August 21 2014

THURSDAY

AUGUST 21, 2014 VOLUME 104 ISSUE 6

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Back to School Issue CITY

Communications director retires after 29 years with city

By Naomi Lovato NEWS REPORTER Melissa Millecam, San Marcos’ director of communications, retired Aug. 15 after a 29-year career with the city.

Millecam has lived in San Marcos for 44 years. In the ‘70s, she was a newspaper reporter for the city. In 1985, the city manager asked if she could assist him with media relations.

Three years later in 1988, she became a permanent employee.

The job has evolved from writing press releases on typewriters and a second-generation Mac computer and mailing them out to using e-mail in the digital age, Millecam said.

Mayor Daniel Guerrero said he has been “blessed” to work with Millecam. From funny pictures at the pool ending up on the front page of the newspaper to running into celebrities, Guerrero said he loved working with Millecam.

“We have a great relationship,” Guerrero said. “We’re going to miss her, but I know that she has her husband, Art, and her children that will have more time with her.”

Millecam has many activities planned for her retirement. Millecam said she plans to travel, take some classes at Texas State, stay involved in community organizations, continue mentoring in the school district, practice yoga and go to a retreat for a month.

“I will miss my city colleagues, the city council and the staff, who have been wonderful,” Millecam said. “My husband and I have always been pretty engaged in the San Marcos community, and we’ll continue to do that.”

City Manager Jared Miller said he is preparing for her replacement and will make the ultimate decision of who will be chosen for the position.

A review committee comprised of representatives of different departments who have different and frequent communications needs will help

choose, he said.

“It’s going to be a hard role to fill,” Miller said. “Finding someone in a communications position that lasts 30 years in a growing environment like this—that’s a feat to be noted.”

Through her 29 years with the city, Millecam has been through countless events and seen San Marcos grow.

Millecam said she’s seen floods, tornadoes and train derailments.

Some big projects that stand out in her mind are the rebuilding of the Rio Vista Dam, the building of the Embassy Suites Hotel, Spa and Conference Center, the acquisition of 2,000 acres of parkland and green space over the years, the protection of the San Marcos River, the building of a new library and the formation of partnerships with the outlet malls.

“A lot of people see her as our press person, but she is beyond that,” Guerrero said. “She is our director of communications. She deals with press and media relations, updates our website and social media, prepares our talking points, (is an) inter-governmental director and she’s heavily involved with different social services.”

Part of Millecam’s job is to handle governmental relations on state and federal levels on legislative issues.

These include grants, federal programs and support for the airport and public safety agencies.

“Over the years we’ve got more that $16 million in federal funding for projects,” Millecam said. “I feel it’s been very rewarding for the city.

I feel honored to have been a witness to a lot of these things and to help to whatever degree I can help.”

Guerrero has declared Aug. 15 Melissa Millecam Day in recognition of her hard work and service over the years, according to the city’s website.

“She is just well respected and talked real highly of by people,” Guerrero said. “We’re certainly going to miss her. She’s done a lot for us.”

DENISE CATHEY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Melissa Millicam, director of Communications and Intergovernmental Relations, stands in the broadcasting room of City Hall. Millicam has managed the media output for the government of San Marcos since 1985.

UNIVERSITY

DENISE CATHEY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER A new bus sits parked Aug. 20 at a campus bus loop. The university’s contract with Transdev brought 43 new buses to campus.

Transdev brings new buses, route changes

By Nicole Barrios ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

T

his fall semester students can expect to see new buses, drivers and route changes in the Bobcat Shuttle service as the university’s contract with a new provider takes effect.

The contract with Transdev, the bus contractor that merged with

Veolia Transport in 2011, went into full effect Aug. 9. Transdev is now the official Texas State shuttle provider, said Steven Herrera, Bobcat Shuttle service manager. The previous contractor, First Transit, was replaced by Transdev after a bidding process for a new provider took place last year.

Students passed a referendum in April 2013 to raise the bus fee from $78 to $95, and the increase

helped sustain the new contract with Transdev, according to a Nov. 20 University Star article. “(Transdev does) have all the new buses in on property, and they’re being readied for service,” Herrera said.

Radios are being installed, decals are being put on the buses and driver training is ongoing, Herrera said.

See BUSES, Page 2

COUNTY

Overcrowding at Hays County jail forces transfer of some inmates

By Carlie Porterfield SENIOR NEWS REPORTER A rising inmate population has forced Hays County officials to send inmates to the Guadalupe County Jail after the Hays jail facility exceeded its capacity.

Hays County spent over $1 million on shipping inmates abroad and housing them between 2009 and 2011. When Sheriff Gary Cutler took office in late 2010, he was able to cut down on future costs by reforming the justice system. Different programs were implemented, like manual labor for jail time and fitting convicts with ankle monitors to leave beds open.

As a result, the inmate population decreased dramatically, and for over three years, Hays County did not transfer a single inmate, Cutler said.

However, as Hays County’s population increased, so did the number of inmates. On July 14, Cutler was

forced to make the decision to transfer 22 inmates to Guadalupe County’s jail, he said.

The maximum capacity of the Hays County jail is 362 inmates, but it is considered “full” at 311. These figures are based on a recommendation from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards that says 10 percent of the facility’s beds should be kept open to serve as a “buffer,” Cutler said.

“In July, the conditions got so crowded that we had to outsource,” Cutler said. “We can’t keep them in our facility because of the crowded conditions, so we don’t have an option on this. That’s the only reason they would be housed outside of our facility here.”

Guadalupe County is charging $50 per day per inmate in exchange for its housing services, said Hays County Commissioner Will Conley, Precinct 3.

Since the outsourcing began, beds have opened up in Hays County and

CITY

some inmates have been transferred back, Cutler said.

“Now we’ve transported some back as we’ve developed space here, and we’ve got eight still housed in Guadalupe County as of today,” Cutler said.

Of those original 22 inmates, 10 of were women. Cutler said all of the women that were sent to Guadalupe County are now back in the Hays facility.

The decision about which inmates would be transferred was based on several factors. One of the most important was the length of their sentence.

“We know which ones are probably going to be here for a while because of the nature of their charges, and those can be moved because they’re not going to go to court real soon,” Cutler said. “And also, we’re obviously not going to transport anyone with

See JAILS, Page 2

CITY

San Marcos to downsize trash bins to reduce landfill usage McCoy Foundation donates

By Naomi Lovato NEWS REPORTER San Marcos will trade residential customers’ 96-gallon trash carts for 65-gallon units beginning Oct. 1 in order to decrease the amount of garbage flowing to landfills.

The goal with the cart downsize is to divert as much trash as possible from going into landfills. The nearest landfill will close November 2015, said Amy Kirwin, solid waste program coordinator for the city. To continue using the 96-gallon trash cart, residents must pay a $3 increase in the monthly trash fee, according to the city’s website.

The city’s landfill provider will begin raising its fee, something that has not been done since 2009, Kirwin said. The city will have to divert trash to other nearby landfills when the San Marcos location closes in 2015.

“The majority of what you’re paying for is landfill airspace, so the more trash you’re putting into the landfill, the more you have to pay,” Kirwin said. “We have a finite number of resources, and when you recycle, you’re reusing materials.”

During the last fiscal year, the total tonnage of waste in San Marcos was 1,805 tons of recycling and 6,288 tons of trash, Kirwin said.

This change may be a disadvantage to large or low-income families who will now have to pay attention to what they are throwing away, Kirwin said.

However, taking the time to see how much is being sent to the landfill may help the city’s problem.

“This change was more of a positive incentive for people who are recycling and diverting from the landfill,” Kirwin said. “People are becoming more mindful of what they’re purchasing.”

