Every week, a sign near The Stallions appears reading “Let’s talk about anything.” Next to it, pastor and university seminar lecturer Jaime Bouzard waits to talk to those who stop by with the questions life may throw at them.
After over 18 years of offering advice on The Quad at Texas State
and working at the United Campus Ministry (UCM), Bouzard is retiring at the end of the 2025 fall semester. Since last month, his sign now has an addition that reads, “But make it soon. I’m retiring next month.”
“I am retiring because my wife is my best friend and I’d like to spend more time with her, we both retired to spend more time together and because I can,” Bouzard said.
Bouzard has worked for different
ministries throughout his 40-yearlong career. In San Marcos, he is one of the two pastors at UCM, where he leads worship and communion, provides free lunch every Monday and does retreat work. Devin Davis, UCM ministry intern, worked with Jaime professionally for three semesters. She organizes social events and manages social media for the ministry.
“[Jaime’s] presence is definitely very important,” Davis said. “He’s
that face that when I walk in the door I know he’ll be there. I think that he is like the grandpa of the UCM. When you’re around Jaime, you can’t help but smile and laugh because he’s not going to let you do anything other than that.”
Course audits could impact spring classes
By Ryan Claycamp News Editor
According to documents obtained by The Star, ongoing course audits could cause some courses currently scheduled for spring 2026 to be canceled. Courses will be required to go through four
separate levels of approval in the auditing process. The four levels are faculty review, department chair/ school director approval, dean approval and administrative approval.
“Any course in phase 1 that is scheduled for spring 2026 semester that is not approved at any level will not be offered in spring and will require further
review,” Texas State Provost Pranesh Aswath wrote in a memo to faculty. “Any course not approved by the deadline for the 2026-2027 academic catalog will not appear in the catalog.” Documents previously obtained by The Star suggested that class offerings would not be changed until the 2026-27 academic year.
Texas State junior wide receiver Beau
(11) is lifted by teammates after his second touchdown against Eastern Michigan, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025,
The Bobcats beat Eastern Michigan 52-27.
Sparks shines bright in 2025 season
By Luke Landa Sports Reporter
In the brutal Texas heat long before the college football season began, Texas State junior wide receiver Beau Sparks was running routes and perfecting every aspect of his craft. These workouts showed the true competitive nature that Sparks possessed and laid the groundwork for the kind of season he aspired to have.
“The work that we put in during the summer set us up for success,” Sparks said. “[My confidence] came from the summer for sure.”
The confidence appeared early, as Sparks’ hard work over the dog days of summer shined when he opened the season with four receiving touchdowns against Eastern Michigan. The game set the stage for Sparks to become a game-changer week in and week out. Sparks was the leading receiver in six of the 12 games played this season and the second leading receiver in the remaining six.
After showing flashes of potential as a sophomore, Sparks burst onto the scene as one of the most reliable playmakers in both the Sun Belt and all of college football. He led Texas State in
the regular season with 1,113 receiving yards on 80 catches and nine touchdowns, all career highs for the junior. Sparks’ season has been one for the books as he is rewriting program history. Sparks is the first Bobcat receiver in the program’s FBS era to surpass 1,000 receiving yards, and has tied the school’s single season reception record. Entering the bowl game, Sparks is 155 yards away from the single-season receiving yards record.
By Jakob Salsgiver News Contributor
As crime downtown increases, the San Marcos Police Department is deploying a series of strategies to address rising violent crime downtown. San Marcos has experienced a significant decrease in crime compared to the state average. According to San Marcos Chief of Police Stan Standridge, from 2022 to 2024, Texas saw an 11% decrease in violent crime, compared to San Marcos’s 46% decrease. Instead, data provided in an email to The Star by the SMPD Crime Analysis Unit detailed a nearly 39% increase in violent crime seen only at The Square, that may have had a negative effect on the perception of violent crime as a whole in San Marcos. Amanda Graham, associate professor in the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology, said there has been a noticeable decline in crime in the city of San Marcos since 2021; however, fear of crime might have increased among citizens due to recent shootings downtown.
By Rae Knight Life and Arts Contributor
AYDEN OREDSON | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Sparks
at UFCU Stadium.
Texas State Communication Studies senior Devin Prophet (left) greets pastor Jamie Bouzard (right) between classes, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at Texas State. Prophet said Bouzard helped him find his place on campus by leading him to Black student organizations.
LAURA WALKER | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Possible course cancellations under the audits could significantly impact students, as they may have already registered for courses that will no longer exist in the spring. This could lead to loss of financial aid due to dipping below full-time status, delayed graduation due to missing required courses and more.
According to the documents, 685 courses are being audited during phase one. The audits span across most colleges, though all courses audited in the McCoy College of Business are also honors classes. More than a third of all audited courses are in the College of Liberal Arts.
In a statement emailed to The Star, a university spokesperson wrote that no major disruptions are expected.
“Measures are in place to guide students through any adjustments and keep their academic progress on track,” the spokesperson wrote in the email. “We are committed to supporting every student and will provide timely updates if changes occur.”
In a Sept. 30 email, Texas State President Kelly Damphousse wrote that the audit was being conducted to bring courses in line with syllabi and course descriptions, and that course content is in line with the originally approved curriculum for the course.
Damphousse wrote in the email, that a disconnect may exist between syllabi and course descriptions due to changes in faculty teaching the courses and that some courses were originally approved decades ago. He said that while those changes are
understandable, he finds them unacceptable.
“Students enroll in classes based on information that is provided in the course descriptions, and it is a reasonable expectation that the material described on the syllabus and covered in the classroom align with the approved course curriculum,” Damphousse wrote in the email. “They also have a reasonable expectation that the material will be taught according to the principle of value-neutral instruction.”
Damphousse wrote in the email that faculty are not allowed to teach unapproved material, but said that faculty still have academic freedom.
The email also referenced valueneutral curriculum, which is one thing courses are being checked for during the audits. While the stated goal of “value-neutrality review” is to ensure course outcomes don’t require students to adopt certain views or require advocacy work, a large majority of courses in the audit relate to race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality,
“It sounds really scary, right? [Crimes] that might look like they’ve gone up, [based on] large percentages or proportions, are things that happen relatively infrequently,” Graham said. “Any increases or decreases [with infrequent crimes represented as percentage changes] are going to look massive.”
