April 14 2015

TUESDAY APRIL 14, 2015

VOLUME 104 ISSUE 78 www.UniversityStar.com

Defending the First Amendment since 1911

REZONING 3 Travis to Crockett – 56 Travis to De Zavala – 38

96 Crocket to Hernandez – 85 Hernandez to Crockett – 45

*The number of students that will be transferred to different schools in compliance with new attendance zones.

CITY

SMCISD officials approve new zones to help with growth N

ew attendance zones will go into effect this fall for six elementary schools and two middle schools in San Marcos.

The San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved new attendance zones March 30 at a meeting.

Lolly Guerra, assistant superintendent of human resources, said the need to redraw the zones presented itself when Bowie Elementary and Travis Elementary reached capacity this year.

A wing of classrooms at Her-

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t @UniversityStar E youtube.com/user/theuniversitystar

Mendez to Travis –

Bowie to Mendez –

nandez Elementary opened and created an opportunity to alleviate overcrowding at Travis and Bowie. The space became available after the February opening of the pre-K center, said Karen Griffith, assistant superintendent of business and support services.

Guerra said the new attendance zones will benefit the district by making it easier to maintain the state-mandated 22-students-per-one-teacher ratio. The ratio provides a “conducive learning environment,” she said.

“In order to even out all the schools and take relief off the ones that had too many students in them, we had to redistrict the boundaries,” Griffith said.

F

Hernandez to Mendez – 16 Mendez to De Zavala – 54

Bowie to De Zavala – 32 Bowie to Hernandez – 79

By Anna Herod SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @annaleemurphy

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Guerra said district officials are offering parents of fourth graders going into fifth grade and of seventh graders going into eighth grade the opportunity to allow students to remain at their schools for a final year.

Families will have to apply by April 30 for the transfer.

“If a student has been at a particular elementary school for five years already, they might not want to attend their last year of elementary school at a new campus,” Guerra said. “So I think it helps the community with a transition like this and eases them into the new attendance zones.”

Iris Campbell, SMCISD public information officer, said the district has received 11 applica-

tions so far.

Guerra wants parents who may be upset about the rezoning to know it is “simply a necessary action.”

“We don’t control where the district grows, where neighborhoods go up, so it’s just something that has to be done,” Guerra said. “There’s no way to continue with the same attendance zones forever.”

Campus-to-campus transfer requests are available for students of all grades. Priority will be given to fourth and seventh graders who have only one year left at their respective schools, Griffith said.

According to the SMCISD

Go to university star.com

STATE

Bill restricting tuition increases moves through Senate

By Darcy Sprague NEWS REPORTER @darcy_days Public universities could be required to meet a set of performance-based standards in order to raise tuition if Senate Bill 778 passes.

The bill, introduced Feb. 25, requires public universities to meet five out of nine set performance standards. Institutions will not be able to raise tuition above the rate of inflation if universities fail to meet the standards. The bill would take effect in the 2018-2019 academic year.

The standards include graduation and retention rates and dollar value of external or sponsored research spending.

Bill Nance, vice president of finance and support services, does not foresee any effect on Texas State.

“We do very well on every one of those performance measures,” Nance said.

The university was required to submit a financial impact analysis regarding the bill, Nance said.

The current rate on inflation is about 1-2 percent, said Michael Heintze, associate vice president of enrollment management and marketing.

See ATTENDANCE, Page 2

See BILL 778, Page 2

CITY

San Marcos celebrates river, community at Wild Rice Festival

By Jon Wilcox SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @thrilcox Thousands gathered in celebration of community, art and the environment April 11 on the banks of the San Marcos River at this year’s Texas Wild Rice Festival.

Attendees enjoyed attractions including live music, educational lectures, hands-on workshops, arts and crafts, guided nature hikes and free food.

Ashley Wright, founder of the festival and Texas State alumna, said the inspiration for the event grew out of her teaching experiences at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. Wright gained a new appreciation for the city’s natural areas while teaching others about the San Marcos River.

The desire to share her appreciation led Wright to create a “workshop-based environmental festival” centered on one of San Marcos’ beloved symbols—wild rice.

The festival attracted about 50 nonprofits and vendors, over 40 teachers and workshops, nine musical artists and more than 2,000 visitors, Wright said.

Jeffery Hutchinson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service botanist, dis-

played native plants and animals at his booth on the top of a small hill at Sewell Park.

Hutchinson said wild rice is special because it only grows natively in the first two miles of the San Marcos River.

Decades ago, wild rice populations dropped to dangerous levels, and the plant almost became extinct, he said.

Hutchinson said the rice has made a resurgence in past years thanks to replanting efforts and the organism’s uncanny ability to grow.

