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CITY INSTALLS TEMPORARY FENCES AT RIO VISTA PARK
By Ryan Claycamp News Editor
The city of San Marcos installed temporary summer fencing at Rio Vista Park on May 22.
City council approved the installation of the fences during their May 20 work session to manage park access and better enforce the single use container ban over the summer.
The fencing is part of the city’s “Managed Access Test Plan,” (MATP) where areas deemed key access points will be staffed on the weekends, but not from Monday-Thursday, except during holiday weekends, as that is when large amounts of people visit the river from out of town.
“I stress that this is a test. The fencing infrastructure is not permanent,” San Marcos Assistant City Manager Rodney Gonzales said during the work session. “Some of our long weekends also incorporate a Monday or Thursday.”
Gonzales said the reason the test is at Rio Vista and not another riverfront park, or all of the riverfront parks, is because Rio Vista is where a large amount of violations of the single use container ban and other ordinances are occurring.
“It is our belief that we will get better compliance through managed access,” Gonzales said. “Because it is a test plan we will see if we need this up ... throughout the year. It may be that we only
need the fence up during the summer season.”
During public comment in the work session, Kileigh Reed, the owner of Wild Rice Studio and a board member for The Eyes of the San Marcos River spoke in favor of managed access at Rio Vista.
“I was in attendance... at a Monday morning cleanup, and it was astonishing to see how much trash was left,” Reed said. “I beg you to take a look at what is going on at Rio Vista and create a managed access program, so we can all have river parks that we enjoy.”
Mermaid Society dives into new environmental programs for river
By Cady Clements Life and Arts Reporter
Glittering mermaid costumes made of household items flooded the town square as the Mermaid Society of Texas introduced two new programs at the eighth annual Mermaid Capital of Texas Festival on May 17.
The festival hosts the theme of “Uniquely San Marcos: Past, Present, and Always” each year. It reminds people of the city’s uniqueness because of the San Marcos River and the need to protect it. With this goal in mind, the Mermaid Society implemented changes this year and last that aligned with protecting the river and creating community.
The festival previously took place in September. However, July
A woman dressed as a sunflower mermaid rides on a float in the Mermaid Promenade, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in downtown San Marcos.
Holbrook, founder and executive director of the Mermaid Society, believed the festival’s new switch to May could ring in summer while also
sharing information on how to keep our river clean during the summer months.
Texas State softball season in review
By Adrian Ramirez Assistant Sports Editor
Heading into the 2025 season, two things were simultaneously true for Texas State softball: Expectations were sky-high and nobody quite knew what to expect. Hard to imagine, but that’s the product of a program coming off of a Sun Belt Tournament championship victory and NCAA regional championship appearance, all while boasting a completely new look on the field this year.
Here is a look back on the Bobcats’ 2025 season.
The 2025 season was filled with ups and downs. From rattling off seven and eight game winning streaks early in the season, but dropping crucial conference series against top teams in the Sun Belt, to sweeping Louisiana-Monroe on the final weekend of conference play to win the Sun Belt regular season championship and finally being eliminated in the first round of the Sun Belt tournament, the Bobcats never quite found their stride for an extended time.
SEE SOFTBALL PAGE 5
Keely Williams, junior outfielder, celebrates during the game against Missouri State on Friday, March 8, 2025, at
Softball Stadium.
By Lesdy Hernandez New Reporter
Texas State has integrated artificial intelligence (AI) tools throughout campus and some classes as concerns over AI’s role in higher education grow.
While Texas State does not have an official AI policy, the Division of Information Technology has initial guidelines for students and faculty on information security, data privacy and academic integrity when using AI in classes and curriculum.
Kimberly Conner, Texas State IT digital strategies lead, said with the use of AI engines continuing to grow in the workforce and academic world, AI has an important position in higher education.
Conner emphasized the importance behind students understanding the baseline of AI run technology and its growing capabilities.
“I’m not saying everywhere, I’m not saying in every class, but I’m saying it has its place, so that we can properly prepare our students, ensure they’re marketable and they’re informed,” Conner said. “While my generation may face uncertainties, it is imperative that we empower subsequent generations with the knowledge skills and abilities they need to understand this tool.”
In April, Texas State integrated Perplexity.ai Enterprise Pro, an AI-powered search engine and research assistant that provides real-time answers using current web information for Texas State students, faculty and staff at no additional cost.
A Lion’s Club employee takes tubes from an exit-only access point to their collection van, Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Rio Vista Park.
RHIAN DAVIS | MANAGING EDITOR
Bobcat
MEG BOLES | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
June 3, 2025
Inside the Capitol: Senate Bill 8
Bill would require sheriffs to sign agreements with ICE
By Ryan Claycamp News Editor
“Inside the Capitol” examines key bills from the 89th legislative session that impact the Texas State and San Marcos communities. The session began on Jan. 14 and ends June 2.
Senate Bill 8 (SB 8), introduced by Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) and Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) would require sheriff’s offices in counties with a population of more than 100,000 to sign an immigration enforcement agreement with federal law enforcement.
The agreements, called 287(g) agreements, would allow sheriff deputies to work alongside federal law enforcement in one of three ways : the Jail Enforcement Model, which would allow sheriff’s offices to identify individuals for deportation and process their removals, the Taskforce Model, which allows limited immigration authority and requires communication with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Warrant Service Officer Program, which would have ICE train local law enforcement on how to execute immigration warrants.
