABELLE CANTU| The University Star

SARAH MANNING | The University Star

According to Algoe, increased enrollment and first-year retention have increased the amount of money coming into the university. Algoe also credited increased funding from the state government, such as the Texas University Fund.

“We’re appreciative of the support of the Texas State Legislature, in the last session they were very generous to higher education,” Algoe said.

Texas State’s announcement came just a day after Gov. Greg Abbott issued a letter to the boards of all Texas public university systems telling them not to increase tuition through 2026-27.

“When inflation and other economic pressures burden household budgets, our public universities must take every step possible to ease the financial burden on our students and their families,” Abbott wrote in the letter.

While Texas State’s announcement came after Abbott’s letter, the open house was already planned and Algoe said that the university had already decided to freeze tuition.

According to Algoe, the Texas State University System’s Board of Regents has not met to agree to Abbott’s request.

“We looked at everything from no tuition increase to an increase that is commensurate with inflation,” Algoe said. “In this case, we were able to look at the financial plan of the university… that we can forego tuition increases for at least this

coming fall.”

Texas State University Provost Pranesh Aswath said if enrollment slows or decreases in the coming years, the university will be forced to revisit the tuition decision and will consider several other measures.

“We really [would] need to take a deeper dive to see how can we optimize our enrollment and available class sizes and scheduling time,” Aswath said. “There are a number of different things we have to look at to make sure that we are actually optimizing our resources and reducing the overall cost.”

According to a Sept. 12 release from the university, Texas State was the most applied to school through ApplyTexas by high school seniors for the fall 2024 semester. According to Aswath, high school graduation rates will stay high through 2027. These two factors make the university confident enrollment will not decrease in the coming years.

“We’re already looking into the future, not waiting until 2027 and saying ‘Oh what do we do now?’ I don’t anticipate a drop [in enrollment] for at least two years,” Aswath said.

Algoe said while the university wants to make college education

more affordable, lowering tuition would require action from the state, or big changes on behalf of the university.

“There are two things that can work towards that; one would be a significant increase in state support,” Algoe said. “The other way that it could happen is we continue to evolve and look at completely new, different and innovative education models.”

Algoe stated new education models would not focus on increasing class sizes or implementing changes that could compromise the quality of education.

Algoe also said that the university would continue to expand affordability options such as Bobcat Promise and various tuition exemptions and waivers.

We didn’t increase tuition last year either, we’re not increasing tuition this year... We’re going to try and maintain that commitment in the coming years as well.”

Eric Algoe

Texas State University’s Chief Financial Officer

FROM FRONT HAYS COUNTY

Property taxes are fees paid by property owners based on the determined value of their property. While college students renting apartments do not pay property taxes directly, their complex does, which is reflected in their rental pricing.

Over the past five years, the county property tax rate has consistently decreased, marking the 2025 fiscal year as the first increase in recent years.

Local landlord Dawson Brewster said landlords have to match what the market allows them to rent for, and property taxes play a large role in setting rental prices.

“Being a landlord, it is a profit business,” Brewster said. “At least the landlords that I’ve spoken to, we all try to be as fair as possible. We try to be in line with what the market is allowing us to rent our houses for, but when we do notice those property taxes increase, we do have to mirror our prices to match that. So in turn, we pass that cost off to the renter.”

Property is taxed by numerous local government entities, including the county, city and school district tax rates, and each has an independent process to determine their tax rate.

While county tax rates have increased, the city of San Marcos’ property tax rate has remained the same over the past few years, according to the city’s budget office.

In addition to the county property tax rate increasing after years of

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

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 is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

Visit The Star at universitystar.com

TXST faculty discuss AI involvement in class

By Lucciana Choueiry, Jamie Moore News Editor, News Reporter

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article, published on Nov. 12, incorrectly reported the existence of a new AI policy. The Star has removed the original article from its website and published an updated, accurate version below.

Texas State does not have an official Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy, the Honor Code Council recommends faculty outline whether they allow AI or not. Professors across campus are split, with some promoting AI use and others opting out.

In January 2023, shortly after the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, the Honor Code Council updated its policy to include "automated means" as an example of potential cheating. This change allows faculty to decide whether using such tools constitutes academic dishonesty, according to Honor Code Council Chair Rachel Davenport.

Scan the QR code to read the rest of the story.

steadily decreasing, property appraisals have been gradually increasing.

“If you want to go back to 2014, I want to say my house was [appraised at] $205,000, but now it’s in the $750,000 range,” Hays County Budget Officer Vickie Dorsett said at the Sept. 3 commissioners court meeting. “I’m paying taxes on those increases year over year at 10% a year, also minus my exemptions. It just depends on each specific case.”

