THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2015
FINALS ISSUE
VOLUME 104 ISSUE 86 www.UniversityStar.com
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2 | The University Star | News | Thursday, April 30, 2015
HEALTH
Blue Bell Ice Cream recalled due to listeria hysteria By Kasandra Garza NEWS REPORTER @KasGarza Chartwells officials were forced to pull all Blue Bell products off the shelves at dining halls and Paws Market on campus during spring break. Blue Bell officials began recalling their products on March 23 due to an outbreak of listeria that killed at least three people. Officials began by recalling the 3 oz. ice cream treats but later made the decision on April 20 to pull all products. Chartwells officials will
MADELYNNE SCALES PHOTO EDITOR
An empty Blue Bell Ice Cream freezer displays a recall letter from the company April 29 at Sac-N-Pac on North LBJ and Sessom Drive.
UNIVERSITY
Enrollment of undocumented students increases By Rebecca Banks NEWS REPORTER @r_banks13 Since 2005, the university has seen a slight increase in undergraduate enrollment of undocumented students. In 2005,18 undocumented students were enrolled at Texas State, according to the Office of Institutional Research. In 2010 there were three undocumented students, and in 2012 a total of 75 were registered. There are currently 93 undocumented students attending the university as of March, while 111 took classes during the 2013-2014 school year. In 2001, then-Governor Rick Perry approved House Bill 1403. The bill allowed undocumented students to receive in-state tuition at any public college or university. “The actual law states that for any student to gain in-state residency for tuition, the student has to have graduated from a Texas high school or received a GED in Texas,” said Col. Mike Russett, residency specialist at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. “(They must have) also lived in Texas for 36 months prior to the graduation date or receiving that GED.” Russett said the student must also live in the state for a year immediately prior to attending classes at the university. Students who are not legally citizens are required to fill out residency affidavits before they can be eligible to receive state aid, Russett said. The affidavit confirms a student has met the requirements of state residency. “The extra component that the affidavit has is that it includes a part where they promise to apply for permanent residency as soon as they are able to do so,” Russett said. During the 84th State Legislative Session, Senator Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) introduced Senate Bill 1819 (SB 1819), which would bar
undocumented students from receiving in-state tuition rates. According to SB 1819, an individual who is not a legal United States citizen will not be considered a Texas resident and will not be able to receive state aid. “For us as an institution, this gets down to how much the students are going to have to pay,” said Stephanie Anderson, assistant vice president for enrollment management. “Knowing that these students, if (they’re) undocumented, can’t get federal financial aid, how the burden is magnified.” Anderson said undocumented students are not eligible to receive federal scholarships, grants or loans. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) reported a total of 20,049 undocumented students met state residency requirements to receive aid during fiscal year 2012. During fiscal year 2013, a total of 24,770 undocumented students were eligible and enrolled at a public institution. Anderson said a majority of funding for state universities is from sales taxes. Community colleges receive funding from property taxes. “It’s pretty hard to avoid sales tax, even if you’re not paying an income tax or property tax,” Russett said. “Everybody pays the sales tax.” According to the Texas Education Agency and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in 2012-2013, an estimated $20.28 billion of state taxes went to fund public education. The tax comprised 32.9 percent of the total for Texas public education funds. “When I think of residency for tuition purposes, I think of it as the state sales tax,” Anderson said. “You can basically say that Texas has decided that you need to be contributing at least three years of sales tax as their benchmark whether you’ve established the residency that this is your home.”
“
Others are not as open to buying Blue Bell products again. Alejandra Avila, mass communications sophomore, said Blue Bell was the “go-to” brand of ice cream for most people and was inexpensive compared to other brands. However, Avila would still be concerned about the safety of Blue Bell products in the future due to the recall. “I will probably not eat Blue Bell again because once something has been recalled, it’s not so easy to trust that brand or item again,” Avila said.