According to the Uniform Crime Report for the city of San Marcos in 2025, interpretations show areas of crime like weapon law violations have gone up by about 20% from 2024. Graham said this is because the crimes are infrequent, and any increase is going to look larger percentage-wise. The main increases in crime in San Marcos are seen at The Square.
SMPD’s Crime Analysis Unit provided data showing the increase in violent crime downtown is
religion and culture.
State officials, such as Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian), Congressman Chip Roy (R-Austin) and Gov. Greg Abbott, have publicly targeted courses, faculty and administrators at universities for teaching courses related to those topics. President Donald Trump issued a national security memo in September that labeled “extremism” on race and gender a “common thread” in political violence.
The Foundation of Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) previously told The Star that the legality of course audits depends on how they are conducted. Michael
the highest it has been since at least 2019. Violent crime falls into six categories, such as assault, homicide, human trafficking, kidnapping, robbery and sex offenses.
“The story then becomes, what do we do about that? Well, what’s the role of the university? What are the roles of the students? You’ve got to communicate to them [that] there’s going to be heavy enforcement as it relates to intoxication offenses, henceforth,” Standridge said.
The SMPD Crime Analysis Unit reported that approximately 38% of violent crime offenses are reported at bars and nightclubs.
To combat rising crime downtown, Standridge outlined his plans to address certain issues, such as a lack of lighting and holding students accountable with the university for crimes committed downtown, among other issues.
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Hurley, government affairs counsel for FIRE, said targeting “disfavored ideas” could run afoul of First Amendment protections for academic freedom under Keyishian v. Board of Regents.
“The Supreme Court has said that the First Amendment doesn’t tolerate laws that cast a pall of orthodoxy over the classroom,” Hurley said. “Traditionally, academic freedom has included professors having some pretty significant latitude to kind of direct discussion. So a lot of this just depends on what it looks like.”
“We have to see what, and how the community could benefit from different environmental factors and support systems that can be put in place,” Patricia Hom, analyst supervisor for SMPD, said.
According to Standridge, planned measures include a partnership with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to implement response strategies to intoxication offenses, leveraging technology like security cameras to identify suspects and establishing a downtown unit that focuses on The Square.
Standridge also discussed a partnership in the works with the Texas State University Police Department (UPD) to station at least one officer downtown on
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busy nights. He said this would help hold students accountable for crimes and misconduct.
“[UPD officers] are going to have key access to the Dean of Students to report student misconduct,” Standridge said.
Due to the increase police presence that comes with UPD and the formation of a unit on the Square, Russel Wilde, SMPD’s Public Safety Communications Specialist stated residents may see an increase in reported offenses because there will be more officers downtown.
Standridge and Hom also provided advice on what citizens can do to combat crime, stating it’s important to cooperate with the police, and communicating the importance of making citizens less vulnerable victims.
“Crime is not just a police issue, it’s a we issue,” Standridge said. “If you see something, say something and report it.”
Standridge stressed the importance of educating citizens, stating that the more educated a citizen is on their safety, the better decisions they can make.
“Consider making yourself a less viable victim. Think in the mindset of an offender,” Hom said. “Somebody who is completely oblivious to their surroundings, never locks their door, keeps their laptops out, all of those things, do not do that.”
SMPD established voluntary compliance as the ultimate goal. This includes abiding by laws, reporting crime and ensuring situation awareness at The Square.
“I’ve always been very aware of my surroundings [downtown], but now it’s even more so. If I was on a 10 before, now I’m on a 100,” Javier Mireles, a biology and psychology graduate student, said. “If someone else is reaching behind their back or [something] like that, I’m more on the lookout for that stuff.”
As San Marcos continues to fight a rise in crime in the downtown area, SMPD plans to build on the already increased police presence downtown. Standridge said a decrease in crime may come from what people do with the safety information SMPD provides.
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Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, December 2, 2025. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor-in-chief.
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FROM FRONT CRIMES
OPINION 3
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.
Cloudburst data center exploits Hays County
By Mark Gabriellides Opinions Contributor
On Nov. 18, CloudBurst hosted its groundbreaking ceremony for its flagship AI data center set to straddle Hays and Guadalupe counties.
Concern over the environmental impact of Cloudburst’s new AI data center has sparked community protest, leading the city to stand against its construction.
Resource demands remain the primary concern from residents. Data centers demand large quantities of water, and while the CloudBurst data center is closed-loop and recirculates its water, it still takes water to fill and maintain reserves. This is made all the more alarming due to San Marcos’ current stage three drought status.
According to Stateline, data centers are not required to make their water consumption records available to the public in Texas, making it easier for large corporations to avoid scrutiny for their wasteful usage of natural resources.
Studies show that pollution caused by data centers can lead to an uptick in various health issues amongst community members, workers and wildlife due to consistent exposure to
pollutants like noise. Elon Musk’s xAI data center alone caused an increase in asthma and lung disease diagnoses in Memphis, confirming that proximity to these centers have a direct impact on health within just a few months of construction.
While supporters may argue that the data center can create economic opportunities by providing jobs, on average, data centers do not create enough long-term jobs to justify the environmental risks associated with its construction.
Rodion Podorozhny, associate professor of computer science at Texas State’s Round Rock campus, said AI is worth investing in, however not at the cost of the environment.
“I have no doubt that of course,
researching the AI is very beneficial to the society ... so it is unavoidable that people have such centers built … But there must be a balance, right? There must be public supervision. We should not lose our environment,” Podorozhny said.
Rejecting AI can be seen as regressive in many ways, however AI infrastructure cannot be pursued if it is allowed to prey upon loopholes that exploit the San Marcos community and its environment.
Energy demands are another key area of concern, with CloudBurst’s signage of a natural gas deal with Energy Transfer. The energy provided has the ability to generate 1.2GW of power, enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes. Burning natural
gas releases toxic pollutants into the atmosphere, impacting residents.
Evan Sikes, a wildlife biology senior and member of the Data Center Action Coalition said that many in San Marcos stand united in their rejection of the ensuing data center.
“Every single neighbor in that area [border of Guadalupe and Hays county] has either approached [The Data Center Action Coalition] or approached city council to say, why are you letting this happen? … We’re on very different sides of the political spectrum,” Sikes said.