Dorsett said county tax policy can get confusing, largely due to the variations within exemptions of property. For homeowners, individuals can secure a “homestead exemption,” which provides a 10% cap on total assessed value of the property from year to year.

Editorial Staff

Editor-in-Chief: Marisa Nuñez stareditor@txstate.edu

News Editor: Lucciana Choueiry starnews@txstate.edu

Sports Editor: David Cuevas starsports@txstate.edu

PIR Director: Carlota Pulgar starpr@txstate.edu

Director: Laura Krantz laurakrantz@txstate.edu

However, this is an exemption property managers and landlords are not able to secure as a homestead exemption is only applicable for the property owner’s primary residence.

“For those that are not exempted via homestead...that’s where you’re going to see the greatest impact,” Dorsett said. “For a second property, that is not capped by that 10%. You’re seeing the full brunt of that appraisal.”

At the Sept. 3 meeting, Commissioner Walt Smith said the county tries to keep the tax rate as low as possible, but it has to account for the growing needs of the community.

“Going in 2015 from a rate of $0.469 per 100 to a proposed rate this year of $0.35 [per 100], I think most municipalities, counties and

Managing Editor: Blake Leschber starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu

Life & Arts Editor: Carlene Ottah starlifeandarts@txstate.edu

Multimedia Editor: Kobe Arriaga starmultimedia@txstate.edu

Digital Products Developer: Sri Naga Sri Govvala starweb@txstate.edu

Design Editor: Sarah Manning stardesign@txstate.edu

Opinions Editor: Rhian Davis staropinion@txstate.edu

Engagement Editor: Diego Medel starengagement@txstate.edu

Creative Service Director: Jen Nguyen starcreative@txstate.edu

other taxing entities in the state would wonder how we’ve done that,” Smith said. “What we’ve done is we’ve tried to pay for growth with growth here. At a certain point, you have enough new residents here where... the need for services outstrips some of our tax base.”

As Texas largely prioritizes property taxes as an alternative to income tax, the majority of local government budgets are generated through property taxes. For example, in fiscal year 2024, property taxes funded nearly 56% of the Hays County budget revenue.

“As property taxes tend to increase, we all have to increase our prices across the board,” Brewster said. “Unfortunately, the renter does take on that added expense. I would say that if there was no property tax increase, I don’t see the point in landlords increasing their prices, so they go hand-in-hand, really close together.”

With many college students looking for leases over the coming months, increased property taxes could impact rent pricing moving forward.

“We’ve got people that have lived here all their lives that can’t afford to live here anymore because of the property tax,” resident Dan Lyon said at the Sept. 3 meeting. “When you tax somebody $5,000 a year for their home, there are people here that don’t even make that much in a year, so where is this going to end?”

Publication Info

Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, November 19, 2024. 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.

Lucciana Choueiry

CARSON RODGERS| The University Star

NATALIE RIGHTMER | The University Star

“Individual leases look less expensive on paper,” Chou said. “Let’s say it’s $800 a month for every tenant, that’s the price per bedroom, not the whole unit so the landlord is now making more money.”

According to Chou, Texas doesn’t require landlords to let residents renew or cap prices for rent.

“There’s no price caps on what they can increase [rent] to, it’s just the market rate,” Chou said. “But students can still choose to go somewhere else if they want to, which is not necessarily ideal, but, at least they have the choice.”

Chou said before students sign a lease they must do extensive research on the apartments they are considering, including in-person tours and keeping up with the complex’s online websites and social media.

Chou said students shouldn’t feel rushed to sign a contract before the spring semester. He said the landlord’s statements aren’t always accurate when they say prices will increase in the spring.

“Last [fall] I think a lot of individuals and families got a little bit worried about the housing situation here in San Marcos and wondered if they needed to sign leases then,” Chou said. “Anecdotally, a lot of people signed in October and November, and it was fairly pricey. In late spring, early summer, a lot of complexes realized they still had open units and prices came down.”

Chou said if students find different or additional charges on their leases,

they should always try to talk to the manager first, but additional fees might not be negotiable.

“Mistakes or discrepancies between what someone at the office has told you and the contract can get straightened out before you sign it,” Chou said. “Other fees, you may have to take a look at and see if you’re really not appreciative of the sort of the charges that come out of there.”

Nalani Pennick, healthcare administration junior, said she was worried after finding out she would have to look for an off-campus apartment at the end of her freshman year.