—CLINT BOLDT, PHYSICS FRESHMAN
UNIVERSITY
Associate professor to travel to Cambodia on Fulbright grant By Jon Wilcox SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @thrilcox A Texas State professor has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program grant to lecture and conduct research in Cambodia for the 2015-2016 academic year. Gail Dickinson, College of Education associate professor, will attempt to reform practices at schools in the city of Phnom Penh and the Svay Rieng Province. She will work with students and teachers in an attempt to establish cutting-edge education practices from secondary schools to universities. The Fulbright Program is an international exchange plan sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) with the goal of increasing understanding between citizens of the United States and of other countries, according to the ECA website. Dickinson said she plans to take advantage of a changing political climate in Cambodia. She thought about applying for a Fulbright grant for “quite some time” but made the decision after Cambodia implemented new educational reforms. “You couldn’t ask for a better time to go (to Cambodia) if you want to be a part of nationwide reforms,” Dickinson said. “There’s pressure on the government to change things, and they’re going to start changing now. The politics define what you can actually accomplish.” Dickinson’s research at Texas State has focused on teaching future educators how to instruct students. She sees herself as a “science evangelist.” Dickinson first visited Cambodia in 2010 as part of a program supported by
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hits the media and public,” Chua said. No Texas State students have reported getting sick from eating any campus Blue Bell products, said Karen Gordon-Sosby, associate director for the Student Health Center. Students have mixed feelings as to whether or not people will buy Blue Bell products again if the recall ends. “I cannot resist their delicious flavors,” said Clint Boldt, physics freshman. “I will have to eat other brands that are not as delicious (until the recall is over).”
I cannot resist their delicious flavors. I will have to eat other brands that are not as delicious (until the recall is over.)”
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most likely seek out other vendors until they get an “OK” from Blue Bell that the ice cream can be sold again, said Chin-Hong Chua, resident district manager for Chartwells. Students may see an alternative choice for ice cream on campus during the summer depending on how long the recall lasts. The week before spring break, Chartwells officials received news from the company’s corporate office that Blue Bell products would be recalled, Chua said. “Companies will always get the notice to pull items from shelves before the news
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the World Bank Group to improve university-level science courses. The aim was to establish an inquiry-based science class for Cambodian university freshmen, she said. “Improving education means moving away from pure lecture,” Dickinson said. In a traditional science class, an instructor lectures before sending students to verify what they learned in a lab, Dickinson said. In inquiry instruction, students explore a topic through experimentation before receiving an explanation from a teacher. “If I tell (a student) the world is round, they will nod and say, ‘Yes, the world is round because my teacher told me,’” Dickinson said. “If you get kids to ask questions and test things that challenge their assumptions, kids will change their minds.” The inquiry-based science curriculum Dickinson developed from her work in 2010 centers on topics relevant to Cambodians, she said. Students will model the rock cycle with chocolate chips,
demonstrate mechanics through the construction of a bicycle and learn the basics of nutrition and pollution. Dickinson experienced some societal and cultural surprises in 2011 when she tested the curriculum with Cambodian students. She had trouble encouraging students to express their ideas. In Cambodian culture, asking a professor questions is often considered disrespectful. “(The Cambodian students) wanted the right answer to put on the paper first, and that’s the last thing you want to do,” Dickinson said. Dickinson was encouraged by her experiences teaching Cambodian students. “They had hugely animated discussions about things,” Dickinson said. “You could tell they were hashing things out. The students can do this, so now we just got to convince some faculty they can do this.” Daris Hale, Fulbright ambassador and music senior lecturer, spent a year in Tanzania as part of the grant program. Hale taught music
at a small Lutheran university where she worked with local composers. Hale said she composed much of her work by adapting Tanzanian musical compositions to Western orchestral instruments. “It was awesome to have African composers sitting there all of a sudden hearing their music from instruments they had never seen,” Hale said. Hale maintains communications with faculty, students and friends at the university in Tanzania. Two of her former Tanzanian students have come to Texas to pursue master’s degrees. One student is currently studying at Texas State. “The Fulbright Program is transformative,” Hale said. “You are building bridges and making connections with people on the other side of the planet.” “We have so much Fulbright stuff happening here, and it’s really cool, but it’s really unusual. I mean we’re, like, on fire with Fulbright,” Hale said.