Green Guy Recycling will remain available to collect motor oil, tires, appliances, styrofoam peanuts and electronics separately from what is put into the single-stream recycling, said Kyle Hahn, owner of the business. There is not a specific landfill for San Marcos or Hays County, so the trash will affect other counties around San Marcos.

Michelle Lombardo, San Marcos

See LANDFILL, Page 2

HARON SAENZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

$1.2 million gift to CTMC

By Raquel Kimm NEWS REPORTER On July 18, the Miriam and Emmett McCoy Foundation announced it would be donating $1.2 million to the Central Texas Medical Center to help the hospital purchase its second da Vinci Surgical System.

The robotic surgical system is a sophisticated machine designed to increase a surgeon’s abilities and present a state-ofthe-art minimally invasive option for major surgery, according to the da Vinci Surgery website.

The McCoy Foundation is no stranger to helping the CTMC hospital leave its mark as a leader in the community.

“The McCoys helped the hospital build its very first building in the 1980s,” said Sam Huenergardt, president and CEO of CTMC. “They are sustaining donors, and this year they decided they would help the hospital reach its yearly goals.”

The hospital already had a da Vinci surgical system in its

possession, but it needs a second because the first one has become the busiest robot for surgeries in the central Texas area, said Erik Anderson, general surgeon.

“We should be receiving the second one in 60 to 90 days,” Anderson said. “We just have to prepare to make room for its large size. The robot itself stands about seven feet tall and about ten feet side to side and has a six-by-six box that I operate it from.”

The system can be used for multiple types of procedures, from gallbladder and hernia removal to weight loss surgery and hysterectomies, so the surgeons have been busy using da Vinci.

“The robot takes away any chance of human error,” said Patrick Arida, Telemedicine medical engineer. “The robot does all the motions you would with your hands so it does it perfectly—no mistakes. I have had the chance to work with these robots multiple times,

See CTMC, Page 2

A2 | The University Star | News | Thursday, August 21, 2014

BUSES, from front “All the final details prior to service are being put into place,” he said.

Transdev has brought a fleet of 43 new 40-foot buses to Texas State with only two old buses owned by Texas State, purchased in 2011, joining the fleet to create a total of 45 buses, Herrera said.

The only difference in the two old buses is that they are single-door buses, Herrera said. The 43 new buses all feature two doors.

Mitun Seguin, director of marketing for Transdev, said the new trams are 2014 ElDorado National commercial buses that feature wheelchair lifts, bike racks and “that new bus smell.”

Transdev will implement a system called SmartDrive to use on the buses to monitor safe driving, Seguin said. The company will also bring a new customer service system to Texas State this fall, she said.

Students can expect updates and changes to the service routes this semester, which are detailed on the Transportation Services website, Herrera said.

“There are some updates we feel will

CTMC, from front enhance service to the university students’ ridership,” Herrera said.

More buses will be added to routes during the “peak periods” of the day such as the morning, when students are trying to get to campus, Herrera said. To balance out the service, the number of buses will be decreased during the midday hours when they are not utilized as much.

“When everyone’s already at campus and there’s no one really riding the system, we’re going to bring a few buses off just to hold them for an hour or so and then put them back in,” Herrera said.

Training and use of simulation routes are taking place this week to prepare drivers for the fall semester, Herrera said.

Although Transdev has brought in new employees and bus drivers with itscontract, many previous First Transit employees who sought to continue with the new contractor were kept on, Herrera said.

65 employees from First Transit were brought over to work for Transdev out of a total of 85 previous drivers, Seguin said.

“We should see familiar faces on the

buses,” Herrera said.

Transdev’s new maintenance facility was under construction this summer but has been completed and is located off Posey Road, Herrera said. The new provider is currently occupying the space and working out of it.

Herrera said the student bus fee increase has helped the university for this coming semester.

“With the new contract, the hourly rate did go up to provide service, so absolutely the increase will help cover that fee as well as fuel,” Herrera said.

“Fuel has gone up, and we’re having to balance and manage the cost impacts of those increases.”

Diesel costs are covered by the university and are separate from the fee given to the contractor for hourly service rates, according to the Nov. 20 article. Diesel costs have increased almost 79 percent since fall 2010 from $460,000 to $823,000 due in part to fluctuating inflation.

The tanks of the new buses used during the day will be topped off during the night, Seguin said.

Cutler said.

In the long run, county officials hope that building a new jail facility will ease some of the problems caused by the rising inmate population.

“Our jail is 25 years old and at capacity,” Conley said. “We have made some

reforms to make our justice system more efficient, but we’re a fast-growing county, and we’re using our current jail facility at its highest utility.”

A bond measure to fund the construction of a new jail facility could come before voters this November, Conley said.

JAILS, from front medical conditions.”

The transferring of prisoners is intended to be a short-term solution to the issue of Hays County’s overpopulated jail.

“If we have available beds, like what happened with the women, we will certainly bring them back to our facility,”

CITY

Residents notified of water contamination

By Jordan Gass-Poore’ NEWS REPORTER San Marcos utility customers were recently notified again that their tap water contained a potentially harmful chemical from flooding that occurred over nine months ago.

Quarterly water samples taken by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality personnel on Nov. 7, 2013, a week after the Halloween flood created more than 15 inches of rain in the Guadalupe River Watershed, showed a higher-than-recommended amount of trihalomethanes, a type of organic compound.

“We tried to get it out as soon as we knew about it,” said Jon Clack, assistant director of public services.

These chemical compounds are primarily the result of chlorine disinfection and are formed when the “chlorine combines with organic matter like decaying vegetation commonly found in lakes and rivers,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Chlorine was used to disinfect the

city’s surface water supply after the Halloween flood washed excess debris into it, Clack said.

City Spokeswoman Melissa Millecam said “this is not an ongoing problem,” a sentiment echoed by Clack, but it is the result of averaging quarterly water samples from eight sites.

Although multiple follow-up tests conducted in January through this month show the chemical to be under state and federal standards, the water sample location at 345 Champion Blvd. continues to exhibit slightly higher than recommended levels of trihalomethanes, Clack said.

Federal standards cap the annual average maximum level of trihalomethanes at 0.080 milligrams or 80 parts per billion.

The sample taken at the Champion Boulevard site following the Halloween flood was at 158 parts per billion, which boosted averages to 87 parts per billion for the fourth quarter of last year, as well as the first (86 parts per billion) and second (81 parts per billion) quarters of this year.

This is why the TCEQ again required the city to submit a new notice to its 27,000 customers last month.

The TCEQ initially alerted the city of its levels of trihalomethanes at the end of May, Clack said. The first public notice was sent to customers with their utility bills sometime in June.

The city had been in contact with state environmental personnel before the initial notice was sent to customers, but the city did not know any of its water sampling sites were in violation until the end of May, Clack said.

This is the first time the city has not been in compliance, and officials will take steps to ensure it will never happen again by “flushing” the system’s pipes more frequently, he said.

“The longer (contaminants are) in the pipes, the more that’s going to form,” Clack said.

To put the numbers in perspective, Clack said one part per billion can be compared to one penny in $10 million.

“It’s extremely small quantities,” he said of the amount of trihalomethanes in the city’s water supply.

Clack said there is no need to find an alternative water source or purchase a filtration system.

and it really is something else.”

Patients have been going out of their way to have their surgeries done by this robot due to its excellent reviews, Huenergardt said. It has brought patients to San Marcos specifically seeking surgery with the da Vinci system.

“Patients have been known to wake up the next morning and be active because they feel great after the surgery,” Huenergardt said. “The robots do not tug on the muscles the way a human would, so patients don’t need extra recovery days.”

The robots cost $2 million, and CTMC received its first one over two years ago. CTMC is the only hospital in Central Texas with this kind of technology and has therefore become more

popular, Huenergardt said.