“I emailed around and basically got the runaround from the university,” Pennick said. “I just wanted to know what I should do if I couldn’t afford it, but wasn’t really given any help.”

Aside from AFS, Texas State also offers guides for students in search of off-campus housing options through the housing and residential life website for both campuses.

Pennick, who had been living at the Arba San Marcos Apartments for 10 months when the complex underwent management changes, said her rent increased from $600 to over $700 per month, with the only notice of the increase being an email.

“When deciding whether I wanted to stay or not, they pressed us to sign immediately or face a rent increase of $100,” Pennick said.

Chou advises to not assume that a lease renewal hasn’t changed and for students to review it carefully on their own or with AFS

because these contracts determine what controls students’ relationship with the landlord.

“Your landlord may not tell you everything up front, or they may not know all of the information up front,”

Chou said. “If there has been a price change, or other fees or charges added

on, you want to be aware of that, and not just the rent, but even add-ons to the lease that aren’t always necessarily clear because the language of the contract is difficult to read.”

Similar to Alamito and Cibolo, Canyon Hall will be another seven-story building with single and double occupancy rooms and will be available at the lowest base rate of $3,405 a semester. Mattera said if on-campus rent increases by fall 2025, it will be capped at a maximum of 3.5%.

However, Canyon Hall will not come with integrated parking. Mattera said while there are plans to increase parking availability, that timeline is not on par with the opening of the new dorms.

“[Parking] will not come as fast as we want it to and it’s not that we’ve never thought about it, but our priority in the housing piece is we have students who don’t have beds so we’ll figure out the beds then we’ll figure out the parking,” Mattera said.

Hilltop Housing 2 is another on-campus housing complex slated to open in fall 2027. While it is still in its early design phases, it will bring in around 1,300 beds and be located on the site of Arnold and Smith Halls on Russell Circle, the two dorms that shut down in May. Part of Smith Hall has already been demolished, according to Mattera.

“...Our hope is to eventually start to get some halls

Our hope is to eventually start to get some halls in the mix for upper-class students as well and Canyon and then Hilltop 2 allow us to do that,”

Bill Mattera Executive Director of Housing and Residential Life

in the mix for upper-class students as well and Canyon and then Hilltop 2 allow us to do that,” Mattera said.

Upperclassmen have three options to live on campus: The Vistas, Sanctuary Lofts and Bobcat Village. Beginning the week of Nov. 18, Texas State is introducing a new system for upperclassmen called ‘Same-Same,’ to replace what used to be the housing lottery. The system will allow students already living in Bobcat Village, Vistas or Sanctuary to keep that same apartment and room.

“Once people have the ability to keep their apartment, residents can go see what’s available elsewhere, and kind of pop around and if they don’t see anything else they like, their apartments will be available because they did ‘SameSame,’” Mattera said.

After ‘Same-Same’ Mattera said DHRL is introducing ‘Same-Different’ which allows upperclassmen to stay on campus but switch their apartment or unit. Once both

processes are done, DHRL will open it up to other students to pick a complex on a first-come first-serve basis.

However, the strain on on-campus housing, brought on by a record-breaking freshmen class of 8,165 students 7,219 of which live on campus, forced some to room with their resident assistant (RA), as previously reported by The Star.

One of those students is Jahaira Hernandez, accounting freshman, who has been living with her RA in College Inn since August.

“I wasn’t excited when I found out I would be with an RA,” Hernandez said. “I’m a first-gen so everything I learned about college was from the internet and movies, so I was really looking forward to having an authentic college experience, and then coming here it was a lot different.”

Mattera said the long-term goal is to provide enough beds so that RAs and freshmen no longer need to share living spaces. However, DHRL will continue to include this

arrangement as a possibility in RA contracts.

“If our choice is between an RA roommate or a student not having a bed, we are always going to choose the student having the bed,” Mattera said.

Mattera also said Texas State always has its contract with the Holiday Inn ready in case they need to place freshmen in hotels come fall.

Hernandez lives in a suitestyle dorm at College Inn, where she and her RA share a bathroom and common area, but each has a private room. But she has seen overcrowding impact other aspects of her life as a freshman.

“The whole overcrowding thing was caught by surprise by everybody, nobody was expecting it. Nobody realized it until everybody got to campus and the whole parking issue,” Hernandez said.

Alumnus Josiah Reyes lived on-campus in 2013 in Hornsby Hall then again in 2021 in Arnold Hall and said he’s seen overcrowding impact

San Marcos as a whole.

“What I will say is that San Marcos, it didn’t feel as large,” Reyes said. “Now with all the new dorms and apartments, it’s less green than it was just a decade ago. There’s still plenty of trees, there’s still plenty of woods, but now there’s a lot more building.”