Thursday, April 30, 2015 | The University Star | 3
LIFESTYLE
UniversityStar.com
CITY
First San Market festival aids mothers’ support groups nect women with other new mothers going through similar situations. “MOPS and MOMSnext are where moms can meet to laugh, cry and embrace the journey of motherhood together,” Kennedy said. “We believe that better moms make for a better world.” Kennedy said MOPS and MOMSnext officials hosted San Market to raise money and recruit new members. “Not many people are aware that these organizations are available at all, and even less know that no matter where you are, there’s a group of women similar to them,” Kennedy said. “With San Market, we hoped to spread awareness of who we are, what we do and perhaps find new members.” Kennedy said hosting San Market allowed MOPS officials to raise money for childcare, event budgets and community service projects within the San Marcos chapter in addition to supporting local businesses. “We really wanted to feature a lot of local businesses within the duration of our event because we wanted to
By Sarah Bradley LIFESTYLE REPORTER @sarah_bradskies Students and residents gathered on the lawn of the San Marcos Courthouse on April 25 to celebrate the debut of the San Market festival. The event was designed to raise money and awareness for Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), an organization designed to offer assistance to new parents in the community. Amy Kennedy, event coordinator and MOPS member, said the organization provides resources internationally to women who are new to motherhood or currently parenting school-aged children. “MOPS connects moms of newborns to kindergarteners, while MOMSnext (a division of MOPS) connects moms of school-aged children,” Kennedy said. “We are a social and support group for one another.” Kennedy said the first years of motherhood can be challenging for new parents. The purpose of MOPS and MOMSnext is to con-
create a true sense of community,” Kennedy said. The event featured approximately 46 vendors, Kennedy said. Most of the featured businesses were local, but some sellers came from as far away as Fort Worth. Alyssa Moore, co-owner of Bake My Day, said she enjoyed having the opportunity to help raise awareness for organizations in the San Marcos community. “When I found out what San Market was supporting, I was really excited to be involved,” Moore said. “The women I met from MOPS and MOMSnext are the sweetest of ladies, and I was more than happy to help them out, even coming from Fort Worth.” Moore said the organizations brought San Marcos residents together for a day of community building. “When observing the event from my booth, you could see all the moms, children and families of San Marcos laughing and having fun,” Moore said. “It was amazing to see how the MOPS and MOMSnext organizations can bring the community
LARA DIETRICH STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Claire Richardson samples cake April 25 from Jake and Alyssa Moore, owners of Bake My Day, at San Market on the courthouse lawn. together with just one event.” Mahar said. “That made me even more worthwhile. Rebekah Mahar, San want to attend even more, “I definitely enjoyed my Marcos resident and mar- seeing as I’m a new mother experience at San Market,” ket attendee, said she was myself, and it seems like they Mahar said. “Not only did my surprised to see everything do a lot of good stuff for the daughter get to play, have her the event had to offer. moms in the community.” face painted, get a balloon “I saw the ad for San Mahar said having the op- and meet Anna and Elsa from Market on Facebook and portunity to learn about the Frozen, but parents got to read about the MOPS and organizations the event sup- roam and shop from local MOMSnext organizations,” ported made the experience businesses.”
CULTURE
Mariachi celebration honors Hispanic culture Hispanic culture through the Mexican art form known as mariachi,” Lopez said. The event begins with a series of workshops that are open to middle and high school students, Lopez said. He said those who are interested can attend to learn the basic structure of mariachi. Lopez said department officials hire a guest clinician each year to teach the workshops. This year Sergio Caratachea, violinist and music director at the Mariachi Internacional Guadalajara, was selected to teach. Alondra Morales, music studies sophomore and violinist for Mariachi Nueva
By Adriana Ruiz LIFESTYLE REPORTER @Adreezzy The School of Music will close out the year with the sounds of award-winning mariachi. The Latin Music Studies department will celebrate the 16th annual Feria del Mariachi festival at 7:30 p.m. on May 2 at Strahan Coliseum. John A. Lopez, coordinator of the Latin Music Studies department and associate professor, said the event celebrates the Hispanic culture and influence in San Marcos. “It is a way to fill the need in San Marcos—to celebrate
Generacion, said attending the workshops as a high school student was a privilege. “Being able to work with someone who is a mariachi pioneer was a pretty great experience,” Morales said. “(The experience was) oncein-a-lifetime.” The workshop challenged her musicianship, but Morales said she recommends the opportunity to anyone interested in mariachi. Lopez said the workshops are held to recruit students for the School of Music. “We want to be a leader in the state,” Lopez said. “We want to bring prestige to the university, recognition, and to
recruit students.” Performers will include the second annually selected Texas All-State Mariachi band, Mariachi Nueva Generacion, Sebastien de la Cruz and Las Tesoros de San Antonio. Lopez said Las Tesoros de San Antonio will receive the Voz de Oro, or Golden Voice, award for boundary-breaking contributions to the genre. Las Tesoros, an all-female mariachi trio, grew up on the west side of San Antonio. Lopez said the group’s members have dedicated their lives to preserving the art of Mexican music through performances and storytelling. “We are honoring and cel-
ebrating their lifelong work for what has traditionally been (a) male-dominated (genre),” Lopez said. Lopez is honored to bring Las Tesoros to Texas State because of the band’s renowned musicianship and because his mother is a member. Lopez said the opportunity to perform with his mother and the group is an honor. “If you would have told me 40 years ago that I would be accompanying my mother during this song (“Te Vas a Arrepentir”), I wouldn’t believe it,” Lopez said. Sebastien de la Cruz, America’s Got Talent contestant and singer of the national anthem
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during the 2011 and 2013 NBA Finals, will also be performing. “We have known Sebastian since he was 5 years old,” Lopez said. “He is a good friend of the program.” De la Cruz was awarded the Rising Star Award in 2013, Lopez said. He will present the Voz de Oro award to Las Tesoros. Lopez said the event will provide an entertaining look at the mariachi culture. He anticipates a successful event. “We hope to bring prestige to the university and a mariachi concert of the highest caliber to the community,” Lopez said.