Robots are used “constantly” for surgeries whenever possible, Anderson said.

“It’s basically like playing a video game when we perform these surgeries,” Anderson said. “It’s a $2 million video game that I get to work with every day.”

Robots have helped CTMC progress to where it wants to be as a hospital, Arida said. “(The robots) have and will continue to allow (CTMC surgeons) to perform surgeries in ways they never could before,” Arida said. “It really is something that is impressive, and with donations like this McCoy one, they really could change a lot of lives.”

LANDFILL, from front resident, said she recycles regularly and thinks the change is good for the city.

“Recycling is kind of voluntary here,” Lombardo said. “I feel like it should be mandatory for businesses to recycle, and I hope that businesses will offer more recyclable materials.

If the businesses do it, then it would force the public even more to do it.”

Green Guy Recycling is open 24 hours a day as a recycling drop-off center as part of a contract with the city, Hahn said.

The company collects recycling at all of the city’s offices and from special events such as Sights and Sounds of Christmas and movie showings in the

park, he said.

“We kind of act as a supplemental program to the city, so we do a lot of things,” Hahn said. “The reason they still have a contract with us, even though there’s curb-side recycling, is we get a lot of materials that you can’t feasibly or logistically take to the curb side.”

Hahn said with this change, he is hoping more people will use Green Guy’s facility to drop off bigger objects and pay more attention to what is thrown away.

“I think that the idea is ultimately getting people to throw away what really is unrecyclable trash and look at recyclable items as a resource,” Hahn said.

Read it any way you like.

Thursday, August 21, 2014 | News | The University Star | A3

COUNTY

Commisioners discuss possible facility funding

By Carlie Porterfield SENIOR NEWS REPORTER A special commissioners court meeting was held Monday evening to discuss possible action to order a bond election for the November ballot to fund several new law enforcement facilities.

According to a county press release, the facilities being considered for the bond proposition are a new jail, a multi-jurisdiction dispatch center and a law enforcement center.

At the meeting in The Hays County Courthouse, Broaddus & Associates representative Stephen Coulston presented possible layouts and plans for the new buildings.

Coulston said that building and site layouts have been developed for a new Hays County jail, a joint city and county law enforcement center,

as well as a joint training center, which would be a repurposing of the existing jail facility.

Coulston presented two jail options, Option 2A and Option 2B. Option 2A would be a two-story facility and cost $120 million in total, while Option 2B would cost over $124 million and be 1.5 stories.

Both options were created with future expansion in mind.

All of the facilities would be paid for primarily by Hays County and the City of San Marcos, along with contributions from Kyle, Buda and Texas State. The way all of the costs will be split between all parties has not been finalized, officials said.

Ultimately, the court elected to wait until the May elections to vote on the bond in order to give the citizens the best possible information regarding the projects before they cast their votes.

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A4 | The University Star | News | Thursday, August 21, 2014

UNIVERSITY

Department of Agriculture awarded $1 million USDA grant

By Camden Scarborough NEWS REPORTER The Department of Agriculture has been awarded a four-year, $1 million grant from the USDA’s Hispanic Serving Institutions Education Grants Program (HIS).

The grant will be used to fund the education of 21 students studying agriculture and agriculture-related sciences through a program called Southwest Agriculture and Food Security Education: Preparing Future Leaders for a Safe and Secure U.S. Food Supply System (SAFE), said Ryan Saucier, project director and assistant agriculture professor.

“We’re trying to prepare the workforce of the future,” said Jaime Cha-

hin, dean of the College of Applied Arts.

The grant is one of four awarded to schools throughout the United States this year, and the third grant to be awarded to the university in the past ten years, Chahin said.

The primary qualification required by the USDA for the grant states that the receiving institution must have at least a 25 percent Hispanic student enrollment, Saucier said.

Last fall, 31 percent of the undergraduate enrollment were Hispanic students and 20 percent of graduate students were Hispanic, according to the Texas State University System website.

The 21 SAFE students consist of 11 graduate students at Texas State and New Mexico State, a partner in

the project, and ten undergraduates at Austin Community College and Southwest Texas Junior College, Saucier said.

“We’re currently in the process of finding the students,” Saucier said.

The undergrad students at ACC and SWTJC will transfer to Texas State after two years and complete their bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or a related science like Biology or Nutrition, Saucier said.

“Research has shown that Hispanic students have a higher graduation rate when they transfer to a larger university from a junior college,” Saucier said. “These schools are often closer to the communities they come from, so they can better adjust.”

All 21 students will receive certifications from the Department

of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) related to international and domestic food and agriculture security, Saucier said.

The bulk of the projects will begin once the undergraduate students transfer to the university, he said.

“Until then, it’s a matter of correspondence with Texas State faculty while they finish their entry level work,” Saucier said.

SAFE students will also be involved in job shadowing and internships with the DHS and USDA, Chahin said.

“In my experience, internships help define what you like – what you want to be,” Chahin said.

Students will earn a total of six certifications from the DHS and FEMA, and experience in food safety,

food security and agro-terrorism, Saucier said.

Texas State was one of numerous schools to apply for the grant this spring, Saucier said.

“The goals and objectives of the Texas State Ag. Department were noteworthy enough that the USDA thought we were worth funding,” Saucier said.

Students that graduate from this program will either begin working in their field or continue on to more graduate work at New Mexico State, Chahin said.

“All of this is for the students,” Chahin said. “The students are the ones that benefit from this. They are our future.”

UNIVERSITY

College of Fine Arts and Communications to open research center

By Nicole Barrios ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR The College of Fine Arts and Communication will open its own research center this fall, pending final presidential approval, to assist professors in attaining grant funding and fostering research collaboration.

The C3 Communication Research Center for Communication, Collaboration and Creativity will be operational this fall semester pending final approval from the provost and president. The physical location will not open until sometime next year, but the center’s research coordinator and website will be up and running to assist Fine Arts and Communication faculty in their research endeavors.

Provost Eugene Bourgeois and President Denise Trauth are currently working on the formal approval for the C3 Center, Bourgeois said.

Bourgeois said he is in support of the creation of the center, and the approval process is a matter of formally

submitting the proposal for the center.

The discussion of creating a research center such as C3 began a year ago and was initiated by the outgoing dean Tim Mottet said Marian Houser, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

“It was initially (Mottet’s) idea, and as associate dean, he asked me to take the lead in getting this established,” Houser said. “The primary reason is we have a research culture in our college, but we don’t, up to this point, we haven’t had a strong grant or funding culture in our college.”

Houser said while a few professors seek grants in the College of Fine Arts and Communication, the amount is nothing compared to what it is in the science disciplines, like chemistry.

They knew one of the major focuses in the university’s strategic plan is to eventually become a Tier One research institution, Houser said.

“We are currently an Emerging Research Institution, but if we’re going to be a (Tier One) institution, that

means everybody has to be involved, and that means every college needs to be involved,” Houser said.

Although professors in the college conduct research, they may not be familiar with the process of acquiring funding and grants, which is a requirement of becoming a Tier One research institution, Houser said.

They knew they needed help and the faculty would need guidance, and the new center will hopefully provide this for faculty, she said.

“It’s guidance, direction, support, you know, because we’re fairly unfamiliar with it,” Houser said.

The physical facility for the new center will be located in ASBN 350, though the site will not be open until next year as it is currently under renovation, Houser said.

The Center for the Study of Latino Media and Markets no longer exists, and the new center will be housed in its old space, Bourgeois said.

The new center will probably be more significant for the college and

university only because it will integrate faculty and students from all five units in Fine Arts and Communication, Bourgeois said.