Mattera said he plans for Canyon Hall and Hilltop Housing 2 to be the end of the university’s plans for building new dorms.

“Then we’ll need to start talking about renovation and updates to other buildings,” Mattera said. “I hope by 2027 first-year students will still live with us and we have enough in our inventory that upper-class students can stay with us if they want.

Scan the QR code to access the on-campus housing portal for upperclassmen.

FROM FRONT DORMS

SOPHIE PICKERRELL | The University Star

DJ ROSS | The University Star

Opinions in The University Star are not necessarily those of our entire publication, Texas

University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication or

Reshape history education for a diverse campus

By Aubrey Haynes Opinions Contributor

Course requirements within the history department currently reflect a one-sided Eurocentric perspective. Basic history courses, such as HIST 1310: History of the United States to 1877 and HIST 1320: History of the United States, 1877 to Date lack the representation of voices that shaped and continue to shape today’s modern world.

Such courses do not provide any significant insight into the struggles and contributions of Black, Indigenous and Latino communities who make up so much of the U.S.’s history. Without that perspective, students don’t gain the necessary insight into how historical forces of racism, inequality and cultural diversity have shaped and continue to shape the present world.

A requirement for a broader multicultural perspective in all basic history courses would ensure each graduate leaves Texas State with an understanding of the varied histories contributing to society.

Dr. RL Booker Jr., assistant professor in the Department of History, said a multicultural perspective would be incredibly beneficial for students.

“If we made all students take a class in Black history, that would cure much of the racism in this country,” Booker said. “The key to multiculturalism is to show those people who are skeptical of the benefits derived from taking these types of courses.”

Courses with a broader viewpoint would allow students to learn about other communities’ experiences that are not traditionally instilled in history curriculums. Most students

SHREYANI PULIGAL | The University Star

enter college with a K-12 education manufactured by Texas public schools, which do little to help contemporary problems.

Senate Bill 3, or the “critical race theory” bill in Texas, has become a vehicle to defeat education through the suppression of discussions regarding systemic racism and injustices throughout history in K-12 classrooms.

The bill bars any teaching that would imply racism has played a role in American history and requires educators to describe “all sides” of current events and issues, even when one side promotes harm or distortion.

Many Texas educators feel uneasy tackling topics such as inequality, civil rights and systemic injustices because of vague language used in the bill.

“We live in a very fraught time of non-acceptance of nuanced thought,” Booker said. “The world is not black and white; there’s a lot of gray.”

This “gray” area inhibits critical classroom conversations while enabling

bigotries to fester unchallenged. If anything, this bill has erased critical truths and left students unable to understand the world they inhabit.

A study published in Psychology Today stated when students of color saw their own narratives represented in classes, stress decreased and engagement went up.

This makes the subject not solely academic, but also thoroughly entwined with campus culture and student welfare. These findings underscore the issue is not merely academic, but also one of crafting a respectful and enriching campus culture.

Since the Texas DEI ban bill was implemented, efforts at Texas State toward diversity, equity and inclusion are minimal. The university created multicultural lounges, but symbolic spaces fail to push forward the real, substantial work of forming actual inclusion.

Although Texas State does offer electives on different histories, many are associated with specific majors and

are not provided within the general education curriculum. Because of this, students in other disciplines may graduate without any exposure to important perspectives.

In contrast, other universities, such as the University of New Mexico (UNM) and the University of Delaware (UD), incorporate multicultural requirements into the general education curriculum.

UNM requires students to take to a three-credit course about the U.S. and Global Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Power. This enables students to become knowledgeable in systemic inequalities and cultural pluralism.

UD requires a multicultural course to create an awareness and sensitivity toward crossing the multifaceted global landscape. It is the same requirement that would challenge narratives at Texas State, promote critical reflection and place the university within the context of its peer institutions which value inclusive learning.

Reforming the curriculum toward a more diverse history would create an equitable academic environment at Texas State. History courses should challenge the narratives students grew up with, and allow room to reflect critically on previously held beliefs.

A curriculum reform within basic history courses would reflect the university’s commitment to creating a more inclusive environment. A multicultural history requirement is more than educational reform, it’s a step toward justice and inclusion.

- Aubrey Haynes is a social work freshman

Letter to the Editor: Stop forcing freshmen to live on campus

By Eric Pinteralli

Dear Editor,

My name is Eric Pinteralli. I am a senior at Texas State University, and I am the President of the Young Americans for Liberty chapter here. I am writing because I would like to let The University Star and the student body know about our chapter’s mission to end the forced housing of freshmen on campus.

