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UNIVERSITY
E-cigarettes now banned on Texas State campus DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Jack Mogab, Ana Johnson and Austin J. Robertson participate in group cycling Feb. 14 with San Marcos Cycling Friends.
RECREATIONAL CYCLING IN CITY CONTINUES TO GROW By Exsar Arguello NEWS REPORTER @Exsar_Misael An on-campus organization has created a bike-sharing program as recreational cycling grows in San Marcos. The bike-sharing trend has grown in popularity in San Antonio and Austin. Existing systems in these cities allow citizens to rent bikes to get around town or simply for recreational use. The Bike Cave, an organization and business run by Auxiliary Services at Texas State, was the first to offer a similar program in San Marcos. The bike-sharing program launched in the beginning of the spring semester. “The rental program that we have started is aimed to help people figure out if they want to eventually buy a bike,” said Alex Vogt, alternative transportation coordinator for transportation services. “We are excited to really push cycling in the city at a casual level to college students who are looking to invest in a bike.” Renting a bike from the cave allows prospective buyers to ex-
perience cycling without the cost, Vogt said. All bikes in the program are recycled, he said. Bike Cave workers and the University Police Department (UPD) gather abandoned units found on campus. Owners are given a period of time to pick up their abandoned bicycles after they have been collected by UPD. Stephanie Daniels, coordinator of marketing and promotions in transportation services, said the units that are not claimed are given to the Bike Cave. “Once the Bike Cave acquires the bikes, they are tested and fixed of any issues before they are available for resale at very low prices to ensure affordable costs to people who want to get into cycling,” Daniels said. Accidents happen to cyclists “all the time,” Vogt said. The Bike Cave promotes safe riding and education for new cyclists. “As cycling continues to expand and grow, we need to be teaching our new cyclists about the safety precautions needed to ride a bike,”
Vogt said. “It’s a hazard to ride on busy streets, but it’s the inherent risk that we take when we ride, and to convey this to new riders is important.” According to the City of San Marcos website, 152 collisions and 10 fatalities have occurred in the past five years between motorists and pedestrians or cyclists. City council adopted a “safe passing” ordinance February 2014 due to the amount of accidents. The ordinance requires cars and small trucks to move over three feet when approaching a cyclist or pedestrian. Commercial vehicles and bigger trucks are required to move six feet away. City officials plan to add bike lanes to Sessom Drive and sections of North LBJ Drive, Vogt said. “Cycling is growing exponentially in the city, and safety is just another thing to take into concern when cycling,” said Alex Lincoln, co-owner of The HUB Cyclery, a full-service bike shop. “Since the passing of the three-feet ordinance, we do feel the city is tak-
See BICYCLING, Page 2
It’s a hazard to ride on busy streets, but it’s the inherent risk that we take when we ride, and to convey this to new riders is important.” —Alex Vogt, alternative transportation coordinator for transportation services
CITY
Local health officials address measles outbreak
JOHNEL ACOSTA STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Ariana Poole, nutrition and foods freshman, receives a vaccine Feb. 13 from Jennifer Ficken, registered nurse, at Student Health Center. By Jake Goodman NEWS REPORTER @Jake_thegoodman The United States has seen 121
reported cases of the measles since an outbreak began in California last year, and Texas State students may be at risk. A person with measles can
take up to 10 days to show symptoms including coughing, a runny nose, red eyes and a rash, said Emillio Carranco, director of the Student Health Center. Carranco said the virus is easily prevented with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. He said university students are not required to receive the vaccine. Only one case of measles has appeared in Texas, Carranco said. None have been reported at Texas State. “Measles is making a comeback, and we’ll continue to have outbreaks if people don’t decide to continue to vaccinate,” Carranco said. Carranco said the state of Texas requires children receive the MMR vaccination to attend public schools. Once immunized, a person is usually
protected from measles for life. People at the highest risk are children under age 5 and adults over 20 who are beyond the vaccination requirements. “We’ve really been lucky,” Carranco said. He said the virus could spread easily at the university because students live and work in close proximity. “If one infected person was exposed to 10 others without their vaccinations, nine of them would get sick,” Carranco said. Students should check their medical records and speak with parents to help determine if they have received the MMR vaccine, he said. Dawn Richardson is the national director for Parents Requesting Open Vaccine Verifi-
