A4 | The University Star | Thursday April 24, 2014
OPINIONS
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THE MAIN POINT
The University Star’s guide to navigating graduation Congratulations, seniors. Four years (or maybe more) of dragging yourselves up and down stairs and hills, shotgunning Red Bulls during all-nighters at Alkek and sitting through Friday lectures the morning after Thirsty Thursday at The Square has all lead up to this—graduation. Earning a college degree is a huge accomplishment, but don’t get too excited—you’re not out of the woods yet. The commencement ceremony is a trial in itself. The University Star has compiled a comprehensive guide to help you survive your last hours as a Texas State student.
BEFORE THE BIG EVENT Develop a parking contingency plan This is your moment to demonstrate the expert navigation and parking skills you picked up while living in San Marcos. The areas around Strahan Coliseum will be either be gridlocked with lost family members or shut down completely, so be prepared to sit in traffic and take alternate routes. If you are lucky enough to live within walking distance of Strahan, make the journey on foot and let your family worry about parking. If this is not an option, give yourself at least 45 minutes to get to Strahan.
make a reservation. Don’t have your heart set on drinking mojitos in the courtyard at Palmer’s if you haven’t called ahead. That goes for most nice restaurants in town—if you haven’t made a reservation by now, your chances of getting a table are slim. Ordering a $20 plate of food and an $8 drink is critical to observing this milestone, so get on the phone once you’re done reading this if you don’t already have a reservation.
Pick an appropriate outfit Ladies, we understand the pressure of finding the perfect pair of shoes for graduation. It’s the only part of your outfit that people will be able to see, and you literally want to put your best foot forward. However, save the 5-inch heels for The Square later on in the night. They won’t be worth the risk of tripping, and no one wants to hear you whine about how bad your feet hurt. While your clothing is going to be covered during the ceremony, it’s still important on graduation day to look like a young adult who is ready to enter the professional world. Also, your mother will kill you if she pulls out her camera to take photos and you’re wearing an oversized T-shirt and Nike running shorts.
DURING THE CEREMONY
Make reservations If you want to go out to lunch or dinner with your friends and family to celebrate, you need to
Be positive and polite Depending on what time your
college’s commencement ceremony begins, you may have to check in as early as 8 a.m. No one wants to be awake that early, let alone sit through a graduation ceremony for two hours, but try to stay positive. While the ceremony will be long and mind-numbing, don’t complain about how bored, tired or hungover you are to whoever is sitting next to you. Graduating college is an achievement to be excited and happy about, so at least make an attempt to brush away any feelings of irritability. Additionally, we can guarantee that a sorority girl with a Swarovski-encrusted cap will be sitting nearby, and you don’t want to be anywhere near that thing after she tosses it into the air. That being said, if you have an ornate cap, be courteous to the people around you and try not to block (or damage) their vision with it.
POST-GRADUATION Celebrate — appropriately Jumping in the river in your cap and gown after graduation is a tradition that many Texas State students have looked forward to their entire college careers. If jumping in the river is something you want to do, try not to be obnoxious about it. Don’t push anyone in who does not wish to participate, jump on top of anyone or break any bones in the process. Take your cell phone out of your pocket before jumping in, and make sure your designated photographer is in place before you take the plunge.
Jordan Gurley | Star Illustrator The editorial board congratulates all of the seniors graduating this year, and encourages them to celebrate the milestone. Whether you plan on jumping into the San Marcos River one last time, spending time with family or taking a celebratory trip to The Square after graduation, be sure to use caution.
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.
RELIGION
SEXUALITY
Christians should display Christlike behavior through LGBTQIA acceptance
‘Slut shaming’ unacceptable attitude toward female sexuality
Laura Crick Opinions Columnist Music education freshman
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hristians should adopt a Christlike attitude toward homosexuality by showing love and acceptance instead of hatred. Christianity and the LGBTQIA community have had their fair share of arguments and debates. It is not very difficult to come by an article or website explaining why Christians should be against homosexuality and what the Bible has to say about it. However, amidst all of the hate, there should be a glimmer of hope. Christians have plenty of reasons to be accepting of homosexual lifestyles. Sin is sin, no matter what it is. My friend once told me that in a Sunday school class they learned about sins by using stacks of Oreos. Humans measure sins as if stealing gets one Oreo while adultery gets three, thus making adultery the worse sin. But God sees all sins the same, since when He looks down he only sees the tops of the Oreos, not how high they are stacked. People who claim homo-
sexuality is a horrible sin and needs to be taken down need to take a look in the mirror. Somehow these people fail to recognize the everyday ways humans sin, like lust, gambling, various forms of cheating and divorce, to name a few. These sins, and even sins as extreme as murder, are all considered within the context in which they occur. However, homosexuality is, for some reason, always treated as a tier-one Avada Kedavra level of unforgivable sin. This is not to say I think homosexuality is a sin because I do not. I am simply making the point that condemning the sin of someone else but excusing one’s own is definitely not Christlike. A Christian life is supposed to be led in a Christlike way: through loving others and aiming to bring others closer to God. By hating others and denying them the love of Christ, which was promised to all of humanity, a Christlike life is not being lived. I am a Christian, and I try my hardest to live life fully in Christ’s footsteps, which means accepting others and loving the downtrodden. Accepting others means accepting their way of life, whether it agrees with mine or not. It is not Christlike to hate others simply because they are different. In fact, I have many friends who are both Christian and homosexual. The church does not kick them out, and I most certainly do not hate them for it. I cannot speak for
all Christians and their beliefs, but as an individual Christian, I have no problem with homosexuality. It is not my life, and therefore I should not have a say in what other people choose do with theirs. The Bible frequently mentions how Christians should act. The New Testament insists that Christians act with love, equality, and fairness. These things are absent when homosexuality is hated on. Romans 13:8-10 is a good example of this: Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. This is the main thing the Bible asks of Christians—to love your neighbor as yourself. Hating on someone else because they are different is not acting in a Christian way. The bottom line is that it simply goes against the Christian teachings to hate. Christians are supposed to love, and this includes loving those whose lifestyles are different than most. Many churches are accepting of homosexuality, and it is time for individual Christians to be that way as well.