Before I continue, let me cite the policy in question. I am referring to UPPS No. 07.03.01, Section 02.01, which states, in part:

“New students under the age of 20, with fewer than 30 credit hours, are required to live in on-campus university housing. All students who graduated from high school within the preceding 12 months of the semester of their admission are also required to live on campus.”

Three automatic exceptions are included, those being: married/ parenting students, those living within 60 miles of Texas State and those with a documented disability which the university cannot provide for.

Over the past few weeks, The Star has released several stories about the subpar living conditions in the dorms. Notable incidents include students having to relocate from Falls Hall due to flooding (reported Sept. 20), and RAs being forced to live with

freshmen (reported Sept. 25). We also have heard how RAs are silenced from speaking out about these issues (reported Oct. 8).

We have been tabling on the Quad to collect petition signatures, and multiple RAs have approached us. They indicate that they want to sign the petition and speak out about the issues, but can’t because they’re afraid of the backlash. All of this is unacceptable, and it only reinforces our chapter’s desire to end this antifreedom mandate.

I have met with the University, namely President Kelly Damphousse and VP of Student Success Cynthia Hernandez, and they want to keep the policy in place. When I questioned them on how they are resolving the problems regarding overcapacity, namely putting students in hotels and putting three students in two person rooms, they mentioned how there are no more students in hotels and that they’re converting lounges and other common areas into rooms. Damphousse and Hernandez also mention that Blanco Hall is the only hall with three students per room.

As for the RAs living with other freshmen, they mentioned that they’re working to resolve it, and that RAs used to have to live with freshmen anyway. I guess the situation is not as bad as it was at the beginning of the year, but it still doesn’t mean things are okay. The university is trying to

put a Bandaid on an arterial wound. This is happening because they are admitting more students than they have dorms, and they know it, yet they force them to live “on-campus”.

With all this being said, these are the secondary reasons for why we are fighting this policy. Even if the dorms were in perfect condition and only half full, we would still campaign for the mandate’s abolition.

At Young Americans for Liberty, we believe in financial and individual freedom. You should be able to spend your money how you want; you should be able to live where you want; and you should not have to tell anyone why. The university cites certain benefits as their reasons for living on campus, including the claims that it may raise retention rates and grades. We do not deny that there are benefits to living on campus.

We simply argue that each freshman should be able to weigh the benefits and costs of on-campus housing and off-campus housing, apply it to their own situation, and go with what works for them. Additionally, you shouldn’t have to explain to the university why you want to live off-campus and hope they give you an exemption. The best person to make decisions about where a student lives is not President Damphousse or any lower-level bureaucrat, but the student themselves.

I cite my own story as one of the things that motivates me in this campaign. I was forced to live on campus my freshman year, despite the fact that I had an off-campus alternative that was considerably cheaper. I submitted an exemption based on financial need (I came here on scholarship), and they denied me with little reason for it. I was forced to drain my 529 account, and the next year I had to take out a sizable student loan to pay for tuition, rent and incidentals. Financially speaking, this mandate set me back significantly, with relatively minimal benefits in return.

As of Oct. 25, we have had over 700 students sign our petition, with more signatures accumulating every week. If you, the reader would like to join our effort, I ask you to go to our Instagram (@yal_txst). Follow our account and click the link in our bio to sign the petition. I will then send you a link to our GroupMe. I also invite you to our Tuesday evening meetings, which occur at 6 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center. Come by and get involved! In conclusion, this situation we face regarding housing is completely avoidable. Let students choose where they want to live. Let’s give financial freedom to EVERYONE, regardless of grade level.

Best, Eric J. Pinteralli

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.

Scholarship initiative supports musical theater students’ education

By Megan Weise Life and Arts Reporter

Texas State’s musical theater program is awarding current and incoming musical theater freshmen free tuition with its “Last-Dollar” scholarship initiative.

Kaitlin Hopkins, former head of the musical theatre department and Broadway veteran, created the “LastDollar” scholarship initiative to provide affordable education to musical theater students at Texas State.

Hopkins started Texas State’s musical theater program in the fall of 2009 with the goal to raise enough money to eventually fund her students’ education with a scholarship for their tuition.

“Being a state school and being a Hispanic-Serving Institution and... an institution that caters to a large percentage of first-generation students... it was important to me that we found a way to make getting an education in the arts affordable and accessible,” Hopkins said.