“It grows fast,” Hutchinson said.

“We had 85 meters of growth on a 14-week plant. That’s, like, almost a football field.”

He said wild rice is special to biologists because it is an indicator species that reflects the overall health of its habitat.

“If the rice goes, the river goes,” he said.

Downhill from Hutchinson’s booth, people waited in line for their chance to enjoy another organism found in rivers.

Nick Menchaca, owner of Atlas Environmental, a contracting company hired by the city to remove non-native, invasive species from the river, offered free fish tacos to hungry festivalgoers.

CRIME

DARYL ONTIVEROS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Adam Salcedo, interdisciplinary studies graduate student, demonstrates the sow thistle plant April 11 during the Wild Rice Festival at Sewell Park.

Menchaca and a friend sat next to a fire, grilling foil-wrapped tilapia over a barbeque pit for hours.

In total, they cooked and served almost 55 pounds of the invasive fish, Menchaca said.

“Lots of love” and wild tilapia

See WILD RICE, Page 2

CRIME

Suspects who fled traffic Capstone Cottage resident found dead stop still at large

By Carlie Porterfield ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @rep0rterfield Officials do not have any further information regarding a traffic stop gone wrong on Interstate Highway 35 (IH-35).

Two men fled a traffic stop after being pulled over by a Texas Department of Public Safety

(DPS) officer, according to an April 9 University Star article.

“They were stopped for a traffic violation,” said Robbie Barrera, DPS public information trooper.

The officer walked to the window and asked to see the driver’s identification, Barrera said. The suspect did not produce identifi-

See TRAFFIC STOP, Page 2

By Nicholas Laughlin NEWS REPORTER @nmlaughlin

A resident of Capstone Cottages in San Marcos was found dead in his apartment March 29.

The San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) received a call March 29 at approximately 12:03 p.m. from Capstone Cottages, located at 1415 Craddock Ave. Rumors of the incident were confirmed April 8 by police.

SMPD officials and Capstone Cottages maintenance staff were contacted by the apartment’s management to check on a resident after parents called to express concern about their child.

The investigation is ongoing, and SMPD officials could not release the name of the resident found or whether he was a Texas State student.

SMPD found drug paraphernalia at the scene that is currently being tested. A toxicology report

is being conducted on the body.

B r a n d o n W i n ke nw e r d e r, SMPD commander, said the results from the tests will be available in four to six weeks.

“It looks like a drug overdose, but (the results) have to come back from the labs,” Winkenwerder said. “That will be able to confirm if it was a drug overdose.”

Capstone Cottages’ management did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

2 | The University Star | News | Tuesday, April 14, 2015

CRIME

Union Pacific will not pursue legal action against man hit by train

By Anna Herod SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @annaleemurphy Union Pacific Railroad officials have decided not to press trespassing charges against a man who was hit by a train April 8.

The man was hit at the Charles Austin Drive crossing around 4 p.m. and was taken to University Hospital in San Antonio.

Jeff DeGraff, spokesman for Union Pacific Railroad, said officials considered ticketing or citing the man for illegally crossing the tracks. However, officials have decided not to pursue legal action at this time.

The man is still in the hospital for injuries sustained from the accident, DeGraff said.

“Union Pacific officials have determined that the train was traveling at approximately 21 miles per hour at the time of the accident,” DeGraff said.

Warning sounds made by the train were likely unheard by the

man because he was wearing headphones while crossing a restricted area of the railroad.

“If you’re going to be anywhere near a train or railroad tracks, we ask you to take the earphones out so that you can pay attention whether you’re walking in a designated crossing area or somewhere else,” DeGraff said.

He said Union Pacific officials want people to know walking across or alongside railroads is “inherently dangerous.”

“A train coming down the tracks is not able to stop as quickly as a car might, and they certainly cannot swerve out of the way if someone is on the track in front of them,” DeGraff said.

Pieces of a freight train can extend up to six feet away from the railroad tracks, according to the Union Pacific Railroad website.

“Even alongside of (tracks) can be very dangerous,” DeGraff said. “We try to educate people to stay away from them.”

ATTENDANCE, from front

STAR FILE PHOTO

Martin Manzi, San Marcos Police Department commander; Brian Beach, SMPD officer, and Louis Tudyk, Union Pacific Railroad police officer, discuss details of the accident April 8 that occurred near Jowers Center.

WILD RICE, from front

website, bus routes will be subject to change in compliance within the boundaries. Parents of students who are approved to stay in their original locations will be responsible for their own transportation to and from school.

Some parents have voiced disappointment at the idea of having to move their students to different

schools. Griffith said the transition should not affect students’ educations.