“36 Texas counties already have a 287(g) agreement with ICE,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a press release after the senate passed their version of the bill. “Passage of SB 8 into law will bring Texas counties with the largest jail populations into a 287(g) agreement with ICE to prevent illegal immigrants, some of whom are
FROM FRONT TECHNOLOGY
dangerous criminals, from wreaking havoc on Texas communities.”
While Patrick praised the bill, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra criticized it for not allocating funds to cover additional costs. He also said the bill encroaches on local autonomy.
“This is yet another unfunded mandate, and what that means is simply the state telling local government what to do without allocating a budget right further,” Becerra said.
While SB 8 does create a grant to cover the cost, it would only award $100,000 to a counties with a population between 100,000 and 499,999 people. According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a Hays County sheriff’s deputy is $71,000, meaning the grant wouldn’t even cover the costs of two deputies.
Becerra also expressed concerns that requiring 287(g) agreements would damage community relationships with local law enforcement.
“It’s disruptive to the relationships that we’re trying to build with our law enforcement in our communities, because when law enforcement has been forced to act like an extension of The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs and Border Patrol,” Becerra said. “All of a sudden our trust has evaporated. The community is going to see a deputy and think deportation.”
He is also worried the potential agreement would put stress on the Hays County Jail which he said is already over capacity. Currently 38% of all individuals held in custody by Hays County are being held in Haskell County.
Perplexity also allows the usage of organizational tools, or “spaces,” where users can store work documents helping manage research and can create tutor bots to aid with understanding material.
“Perplexity is particularly powerful because it can either run the most effective default, large language model that can answer your query, or you can actually go in and select [other AI tools],” Conner said.
With this addition of AI in higher education, concerns around the nation grow as to whether these tools provide students a method to cheat their way through school.
According to a 2023 survey by Intelligent, out of 1,233 college students about 30% were found to have used ChatGPT for schoolwork that past school year and three in four ChatGPT users were found more likely to recommend the tool to other students.
Avery Donnelly, animal science sophomore, said although some professors may have mixed feelings on utilizing AI tools for classes, she has found AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Grammarly, to be great resources in helping her better understand difficult material.
“When I was stuck trying to make a presentation, I needed an idea on how to move forward about certain concepts that I may be struggling about and when I searched it on Safari or Chrome, about what this topic is about, it didn’t really give me a straight answer,” Donnelly said. “ChatGPT would give me a straightforward answer on what it was, and some other resources
According to Conner, in spring 2025, Texas State began its ChatGPT education pilot program that provided nine courses with ChatGPT licenses, ranging from computer science to career and technical education. A total of 226 students had
Becerra further called the current handling of immigration enforcement unconstitutional, calling recent immigration arrests kidnapping.
“Community members are being disappeared from our county, and I have no knowledge as to who took them, as to where they were taken and as to what name is attached to that so that we can verify,” Becerra said. “And as the county’s Director of Homeland Security, I find that behavior from the federal government unacceptable.”
Local social welfare organization, Mano Amiga Action, is organizing with groups across the state to oppose SB 8.
“Here in Hays County in particular, we’re a rapidly growing and diverse county, and we already have existing racial disparities and arrest and jail bookings,” Eric Martinez, the groups executive director, said. “[SB 8] targets anyone perceived to be an immigrant. If you’re black or brown, you’re more likely to be stopped question and funneled into a system where due process barely exists.”
Martinez’s claims of racial disparities are correct, as both Black and Hispanic groups make up a larger portion of the jail population than they represent in Hays County as a whole.
Like Becerra, Martinez also criticized the bill for requiring funds to be directed away from other issues in the county.
He also said the bill would impact individuals in the county regardless of their citizenship status.
access to ChatGPT through these courses.
Donnelly said students having access to AI tools allows them to receive secondary assistance in school material when on-campus resources and aid programs are unavailable to them.
“In my English class last semester if I didn’t have Grammarly or ChatGPT to just double check my paper, because it’s great that we have on campus resources like the labs or the paper review tutors who can gladly help us, but those have business hours, and sometimes my classes can go till 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.,” Donnelly said.
Bryan Rodriguez, civil engineering sophomore, said his professor required and encouraged students to use ChatGPT and other AI websites for classwork and projects and found these tools helped him stay organized during his first semester in college.
“I’m big on actually performing a task in order to learn it, so I guess a teacher could teach me whatever they want, and I really wouldn’t fully grasp the concept unless I perform what they’re trying to teach me,” Rodriguez said. “So, I think [ChatGPT] helped me in a positive way, and it
Editorial
Editor-in-Chief: Blake Leschber stareditor@txstate.edu
Managing Editor: Rhian Davis starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu
News Editor: Ryan Claycamp starnews@txstate.edu
Life & Arts Editor: Carlene Ottah starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
“Everyone in Texas is connected to an immigrant in some way,” Martinez said. “It’s going to devastate communities, it’s going to devastate economies. It’s going to completely erode entire generations of people’s trust in our system, our system of law.”
Martinez also spoke about the importance of locals, especially those who belong to ethnic minority groups, to know their rights when it comes to immigration law.
“The Constitution protects us all, and the Constitution, and all rights, are like a muscle. If we don’t use them and exercise them, they atrophy up until a point to where we can’t use them anymore,” Martinez said.
As of June 2, SB 8 was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott, where it will either be vetoed or become law. Abbott signed an executive order similar to this bill in January.
made the work a lot easier and it was easy to use.” Conner said although talk about AI policies in Texas State have not occurred, it is important to remember to use AI responsibility all while continuing to encourage its role in students’ education.