According to Hopkins, it

took the department 12 years to receive the funding to offer this scholarship, which covers tuition for musical theater freshmen throughout their college careers. The first recipients are the current musical theater freshmen, and the scholarship will be available for the incoming musical theater freshmen class of 2029.

“It’s getting more expensive to get an education [and] a college degree,” Hopkins said.

“When you’re talking about students in the arts, especially the performing arts, it can be difficult to convince your parents to help you.”

Cassandra Abate, co-head of the musical theatre program and the “Last-Dollar” program, said students in the musical theater program can benefit from graduating debt-free because their future careers may not be financially stable in the beginning.

“Being an artist is being of service,” Abate said. “[The scholarship] allows us an opportunity to really continue to explore how to make theater accessible.

Theater is such an important part of our culture and of our community, and so to be able to continue to find ways to foster it, to be able to thrive, is vital and it’s very encouraging.”

According to Hopkins, the “Last-Dollar” scholarship initiative is unique because it is the only undergraduate musical theater program nationwide that covers the remaining tuition not covered by grants and scholarships. She is proud of what the faculty accomplished “in record time” but doesn’t want to stop there.

“But to me, it doesn’t feel like a destination, it feels like... a stepping stone on a larger vision that every student that comes into this program has all their financial needs met so that they can get an education [and] get a degree in something they’re highly skilled at that they love,” Hopkins said.

Aaron Brown, “LastDollar” program co-head and assistant professor in the department for theatre and dance, said the scholar-

ship can help musical theater students focus on their goals and dreams instead of tuition fees.

“There’s so many choices that people [make] that are dictated for them by finances and economic realities,” Brown said. “So, what might have seemed impossible, is now possible... we want people to dream big and to know that there are

ways to make your dreams come true.”

For more information on how to apply to the musical theater program and the “LastDollar” scholarship, contact Lauren Jurgemeyer at theatre@ txstate.edu.

FMA embraces creative freedom with fashion show

By Carlene Ottah Life and Arts Editor

Black, silver and deep purple colors decorated the venue of the Price Center and Garden. Models dressed in sparkles, mesh and metallic elements displayed the creations of Texas State student stylists and designers.

dising junior and FMA fashion show coordinator, chose the theme. She said it was a toned-down microtrend resulting from the previous season’s neon lime green and grungy brat summer.

“As much as [Midnight Core] is glamorized, it is also urban, and it’s very streetwear appropriate, just

Texas State’s Fashion Merchandising Association (FMA) held its biannual fashion show on Nov. 16. The show’s theme was “Midnight Core,” a combination of glamorous and urban styles.

Jalissa Urbina, fashion merchan-

because we focus on sustainability for our club and also just our designers,” Urbina said. “A lot of them are secondhand thrifters, or they create stuff from scratch.”

The fashion’s show main goals are to

Mosley said some students stayed for several hours to reach the student body. He emphasized that two people, unaffiliated with the university, couldn’t define who and what Texas State is: a diverse and inclusive place.

William Eugene-Onyejiaka, public administration senior, and his friends formed a group offering free hugs to any student who passed by. Eugene-Onyejiaka said he was disappointed some individuals had twisted scripture from the Bible in a way that misrepresents Christianity.

“Don’t let your love be idle, but instead, let love be active, and out of that love, let there be joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self control as well,” Eugene-Onyejiaka said. “And make sure that you are demonstrating your love by the way you live and the way you treat others.”

Among those with Eugene-Onyejiaka were Yasmim Seibert, health sciences freshman, Michael Benitez, exercise and sports science junior and Sarah Wilson, education junior, who all took turns holding the signs throughout the day. They said the most impactful moments that day were when they could tell the person needed the hug — either not letting go, holding on tight or crying afterward.

Beyond the signs on campus, student leaders

showcase student designers’ creativity and display sustainability in the fashion industry. Local retailers also showcased their businesses and collaborated with the designers.

“We can show that you guys can create stuff, either from your own closet or you can refer to something and give it a second life,” Urbina said. “Our biggest image is focusing on being able to showcase our Texas State students and even the local retailers there are secondhand stores.”

Jae Franklin, fashion merchandising sophomore and FMA events coordinator, said FMA has fashion shows for students to have an outlet to express themselves creatively and showcase their passions. Having the shows also helps them know what to do when they leave Texas State.

“[Students] already can say, ‘I’ve had this experience. I know how to operate within my role at a fashion show, whether it’s being a model or a stylist, a coordinator or even a designer,’” Franklin said.

This year, FMA changed its meetings around from more creativebased to stimulating-based to include speakers and pop culture discussions.

Franklin felt the board operated as a unit and grew through planning the

organized within the dorms to support the peers around them.

