NEWS
FORMER DEPUTY INDICTED FOR SHOOTING TXST STUDENT PAGE 4
OPINION
SPORTS
BALANCING STUDENT AND SOCIAL LIFE
MEET THE NEW TEXAS STATE MASCOT
PAGE 11
PAGE 13
TUESDAY
August 18, 2026 VOLUME 115 ISSUE 33
Welcome Back Bobcats LIBBY ALLEN | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
SEE RESOURCE GUIDE & MAP PAGE 7-10 FOOTBALL
Cat in the Pac: looking into TXST Football’s Pac-12 debut season By Ayden Oredson Sports Editor
Texas State football is preparing to play against some of the top contenders in the nation for their first official season in the newly rebuilt Pac-12 Conference, which is quickly approaching. As head coach G.J. Kinne enters his fourth season at the helm, the Bobcats seek to make the whole world know their name, with an electrifying offense filled with experienced returners and a defense hoping to right the wrongs of the previous season. But what exactly is in store for Texas State this year? The Offense That Keeps On Kicking
One of the trademarks of the Kinne-era has been the Bobcats’ creative, highoctane offense. Texas State
has averaged over 35 points a game since his arrival, with a new starting quarterback in each season. However, Kinne will have some first-time familiarity with his QB as sophomore Brad Jackson stuck around to lead the Bobcats offense for a second year. Jackson has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the G6 with plenty of anticipation behind him, and for good reason. His dualthreat ability led him to a breakout in his freshman campaign, setting new singleseason program records for most rushing scores (17), total touchdowns (38) and total offensive yards (3,968). Joining Jackson are his two top targets from last season, senior wide receivers Beau Sparks and Chris Dawn Jr.
SEE PREVIEW PAGE 12
CITY
GRAND GRAND GRAND GRAND GRAND
OPENING OPENING OPENING OPENING OPENING
AIDEN FRITSCHE | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Buc-ee’s San Marcos opens doors By Andrew Bencivengo Editor-in-Chief
The newest and now second largest Buc-ee’s opened its doors to the San Marcos public on Wednesday, Aug. 12. The popular Texas-based convenience store and travel center hosted a grand opening for its new 74,000 square foot location at 3245 N. IH-35. The estimated $47 million development aims to bring new economic opportunities to
the city and its residents. Local, state and business leaders were present at the event, with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson and Buc-ee’s founder and president Arch “Beaver” Aplin III participating in the ceremony. Mayor Hughson highlighted the economic impact that Buc-ee’s is expected to bring in her speech at the event. “We gather here to celebrate the opening of the newest Buc-ee’s and our
Buc-ees for San Marcos, a 74,000 square foot travel center with 128 fueling stations that’s anticipated to bring joy to over 10,000 visitors a day,” Hughson said. “Today is a great example of how business and government work collaboratively to grow a community’s economy while creating a welcoming, familyfriendly visitor experience.”
SEE BUC-EE’S PAGE 2
UNIVERSITY
Texas State Honors college welcomes arrival of a new dean By Anaiya Brannon & Rae Knight Life & Arts Contributor | Life & Arts Reporter
Kathy Cooke’s mission as the new honors college dean is simple: presence and accessibility. Cooke hit the
ground running, coming up with a policy centered around being available for students and staff and making the honors college more visible on campus. Cooke started her journey at Texas State on July 15, with her main goal being to make
the Honors College a resource for everyone at Texas State, not just the students enrolled in the college. CLAUDIA ROESCHMANN | COURTESEY PHOTO
SEE HONORS PAGE 6
Honors Dean Kathy Cooke attends the Stelos Scholars summer trip, July 2026, at the University Camp on 3420 Flite Acres Road.
NEWS
2
Arabella DiChristina | News Editor | starnews@txstate.edu
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 FROM FRONT BUC-EE’S Hughson said that the city had reached an economic development agreement with Buc-ee’s to support job growth, boost investment within the city and add environmental provisions. “City Manager, Stephanie Reyes, and her economic development team, [worked with Buc-ee’s] to bring over $15 million in capital investments, over 300 jobs currently advertised at $20 to $25 an hour, plus benefits, with [an] emphasis on hiring local, and additional community benefits, [and] the creation of a community fund and rainwater system to supplement site irrigation,” Hughson said. After Hughson spoke, Gov. Abbott took the podium to highlight the collaboration between officials. “I want to thank all, in addition to the mayor, all the city leaders, as well as the county judge and all of the officials from the county. Things like this happen because local leaders come together and they make it happen because it’s great for the community,” Gov. Abbott said. Gov. Abbott said Buc-ee’s represented a remarkable Texas success story and that the business greatly benefits the state and local economies. “All the grand opening says is that the Texas dream is the result of generations of Texans before us, in the businesses they built, the communities they created, and the legacies they have left,” Gov. Abbott said. The Buc-ee’s founder and president ended the event by hinting at a possible collaboration between
Texas State University and the company. “We love college sports. We love higher education, and we hope to brand more shirts in the future with other universities ... maybe we can do something with [Texas State],” Aplin said. Gov. Abbott presented a proclamation at the end
of the ceremony praising the company’s growth and calling the chain a “cultural phenomenon,” before joining Aplin in cutting brisket behind the counter.
ANDREW BENCIVENGO | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Gov. Greg Abbott cuts brisket at the new Buc-ee’s on August 12, 2026, in San Marcos. The San Marcos Bucee’s location sits at 74,000 square foot convenience store travel center with 128 fueling stations.
International student visa’s capped at 4 years By Sidney Orman News Contributor
A new federal policy is set to limit international students’ time in the United States and is creating uncertainty for F and J student visa holders at Texas State. On July 16, the Trump Administration announced a new policy that limits how long international students can remain in the U.S. and regulates where they are allowed to work, specifically for F and J visa students. This policy is set to take effect on Sept. 15, 2026. The new policy will eliminate the ‘duration of status’ rule, which allowed undergraduate and graduate students who are making progress towards their degree plan to stay in the U.S. until they have completed their studies. International students can get an F or a J visa for a temporary stay in the U.S. An F visa is for a full-time academic student at an accredited college, university, high school or language training program. A J visa is for people in approved education and cultural exchange programs like exchange students, scholars and researchers. “For nearly half a century, the outdated ‘duration of status’ system has compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated in a press release.“ This final rule ensures that foreign students remain focused on their primary purpose: completing their studies and returning home.” Students on a non-immigrant visa, known as an F-1 visa, will now be required to finish their degree under a fixed period of four years. If an international student wishes to stay past their fixed four-year time, they must apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The new
policy also limits the departure grace period for F-1 students transferring schools or changing their graduation status from 60 to 30 days. Amru Fadl, a recent Texas State graduate from Sudan, said he noticed how these new policies started having an impact on the job market. For recent graduates, these changes can mean uncertainty about international students’ ability to work and remain a student in the U.S. “When it came to the job conversation, it kind of slowly started where corporations and employers and all these different people were in need of employees,” Fadl said. “As the administration kind of went harder and harder with everything that was going on, it made it into such a tight spot.” For students on F and J visas, employment opportunities are also limited by federal regulations. The International Student and Scholars Services (ISSS) states that “any off-campus work is prohibited unless it has been specifically authorized by our office and the U.S. government before the student begins working.” Any international student wanting to work off-campus, including internships, must receive authorization through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT). Without appropriate authorization, international students are unable to work off campus and are limited to campus employment. “It has definitely made everything more difficult,” Fadl said. “To an extent where maybe within the next month we’ll just see a complete stop of either foreign workers or international students working.” In an email to The University Star, Jayme Blaschke, director of university communications and public relations, stated that Texas State will work with students to ensure compliance with federal and state rules. “Texas State will review any
new federal guidelines once they are formally adopted,” Blaschke wrote in the email. Fadl said it’s getting harder to be a graduate student, let alone harder to see himself in the job market at all. “It’s definitely just been a mess with working and just kind of trying to envision myself in the job market after all this,” said Fadl.