“I am never one to say that AI is the solution to everything, do I believe it will offer a lot of solutions because of its breadth and scope and computing capabilities? Absolutely, but do I believe there’s ever a time when humans should be out of the loop, absolutely not,” Conner said.
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Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, June 3, 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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SOPHIE GERKE | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
SOPHIA GERKE | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
San Marcos provides resources for summer heat
By Arabella DiChristina News Reporter
Organizations across San Marcos are offering advice and resources, such as cooling centers and fan drives, for residents to prepare for the extreme summer heat.
Climate Central, a nonprofit group of scientists who research climate change, stated that South and Central Texas will see highs of 100-105 degrees Fahrenheit starting May 13.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 1,300 deaths per year in the U.S. are due to extreme heat.
Cooling centers, areas with functioning air conditioning, start to
operate when the temperature outside is 100 degrees or more for more than three hours. Once the criteria are met, Southside Community Center opens as a cooling center during its business hours.
Liaison for Neighborhood Engagement and community partner for the Southside Community Center, Jessica Cain, said the Southside is the emergency weather shelter for all of Hays County.
“Being open for the cooling shelter just really means that our gym/ cafeteria space, which is where we serve breakfast and dinner as well, is open to the public during the day,” Cain said. “We have snacks, Gatorade, coffee, all sorts of drinks, we roll
FROM FRONT RECREATION
During the presentation of the MATP proposal, Gonzales said the fencing would allow for more signs to educate park visitors about the rules of the parks and river, such as the single use container ban.
According to San Marcos Police Commander Tiffany Williams, who is helping with enforcement at Rio Vista, the designated entry points are about education rather than punishment. She said the city is hoping to better educate residents and visitors this year and will continue to try and improve education about the single use container ban in the following years.
Williams also said law enforcement and park employees are not searching containers such as bags and coolers, but are just looking for visible items as guests enter the parks. She said if they spot a banned item, they allow the person bringing it in to either leave the park, put the banned item back in their vehicle or throw the item away before entering.
She said the city decided to make the access point on Cheatham Street, which next to Ivar’s River Pub and where the Lion’s Club picks up their tubes, an exit only point instead of an entry and exit. Williams said that decision was made for public safety, as it’s not uncommon for people to fall and injure themselves near that point.
“In the past we had people camp out there ... it made it difficult for police and EMS to get down there,” Williams said.
Council also discussed the possibility of closing the streets around Rio Vista every week, however that was decided against when city staff informed them it would cost at least $3,000 a weekend to do so.
In the work session, city staff also proposed charging for river access and creating a permit system for residents, as well as giving parking enforcement the power to call for a car to be towed, instead of waiting for a police officer to call that tow. Council decided to revisit both topics at a later date.
out our little TV, and folks are just welcome to be in that space.”
Southside Community Center hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. and is located at 518 S. Guadalupe St.
“It gives our neighbors a safe place to be during the hottest hours of the day during the summer,” Cain said. “It is really just a safety thing, I think everybody knows that it’s dangerous to be outside between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the summer months.”
Cooling centers in San Marcos are located at the Southside Community Center, the San Marcos Public Library and the San Marcos Activity Center.
Athletic training professor Kevin Miller, who studies heat-related illness, wrote that there are two types of heatstroke: exertional heatstroke (EHS) and classical heatstroke (CHS). EHS usually affects athletes and physically active individuals, while CHS typically affects the elderly and small children.
Miller wrote that with both EHS and CHS, a person’s internal body temperature is typically high, usually greater than 105 degrees Fahrenheit, accompanied by changes in the central nervous system, including loss of consciousness, coma, seizure and alterations in personality.
According to Miller, hot, dry, red skin is only found in CHS, whereas with EHS, the person is usually sweating profusely and breathing rapidly.
“Most individuals can tolerate an internal body temperature greater than 105 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 60 minutes before their internal organs start to break down,” Miller wrote.
Climate Central stated high levels of heat typically occur in July or August, making the high of 104 degrees Fahrenheit on May 13 particularly unusual and dangerous.
“It is vital to reduce body
temperature to less than 103 degrees Fahrenheit within 30 minutes of symptom development,” Miller wrote. “Best way to [reduce body temperature] is with cold water immersion because water transfers heat much more effectively than air.”
According to Miller, it is important to cool people who have symptoms of heatstroke before they are transferred to the hospital, with a mantra of “cool first, transport second.”
“If someone’s body temperature is great 105°F, a cooling center is not going to save their life,” Miller wrote. “We have to use more aggressive forms of cooling like cold-water immersion to bring their body temperature down quickly.”
To help avoid heat stroke, the Mayo Clinic advises people to wear lightweight clothing, drink plenty of fluids and limit time working in the heat.
San Marcos and the Salvation Army held their seventh annual fan drive throughout May to help residents who cannot afford or do not have air conditioning.
Residents were able to donate new 12-inch or larger multi-purpose pedestal fans or 20-inch box fans, or donate money to help buy new fans.
According to a press release by the city, the collected fans are distributed by The Salvation Army San Marcos, located at 300 S CM Allen Parkway, Suite 100.
“Providing relief from the summer heat is a community effort, and we’re grateful for the generosity of our residents each year,” Assistant Director of SMTX Utilities Brian McHenry said in the press release. McHenry said in the press release that last year the fan drive received 118 fans and hopes to see more. Residents can still receive fans if needed by calling 512-754-8541 to join a waitlist.
BLAKE LESCHBER | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
JARELL CARR | STAR ILLUSTRATOR
The temporary summer fencing blocks the park from the road, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Rio Vista Park.