Houser said in addition to the office of Lisa Westerbeck, the research coordinator for the center, and a conference room, the new institution will hopefully have a “network area” where people can bring in their laptops to Skype and converse with research “collaborators all over the world.”

Until the new facility is complete, Westerbeck will be housed out of Centennial Hall, Houser said.

“There’s a physical place to meet her now, but what we’re hoping is that the website is a way that people will become involved with the center,” Houser said.

Westerbeck said her role will be to work with faculty to understand their research programs, help them find funding, oversee proposal development and coordinate with other university offices involved. She also hopes to bring multidisciplinary teams

together to collaborate in and out of the university.

“I try to have an open door policy where they can just drop by and talk if that’s kind of the beginning,” Westerbeck said.

Westerbeck said she sees crossdepartmental and even cross-college collaboration coming from the center.

“I think it’s important for us because a lot of people don’t think research is coming out of our college, and there’s a lot of research happening,” Westerbeck said. “We want to be visible not just to the university but also to outside funders and possible partnerships in the community.”

The website will be “the face of our center” and will spread the word among university faculty to begin collaborations, Houser said.

Within the next week and a half, Bourgeois said he and the president will have made a decision on the approval of the center. He “strongly suspects” that the center will be operational this fall.

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TRENDS

UniversityStar.com

4th annual

Sherwood Celtic Artist-in-residence to publish photography book on LBJ Music Festival

By Caitlin Rodriguez TRENDS REPORTER

Thanks to the life-size statue of US President Lyndon B. Johnson that stands in the middle of The Quad, most people are aware that he must have had at least some connection to Texas State.

What most people don’t know, however, is just how monumental Johnson’s time at Texas State—then Southwest Texas State Teachers College—was to shaping American history.

This summer, the Center for the Study of the Southwest welcomed its first artist-in-residence, director and producer John Valadez, to the university.

Valadez, whose appointment will end Aug. 31, decided to take this opportunity to create a companion photography book to a 2010 PBS documentary he directed, wrote and produced entitled “The Longoria Affair.”

The title references WWII veteran Felix Longoria.

During his last year at Southwest Texas State Teachers College, Johnson was given a teaching position at a MexicanAmerican school in Cotulla, TX, a school facing racial segregation much like the rest of the nation. This was Johnson’s first time experiencing segregation and interacting with people of color in general. Johnson was appalled at how underfunded the schools were and the poverty faced by the citizens. It stayed with Johnson for the rest of his life.

When Johnson was elected to the Senate in 1949, he received a telegram from Dr. Héctor P. García, who relayed the story of Felix Longoria.

After Longoria fought and lost his life in battle, his ashes were sent home to his wife, Beatrice. In preparation for the burial, Beatrice went to the local funeral home, where she was denied services because of her late husband’s race.

When Johnson heard this story, it reminded him of the time he spent in Cotulla. He

arranged for Longoria to be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, making him the first Mexican-American to be buried there. This event led to a lifelong friendship between Johnson and García. García eventually pushed Johnson to enact key legislation such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Valadez’s book is a photographic history of that time period that takes the transcript from the film and uses images and artifacts that weren’t able to make it into the actual finished product to accompany the text.

“This work is a very accessible and inviting way to enter into a history that people may find boring or distant,” Valadez said. “When you see lush and beautiful photographs, it draws people in, not like reading a thick textbook. It allows people to enjoy the intellectual pursuit in a very visceral experience.”

He hopes to have the book published by 2015 in time for the 50th anniversary of LBJ’s signing of the Voting Rights Act. Valadez hopes that a book like this could eventually even see use in classrooms as the result of his desire to create a new literary genre of art/ photography books that have a strong historical component.

Despite not having concrete graphic design experience, Valadez took from his experience as a documentary filmmaker to help contribute to the layout

of the book.

He says he took inspiration from the tinted midnight blue covers of 1960s jazz records and even studied layouts from more contemporary music media such as Rolling Stone Magazine. Valadez said he wants looking through this book to feel like “you’re thumbing through a music booklet.”

Jesus de la Teja, director of the Center for the Study of the Southwest, said that Valadez will return to the university during the fall semester to deliver a talk on his project. The exact organization of the talk has not been determined, since Valadez was the first appointee to the artist-in-residence program.

Valadez is confident, though, that not everything has to be figured out beforehand. He says ideas include a screening of “The Longoria Affair” or an explanation of how the layouts in the book are intended to help re-conceptualize history.

De la Teja said bringing artists such as Valadez to the university is important because they are often doing groundbreaking work in a non-traditional setting.

“Bringing such individuals to campus exposes students, faculty and staff to different approaches; allows for networking with the professional, artistic and publishing worlds and otherwise enhances the quality of campus intellectual and artistic life,” de la Teja said.

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DENISE CATHEY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER John Valadez works on a draft of his new book on Lyndon B. Johnson and the Civil Rights Movement at the Center for The Study of The Southwest.​

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Thursday, August 21, 2014 | Trends | The University Star | B1

Quidditch becoming popular, competitive sport on campus

By Kara Dornes TRENDS REPORTER Often thought of as an important component to a fictional world, Quidditch is very much a real sport to members of the Texas State campus and students across the country.

Everyone wants to know if Quidditch is more about the sport or the world of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, but team captain Rylan Peavler and president Elizabeth Clementi explain it’s a mixture of both that keeps the Quidditch team going.

“I have not read the books and have only seen one movie,” said Peayler. “After attending a tournament two years ago, I fell in love with the sport for its combination of physicality and strategic play.”

Both Peayler and Clementi agree that many people don’t realize how

much it physical stamina takes to be on the Quidditch team.

There are practices three to four times a week as well and also two to three tournaments in the fall in addition to regionals and the Quidditch World Cup held each spring.

A tournament can last anywhere from four to seven games a day and can be fast-paced and exhausting, Peavler said.

In the beginning, the Quidditch team wasn’t the fully fleshed out organization it is today. The team had to practice often and work at turning the club into something more than words on paper or a major motion picture. The sport needed to come alive for everyone.

“When the organization was originally founded, the main focus was being a Harry Potter club,” said Clementi. “As the program has evolved and more students have

been recruited, the Quidditch organization has become more focused on performing at a competitive, intercollegiate level.”

Clementi said she enjoys the Harry Potter-themed activities still enjoyed by the team including a Yule Ball and Tri-Wizard Tournament.

Across the world, more and more communities are embracing the magic-turned-muggle sport. Last year, the Texas State team traveled to Myrtle Beach to compete in the World Cup against eighty of the top groups from across North America and Europe. In an unprecedented run, Texas State advanced to the finals where the team lost to the University of Texas, said Clementi.

“When I tell people that I play Quidditch, I mostly receive a lot of confused looks,” Clementi said.

“Yes, Quidditch is the sport from Harry Potter. No, we do not fly.”

Main Street Program to host ‘Passport to San Marcos’

By Kara Dornes TRENDS REPORTER For students coming in from around the country, it is not always easy to adjust to an unfamiliar place. In order to make students from all locations and walks of life feel at home in San Marcos, the city’s Main Street Program is throwing a “Passport to San Marcos” party downtown to welcome both incoming freshman and returning Bobcats.

The festivities will take place Aug. 22 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and feature an after-party at The Marc immediately afterwards, giving Bobcats a chance to experience every aspect of life downtown.

“Our primary target is incoming freshman, and basically this is a way to introduce them to their community,” said Kayli Head, Main Street coordinator. “Downtown is right in their backyard, and it is really introducing them to businesses, the eateries and the retail shops and to keep them in mind for the next four years.”

Many different stands and booths will be accessible throughout the event, including one that promises to give students a literal “taste of downtown.”

“There is going to be a block party in The Square on the courthouse lawn,” said Head. “We are going to have free food, KTSW set up playing music, games and prizes and a fun inflatable derby race.”