Scan QR code for resources on International Student Visas
MILLA DEUR | CREATIVE SERVICES ASSISTANT
Editorial Staff
History:
Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487
The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday of the spring and fall and once a month in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 3,000. Printing is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.
Editor-in-Chief: Andrew Bencivengo
Sports Editor: Ayden Oredson
stareditor@txstate.edu
starsports@txstate.edu
Managing Editor: Meg Boles
Multimedia Editor: Aiden Fritsche
starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu
News Editor: Arabella DiChristina starnews@txstate.edu
Life & Arts Editor: Cady Clements starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
Opinions Editor: Regina Orozco Lopez Forment staropinion@txstate.edu
Design Editor: Jen Nguyen stardesign@txstate.edu
Check out Star News Network for broadcast news!
Publication Info
starmultimedia@txstate.edu
Engagement Editor: Tatum Pou starengagement@txstate.edu
PIR Director: Keely Florez starpr@txstate.edu
Creative Service Director: Sophia Gerke
Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, August 18, 2026. 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. Corrections Policy: Errors appearing in the pages of The University Star and brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible.
starcreative@txstate.edu
TV News Director: James Phillips startvnews@txstate.edu
Director: Laura Krantz, laurakrantz@txstate.edu
Advertising Inquiries Contact at: 512-245-3487 advertising@universitystar.com
NEWS
3
Arabella DiChristina | News Editor | starnews@txstate.edu
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Texas bans hemp-derived THC products By Ca’Myah Robinson News Reporter
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) banned synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products on July 31, after classifying it as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Possession of most Schedule 1 substances, including delta-8, can result in a felony charge. Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a psychoactive compound that is naturally found in the cannabis plant but can be developed to contain a higher concentration in synthetic products like delta-8 edibles and vape cartridges. Delta-8 is the most common commercial hemp-derived cannabinol. Texas will be utilizing the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which places substances prone to misuse in one of five schedules for regulation purposes. A Schedule 1 drug is labeled as having a high potential for abuse, with the punishment for possession being a felony. According to court documents, the reason for rescheduling the drug is due to the high amount of manufactured delta- 8 THC found in products. Zack Smith, owner of Happy Clouds Smoke Shop in San Marcos, said he speculates the fluctuating regulations of THC are due to the alcohol industry and their funding towards politicians. “As a citizen, we have these politicians that are just changing laws without any sort of vote,” Smith said. “We took it to court it was granted a temporary injunction by a judge in our state [then it a federal judge revoked] the injunction.” Both hemp-derived and marijuana-
derived products come from the cannabis plant, with the main difference being the amount of delta-9 THC in the products, according to the Office of Cannabis Management. The Texas Department of State Health Services redefined the scheduling of THC, leading hemp business Sky Marketing Corp and others to sue. Sky Marketing Corp argued that it went against the Farm Bill that allowed the consumption of hemp-derived products like delta-8, according to the DSHS v. Sky Marketing Corp. court documents. The Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of DSHS on May 1, 2026, banning all synthetic products containing delta-8 and other synthetic hemp THC products for consumption. “We’ve had customers breakdown in tears like what am I gonna do next week when you can’t sell me this like this helps me sleep,” Smith said. The ban does allow products like edibles, topicals and other delta-9 THC products up to 0.3% to be sold, according to DSHS. However, Smith said this ban has caused confusion and emotional distress for consumers, resulting in a decline in business. “There’s a ton of misinformation just because the state has chosen to go this draconian route with obscure lawmaking without any citizen say,” Smith said. “It’s obvious that this is going against the citizens’ will … [like] people that use these products to mitigate serious health things.” There were multiple court cases where the drug was banned, then temporarily permitted due to different judicial rulings. For example, in April 2026, a Travis County judge temporarily blocked a previous ban on certain hemp products that was placed in March 2026, as previously reported by The University Star.
Daisy Sokei, a regular customer at local San Marcos hemp businesses, said the battle against hemp is tiring because of the multiple changes in law affecting the products she can buy. “It’s just annoying to witness,” Sokei said. “One day you walk in the shop and the pre-rolls are there, next day they’re gone before you even realize.” Texas law states possession of the substances is a state felony with penalties of jail time of 180 days to two years and a fine of $10,000. According to Lieutenant of Community Services at the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Clint Pulpan, this new law should not heavily affect incarceration rates like some suspect. “Generally, when somebody gets arrested for one of these possession-
type offenses, they get a [personal recognizance] bond,” Pulpan said. “They’re in holding ... so they don’t make it into the population count [for the court reporting].” Possession of less than one gram of Delta-8 will result in a state jail felony; anything more will be a higher-degree offense, according to Texas law. Sokei said the state seems to have ulterior motives with this ban because of the small amount needed for an arrest. “They absolutely do not match the crime,” Sokei said. “I personally believe that it’s politically motivated because we all know people who are categorized as felons cannot vote.”
STAR FILE PHOTO
A neon sign advertises CBD outside Exotic Puff And Stuff, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in San Marcos, Texas.