4 | The University Star | Thursday, April 30, 2015
OPINIONS
UniversityStar.com
THE MAIN POINT
Things to do in San Marcos before graduation
RYAN JEANES STAR ILLUSTRATOR
Visit the campus statues The various statues on campus are entrenched in Bobcat tradition and culture. Before students take their final steps on campus, they should make sure to shake LBJ’s hand and rub the fighting stallions one last time.
Hike at Purgatory Creek The Purgatory Creek trails are a nature hotspot. The trails are expansive and close enough to campus that Bobcats have easy access to them.
Tour campus one last time Graduating Bobcats should make a point of walking around campus one last time and revisiting all of the buildings where they made memories. Additionally, students should visit buildings they’ve never been in before while they still can.
Go to your residence hall from freshman year Most students had to live on campus their freshman year and thus will have a plethora of memories from their residence halls. From the 20/20 hindsight of a graduating senior, memories of freshman year are sure to be pleasantly romanticized.
Rent a paddle board from the Outdoor Center The river is an essential part of the university experience, and everyone should paddleboard down the river at least once. Students can rent kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding equipment from the Outdoor Center located in Sewell Park.
Utilize campus resources College is the last place many of us will encounter things like free printing and relatively cheap access to a recreational center. Now is the time to try climbing a rock wall or playing racquetball.
Have one last night on the Square The Square is a central part of San Marcos culture. Students often dance the night away in various bars on the Square. Before graduating, students should take advantage of Texas State’s location and gear up for one last hurrah with all of their friends.
Read outside in the grass and enjoy nature Texas State is a beautiful campus and something graduates will remember fondly when they
move on. In the last days before graduation, students should enjoy the nice weather and read a book outside in the sunshine.
Buy some alumni swag Bobcats are loud and proud of their university, and a perfect way to show that is with alumni swag. Students can buy alumni gear all around the city including at the campus bookstore, Colloquium, H-E-B and Target.
Eat ‘em up on campus Many upperclassmen don’t eat on campus as often in the later years. Seniors should make a point to eat a meal in the LBJ Student Center or The Den one last time before they leave for good.
May 2015 graduates bucket list Visit the campus statues
Read outside
Go to neighboring cities
Hike at Purgatory
Buy alumni swag
The best thing about our location is the proximity to neighboring cities. Students should explore the best parts of Austin, Wimberley, Lockhart and San Antonio.
Tour campus
Eat ‘em up!
Visit your freshman year residence hall
Visit neighboring cities
Go paddleboarding
Jump in the river at graduation
Jump in the river The biggest graduation tradition students have is jumping in the river in their cap and gown. Bobcats jump into the river as students and emerge cleansed by the flowing waters, ready to tackle life as a college graduate.
Utilize campus resources Have one last night on the Square
Cut this out and check things off!
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.