Residents of San Marcos should be aware of the data center construction just south of the city, and how it can impact them. Residents can continue to voice their concerns with the project, especially now at the early stages of development.
Data center companies operate on the fringes of the law, exploiting legal loopholes and government incentives to develop, regardless of community input. CloudBurst’s data center poses real environmental concerns for the people of San Marcos and Hays County, worsened by already strained resources. Corporate profits cannot jeopardize the environment, and CloudBurst should work with the community to address concerns.
-Mark Gabriellides is a English and education freshman
Protests are failing at TXST; art could change that
By Briaany Ward Opinions Contributor
Student protests at Texas State aren’t working, and they haven’t worked in years. Universities figured out how to ignore rallies and absorb petitions into bureaucracy. If students want change, they need a new strategy: Art.
Former Associate history professor Thomas Alter’s case is the perfect example. Students rallied when Texas State fired Alter for speaking at a socialism conference off campus. Faculty confronted Texas State President Kelly Damphousse and Over 6,000 people wrote to the Board of Regents, but the Board unanimously upheld his firing on Nov. 20. Traditional protest is failing, just the way universities designed it to.
Student protests used to force change in America. Vietnam War demonstrations shifted national opinion while civil rights sit-ins challenged segregation and forced institutional response. These movements worked because they disrupted society in ways that couldn’t be politely ignored. But universities have learned to perfect containment through carefully worded statements and waiting out news cycles.
Texas State has its own history of suppressing protests. In 1969, 10 students peacefully protested the Vietnam War at the Fighting Stallions. They were suspended, had their course credits erased and lost their case all the way to the Supreme Court. Traditional protest failed then, and it’s failing now.
The question is whether students will keep using tactics universities have spent decades learning to neutralize.
It’s the students’ turn to adapt.
The solution to this might be closer than we think, it’s happening in Austin. Roy Hammonds, a communication design senior, said he has been present at protests downtown and at the Capitol. The most effective ones, he said, almost feel playful.
“In Austin, protests use people in frog suits, people dancing, people wearing funny outfits — people just being fun,” Hammonds said.
It sounds silly until you understand the strategy: creative tactics accomplish what traditional rallies can’t. They attract attention on their own terms, create shareable content and counter whatever narrative authorities’ spin.
“Art is a powerful weapon. Just do it ... Don’t ask for permission,” Hammonds said.
Recent protests around the world demonstrate this shift is already happening. Serbian students used artistic expression and digital satire to build one of their country’s largest movements in 2024, succeeding where traditional tactics had failed. These movements work because creative tactics generate attention, resist containment and force engagement in ways that traditional protests no longer can.
There are many forms of art-based protest that the Texas State community can use. Mass communication students launching social media campaigns that amplify voices beyond campus grounds. Theatre students staging guerrilla performances outside the Quad, Alkek Library and the LBJ Student Center. Fine arts students creating installations that disrupt campus aesthetics. Computer science
students building websites tracking administrative statements versus actions. Design students projecting messages onto buildings at night. Collaborative murals in San Marcos beyond university control.
These tactics bypass the containment strategies that universities use. You can’t confine a projection to a free speech zone. You can’t wait out a website that stays live. You can’t remove a mural without proving the point about suppressing speech.
Some students might have worries such as practical barriers, discipline or skills. These hesitations are real, and they’re exactly why art-based protest might work. Creativity offers multiple entry points without requiring fulltime activist energy.
The entry points are everywhere. Students can create graphics, paint sections of murals, film performances or amplify work that needs visibility. They just have to choose one and start.
Here’s what makes art uniquely powerful: administration can’t punish it without proving protesters’ points. Remove a mural about free speech, you’re suppressing speech. Discipline students for projecting messages, you’re demonstrating the authoritarian response they’re criticizing.
Universities spent decades learning to neutralize traditional student activism. But they haven’t learned how to handle creative protest that bypasses containment strategies. Texas State hasn’t had that kind of sustained activist culture in years. But it
can, and it starts with deciding caring isn’t enough anymore: action is. Studying abroad from 4,000 miles away, I can already see how this ends. Another issue will replace Alter. Students will rally again. The university will wait them out again. Unless the next generation of activists stops asking permission and starts creating instead.
-Briaany Ward is a digital media innovation junior
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 letter writer. It is not used for any commercial purpose.
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.
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Holiday Hijinks
Senior 30: A broadcast editor’s first print story
By Julia Gooder Broadcast Editor
Since I started at Texas State in 2022, I’ve been counting the days until my graduation, in hopes of never having to submit homework by 11:59 p.m. again. Now here I am in my final semester, 10 days until graduation, and I’m still counting down, but now it’s for an entirely different reason. 10 days left at The Star, where I found a home away from home, and where I helped create a broadcast program from the ground up. I have 10 days left as the very first TV News Director for Star News Network.
In February, Marisa, the editor-in-chief at the time, hired me as the director for Star News Network. The program was basically brand new, having only three recorded shows. Coming into this role was very intimidating at first. Being in the newsroom amidst all of the print commotion and being the only broadcast editor in there, I started to develop imposter syndrome. But through the first few months and some long, long nights of editing in Premiere Pro, I received amazing feedback and reactions on each show, and I knew I belonged in the newsroom.
When the fall semester started, I had about a million new ideas I wanted to implement, and very minimal time. I got many comments like, “Julia, do you have any free time at all?”, “Are you not completely exhausted?”, “How do you do all of
this?” All of which I would answer, “I don’t know, I just do it.”
To finally answer these questions, no, I in fact had very minimal free time. Yes, I was exhausted. I spent the free time that I did have sleeping. And, no, I did not do all of this myself. I had Maci.
To Maci, who I hired as the Assistant TV News Director, who has become one of my closest friends over the past few months. Words can hardly express how much I appreciated your help and friendship over this semester. I am so grateful to have gotten the chance to work side by side with you, and cannot wait to see what you do going forward with Star News Network and in all your future opportunities. I truly could not have done this without your help, so thank you, so, so much.
This fall, we saw insane growth in Star News, from introducing a separate sports segment, to rebranding and adding new graphics, and to winning 5th place at the ACP awards for our September 2025 show. This was a national competition, and we placed above schools like Baylor and Auburn, whose programs have been around much longer than a year.
