TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2015
VOLUME 104 ISSUE 75 www.UniversityStar.com
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT
LARA DEITRICH STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Jones Dining Hall renovation will include a ‘50s-style burger joint called Cheeburger Cheeburger.
Dining hall welcomes addition of Cheeburger Cheeburger By Exsar Arguello NEWS REPORTER @Exsar_Misael
A
Florida-based company will join the chain of major fast-food companies at Jones Dining Hall in 2016. Cheeburger Cheeburger is a ‘50s-style burger joint that has operated out of Florida for 28 years, according to the chain’s website. Cheeburger Cheeburger will replace Route 66, a similar 50s-themed burger restaurant
that was in Jones prior to the renovation. Chin-Hong Chua, resident district manager for Texas State food services, said students will have three major restaurant chains to choose from, including Dunkin’ Donuts and old-time favorite Panda Express. Chua said the burger joint will supply students with variety, including the option to build their own meals. Students will be able to choose from different flavors of shakes.
Cheeburger Cheeburger will add “fresh” options to the dining hall, including salads, wraps and sandwiches, Chua said. The company only uses 100-percent all-natural Angus burgers, according to the website. “We just really want to bring a variety of options to the table with the new renovation,” Chua said. “With the addition of Cheeburger Cheeburger and Dunkin’ Donuts, students will not be able to recognize the old dining hall that once stood.”
Dunkin’ Donuts will have earlier operating hours than other establishments since it serves breakfast food, he said. Panda Express will return to its former territory along with a salad bar and the sushi and deli offerings available to students before the renovation, Chua said. “Students and faculty will experience new dining options along with some familiar services,” Chua said.
See JONES, Page 2
WATER
Texas Water Development Board offers loan for municipal improvements By Anna Herod SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @annaleemurphy
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved a $3.2 million loan offer from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund March 26 to finance construction for improvements within San Marcos. City officials are considering the offer but have not yet accepted it, said Nancy Hyde, administrative assistant in the capital if approved, construction improvements would begin May 31, 2015 and project departcomplete April 30, 2018 ment.
$3.2
million loan offer
Hyde said city officials are researching all possible funding resources for improvements before making a decision about whether or not to accept the loan. The task schedule for the improvements would call for construction to begin on May 31 and be completed by April 30, 2018, as shown in the city’s application for the loan. The proposed funds would go toward waterline replacement in subdivisions with “aging” infrastructure, according to the application. The borrowed money would fund the installation of additional fire hydrants throughout the city and cover construction costs for improvements in the Victory Gardens and Oakridge subdivisions. According to the application, the improvements in the subdivisions would increase water conservation levels.
Funding would go toward the Old Ranch Road 12 Bike and Pedestrian/Widening Utility Improvements Project occurring between Craddock Avenue and West Holland Street. The loan resolution would provide funding for the replacement of water lines within the infrastructure of North LBJ Drive due to high breakage rates within that area. According to TWDB officials, the city could save approximately $371,000 over the life of the loan by using the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. “(The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund) is an annual funding program that came about in 1997 after the safe drinking water act, so its primary goals are to help in compliance issues related to water,” said Clay Schultz, TWDB revolving fund specialist. “With that goal, I think it’s a good one.”
$ 3 7 1, 0 0 0 in savings over life of loan SENATE
Campus carry moves through Senate, prompts debate By Darcy Sprague NEWS REPORTER @darcy_days Senate Bill 11 is in the fourth of seven stages of becoming a law. The campus carry bill is awaiting a vote from the House of Representatives committee. House Bill 937, which would have permitted concealed carry on university campuses, has been stalled since March 17. SB11 was passed by the Texas
Senate in a 20-11 vote on March 18 after a five-hour debate. Senate Bill 17, which permitted open carry, was amended to clarify the exclusion of university campuses. SB17 was received March 20 by the House. It is awaiting a vote in the House committee. If it passes this stage, it will be voted on by the House and will proceed to the governor for approval. The vote on SB11 was divided along party lines. Three amend-
ments out of 25 were passed. The bill is projected to pass with or without political debate due to its 19 co-authors. Democratic senators Royce West and Rodney Ellis asked the bill’s author, Senator Brian Birdwell, to consider the fiscal policy and the lack of an opt-out policy for public universities. SB11 does not allow public universities to opt out of having guns on campus. Birdwell refuses to consider amending
his bill on either issue. He said SB11 would not cause a serious financial burden to public universities. Birdwell was criticized by Ellis and other democrats for allowing private universities to opt out without permitting the same freedom for public campuses. Birdwell said property ownership is a factor in the bill. Private universities are allowed to opt
See CAMPUS CARRY, Page 2