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.
By Andrew Bencivengo Opinions Editor
On May 22, the city of San Marcos put up temporary fencing around Rio Vista Park to better enforce the single-use container ban during the busy summer season. The park, long known for its natural beauty and accessibility, holds historical significance for the San Marcos community.
According to city officials, the fencing is part of a “Managed Access Test Plan (MATP),” with street access gates monitored by Park Ambassadors relaying park rules. While a necessary step in managing environmental and rule infractions, the city’s full scope of enforcement remains questionable.
The fencing is a response to increasing concerns about overcrowding, littering and safety incidents during the summer months. In 2024, city staff documented 8,714 violations at city parks, including issues related to the single-use container ban, alcohol consumption and illegal parking. The city has struggled with the enforcement of these ordinances, especially with limited staffing and resources.
In addition to the can ban and fencing, the city has enacted a curfew from 11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. on holidays and 7 a.m. on regular weekends, with paid-parking being implemented for non-residents or
LESCHBER | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Rivergoers walk around the temporary fences to an entrance, Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Rio Vista Park. The fences create certain access points where individuals must enter or exit at Rio Vista Park. individuals must enter or exit.
non-registered vehicles at City Park. The city has also proposed charging fees to non-residents. These additions are particularly concerning, as they threaten to restrict access to a historic San Marcos site known for its openness and accessibility.
For decades, Rio Vista Park has served as a public commons enjoyed by residents and non-residents alike, with 70% of weekend visitors not from San Marcos, according to the San Marcos City Council. Parking and access pricing are exclusionary
Student protests cannot be silenced Rio Vista needs action, not temporary obstruction
By Briaany Ward Opinions Contributor
Student protest isn’t a threat, it’s essential. And when students take their grievances to the streets, their actions are not met with understanding, but with accusations of disruption and threats to public order. Even peaceful student actions, such as the recent pro-Palestinian encampment at UT Austin, have been met with swift and forceful suppression.
Although it’s controversial, these acts of defiance force us to reflect on what’s happening across the U.S. today. In Texas, Senate Bill 2972 (SB 2972) aims to restrict demonstrations on college campuses, limit protest locations and restrict the use of amplified sound and more.
Dismissing calls for change isn’t just ignoring student voices, it’s preventing recognition of their intended message and pushing activists to use bolder methods to call attention to their grievances.
Lewis Raven Wallace, a writer for Truthout, an independent progressive news organization dedicated to social justice issues, explored the core purpose of disruptive protest. He argues, “Disruptive protest — encompassing both civil disobedience and extralegal direct action — does not primarily aim to persuade or to make a message morally appealing to a broad audience. Rather, the intent of disruption is to advance political goals by interrupting, disturbing and creating tension within the status quo.”
Thomas Alter, a history professor at Texas State, believes disruption is a key element to protest.
“It’s inconvenient because that’s what it’s supposed to do,” Alter said. “It’s supposed to draw attention to the plight of those in a war.”
Although the discomfort of protest often leads to immediate criticism, history shows that actions initially villainized, like the foundational defiance of the U.S., are eventually honored. This shifting perception determines how protests are treated.
The American Civil Rights Movement illustrates this pattern. Despite its commitment to nonviolence, the civil rights movement saw isolated acts of property damage that the media amplified, often
describing protesters as “criminals” or “rioters.”
This approach is what researchers call the “protest paradigm,” a common pattern in social movement coverage.
The protest paradigm disproportionately focuses on spectacle over underlying grievances, effectively delegitimizing protesters and their causes.
So, if protest is indeed a deep-rooted tradition in American history, why does it so consistently get treated as a threat?
Maybe it’s because genuine protest, by its very nature, was never about politely asking for change.
and risk setting a precedent that access is a privilege, not a right. It also ignores non-restrictive solutions for park-rule violations.
To better address environmental and safety concerns, the city must actively invest in its ordinances. Initiatives, such as the can-ban, have produced little improvement due to the lack of resources and public awareness directed to them. Directing more public funding and focus to education and enforcement, rather than pricing out non-residents from
enjoying San Marcos’ natural beauty would be more effective.
The river serves as a major driver of city tourism, and the implementation of alternative measures, like expanding the Park Ranger program, investing in river stewardship education or partnering with student volunteers and local organizations for cleanup campaigns, would preserve access while directly addressing the core issues.
Initiatives like the MATP are not inherently harmful, but making them effective requires attention and resources that the city has not fully invested. Conservation is important to the continued enjoyment of public waterways like the San Marcos River, but risks being needlessly punitive when enforcement-first initiatives are used rather than community engagement.
The San Marcos River is a treasure worth protecting, but it must be protected with the people in mind, not in spite of them. Fencing might provide temporary relief, but it undermines the spirit of a place that’s always been defined by its openness.
-Andrew Bencivengo is a management junior
Alter points out these actions are consistently seen as a threat to the established order.
“It happens because it is threatening to the status quo,” Alter said. “Protests are [almost] always threatening to the status quo, and that’s why you see the clampdowns on them.”
Around the world today, movements are still advocating for urgent causes like anti-war efforts, immigration rights, climate justice and women’s reproductive rights. Consequently, movements that inherently disrupt traditional systems routinely face intense backlash from those invested in maintaining the status quo.
How can we, as a society, truly learn from history and progressively move forward?
Ironically enough, the answer may be the same way we’ve overcome issues in the past: through recognizing the power of collective action, understanding the historical necessity of disruption and choosing to focus on the shared values that
Letter to the Editor
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
ultimately bind us together.