See VACCINES, Page 2
By James Palmer SPECIAL TO THE STAR @jmesspalmer Texas State officials banned tobacco use for health reasons, and the policy was recently reviewed again. The university is one of 1,014 campuses across the country exercising tobaccofree policies, according to the Americans for Non-Smokers’ Rights website. The Department of Student Affairs reviewed Texas State’s current tobacco policy Feb. 9 and decided to include vaporizing devices within the scope of products addressed. “The only thing we wanted to clarify was the issue with e-cigarettes,” said Joanne Smith, vice president of student affairs. “It has come up several times, and so we were wanting to review what the city had in their ordinance and then what we had.” Individuals on campus complained about a lack of regulations on e-cigarettes, so the review was held to include them in the tobacco policy, Smith said. Rickey Lattie, captain and assistant director of the University Police Department (UPD), said officers do not write citations for smoking violations. “We usually just walk over to (violators) and ask them to stop,” Lattie said. Cally Moore, biochemistry senior, said UPD enforced the ban with citations. Moore was caught smoking on campus about a year and a half ago. “The cop was really nice,” Moore said. “He just took our student IDs, and then we got an email saying, ‘Hey, don’t smoke. Go to these quit-smoking websites.’ He told us that if we got caught again, we would be fined.” Students, faculty and staff turn violators in to the Department of Student Affairs, where they are punished academically for the violation. “Typically, when a person is stopped, we let them know, ‘Oh, we have a policy at the university that we are a tobaccofree campus,’” Smith said. Violators are referred to the Office of the Dean of Students, which holds hearings for repeat offenders. Individuals can face penalties such as community service and tobacco classes the violator must pay for, Smith said. Student Government vice-presidential candidate Tyler Burton addressed the university’s tobacco policy Feb. 11 at The University Star’s 2015 Student Government debate. “I don’t feel like we should have people walking through the quad or campus with cigarettes,” Burton said at the debate. He suggested a change to the existing policy. “We should have designated spots for smoking,” Burton said. Ashtray bins are located in spots smokers frequent. Signs around campus and statements by university officials do not establish the policy’s legal enforcement. Students, staff, faculty and UPD are responsible for locating and reporting violators under the policy, Smith said.
ANDRES J RODRIGUEZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Brandon Redding, criminal justice freshman, takes a smoke break Feb. 16 after class.
2 | The University Star | News | Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Go fetch!
Correction: In a Feb. 12 University Star article, “Candidates discuss goals, initiatives at Student Government debate,” a title was printed incorrectly. The article stated Tyler Burton held the position of “Presidential Council Coordinator of Student Government.” The title should have read “Freshman Council Coordinator.”
VACCINES, from front
STUDENT GOVERNMENT, from front ing a lot more aims to support cycling and safety.” Cycling safely in a city requires common sense, Lincoln said. “There are certain roads, like Sessom, that you should really avoid when cycling,” Lincoln said. “The key is to practice safe cycling and think smartly.” Cyclists can enjoy trails along Purgatory Creek and Spring Lake without the inherent dangers of vehicles, said John Watson, The HUB shop-hand employee. “The city has a map of all the bike trails that are located on their website, so cyclists of all levels can simply enjoy the beauty of the hill country as they should,” Watson said. “If you don’t want to ride on the streets of the city and aren’t ready for that challenge, the trails are a great way to get that peace of mind.” Parking lot areas on trails like those in Purgatory Creek were expanded to accommodate people riding the paths, Lincoln said. The trails vary in difficulty from beginner to advanced so anyone can ride safely. Kerry Lash is a member of San Marcos Cycling Friends, an organization aimed at growing recreational cycling in the city. “Every Tuesday and Thursday, we meet at Mochas and Javas at around six in the evening and ride
about 22 miles throughout the city,” Lash said. “What’s great about the ride-alongs is that they are no-drop rides.” A no-drop ride means regardless of skill level or riding experience, someone in the group will always ride alongside participants even if a particular individual or individuals are lagging behind, Lash said. “The beauty of the group is that there is no hierarchy or leader,” Lash said. “We all ride along together and help each other out in a positive way. Our group is 400 members strong, and we continue to grow in a positive and safe manner.”