“We’re responsible for all 7,500 of our students, and our job is to make sure that every one of them gets a quality education,” Griffith said. “So it shouldn’t matter what school you’re at. You should still be getting a quality education.”

hood Your friendly neighbor watchdog.

from Spring Lake were the secret to making great fish tacos, he said.

One festival attendee said the tilapia was the best invasive species he had ever tasted.

Matt Eichler, San Marcos resident, liked that the festival demonstrated an equal appreciation for the environment and creativity.

“It’s not just environmental awareness,” Eichler said. “It’s also the art, which (is) really important to getting people interested and active.”

Wright was able to provide supplies and reduced costs for workshops, artists and other festival attractions because of donations and grants.

The Wild Rice Festival costs more than $30,000, so Wright

begins planning early. Wright said she spends most of the summer writing grant requests.

“Seeing people’s faces and how happy they are, seeing people working together and playing together, jumping in the river together, it makes (me think), ‘Of course this is worth it, of course this is what we need, of course I could always do this,’” Wright said.

Emily Bradford, apothecary manager for the Wildf lower School of Botanical Medicine, was mixing fragrant aromas and flavors underneath another tent at the river’s edge.

Bradford led a workshop demonstrating a recipe for “tooth powder,” or powdered toothpaste, made from a variety of healing herbs and tinctures.

“This isn’t science,” Bradford said. “It’s a folk cooking school.”

Participants blended measurements of yarrow extract, peppermint tincture and prickly ash in mason jars, taking time to taste each ingredient.

Johnny Villarreal, Austin-based visual artist, taught children how to make stop-motion animation with his interactive activity center, The Edge of Imagination Station, inside a dimly lit, geodesic tent.

Wright said she was amazed at the event’s success.

“Every year, more and more people come, and every year it’s more and more beautiful,” Wright said. “It’s really hard for me to walk around my own festival without crying. I’ve cried like 15 times today at least.”

“It’s not just environmental awareness. It’s also the art, which (is) really important to getting people interested and active.” ­—MATT EICHLER, SAN MARCOS RESIDENT

BILL 778, from front

TRAFFIC STOP, from front

“We said we would be fine with it if it passes,” Nance said.

Mike Wintemute, Texas State University System communication director, said the system does not have an official position regarding the legislature.

“Our institution supports incentivizing and improving performance for our university system,” Wintemute said. “(This bill) provides the ability to seek additional revenue, if needed, by improving performance.”

The bill passed the Senate committee with amendments on March 8, Wintemute said. The bill was not calendared for a Senate reading at that time.

“I don’t believe any of our universities or systems are worried (about SB 778),” Wintemute said. “Our first priority is to not need to raise tuition.”

Wintemute is hopeful the legislative session will provide more state funding for public universities. State funding would minimize the need for a tuition increase. “(SB 778) would represent a change in how our universities are funded and limit how our board of regents can raise revenue through tuition,” Wintemute said. “At the same time it would incentivize our universities to perform at high standards.”

Institutions would be required to send suggested performance standards to the legislative budget board

“(SB 778) would represent a change in how our universities are funded and limit how our board of regents can raise revenue through tuition.” ­—MIKE WINTEMUTE, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR if the bill passes. The board would review the standards before making a decision.

Heintze said if the bill passes, the change in the process of setting requirements would give the board of regents more input concerning what goals are realistic.

The standards are currently set by the legislature.

The university monitors the performance measures and records data, Nance said.

Texas State officials release a university plan every five years.

The plan contains goals set by the university and can be found on the Texas State website.

The plan is reviewed and the results are assessed every two years.

The assessment includes performance measures such as those found in SB 778.

The current plan was released in

2012 and will carry through 2017.

The plan was last reviewed in October of 2014.

The full assessment of the 20072012 plan is available on the website. Only one of the goals listed was not met. The goal did not reflect any of the performance measures in SB 778. Every other goal was either completed or continued in the current plan.

All of the goals, which relate to the performance measures in SB 778, were improved upon or completed.

If the bill passes, the board of regents will have to approve any request to raise tuition.

“There is interest in SB 778,” Heintze said. “We are optimistic that we as an institution will be able to meet five out of the nine requirements.”

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cation and instead put the vehicle into drive.

“The trooper shot twice in the right rear tire, causing the driver of the pickup truck to drive across the frontage road into the grass field, where both the driver and the passenger fled,” Barrera said.

Barrera is not aware of any leads in the investigation.

“They’re still missing,” Barrera said of the two men. “We have no clues. It’s unknown as to why they fled the scene or anything of that nature.”