NEWS
4
Arabella DiChristina | News Editor | starnews@txstate.edu
Tuesday, August18, 2026
Federal student loan changes take effect at TXST By Peyton Till News Reporter
Federal student loan changes took effect on July 1 as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which was signed into law last year. In a May 6 press release from the Department of Education, the final rule change includes four main provisions: the elimination of the Graduate PLUS program, establishing annual and aggregate loan limits for graduate and professional students, allowing institutions to establish their own programmatic loan caps and a simplified student loan repayment by creating an income-driven repayment plan known as the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). “Higher education has been one of the fastest growing expenses for American families over the past 40 years. A significant driver of skyrocketing prices has been uncapped access to federal student loans,” the Department of Education stated in the press release. Parent PLUS loans, which allow parents to take out financial aid to supplement their child’s tuition, will have a total cap of $65,000 per student and an annual limit of $20,000 per student, according to the Department of Education. They were previously allowed to borrow the full cost of attendance. As of the second financial quarter of 2026, the total outstanding debt of the federal student aid portfolio sits at $1.7 trillion, with approximately 42.6 million financial aid recipients across the country, according to Federal Student Aid. Graduate students will now have an annual limit of $20,500 and a lifetime cap of $100,000. The Department of Education lists 11 professional degrees, with an annual limit of $50,000 and a $200,000 lifetime cap; students were previously able to take out the full cost
NATALIE MURRAY | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
of attendance. “I could see how this would reduce the debt by giving students less money, but I don’t necessarily think it’s a choice that will have a positive impact,” Noah Contreras, mechanical engineering senior, said. “I think it could end up discouraging and limiting students from pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree.” According to the Education Data Initiative, the average master’s graduate borrowers owe on average of $81,870, while debt for professional doctorates is the highest for borrowers
at $213,239 as of 2025. RAP will replace the Biden-era Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan and create an income-driven repayment plan that adjusts monthly payments each year based on income and declared dependents on federal taxes, according to the Official Servicer of Federal Student Aid. According to Li Feng, professor of finance and economics with a focus in education policy, the most substantial change is proration, meaning annual loan amounts are now reduced in
proportion to credit hours, with a halftime minimum required to borrow at all. “The design assumes a lighter course load means less need. At a university where thousands of students work, it usually means the opposite, and the aid shrinks precisely because the student is working.” Feng said. “I expect this to cause more surprise at the financial aid window than anything else in the law.” Feng said that there are also changes to how student loans can be borrowed. “A provision almost nobody is covering is the federal repayment rules work at the borrower level, so all of a person’s Direct Loans must sit on one plan,” Feng said. “A returning student with older loans who borrows for one more semester moves their entire balance to the new rules, not just the new loan.” According to the Department of Education, all borrowers who receive a loan made on or after July 1, 2026 are subject to a lifetime loan limit of $257,000. Grad PLUS loans that an individual has received will be included in this aggregate lifetime limit unless the borrower qualifies for the interim exception of having been enrolled in a program before July 1 and having already received a loan for that program.
For further information on federal student aid at Texas State, scan the QR code.
Former Sheriff’s deputy indicted after fatal shooting
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHN MENDOZA SR.
By Andrew Bencivengo Editor-in-Chief
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - A Brazoria County grand jury indicted former sheriff’s deputy Kevin Tippit in connection with the June 1 fatal shooting of Texas State student John Mendoza Jr. According to John Mendoza Jr’s father, John Mendoza Sr., the incident surrounding the indictment stems from an early-morning encounter on June 1, when Mendoza Jr. and his friends were followed home from a park by Tippit. Tippit later approached Mendoza Jr.’s vehicle and fired a round that struck and killed him. Tippit radioed the shot as an “accidental discharge,” following the incident according to police scanner audio capturing the event. John Mendoza Sr. reported that Tippit immediately began stating that he had made a mistake. Tippit was indicted Aug. 6 on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault by a public servant, according to Brazoria County court records. “I think it was the right thing to do … it was incredibly brave … to do it in a county that has a long history of covering up police misconduct and police violence,” Charles White, an attorney representing the Mendoza family, said in an Aug. 11 statement posted to his Facebook page. Court records show Tippit’s bond was set at $250,000. A status hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29, with a trial currently set for Feb. 1, 2027.
John Mendoza Jr. had just returned home to Brazoria County after completing his first year at Texas State University, where he majored in management. In a previous interview with The Star, John Mendoza Sr. said his son had fallen in love with the Hill Country and Texas State. His family and friends remembered him as being “the light of the room,” and criticized the police escalation that led to his death. The indictment follows an investigation by the Texas Rangers and Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office into the officer-involved shooting. Tippit’s employment was terminated by the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office in early June due to policy violations related to the handling and discharge of his firearm, according to a statement released by County Sheriff Bo Stallman. If sentenced, Tippit faces five to 99 years in prison or life, according to Texas’ Penal Code. John Mendoza Sr. said he believes that justice is moving in the right direction. “I’m glad justice is moving forward; my son never deserved this ... no one does,” John Mendoza Sr. wrote in a message to The Star.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN MENDOZA SR.
LIFE & ARTS
5 Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Cady Clements | Life & Arts Editor | starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
MUSIC
The Marc celebrates 13 years “I THINK JUST ALL ROADS LEAD BACK HERE” AIDEN FRITSCHE | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
DJ Manda “Aminal” Miller-Martinez performs her set, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, at The Marc. The Marc celebrated its 13th anniversary with performances from multiple artists. By Cady Clements & Rae Knight Life and Arts Editor | Life and Arts Reporter
A staple of San Marcos nightlife celebrated its anniversary on Aug. 15. The Marc has brought different genres of music and introduced musicians to the heart of historic downtown for 13 years. The Square is always full of life and music, with The Marc being a main contributor. The venue has hosted artists and provided a place for people from all walks of life to have a good time since it opened. Staff and attendees celebrated the Marc’s anniversary, with a lineup of Aminal, Black Tiger Sex Machine and other artists who reflect The Marc’s growth and their own history. “We undoubtedly could not have been open this long without the team behind it all,” Omar Dawoud, owner of The Marc, said. “The love for the venue and what we do definitely is received within the whole team, and we all have that same goal, which is to
just create a creative, fun atmosphere that anyone can feel comfortable in.” Dawoud wanted to bring Austinstyle venues to San Marcos, and to keep it local. As a family-run business, the Marc caters directly to their audience and adjusts to trends as they appear. Manda “DJ Aminal” MillerMartinez, Director of Operations for After Dark Entertainment which is the event booking company for The Marc, said she appreciates the homegrown aspect of the business. “I think it’s really special to be a part of a company that is an independent venue,” Miller-Martinez said. “We’re not owned and operated by any big conglomerates that buy out a lot of these venues in Texas, and we want to keep it that way.” The Marc pays extra attention to Texas State Students by both giving them a place to listen to music and by providing jobs to current students and alumni. This comes not only from its location but also from Dawoud’s close connection to the area.
Dawoud grew up in San Marcos, and he also attended Texas State. Miller-Martinez was a student in 2016 when she first came to the Marc for Halloween. Colby Flash, Head of Security for The Marc, said he loves seeing the community come together in one place. “Meeting all the new people is my favorite part of the job,” Flash said. “I get to meet everybody from the incoming freshmen all the way up to graduating seniors, and then people who have hung around San Marcos or are local.” The Marc has also been a model to other venues, according to Dawoud. The Marc experimented early on by playing different music, hosting bigger shows and implementing a VIP service. After The Marc got its feet on the ground, Dawoud said he saw other businesses following in its footsteps. “It was a lot of first-evers that we were doing, which is always scary, but 13 years later I can sit back, and I see just about every other bar adopting
something similar that we introduced,” Dawoud said. “That is a good feeling, knowing we were actually right.” Black Tiger Sex Machine was booked ten years ago at The Marc while they were up-and-coming DJs. Dawoud said that the DJs The Marc booked were very intentional. “We always try to either go really, really big for our anniversary, or we try to find someone that we have a deep connection to, and this one checked both boxes,” Dawoud said. Miller-Martinez also started her career at The Marc. She said that The Marc gave her a home early on after college and that working her way through the ranks is a very full-circle experience for her. “I think just all roads lead back here,” Miller-Martinez said. “Like, all roads lead back to music and The Marc.”