ETHICS
Death pentaly not acceptable form of justice
Evelin Garcia OPINIONS COLUMNIST @EvelinG285
T
he acts of terrorism known as the Boston
marathon bombings took
place on April 15, 2013. Much pain and anger is still felt by those who lost loved ones and possessions to the bombings, even two years later. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found guilty of 30 charges, including murder, in the first phase of his trial. The second phase, which will determine if he receives the death penalty, started on April 21. During this trial, some of the victims and their families demanded his death. Tsarnaev should not get the death penalty despite
the irreparable damage he caused innocent families in Boston. These emotional abrasions are too much to repair, and having him pay the ultimate price won’t fix the broken hearts or the wounded souls of all of those who are hurting. Taking Tsarnaev’s life won’t restore those who died, nor will it take away the pain inflicted on their families. Deciding who gets to live or die is not a role the government should get to play. Death is exclusively determined by fate. Capital punishment has
been around for a while, and it has proven to be a factor in committing unchangeable mistakes. The possibility of human error and perjured testimony are all too real. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, people sentenced to death are sometimes determined to be innocent later. The possibility of Tsarnaev being innocent is remote and very unlikely but not impossible. A vicious criminal like Tsarnaev who was responsible for bringing death upon the innocent deserves a bru-
tal punishment. However, he doesn’t have to die to pay for his wicked crimes. Instead he can serve a life sentence in a high-security prison, spending the rest of his life being haunted by his destructive actions. There is no worse torment than one’s thoughts. Tsarnaev shouldn’t be given the death penalty because he was much too young when he committed his wrongdoings, said Ada Cronfel, an attorney from Laredo. Before becoming an attorney, Cronfel served as an assistant prosecutor
for five years and then as a criminal defendant for 15 years. Though Cronfel condemns Tsarnaev’s actions, she says he deserves a lifetime in prison, an even worse punishment than death itself. If a death penalty is given to Tsarnaev, it will make killers of us all, and that is not an example we should want to set for the future generations of this beloved nation. —Evelin Garcia is a journalism sophomore
STUDENT LIVING
Rent guarantors unnecessary, stressful for students
Haley Smutzer SPECIAL TO THE STAR @awkward_adverbs
T
oday is the day. They’ve spent all morning rehearsing their speeches, mulling over the countless, inevitable questions. Have they missed anything? They know their efforts are futile, but they have to try. They pause. A sense of overwhelming disappointment consumes them. Today is the
day they are going to beg their parents to be their guarantors…again. Silently, they pick up the rental agreement forms and reluctantly close the door. Too often, students are faced with the degrading task of begging uncooperative family members to be their guarantors. In a world twisted by money, landlords are excruciatingly persistent when it comes to legal accountability. For some college students, this is an impossible challenge to overcome. Faced with nonexistent credit, low income and often no financial aid, finding a guarantor can be overwhelming. Pressured by rapidly filling apartments, many students struggle to satisfy ridiculous guarantor requirements set by faceless
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
administrators—no matter the cost. Guarantors are responsible, under legal contract, for a resident’s debt if he or she fails to pay rent. Generally, guarantors must have good credit and make considerable annual income. Some complexes require potential residents to have an income equivalent to three times the rent or larger to selfqualify as guarantors, while third-party guarantors must satisfy an outstanding five times the rent in income. “You’re not liable for three times the rent,” said Casey Porter, University Heights resident. “You’re only liable for one month’s rent. So why should you have to qualify for three times? Or even be required to have a guarantor at all?”
Apartment administrators demand personal information such as social security numbers and financial records. Because of this, family members can be suspicious when first approached by their darling daughter or strapping son. Let’s face it, not everyone likes the deep, dark secrets of his or her financial standings and credit scores examined. Students are degraded by the task of acquiring a guarantor. Whether it is asking a parent, coworker, or friend of the family, soliciting financial support to secure a place to live is downright embarrassing. Yet many family members are insensitive to the vulnerability of students. It is not uncommon for them to reject their inherent roles as guarantors.
Family members can reject being a guarantor simply on the grounds of lifestyle differences. Perhaps the student is a member of the LGBTQIA community and wishes to room with his or her significant other. If the student has conservative parents, this would be a prime opportunity for them to exert an unjust amount of power. Because of this, many students sacrifice their own desires for their parents’ wishes. It then becomes a transactional battle over individuality and less of a relationship. The sad truth of the situation is some students would rather be miserable than homeless. While some complexes are not as concerned with guarantors, others go so far
as to demand the guarantor live in the same region as the resident, according to The New York Times. “Students in good academic standing who can show proof of employment should not be required to have a guarantor on an apartment lease,” said Stephanie Williams, electronic media junior. Although many people deem it a necessary evil, I view the guarantor system as excessive and detrimental. If students are not paying their rent, kick them out. There is another student right around the corner, eager to take the vacant room. Keep business out of family.