The case has been handed over to the Texas Rangers, Barrera said. She does not know how the rangers are proceeding with the investigation.

According to an April 13 email from DPS spokesman Tom Vinger, the Texas Rangers

are investigating the incident, but no arrests have been made.

The San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) assisted April 9 in the search for the two men.

“We helped them with some perimeter support and some incident command support with one of our vehicles,” said Chase Stapp, SMPD police chief. “That was the limit of our involvement. We did have a canine up there as well.”

Stapp was impressed with the level of cooperation during the search.

“There were probably half a dozen or more different agencies out there,” Stapp said. “It’s just nice to know that we can count on one another to help out when something serious happens.”

It makes you smarter.

The University Star | Tuesday, April 14, 2015 | 3

LIFESTYLE

UniversityStar.com

San Marcos concert series promotes community

By Denise Cervantes LIFESTYLE REPORTER @cervantesdenise San Marcos Plaza Park kicked off its Keep San Marcos Beautiful Spring Concert Series April 9 with The Spazmatics, an Austin-based ‘80s cover band.

The Keep San Marcos Beautiful Spring Concert Series is used to promote litter prevention, waste reduction and beautification, said Amy Kirwin, solid waste program coordinator.

“We’re hoping to teach kids and their parents how to be more sustainable about law and energy conservation and environmental stewardship,” Kirwin said.

During the intermission, audience members were asked to participate in an environmental quiz to promote awareness.

“My goal and mission is to encourage landfill diversion, so this is also a venue to do some educational outreach—but not lecture to people, but to do it in a fun

and interactive way,” Kirwin said.

Victoria Nelson, audience member, said The Spazmatics were able to bring the community together. She said the band interacted with audience members throughout the performance.

“I’ve danced with strangers the whole night because of them,” Nelson said. “I really feel like I’m reliving the ‘80s when watching them.”

Joseph Gutierrez, audience member, said the band brought locals out while educating and raising environmental awareness.

“My kids got a lot from the quiz game,” Gutierrez said. “And I grew up in the ‘80s, so it’s a good way for them to learn something and a good way for me to enjoy myself for a night.”

The concert series will showcase a different artist or band every Thursday in April, Kirwin said. She said the series will feature different genres of music each week to reach every part of the community.

“The concert brings people out and together in the community,” Kirwin said.

“And for each one being a different kind of concert, hopefully we’ll get a variety of people at each show, and then we’ll be able to hit different parts of the community and hopefully educate them as well.”

The band’s energy attracted ‘80s fans and those who may not be familiar with the decade, Gutierrez said.

“You don’t have to like cover bands or even know any of the songs they’re playing to have fun,” Gutierrez said. “Once you see everyone around you dancing and singing, you want to go ahead and be a part of the fun.”

The Spazmatics are known throughout the San Marcos community, Kirwin said. In past years, local bands played during the concert series. Attendance has gone up to 1,200 participants since officials began contracting known bands like The Spazmatics.

DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

The Spazmatics perform April 9 for the KSMB Spring Concert Series in the San Marcos Plaza Park.

“In the past it had been local, not-really-known bands,” Kirwin said. “But we decided to turn it up a notch in the last couple of years, and it definitely brought out a greater part of the community.”

Hannah Andrews, audience member and San Marcos resident, said the message of keeping San Marcos clean remained prevalent throughout the night.

“The Spazmatics is probably the best way to get ev-

eryone out here,” Andrews said. “But you still get educated about the environment. San Marcos is beautiful, and at the end of the day it is up to the community to maintain it.”

Community festival celebrates San Marcos talent, involvement

By Jonathan Hamilton LIFESTYLE REPORTER @Jonodashham1 The San Marcos community came together to celebrate local businesses and artists at the Wine and Art Weekend.

The three-day arts and entertainment festival kicked off April 10 and concluded April 12 with a jazz brunch.

Mackenzie Falcon, recreational administration senior, said the main focus of the Wine and Art Weekend is promoting economic growth throughout the community.

“The objective of the Wine and Art Weekend is to enhance the businesses downtown, to bring foot traffic and really to boost the local business here,” Falcon said.

Kayli Head, Main Street coordinator and event organizer, said Wine and Art Weekend is designed to showcase local businesses and artists’ talents. “(The Main Street Program) facilitates events in the downtown district and is responsible for the look and feel of downtown,” Head said.

Head said a variety of local businesses, including salons, retail shops and res-

taurants, joined to support the festival.

“We have such a fantastic art community, but a lot of the times it is underground,” Head said. “A lot of artists are so busy in their craft that marketing and advertisement is not always their strong suit. (The festival) is a way to let them be very visible in the community.”