Last Student Government Senate meeting ‘productive’ By Carlie Porterfield ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @reporterfield Student Government passed five proposals at the last Senate meeting of the semester. The Senate passed SB 2014-2015.08, a bill that will end the three-year Scholarly Travel Activity and Research (S.T.A.R.) Act grant pilot period and establish the program as a permanent service if approved. The program allows students to apply for up to $750 to travel to conferences and exhibitions. According to the bill, the funds are exclusively for students and are never to be used for faculty or staff travel costs. The bill, written by Senator Marissa Parks, healthcare administration junior, is intended to help give students the financial means to conduct research and other academic activities at other institutions. Parks also wrote SB 2014-2015.09, known as the Student Activities Fund Act, a bill authorizing a pilot period for a student activity funding grant for chartered organizations. According to the bill, the trial program will last no more than six months before being officially extended or formalized. Student Government officials passed SR 2014-2015.08, a resolution to establish an email to be sent out to students on their 21st birthdays to encourage them to celebrate responsibly. If possible, the email will include a coupon to a local sponsoring restaurant, said Senator Lindsay Escalante, public administration sophomore, who authored the bill. SR 2014-2015.9, a resolution to encourage cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and first aid education among student organizations, was passed. The resolution, written by Senator Kent Grimes, athletic training junior, will focus on giving instruction to student organization leaders. Grimes said the experience would look good on a resume. “That means something to some companies,” Grimes said. “That could make a difference.” The resolution could create additional jobs on campus, Grimes said. Officials would hire and train local students or community members as class instructors. Student Gover nment of f icials passed SSR 2014-2015.07, a resolution to change the location of an April 13 meeting to the Warren J. Garland room located in the Endzone Complex at Bobcat Stadium. All bills were passed unanimously and most received a warm round of applause from senators upon their approval. This was the last Senate meeting to be led by Student Body Vice President Sean Quiñones, public administration junior. “It’s bittersweet,” Quiñones said. “I’ve really enjoyed leading the Senate meetings. I’ve really learned a lot.” Quiñones, recently accepted into the Honors College, will not return to Student Government. He would have “too much” to do next year between graduating on time, completing a thesis and an internship and applying to graduate school. However, Quiñones is satisfied with his last Senate meeting, calling it “productive.” Last week, Quiñones met with his committee chairs to ensure Student Government “would have these pieces of legislation out” before the end of the semester. “I’m really glad that we could wrap those up,” Quiñones said.
2 | The University Star | News | Tuesday, April 7, 2015
CAMPUS CARRY, from front
STATE
Austin State Supported Living Center to close after unfavorable report By Jon Wilcox SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @thrilcox The Austin State Supported Living Center (SSLC) will likely face closure by Summer 2017 after a report by the Sunset Advisory Commission. The state legislative commission has cited the center’s rising costs and failure to meet safety and quality standards in its decision. The commission’s recommendation to close the center is the initial step in a larger statewide plan to reassess and restructure the 12 other SSLCs in Texas. Officials with the Sunset Advisory Commission perform investigations and advise the state legislature to either continue funding, restructure or disband agencies, said Amy Trost, senior policy analyst. Commission officials presented a report to the legislature in February urging the closure of the center, Trost said. The SSLC was last reviewed 12 years ago. The Austin-based SSLC, opened in 1917, houses 213 patients from 28 local counties and employs approximately 930 people, said Melissa Gale, public information officer for the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS). All 213 residents at the facility suffer from intellectual or mental disabilities and receive constant services and supervision, Gale said. The center is licensed to administer medications and provide dental care and rehabilitation. Declining enrollment numbers, rising costs and unclear quality of care are among the most pressing reasons to close the center, according to the commission’s February 2015 report to the 84th Legislature. Trost said the commission made the decision because of the center’s inability to “sustain compliance for minimum standards with health and safety.” The Austin SSLC has received lower marks than any of the other 12 state supported centers. Residents could only drink water from bottles last year when lead was discovered in the aging pipes, Trost said. “The infrastructure is crumbling,” Gale
said. “It can’t stay in compliance. It keeps getting slapped with violations.” A February DADS review gave the Austin SSLC an overall rating of 67 out of 100, the lowest score in the state, Gale said. The center failed to provide secure storage of drugs, give clients access to personal belongings and conduct health care services, according to the review. Dennis Borel, executive director for the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD), said he supports the decision to close the assisted living facility. “This has been coming for a long time,” Borel said. Declining numbers of residents at SSLC locations across Texas may likely be a result of changing attitudes toward long-term disability care, Borel said. Enrollment peaked at 13,000 residents during the 1970s but has since declined to 3,200, Trost said. These numbers represent a nationwide change in attitude toward the treatment of disabled people and the movement of care from large institutions to local, more intimate community care. The model for institutional care arose during the 1850s and is outdated, Borel said. “(CTD officials and I) believe in highquality services for people with disabilities wherever they live,” Borel said. “One of the ways to achieve that is to reduce our investment in institutions and reinvest in community services. People want to stay in their own homes, basically.” The waiting list for individuals who qualify to receive community-based, statesupported care is currently over 13 years long with more than 80,000 people, Borel said. The waiting list for Texas SSLCs is empty. Closing the Austin-based SSLC will also save the state millions of dollars, Trost said. Texas stands to gain $16.5 million from sale of the center’s property and $30.5 million in state and federal funds by 2018. “(Large assisted living) institutions didn’t work well in the 1850s, the early 1900s, the 1950s, and they don’t work well in 2015,” Borel said. “It’s always not been so good.”