Thank you to Professor Kelly Kaufhold for always being open to helping us out and for your guidance and advice during this semester. Thank you to Professor Eun Jeong Lee for being there for any questions I had on production days. Thank you to my broadcast crew for all of your hard work and for helping our section feel so welcoming. And finally,
thank you to The University Star and all of my fellow editors for the friendships and good times along the way; they were much needed, and I wish you all the absolute best going forward. <3
All things come to an end, and as much as I don’t want to leave, I know I need to. As Cody Johnson said, “If you got a dream, chase it, ‘cause a dream won’t chase you back.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER MERRILL Broadcast Editor Julia Gooder poses for graduation photos, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025 at The Quad.
SENIOR 30 5
By Lesdy Hernandez Senior News Reporter
Writing has been my lifelong companion. It has led me through some of the most difficult times in my life and has reminded me that I am capable of anything I set my mind to. That is why when I say The University Star saved my passion for writing, it is no exaggeration.
Back in 2021, I was just a high school senior who thought she had everything figured out, but all that changed after my former high school band director, Joseph Trevino, a Texas State alumnus himself, encouraged me to check out Texas State’s newspaper and journalism program. All it took was one look at The Star’s website for me to become captivated and determined to be a part of this organization.
During my freshman year at Texas State, all I wanted to do was join The Star and get myself further into the journalism world. I yearned to be a part of a team and get to write more, but I grew
hesitant. As uncertainty clouded my mind, I felt myself questioning my love for writing, and doubt whether I was choosing the right career path grew.
With the push from my family and friends, I took a leap of faith, and despite all my worries and anxiety, I applied to the news section the summer after my freshman year. In July 2023, I officially joined The University Star as a News Contributor.
My time at The Star has taught me resilience and how to use my voice for good. It has helped me break out of my shell and believe in myself not only as a writer, but as a person. No words can ever express just how grateful I am that The Star helped me reconnect with the part of me I thought I had lost.
To my former news editor, Blake, thank you for allowing me to take part in this organization. Thank you for taking a chance on me.
To my news editors, Ryan and Arabella, thank you for your support, patience and understanding this past year. Your encouragement and guidance helped me to understand the type of journalist I want to become, and for that, I am grateful to have shared this last semester with y’all.
To the news section, it has been an honor and a blessing to have been a part of your team.
Although I may not know what the future has in store for me, I feel ready for everything and anything. ¡Muchas gracias!
A 7th grade dream come true
By Candice Gilmore Sports Reporter
The second I heard a whisper about what college was in elementary, I was hooked. I spent countless hours on my father’s computer researching different majors and colleges across the world, ever bored about the now and curious about what’s ahead (in my case, eight years ahead to be exact).
One Saturday night in 7th grade, I discovered the field of journalism, and it felt as though I had just begun the rest of my life. An opportunity to ask questions about everything, learn about the nittygritty, hear from every voice, and most especially, see everyone and everything for what it is. To be in the NEWS!
A space to put my household nickname of “English teacher” to use? Sign. me. up.
When I joined The University Star in May 2023, I knew I had found that space that cultivated what it meant to be a journalist.
In September 2023, when my first published article landed under the fold on the front page, I could not get to campus faster to collect every copy. I took a selfie with the byline landing next to my twinkling, slightly tearful, but overjoyed eyes. Looking back at that photo now, I see inklings of the
journalist I would become during my time at Texas State and The Star starting to form.
I cannot thank my father enough for answering countless questions about almost every topic under the sun since the day I was born. The journalist in me was born out of you.
To my sister, thank you, thank you, thank you for being the editor of my dreams and nightmares. You deserve an award for answering the question “Does this even make sense?” at least 1,000 times. Thank you not only for always reading what I write, but embracing what I do hands down. We’ll never know who the better writer is.
After three years in the Sports section at The Star, I feel proud to have advocated for women’s sports while, at times, being the only woman in the room. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to have been a voice for students across sports.
To entrust me with their stories of illness, family struggles and failure was not a light task. I feel honored to have spoken to so many individuals from across the world and to hear about their history in sport and how they came to be; it unlocked a new world for me.
As I close out my time at The Star, I think about my childhood self and her eagerness to find a space she can run wild and find herself in. I have no doubt I have fulfilled her dream, and I can only thank The University Star and Texas State for aiding that 7th grader in an even greater experience than she ever fathomed.
They
didn’t lie about ‘getting a foot in the door’
By Hope Monte Sports Reporter
From my very first week at Texas State, I knew I wanted to learn how to write stories (hence the journalism major choice), but I didn’t quite know where to start.
When scrolling through the application openings for The Star, sitting in my freshman dorm, I felt a little out of place to click on a writing position with my writing experience at that point basically consisting of high school essays. At the time, my idea of how to be a journalist felt pretty conspicuous, but I knew one way or another I wanted to get there.
So that’s when I hit the “apply” button for the social media section. It felt like a good way to get my foot in the door of a world I didn’t know much about but wanted to learn about.
Thus began my first two years at The Star as a member of the social media team.
I gained experience I never would’ve expected and even earned my way up to editor of the engagement section. First-semester me never would have imagined that, though it felt exactly how my journey was meant to be.
By the time I became an editor, I started to get a taste of writing through my classes and wanted more of it. I realized it was time to pass the baton and dive deep into writing and reporting. Though it felt a bit odd to step away from a leadership position, it was one of the best decisions I made during my whole college experience, apart from joining in the first place!
I was grateful to have made connections with the editors who were willing to give me a shot in a writing section. As someone who grew up as an athlete my whole life, I always hoped I would find a new door to get back to that world, and well, here it was: sports reporting.
From the summer entering my junior year, I dove into all kinds of reporting I had never done before. While my journalism classes set
the foundation for my writing and knowledge as a reporter, nothing grew my experience and strengths more than writing for sports.
It was exciting to try new things and get a variety of stories from game recaps to in-depth features where I really got to learn about the people who make up Texas State Athletics. With each interview and each click on “submit,” I was transforming into the writer my freshman self always wanted to be.
While so many hours went into this process, as they all say, I blinked and somehow all that time has passed like nothing. I owe so much of who I’ve become today to my time with The Star, more than just an accomplishment to put on a resume. It taught me life lessons, brought me some of my closest friends and connected me to my university in a way nothing else could.