Head said local business owners downtown appreciated the wave of traffic caused by the festival. She said they tried to make the crowds feel as welcome as possible.

“Our businesses are ready to party no matter what,” Head said. “They make our job so much easier because they are so warm and inviting.”

Falcon said members of her recreation program development class helped with the Main Street Program to host the Wine and Art Walk.

She said her professor assigned planning the event as the course’s main project in an effort to teach students to promote positivity and wellness in the community.

“Our teacher created this project for us for the most real-life experience possible,” Falcon said. “This is what we would do in therapeutic recreation, so this gives us the most real-life

experience.”

Samantha Rodriguez, recreational administration junior, said she is in the same programming class as Falcon.

Rodriguez said the event’s success was worth the hours of work and dedication spent coordinating the weekend.

“It was kind of stressful, and we were kind of hesitant at first because we have never done anything like this,” Rodriguez said. “But in all, it was worth it. I would definitely do it again.”

Head said Wine and Art Weekend served its purpose despite the chance for gloomy weather in downtown San Marcos for the majority of the event.

“The community needs more of these events, and it LARA DIETRICH STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER is really showcasing the flavor and culture of the city,” Liz Ferguson and Caroline Walsh look at art April 11 during the Wine and Art Weekend at the LBJ MuHead said. seum of San Marcos.

Head said she was walking through the Square on Friday when a visitor thanked her for the effort and expressed the hope of seeing similar events in San Marcos.

Community appreciation is the reason Head dedicated time and effort toward making Wine and Art Weekend a reality for the town.

“That in itself is why I love my job,” she said.

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4 | The University Star | Tuesday, April 14, 2015

OPINIONS

UniversityStar.com

THE MAIN POINT

Quiet train zones a bad idea S

ilent train zones should not be implemented for railroad crossings in San Marcos.

City officials have tried to implement quiet zones in the city since 2011, according to a March 25 University Star article. The proposed safety upgrades were priced at $1.1 million. Railroad crossings would be outfitted with extra precautions in order to prevent drivers from maneuvering around the caution arms once they are lowered.

Nineteen of the 26 crossing projects have been completed.

According to city officials, the quiet zones increase safety for residents because of the extra safety upgrades. However, the benefit of the sounds still far outweighs the temporary inconvenience of a blasting horn for 10 seconds at an intersection.

Some Bobcats are under the impression that train operators blow the horns just to be an inconvenience or to irritate citizens. This is not the case.

According to the Star article, the Federal Railroad Administration mandates that horns be heard for 15 to 20 seconds before a train enters an intersection. The sound helps to alert those near

the tracks to the danger of an oncoming train.

Train accidents are not just sensationalized horror stories Driver’s Education teachers use to scare students. According to data from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Safety Analysis, as of Jan. 2015 there have been 13 fatal and 28 nonfatal train accidents in Texas.

The bottom line is people are often far too daring when it comes to railroads. Safety zones are necessary to protect people from themselves. On March 28, students and citizens participated in Bobcat Build. During the event, participants were seen walking across the tracks with reckless abandon. In situations like this, quiet zones could lead to a sharp increase in casualties citywide.

Having train crossings without warning horns is kind of like buying an alarm clock with no sound. Just looking at it is much less effective than hearing it.

However, the consequences of missing an alarm are much less severe than those of failing to hear a train warning.

Additionally, the stopping radius of a train is a mile, according

JORDAN GURLEY STAR ILLUSTRATOR

to the Minnesota Safety Council.

The average freight train moving at 55 miles per hour can take a mile or more to stop after the

locomotive engineer applies the emergency brake.

As tempting as it is to be rid of the blaring sirens late at night or

early in the morning, the sounds do serve a greater purpose. The price of silence should not be lives.

The Main Point is the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Columns are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the full staff, Texas State University Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State University.

MEDIA

Children’s shows not harmful

Evelin Garcia OPINIONS COLUMNIST @Eveling285

T

elevision, along with other forms of media, has a profound influence on social behavior and society today.

However, it’s also true that the effect of such media depends on what people watch and for how long.

Society has learned to hold the media responsible for any negative behavior or patterns seen in the world. In reality, media can be as good as it can be bad. The key to manipulating the effect television has upon us lays on what we choose to watch.

Some critics believe children’s shows have a pullback effect on young adult minds.

The truth of the matter is watching a children’s show does the complete opposite.

Programs designed for children aim to educate and accelerate the development of their viewers’ mind.

Two shows reflecting positive content for their young audience are Sesame Street and Schoolhouse Rock! Both of these shows look to educate and entertain children and have done so for years.