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Design Editor...........................................Lauren Huston, stardesign@txstate.edu Assistant News Editor...................Carlie Porterfield, starasstnews@txstate.edu Account Executive............................................Hanna Katz, starad2@txstate.edu Account Executive.................................Morgan Knowles, starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive....................................Jamie Beckham, 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
—Haley is an English senior
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 30, 2015. 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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Thursday, April 30, 2015 | The University Star | 5
SPORTS
UniversityStar.com
SOFTBALL
BOBCATS FALL TO AGGIES IN LOW-SCORING MATCHUP By Christian Rodriguez ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @crod9521 In a rare occasion for a Wednesday game, the Texas State softball team took the role of visitor. Texas State traveled to College Station to take on the No. 25 Aggies in a nonconference game that ended in a 2-1 loss for the Bobcats. The loss moves Texas State to a 29-20 overall record and snaps a seven-game winning
streak. Coach Ricci Woodard thought both teams had impressive pitching performances but the Bobcats’ lack of offense hurt them in the end. “Both pitchers did a great job for us, and obviously Rachel Fox (Aggies senior) threw the ball great for them,” Woodard said. “It was a lowscoring game, and we just didn’t make the adjustments offensively that we needed to make to win the ball game.” Cali Lanphear, Aggies
junior outfielder, hit a solo home run in the bottom of first inning that gave Texas A&M an early one-run lead. Lanphear registered two hits for the game, leading all batters for the game. Texas A&M made the score 2-0 in the bottom of the third when Ashley Walters, Aggies freshman catcher, hit the second solo home run of the game. Both home runs were scored off of Randi Rupp, freshman pitcher.
The Texas State pitching duo of Rupp and Kaylee Garner, sophomore pitcher, gave up three other hits. “They did a great job at keeping us in the ball game and giving us a chance to win,” Woodard said. “That’s all we’re looking for right now from our pitchers, is (to) give us a chance to win the ball games.” The Bobcats offense supplied three hits in the contest from Kelli Baker (junior second baseman) Kortney
Koroll (senior designated player) and Kimberlin Naivar (sophomore center fielder). The lone run scored by Texas State came in the top of the fourth inning when Naivar’s single to center field scored pinch runner Danielle Warne, sophomore outfielder. The Bobcats could not gain momentum despite the spark, eventually falling to A&M in the low-scoring affair. Texas State is set to face conference opponent UT-Arlington, which sits at seventh
in the Sun Belt Conference standings with an 8-12 record. Woodard feels her team is moving in the right direction with only a couple of games left until the conference tournament. “We did some good things,” Woodard said. “I wish we could have swung at the ball more up in the zone offensively, but we didn’t. But I still think we did some good things to keep us in a good spot going into this part of the season.”
BASEBALL
STORYLINES TO WATCH: TEXAS STATE VS. GEORGIA STATE By Matt Gurevitz SPORTS REPORTER @Matt_Gurevitz The Texas State baseball team is riding a six-game losing streak, and has not won a matchup since April 18 when the Bobcats beat LouisianaLafayette at Bobcat Ballpark. The team will try and get back in the win column this weekend against Georgia State in Atlanta. Georgia State is at the top of the Sun Belt standings and will provide a tough test for the Bobcats. \Georgia State, which is currently on a three-game losing streak, is 13-6 in Sun Belt Conference play.
PREVIOUS MATCHUP Georgia State came into San Marcos last season for a three-game series, and Texas State won all three matchups. The Bobcats were the only team to sweep the Panthers last season. The Panthers did not make the Sun Belt tournament last season, but this year’s Georgia State team is different. Lucas Humpal, junior, is the only current Texas State pitcher to start against the Panthers last season. Humpal dominated in his outing. He pitched eight innings, allowing three hits and one earned run, and struck out six Panthers. Humpal will start Friday night against Georgia State.
PANTHERS THREEMAN OFFENSE Three of the Georgia State hitters are the main ingredients to the team’s offense. Ryan Blanton, Panthers sophomore outfielder, is the lead-off hitter. He has been one of the best hitters in the Sun Belt this season. Blanton is tied for third in the Sun Belt with 58 hits. Blanton knows how to score once he gets on base. He is first in the Sun Belt with 42 runs scored. This performance is due in part to Matt Rose, Panthers junior infielder, and Joey Roach, Panthers junior catcher, driving in Blanton. Rose ranks first in the Sun Belt in runs batted in with 40, and Roach is tied for third with thirty-six. Rose does his damage by
hitting the ball out of the park. He leads the Sun Belt in home runs with 14 and slugging percentage with .680. Rose’s home run total has resulted in Georgia State leading the Sun Belt in home runs.