STATE
Texas State to host Mexican exchange students through government program By Andrew Blanton NEWS REPORTER @andrewjblanton The Texas State Intensive English (TSIE) program is expected to receive 20 students and faculty this summer to participate in non-credit academic studies as part of an international program. The Proyecta 100,000 program aims to strengthen the exchange of “students, researchers and academics between Mexico and the U.S.,” according to a press release from Foro Consultivo Cientifíco y Technológico. The program began September 2013 and has spurred discussion between U.S. and Mexican officials concerning government relations. Mexican students and instructors enrolled in Proyecta 100,000 will attend a four-week session with the TSIE program over the summer, said Rosario Davis, associate director. The program includes academic and cultural activities. The Mexican government has created an internal management system under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reach out to U.S. universities and oversee the transfer of students and instructors participating in Proyecta 100,000, Davis said. “We really need to continue to restore that dynamic—this energy that we get from each other,” Davis said. “We need to work together.”
The TSIE program must create opportunities for Mexican students at Texas State, Davis said. The program provides academic instruction for international students, including the English as a Second Language plan (ESL). “Their plan is that across four years, from 2014-2018, that we have a lot of exchange between various institutions in both countries,” Davis said. Students will participate in reading, writing, listening and speaking instruction in English four days out of the week, Davis said. She said at least once a week students will experience cultural diversity through program events. The TSIE program prepares students for the secondary language proficiency tests that are required for foreign students enrolled in U.S. universities, Davis said. “We’re always excited to see students from Mexico, and I think a lot of people would be surprised at how few students come to the TSIE program from there,” Davis said. The majority of participants enrolled in TSIE are from India and China, Davis said. Students will be exposed to local attractions, including the Guadalupe River, and campus organizations, Davis said. Exchange students from Mexico are enthusiastic, Davis said. She hopes their energy will enhance governmental relations between Texas and Mexico and facilitate foreign exchanges.
out due to individual ownership. Public universities belong to the state and its citizens, he said. Birdwell said the bill would extend citizens’ Second Amendment rights to public lands. Naomi Narvaiz, San Marcos Republicans president and founder, does not believe any educational institution should be a gun-free zone. “Gun-free zones never work,” Narvaiz said. “Protecting ourselves is a fundamental right, like having the right to breathe.” The bill absolves universities from responsibility for gunrelated incidents on campuses. Provost Eugene Bourgeois said in an April 1 email President Denise Trauth feels Texas State would be safer without guns on campus, but university officials would comply with the law. Narvaiz said she was surprised Trauth is against campus carry. Narvaiz said she always believed Trauth to be a Republican, and campus carry is a part of that party’s
platform. Kristi Wyatt, communications specialist for San Marcos, said no meeting or public forum has been held on a city level regarding the issue. “The benefit for San Marcos is that we would be getting back a right that was taken away,” Narvaiz said. Tomas Mijares, criminal justice professor and retired Detroit policeman, is concerned about proper storage and liability. “If you take your gun off at the gym and put it in your locker, everyone in that room is going to know there is a gun in that locker,” Mijares said. “Proper storage of the gun when it is not on the person is another issue.” Mijares said he is worried students do not understand the consequences of carrying a gun. Mijares said most people have never seen or been around the shooting of a human being. “These are all adults,” Narvaiz said. “(They’re) going to respect a gun.”
Mijares does not believe allowing more guns on campus will increase active shooter situations. “Most of the shooters we see are so irrational that they would not bother to think about students having guns,” Mijares said. “It is called ‘excited delirium,’ the state that they are in.” Narvaiz said the Republicans of San Marcos independently support the bill. “(If campus carry passes), it will be more risky for everyone concerned,” Mijares said. Narvaiz is a concealed handgun license holder and has researched the issue. “It’s something I’ve believed in for many years,” Narvaiz said. “I believe in constitutional carry.” Narvaiz supports the bill in its current form. She does not believe the fiscal note needs to be reformed. “We have got to get people not to fear the object but to fear that person—the bad guy— that could hurt them,” Narvaiz said. “A gun itself does not commit a crime.”