The block party will also serve as

DENISE CATHEY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Chaser Katie Stephenson, having caught the Quaffle, dodges beater Jasmin Carranza and opposing chaser Ryan Peavler in a practice scrimmage.

Campus Safety Tips

check-in for a QR scavenger hunt in which anyone can participate, Head said. QR codes will be set up in 80 downtown places. To play, participants start by scanning as many codes as they can. This continues through Sunday.

Participants are eligible to win $2,000 in prizes, including a YETI cooler and a GoPro camera.

“This is going to be a really fun event, and it’s a great way to introduce students to businesses that they may not have found otherwise and, in the meantime, winning some fun prizes,” said Head.

Though this event is only going on its second year, it has opened collaboration with many businesses, eateries and retail stores downtown. Some of the businesses that will be participating in the event include Hays County Outfitters, Gil’s and The Marc.

“We are really excited to participate in this event again this year,” said Whitney Connell, Hays County Outfitters store manager.

Business owners are anticipating a rise in customers after the incoming freshmen and returning students explore the establishments they may not have checked out before.

“I would say that after this event we really did start to see a rise in business,” Connell said. “We are one of the stops on the scavenger hunt, and we have the store open during the entire event along with a coupon on the flyers that will be handed out.”

By Caitlin Rodriguez TRENDS REPORTER Starting college is a very exciting time. It can be easy to get swept up in all the chaos of moving in, finding classes and making friends, which can sometimes cause students to neglect safety procedures.

Texas State is a large campus with a total enrollment of over 35,000 students, and because of this, the university has implemented multiple safety features on campus that are available around the clock for students.

One of the most accessible safety features on campus is the blue 911 call boxes located all around the grounds.

Especially helpful at night in the case of an emergency, the button can be pushed on the box and it will immediately dispatch a call to 911. In addition, the pushing of the button will cause a blue light to become exposed and swivel on the top of the box making it easier to find someone’s location in the dark.

Another very useful safety option available to students is a service called Bobcat Bobbies. Bobcat Bobbies is

a transportation method for students. Students can call (512) 245-7233 and request a pickup from anywhere on campus. Within about ten minutes, up to three people at a time can receive a lift on a golf cart to their next destination. Bobcat Bobbies is particularly useful at night after long nights studying at the library or a work out at the gym when walking across campus in the dark to a dorm may not be the safest option.

UPD officer Sue Taylor, who has been with the University Police for 13 years, said there are always three police officers on duty during the night on campus, and more on command during the day. The police department also receives additional help from security officers around campus who become an extra set of eyes and ears for them.

She encouraged students to always remain aware of their surroundings. Students who see an emergency should know their location when they call 911 and try to get as accurate a description of everything as possible including vehicle license plate numbers, names, physical descriptions and the essentials

of what’s happening around them.

Taylor said students, particularly freshmen moving into the dorms, can often have a false sense of security when it comes to their new living space.

“Always lock everything, especially your bedroom door, even if you’re just going down the hall,” Taylor said. “Students feel safe leaving their residence hall doors open, but the truth is they’re living with as many as 300 new people that they’ve never met before.”

Taylor said paying attention to who’s coming into residence halls and remaining cautious from the very beginning helps to create a safer environment overall for everyone in the hall.

Lastly, for anyone who wants to take the extra step in ensuring their safety on campus, Texas State offers a variety of self-defense classes including karate, kick-boxing, Krav Maga and others.

Taylor said it’s a good idea to take anything and everything that can help someone learn to defend themselves.

“It doesn’t matter what you take, all of it is good and helpful,” she said.

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B2 | The University Star | Advertisement | Thursday, August 21, 2014

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Thursday, August 21, 2014 | The University Star | B3

OPINIONS

UniversityStar.com

MAIN POINT

11 things I would tell my freshman self

1

Take advantage of living on campus while you can.

Having an apartment is great, but it is so easy to stay on top of studying, going to class and being active in organizations when everything happens within a mile radius of where you live. It’s a lot harder to do all of that when you have to ride in an overflowing bus or buy a parking pass to get to campus.

The Freshman 15 (or 20...) is very real. Avoid hitting The Lair for every meal and walk to buffets with healthier choices.

Maybe join an intramural to stay in shape. Just because we have a nice hilly campus doesn’t mean that those late night snacks won’t catch up eventually, so lay off the sugary booze and post-party pizza.

2

50 to 60-plus years in the future to be tied down.

before the deadline; that’s what the deadline is for.

Take time to explore San Marcos and all it has to offer. Netflix can be so appealing after a long week of class, but Netflix is forever, college isn’t!

Check out local coffee shops and become a regular, head to the river in between classes and take advantage of the dollar theatre.

San Marcos is home to a variety of restaurants and shops that are in walking distance from campus. You don’t want your college memories to be filled with images of your bed and the four walls of your dorm room.

Go to a sporting event! The games are free, unlike other institutions in Texas.

It’s a great way to make friends and build school pride for Texas State. It won’t kill you to go and support your team. It’s not just about us having a good athletics program with skilled players—students have a big say in whether the team is good or not. Don’t wait until senior year to go to an athletic event to fill some “things I do before I graduate bucket list,” start now when you step on campus as a freshman.

5

Actually join a club or organization. It’s so easy to roll your eyes during orientation when everyone and their mother tells you that, but it is honestly a worthwhile pursuit. Don’t get discouraged if the first few you try aren’t the good fit you thought they’d be, either. Finding a group of people that you share a love with is an invaluable experience and can open so many doors.

Make it a point to develop a good standing with all of your professors. You don’t have to become best buds with them, but simply introduce yourself and let them know that you’re eager to succeed. This not only makes you look good, but it also holds you accountable because you don’t want to let the professor down. Networking with professors is so important. You never know where it might lead you. Using them as a recommendation, a connection or even a mentor can make a huge impact on your success as a student.

Dump your high school sweetheart, or at least highly consider taking a semester-long break, especially if your sweetie goes to another school. College is a place to find yourself and meet tons and tons of new people. Having a boyfriend or girlfriend, however many miles away, definitely does inhibit that.

You only get one freshman year experience and usually only 4-5 years of college total. You have

Try to go easy with your course-load until you get a feel for how college classes work and know for sure how much you can handle. Taking 18 hours might seem like a great way to stay ahead, but the five minutes of free time you get before six things are due on a Wednesday is a very bad time to figure out that you’re not in high school anymore. And don’t worry if you have to drop a class

3

4

6

7

8

9

Make friends outside your normal circle.

If many of your high school friends are going to college with you, it may be easy to simply stick with them and not meet as many people in classes or your dorm because you feel you don’t need to...but you should! Make friends with new people in your dorm, chit-chat in class with people sitting next to you, step outside your comfort zone. It might be easy to stick with one group of people, but college is the time to shake things up. Meeting people from other cities, states and backgrounds will help you grow and that’s what college is all about.

10

Join a community service outlet with a mission statement that you feel strongly about. At the surface, it makes a profound statement on your resume and exposes you to unique networking opportuni-

BREANNA BAKER STAR ILLUSTRATOR

ties that you wouldn’t find by joining a campus organization.

On a deeper level, you’ll find that committing to such a huge ongoing project is a prioritychanger, a lesson in leadership and an empowering reminder of the influence an individual is capable of.

11

Do not, under any circumstances, sign up for classes be-

fore 10 a.m. if waking up in the morning and, more importantly, remaining mentally cognizant is an inordinately difficult task for you. It isn’t impossible through the first two weeks, but it soon saps all of your energy. Skipping class becomes a more and more appealing choice. That is never a good thing, so, please, do not sign up for an early class unless you have the fortitude to handle it.