MOMENTUM AFTER A&M Texas State took No. 3 Texas A&M into extra innings on Tuesday night, and the Bobcats should feel confident after competing with the Aggies. The team faced a 7-3 deficit but was able to come back in the seventh inning to tie the game at 7-7. Texas State lost in extra innings to the Aggies 8-7, but Jeremy Fikac, assistant coach, said the team has “nothing to hang their heads about” following the loss The Bobcats should remain confident if they go down at any point against the Panthers after coming back against an elite team.
CAN STUDDARD STAY HOT? Granger Studdard, sophomore left fielder, is riding an eight-game hitting streak. Studdard drove in the game-
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tying run against Texas A&M. The team will need his consistent bat in this weekend series. Studdard is second on the team in batting average at .286 and first in home runs, runs batted in, hits and slugging percentage.
STANDINGS SITUATION Texas State has dropped below .500 in the Sun Belt and is in danger of falling out of contention for the Sun Belt tournament. The top eight teams in the Sun Belt advance to the tournament. The Bobcats are in seventh place and have a two-game cushion over UT-Arlington, which is in ninth. The Bobcats cannot afford to be swept on the road against the first-place Panthers.
WHAT’S NEXT Texas State will conclude its season series against the Texas Longhorns next Tuesday in Austin. Texas State has lost 21 straight games against the Longhorns. The team will continue its Sun Belt schedule against Arkansas State next weekend. The Red Wolves are currently second to last in the Sun Belt with a 7-16 record.
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BRAEGAN HAMILTON
FRESHMAN OUTFIELDER
By Donavan Jackson SPORTS REPORTER @djack_02 Braegan Hamilton, freshman outfielder, grew up in Baytown, where participating in a traveling club softball team is considered essential. Hamilton attended Barbers Hill High school, where she aided her team in four consecutive district titles and earned Second-Team All-District honors. Hamilton traveled with the nationally known Texas Bombers club team. “Where I’m from, the big thing to do is play for a travel softball team,” Hamilton said. “It wasn’t even a question of if I wanted to play in college. When I got recruited as a sophomore in high school, it was just the coolest thing in the world.” Potential university softball players sometimes have trouble getting the exposure necessary to network them-
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selves on a national level. Organizations like the Texas Bombers have club teams for 10- to 18-year-old players. Club members have received scholarships from 73 different colleges in the past seven years. Texas State has recruited six players from the Bombers between 2013 and 2015. Hamilton was joined by Bombers teammates Randi Rupp, freshman pitcher, and Sarah Rupp, freshman catcher, in her decision to go to Texas State. Braegan was heavily recruited by UTSA and Mississippi State. “Part of my decision was the campus,” Hamilton said. “I just love it here and the coaches. I felt like Coach (Ricci) Woodard would push me to be better and teach me the game. I just feel like Texas State would just be the place for me.” Coach Woodard has started to rotate the younger play-
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ers in and out of the lineup with 11 games left in the regular season. Hamilton has worked her way into the lineup, moving to the second spot in the batting order in the Bobcats’ 6-1 loss to Baylor. “I think she’s one of those players who’s just going to get better and better,” Woodard said. “Right now we’re just trying to work her in and get her some experience. By this time next year, hopefully she’ll just be in an even better spot for us offensively.” Braegan has recorded 11 hits, three runs batted in, two doubles and one triple with 22 starts this season. “Embracing a more involved role has definitely been a challenge,” Hamilton said. “It’s a challenge that I’m glad to take on and fulfill. I feel really grateful for having the opportunity, and I’m just trying really hard to prove that I can keep it up and compete for my team.”