HARON SAENZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Guns are displayed April 6 at Cash Box Pawn.
JONES, from front The renovation project began over winter 2014 and is scheduled for completion in fall 2016, Chua said. Registers located at each food outlet will be among the new features, Chua said. Prior to the renovation, the location of the registers posed a problem for employees keeping track of meal swipes. Registers were located at each end of the dining hall, and students could not walk from one side to another. The renovation project will cost approximately $18.5 million, said John Root, director of auxiliary services. The renovation is being
funded by a system-issued bond, said Juan Guerra, associate vice president of facilities at Texas State. Funding from meal plans and other services provided through the dining hall will pay for the renovation cost, he said. Significant work has been completed on the north side of the complex, Guerra said. The north side will undergo a complete makeover and feature two-story windows. Root said the renovation has not faced any major problems that would extend the time or cost of the operation. “The only problems the contractors have run into
are certain things like mold and other expected problems in the walls,” Guerra said. “When they opened the walls, water damage was also seen to be taking place.” Personnel employed at Jones prior to the renovation are expected to return to the dining hall when the facility opens again, Chua said. Jones employees have been relocated to other dining facilities on campus until the renovations are complete. “We want to be able to bring back our experienced employees and bring in new help with all the new dining options opening,” Chua said.
Voted BEST Pizza in San Marcos 2014
$20 pitcher and pie 2-4:45 and 10-close 700 North LBJ Drive #107
The University Star | Tuesday, April 7, 2015 | 3
SPORTS
UniversityStar.com
FOOTBALL
MAROON TEAM ‘GAINES’ SPRING VICTORY By Quixem Ramirez SPORTS EDITOR @quixem
The Maroon team dialed up a Hail Mary play with fewer than 10 seconds remaining. Connor White, sophomore quarterback for the Maroon team, had three options on the play—Jafus Gaines (senior wide receiver), Lawrence White (senior tight end) and Ryan Garrey (senior wide receiver). Gaines told Garrey to get in front of the defense so he could sneak behind it in case the ball was tipped. White rolled to his left as the defense collapsed, throwing the ball toward Gaines. The Gold team deflected the ball into Gaines’ hands for the game-winning touchdown. The Maroon team left Bobcat Stadium with a 23-21 victory. “Those plays don’t happen every often,” White said. “It was a lot of fun. I don’t know if you can end it any funner than that.”
The teams combined for 24 points in the first 37 minutes and 20 in the last three. The Maroon team jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first half. Tyler Jones, junior quarterback for the Gold team, had a four-yard touchdown to Demun Mercer, sophomore wide receiver, in the third quarter. The touchdown represented the only points scored in the second half until the three-minute mark in the fourth quarter. Blaire Sullivan, senior quarterback, threw a touchdown to Chris French, sophomore tight end, with three minutes left in the fourth quarter, setting up an opportunity for Jones to win the game. Jones found Stedman Mayberry, freshman running back, for a threeyard touchdown with 30 seconds remaining. Mayberry’s touchdown left the Maroon team with 23 seconds and 68 yards of field to cover. “Their touchdown at the end— I knew they thought it was over,” White said.
White led the Maroon team to its own 48-yard line with enough time for one last play. The Maroon team flooded the sidelines in a scrum after Gaines’ 52-yard touchdown. Jones, who finished with 207 yards and two touchdowns for the Gold team, walked alone to the sidelines as the Maroon players celebrated an improbable victory. “You can’t write a better script for a spring game, can you?” said Coach Dennis Franchione “If I scripted the game, it couldn’t have been much better.” White tallied 231 total yards and three touchdowns in the victory. He was complemented by Chris Nutall, senior running back, who finished the game with 117 all-purpose yards. Nutall, the first overall selection in the Maroon-Gold draft, did not play with the team last season. “I felt great out there,” Nutall said. “I was glad to be back with the team. After sitting out, I wanted to prove myself wrong and show the
team that I still got it.” The annual Maroon-Gold spring game amounts to little more than an intrasquad scrimmage, but Franchione took away one important lesson from the game. “Those are the lessons that as a coach, sometimes (you) wish you can reach in your pocket and hand experience to a guy,” Franchione said. “These are golden opportunities in teaching for these guys. Those are experiences you can draw from.” Franchione’s goal in the spring was to solidify the foundation of the offense, defense and kicking game. He wanted to learn more about his redshirt players while looking for his veteran contenders to take the next jump in their game. The spring game comes in handy for the development of the team’s chemistry. Franchione can see his team compete without the high stakes of a regular season game attached to the end result. “I’m proud of our guys and the
way they battled,” Franchione said. “I’m excited for what’s ahead for this team and the possibilities.” The performance in the spring game reaffirms that Franchione’s team is improving incrementally with each season. “It’s the most physical spring practice since I’ve been here,” Franchione said. “We look better in our uniform. We look like a FBS team more and more.” The next time Texas State wears full uniforms will be during the matchup against the Florida State Seminoles, who won the 2014 National Championship. Florida State’s last regular season loss was to Oregon, the runner-up in the 2015 National Championship game. “That’s the kind of opener to start the season that will motivate them to have good summers,” Franchione said. “They are excited about the opportunity to see how they match up.”