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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B4 | The University Star | Opinions | Thursday, August 21, 2014

PRO-ISRAEL

Olivia Garcia OPINIONS COLUMNIST Public relations senior

T

he blame for the mass number of Palestinian innocents being killed in the Israel-Gaza conflict lies with the Hamas government.

A government is elected to protect its people, not endanger them. Hamas must take responsibility for the recent failed cease-fires it caused when they went back on their word and fired at Israel. Israel is trying to protect its people from future conflict with cease-fires and peace talks. Hamas should

be doing the same. If Hamas truly wants its people to stop dying, then it should stop attacking and start negotiating.

Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal was recently interviewed by CNN’s Nic Robertson. During the interview he was asked why Hamas is firing rockets from its own civilian neighborhoods. The Hamas leader kept on dodging the questions, answering with death toll statistics rather than a straightforward answer. That interview is a clear indication that Israel is not the only one using propaganda.

Missiles were found in a UN school located in between two other UN schools. This is where the assumption of Hamas using its citizens as human shields comes into play. Both in the media and in battle, Hamas is hiding behind their citizens and using them as collateral damage. With these factors in play, it is ridiculous to even argue that Hamas is putting their peoples’ best interests before their own.

According to international law, Israel remains the occupying power over Gaza. It has the right to regulate economic flow.

Hamas terrorist attacks forced Israel to tighten its borders and security over Gaza. This was a warning to Hamas to stop terrorist attacks, but again, Hamas did not comply and cared more about their cause than the livelihood of its citizens.

The argument that Israel does not have the right to defend themselves and attack Gaza when seeking Hamas terrorists is hypocritical. Have we forgotten the many innocents America killed in Iraq and Afghanistan on our war against terror? Innocents are always the victims when a regime cares more of its cause than its people. It is time for Hamas to take responsibility for its civilian casualties.

Hamas has continuously put its people between hostile relations with Israel from its origins. Hamas’ founding document, the Hamas Covenant of 1988, states, “Israel will exist

and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it.” Hamas should not have started its politics with such bold statements against a powerful Israel neighbor.

It is clear Israel has far more advanced weaponry than Gaza, which includes advanced defense weapons. These weapons are placed along the border, intercepting the countless missile attacks Gaza has sent forth to Israeli civilian areas.

This is why the death toll is so lopsided. Israel has an army whereas Hamas’ warriors dress like civilians.

If Hamas wanted war it should have had better war tactics against Israel to prevent endangering its people. It should have fired missiles in more remote places instead of right next to occupied civilian buildings and told their citizens to listen to, not ignore, Israeli bomb warnings.

Hamas’ argument that Israel is failing to see it as an independent Palestinian state is false.

Israel took its people and mili-

tary out of Gaza in the 2005 disengagement plan. Clearly, Israel recognized Gaza as its own Palestinian state. It was not until Hamas took control of the Gaza strip in 2006-2007 where tensions escalated.

The current 72-hour ceasefire is the best thing that has happened in months between these two states. Hamas and Israel must gain each other’s trust and stop pointing the finger. This can be a long and complicated process if both governments do not hold up their end of the bargain.

The reasons why this war began are complicated and embedded with “he said, she said” politics. The fact that Hamas still denies putting their people in danger is mind-boggling.

This is not a fight between Israelis and Palestinians. It is a fight between the Hamas and Israeli governments. Above anything else, this is a humanitarian issue and desperately needs to be resolved by these two states quickly in order to protect innocent Gazans.

TALK IT OUT Israel-Gaza Conflict

PRO-GAZA

Brandon Sams OPINIONS COLUMNIST Public relations freshman

T

he recent happenings in the Israel-Gaza conflict have shown that the oppressed, when given enough time and power, always tend to become the oppressor.

According to the United Nations, approximately 75 percent of the nearly 1,900 people killed in Gaza have been civilians.

Conversely, 67 Israelis have been killed and of that number, less

than 5 percent were civilians.

This statistic illustrates the gross disregard for Palestinian life that many in the current right-wing Israeli government seem to have.

The Israeli government argues that these are not indiscriminate killings or attacks. I argue they are correct—these are in fact discriminate murders of civilians.

Gaza is only 139 square miles.

To put that in perspective, Austin is 272 square miles, almost two times as large with less than half the population of Gaza. It goes against protocol to bomb such confined and densely populated civilian areas. They are choosing to murder children, women and men in order to force Gaza and Hamas into submission.

If a bank robber has a gun pointing to the head of a hostage, police officials do not open fire on the bank robber.

They have the capacity to quell the threat with great ease but will not do so at the loss of an innocent life. Why? Simple. The

police officers are better than the robber. They have taken an oath to uphold justice and peace, not to provoke fear and death.

Israel is a parliamentary democracy, a harbinger of liberty and life. They are supposed to be better than Hamas, a known terrorist organization, yet in this recent conflict they have shown to be no better than the very people they wish to demonize.

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, once defined terrorism as the deliberate and systematic murder and menacing of the innocent to inspire fear for political ends. His statement is ironic considering that under his administration, the Israeli government has been the very definition of terrorism in this recent conflict in Gaza. Israeli forces shelled a U.N. school housing evacuees after being warned 17 times by the UN to not bomb the school. They did it anyway. Days later, Israeli forces shelled another U.N. school in

Rafah housing more evacuees after being warned 33 times by the UN not to bomb the school.

They did it anyway, again.

Some have accused Hamas of holding rockets in these facilities, but according to U.N. spokesperson Christopher Gunness, there was neither evidence of rockets nor evidence of militants in the specific schools that were shelled. Israel’s actions violate international law, and they should be held accountable and reprimanded for their war crimes in Gaza.

The current right-wing Israeli government headed by Netanyahu claims to want peace for the region. However, according to Likud’s charter, the political party of which Netanyahu is a member, the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River will always be rejected.

This is not a government seeking peace in the region or compromise, only dominance.

Gaza, as part of the Palestin-

INTERNET

Net neutrality important, must always be protected

Laura Crick Opinions Columnist Music Education Sophomore

N

etwork neutrality keeps the Internet free and open to everyone.

If this changes and the Internet goes corporate, then what is seen on the Internet and the connections to it are at stake.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has protections in place to prevent providers from analyzing and manipulating the data sent from one end of the network to the other. In January of this year, a federal court ruling declared the FCC had overstepped its boundaries. The FCC has since signaled that it might suggest that Internet providers charge content providers for a faster conduit to consumers, thus ending network neutrality.

The phone companies are not allowed to manipulate data, and Internet companies should not be able to either. However, unless the FCC takes a

The University Star 601 University Drive Trinity Building, Room 101 San Marcos, TX 78666 Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708

stand for a free and open Internet, the big providers could have a field day with options for interfering with the Internet. The major companies can interfere with and block articles and speech that make them look bad, or promote what they consider good media, or even block applications and companies that compete with their own, among other things.

“Net neutrality” means applying well-established common carrier rules to the Internet in order preserve its freedom and openness. These common carrier laws are not new ideas; they have been around for centuries, affecting railroads and things of the like. Anything that has the potential to be monopolized and consumed by a wide variety of people generally comes with common carrier laws. In fact, common carrier rules have already been written into the Telecommunications Act of 1996 by Congress. They just need to be applied to broadband Internet connection by the FCC. In previous years, telecommunications companies had been forced to abide by the net neutrality principles. The January ruling stripped the FCC of its power to enforce net neutrality protections, so now the telecom compa-

nies have a rather convenient opening to begin exploiting technologies by monitoring and controlling data sent via their networks.

The Internet needs to be protected. It needs to remain free and open, as it has been since the beginning. As an integral part of 21st century life, it needs to stay neutral and free and accessible by anyone. I should not have to worry about whether I can find the information I need because some company might be paying a telecom provider to cover it up or slow it down.