cation (P.R.O.V.E.), a nonprofit organization educating parents about immunizations. Richardson said vaccines carry side effects for certain people. “There’s two things I can guarantee you,” Richardson said. “You can’t predict who is going to have a reaction to the vaccine, and you can’t predict who it’s going to fail for.” People could contract the measles even if everyone on campus were vaccinated, Richardson said. The outbreak in California cannot yet be termed as a resurgence of the measles, Richardson said, The present strain comes from overseas where the virus was never eradicated. Richardson said whether the reappearance of measles in the U.S. is related to declining vaccination rates is unclear. The dangers of the measles were “exaggerated,” and the
World Health Organization recommends Vitamin A for treatment, Richardson said “There have been zero deaths from measles in this country (in this recent outbreak), so people need to keep that in perspective,” Richardson said. Rebecca Herring, communicable disease nurse at the Hays County Personal Health Department, said all vaccines can cause side effects and must be weighed on a case-by-case basis. She insisted the MMR vaccine is safe. “I’ve been (in Hays County) since 1995, vaccinating my kids and the kids of my kids, and they’re all doing fine,” Herring said. Richardson s a i d people should a s k ques-
tions about vaccinations because doing so holds the vaccine manufacturers accountable. “When you pay for a vaccine, part of what you pay for is liability protection for the manufacturer,” Richardson said. “If it was safe, why would manufacturers need that?” University students should do their own research and draw conclusions for themselves, Richardson said. Carranco said no vaccine or medicine is without side effects. “Having said that, the benefits (of vaccination) far outweigh the risk,” Carranco said.
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LIFESTYLE
UniversityStar.com
Graduate students write, produce new play By Denise Cervantes LIFESTYLE REPORTER @Cervantesdenise Texas’s State Department of Theatre and Dance performed “Snake Oil,” a student-written and -directed production, this past weekend as part of the black box series. The show, performed in the Patti Strickel Harrison Studio Theatre, is set in Sweetwater. The production is a comedy-drama centered on the workings of a con man weaving his way into people’s pockets by selling snake oil as a household remedy. The play focuses on his journey of being blackmailed into helping the daughter of one his customers, a
teenage girl who is pregnant out of wedlock. The first read-through for the performance was held before winter break, said Jack William Rodgers, theatre senior and actor. James Brownlee, director of the play and theatre graduate student, said one of the most interesting aspects of “Snake Oil” is rehearsals began in early January even though the script was not finalized. “This was very much a collaboration,” Brownlee said. “We were rehearsing the play as he was writing it, and every week we would get new pages.” Brownlee said everyone came together seamlessly to take part in
this unusual experience. “Normally when you are rehearsing a play you already have a complete script, but the unique experience about rehearsing an original play is that the playwright can come in and take a look at what works and what doesn’t and tweak it accordingly,” Brownlee said. “It was a great collaboration.” Playwright Kevin Talley, an MFA playwriting candidate in his third year of graduate school, worked on “Snake Oil” over the summer. He said the second act was written in the beginning of the fall, but he was still in the process of finishing the redraft during the first few days of rehearsal.
“I didn’t know how the show would turn out,” Talley said. “I knew it had a great cast and crew, but I was pretty worried about my own writing. In the end you just have to do something and put it in the hands of great people, and it is going to turn out all right.” The writing managed to capture the essence of humor and drama together. The performers fed off the audience’s energy. Rodgers hopes the audience develops a deeper understanding of family relationships after seeing the play. “I hope the audience enjoys it and has a good time because that’s sort of my main goal, is
to have the audience enjoy what they see.” Rodgers said. “I hope the audience develops a deeper understanding for what it means to have a family and what they mean to you but also when it’s time to do your own thing.” Brownlee said different interpretations of the show are possible. “It’s my job to honor the playwright’s words, so I have to do it in such a way that my creative stamp is on it but that everything he puts in there remains intact,” Brownlee said. “There are several messages coming out the show, and the great thing about theatre is that the audience can take whatever they want from it.”