BASEBALL
NOTEBOOK: TEXAS STATE VS. BAYLOR By Matt Gurevitz SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER @Matt_Gurevitz
gave Texas State momentum going to Waco, and the Bobcats seemed confident for the rest of the series.
WHAT THE SERIES WIN MEANS STARTING PITCHING The Texas State baseball team achieves a milestone: the first series sweep of a Big 12 team in the school history. This is a confidence boost for the Bobcats. The team has proved it can go on the road to play major programs and not only compete but win in dominant fashion. Texas State looked like the better team for the majority of the series. The team outscored Baylor 18-9 during the weekend and 9-1 in Waco. Assistant Coach Jeremy Fikac said it was “the most complete weekend” the team has had so far.
TURNING POINT Texas State watched Baylor come back from a 6-3 deficit in Thursday night’s series opener. The Bears scored five runs in the eighth inning to give them an 8-6 lead, and the wheels were starting to fall off for the Bobcats. Granger Studdard, sophomore left fielder, hit a solo home run in the eighth. Derek Scheible, freshman center fielder, hit a solo home run in the ninth to tie the score and bring the Bobcats back into the game. Texas State took the matchup into extra innings, and Studdard came up in the tenth inning and hit his second home run of the game to give the team a 9-8 victory. The team surrounded Studdard at home plate, and the Bobcats had stolen a game from Baylor. The comeback win
Texas State’s starting pitchers had a plan coming into the series, and they executed. The starters combined to pitch 24.2 innings while giving up three earned runs and 14 hits and striking out 18 in the three-game series. The starting pitchers were enough for the two games in Waco. Both starters were able to pitch their entire games. Scott Grist, senior pitcher, pitched on Friday and recorded a complete game shutout. Jeremy Hallonquist, junior pitcher, pitched all of Saturday’s game and shut down Baylor. He allowed one run in his second start this season. Lucas Humpal, junior pitcher, pitched well in 6.2 innings on Thursday night, but the bullpen was not able to contain the 6-3 lead when he was relieved.
SPOTLIGHT PLAYER Studdard. The Bobcats would not have won on Thursday night without Studdard’s two home runs. The team had just let the Bears go up to 8-6, and the Bobcats needed a lift from somebody in the lineup. Studdard was that somebody. He found a good pitch to hit and showed off his power by driving a home run to one of the deepest parts of Bobcat Ballpark. The home run cut the deficit to 8-7 in the eighth inning. Studdard came up again in the 10th with the score tied at 8-8 and
hit another home run to the opposite side of the field. His walk-off homer gave Texas State a 9-8 win and turned Thursday night’s game from a blown-lead loss to a comeback win. Studdard went 3-6 on Thursday night with four runs batted in, but he did not record a hit for the rest of the series.
nine runs in Waco, but all nine were scored in four of the 18 innings. That means 14 of the 18 innings were scoreless for the offense. This is a result of not bringing runners around to score when the opportunity presented itself. Luckily, the Bobcat pitching prevented Baylor from scoring more than one run in Waco.
GOOD
UGLY
Comeback offense. The Bobcats trailed after three of the 28 innings. Texas State scored at least one run in every one of those innings, and two ended with the Bobcats tying the game or taking the lead. These three innings do not include the bottom of the 10th inning, when Studdard finished off the comeback with a walk-off home run. The Bobcats’ recent success in the face of adversity should translate well to the rest of the season.