I do not want to worry about what I tweet or blog about lest it be something my Internet provider does not like. Everything from YouTube to live-streams of events and concerts and even news sites could be affected if net neutrality goes away. The FCC needs to know that people know and care about what is going on with net neutrality.

The future of the Internet could be drastically changed if the people do no let the big guys know that the Internet cannot be controlled. Signing a petition, contacting an official or even just creating some more discourse are all positive steps towards making sure that the Internet stays free, just like it always has been.

Editor-in-Chief............................................Lesley Warren, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor....................Odus Evbagharu,starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters..................................................................................starletters@txstate.edu News Editor............................................Kelsey Bradshaw, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor.............................................Amanda Ross, startrends@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 Design Editor...........................................Lauren Huston, stardesign@txstate.edu

ian state, should be free to selfdetermination. Although Israeli officials report that the occupation of Gaza ended in 2005, that is demonstrably untrue. To this day, Israel maintains control and occupation of Gaza as defined

by Article 47 of the Hague Regulations. Israel controls Gaza’s air space, electromagnetic sphere, registry, water supply, electricity, fuel, territorial waters and the movement of people and goods in and out of the region. Palestinians are prisoners in their own home, not free to move without the consent of Israel.

There are many things that can be said against Hamas. I am not defending their radical actions. I simply hold Israel, as a democracy that espouses egalitarianism, to a higher standard.

The Jewish people have made a state identity nigh essential to their progression through adversity. However, they must not become what they have been continually fighting against.

FOOTBALL

NFL’s lenient punishment of Ray Rice alienates female fans

Hunter Larzelere Opinions Columnist Journalism Sophomore

T

he punishment the NFL has given Ray Rice is far too lenient and sends a bad public relations message.

On February 15, 2014, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice assaulted his then finance¬¬ at a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Although Ray Rice was indicted in March, he was able to avoid jail time due to being a first-time offender.

Following much speculation over what punishment the NFL would dish out, many were extremely angered once his punishment was finally announced.

To the shock and awe of many, Ray Rice was only suspended for two games.

I was shocked at this lack of punishment as well. It does not make any sense to potentially suspend a player a full year for smoking some pot but only give a wife beater a two-game suspension.

The NFL, and specifically commissioner Roger Goodell, needs to reconsider their decision. In a time where the NFL is seeking to increase their female fan base, they should have made an example of Mr. Rice to show fans that this type of behavior is disgusting and will not be tolerated. Instead, all they have shown is that in their eyes recreational drugs are less tolerable than assault.

According to an August 4th, 2014

Multimedia Editor............................Liann Shannon, starmultimedia@txstate.edu Assistant News Editor........................Nicole Barrios, starasstnews@txstate.edu Account Executive..................................Stephanie Macke, 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

sportsgrid.com article, the NFL did not even view the video of Ray Rice dragging his fiancé out of the casino hotel after beating her unconscious. When I see this lack of diligence in the NFL, I become sick to my stomach. My father taught me from a young age only the vilest of men put their hands on a woman.

The worst part of this whole situation is that only Ray Rice seems to be apologetic. He has given to public apologies to the media describing his remorse over his own actions, apologizing to both his wife and his two-year-old daughter for what he has done. It is going to take time for people to forgive Mr. Rice, but at least he is headed in the right direction.

What the NFL does not seem to mind was that with this lackluster punishment they have insulted approximately 45% of their fan base. Over the years the NFL has worked tirelessly to make football more appealing to women. The NFL has tried to reach out to women through their Breast Cancer Awareness campaign, attempts to make stadiums more family-friendly and attempting to implement better safety precautions for players. With all of these attempts to make the NFL more women-friendly, it just does not make any sense that they would not take Ray Rice’s punishment more seriously. An August 4th, 2014, CNN.com opinions column argued that the action taken in the Michael Vick dogfighting scandal compared to the Ray Rice domestic abuse scandal is essentially showing that the NFL cares more about dogs than women.

While I am sure the NFL believes the punishment they handed out to Ray Rice is acceptable, myself and many other fans believe that it is simply not the case. The NFL needs to seriously reconsider their actions, or the women fans that already feel slightly disconnected will feel completely isolated.

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.

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Thursday, August 21, 2014 | The University Star | B5

SPORTS

UniversityStar.com

Tyler Jones

Rob Lowe

sophomore QB

By Austin Granger SPORTS REPORTER

any nicknames by friends, teammates or family?

TJ: Jonesy. That’s about it.

AG: Who is your favorite athlete?

TJ: Michael Jordan.

When I was a kid, I was a big fan of Space Jam.

AG: Why did you choose Texas State?

TJ: There was a little history between the head coach and offensive coordinator here.

AG: What would your dream car be?

TJ: Ford F-150 pickup truck.

AG: If you had to choose another

AG: Do you have

junior running back

Get to Know collegiate sport to play other than football, what would it be?

TJ: Baseball. I’ve always wanted to play baseball. It seems like a fun and relaxing sport.

AG: Do you have a certain pre-game ritual?

TJ: Just shower.

By Kirk Jones SPORTS REPORTER

something in the medical field in Dallas.

bigger holes to run through.

KJ: Which player do you mirror your game after?

RL: Arian Foster.

KJ: If you could replace your life with a famous athlete, who would it be?

RL: Michael Jordan.

KJ: Favorite activity in San Marcos?

RL: The river.

KJ: What is your favorite Disney movie?

RL: Luck of the Irish.

KJ: What is your pregame ritual?

RL: Listen to music and I don't talk to anybody.

KJ: If you were not playing football at Texas State, what would you be doing?

RL: I would probably be doing

KJ: If you could change one rule in football, what would it be?

RL: Holding, so I could have

KJ: What was your favorite toy growing up?

RL: Pogo stick. I had, like, four of them.

KJ: What is the first thing you would buy if you won $100,000?

RL: A Ferrari.

Football Season Preview

By Derrick Holland SPORTS REPORTER The Bobcats are looking to improve upon last year’s 6-6 record and seventh-place finish in the Sun Belt conference.

Coach Dennis Franchione stressed the importance of offensive consistency at the Bobcats’ media day session.

“Right now we are not very consistent,” Franchione said. “We’re very up-and-down. From an offensive standpoint, it’s nice to have our starting quarterback in place. Tyler (Jones) is having a good camp.

Our tight ends need to be more consistent, but our offensive line is better.”

The coaching staff has implemented a hurry-up offense that looks to put more pressure on opposing defenses. The Bobcats ranked last in total offense last year, and Franchione believes a more up-tempo offense will lead to more points.

“I look at Duke last year, and they had a great season,” Franchione said. “They had a

10-plus win season and overcame things and dictated tempo with their offense. Now, are we good enough to do that? I don’t know.

Hopefully we have a chance to keep that up-tempo going and wear people down in the fourth quarter.”

Jones, sophomore quarterback, is a crucial part of how the offense responds to the hurry-up style of play. In eight games last season, Jones had a completion percentage of 62.5 percent, and threw for 1,130 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions.

“We have to improve our ball security,” Jones said. “Coach Franchione considers the Sun Belt Conference to be a mini-SEC (Southeastern Conference), and to an extent I agree with him. There are some well-coached players in this conference, and we have to take care of the ball.”

The coaching staff gained a new face this off-season with the addition of defensive coordinator John Thompson. Thompson served the past two years as Arkansas State’s defensive coordinator. In 2013, Thompson’s team ranked third in

the Sun Belt in both scoring and passing defense.

Thompson brings a complex and aggressive style to Texas State.

Opposing offenses will see many different plays from the Bobcat defense in the upcoming season, and Thompson hopes this will allow the defense to dictate the flow of the game.