Many of us college students can be like chameleons throughout school, constantly “changing colors” and adapting to our changing environment and surroundings. One thing that was always there for me was The Star, and for that, I will always be grateful.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIANNA MARTINEZ Senior News Reporter Lesdy Hernandez poses for her graduation photos, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at the Trauth-Huffman Hall Arch.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NATALIE BAKER Sports Reporter Candice Gilmore poses for her graduation photo, Thursday Nov. 20, 2025 outside of Alkek.
Sports Reporter Hope Monte poses for her graduation photo, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at the Vaquero statue.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ETHAN TORRES
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Top 5 News Stories of 2025
1. Texas State community, organizations speak out after termination of history professor
By Ryan Claycamp & Arabella DiChristina
Sept. 11, 2025
A day after the firing of Associate History Professor Thomas Alter, members of the Texas State community gathered at The Stallions to protest his firing.
Alter was fired on Wednesday, Sept. 10, after videos of him speaking at an online socialism convention were published online. Texas State President Kelly Damphousse accused Alter of “conduct that advocates for inciting violence.” Texas State University has declined to provide an official policy that Alter violated.
2. “There is currently no academic freedom in Texas”
Course audit sparks fears about academic integrity, job security in faculty
By Ryan Claycamp
Oct. 6, 2025
The order for system-wide course audits by the Texas State University System (TSUS), which was sent out on Oct. 1, has sparked fear among faculty teaching about gender and LGBTQ+ studies.
The call for audits comes less than a week after Texas State removed an LGBTQ+ communication studies class from the course registry and the Texas Tech System moved to limit discussion in its universities. It also follows the firing of an A&M professor for discussing gender identity in class, which led to the resignation of the president of A&M.
Top 5 Opinion Columns of 2025
1. Bobcats will stumble in Pac-12 without change
By Andrew Bencivengo
Oct. 21, 2025
Despite considerable hype in the preseason and early weeks, Texas State is floundering as the season progresses, highlighting key vulnerabilities in its program despite increased attention from the university administrators. The Bobcats are aiming to be a serious contender on the field, but without overhauls to its program, their competitiveness remains questionable.
2. Texas State is failing to protect free speech
By Andrew Bencivengo
Sept. 16, 2025
Speech in Texas has increasingly been restricted and politicized, turning campuses into testing grounds for these limits. At Texas State, and other institutions, it is up to students to use their voice, or face losing it.
In response to recent challenges against speech, students have responded by staging multi-day protests around the Stallions. Those protesting the firing of tenured professor Tom Alter viewed it as a reflection of the Texas State’s stance on free speech.
3.
IN REVIEW
Student withdraws from university after governor shares video from Kirk memorial
By Blake Leschber
Sept. 22, 2025
A student withdrew from Texas State on Tuesday, Sept. 16, after Gov. Greg Abbott shared a video of him “mocking” Charlie Kirk’s death during a memorial.
The student, Devion Canty, was a concrete industry management freshman. He said the day the governor shared the video, he was called by the Dean of Students with an ultimatum.
4. Faculty advisory group replaces Senate temporarily to comply with SB 37
By Arabella DiChristina
Sept. 1, 2025
Starting Sept. 1, Texas State University will be using a faculty advisory group until the faculty senate is reestablished by the Texas State University System (TSUS).
Senate Bill 37 was passed into law in June, imposing new regulations on faculty senates.
5. Three people shot at The Square
By Blake Leschber
Nov. 1, 2025
Three people were shot on The Square on Nov. 1, according to Public Safety Communications Specialist Russell Wilde.
According to an SMPD Facebook post, the shooting happened at about 10 p.m. near Kissing Alley. One of the victims died.
3. Texas State students have power at the ballot box
By Alexis Chan Oct. 14, 2025
Voting is an essential aspect of political engagement and gives people a platform to advocate for the needs of their community. It is particularly beneficial for college students to vote, as job opportunities and education are affected by policy decisions.
Unfortunately, the low turnout during local elections shows their importance is unrecognized. However, when cities have politicians who listen to their constituents, positive change is more likely to occur.
4. More awareness is needed for first-gen resources
By Syghlas
Morales Nov. 18, 2025
Texas State strives to support student success and advance academic excellence. However, due to a lack of awareness and outreach of resources, many first-generation students may be at risk of being left out of these goals.
Texas State’s challenge is not getting first-generation students through the door; the problem lies in making sure these students are aware of the resources made specifically to help first-generation students succeed.
5. Red Zone leaves freshmen vulnerable, awareness necessary
By Aubrey Haynes Sept.
2, 2025
Freshmen are told Welcome Week is about making friends and finding community. However, it also marks the beginning of the Red Zone, the six-month stretch where, nationally, university students face the highest risk of sexual assault. Freedom and inexperience collide, and often the result is harm.
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) is a federally mandated report that details on-campus crime. The numbers from Texas State’s 2024 report show there is a prevalent issue here.
groups of Texas State students gather, one to protest the firing of Tom Alter and the other to memorialize the death of Charlie Kirk, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at the Fighting Stallions statue.
CARMEN KEEN | STAR ILLUSTRATOR
YEAR IN REVIEW 7
Top 5 Life & Arts Stories of 2025
1. Texas State makes a splash at River Fest ’25
By Diego Mendel April 14, 2025
“I’ve done thousands of shows over the past 10 years,” Mike Posner said while looking out over the crowd gathered at Sewell Park. “And I truly believe they were all for this moment. Right now.”
Moments like these defined River Fest 2025, an evening of music, mud and motion at Texas State’s beloved Sewell Park. The festival brought out thousands of students for a day by the San Marcos River, filled with live performances, food trucks, floating crowds and sun-drenched activities spread across the park.
2. Friend and mentor: SJMC faculty remember Kym Fox
By Carlene Ottah
Aug. 26, 2025
On the second floor of Old Main, it was not uncommon to see someone stop by Kym Fox’s office to chat.
There was rarely a time Fox, professor of practice and graduate instructional assistant coordinator in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC), was too busy to give her visitors — current and former students and colleagues — a smile or some encouragement.
Fox died of cancer on July 19. For over 20 years, she led and coordinated Texas State University’s journalism program. Her dedication to journalism and storytelling inspired many of the people she mentored and worked with over the course of several decades.
Fox’s work in the newsroom spanned many years, from designer and copy editor at the Mesa Tribune to reporter and day metro editor at the San Antonio Express-News. She focused on child abuse and juvenile justice.