Bullpen struggles. Texas State trusts Blake Whitter, senior pitcher, with the game on the line. The team brought Whitter in to finish off Baylor on Thursday night, and he could not do the job. Whitter allowed five of the runs scored in the top of the eighth inning, and Baylor took the 8-6 lead. The Bobcats’ comeback win overshadowed the rough eighth for Whitter. He needs to move forward from Thursday night in order
Runners left on base. Texas State scored 18 runs in the series. However, more runs could have been scored. Texas State had a combined 26 runners left on base in the series, and this created offensive droughts throughout the games. The Bobcats scored
STORYLINES TO WATCH: TEXAS STATE VS. INCARNATE WORD The Texas State baseball team reached the .500 mark for the first time this season with its 4-1 victory Saturday against the Baylor Bears. Texas State is far removed from February, when the team did not record a win until the seventh game of the season. Texas State swept Baylor in a three-game series, capping a stretch with 10 wins in the last 15 matchups. The Bobcats entered the season with high expectations, projected to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. A win against Incarnate Word will push the Bobcats above the .500 threshold for the first time. Better late than never.
BOBCATS GAINING SOME MOMENTUM The Bobcats are becoming the team people thought they were. Texas State has defeated Baylor (three times), Georgia Southern (twice), Appalachian State (three times) and UTSA in the past month. The Bobcats nearly added another win against nationally ranked Texas. Texas State is capable of defeating any team in an individual game. The team has the résumé and confidence to back it up.
WHAT THEY SAID “Coming out of the UTSA game, we were really focused on playing hard for 27 outs,” Fikac said. “We really did that this weekend, and each kid committed to each pitch in all three games.”
WHAT’S NEXT? Texas State will host Incarnate Word on Tuesday night, looking to extend its three-game winning streak. The team will travel to Little Rock to play in a three-game series against Arkansas-Little Rock over the weekend. The Trojans are 8-6 in the Sun Belt Conference.
BAD
BASEBALL
By Quixem Ramirez SPORTS EDITOR @quixem
to perform well for the rest of the season.
F LY FIRST CLASS T H I S S U M M E R.
WELL-RESTED BULLPEN Texas State used its bullpen for three of the 28 innings against Baylor. Scott Grist, senior pitcher, and Jeremy Hallonquist, junior pitcher, recorded consecutive complete games to finish the series. The Bobcats escaped a series against a Big 12 opponent without expending the bullpen. Over-extending the bullpen is no longer a concern for Assistant Coach Jeremy Fikac as he prepares his starting rotation for the next week.
GRANGER DANGER The team’s most proficient hitter is returning to midseason form. Granger Studdard, sophomore outfielder, has nearly doubled his batting average from Feb. 28, when he was hitting a lowly .147. Studdard’s power is a part of his resurgence. He hit four home runs in a span of three games. Studdard scored the game-winning home run against Baylor in the 10th inning. The sophomore is hitting to all parts of the field, and he’s providing the Bobcats with consistency in the middle of the batting order. Opposing pitchers should tread carefully against Studdard.
WHAT’S NEXT A three-game road series against ArkansasLittle Rock, which is tied for fourth in the conference. Texas State is a half game behind Georgia Southern for first place in the Sun Belt.
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4 | The University Star | Tuesday, April 7, 2015
OPINIONS
UniversityStar.com
10 TIPS THE MAIN POINT
FOR ROOMMATE
SUCCESS
1.UTILIZE ONLINE OPTIONS.
4. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE 7.DON’T ENOUGH SPACE. IMMEDIATELY Some dorms and apartment LIVE WITH complexes in this town are small. Stress from school or per- FRIENDS. sonal issues can be compounded
Online websites that offer roommate-matching services, like RoomSurf or EasyRoommate, are a good option for living people both on and off campus. They’re often free and have a variety of questions regarding lifestyle habits like cleanliness and sleep schedules.
in small spaces and lead to increased frustration. Even the best of friends are likely to fight when stuck in the same space for too long.
2. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE COMPATIBLE SLEEP SCHEDULES.
5. BE WARY OF BATHROOMS.
Many people overlook sleep habits when choosing roommates but it’s an important thing to factor in. This is especially important in dorm situations where an individual room isn’t possible. Trying to sleep while your roommate is watching midnight Jersey Shore marathons does not make for a positive living environment.
Sharing bathrooms can be a tricky situation for many roommates. Some people are okay with the concept, but others don’t like the lack of privacy. Some people who think they’re okay with sharing bathrooms but find out they are not. It’s okay to be either way. The important thing is being self-aware enough to know which you are and then finding someone compatible.
6. THINK OF THE FUTURE.
3. CONSIDER LIVING IN A LEARNING COMMUNITY
Many of the leases in the city last for 12 months, which people forget about when it comes to the summer. Keep summer plans in mind when signing to live with people. There are few things worse than the frustration that comes with suddenly realizing your roommate needs to break their lease halfway through the summer.
This option can prove to be especially enlightening for incoming freshmen. Living and bonding with a community of people on the same career path can be encouraging.