FEATURE
Texas State alumni expand locally-centered business By Cady Clements Life and Arts Editor
Ollie’s Market is a local grocer in the heart of San Marcos built to feed the Texas State and San Marcos community clean and accessible food options. The local grocery store, founded in 2025 by Texas State alumni who started their family in San Marcos, to strengthen community‑centered food access in San Marcos, is widening its reach this fall with a second location in New Braunfels. Eli Zablosky, co-founder of Ollie’s Market and a Texas State marketing alumnus who graduated in 2019, realized his mission long before Ollie’s Market opened its doors for the first time. Zablosky realized the importance of community‑driven food access while living in New Mexico, where small towns often rely on neighbors CADY CLEMENTS | LIFE AND ARTS EDITOR to supply fresh foods. He and his wife, Natalie, decided to move back to San Ollie’s Market sign hangs off the building., Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, on 306 N Edward Gary St. Ollie’s Market is owned by Texas Marcos to be closer to family and State alumni and plans to expand to New Braunfels. bring that same model of home‑grown accessibility to the place that “We talk about, at the core, “To have met Eli, learned about near campus.” shaped them. you know, I mentioned a lot of like, his background and his program and As the store prepares to open its “Once we were back, that’s when accessibility and supply chain, but business … but then see it materialize second location in New Braunfels, we kind of saw the need of, ‘this it really boils down to knowing who here, near campus … I mean, that’s Zablosky said the expansion reflects isn’t really filled like it was in New your neighbors are and where your just really refreshing.” Silva said. both demand and the desire to Mexico” Zablosky said. food’s coming from; I think that’s Though Ollie’s Market’s main goal replicate the community‑centered The store sources from small really important,” Zablosky said. is to fill the gap in accessible clean model that has worked in San Marcos. producers and keeps its footprint Zablosky also works for Texas State’s food options in town, it also gives As Ollie’s Market grows, Zablosky local. Zablosky said Texas State global career accelerator, strengthening opportunities to Texas State’s students encourages current students to chase prepared him for the granular details his connection to students and alumni. and alumni to work in the area and the passion to create something that of running a business, but returning That relationship has shaped the store’s learn more about small businesses. changes the game. to San Marcos clarified his purpose: hiring practices and its identity as a Madison Cox, Ollie’s Market’s “Just be obsessed with the idea. filling a gap in clean, accessible Bobcat‑built business. employee and Texas State social Like, if you can’t stop thinking food options. Jesse Silva, a Texas State work alumna, said the owners look about it, just keep expanding on it.” Zablosky said the inspiration sociology alumnus and former Texas for opportunities to hire Texas Zablosky said. for his business model was the State employee who worked with State Bobcats. accessibility of fresh foods in smaller Zablosky, said that he loved seeing “I think they like to look and towns, due to neighbors supplying the Texas State alumni do great things in see opportunities for Texas State food. the city that raised them. students, especially because it’s right
6
LIFE & ARTS
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Cady Clements | Life & Arts Editor | starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT HONORS “I want the entire university to know that honors is there for everyone,” Cooke said. “I want every student to be able to maximize their potential, to get whatever they want from their college experience. I just want people to know so that they can become what they imagine themselves to be.” Cooke has worked with three other honors colleges before coming to Texas State. She developed the honors college at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut in 2005, where she was its first director; then later was the dean at the University of South Alabama in 2017 and most recently, in 2023, she was the director of the honors college at California State University in Los Angeles. Cooke said she came to Texas State because of its growing Honors program. “This all comes down to being at Texas State where there’s so much growth, so much excitement, and [Texas State] being an established honors college with such a great foundation.” Cooke said, “The move to R1 has all kinds of amazing opportunities for honors to grow with the university to R1 status.” Cooke is already active in the Texas State community and is working with fellow staff members to pitch new ways to improve and maintain the strong integrity of the honors college. Cooke has events planned throughout the semester, including a concert featuring artist Mehro organized by Louie Dean Valencia, a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Distinguished History professor at the Honors College. “We are coming in with the best of all worlds,”
Valencia said. “There already is a really strong program in place, and then somebody who’s also well-versed in honors colleges and coming from LA with a lot of other experiences gets added in. I think she’ll be just a great addition to the strong history of the honors college.” Increasing the graduation rates at the Honors College is also one of Cooke’s goals, as well as increasing visibility for the Idea Center, which has recently merged with the Honors College. “One of the things I’ve noticed is that I think we could have more students finish the Honors College. Lots of students are joining the honors college, but not as many graduate.” Cooke said, “So that’s one of the things I’m looking forward to investigating and figuring out how we can work with students to make sure the honors college is serving them.” Cooke’s plan to be more present stretches down to each individual student. She will be having “Coffee with Kathy” Wednesday, Aug. 19, Thursday, Aug. 20 and Monday, Aug. 24 from 10:30-11:30 a.m., where students can introduce themselves and ask her any questions they may have. Rhianna Aleman, Student Coordinator for the Honors College, said that Cooke is genuine in her love for the community. “I definitely believe that she is going to be amazing for the honors college,” Aleman said. “She has already made insane improvement. She is so social, responsive and super outgoing. You can tell that she really, really cares about it all.”
QIWEN HANG | COURTESY PHOTO
Honors College Dean Kathy Cooke sits in her office, July, 2026, on the fourth floor of Lampasas Hall. Cooke started as the new Honors dean on July 15, 2026.
AIDEN FRITSCHE | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Texas State exercise and sports science senior Antonella Sontolongo speaks at an interest meeting for Mu Epsilon Delta, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at LBJ Student Center. Sontolongo is the president of Mu Epsilon Delta, a pre-health organization that helps students on their path to jobs in healthcare.