Case worker Cecilia Galindo, who worked at the Oregon Child Development Coalition

(OCDC), said part of her job was to “guide parents and advise them to better educate their children.”

“There is always some good and some bad in any method used for a child’s education, and I think children’s shows are just that,” Galindo said.

Aside from the fact that children’s shows bring intellectual input, they also serve as a stress-reliever for children and other viewers. According to a study by the University of Siena, scientists found “children experience a soothing, painkilling effect by watching cartoons.”

This is particularly important because psychologists have found regressive behavior is usually caused by stress. Young adults are constant victims of stress caused by financial concerns and other life choice decisions, which leads them to express regressive behavior.

An online article titled Regression, by changingminds. org, explains that regressive behavior involves taking the position of a child in response to problematic situations. Stress is the leading cause for regressive behavior in young adults, and critics should stop blaming children’s shows for the childlike attitude youth is taking.

Children’s shows soothe worried minds of young adults and provide them with short relief from stress.

Young people’s regressive behavior should be examined instead of ignored. It is time for society to accept that the root of our youth’s problem runs far deeper than we want to admit.

—Evelin Garcia is a journalism sophomore

The University Star Editor-in-Chief................................................Nicole Barrios, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor....................Cameron Cutshall, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters................................................................................universitystar@txstate.edu News Editor..............................................Kelsey Bradshaw, starnews@txstate.edu Lifestyle Editor..........................................Britton Richter, starlifestyle@txstate.edu Opinions Editor.......................................Imani McGarrell, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor...........................................Madelynne Scales, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor........................................... Quixem Ramirez, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief.....................................Sam Hankins, starcopychief@txstate.edu

POLITICS

Ted Cruz, Republicans unappealing to young voter demographic

Brandon Sams ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR @TheBrandonSams

B

uh-bye, Republicans.

Non-partisan statisticians and liberal pundits everywhere have projected a decrease in Republican success as the future seems to get bleaker for the right-wing.

The tides have began to shift as the United States continues to get less white, old people die out and this generation’s young men skew more liberal than previous groups.

Even white male millennials are less conservative than their predecessors from Generation X and the Boomers generation.

So, unless a major shift happens with the Republicans, they are facing an uphill battle in 2016 and further elections as their primary demographic continues to age out of the voting bloc.

The Republicans’ great white hope at the moment is Texas’ very own freshman Senator Ted Cruz, who was the first candidate on either side of the aisle to announce a bid for presidency. While Cruz may be a Texas darling, he is bound to run into trouble on the national stage, even among his own partygoers.

“He’s far too polarizing to even win in his own party,” said Josh Martinez, current events officer for Texas State Col-

lege Democrats. “The right is becoming further right. We’re now having discussions if birth control is OK and if we should deny gay people service in restaurants.”

Ted Cruz has gone on record supporting a constitutional amendment to deny same-sex couples the right to marry, a stark contrast to the attitudes of the young voters he has been actively attempting to court.

According to a May 11, 2014 Gallup Poll, 78 percent of young people support same-sex marriage regardless of political leanings.

While out of touch on the issues, Cruz and crowd seem to be right on board with America’s self-identification. For generations in the United States, self-professed political leanings have been more conservative than liberal, no matter the age group. While the Democratic Party has historically led the Republican Party in identification among Americans, more people identify as conservative as opposed to liberal.

The conservative right has led an admittedly successful smear campaign against liberalism for decades. In fact, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center report, 32 percent of Americans identified as Democrats compared to the 23 percent who identified as Republicans.

Yet there have consistently been about double the amount of self-identified conservatives compared to self-identified liberals in each consecutive generation—until now.

Millennials represent the only generation in which more people self-identify as liberal compared to conservative.

About 30 percent of millennials identify as liberal compared to the 26 percent who identify as

conservative.

“We’re experiencing a convenient time to be liberal,” Martinez said. “Republicans should be worried and take a look inside and say ‘What are we doing wrong?’ and ‘Why aren’t we attracting as many voters as we used to?’”

If Republicans such as Cruz want to garner support, specifically among younger voters, attempting to distance themselves from their religiosity and moralizing would be a good start. This is especially true considering 29 percent of Millennials claim to be unaffiliated with any religion.

While appealing to the evangelical and Christian right is great to stir up the party base, in the general election it can be alienating.

Republicans look more like adults on stage when there’s less religion involved and fewer religious points being intertwined with politics, Martinez said.

Religiosity, social conservatism and all-around backward thinking are not going to endear Republicans and conservatives to young voters. This demographic represented 19 percent of the electorate in 2012 and is slated to make up about 24 percent in the 2016 presidential race.