At the heart of this collective force lies a profound courage. Jasmine Franklin, president of the Texas State chapter of the NAACP, describes this as vulnerability.
“Vulnerability is a superpower,” Franklin said. “I feel like vulnerability really sets you aside from others because it allows you to get in touch with the message that you want to perceive. Being vulnerable within a protest shows your emotions. It shows that you’re willing to be there and make that fight for what you believe in.”
For Texas State students, this discussion is intensely personal: it challenges Bobcats — and students around the world — to weigh the risks of speaking out against the historical duty to act as agents for change.
- Briaany Ward is a digital media innovation junior
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.
SOPHIA GERKE | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
BLAKE
TRACK & FIELD
Texas State reflects on successful 2025 season
By Luke Landa Sports Reporter
From sweeping the Sun Belt Outdoor Conference Championships to ranking inside the top 25 in the nation, the Texas State track and field season has been historic.
The Sun Belt Conference Track and Field Coach of the Year John Frazier believes the team’s success stems from consistency.
“It’s a lifestyle, no one is perfect but if you are doing the right things most of the time, you are more likely to be successful,” Frazier said. “Getting to bed early, eating right, making good decisions, staying on top of studies and going to the training room, all of these things play into the team’s success.”
With this mentality at the forefront, the Bobcats were able to reach new heights, such as the sweeping of the Sun Belt Outdoor Conference Championships. This marked the first time in program history both the men’s and women’s team won the outdoor championship in the same season.
A Bobcat who made a large impact this season was multi-sport athlete Drew Donley. In his first season of collegiate track, Donley earned the Sun Belt Men’s Newcomer of the Year honor.
“I went straight from football season to track season, me and all my track teammates worked really hard. It’s not just me, we all pushed each other to be better,” Donley said. “I didn’t really come in with any expectations because I had no idea what to expect, instead I just worked as hard
FROM FRONT SOFTBALL
as I could and prayed to God about the season. It has been a blessing and a lot of fun but we aren’t done yet.”
Donley emphasized that winning in a team setting was a little sweeter than just winning a solo event such as the 200m.
“Both men’s and women’s side, everyone had a really good meet [Conference Championships Outdoor] and it was just cool to see everyone doing good at their own event and it coming together as a team,” Donley stated. “Honestly it felt better winning as a team more so than just winning the 200 or the 100, it was really cool to see the hard work that the team put in pay off and win as a team.”
Melanie Duron, a shot putter and the only Bobcat to ever win the shot put at the Outdoor Championships in back-to-back seasons, described the team as more of a family rather than peers.
“There are a lot of track teams that are divided but we are really united, and the support that each and every one of us gives one another is amazing,” Duron said. “After seeing the hard work and effort being put in by both the women and men, I had no doubt that we could sweep the Outdoor Championships.”
The Bobcats look to finish the season off strong at the NCAA Track and Field National Championships from June 11-14 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Chris Preddie is set to compete in the triple jump, and Kason O’Riley and Aiden Hayes are scheduled to compete in the high jump.
“To go into Monroe and do what we did in that three-game series in that atmosphere, with that pressure, shows me that the growth is where I wanted it to be throughout the season,” Woodard said. “That puts us in a good spot moving into next year to tell me we have the ability to [win].”
Entering the final weekend of play, the Bobcats sat second in the conference behind Louisiana-Monroe and needed to win two-of-three for at least a share of the conference title. Texas State went on the road and swept the conference leading Warhawks to claim the outright regular season championship, highlighting the growth and resilience of the Bobcats young core.
“To go into Monroe and do what we did in that three game series in that atmosphere, with that pressure, shows me that the growth is where I wanted it to be throughout the season,” Woodard said. “That puts us in a good spot moving into next year to tell me we have the ability to [win].”
Despite winning the regular season championship and securing the No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt tournament, the Bobcats’ run came to an end shortly after.
Drawing James Madison in their first round of the Sun Belt tournament, the Texas State offense was stifled by JMU pitching. The Bobcats couldn’t make anything happen at the plate and ended up losing to the Dukes 2-0, ending their tournament and ultimately their season as Selection Sunday came and went without Texas State being selected to a regional.
There were a few talking points as to why Texas State wasn’t selected to the tournament, even as the
regular season champions in one of the better conferences in the nation. But the answer was simple in the eyes of Woodard.
“You never want to put yourself in a spot where one game determines whether you make the postseason or not and because of our inconsistency that’s where we landed.” Woodard said. “We didn’t play well in April. We want to be playing our best ball in April and May and we didn’t do that.”
Even though Texas State missed the postseason this year, there is strong reason to believe the Bobcats will be back in contention for a tournament berth next season. Only graduating two seniors, Texas State is primed to bring back its core group that led to much of this season’s success.
Even with the transfer portal and all the movement in collegiate athletics, one of the hallmarks of Texas State softball has been coach Woodard’s ability to retain the talent on her roster, such as Maddy Azua, Ciara Trahan, Jessica Mullins, Sara Vanderford and more. If she continues to do so, the Bobcat softball program may be poised for success in 2026.
“You never really know, but I feel pretty good right now about the core group returning,” Woodard said. “The core group I feel like is going to be back next year to make a statement that we didn’t get to
make this year,”
While the ultimate goal is to be the last team standing in Oklahoma City, success is measured differently in every program. For Texas State, not reaching the NCAA tournament is a disappointing end, but what such a young team was able to accomplish is a reason to look at the 2025 season as a positive.