Mu Epsilon Delta co-ed fraternity creates new resources for pre-medical students By Abby Mosley Life and Arts Contributor
Mu Epsilon Delta (MED), the first pre-health co-educational fraternity at Texas State, established a chapter in spring 2026 to give students a platform to grow in the health science field. The Mu Epsilon Delta chapter at Texas State University provides pre-health students with resources and like-minded peers. The fraternity was established by dedicated students determined to create a space for healthcare students to succeed. Antonella Sotolongo, founding president of Mu Epsilon Delta and exercise and sports science senior, said that she founded the co-ed fraternity to provide Texas State healthcare students with discounts on test preps, mentorship and study abroad opportunities that are not offered by the university. “Medicine is a very competitive field,” Sotolongo said. “I’m a very strong believer in creating the healthcare [industry] to be more of a teamwork, cohesive, supportive environment. I feel like Texas State is an amazing university, but unfortunately for pre-health students, we don’t really have a lot of resources. At Mu Epsilon Delta, we give students an opportunity to grow professionally.” Texas State’s Mu Epsilon Delta chapter gives students in healthcare fields opportunities and resources that the university doesn’t provide,
according to Sotolongo. “We want for students to want to be part of it because they value what our curriculum stands for and what our mission stands for,” Sotolongo said. “You get access to a lot of resources even that the university doesn’t provide for you. We provide them for you. Our little chapter provides for you.” While studying in the library with a friend, Sotolongo discussed the need for an organization for all pre-health majors, and after researching national organizations for health related majors, the idea for Mu Epsilon Delta was born. “[She said] you know, I just wish there was, like a sorority or like a fraternity for, like, pre-health majors,” Sotolongo said. “There’s so many pre-professional fraternities on campus, but none for STEM and then we started bonding over that, and I said, you know what? Yeah, you’re a genius ... That’s exactly what we should do.” Sotolongo, as the founder of the chapter, formed the fraternity starting at square-one and established a strong brotherhood of students in pre-health majors. “The thing is, we built [Mu Epsilon Delta] from the ground up,” Sotolongo said. “That’s making bylaws, making guidelines, making collections, handbooks. You know, it’s like, how many events are we going to have a month? What are these events going to look like? We had nothing; we had
no budget, we had no money, we had no members, we had nothing. And we completed a successful rush cycle with six people.” Sotolongo established Mu Epsilon Delta and led the fraternity to become an official chapter recognized by the national organization in less than one month. The Texas State chapter was also awarded a grant from the national pre-health fraternity recognizing outstanding chapters. “We were able to become an official chapter nationally in three weeks” Sotolongo said. “We won the new launchpad grant through our national organization. Out of all the new established chapters in MED, we went above and beyond, and we got an award for that through our national organization.” Sotolongo achieved her goals of providing resources, like discounted test prep, mentorship opportunities in all healthcare fields and learning abroad opportunities in different nations of Africa. “We not only have access to local resources, but also national resources,” Sotolongo said. “We offer pre-req courses, shadowing opportunities, international shadowing and access to our mentorship program.” Mu Epsilon Delta was also founded to provide health science students with a family to nurture and grow their skills in various health science fields. “I would say the main purpose of [Mu Epsilon Delta] is to create more
of a family environment for these medical students here at Texas State and give them a lot more opportunities to flourish and be successful in that career path.” Erick Alima, a biology pre-med sophomore and part of the first rush cycle, said. Hannah Neal, an education pre-med sophomore, joined Mu Epsilon Delta last semester and made strong friendships within the co-ed fraternity, despite a previous lack of involvement in university organizations, which led to fewer friendships in her first semester. “Mu Epsilon Delta has given me new friendships to fall onto,” Neal said. “I feel like the first semester, I wasn’t very involved and was looking for a community that I could join. Mu Epsilon Delta gave me that. I have new friends that I can lean on [during] my academic journey.” Mu Epsilon Delta gives pathways and communities never seen before on Texas State’s campus, according to Sotolongo. “Mu Epsilon Delta gives you a pathway to leadership,” Sotolongo said. “It gives you a path to community and gives you a path to actually connect with your peers.”
RESOURCE GUIDE
Tuesday, August 19, 2026
7
TEXAS STATE R e s o u rce G ui de
Student Resources: Resources available to students at Texas State. •
Disability Services: disability@txstate.edu, LBJ Student Center Room 506
•
Dean of Students: dosoffice@txstate.edu, LBJ Student Center Room 504
•
(Alcohol compliance, attorney for students, Compassion Advocacy Resources and Education (CARE) team).
One Stop (onestop.txst.edu, J. C. Kellam, Suite 240, 601 University Drive) •
(Financial Aid & Scholarships, Student Business Services, University Registrar, and Undergraduate Admissions).
Student Success (studentsuccess.txst.edu, j.c. kellam 980, suite 980, 601 university drive) •
(Academic Engagement, Campus Recreation, Career Services, Counseling Center, Dean of Students, Disability Services, Housing and Residential Life, Lyndon B. Johnson Student Center, New Student and Family Experiences, Student Involvement and Engagement, Student Learning Assistance Center (SLAC), Support Services, Technology Services, University Health Services, Vice President for Student Success).
ITAC (IT Assistance Center : Texas State University), 512.245.4822, Alkek First Floor
8
Tuesday, August18, 2026
NATALIE MURRAY | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
MAP
MAP
9
Jen Nguyen Design Editor | stardesign@txstate.edu
10
RESOURCE GUIDE
Tuesday, August 19, 2026
TEXAS STATE R e s o u rce Gu i de
Library Info
Important Dates
•
Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.
•
Friday- 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
•
Saturday- 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Aug. 19, First Day of Classes; Graduation Application Opens • Aug. 26, Last Day to Add a Course (Full Term) • Sept. 3, Last Day to Drop a Course with no Record on
•
Sunday- 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.
HOURS
Transcript (Full Term)
Dining Texas State switched to a new food provider, Amtrak, over the summer, leading to changes in dining locations and plans.
Dining Halls: All-you-can-eat buffets with rotating menus; serve breakfast, lunch and dinner Accept meal swipes for entry, or you can pay to enter with a credit card.
The Crossings at The Commons •
Located on the Quad, across from Flowers and next to Brogdon, Mesquite, Laurel and Retama Halls.
The Den Express Dining Hall •
Riverbend at Harris Dining Hall Located next to the rec center and near Blanco, Falls Sayer, First Freedom and Eleana Zamora O’Shea Halls.
Located next to TrauthHuffman Hall and across the street from Tower and San Jacinto Hall
Dunkin Donuts •
*Does not accept meal swipes
Layne's Chicken Fingers •
Can order online with Grubhub
Flametown Burgers
• •
Can order online with Grubhub
Pizza Hut Express •
Can order online with Grubhub
San Marvelous Local BBQ
•
•
•
Can order online with Grubhub
Sandwich Works •
Can order online with Grubhub
Can order online with Grubhub
The Wilds - Inked Tacos, Pinsa Pizza, Duck Duck Dragon •
Can order online with Grubhub
Sushic Sushi at Jones
THe Den Expresss Dining
The Exchange at LBJ
Einstein Bros. Bagels
• • •
*Does not accept meal swipes Can order online with Grubhub
Located within the LBJ Student Center
Chick-fil-A
•
•
Located in the second floor of the academic services building south
Can order online with Grubhub
Shake Smart at The Den
•
*Does not accept meal swipes
Sushic Sushi at The Den
•
Can order online with Grubhub
•
Can order online with Grubhub
Location: JCK
1899 Market at LBJ
Medi
Starbucks at LBJ
Qdoba Mexican Eats
•
•
•
Location: at the back of Evans facing Flowers
1899 Market at JCK
Lone Star Tea + Noodle Bar
Panda Express Can order online with Grubhub
Stand-alone convenience stores and quick-service dining locations. Accepts dining dollars, Bobcat Bucks and credit cards; some accept meal swipes •
Quick service dining locations. Accepts dining dollars, Bobcat Bucks and credit cards; some accept meal swipes
The Yard at Jones Dining Center
MARKETS & CAFES: 1899 Market at Evans
Food Courts:
•
Sept. 7, Labor Day (No Classes) Oct. 8-9, Fall break Oct. 19-30, Early voting Oct. 22, Last Day to Drop a Course (Full Term) Nov. 3, Election Day Nov. 18, Last Day to Withdraw from the University (Full Term) Nov. 25, No Classes Nov. 26-27, Thanksgiving break Dec. 2, Last Day of Classes (Full Term) Dec. 3, Reading day Dec. 4-10, Final exams Dec. 11-12, Commencement Dec. 14, Grades due (Full Term) Dec. 15, Grades available
Located in the Academic Service Building South, which is behind Old Main.