NAMI Cats provide mental health discussion, services By Jonathan Hamilton LIFESTYLE REPORTER @Jonodashham1 The National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI Cats for short, is on a mission to raise awareness across Texas State. NAMI was formed in 1979 as a grassroots effort to provide support to individuals who have mental illnesses, said Danni Lopez-Rogina, anthropology senior and president of NAMI. Students and faculty advisors formed the Texas State branch of NAMI in the spring semester of 2013, she said. Joseph Meyer, director of institutional research and staff adviser for NAMI Cats, said he hopes to let students know they should not be ashamed of having mental health issues. “It is pretty common,” Meyer said. “But sometimes it is a little bit surprising because we do not talk about it much, so it gives the impression that it is less common than
what it really is.” Meyer said he has battled clinical depression and has a child who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. His personal familiarity with mental illness led him to advise NAMI Cats. “My parenting experiences, more than anything else, have had a pretty profound impact on how I see the world and how important I think it is to talk more freely and openly about mental health issues,” Meyer said. “About twenty-five percent of people will experience a diagnosable mental illness in a given year.” Michael Johs, health information management junior and vice president of NAMI, said the camaraderie the organization provides is a reason people feel comfortable opening up. “We have a good group of people that understand,” Johs said. “We just want people to know that there are resources available as well as our group of people.” NAMI Cats meets biweekly on Thursdays at 5 p.m. Lopez-Rogina said forum top-
ics can include issues ranging from post-traumatic stress to mental breakdowns. Lopez-Rogina said she is familiar with the effects of mental illness. She has learned to relate to others dealing with similar struggles through her own experiences with depression. “I have dealt with my own issues,” Lopez-Rogina said. “I have had depression/anxiety since the fourth grade. I can remember that moment of realizing something was not right.” Lopez-Rogina said losing family members to mental illness inspired her to get involved. “I became aware that there is always people going through things and we do not even think about it,” Lopez-Rogina said. “We do not notice until they are gone. That is what had led me to be passionate about it.” Lucia Summers, assistant professor of criminal justice and staff adviser for NAMI, used her experience
working in psychiatric hospitals to relay a message of hope. Summers said she was diagnosed years ago with chronic depression and actively combats the stigma associated with mental illness. “With NAMI Cats, we try to fight stigma and provide support for each
other,” Summers said. “We are looking at volunteer opportunities within mental health, going to local psychiatric hospitals and talking with people. That is something where we are in a position to make a special contribution.”
DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
NAMI Cats advisers Joseph Meyer and Lucia Summers pose alongside vice president Michael Johs, health information management junior, and president Danni Lopez-Rogina, anthropology senior, Feb. 12 at the LBJ Student Center.
Texas State Quidditch provides competition at international level By Sarah Bradley LIFESTYLE REPORTER @sarah_bradskies Texas State’s Quidditch team is ranked nationally and internationally as one of the best in college competition. The team began its rise to success when Michael Brewer, computer science senior, founded it in the fall 2011. “Our team first started as a regular student organization, but within less than a year of requesting permission from athletics to become a sports club, we were approved,” Brewer said. “This is actually really record time. Most organizations usually take at least three years to prepare and get accepted for a sports club.” Brewer said a brief introduction to the sport inspired him to establish a team at Texas State. “I initially became interested with the game of Quidditch when I played it a few times with friends,” Brewer said. “Then I saw how incredibly popular the game was becoming and how rapidly. I also really wanted to introduce the game of Quidditch to Texas State, seeing as it is unlike any other sport in the world.” Eric Reyes, exercise and sports science freshman and current team member, agreed Quidditch is a one-of-a-kind sport. “In its simplest explanation, the game of Quidditch is basically a mixture of aspects from basketball, rugby and dodgeball,”
Reyes said. Quidditch is the best sport anyone can ask for, Reyes said. “Unlike most all other sports, Quidditch is full contact, meaning no pads, as well as co-ed,” Reyes said. “Rarely do you ever get to see co-ed games, where men and women play together in the same game, so that’s another great example of how Quidditch is remarkably unique.” Jordon Parisher, English senior and team captain, said the game involves athleticism and dedication. “Quidditch is really quite amazing,” Parisher said. “It is a fun, silly, quirky game all while being an intense sport. Of course, there are still aspects of Harry Potter, which started it all, but it really is a true sport that takes athletic ability and skill.” Parisher said the team practices four to five times a week with additional training as needed. The Texas State Quidditch team has been ranked as the second best team in the country. Last year the team was internationally ranked 31st and reached the World Cup finals, Reyes said. “It is really quite amazing how far the Texas State Quidditch team has come in such a short amount of time,” Brewer said. “I mean, we only started up three years ago, and now we are considered one of the best both nationally and internationally. I am definitely proud to have been a part of this organization.”