“We’ve got to make it tough on the offense,” Thompson said. “If you only run two or three different coverages, the offense will scheme you and gash you. We’re going to attack the other team, and we’re going to attack the other quarterback.”

Michael Orakpo, senior linebacker, is entering his last season as a Bobcat and is looking to continue to be the anchor on an improving defense. Last season Orakpo had 71 tackles and led the team with 4.5 sacks. Orakpo is excited about the aggressive style Thompson is bringing to the defense, and he is impressed with the new blitz schemes.

“Overall, the best thing about my position is that the middle

linebacker calls the shots,” Orakpo said. “Sometimes we can dictate where the blitzes go or where to slide the defensive line. Coach Thompson has really taught us how to read offenses. That’s important for me because I feel like we are going to put our players in a position to make plays.”

Craig Mager, senior cornerback, is also impressed with the new aggressive style of defensive play.

Mager has made 36 consecutive starts for the Bobcats. He recorded 49 tackles and nine pass breakups last year, with a touchdown against Southern Miss. Mager enjoys the freedom an aggressive defense allows him.

“I love just being on an island outside,” Mager said. “That’s what kind of corner I am. It puts a little more pressure on you when we bring a little more heat because you don’t have as much help over the top, but I really enjoy the pressures he (Thompson) is putting on us because I feel like it gives us more freedom to just play.”

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to compete for starting positions.

Gabe Schrade, a freshman who attended Deland High School in Florida, has impressed the coaching staff and could possibly be competing for a starting position at tight end. Clarence Guidry III from Pflugerville, Texas, has also been competing for the cornerback position.

P.J. Anderson from San Antonio, Texas, should also provide depth at the wide receiver position. Overall, the coaching staff is impressed with the work ethic of the new freshmen and the team as a whole. The Bobcats are moving in the right direction, but Coach Franchione realizes that there is more work to be done.

“We’re not where we want to be, but thank God we’re not where we were,” Franchione said.

Although there have been changes to the offensive and defensive game plan, the Bobcats should benefit from playing the Sun Belt opponents for a second year in a row. Texas State faces ArkansasPine Bluff in the season opener Aug. 30 at Bobcat Stadium.

B6 | The University Star | Sports | Thursday August, 21, 2014

Volleyball Season Preview

By Brittnie Curtis SPORTS REPORTER Texas State’s volleyball team is entering its second season in the Sun Belt Conference, and the Bobcats are eager to reclaim their title after winning the 2013 Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament.

“It’s motivation because we definitely want a repeat,” senior setter Caylin Mahoney said. “I’m really excited to start playing and seeing what this team will do because I know we can do even better

SBC Championship Tournament, has made her mark while at Texas State. Mahoney finished with 1,256 assists, the sixth most in the conference, and was named the Delta Zeta Classic’s Most Valuable Setter.

“This group of girls is very competitive,” Mahoney said.

“We all like to have fun and win, which is a good thing.

It’s just really exciting to finally all come together and practice together. (In practice) I’m focused on helping make my teammates better by trying to get more decep-

very different from what I experienced in high school.

With the days going on, it’s getting a lot better.”

Ashlee Hilbun, Amari Deardorff and Molly Arhens have graduated, leaving the Bobcats with three holes in the rotation. Deardorff ranked seventh in kills in last year’s conference, and Hilbun’s .313 hitting percentage placed her fourth. Junior middle blockers Amanda Watkins and Brooke Smith will fill their spots.

“Watkins and Smith have shown us some good things

“I like where we are. We have a lot more depth, we have a lot of competitive kids here and we have 21 very good players.”

—Coach Karen Chisum this year.”

The Bobcats started their 2014 season practices this past Saturday, and Coach Karen Chisum is enthusiastic about how far the team has already come. Last season, Texas State led the conference in kills (1,847) with a .219 hitting percentage, good for third in the conference.

The team finished in the top three in kills, hitting percentage, digs, service aces and blocks.

“I like where we are,” Chisum said. “We have a lot more depth, we have a lot of competitive kids here and we have 21 very good players.”

Mahoney, last year’s Most Outstanding Player of the

tive and trying to get them more one-on-ones (one setter verses one blocker).”

Out of the newcomers, Chisum suggests keeping an eye on three freshman players: outside hitter Sydney Paradeaux, middle blocker Lauren Kirch and defensive player Alex Silver.

“I was really intimidated at first,” Paradeaux said. “The first couple of days have been

STAR FILE PHOTO

the past few days,” Chisum said. “Watkins is eager, and Smith has been working her tail off.”

Texas State opens the season with three consecutive road games against non-conference opponents Lamar, Houston and Wake Forest.

The Bobcats’ home opener, the first of a six-game home stand, is against the Baylor Bears on Sept. 3.

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Thursday, August 21, 2014 | Sports | The University Star | B7

Soccer Season Preview The Texas State soccer team is gearing up for its 2014 run in the Sun Belt Conference as it looks to take the next step toward another NCAA Tournament appearance.

Texas State, the conference’s fourth seed, defeated Troy in overtime in the first tournament game last season. The top-seeded Western Kentucky Hilltoppers eliminated the Bobcats in the second round. The team finished the season with an 8-92 overall record and a 4-3-1 conference record.

“Last season was our third conference in three years,” Coach Kat Conner said. “It was a lot more athletic and a lot more physical then what we have seen. We have to rev up our athletic ability. Physically, we’re trying to get our players to understand that people are going to touch them, and the speed of the game has changed, so we have to play the ball quicker.”

Coach Conner is heading into her 15th season with the Bobcats after starting the women’s soccer program in 1999. Coach Conner has won nine championships (four regular-season, five conference) and has had led the Bobcats to five NCAA Tournament appearances.

“Right now we’re really trying to work on our mentality as a team,” senior mid-

fielder Jourdan Brown said.

“Mental toughness is the main key we’re trying to hit home through these two-adays to take us through the season. Yeah, it’s hot out here, it’s tiring, we’re tired, but are we going to be able to be mentally tough after the ninth minute mark if we’re in overtime? That’s what we’re trying to teach the freshmen because we really want them on the field.”

The Bobcats have 18 returning players, including Tori Hale, senior forward, and Lynsey Curry, junior forward, who both earned second-team All-Conference honors after their performances last season. Curry and Hale started in 36 combined games for Texas State.

Hale tied the all-time season record for assists with nine, while Curry led the team in goals with seven.

“Lynsey (Curry) is doing a great job,” Coach Conner said. “She’s taking on more responsibility. All spring I’ve told her as well as the team plays, she is going to play. Instead of taking the team on her back, she’s learning to be more patient and give her teammates the confidence to make plays but still be that ‘Michael Jordan-type player’ to finish games off for us.”

Senior defenders Brenna Smith, Michelle Bucy and Monica McEntee are back for the Bobcats. McEntee is working her way back from an injury. Smith started all

19 games for the Bobcats last season, while Bucy played in seven games, including four starts.

“Brenna (Smith) is back looking good,” Coach Conner said. “(Michelle) Bucy is focused as ever, and Kristen is playing with more confidence, so as a coach you’re excited because you’re finally a little bit older in the back.”

Also returning to the squad this year are a pair of senior midfielders: Ali Myers and Brown. Myers played in 18 games last season, including four starts. Brown played in all 19 games and also made four starts.

The Bobcats have depth in the midfield to compliment Brown and Myers. Landry Lowe, junior midfielder and sophomore midfielders Maddie Nichols, Madi O’Neal and Ali Jones are also returning. Jones will replace Sydney Curry, who tallied eight points last year.

“We made our goal that we want to be the first to score every game,” Brown said. “We want to hold the teams we play to less than a goal per game, and we want to score at least two goals per game, and if we can mentally stay on that track together, then we’ll do well.”

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