Living with friends is a situation everyone should be wary of. Just because you get along great with your study buddy from biology doesn’t mean that person would be a good roommate. It seems like perfect sense to live in a place with your friends, but it truly tests the bonds of friendship. Some people prefer to live with random roommates every year. Some prefer to live exclusively with people they’ve known for years. Whichever option you choose, this is not a decision to be made lightly.
8.BE AWARE OF PETS. Many college kids rush into adopting pets as part of their new residential independence. Caring for a pet is a huge responsibility that lasts long after the novelty of posting Instagram pictures of your puppy fades away. Additionally, bringing home a pet without consulting roommates is unacceptable and terribly inconsiderate. Not everyone is a cat, dog, fish or bird person, and pets are not for everyone.
9.DISCUSS CLEANING AND COOKING HABITS. Roommates often get into fights about cleanliness and cooking habits. If you know you’re a person who has to let your oatmeal bowls soak for two days before washing them, don’t sign up to live with your neat freak friend. No cleanliness habit is wrong or right, but making sure you’re compatible with your roommates is important.
10. SET BOUNDARIES. Communication is the most important part of living with other people. When you first move in, decide if your household will have house meetings. Additionally, some people sit down and make roommate contracts together so they will have set procedures for when disputes arise. It may seem uncomfortable to start off by talking about sensitive topics, but fostering open communication from the beginning is a smart move. Decide what will happen when someone is late with their part of the rent or leaves dishes everywhere, and then stick to those decisions.
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.
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The University Star | Tuesday, April 7, 2015 | 5
LIFESTYLE
UniversityStar.com
MONTHLY PERCUSSION RECITALS SHOWCASE STUDENT TALENT By Louis Zylka LIFESTYLE REPORTER @Orinzylka Student percussionists practiced their performance skills in front of a live audience at a recent studio recital. The Texas State School of Music held its third Percussion Studio Recital from 6-7 p.m. on Monday. Kari Klier, senior lecturer the School of Music, said she created the recital to help her students expand their skills in front of an audience. Klier said the event was open to the public with free admission. Klier said the last recital was held five weeks ago. The recitals are a monthly event in room 236 of the Music Building. Klier said she teaches a group of private students in one-on-one percussion lessons for their individual degree plans. She teaches each student for three hours per day. Juan Mago, music performance sophomore, said percussion is unique among the instrumentation used in ensembles. “Percussion is another classification of instruments,” Mago said. “It has to do with instruments that per-
tain to hitting things.” Mago said the musicians choose the songs they perform. He performed a piece called “Ameline” by Eric Sammut. He said the recital allows the community to see the work put in by the percussionists. Mago said he wants to be involved in an orchestra. “If (the song) moves me and I want to listen to it again, then I would want to play it,” Mago said. “(The recital) is to showcase where our studio is at talent-wise.” John Davis, music studies sophomore, said Klier helps her students pick pieces that are fun to perform. Davis performed a solo called “Prelude Nuevo” by Gene Koshinski. Davis said performing in the recital is mandatory for the student musicians involved. Brian Lindsey, music performance junior, said the students worked on a marimba. He said the marimba is one of the keyboard instruments the School of Music uses for percussion performances. “They use the marimba because it is the best instrument they have,” Lindsay said. Lindsay said Klier has helped teach him to be a confident musi-
Haley Wares, music studies sophomore, performs April 6 for the Percussion Recital at the Music Building. cian. Davis said being involved in percussion may often seem simple, but the craft is more complex than it appears. “I’ve learned that there is a lot
of instruments involved in percussion,” said Davis. “It’s not as easy as it looks.” Davis said he aspires to teach a marching band at a middle school. Mago said staying dedicated to
ANDRES J RODRIGUEZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
learning various instruments is one of the most challenging aspects of percussion. “You have to constantly learn each instrument,” Mago said. “It is constant upbeat on every area.”