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4 | The University Star | Tuesday, February 17, 2015
OPINIONS
UniversityStar.com
THE MAIN POINT
Student Government involvement crucial for university change
M
ore Bobcats should be involved in Student Government in order to enact real changes to the university they will inhabit for at least four years of their lives. Student Government currently has a low profile on campus. Perhaps collaborating with faculty and staff specializing in government, such as political science professors, can bring some legitimacy and worthwhile proposals to the organization. Bobcats who major in political science should have some kind of involvement in student government. Nothing beats real-world experience. Student Government has a reputation of being cliquey and largely affiliated with fraternities and sororities. This could explain the low retention rate for the program, as very few people participate for more than one full academic year. Quitting right after joining makes little sense if people participate to better the experience for students at the university. Meeting with the dean of students and other faculty members to discuss improving the program and
garnering more student participation would be beneficial. Margarita Arellano, the Dean of Students, advises Student Government, but little has changed in the past several years. It is almost as if those in office do not take their positions seriously or listen to things she may or may not have told them. Participation is one of the biggest problems plaguing Student Government. This is partly due to the indifference of the student body and those who hold office. Members of Student Government do not do a particularly great job of advertising themselves or their proposals. Informing constituents about what Student Government is doing or not doing for them would be a great way to garner support. However it does not happen often. Most students probably did not even know a change is currently taking place in Student Government leadership. Investing in social media could be the change Student Government needs. San Marcos is full of college kids and young adults, so using social media would be smart.
Many students know more about what is happening on Twitter and Instagram than what is going on internally at the university. Student Government needs to catch Bobcats where they are and come to their level. Student Government might be more renowned if it were more involved with conversations and complaints. Student Government should invest in what more people actually care about and want changed instead of focusing on attendance at athletic events. Using social media to talk about the latest game broadcast on ESPN with catchy hashtags is not political and will not enact change. Student Government has considerable power and should use it on things other than pestering people about attending a football game. Unfortunately, many Student Government members seem to see it as nothing more than an elective and do not exercise power and leverage appropriately. Therefore, the rest of the students suffer from their own ineptitude as well as a potentially incompetent government. Going to classrooms, having
RYAN JEANES STAR ILLUSTRATOR
open forums, speaking at dorms and setting up a booth in the Quad are just a few ways Student Government members can make themselves more accessible. Politicians do not wait for their constituents to come to them. They go where their constituents are. Representatives should naturally want to know the people they are representing. Student Government has a duty to affirm its existence. The 37,000 students do not have a duty to show themselves to their government.
Texas State needs student leaders who care about the university, not about their cliques and football. With that said, students should not be discouraged about joining the organization as it has the potential to serve as a real learning lab. Change has to start somewhere, and it will never come if students don’t try. Student Government may be largely inept, but that does not mean it always will be. Change is needed and desired for the betterment of the student body.
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.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
IVERSITY STAR C A UN
BLACK
Brandon Sams ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR @TheBrandonSams
W
hite supremacy is a pervasive system of oppression and power that needs to be recognized, understood and dismantled. White supremacy exists as a system based on the institutional dominance, exploitation and oppression of entire continents, nations and non-white peoples. The system of white supremacy is maintained by the collective desire to maintain and defend the wealth, power, control
detriment of one’s own group. If being biased in favor of one’s own group is so natural, then it would exist at the same frequency among all groups, but it does not. White supremacy programs everyone, white and black alike. It states one group of people is better than another. It states one group of people has been more important than another. It states one group is, perhaps, more deserving of certain liberties than others. One aspect unique to the system of white supremacy, however, is the absence of the singular bigot. The perpetuation and defense of white supremacy, unlike racism as commonly defined, does not demand a singular bigot or bigotry. The perpetuation of the system of white supremacy is oftentimes unconscious. Both conscious and unconscious ideas of white authority are widespread and not unique to the U.S. Through colonialism and imperialism, the perpetuation
ISLAMOPHOBIA
American Sniper patriotism masks cultural bias
Bryant Trevino OPINIONS COLUMNIST @BryanWithATee
T
he movie American Sniper is no more than a work of propaganda that feeds American Islamophobia. There has been an ongoing debate over the Oscar-nominated film about its central character and his title as an “American patriot.” Christopher Kyle served in the military during the Iraq War and, upon his return, wrote his memoir, American Sniper, which recounted his life and time spent in Iraq. Clint Eastwood adapted the book to a film that has been nominated for several Oscars. Many people have been discouraged by how black-and-white the film and the autobiography treat the Iraqi War and how eagerly many of the viewers and readers revere them. American Sniper, in both print and film, is doused in patriotism and refuses to treat the war as if it were anything more than a simplistic battle of good versus evil. This would not be an issue if the book and movie were treated only as forms of entertainment. With Governor Greg Abbott’s recent proclamation of Feb.