They say continuing to do the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. If that’s the case, then Republicans are definitively insane. If they do not change their positions and the way they approach non-white, non-old, non-male voters, then it’s going to be a dismal race in upcoming elections.

—Brandon Sams is a journalism sophomore

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The University Star | Tuesday, April 14, 2015 | 5

SPORTS

UniversityStar.com

BASEBALL

STORYLINES TO WATCH: TEXAS STATE VS. UTSA

By Quixem Ramirez SPORTS EDITOR @quixem

It’s been eight years since the UTSA Roadrunners won the season series against the Texas State baseball team.

The I-35 rivalry has been anything but a close contest. Texas State is 15-5 in the last 20 meetings against UTSA. The Bobcats are outscoring the Roadrunners by 1.9 runs per game in this span.

A win on Tuesday night would give Texas State its sixth series victory since 2007.

A BUMP IN THE ROAD?

Texas State dropped two of three games to Arkansas-Little Rock in its last weekend series. Prior to the series, the Bobcats had won two consecutive weekend series against Georgia Southern and Baylor.

A NEW MIDWEEK STARTER

Assistant Coach Jeremy Fikac is re-adjusting his rotation by naming Cory Geisler, junior pitcher, as the midweek starter against UTSA. Montana Parsons, freshman pitcher, earned the start in the past four consecutive Tuesday night matchups, which resulted in two wins.

Parsons, however, did not play a big part in the victories, allowing eight runs in 3.1 innings. The Bobcats

bullpen and offense compensated for Parsons’ shortcomings. His best performance occurred in the 6-4 loss to Texas, as he pitched seven innings.

For the most part, though, Parsons has been uneven. He has allowed 21 fly balls in 74 plate appearances, a ratio that is not conducive to success.

Even against Texas, Parsons recorded 12 flyouts, many of which were nearly home runs. Parsons is not generating enough groundouts – just 12 in his four starts – and he is not striking out batters consistently.

Parsons is relying on his defense to get himself out of jams. When the ball bounces his way, Parsons can give Fikac valuable innings to save his relievers. When the ball does not

bounce his way, Fikac is forced to use the bullpen in the second inning.

Geisler, the Preseason Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year, comes with a proven track record even if his peripheral stats do not reflect his ability. Geisler’s 4.63 earned run average is sixth on the team, but his batting average allowed (.222) is second behind Jeremy Hallonquist, junior pitcher.

A positive start from Geisler could fortify the weekend pitching rotation heading into a matchup against Louisiana-Lafayette, the defending conference champions.

TOP HEAVY

Texas State’s offensive success

against UTSA has come from three sources. Granger Studdard, sophomore outfielder, is leading the team with a .625 average, five hits and three runs batted in against the Roadrunners. Cedric Vallieres, senior infielder, has five runs, four hits, four runs batted in and three home runs in two matchups. Geisler has a home run, two runs batted, three runs and a .400 batting average. The rest of the team has failed to record multiple hits.

TEAM HISTORY

Texas State holds the all-time series advantage at 53-29, though UTSA won the last matchup, 5-4, in San Antonio.

SOFTBALL

BOBCATS CLINCH BERTH IN SUN BELT CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

By Donavan Jackson SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER @djack_02 The score was 2-1 when Ariel Ortiz, freshman shortstop, hit a walk-off double to close the weekend with a 4-3 victory over Troy Sunday afternoon.

Ortiz’s walk-off double in the seventh inning scored Kelli Baker, junior second baseman.

The Texas State softball team is now third in the Sun Belt Conference with an 8-6 record.

The Bobcats won the series against Troy 2-1, clinching a berth in the May 6-9 conference tournament.

“There’s still a lot of ball left to play,” said Coach Ricci Woodard.

“But that is a big series right there because anytime we can take two of the three, we have to take advantage of that.”

DARYL ONTIVEROS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Randi Rupp, freshman pitcher, throws the ball against Troy April 12 at Bobcat Softball Stadium.

The game was tied 1-1 in the third inning when the Trojans tried to pull away. The bases were loaded when Carli Kayler, Trojans freshman center fielder, hit a dou-

ble to extend the lead to 3-1.

The Bobcats remained scoreless for three innings until Kendall Wiley, junior first baseman, recorded her 41st run batted in of the sea-

son, bringing the game within one run.

Texas State added one more run in the sixth inning after an RBI double to left center field scored Alli Akina, senior pinch runner.

“We hit balls hard all through the game, and they finally fell,” Woodard said. “That’s what you keep telling the kids. Keep hitting the ball hard, and sooner or later those balls will fall for you. I think we did a pretty good job the whole game. We just didn’t find the holes until the end of the game.”