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6 | The University Star | Sports | Thursday, April 30, 2015
SOFTBALL
KAYLEE GARNER
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SOPHOMORE PITCHER By Christian Rodriguez ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @crod9521 Softball runs in the family for Kaylee Garner, sophomore pitcher. Garner grew up in the small town of Danbury, a community known for its baseball and softball. Garner’s grandmother, Carol, pioneered the creation of Danbury’s first softball organization in the early 1970s. Garner earned All-District
honors in softball, basketball and volleyball at Danbury High School. She led the Lady Panthers to the class 2A State Championship in her sophomore year and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. In the same season, Garner’s longtime high school coach, Tim Timmons, began battling leukemia. Timmons was a renowned pitching coach in the Houston area since 1988. He mentored successful players including
ex-Longhorn and current Texas State assistant coach Cat Osterman. Timmons was a close friend of the family and had a strong relationship with Garner outside of softball. When Danbury played for the state championship, Timmons found a way to support his favorite pupil by attending the game despite being physically and emotionally drained by chemotherapy treatments. “The cancer was getting to him pretty bad at the time, and he fought the doctors to get there,” Garner said. “Just that moment, getting the MVP award and looking up and seeing my pitching coach up there, was just a huge moment, very emotional, just to know that I did it for him.” Timmons’ illness became worse in early January 2012, and family and friends realized he did not have much time left. Timmons moved into the Garner family’s guesthouse during his time in hospice care. He only wanted to see one person in the final days of his life. “Kaylee did a special about him on TV during an all-star game in Florida,” said Steve Garner, Kaylee’s father. “He had seen it and told me to tell her that he would wait for her to get home since he knew he was about to pass. I didn’t tell her the whole way back that he wasn’t doing well, but she just knew anyway. When we got back she went into his room and asked everyone to leave so they could talk, and about 10 minutes later he died.” Garner’s resolve never faded despite the loss of her longtime mentor. The future Bobcat went on to receive multiple accolades and awards during her high school career. At the same time, she struggled with a back ailment
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that plagues her to this day. The pain followed her to Texas State and continues to be a hindrance, sidelining her for almost half of this season. Garner, named to the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll, pitched 47 innings in her freshman year. Garner could not wait to see what her sophomore year had in store. That was until another obstacle got in her way. On Nov. 26, 2014, the day before Thanksgiving, the Garner family received news that Kaylee’s older brother, Wesley, had died in a car accident. Wesley was 28 years old at the time of his death. “Kaylee and Wesley got along great,” said Diana Garner, Kaylee’s mother. “They definitely had a bond. He was always proud of her, and she was always pushing him. He was a great brother, and she was a great sister to him.” A loss of someone so close would prove detrimental to the psyche of most people, let alone a sophomore college student. But Kaylee is not like most players. “I’m proud of my ability to overcome adversity,” Kaylee said. “It’s been rough, but I’m really proud as I think I should be.”
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SOFTBALL
KIMBERLIN NAIVAR SOPHOMOREOUTFIELDER
By Donavan Jackson SPORTS REPORTER @djack_02 Kimberlin Naivar, sophomore outfielder, was faced with a test in her freshman season. Naivar played three seasons as a starter in high school. As a freshman, she started in only six collegiate games. She recorded two runs batted in for the entire 2014 season. “There’s always that big jump coming out of high school going into Division I softball,” said Coach Ricci Woodard. “A lot of players don’t know how to handle the adversity of being successful right away.” Naivar’s roommate, Lexi Fryar, sophomore utility player, has noticed the dedication that drives her teammate toward goals. “She’s one of the hardestworking people I know,” Fryar said. “She’s a great person all around and just likes to push herself and the people around her. She pushes me a lot.” Naivar embraced a more involved role offensively and defensively late in the 2015 season. She has started 31 games and has a .282 batting average, 13 runs batted in,
nine doubles and one home run. Naivar dreamed of being an important player on the team. Her hard work is finally paying off. “The biggest difference is she’s handled adversity way better this year than last year,” Woodard said. “I think that’s what got her last year. This year she’s done a much better job at taking the game one pitch at a time.” Naivar started for the Barbers Hill High School Eagles in center field for three seasons. She earned a selection to the First-Team All-District as well as Academic All-District. Following a 34-4 senior season, Naivar was recruited by McNeese State and UTSA before deciding to join the Bobcats. “When I came on my visit, it was really the chemistry and friendships that the players had that got me,” Naivar said. “How the coaches welcomed
us in on our visit really just made us feel a part of Texas State softball. That’s when I realized that Texas State was home.” Fryar said Naivar’s dedication is noticeable on and off the field. “My dream and my passion is getting into dental school,” Naivar said. “I really want to pursue a career in dentistry and hopefully one day become (a dentist). That’s one of my biggest aspirations and goals in my life.” Naivar has played softball since she was 6 years old. She is thankful for where the game has taken her and lessons learned from playing. “Overall, getting the opportunity to travel and play in some really cool places and creating so many friendships is what I love most.” Naivar said. “When I look back, the majority of my closest friends are the people that I grew up playing softball with.”
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