Top 5 Sports Stories of 2025
1. Pac(k) your bags: Texas State to join Pac-12 in July 2026
By Ayden Oredson
June 30, 2025
Texas State made arguably it’s biggest move in school history since first moving up to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2012 today as Texas State is set to become the league’s ninth overall member and eighth football member. They join the likes of Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Utah State and Gonzaga (non-football member).
AYDEN OREDSON | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
TXST football prepares for a play against Arizona State, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils won 34-15.
2. A look inside Texas State’s goal oriented pitch to the Pac-12
By Adrian Ramirez
Oct. 24, 2025
Late at night on June 30, 2025, the Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the $5 million buyout cost it would take for Texas State to leave the Sun Belt Conference and join the Pac-12, putting the move in motion. But, before the point of discussing a buyout, Texas State had to pitch itself to the Pac-12 in hopes that the conference saw enough value in the university to offer a spot.
One month prior to Texas State’s announcement that it is Pac-12 bound, the university submitted a 13-page document to the Pac-12 fulfilling information requests surrounding athletic goals, investment plans, brand considerations and more.
3. Beauty and the bedazzler: designer reflects on Selena’s legacy
By Linae Lewter
Sept. 30, 2025
“The Selena Effect,” an exhibit celebrating the enduring allure and inspiration of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, 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.
4.
Grins to change management after celebrating 50-year anniversary
By Marisa Nuñez
Feb. 19, 2025
The co-owners of Grins are preparing to say goodbye to their workplace of 50 years after selling the restaurant to a San Marcos local following the 50-year anniversary of the restaurant.
After opening on Valentine’s Day 1975, Paul Sutphen began his first shift
5. Beyond the storefront: Alchemy Records’ next chapter begins
By Cady Clements
Old friends reunited, laughter filled the air and energy buzzed through Private Park as Alchemy Records entered into a new season.
Alchemy Records, once a home for experimental music, punks and everything in between, returned on June 14 as the Alchemy Collective, a new effort to keep the spirit of Alchemy alive. The Alchemy Collective is a group booking shows like the ones previously put on at Alchemy Records, in a decentralized way.
Alchemy Records was a local record shop off The Square that put on concerts for the genres of music that don’t normally get stage time in San Marcos. It evolved into more than a record shop or venue, becoming a shared space where people in the alternative and DIY music scenes could make friends and have a good time.
3. Cardiac ‘Cats comeback, stun No. 5 Texas in the Forty Acres
By Kaden Bessent
April 2, 2025
led to an exclamation point two-run home run from Ian Collier as Texas State (13-15, 4-5 Sun Belt Conference) upset No. 5 Texas (23-4, 8-1 Southeastern Conference) 5-3 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field Tuesday night.
AYDEN OREDSON | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Texas State junior pitcher Alex Valentin (7) prepares to pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning against UT-Austin, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
4. Coach Martinez’s journey with the game of golf
By Grace Darcy
March 17, 2025
Maria Jose Martinez joined the Texas State Bobcats coaching staff as the assistant golf coach in January, aiming to share her golfing experience with the team and foster the “better together” team culture.
Martinez joined the staff with a fondness for the team culture that current head women’s golf coach, Par Nilsson, created.
5. Pare’s dominant performance leads TXST to victory against North Texas in First Responder Bowl
By Jacob De Luna
‘The Running Man’ lacks pace out of the gate
By Marvin Goines Life and Arts Reporter
It feels as if Glen Powell cannot be stopped, and even more so in “The Running Man.”
Powell stars in the second adaptation of a novel, outrunning hunters sent out by the megacorporation for a month in a game show called “The Running Man.” Although death is all but guaranteed, Powell’s character — Ben Richards — devotes himself to winning a massive fortune to get medication for his sickly daughter. Directed by Edgar Wright, known for his action-comedies such as “Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World,” this is a small departure since comedy is an afterthought, with “The Running Man” sticking to two core themes and messages that are the real vehicle of the plot.
From the get-go, Richards feels like an easily relatable character. As a blue-collar worker who lives in the slums, he is unable to afford medicine for his daughter after being blacklisted for participating in “union activism.” Ben is goes on a limb to help others around him, saving lives whenever the labor is regarded as expendable, which gets him labeled as insubordinate. The wealth disparity runs the societal despair in the background, showing how the lower classes have to resort to shady dealers to get items as simple as flu medicine and are placated with trashy and violent television shows such as “The Running Man.”
Although not subtle, it’s clear that Wright conveys the dangers of shrinking an entire middle class, which makes a massive gap between the poor and the rich. Similar to other dystopian horrors such as
FROM FRONT BOUZARD
Bouzard started appearing once or twice a week by The Stallions around 2007 to recruit people to come to UCM. He quickly realized that wasn’t going to work because people never showed up. Afterward, Bouzard felt students sensed they could approach him without his agenda being imposed upon them. He said this also meant changing his attitude from “I would like you to join my campus ministry” to “How can I be of service to you?”
“I really got the sense people were avoiding me because they knew I was recruiting them,” Bouzard said. “Students knew I had an agenda, so when I dropped my agenda, things changed entirely when my agenda became their agenda.”
Bouzard has had different signs over the years, unrelated to when he changed his approach. Before his most recent one, which he has used for a decade, he had signs like “Chat with a Chaplain” and “Got Questions?”
“[My current sign] seemed to sum up most appropriately what I was there for: to talk about anything, just religious stuff, anything that people wanted to talk about,” Bouzard said.
Bouzard sits next to The Stallions three to four times a week, where he offers students the chance to speak with him about their troubles, hear a dad joke or get some advice. According to Bouzard, he speaks with 12-15 students a day and about 50 a week. Although he doesn’t always remember every person he talks to, his impact is undeniable. He recalled an encounter early this semester where a student asked if he remembered her from years ago. She told Bouzard he had saved her life.
“My honest answer was that I didn’t remember her,” Bouzard said. “I have no idea what I said, but that I was able to be a part of that was really affirming that every once in a while I might be of some use.”
Ryan Davis, mechanical engineering senior, started speaking with Jaime about four years ago. Bouzard recalled him as the type of person who likes to talk. He gravitated toward Bouzard and begin talking.