2 as Chris Kyle Day in Texas, however, I’m beginning to think the works are regarded as more than just entertainment. On one hand, there is the film, which does an excellent job painting its core character in a perfect image of American patriotism. Kyle is a compassionate, masculine, sharp-shooting sniper whose each and every target was a 100 percent without-a-doubt “savage” terrorist. Throw in obligatory Bible shots and add in the scene about the 9/11 attack, and you have a film that is dangerous to criticize. On the other hand, there is the book. Missing the same compassion shown by Bradley Cooper in the film, Kyle identifies himself in a less considerate manner, saying things like, “I don’t shoot people with Korans—I’d like to, but I don’t” or “I’d be back in a heartbeat. I’m not lying or exaggerating to say it was fun.” It is a dangerous game to disapprove of the armed forces in this country. Michael Moore can attest to this. After a recent comment about World War II, Moore faced backlash from the population. One cannot make this comment without knowing they are going to receive a few criticisms about how people in the military fight for one’s right to say that. I appreciate the armed forces and what they do, but the truth of the matter is Kyle is no more exceptional than others in the military. He is not so special that he deserves a dedicated holiday to commemorate him as Abbott has done in Texas. By supporting him and his character, Abbott has just supported the racist and judgmental sentiments toward those of Arabic ethnicity. —Bryant Trevino is a journalism junior
The University Star Interim Editor-in-Chief...................................Nicole Barrios, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor....................Cameron Cutshall, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters................................................................................universitystar@txstate.edu News Editor..............................................Kelsey Bradshaw, starnews@txstate.edu Lifestyle Editor..........................................Britton Richter, starlifestyle@txstate.edu Opinions Editor.......................................Imani McGarrell, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor...........................................Madelynne Scales, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor........................................... Quixem Ramirez, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief.....................................Sam Hankins, starcopychief@txstate.edu
of these systems—as well as ideas of non-white subordination—exist across an array of societies, cultures and institutions. Now, to be clear, I am not against white people. As great a headline as that would be, it is simply untrue. Being against white supremacy, its claims on the concept of whiteness and the institutionalization of this concept are one thing. Having racial prejudice and bias against white people is another. It is thoroughly important not to misconstrue anti-white-supremacy as prejudice against white people. The only thing I am prejudiced against is the undue system that has been built and sustained for white entitlement and advantage. Frankly, being polite in the face of systemic racism is not something I am interested in. For a lot of people this may be a hard concept to swallow as it requires the unpacking and unlearning of several widely-held beliefs.