STAR FILE PHOTO
Texas State director of track and field John Frazier talks to senior jumper Kason O’Riley during the Charles Austin Classic, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in San Marcos.
Texas State softball cheers on infielder Aiyana Coleman (17) as she finishes her home run during the game against Stephen F. Austin, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, at Bobcat Softball Stadium. Bobcats beat the Lumberjacks 3-1.
STAR FILE PHOTO
Texas State senior sprinter Drew Donley sprints for the 200m race at Bobcat Invitational on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Bobcat Track and Field Stadium.
STAR FILE PHOTO
AYDEN OREDSON | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Texas State softball crowding over sophomore pitcher Maddy Azua (22) after completing an inning against Wichita State, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
SOPHIE GERKE & NATALIE MURRAY | ASSISTANT
IssueOrientation
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
News from May
Texas State Campus Master Plan approved
By Arabella DiChristina News Reporter
Published May 4
During its May 1 and 2 quarterly meeting, the Texas State University System (TSUS) approved Texas State’s 2025-35 Campus Master Plan and seven new degree programs.
Texas State’s 2025-35 Campus Master Plan consists of 30 new construction projects, a plan to increase enrollment to 50,000 students across both campuses, “Run to R1,” and enhancements to current buildings.
Within the new construction projects for the San Marcos campus, five academic buildings and three parking lots are planned to get built.
In addition to the new buildings, there will also be 22 renovation plans for current buildings at the San Marcos
campus, with 14 of these being academic buildings.
According to President Kelly Damphousse’s presentation, within the new construction projects for the San Marcos campus, five academic buildings and three parking lots are planned to get built. In addition to the new buildings, there are also 22 renovation plans for the current buildings at the San Marcos campus, with 14 of these being academic buildings.
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Arrest warrant issued for county corrections officer
By Ryan Claycamp News Editor
Published May 7
Content warning: This article contains discussion of a sex crime.
On Tuesday, May 6 an arrest warrant was issued by the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office for Hays County Corrections Officer George Snell, who has been charged with sex crimes against a minor.
The charges include aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by contact. Both are felony offenses.
According to a Facebook post issued by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, they had been aware of an ongoing investigation into Snell since August 2024.
“To avoid compromising the integrity of that investigation, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office deferred its internal administrative review until it was appropriate for Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office to share sufficient information,” the sheriff’s office wrote in the post.
Once notified of the arrest warrant, the sheriff’s office immediately fired Snell, who had been with the office since 2022.
“The arrest of a Hays County Sheriff’s Office employee is sickening and a betrayal of everything this badge stands for,” Hays County Sheriff Anthony Hipolito said in the post. “Let me be clear: there is zero tolerance for criminal behavior in this agency. Any employee who breaks the law, especially in ways as vile as this, will be held fully accountable.”
City council votes to deny ceasefire resolution
By Ryan Claycamp News Editor
Published May 7
At its May 6 meeting, San Marcos City Council voted to deny a resolution calling for a permanent and immediate ceasefire in “occupied Palestine.”
The vote came after hours of passionate public comment, with supporters on both sides.
Days before the meeting, on April 29, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a letter to Mayor Jane Hughson in which he threatened to cut state funding to the city, citing state law. According to Abbott, he signed into law a bill in 2017 making it illegal for government resolutions to support efforts to “boycott, divest from and sanction Israel.”
“The proposed resolution seems calculated to violate this law by
calling for San Marcos to limit its commercial relations with Israel,” Abbott wrote in his letter. “This public expression of a desire to do what state law prohibits is unacceptable.”
The morning of the meeting, federal Rep. Greg Casar issued a letter to Hughson and the rest of city council. In his letter, Casar responded to Abbott, calling his threats unconstitutional.
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ments on a ceasefire resolution up for vote by the City Council, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in San Marcos.
Softball exits Sun Belt tournament early in upset loss
By Ayden Oredson Sports Reporter Published
May 9
The top-seeded Texas State Bobcats (34-19, 16-8 SBC) will not go back-to-back in winning the Sun Belt Conference Tournament title, as the ninth seeded James Madison Dukes (27-25, 11-13 SBC) shut down the Bobcats 2-0 in its second upset victory during the Quarterfinals at Troy Softball Complex in Troy, Ala.
Starting right-handed pitcher Kirsten Fleet kept the momentum going for the Dukes after the previous night’s victory against the Troy Trojans by throwing a complete game shutout, striking out
five Bobcats whilst giving up just three hits and two walks. She earned her 12th victory of the season.
James Madison swung the stick well against sophomore ace Maddy Azua, who seemingly struggled in the two recorded innings she pitched. The Dukes landed several singles that would capitalize a lead-off hit by pitch from Payton List early from first baseman Cali Legzdin’s RBI single into right to start the scoring.
In the third inning, the Dukes would extend their lead to 2-0 after List struck an 0-1 pitch into center field off Azua. She was soon pulled thereafter, ending her day early. The sophomore finished with two completed innings while giving up two earned runs on four hits, including a hit by pitch.
Health department confirms positive measles case in Kyle
By Ryan Claycamp News Editor
Published May 20
The Hays County Health Department (HCHD) said they received confirmation of a measles case in Kyle from the Texas Department of State Health Services on Monday, May 19.
According to the HCHD, the infected individual was unvaccinated and the case is not linked to the ongoing outbreak in West Texas.
“The patient developed a rash on May 15, 2025. Individuals with measles are contagious four days
before they develop the rash and four days after they develop the rash,” Matthew Gonzales, executive director of the HCHD said. “Therefore, our patient that we’re discussing… was contagious between May 11, 2025 and May 19.”