“Black Mirror,” the working classes are tempted to riches by enduring humiliating televised challenges to earn dismal payouts. In some cases, failure leads to a rapid death on live television.
After joining and starting to succeed on “The Running Man,” Richards becomes the face of the people. The excellent foil to his everyman archetype is “The Man” known as Dan Killian — played by Josh Brolin — who is the producer behind the show. In a private chat, Killian emphasizes Richards’ role to the public by informing him of the “hope” that viewers will hurl toward Richards. The masses gather behind him, cheering him on as he gets the leg up on “The Man” and beats the system that oppresses them daily. As Richards continues on with an exciting display of evading the hunters, sent by Killian, the population begins to rally
Over time, Davis’ visits became a habit.
“I’ve talked to Jaime about anything, sometimes it’s what’s happened in the previous five minutes, and other times it’s something that has been on my mind for a while,” Davis said. “I consider Jaime a friend of mine. There has been a lot to say because sometimes you might not have someone else who is right there. I never feel like he’s judging me, no matter what crazy things I say.”
Bouzard said it’s unknown who will take over his “Ask Me Anything” booth after his retirement because as a professor he is able to be in the Quad. He expects it will have to move to upper Bobcat Trail because it is unlikely another professor will take over. He believes his booth has become an important tradition, and there is a desire to continue that.
“I’m trying to not think about him leaving,” Todd Salmi, UCM pastor, said. “He is irreplaceable. His care and love for the students and his presence on campus have been an important part of this ministry and an important part of the student experience at Texas State.”
for the cause that “Richards lives.”
Knowing the past creative works from Wright, one would expect a lot of the signature flair with camerawork, which was woefully absent in this film. The action-packed scenes lacked the finesse that made Wright’s previous movies flow, sticking to a much more corporate and safe style. Given the bigger budget, star power and studio, it is incredibly disappointing that Wright opted to pass on the innovative techniques attributed to his trademark directing. Flashes of it appear from time to time, but the main appeal of seeing “The Running Man” is diminished without Wright’s distinct pizazz.
Thematically, “The Running Man” is primarily about inequalities of wealth, the struggles of the working class, media manipulation and how these tie into creating a larger rebellion once the people have had
SENIOR 30
enough. Unfortunately, it’s very on the nose, taking moments to pause between heavy action scenes to remind the audience just how heavily “The Network” is shaping things to play out the way it wants. On the other hand, framing a singular man as a catalyst for the revolution works well as people rally around Richards, but everything else is hammered into the viewers’ heads.
“The Running Man” is a little more faithful to the source material compared to the 1987 version with Arnold Schwarzenegger and arrives at a good moment to be a critique of modern-day government and media. With the rampant misuse of media manipulation, seeing behind the curtain of decisions helps sell the lie from “The Network.”
Although it’s not the breakout hit Paramount may have wanted, the shift in release date wedged the film in a spot where it just couldn’t compete or fully succeed. “The Running Man” is more of a jog than a sprint, with the first half-hour circling the drain of exposition, a section that could have been condensed. As far as the film’s enjoyment, pairing Powell’s charm with Wright’s willingness to make everything fun makes this film another one worth watching.
Marvin Goines is a film/TV critic who has been writing reviews on various types of multimedia since 2021. His work can be found on websites such as ‘The Cosmic Circus’ and ‘Movies We Texted About.’
My last feature story, me!
By Cara Cervenka Life and Arts Reporter
Joining The University Star my freshman year was a rewarding — and challenging — experience. It’s been a whirlwind of emotions the past three years, but through the ups and downs, I found my place here at Texas State.
When little 18-year-old me first stepped onto campus, I wasn’t sure how to do my own laundry, let alone what I wanted to do as a career. I was just a very homesick teenager with no real motivations, but luckily, I remembered some advice my mom gave to me. She had told me multiple times, “You have to join a club, whether that’s band or yearbook or Greek life. You have to join a club!” Well, thanks, Mom.
No, joining the The Star didn’t stop me from making spaghetti every single night or teach me how to put on a fitted sheet, but it did give me the confidence and real-world experience that I will need for post-grad life.
My very first article was a feature story about Brad Engleking, a Grammy-winning alumnus. I remember being so excited that I managed to organize three interviews, specifically Engleking. The interviews all started with anxiety and ended with sweat stains. I don’t think that feeling of excitement and nervousness will ever go away; weirdly enough, it’s one of the parts of journalism I love the most.
I want to thank my mom and my dad for their love, guidance and support. They have always encouraged me to follow my heart and my passions. When I came home one weekend with copies of my first-ever article, my mom framed it and put it on the wall. Thank you for your sometimesoverwhelming support. I love you!
I would like to thank the professors who I couldn’t have done this without. Jessica James and Terry Burtling, thank you for your constant support and guidance throughout
Life and Arts Reporter Cara Cervenka poses for her graduate photos, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, near TrauthHuffman Hall at Texas State.
my time at Texas State. You two can expect many more emails postgraduation. To Kym Fox, thank you for being such a wonderful professor. It’s thanks to your encouragement that I applied for the Society of Professional Journalists scholarship, which I then received twice.
To my editors, Marisa Nuñez and Carlene Ottah, thank you for your direction and encouragement. I learned more from your edits than anything I have done for class.
Thank you to The University Star for being my constant over the last three years, and for showing me the power of the press. With that being said … is anyone hiring?
ROBERT RAYA | STAR ILLUSTRATOR
Pastor Jamie Bouzard waits at his spot for students to arrive at The Quad, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at Texas State. Bouzard has offered life advice, spiritual guidance and dad jokes to students for several years.
LAURA WALKER | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAUDIA VARGA
France to Texas: Jade Defraeye’s journey from Toulouse to Texas State and beyond
By Julia Chew Sports Contributor
Senior Middle Blocker Jade Defraeye has dedicated her life to volleyball at home in France and in the U.S., with hopes of competing at the professional level.
At age six, Defraeye picked up a volleyball for the first time, and almost 17 years later, she has no plans of putting the sport down any time soon. Defraeye comes from a family full of volleyball players, so it’s no surprise she was naturally drawn to the game..
Defraeye attended the French National Volleyball Center in Toulouse, which is similar to a high school training experience in the U.S. There, she realized she was not ready to choose between academics and athletics after graduation, so she began seeking student-athlete opportunities in the U.S.