2015
Understanding white supremacy also takes the express desire to deprogram certain inflated aspects of their own importance. This process is not something I would imagine many would be interested in doing, naturally. To dismantle white supremacy would be to turn society upside down as we’ve known it. I am not quite sure everyone is ready for that. Most white people are not ready for such a loss in perceived importance and centricity. The world has been altered in the favor of white people. Very few people would want to give up such grand entitlement and privilege. One cannot expect much, but addressing such a damaging and widespread system is step one in the healing process. Eventually, true equality will not be an idealized concept to be held up high but an expressly practiced reality. —Brandon Sams is a journalism sophomore
ANIMAL CRUELTY
Cosmetic testing practices cruel, unnecessary
Kirsten Peek OPINIONS COLUMNIST @kirsten_peek
“
You’re going to be my guinea pig!” People often innocently use this silly-sounding phrase when they experiment with a new recipe or hairstyle. What this saying actually refers to is the practice of testing cosmetic products and medications on animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits and primates. Cosmetic testing is inhumane, and students should avoid buying cosmetics from companies that test on animals. Many people do not realize how prevalent cosmetic testing truly is as well as what the testing subjects endure. Many mainstream cosmetic lines such as Maybelline, Dove and CoverGirl test their products on animals. According to Humane Society International, animal testing subjects undergo
pain and psychological distress as they are forced to ingest the chemicals in hair and makeup products. “In my opinion, the worst is the ‘lethal dose test,’ which is when animals are forced to swallow large amounts of a chemical to test its lethality,” said Andrea Cordova, electronic media junior. “Bananas are lethal if you eat too many of them too. Anything is. There is no point in these tests.” Animal testing is done in a variety of ways. Some scientists are working on creating alternative models to eliminate the so-called necessity of animal testing as these experiments often do not replicate the same results they would in humans. The medical industry often requires animal testing to proceed to clinical trails, while car companies utilize animals in car-crash tests to validate the need for seat belts. Some doctors apply animal testing to examine the impact of intentionally inflicted injuries such as head trauma. All of the above are instances of a more complicated ethical dilemma because they arguably save human lives. While many people are torn on their feelings toward the necessity of medical
testing on animals, there is no justification for supporting companies that test on animals for the sole purpose of vanity. It is shallow and inexcusably selfish to put mascara or lotion ahead of the life of another living being. It is particularly backwards when this is in lieu of cruelty-free products not tested on animals. With websites and mobile apps such as Leaping Bunny gaining popularity, crueltyfree companies are relatively easy to find. Leaping Bunny is a great resource for people who wish to lead an ethical lifestyle. The website contains lists of cruelty-free commodities from cosmetics and hair supplies to pet and household cleaning products. “A lot of people think cruelty-free means more expensive, but that’s not always the case,” Cordova said. “I got a cruelty-free body wash for three dollars from H-E-B. Urban Decay isn’t the only answer. Just read your labels.” Students should make the effort to research the companies they support and only buy cosmetics from those that do not test on animals. —Kirsten Peek is a journalism senior 601 University Drive Trinity Building, Room 101 San Marcos, TX 78666
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HISTOR Y MON
TH
White supremacy subconscious, must be dismantled and privilege white people possess. More often than not, people make the mistake of defining white supremacy as simply the overt racial hatred and self-conscious racism popularized by notable supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan or the Aryan Brotherhood. While the above definition is true as well, this pertains to a different phenomenon. The work of white supremacist groups is much different from the systematic cultural, social, economic, political and global practice of idealized white supremacy and privilege. The Implicit Association Test (IAT) shows a troubling 88 percent of white Americans are biased in favor of whites. Some may argue it is natural for a person to favor their own group compared to others, yet the same test shows black Americans are split almost evenly. That, my friends, is white supremacy. This ideology is an implicit, unconscious association of whiteness with greatness, even to the
MN OLU
In honor of Black History Month, the Opinions section will spotlight a column written by one of The University Star's black staff members in each issue. The University Star hopes to showcase a variety of perspectives in the series dedicated to bringing issues in the black community to light.
The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the spring and fall and every other Wednesday in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright Tuesday, February 17, 2015. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief. The first five issues of each edition of the paper are free. Additional copies of the paper can be purchased at 50¢ per copy. Contact The University Star office at (512) 245-3487 to purchase additional copies.
Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com
The University Star | Tuesday, February 17, 2015 | 5
SPORTS
UniversityStar.com
BASEBALL
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Cory Geisler, junior pitcher, pitches against UC Davis Feb. 15 at Bobcat Ballpark. By Quixem Ramirez SPORTS EDITOR @quixem The Texas State baseball team enters its Tuesday matchup against Sam Houston in uncharted territory. The team is 0-2-1 this year, marking the first time since 2006 without a win in its opening weekend. The 2006 iteration of the Bobcats lost to Oklahoma, Gonzaga and Texas-Pan American in the first three games before defeating New Mexico in their fourth game. A loss Tuesday would make history for the wrong reasons.
IT’S A PROCESS
Assistant coach Jeremy Fikac said the team’s talent will even out and turn into wins. Good news: This is not football, in which each game holds significant weight. Five baseball games represent approximately 8.6 percent of the schedule. One football game represents 8.3 percent of the schedule. Baseball involves more matchups and is subject to greater game-to-game inconsistency. The sport is a marathon, and the Bobcats have not passed the first water checkpoint. In other words, the team still has plenty of time to flip the switch.