Sean Harris, Blanco Hall president, felt outraged, upset and frustrated at the demonstration. He reunited his dorm community later that day by organizing a group session for 50 students. The event allowed students to vent, ask questions and discuss their feelings about what might happen next, providing a community to those who felt they didn’t belong anymore.

Harris said he felt a shift in his dorm’s morale, which holds the Black & Latinx Theme Community. He said his floor, once vibrant, became quieter as students stopped leaving their rooms. Harris hopes to continue to support those around him.

“I once had someone tell me ‘talking will only get you one thing — another word back,’” Harris said. “Stand with the people you’ve made at this campus to be your family. Stand tall. Don’t be afraid. Don’t let fear hit you because that’s what they want.”

Taysha Richardson, Bexar Hall president, organized a spontaneous movie night event on Thursday for her community as residents expressed to her how they felt as a result of the demonstration.

Richardson was at the demonstration and experienced anger but also pride and excitement seeing

fashion show and communication. She said with FMA’s new leadership, there is a different perspective on today’s fashion and how to approach and see it.

“I feel like now [FMA]’s more inclusive and it’s more welcoming to students of all cultures,” Franklin said. “I feel like FMA now is more instrumental than what it was before, grounding students to want to showcase their creativity and what they have to offer towards the fashion industry in the future.”

Leanna Washington, fashion merchandising junior and FMA fashion show assistant, said the FMA board agreed fashion is more about engaging with people, creating connections and having fun. She wanted to incorporate that idea into the fall fashion show by not putting the stylists and designers in a box.

Scan the QR code to continue reading the story.

Texas State organizations counterprotesting. She said events like the one she organized provide a safe space for people to gather, talk and form new friendships.

“I think [the demonstration] definitely showed that people here... we’re more together than what we really realized and that there’s people out here who care about you,” Richardson said. “It definitely brought us together as more of a whole than we actually realized... this just really connected us as Bobcats.”

As students across campus continue to promote unity, some have also turned to creative outlets to express their feelings, including AnaBelle Elliott, journalism senior.

Elliott posted a song on Instagram a day after the demonstration. Elliott said when approaching her song, she wanted it to focus on humanity, rather than the hatred of the demonstration, and recenter the community on self-love and staying strong.

“I do think that students are the ones ultimately that hold the most power socially and I think we’ve seen that,” Elliott said. “I think that the students absolutely have said ‘we don’t tolerate this’... I think that’s really beautiful.”

Carlene Ottah

KATLIN MARTINEZ | The University Star

Fashion merchandising junior Jalissa Urbina (Left) honors the project leaders on stage during the FMA Fashion Show, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at the Price Center. KHANG LE | The University Star

FROM FRONT COMMUNITY

Bobcat soccer progresses during Holeman era

By Hope Monte Sports Reporter

Texas State soccer Head Coach Steve Holeman capped off his third season with the Bobcats after competing in their first Sun Belt (SBC) Championship. Under his leadership, the program progressed to new heights that reflect a growing culture.

Holeman arrived in San Marcos with 27 years of coaching experience, most recently spending six seasons with Lamar University, where he earned four conference titles and appeared in two NCAA Tournaments.

Since bringing his knowledge to Texas State as the second-ever head coach in history, the Bobcats have achieved accomplishments that prove a positive trajectory.

“I’ve been doing this for 30 years, so that’s a long time. I mean, the game has completely changed. The landscape of everything we do is completely changed,” Holeman said. “What has stayed the same is the philosophy of working hard, the idea of developing relationships with players, motivating them to be their best and doing everything we can to be successful.”

In 2022, the Bobcats led a competitive season with a record that landed them the No.5 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament, where they fell short in round one against James

Madison University 0-1.

After the 2022 season, four seniors graduated from Bobcat soccer, and six new players signed for the 2023 season.

The 2023 season was Holeman’s first year forming a team he knew more personally, including players recruited under his leadership. The season exposed flaws that needed to be ironed out before fans saw a more unified squad. Despite a worsened conference record of 3-3-4, which placed the Bobcats as the lowest seed in the SBC Tournament, Texas State went to the semi-finals for the first time since 2018, though they fell in round two to South Alabama 1-2.

Holeman continued to build the Bobcat roster for the 2024 recruitment year and successfully brought in multiple players who proved impactful for Texas State.

Freshman forward Helen Alormenu, freshman forward Sydney Bassa and transfer sophomore Kaylie Smith all left a clear mark on Texas State soccer during the 2024 season, their first year with the team.