“The first thing was I wanted to keep going back to school,” Defraeye said. “In France, you have to choose between volleyball and school. And for me, I didn’t want to do that because school is also important [to me].”
After looking at a handful of other schools in the U.S., Defraeye decided Texas State was the best fit for her. She was guided there by an agent at Bring It U.S.A., an international recruiting company. Having never visited the U.S. prior to her time at Texas State, Defraeye said the transition to American life was difficult the first few months.
“I was very bad at English. So it was kind of tough for me, my first months in the U.S.,” Defraeye said. “And also the transportation. You have to have a car in the U.S., or you can do nothing.”
Volleyball head coach Sean Huiet said the language barrier provided a challenge at the beginning of Defraeye’s time at Texas State, but she has become
comfortable speaking up and has now stepped into a leadership role on the court.
Although the transition was tough, Defraeye said her coaches helped her settle into her new lifestyle. Coach Tori Plugge, who left during Defraeye’s sophomore year, was the person most involved in getting Defraeye settled in the U.S.
Plugge helped Defraeye set up a bank account and taught her about how university works in the U.S.
“One thing I really appreciate about American people is that they are very open and ready to help people,” Defraeye said.
Defraeye said the culture, mindset and hard work are what she enjoys most about the Texas State volleyball team. She said some of her favorite memories include sweeping the University of Houston at Strahan Arena during her sophomore year and winning the
Bobcats going bowling thanks to late season push
By Adrian Ramirez Sports Editor
After a less-than-ideal start to the 2025 season, bowl hopes looked slim. However, in the last three weeks of the season, Texas State rattled off three victories in a row to clinch bowl eligibility for the third consecutive year.
“Backs against the wall, odds against us and we found a way,” head coach G.J. Kinne said. “Like I told [the media] throughout the year, we’ve got a really good football team, I still believe we’re the best team in the West [Division] and we found a way to beat another good team at home to carry some momentum into bowl season.”
Texas State’s outlook this season was uncertain and in doubt after a 3-6 start overall and a 0-3 record to start Sun Belt play. The Bobcat offense never seemed to be the issue, being a consistent top 25 unit in the country all season long. Texas State finished the regular season 19th in scoring offense with 34.9 points per game and 12th in the country in total offense with 469.6 yards per game.
Where the team struggled was on the defensive side of the ball. Before the three-game win streak, the Bobcat defense faced immense struggles, being a bottom-25 unit in the country. In seven of the first nine games, the Bobcats gave up over 30 points, only winning one of those seven contests.
In the final three weeks of the season, the Bobcat defense stepped up across all levels, only allowing 14 points each to Southern Miss and Louisiana-Monroe, and 26 to South
Alabama, although most of those points were scored in garbage time.
Now, due to the consistency of the offense and the late-season push from the defense, the Bobcats are set to go bowling again.
Early projections forecast the Bobcats either making a third straight trip to the First Responder Bowl in Dallas or heading to Frisco for the Scooters Coffee Frisco Bowl. Bowl selections will be made following conference championship weekend, Sunday, Dec. 7.
ABEL BARCENAS | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Texas State freshman safety Tice Williams (28) points to the end zone after stopping South Alabama’s offense, Saturday, Nov 29, 2025, at UFCU Stadium. Texas State won 49-26.
Sun Belt Conference championship last season.
This past summer, Defraeye represented Texas State and the country of France at the University World Games on the French National Reserve team.
“I was proud to represent my country,” Defraeye said. “It was a good experience to meet great people, and it felt good to meet other internationals, because I don’t see a lot of [other] international people in the U.S.”
Huiet said the trip to Europe and France in particular helped the team as a whole understand Defraeye and French culture overall.
After college, Defraeye said she hopes to play professionally when she finishes school in May. She hopes to join a professional league in America next season.
“She wants to play at the highest level, and she’s going to keep working to do it,” Huiet said. “She’s
not afraid of the work she has to do.”
In the past, athletes hoping to compete at the next level had to seek out opportunities overseas because professional volleyball in the U.S. was not an option. But now, with the creation of two professional leagues, League One Volleyball and Major League Volleyball, new doors have opened for Defraeye.
Huiet said he has had numerous athletes with the potential to play professionally in the past, but they were unable to take that step if they did not want to leave the country.
Along with playing for a professional league, Huiet said he also expects to see Defraeye make it to the Olympics and that he has made it known that he expects her to send him tickets so he can cheer her on in person, wherever that may be,.
“I’m so freaking pumped for her,” Huiet said. “I’m just so excited to watch her next step.”
Sparks’ numbers rank with some of the best in the county. He ranks sixth in the nation in receiving yards, placing him ahead of EA Sports College Football 26 cover athletes Ryan Williams and Jeremiah Smith.
For many outside the program, Sparks season came as a surprise. However, inside the Bobcat locker room, it did not.
Starting quarterback Brad Jackson, who took reps with Sparks all through spring and fall camp, said he recognized how special Sparks could be long before the stat sheet was filled up.
“When you’re going through spring ball and fall camp, you’re thinking to yourself, holy cow, this guy is going to be good,” Jackson said.
With Sparks becoming a reliable target on the team, Texas State remained one of the most explosive
attacks in the Sun Belt. The Bobcats averaged 34.9 points per game and ranked among the nation’s best in total offense.
For Texas State wide receivers coach Randy Martinez, Sparks’ rise to stardom is a testament to the growth he has displayed both as an athlete and as a person. Martinez attributed Sparks’ transformation into one of the highest regarded receivers in the nation to his high intelligence of the wide receiver position.
“Beau is so intelligent, and he studies the game,” Martinez said. “He eats and breathes football; that’s just the kind of kid he is.”
With Texas State preparing to go bowling for a third straight season, Sparks’ standout season highlights preparation meeting opportunity.
“The sky is the limit for him,” Martinez said. “I know people say it all the time, but for Beau, it really is.
FROM FRONT SPARKS
Texas State junior wide receiver Beau Sparks (11) takes a kickoff down the field against Eastern Michigan, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at UFCU Stadium. Texas State won 52-27
AYDEN OREDSON | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Texas State senior middle blocker Jade Defraeye (5) talks with sophomore setter Anna Blaine (17) after giving up a kill to Coastal Carolina, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Strahan Arena. The Bobcats swept the Chanticleers 3-0.