•
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Location: the second floor of LBJ
1899 Market at McCoy
*Does not accept meal swipes Location: the second floor of McCoy
1899 Market at UEC •
Location: University Events Center, which contains Strahan Arena and borders Sewell
Coffee & Pi Market • • •
Can order online with Grubhub *Does not accept meal swipes First floor of the Ingram building
Jimmy Johns • •
Can order online with Grubhub Location: Trauth-Huffman Hall, which includes the arch
Market NXT • • •
*Does not accept meal swipes Location: Student Rec Center 24 hours
Shake Smart at The Rec
•
Location: Student Rec Center
Starbucks at Alkek • •
Can order online with Grubhub Location: Second floor of Alkek
OPINION
11
Regina Orozco Lopez Forment | Opinion Editor | staropinion@txstate.edu
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
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.
Learning to find balance as a first-year student By Regina Orozco Lopez Forment Opinion Editor
Starting university can be overwhelming, but fostering good habits early can aid in adjusting. Keeping busy your freshman year creates a balance between the academic, social and emotional changes that college brings. According to a study done by the National Library of Medicine, around 35% of first-year undergraduate students experience anxiety while undergoing the transition into college. Freshman year not only represents a new chapter in life, but there are other aspects of college that force students out of their comfort zones during this period. Even though the transition can create turmoil, approaching freshman year with a plan can create opportunities for success. Rather than just being a stressful time, it can also be the most adventurous year in a student’s life. How a student can manage this new change depends solely on making active choices to step out into this new environment. Whether it be chatting with a fellow student in class, going to an event for an organization or simply walking around campus, the possibilities to find community and inclusion can come naturally. Johanna Ajayi, Texas State Student Body President, said that although staying in the safe haven of your dorm room can be very tempting, the best thing a freshman can do to adjust is to put themselves out there. “Get out of your room! There are so many opportunities all around campus. We have over 500 organizations, which means you are definitely going to find your people, but you cannot find them in
those four walls,” Ajayi said. Finding a sense of community in an academic setting is vital. It provides emotional support, enrichment in learning and creates a stronger sense of belonging within a university. Thus, going to events, talking to new people and joining all sorts of clubs can create a circle that will ultimately enhance this new experience. Having community in a time of adjustment can aid in fostering good mental health, as well as create a healthy balance of self-confidence and sense of purpose and belonging. During rough periods, having people to count on makes the ups and downs of college easier to manage, and ultimately gives students a support system in the new space they are inhabiting. Additionally, academics are a major part of college. The staggering changes during the first year can create a wall between the student and collegiate success; however, making time to focus on school, staying busy with assignments, extra research and seeking help from all of the resources Texas State has to offer, can make for an easier
KYLIN ANDERSON | STAR ILLUSTRATOR
academic adjustment. Keeping busy academically during the first semester builds a strong foundation for a good GPA, promotes quick acclimation to academic schedules and promotes positive momentum towards ultimate goals. Balancing school and leisure activities is very important for new students. However, when it comes to balancing the social and academic sides of college, paying close attention to feeling overburdened is part of that stability. Overloading a schedule or committing to too many organizations or plans creates more harm than good. Days off are necessary in order to thrive in all other areas of college. “Someone saying they have found the perfect balance is a little bit of a lie. We all want to try to make friends, keep our grades up, have a job, but ultimately all that matters is doing the best you can. Do not try to take on more than you can handle. And remember that taking time for yourself is okay and sometimes needed!” Ajayi said. Maintaining mental health by allowing rest, resetting and assessing
overwhelming feelings is an imperative way to avoid the scale from tipping over. Keeping a calendar, vocalizing boundaries and creating balanced time for socializing, school and emotional health are all methods to create harmonious order during freshman year, as well as in years to come. College is meant to represent a plethora of things. It is a new academic endeavor, an opportunity for selfgrowth, a chance at meeting new people and a step into independence and adulthood. Practicing and fostering good habits now sets them in stone for the future of each Texas State student. The time to try new things, find idiosyncratic passions, build relationships and become the best version of yourself is ahead. Texas State is merely here to aid in self-discovery and academic growth. So, as a call to action, Ajayi presented a goal to help in expanding horizons. “I challenge whoever is reading this, to talk to at least five people during the first week of school. See how you like it!” Ajayi said. This is the perfect time to embrace new opportunities, ideas and passions, all while finding community and building relationships that will last a lifetime! This is the start of an amazing journey, one riddled with learning and self-discovery. To jumpstart this new adventure, there are many things freshmen can do to get the ball rolling, like attend student involvement fairs and Welcome Week events. The future awaits!
-Regina Orozco Lopez Forment is an English senior
Finding community in creative spaces at TXST By Mark Gabrielides Opinion Columnist
While students search for community at Texas State, student-led creative performances provide a healthy space for students to establish meaningful connections, and bridges the gap between different majors. Texas State holds performances for over 30 musical ensembles, seven dance groups and a multitude of theatre productions and staged readings. Attending these creative events on campus directly supports students through turnout, reshapes campus culture and establishes a supportive environment for students to express themselves with endorsement from their peers. Utah Hamrick, Director of Jazz Studies and the Jazz Ensemble at Texas State, said that engaging with student-led creative events creates a positive impact on the whole campus. “The more students attend these [student-led performances] and get to know other students … that would certainly have a positive impact on the campus as a whole,” said Hamrick. “Community building like this definitely has a huge impact.” Creative involvement on campus may give students greater opportunities to explore hobbies and interests together that they might not have explored before. Students may
feel confided to their major coming into college, holding them back from exploring opportunities outside their niche. “Our ensembles all have people in them that are not major specific to [jazz studies] ... all of our ensembles are open to all students,” Hamrick said. Utilizing these open creative spaces available on campus is a great way to meet students with similar interests and experiences outside of the classroom, breaking up academic stress with intervals of community expression. UCLA Health states that the benefits of designating time out of your day to engage in leisurely activities can be amplified when done in a group setting. Artistic forms of expression, such as music and dance, can be crucial to maintaining good mental health. The American Psychological Association found that engaging in the arts consistently has a positive effect on reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. With this in mind, it becomes evident that engaging in creative opportunities on campus may unite students under creative expression. This allows students who may never organically talk to each other on campus to meet under a shared interest. Finding a strong sense of community at Texas State may require going out of your comfort zone. Exploring new activities can be daunting, however, creative spaces on campus provide the perfect
Letters to the Editor Policy The University Star welcomes letters from our readers. Letters must be 300 words or fewer to be considered for publication. Writers must include their full name, mailing address, major and academic year designation (for students), phone number and e-mail address when submitting a letter. Submissions that do not include this information cannot be published. This information is seen only by the editors and is used to verify the identify of the letter writer. It is
MADELINE CARPENTER | STAR ILLUSTRATOR
setting to confront this discomfort and chase personal growth. When joined by peers of various skill levels, students who try out new activities or attend new events will do so as a collective, harnessing community while simultaneously lessening the fear of embarrassment. By bridging the gap between different majors, a greater sense of community may be felt across the campus as a whole. Supporting fields outside of your own not only expands your worldview, but additionally creates a mutual respect for the work that every Texas State student does, giving way to a deeper community connection. According to Communications Biology, experiencing events as a collective brings the individuals
present together, creating meaningful, lasting connection. Experiencing events together causes cohesive thought to ensue, meaning that attendees are prompted to think upon what they are experiencing as a collective, garnering community through shared emotion and thought toward external stimuli. Whether it be joining in on or simply attending student-led creative performances on campus, every student has a place in the arts and this opportunity to find community should not be overlooked. -Mark Gabrielides is an English and education sophomore
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.