Somos Músicos provides classical music experience By Jonathan Hamilton LIFESTYLE REPORTER @jonodashham1 Student musicians had the chance to prove their talent and dedication by participating in the Somos Músicos recital. The Texas State School of Music hosted Somos Músicos on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. The performance included “Allegro” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, “Trio in Bb Major” by Josef Triebensee and “Catching Shadows” by Ivan Trevino. Paula Bird, senior violin lecturer and head organizer, said the event was exclusively a student performance. The event was a chance for the musicians to show off their hard work and dedication to their craft. Somos Músicos means “We are Musicians.” The group was created by Thomas S. Clark, director of the School of Music, Bird said. Auditions were not held for the concert, Bird said. Instructors recommended the students they felt were prepared to play the advanced sheet music. She said the classical pieces performed at the recital gave the audience an opportunity to step out of its comfort zone and experience a
different type of sound. “Classical music is the foundation of all music,” Bird said. “The hardest thing to understand is the complexity of classical music, but if you succeed in understanding it, everything else you listen to will be easier.” Bird compares the experience of listening to classical music to visiting an art gallery. “If you take the time to go to a museum and actually look at the artwork, you will understand it more than if you just hang out at the movies,” Bird said. “There are wonderful movies, but they are easier to understand than a painting.” Bird has been involved in music for over 45 years. She performs for the Austin Symphony and the Artisan Quartet and has taught music at Texas State since 2002. Bird has been exposed to talented musicians over the years, so she understands the difference between a good and great musician. “A good musician can play all of the notes,” Bird said. “But the great musicians are the ones that go a step beyond that and use their product as a way to communicate something to the observer or listener.” Ricardo Sanchez, music junior, said the hours put into the concert were worthwhile because the music’s message was conveyed. “Music is a universal language,”
Sanchez said. “It is something we can all communicate through. We can feel the same emotions. We can hear and listen to the same beautiful sounds that are being created.” Ricardo Pallanes, music studies sophomore, said his tuba instructor, Raul Rodriguez, approached him about performing at Somos Músicos. Pallanes said Somos Músicos allowed him to strengthen his musical skills. “Somos is more of a thing that showcases the talents of students,” Pallanes said. “I believe it helps us learn what it is to be a professional musician.” Pallanes hopes to use what he learns in the School of Music to benefit those around him. “I want to give back to the community,” Pallanes said. “Me being a music major with a teacher’s certification, I want to be a band director. I want to teach kids music the way I was taught as a child.” The time Pallanes and the other musicians spent practicing for the recital helped to ease his nerves. “I just told myself, ‘You deserve to be on that stage, so go ahead and play your heart out,’” Pallanes said.
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VISITING POET OFFERS BLUES-INFUSED PERFORMANCE By Britton Richter LIFESTYLE EDITOR @brittonrichter Last Thursday, The Wittliff Collections got a visit from a harmonica-toting rock-androll poet. The Wittliff Collections hosted Kim Addonizio for a poetry reading, book signing and question-and-answer session on April 2 at 3:30 p.m. as part of a series. Autumn Hayes, creative writing graduate student, said her initial impression of Addonizio was one she won’t forget. “She’s just really ballsy,” Hayes said. “She’s honest and upfront in her poetry and her presence. What’s unique about her, especially with a lot of contemporary poets, is her genuineness. She doesn’t try and hide.” Jeremy Garrett, English program faculty member, said Addonizo was a creative influence for him even though he was not especially familiar with her works “I am a fiction writer, but she is inspiring to me,” Garrett said. “She writes across all of the genres. It is encouraging for me because I try to branch out and write other things too.” Addonizio is a poet who is able to convey an engaging reading, which is not a common combination, Hayes said. “She reads well,” Hayes
said. “She reads with emotion so you can understand her. A lot of people just kind of drone on and on.” Garrett said Addonizio’s self-expression keeps audience members interested in the poems. “She’s very outgoing in her readings and the way she presents herself,” Garrett said. “It’s not a normal reading. She really gets into the emotion of the poems.” Addonizio said she writes her poems to explore God and ask what women want. She likes to use contrasting elements. “The mix of humor and darkness is something that attracts me,” Addonizio said. Hayes hopes to learn from Addonizio’s comedic approach to serious topics. “I think I have a lot to learn from her,” Hayes said. “Especially about using humor, especially when you are letting it all out. How not to overwhelm people with something that might be scary or sad.” Addonizio said the blues heavily influences her. “The blues has just amazing, wonderful, sly metaphors,” Addonizio said. “There’s so many interesting sexual metaphors and ways of dealing with day-today life and spinning them a little bit.” Addonizio said the style of her poetry is heavily impacted by musical structure.
“I am drawn to poetry that has the quality of a song, so generally that means shorter lyric poems,” Addonizio said. “Even in narrative poems, there’s a certain rhythm I am writing on. Maybe part of that came from studying classical music as I did earlier on, but I also think it just comes from having grown up on Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.” Addonizio said emotional vulnerability factors into creating a successful body of work. “I think literature is about what’s real,” Addonizio said. “So what’s real is the experience we have and our imaginations as well. The idea of intimacy doesn’t mean you reveal deep, dark family secrets or personal secrets or any of that. There’s a million ways to do it. It’s true you can’t hide in your work.” Addonizio closed her poetry reading by playing an original harmonica composition. “I think you need to put yourself into your art, and if you don’t do it, that is going to be a lesser art,” Addonizio said. Garrett said Addonizio was welcome at Texas State. “She fits in perfect with the Wittliff Collections, with the blues posters,” Garrett said. “She’s kind of rock-androll and at home here. She’s a great inspiration—plus she plays a mean harmonica.”
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