BULLPEN STRUGGLES
Texas State had several opportunities to defeat UC Davis during the three-game series, but the bullpen allowed the Aggies to climb back into the game. The Bobcat bullpen compiled a 9.78 earned run average last weekend. Fikac called on nine pitchers with the game on the line, and they did not get the job done. The starting rotation, meanwhile, allowed five earned runs in 19.1 innings. The starters’ cumulative earned run average was 2.36. Prior to the season, Fikac said the team’s strength was in pitching depth and experience. It is worth noting, though, that any random three-game stretch can elicit unreasonable conclusions. The Bobcats appear to have enough depth in the starting rotation to keep them in games. The bullpen just needs to do the rest and fill in the gaps.
Fikac started five freshmen in the series finale against UC Davis. He has not been afraid to throw the younger players into the fray in order to build up their confidence. The decision could pay dividends as the season progresses because it allows the players to mature at the collegiate level. Jared Huber, freshman
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TEAM HISTORY
Texas State has won 51 of 96 games against Sam Houston with a 31-14 record during Coach Ty Harrington’s 16-year tenure. Sam Houston, winners of the teams’ last four meetings, defeated Texas State 10-9 in 2013. The teams did not play in 2014.
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catcher, and Jaylen Hubbard, freshman infielder, are already making an impact. Hubbard reached base on 40 percent of his appearances, and Huber tallied two starts in three games.
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The Student Publications Board of the Texas State School of Journalism and Mass Communication is conducting an all-campus open petitioning process to select a student as Editor-in-Chief of The University Star. Term begins one week following the final issue of 2015 Spring Semester publication schedule. Applicants must be available to serve the entire term of the appointment. Each applicant is asked to complete a written petition, which is subsequently screened by members of the student publications board. The board will interview qualified candidates for the position. The student publications board includes the journalism sequence coordinator in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, the assistant director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and a member of the print medium who is selected by the director of student publications. The director of student publications and the current editor-in-chief serve as ex officio members for the committee.
Minimum Qualifications To qualify, applicants must be enrolled in at least nine hours each semester during the term of office. Students graduating in the final semester of the appointment (Spring Semester 2016) may be enrolled in fewer hours as long as they meet graduation requirements. Applicants must have worked in a professional editorial environment, or have served as a section editor at a university student newspaper. Students of all majors and classifications, including graduate students, may petition for the position. Applicants must be in good academic standing with the university when submitting an application. An overall minimum 2.5 grade-point average is required for application consideration.
Term of Office Term of office begins following the final publication of the Spring 2015 semester and runs through the Spring 2016 semester. Applicants must be able to serve the entire term of office in order to be considered for the position. A salary is paid during the term of office.
Petitioning Process A written petition is to be completed by each applicant. This petition consists of questions to determine an applicant’s qualifications in journalism academics and management. A letter of interest must be included with the formal application. The letter should address personal characteristics addressing reasons the applicant is qualified for the position. Applicants, certified as qualified by the student publications board, will be interviewed. The board will select the editor-in-chief.
Petitioning Deadlines Applications for the position will be due by noon, Wednesday April 1 to the Director of Student Publications, Trinity Building, Room 107. People interested in petitioning should sign a candidacy list in Trinity, Room 107 and acquire an information package. Qualified applicants will be notified and interviews will be scheduled beginning April 13. Selection of the editor-in-chief will be made shortly after interviews have been completed for the position. Formal assumption of duties will begin one week after the final newspaper of the Spring Semester is published.
The University Star Mission
PACKETS AVAILABLE: March 2, noon; Trinity, Room 107
The editor is the primary student editorial administrator for The University Star and has authority in all personnel matters and makes the final decision regarding news, sports, feature, photo, Web and opinion content. The editor determines daily operation guidelines, provides a role model for professional behavior, delegates operational authority and fulfills policies and procedures as determined by the student publications board and faculty adviser. The editor oversees meetings and handles personnel problems, evaluates all copy and artwork for each publication. The editor-in-chief is responsible for hiring, properly training and supervising all members of the editorial board. The editor-in-chief promotes relations between the publication, the community and campus organizations. The editor-in-chief is also the voice of the publication with the community.
DEADLINE: Wednesday, April 1; noon; Trinity, Room 107 INTERVIEWS: April 13
6 | The University Star | Advertisement | Tuesday, February 17, 2015
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