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In addition to the two summer papers we publish, The University Star publishes online content daily. Scan the QR code to visit our website and stay up-to-date on all things Texas State!
MEG BOLES | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Members of the San Marcos community gathered in City Hall for citizens’ com-
Emma Strood took over the chance to limit the damage and gave the Bobcats a fighting chance for the remaining five innings she tossed, giving up three hits while striking out just one Duke.
‘Right place to be’: how incoming freshmen found TXST
By Carlene Ottah Life & Arts Editor
From meeting familiar faces to crafting one’s path, incoming students have multiple factors that led them to choose Texas State as the next step in their education.
The University Star posted on its Instagram and spoke with three incoming freshmen from the class of 2029 to ask how they discovered Texas State and aspects of university life they look forward to.
Liz Melito, an incoming performance freshman with a vocal concentration, said she had a difficult time searching for colleges on her own. In September, she heard about Texas State through a video of the musical theatre program’s “Finale” from “Hair.” Melito made a connection when she learned that her theater teacher, JaJuan Wade, was a Texas State alumnus.
“When he told me about it, I was very excited,” Melito said. “It led me on this rabbit trail of seeing everything about Texas State and I fell in love with it.”
Melito toured the campus for Bobcat Day the following month and met some people at the Theatre Center, telling them her teacher recommended her. Once she told them his name, Melito said they freaked out because they loved him, which felt like a full-circle moment.
After seeing Texas State for herself, Melito said she loves how active the campus is and looks forward to embracing campus life.
“[My four years of high school] felt like it was never going to end, and now I’m in a new chapter of my life, so I’m excited to start and learn as much as possible,” Melito said.
Maddie Samford, an incoming music education freshman, knew about Texas State because one of her high school teachers and a friend’s older sibling attended the university. They connected her and her friend, Melito, to Texas State.
Upon first impressions, she said she thought Texas State was a cool environment and loved the different opportunities it offered, as well as its diversity.
“You could be openly expressive about who you are and what you are pursuing throughout college,” Samford said.
Texas State became a Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2011, as 40% of students enrolled last fall were Hispanic.
Attending Bobcat Day last fall cemented Samford’s decision as she saw the campus herself and said it felt very homey to her.
“[Texas State] felt like the right place to be. I got the opportunity to meet with the music professors, and they were all very encouraging, and it just gave a good point for me,” Samford said.
Samford is excited to attend Texas State alongside Melito, her future roommate. She said they hope to watch each other grow beyond their hometown and in their art.
Lenny Williams, an incoming psychology freshman, researched Texas State after a friend referred it to her. She took a special interest in the university’s athletics and spirit.
Williams previously wanted to attend Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth since that was her local college, but she realized she wanted to find a college she wanted to go to instead of following others.
“It’s a little scary because coming into my freshman year, I’m going to be 17, and I’ve never been away from home for more than a week,” Williams said. “My family is a little worried, but I say, ‘Don’t worry about it. I’ve got a support system, and my roommate’s pretty cool.’”
Williams said she looks forward to exploring student organizations, as there were no after-school programs at her high school.
“I really want to join the D&D club, and I’m also really interested in the Black Student Alliance,” Williams said. “I think that’s a nice addition to connect with my fellow Black peers because I didn’t get to connect with my Black peers in high school, so it’s good to do that type of networking.”
JUNO TINSLEY | COURTESY PHOTO
Liz Melito
JANE SAMFORD | COURTESY PHOTO Maddie Samford
LENNY WILLIAMS | COURTESY PHOTO Lenny Williams
LIFE & ARTS
First Tuesday Film Series debuts documentary on sanitation workers
By Trae Solis Life and Arts Reporter
Warm light falls on a crane truck in a rainy Austin airstrip. The operator keeps his grip firm and steady. He turns the machine’s rounded claw into the outstretched hand of a dancer.
The First Tuesday Film Series will host the San Marcos premiere of the documentary “Trash Dance” at 7 p.m. on June 3 at the Price Center. The film follows choreographer Allison Orr as she befriends dozens of Austin sanitation workers and convinces them to participate in a one-night-only performance.
In 2009, Orr spent a year getting to know dozens of Austin sanitation workers. Her goal was to convince city employees to help her create a unique dance performance that utilized the same movements and machines they used daily at work. A week before the project began, Orr met Andrew Garrison, an Austin-based filmmaker and professor emeritus of UT Austin, who started documenting the journey.
Garrison heard about Orr’s other projects, such as “The King & I,” which featured five Elvis impersonators. In the past, Garrison filmed one of Orr’s mentors, Liz Lerman, and initially thought that documenting Orr would be a good chance to develop his camerawork. After finishing up another documentary, he ran into a friend who asked about his next big project.
“I said, ‘Well, there’s this choreographer I want to meet, Allison Orr. She does interesting stuff,’” Garrison said. “And he said, ‘Oh, that’s my wife. I can introduce you.’”
When Garrison learned about Orr’s project with the city sanitation workers, he became much more invested. The project was no longer just about Orr, but about her and the community. Garrison’s mother had been a union organizer in the city where he
grew up, and that relationship had sparked a curiosity in him.
“[My mother] had said the sanitation workers were always the strongest, the most militant — they were great,” Garrison said. “I wanted to show them, I wanted to meet them, I wanted to find out what goes on for them and hear how they talk about their jobs.”