Alexis Aguirre Opinions Columnist Journalism sophomore
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omen should be allowed to embrace their natural sexuality without harassment or fear of being criticized. Students need to understand that sex is an emotional, physical and, above all, natural thing. Embracing one’s sexuality can include an assortment of factors ranging from knowing likes and dislikes in the bedroom to being able to talk openly about sex and items linked to it. Bashing females for simply embracing their sexuality is a seriously idiotic practice. These criticisms, most commonly known as “slut shaming,” attack women on their sexuality in a variety of ways. Aside from being perceived as promiscuous, women are criticized for the way they are dressed and talking openly about sex. Aside from the obvious double standard, students should understand that having sex or embracing one’s sexuality does not make anyone a slut. Sex is a natural thing and someone’s sex life is a personal matter that needs no input from outside sources. Men do not face the same stigma or opposition that women do when it comes to their sexuality. For men, sexual activity is actually embraced.
A male with multiple sexual partners or experiences is often considered a hero or referred to as “the man.” Women are not so lucky. If a woman has slept with what someone may feel is too many guys, she is labeled. If a woman’s clothes are deemed too provocative, she is labeled. Whether a woman may have had sex with someone is irrelevant. If there is any speculation of sexual intent or behavior, she has already been labeled. Instead of the pats on the back that guys receive, women have to endure the madness of being labeled as sluts and other offensive terms. Students need to let peers make their own choices regarding sex and sexuality without judgment. Someone’s sexuality and sex life is a personal choice that needs no outside opinions or input, unless asked. The appropriate number of sexual partners or the provocativeness of an outfit are subjective ideas. This should not even be a discussion. Students need to make their own decisions about what is acceptable for them when it comes to their dress and sex lives. Students should make note that what may be normal for them is not necessarily someone else’s norm. Sex is a natural thing. Students must not forget that their being on earth was because of an act of sex. Students need to get real about this. College students are adults and need to get rid of that blush-when-abody-part-is-mentioned mentality. It is okay to be sexually active and students should feel okay talking about these subjects openly. The act of embracing one’s sexuality is not at all shameful, and students need to be open-minded about this issue.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR H
ello Bobcats, First of all, I want to thank each person who voted in the recent Student Government elections, and a special thanks to The University Star for supporting Sean and I during the campaign session. Student Government is undergoing huge improvements all to better serve and represent you. Our representative purpose is and will continue to be the most
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important role we have on this campus. As we continue to improve your Student Government, Sean and I wanted to invite everyone to engage with us, on social media, at our meetings and with visits to our office. Sean and I have been working on a platform that focuses on enhancing student involvement, supporting student organizations, providing scholarships for study
Editor-in-Chief.................................................Caitlin Clark, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor..........................Liza Winkler, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters..................................................................................starletters@txstate.edu News Editor............................................Taylor Tompkins, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor.............................................Amanda Ross, startrends@txstate.edu Opinions Editor..................................Savannah Wingo, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor.......................................Austin Humphreys, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor.......................................Odus Evbagharu, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief................................Lesley Warren, starcopychief@txstate.edu Design Editor...........................................Lauren Huston, stardesign@txstate.edu
abroad and continuing to enhance our ongoing efforts to support pride at our university. You’ll be hearing more about our ideas in the coming weeks and we hope you’ll take these opportunities to tell us what matters most to you. The Young-Quiñones Administration is committed to continuously enhancing Student Government so that it can tackle the important issues facing stu-
Web Editor...............................................Lee Moran, starwebeditor@txstate.edu Account Executive..................................Stephanie Macke, starad2@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Catie Brossard, starad3@txstate.edu Account Executive.................................Blakely Knowles, starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Taylor Bradham, starad5@txstate.edu Media Specialist............................................ Chris Salazar, c.salazar@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator...........................Kelsey Nuckolls, kjn16@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator.......................................Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu Publications Director...........................Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu
dents. With a legislative session coming up, students can be assured that our time in office will also be spent working on the big picture issues relating to higher education and securing state funds for important university initiatives. Next year will be a year of change with tough, but achievable goals. Sean and I hope to continue to have your support as we set
a course towards excellence. We look forward to working with you. Eat Em’ Up Cats! We Are Strong. We Are United. We Are Bobcats —Thank you, Tiffany Young Sean Quiñones
The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the spring and fall and every other Wednesday in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright Thursday, April 24, 2014. 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. The first five issues of each edition of the paper are free. Additional copies of the paper can be purchased at 50¢ per copy. Contact The University Star office at (512) 245-3487 to purchase additional copies.
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