Kaylee Garner, sophomore pitcher, entered the game for Randi Rupp, freshman pitcher, in the third inning following a two-run double by the Trojans.

Garner pitched the remainder of the game without giving up any earned runs. The three-strikeout, one-hit outing puts Garner at 5-3 for the season.

“Kaylee’s done a great job this weekend with Troy,” Woodard said. “She did a great job of keeping the ball on the plate and some pitches off the plate. They really didn’t know how to attack. She did a great job at keeping their hitters off balance the entire day.

We could have went to her earlier because she’s had their number.”

Six different Bobcats recorded hits against the Trojans Sunday afternoon. Four of the seven hits were doubles. Ortiz’s double in the seventh inning was her 16th of the season, which leads the Sun Belt conference.

Texas State has one home game remaining before the team travels to compete against South Alabama, the second-ranked team in the conference.

The Bobcats host a non-conference matchup Wednesday against Houston Baptist.

BASEBALL

NOTEBOOK: TEXAS STATE VS. ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK SPOTLIGHT PLAYER

By Matt Gurevitz SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER @Matt_Gurevitz

WHAT THE SERIES MEANS The series loss is a small setback for the Texas State baseball team.

Texas State fell to sixth place in the Sun Belt standings after Saturday’s loss, the lowest the team has been since starting the conference schedule. The team responded with a win on Sunday to move them back into fifth place.

The Trojans have played well against the Bobcats previously.

Arkansas-Little Rock won the series against Texas State last year in San Marcos 2-1. The teams will not meet again during the regular season but could see each other in the Sun Belt tournament in Troy. The game would favor the Trojans if these teams were to see each other in Troy, so the Bobcats would like to avoid this matchup.

TURNING POINT The series got out of hand for the Bobcats after Scott Grist, senior pitcher, gave up 10 runs to the Trojans Saturday. The Bobcats came into the game needing a victory in order to have a chance to win the weekend series. A bad start was not what the team needed. The Trojans scored eight runs by the end of the third inning, and the Bobcats were down 8-1. Texas State was able to score four runs in the top of the sixth, but the team was still down 10-5 against the Trojans and their hot offense. The Trojans won the game 13-7—and the series—on Saturday.

Colby Targun, senior outfielder.

Targun did not get the start on Friday night due to his recent struggles at the plate but got out nevertheless in a pinch hit at bat.

Targun started on Saturday and demonstrated he may be close to a turnaround. Targun gave the Bobcats hope after he hit a tworun double in the sixth inning Saturday. He finished the matchup going 3-5 with two runs batted in and three runs scored. He was one of two Bobcats with multiple hits.

Targun did not slow down on Sunday. He produced two singles, scoring four runs for the Bobcats.

His ability to drive in runs on Sunday helped the team avoid losing in a series sweep. Targun went 5-11 at the plate over the weekend and recorded 6 runs batted in. His batting average rose from .182 to .221.

GOOD Jeremy Hallonquist, junior pitcher. This newcomer to the rotation has done nothing but solidify his position. He’s given up four runs in his three starts. The team has won every game Hallonquist starts. He displayed consistency again in his start on Sunday. He pitched 5.2 innings and gave up one earned run to help the Bobcats win. Hallonquist needed the quality start as the Bobcats had given up a combined 10 runs in the first two innings of each of the losses against the Trojans. Hallonquist gave up one run in the first two innings in his start, and the Bobcats never trailed in the game.

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Friday’s comeback attempt. The Bobcats were one hit away from coming back against ArkansasLittle Rock but fell short. Jared Huber, freshman catcher, came up to the plate with two outs and the game-tying run on second.

Huber worked the count to 3-2, and he popped up the full count pitch to end the game. Texas State was down 4-2 in the fourth inning against the Trojans. Texas State’s pitching did its part, but the offense only scored one run after the fourth inning. The Bobcats did not come back to win, and the series did not go their way.

UGLY First two innings. The first two innings on Friday and Saturday were scoring explosions for ArkansasLittle Rock. The Trojans scored all four of their runs in the first two

innings on Friday, and that was all they needed to win. ArkansasLittle Rock scored six runs in the first two innings Saturday, putting the game out of reach. The Trojans added one run in the first two innings on Sunday. The Bobcats were outscored 11-3 in the first two innings throughout the series. The team that scored first won every game.

WHAT’S NEXT Texas State will play the final game of the season series with rival UTSA Tuesday at Bobcat Ballpark. The Bobcats host defending conference champions LouisianaLafayette next weekend. This game will be a rematch of last year’s Sun Belt Conference Championship.

The Ragin’ Cajuns are currently 8-6, seventh in the Sun Belt.

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