SPORTS
12
Ayden Oredson | Sports Editor | starsports@txstate.edu
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 FROM FRONT PREVIEW Both played big roles in Texas State’s offense last season, as the Bobcats were the only team in the FBS to have two wideouts with over 1,000 receiving yards. Sparks led the way overall with 1,200 yards and 10 touchdown catches while Dawn Jr. followed behind him with 1,007 yards and four receiving touchdowns. “It’s definitely a big advantage to have the retention that we did have on the offensive side of the ball ... with the established culture with the team,” Jackson said. “I think it’s kind of like our motto: ‘We’re not trying to build a team here at Texas State, we’re trying to build a program.” Alongside new additions, such as sophomore receiver Zechariah Sample from Arizona State and the program’s first-ever high school four-star recruit, La’Keyleon Graves from Kilgore High School, the receiving corps has the opportunity to shine. The offensive line, despite the barrage of departures to power conferences, has remained strong and steady under OL coach Justin Shoemaker, headlined by senior Sully Burns and junior Justin DeLeon. The OL has been revamped through the transfer portal, with additions like William Boone, Rasheed Jackson and Cameron Schultz. The running back room, however,
does have some work cut out for it. Due to the departure of Greg Burrell from the program back in April due to an arrest, it is unclear who exactly RB1 will be. There will be some competition for the spot, from Jaylon Jenkins, an All-American, kick returner, to Torrance Burgess Jr., Davian Jackson, Juntavious Harris, Cole Pryor and Taji Atkins. Can the defense figure it out? While the offense has ultimately been the star under Kinne, the defense has been the opposite. Last season, the Bobcats under Defensive Coordinator (DC) Dexter McCoil gave up 29 points a game, which helped contribute to Texas State losing five straight games after a strong 3-1 start. With a new DC in Will Windham, hired out of South Alabama, the defense will look to wipe last year out of their memory and look forward with a mix of experience and new faces alike. Alongside Windham came Chris Gistrob as the new defensive line coach, Marcus Patton as the secondary coach and special teams coach Tanner Burns taking charge of the safety room. The exact look of the defense, however, remains somewhat unknown
AYDEN OREDSON | SPORTS EDITOR
Texas State junior wide receiver Beau Sparks (11) catches a pass and goes in for the score against Eastern Michigan, Aug. 30, 2025, at UFCU Stadium. The Bobcats won 52-27.
given the amount of changes that occurred over the off-season. However, the goals are clear: force turnovers and wreak havoc with a variety of schemes. “Our job is to be the best on defense ... we’re going to put the best 11 dudes on the field and build the scheme around those guys,” Windham said. “If that’s a 4-2-5 or a 3-4, we’re going to fit what our players can do.” Alongside returners like DL Jo’Laison Landry and DB Ryan Nolan, there were also some potential unexpected reinforcements as well. Thanks to the various court rulings regarding the NCAA and the 2022 class, and the approval of a new age-based eligibility model that would allow athletes to play five seasons in five years, DL Tymere Jackson and LB Treylin Payne returned to practice. Jackson’s status to fully return is not exactly in the green due to the NCAA and the JUCO lawsuit, which argues that years in junior college should not count towards D1 eligibility. He previously played with East Los Angeles College, a junior college. The Schedule
AYDEN OREDSON | SPORTS EDITOR
Texas State freshman quarterback Brad Jackson (8) pumped up after a rushing touchdown against Louisiana-Monroe, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, at UFCU Stadium. The Bobcats won 31-14.
One of the biggest challenges this year for Texas State will be both the rising level of competition and the out of state travel. Out-of-Conference wise, they will
remain in-state for the entire month of September, playing against fellow Texas teams. Notably, they’ll open the season in Austin against No. 5 Texas ,while hosting their I-35 rival UTSA, North Texas and Incarnate Word later in the month. While the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) was a fairly competitive league, the Bobcats will be going up against some of the strongest upcoming programs across the non-power conferences in the Pac-12. Their new conference competition will feature the likes of G6 bluebloods like Boise State, who made the College Football Playoffs as the thirdseed in 2024 and were just outside the Preseason AP Top 25 for 2026, to former power conference schools such as Oregon State and Washington State. As they were in the SBC, they are the furthest team out geographically, with their closest in-conference opponent being Colorado State, a good 997 miles away from San Marcos. The Bobcats will open their first Pac-12 season not far from home in a 2:30 p.m. match-up against No. 5 Texas at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN.
SPORTS
13
Ayden Oredson | Sports Editor | starsports@txstate.edu
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
SOCCER
Eye on the Goal: TXST heads into 2026 season By Juan Pereira Casanoba Sports Reporter
Texas State soccer has built an identity that is defined by flexibility. When able, they’ll try to play with the ball, control the tempo and produce interconnecting soccer. However, when needed, head coach Steve Holeman’s squad can dig deep and withstand pressure. Texas State opened their 2026 campaign with a 2-2 draw in San Antonio against the UTSA Roadrunners. The Bobcats lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, which means that they had three defenders, five players in the middle part of the pitch, and two forwards. However, Holeman and company have had a habit of deviating from their base shape depending on their opponent, a trend that has continued since their Sun Belt Conference championship run last season. Several players played in positions that they weren’t usually listed at. Senior Victoria Meza is the obvious example, as she’s played wherever the squad has needed her to be, and she’s currently holding down one of the forward positions similarly to how she operated in the 2025 SBC Tournament.