First Tuesday, founded in May 2023, was created for the community. Jeffrey Brown, First Tuesday founder and curator, said he felt there weren’t many events in town for his fellow filmmakers to show their work. More than filmmakers, Brown said he hopes First Tuesday can bring audiences together.
“I watch films at home all the time, but you cannot replace seeing a film on the big screen with a large audience,” Brown said. “So, either call me a purist, old-fashioned or whatever you want. I still think that that’s worth bringing folks together at least once a month for fabulous films that will never play in the cinema.”
One of the ways the event brings people together is through the Q&As, which often include the film’s creator and a local community leader. For “Trash Dance,” this leader is theatre, dance and film professor at Texas State
Ana Baer Carrillo, a founding member of Merge Dance Company and WECreate Productions and a co-director of The Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema. She also attended the original performance of Trash Dance.
“[Trash Dance] was an incredible experience,” Baer Carrillo said. “It’s beautiful, community-based and trying to see the choreography in every day’s movement and every day’s life. It was impactful. It was very effective. It was very beautiful.”
“Trash Dance” will premiere in San Marcos at 7 p.m. on June 3 at The Price Center at 222 W San Antonio St. The screening will feature a post-film Q&A with Garrison and Baer Carrillo.
SOPHIE GERKE | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
DYLAN CROSE | STAR ILLUSTRATOR
Program
This year’s Mermaid Festival implemented the A.R.R.R.T. (Artivism: Reuse, Recycle, Reimagine for Texas) program, which is the Mermaid Society’s community program initiative to merge art, activism and environmental stewardship.
A.R.R.R.T. has been a goal of the Mermaid Society since early in its existence but was implemented for the first time this year. Its vision is to reach all kinds of people and share the message of river stewardship by relating back to the mermaid culture in San Marcos.
The A.R.R.R.T program encouraged participants to get creative, reuse discarded materials and avoid extra waste when making their floats, costumes and more. As a result, San Marcos’ streets flooded with mermaids decked in shiny scales and colorful shells crafted from discarded materials. Floats made entirely out of cans from the river, umbrellas made to look like jellyfish with shopping bags and many more creative ideas were on display throughout the town.
“We’ve seen so many ideas,” Holbrook said. “It’s just crazy using chip bags to make a skirt or a dress, but the big crowning moment is that we’re really encouraging everybody to make their art hat or crown.”
The A.R.R.R.T. program is larger than just this year’s festival. From getting implemented in San Marcos schools to the potential for a future A.R.R.R.T. fair at the Mermaid Festival next year, Holbrook said the program’s biggest goal is to make people aware of waste and how it affects the town, river and environment.
Maya Price, an attendee at this year’s Mermaid Fest, saw the new programs as a creative way to incorporate environmental conversations into a fun and interesting community event.
“Seeing what this town is about and
seeing all the different initiatives... It’s just great to see a town with so much culture,” Price said.
Summer Siren Duty
The Mermaid Society also recently started an initiative for community members who want to take part in protecting the river called Summer Siren Duty. It runs from Memorial Day weekend to Aug. 31 with three-hour shifts available Monday through Saturday.
This is a volunteer opportunity that started last year, but is open to the public on a much wider scale this summer to protect the river by informing river goers of proper ways to dispose of trash to keep the river clean.
“We really are very committed to delivering river stewardship messaging and meeting people where they are in their understanding of that,” Holbrook said.
Merritt Drewery, an Aquarena with the Mermaid Society, said sirens will be posted at Rio Vista and Lions Club every Saturday and Sunday of the summer. The process for becoming a siren entails an orientation on river education. The Mermaid Society asks that sirens sign up for two shifts a month during the summer. Sirens have a choice between educating at the river’s edge while wearing a mermaid tail, walking around the rivers edge or cleaning up and educating on a canoe or paddle board.
Drewery said one of her favorite memories during Summer Siren Duty was educating families and seeing the excitement on children’s faces at seeing her dressed as a mermaid at the river’s edge.
“[I loved] watching the children start approaching the river and they see a mermaid tail, and they come up and they hug you and they want to take pictures,” Drewery said, “It’s an opportunity to excite them, but also to really engage them.”
Maya Price, attendee at Mermaid
PHOTOS BY LAURA WALKER, MEG BOLES & CADY CLEMENTS
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
MAY IN SMTX
New Texas State graduates jump into the San Marcos River to celebrate together, Friday, May 9, 2025, at
Jerry DeLeon, U.S. Army representing American GI Forum (Left) and Sylvester Villarreal, U.S. Army Ranger representing AMVETS Post 104 (Right) present wreaths at the Hays County Veterans Memorial on Monday, May 26, 2025 in San Marcos.
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Sewell Park.
Jenn, a Total Wellness employee walks with the San Marcos Activity Center float during the Mermaid Promenade parade, Saturday, May 17, 2025 in downtown San Marcos. The float features a larger-than-life mermaid made out of trash pulled from the San Marcos River.
LAURA WALKER | MULTIMEDIA REPORTER
CARLENE OTTAH | LIFE AND ARTS EDITOR
Recent English graduate Dahlia Garcia (Right) jumps into the San Marcos River with her brother Daniel Garcia (Left), Friday, May 9, 2025, at Sewell Park.
LAURA WALKER | MULTIMEDIA REPORTER
CARLENE OTTAH | LIFE AND ARTS EDITOR
MEG BOLES | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
The Dallas Mermaid Experience walks in the Mermaid Promenade, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in downtown San Marcos. The festival promotes sustainability and stewardship of the San Marcos River.
LUCIA GONZALEZ | STAR ILLUSTRATOR