Alormenu totaled three goals and 618 minutes, Bassa totaled four goals and 574 minutes and Smith accumulated four goals, five assists, and 1,515 minutes and was named the 2024 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year.

Although the Bobcats fell short 2-3 in the SBC Championship match,

they were seeded the highest in Hole man’s history at No. 3, forging their way to the final match for the first time ever.

“The seniors [felt] that it like that was their chance, and the returning players feel like, oh, we came that close, so next year, we’re going to do it,” Holeman said. “For the seniors I think they look and think back to the last five years, four or five years… and know that they had a really successful season, this is the best year ever.”

Looking forward to the 2025 season,

Texas State will say goodbye to graduating playmakers midfielder Mya Ulloa, goalkeeper Katelyn

forward Zoe Junior.

In fall 2025, Texas State will start a new journey to a championship game in search of redemption for a SBC ring.

Freshman Brad Jackson delivers in first career game

By Daven Meredith Sports Reporter

In a quarterback room full of familiar and new faces, true freshman quarterback Brad Jackson emerged as the X-factor at a pivotal point of the Bobcats’ season.

Jackson rushed for 119 yards, two scores and threw for 16 yards en route to a 38-17 win over the ULM Warhawks, snapping the Cats’ two-game losing streak on the road. Jackson spoke about the preparation leading up to the game.

“I just take it week by week,” Jackson said. “The thing about me being a freshman is being prepared regardless of what takes place. For me, it’s preparing like I am the starter.”

Head Coach G.J. Kinne discussed Jackson’s two touchdown day and the decision to let the true freshman take the field during a crucial part of the season.

“He’s really smart and super talented,” Kinne said. “He carries himself the right way. I think the guys on the team have a lot of confidence in him. That’s one thing about playing the quarterback position: it’s if the other guys have confidence and belief in you, and I know our guys have a lot of confidence in Brad.”

Senior quarterback Jordan McCloud started against the Warhawks, scoring one touchdown on the ground and throwing for one more, but was sidelined sporadically throughout the game due to injury. Jackson quickly saw snaps as the game progressed, taking the offense’s reins by the second half, preventing a Warhawk comeback, icing the win with a late fourth-quarter touchdown.

“Week one of the season against Lamar, I’m the third or fourth quarterback,” Jackson said. “That week was really no different for me. I hear my number called, and I’m prepared.”

The thing about me being a freshman is being prepared regardless of what takes place. For me, it’s preparing like I am the starter.

Brad Jackson Texas State freshman quarterback

Jackson was a three-star recruit from Reagan High School in San Antonio, committing to Texas State in June 2023. Jackson graduated early, enrolling in classes at Texas State for the spring semester, even practicing with the Bobcats the week before the 2023 First Responders Bowl.

“College and high school are not the same,” Jackson said. “For me as a freshman, it was important to get those physical and mental reps and learn what college is like a semester early. I was able to fit in my academic and football schedules, so when the season came around, it was a simple transition for me.”

The San Antonio native said Kinne and offensive coordinator Mac Leftwich significantly impacted his decision to join Texas State.

“[Kinne and Leftwich] offered something I didn’t get the feeling from other schools,” Jackson said. “Being here and being around those guys, I just fell in love with Texas State.”

Jackson picked up where he left off when his number was called in Texas State’s 58-3 win over Southern Mississippi last Saturday, scoring on a ten-yard rushing touchdown to put

the Cats up 21-0 and finding redshirt junior wide receiver Drew Donley for a 60-yard touchdown reception later in the game.

Kinne discussed Jackson’s performance the past two weeks after Texas State’s 58-3 win over the Golden Eagles.

“He’s a special player and person,” Kinne said. “He’s ready to go when his number is called, and we will continue to have play packages for him, just a student of the game. The day he got to Texas State, the moment wasn’t too big for him.”

Jackson sparked a vital win in the latter half of the Bobcats’ season. With the victory over Southern Miss during Homecoming weekend and bowl eligibility secured, two games remain in conference play. The Maroon and Gold will continue to use Jackson’s spark as momentum against the Georgia State Panthers next week.

Kick-off between Texas State and Georgia State is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.

Chrisman, defender Kennley Bradley, defender Lucy Hart, midfielder Madi Goss, defender Anna Dunch and

Texas State head soccer coach Steve Holeman breaks out the team after the spring game against Texas, Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Bobcat Soccer Complex. TEXAS STATE ATHLETICS I Courtesy

Texas State freshman quarterback Brad Jackson (8) throws a pass versus the Southern Miss defense, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at UFCU Stadium.

MEG BOLES | The University Star