Fellow senior Halle Garcia is listed as a forward, but she was put at the wide center back position on the right side against the Roadrunners. In the midfield, sophomore Matsuri Tsutsui and junior Helen Alormenu were used interchangeably, with one dropping back while the other pushed up. Sophomore Alexis Montgomery was the glue between the defense and the higher parts of the pitch as the midfield pivot behind Tsutsui and Alormenu. On the wide midfield sections, sophomore Lilah Dupree was used as a wingback to contribute on both defense and offense on the right; senior Kaylie Smith provided the width on the left. In their home opener, a 4-1 win against the Vaqueros on Aug. 16, Garcia was replaced in the starting lineup by senior Constance Agyemang, and in terms of personnel, that was the only change. However, the team’s base shape also shifted to a 4-3-3, with Texas State fielding two true wingers alongside Meza. Dupree moved lower into a more defensive role, and junior Ava Kooker, who played up higher next to Meza against UTSA, slid into the
AYDEN OREDSON | SPORTS EDITOR
Texas State junior forward Constance Agyemang (17) dribbles up the field against Baylor during the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 at Betty Lou Mays Field in Waco, Texas. The Bears won 3-0.
right winger position while Agyemang slotted into the left wing. The midfield trio of Tsutsui, Alormenu and Montgomery stayed intact. Unlike their game with the Roadrunners, which was a physical and rowdy game from both sides, Texas State was able to control the pace of play and possession at a better rate against the UTRGV Vaqueros. With this
control, Texas State played the free-flowing soccer that fans have come to expect during Holeman’s tenure. While it’s too early to draw any conclusions, it’s clear that these Bobcats have high expectations, and their first two matches are a positive indication of what could come next in the Pac-12. Texas State’s upcoming games will give the Bobcats
an opportunity to test their philosophy and style of play against top-tier opposition. They will face power conference competition with a 7:30 p.m. matchup against Texas A&M on Wednesday, Aug. 19 at the Bobcat Soccer Complex. The game will be available to watch via the Pac-12 YouTube Channel.
MASCOTS
Meet Koko the Bobcat: newest mascot on campus By Ayden Oredson Sports Editor
After 62 years of having just one costumed mascot with Boko the Bobcat, Texas State University recently announced the addition of a second mascot: Koko the Bobcat. Koko was unveiled to the community during the fourth annual Bobcats and Bubbles event, a fundraiser for Texas State Football, at UFCU Stadium on August 3. She was presented as Boko the Bobcat’s long-lost older sister who, according to her university website profile, has been exploring the wilderness of North America before hearing the news that Texas State joined the Pac-12 and decided to come home. While the move to the Pac-12 and her introduction seemed to line up perfectly and worked like a charm for her story-wise, head cheer coach and spirit coordinator Ryan Riley said the plan for a second mascot was a longtime coming. “[Koko] was coming, Pac-12 or not,” Riley said. “[The move] did influence her backstory so we could capitalize on using that transition to bring her into the fold.” The idea of a university having more than one costumed mascot is not new, but it is rather rare. Prior to Koko’s addition, there were just 11 women mascots across 367 Division I schools, 10 of which were gender-paired. One of those schools is Arkansas State, where university President Kelly Damphousse previously served as Chancellor from 2017-2022 before coming to Texas State. Riley, who returned to San Marcos after an 11-month stint as an assistant spirit coach at Sam Houston State, said the idea started when both he and the Damphousses arrived at Texas State in 2022. The concept of adding a second mascot was always a topic of conversation, given the closely intertwined relationship between the Damphousses and the Spirit Program.President Damphousse’s wife, Beth, was one of the main proponents in those conversations
according
to
Riley. The Spirit Program was rather small when Riley initially took over in 2022. There were just three members of the mascot team and all were men. In fact, there were just around 40 athletes in total, counting the mascot and cheer teams. It wasn’t until more recently, as Riley began recruiting and the program expanded to around 65 athletes that women began taking on the role of Boko and the program began to look closer into the idea. “Around two years ago, we got our first female mascot ... it became more of a topic of discussion,” Riley said. “It was like ‘Okay, we have some females in our program now, so if we’re going to [have a second mascot], now is the time to build off that momentum.” What took place was a year-long project from 2025 to 2026 to come up with a design for the new mascot, with the base idea being similar to Boko but with some key feminine features being added, such as the heart-shaped nose and eyelashes. However, she would have the same eye color and face shape as Boko alongside a sibling dynamic with him. With the university continually expanding, with enrollment expected to go from 41,734 in Spring 2026 to a projected 48,000 this fall, the data shows that 60% of enrolled students are women, according to official Texas State analytics. Some students find a new mascot a welcome addition to school spirit, and a good representation for women
SOPHIE GERKE | CREATIVE SERVICE DIRECTOR
on campus. “I’m glad we’re getting more of a female presence at Texas State,” Esteban Puzon, accounting senior. “I feel like our big faces are just Kelly [Damphousse] and Boko, so even if it is just a mascot, it doesn’t hurt, you know?” However, some fans aren’t nearly as excited over Koko’s unveiling. “I think the new mascot is cute, but I don’t see why we need a second one after all this time of just having one,” Kenzie Turner, electronic media sophomore said. “It just seems kind of unnecessary right now and totally out of the blue.” As Boko has his ‘Bokoisms’, Koko will have her own ‘Kokoisms’ that, while similar to Boko, are going to lean towards a more feminine side. Her character is described by the team as a ‘girl’s girl’, someone who is outgoing and as boisterous as much as a non-speaking mascot can be. “I would say she’s an exaggeration of femininity and Texas State spirit
combined into one thing,” Riley said. With the addition of a new mascot, and how popular the mascots are for events around San Marcos, the size of the mascot team has since doubled from last year, going from five athletes to 10, with plenty of room to grow. Riley feels that with the increased growth, the program is well equipped to handle the pressures of game day experiences and spread more spirit across the university. The addition of Koko will serve as yet another opportunity for Texas State to further its national brand with just the 12th female mascot in D1 colleges. As it is for the university, it is a new era for the Spirit Program as well. “We’re excited to have her and decide who she is and what she’ll become,” Riley said. “[Introducing a new mascot] is a first-time experience for all of us, and we get to choose our own path moving forward, so it’s exciting.”
14
Sophia Gerke & Milla Deur | Creative Services | starcreative@txstate.edu
GAMES
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
ADVERTISEMENT
15
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
SNAPS
16
Aiden Fritsche | Multimedia Editor | starmultimedia@txstate.edu
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
AIDEN FRITSCHE AIDEN FRITSCHE | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Zen Selekta and A Hundred Drums performs thier set, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, at The Marc. The Marc celebrated its 13th anniversary.
Aminal performs her set, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, at The Marc. The Marc offers lots of themed nights including 2000’s night.
Texas State freshmen celebrate the beginning of the school year during Jump Start, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, at LBJ mall. The event debuted Koko for the first time.
AIDEN FRITSCHE | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
RVNN3R performs her set, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, at The Marc. The Marc is a 2 level venue in the heart of San Marcos.
LIBBY ALLEN | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Fireworks go off as Texas State freshmen celebrate the beginning of the school year during Jump Start, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, at LBJ mall. Jump Start is the kick off to welcome week.
AIDEN FRITSCHE | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Scan QR to view full gallery online LIBBY ALLEN | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
AIDEN FRITSCHE | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
A Texas State student move into their dorm, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, at Alamito and Cibolo Hall. Move in marks the start of Welcome Week, offering a variety of events for incoming freshman.
LIBBY ALLEN | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Texas State freshmen celebrate the beginning of the school year during Jump Start, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, at LBJ mall. Texas State President Kelly Damphousse game out to speak to incoming students.