VOLUME 103, ISSUE 43
www.UniversityStar.com
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 15, 2014
Defending the First Amendment since 1911
VIDEO | UniversityStar.com
SPORTS | Page 5
Diaz Martial Arts is a local gym that teaches selfdefense and fitness classes to people of all ages.
Rival match: The UT–Arlington Mavericks travel to San Marcos Wednesday to take on the Bobcats with an overall 1–14 record.
PLANNING & ZONING
Decision on proposed development postponed to allow for public input By Taylor Tompkins News Editor
A proposal for a nine-story mixed use development that some say will determine the future of development in San Marcos was postponed by Planning and Zoning commissioners for the second time to allow for more resident input.
development will “enhance the urban fabric” of San Marcos with its “highly efficient use of land that prevents sprawl.” The decision on the project’s height, which is four stories above city regulations, was delayed previously so engineers could upgrade the materials being used for the building.
Austin Humphreys | Photo Editor College Inn residents were evacuated at around 2 a.m. Tuesday after university police discovered two suspicious devices in the car of Clayton Warren. Residents were allowed to return at approximately 6 a.m.
CRIME
Austin Humphreys | Photo Editor A proposal for a nine-story development near downtown has been postponed to allow for more resident input on the project.
The Hutchison Mixed Use Redevelopment project proposed by Carson Properties would house 4,000 square feet of retail, two levels of parking, a community center and 79 living units containing 282 beds. The development would sit on land currently occupied by Triple Crown, Eskimo Hut and Cedars Mediterranean Restaurant. City staff recommended the approval of the development during the Jan. 14 P&Z meeting. The development would aim to create a “car free lifestyle” for its residents, John David Carson of Carson Properties said the
During the meeting, staff discussed concerns from fire department officials who said they could not adequately protect buildings above six stories tall in the event of a fire Carson said his company has worked to ensure residents would be able to exit the building and firefighters would have access in case of an emergency. Three sets of internal stairs are expected to be accessible to residents, as well as ventilated corridors and a sprinkler system, Carson said. Some residents voiced concerns during the public
See DOWNTOWN, Page 2
Suspect arrested in connection with campus bomb hoax Tuesday morning By Taylor Tompkins News Editor
E
arly morning bomb threat on campus spurs evacuation, situation diffused A San Marcos man is facing three criminal charges in connection with a bomb threat that prompted the evacuation of about 300 students from College Inn Tuesday morning. Clayton Garland Warren, 24, is in custody at the Hays County Jail and has been charged with two counts of a bomb hoax and one count of evading arrest, according to jail records. The incident began around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday when an officer on patrol for the University Police Department saw Warren smoking near the LBJ Student Center—a violation of Texas State’s smoke-free policy. Jayme Blaschke, university spokesperson, said Warren fled on foot
from the officer but was taken into custody. Blaschke said the Warren is not a student despite early morning reports from UPD. During an inspection of Warren’s car, officers discovered what appeared to be a potentially explosive device with an ignition mechanism attached, according to a press release from University News Service. The Austin Bomb Squad arrived on the scene at 3 a.m. and determined by 4 a.m. that the device was not explosive, but discovered another suspicious package in the vehicle. After X-rays proved inconclusive, the package was detonated by the bomb squad at 5:46 a.m. as a precautionary measure, according to the press release. “Obviously with the history here on campus we take any potential bomb threat very, very seriously,” Blaschke said. Olivia Wukasch, theater fresh-
man and College Inn resident, was one of about 300 students who awoke to the sound of alarms in the dorm early Tuesday Clayton Warren morning. “I went to bed at 1, and I was trying to sleep, but lucky for me I didn’t sleep. Next thing I know all the alarms are going off,” Wukasch said. Many students in College Inn thought the alarms were part of a drill and were told to evacuate to the Student Recreation Center without being told why, Wukasch said. Fire trucks drove past the students as they were walking to the recre-
See BOMB, Page 2
OUTLET MALLS
Mexican sales tax hike brings influx of shoppers to San Marcos outlet malls By Rebecca Banks News Reporter
The San Marcos outlet malls may see a surge in shoppers from Mexico this year due to a hike in the Mexican sales tax that began Jan. 1. Other stores, such as Target and Walmart, are expected to see an increase in purchases of necessity items such as cosmetics, toothpaste, shampoo and vitamins, according to Rebecca Ybarra-Ramirez, executive director at San
Marcos Convention and Visitor Bureau. “(Mexican residents have done) more spending here than in the past, because they know that they will have to pay more when they go back to Mexico,” YbarraRamirez said. San Marcos collected about $1.7 million in sales tax in December 2012, Ybarra-Ramirez said. In 2013, 45 percent of total sales tax collected in San Marcos came from the Tanger Outlet Mall and the San Marcos Premium Outlet Mall, Rebecca
Ybarra-Ramirez said. Mexican residents are accountable for at least 30 percent of all sales at the outlet malls, she said. Visitor Brenda Gonzalez traveled from Vera Cruz, Mexico with her family last week to shop at the outlet malls. She said she went to the Houston and McAllister outlets as well, but liked shopping at the San Marcos malls more. “Before it was cheaper to shop at the border, but now it’s more expensive,”
See SHOPPING, Page 2
Danielle Charles | Staff Photographer The San Marcos outlet malls are expected to see an increase of shoppers from Mexico due to a sales tax increase.
TRANSPORTATION
City transit system partners with consultants for new five-year plan By Kristen Smith News Reporter
The San Marcos Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) is expected to revamp its structure in the near future to better accommodate bus riders and residents. CARTS staff members held multiple meetings open to the public this week to discuss potential changes for the public transit system. The San Marcos transit department is working
with Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates to create a new fiveyear plan and a solid course of action that may be more sustainable for future growth. The existing service route has not been changed or updated since 1996, said James Gamez, senior associate of Nelson\ Nygaard. The city has grown “dramatically” over that time period, so creating a new plan is an opportunity to redesign the system to fit the community’s needs today, Gamez said.
The consulting associates are in the “existing conditions phase” of the study, which means a plan has not yet been created, said Hazel Scher, associate planner of Nelson\Nygaard. “We’re still trying to go through the phases of collecting data and doing community outreach,” Scher said. Scher said officials from Nelson\Nygaard measured CARTS ridership based on each stop along the bus routes. Consultants gathered the data
and stored the numbers in a database to create materials, such as graphs showing the areas of high ridership and areas where the system is underutilized, Scher said. “The system has 11 routes, and they kind of serve a lot of different parts of the city,” Scher said. “With the city growing and looking at developing certain areas within the city or possibly new destinations, we want to take a look at where transit needs to go.” Scott Chapman, senior associate of Nelson\Nygaard, said con-
sultants will also conduct an environmental scan and gather public input as well as recommendations from individual stakeholders. “It’s a public amenity, a public service, and it should serve the public,” Chapman said. “And the university is a big part of the public.” Part of the data-gathering phase was an online survey, Scher said. The survey received many responses from Texas State stu-
See BUSES, Page 2
2 | The University Star | News | Wednesday January 15, 2014
BOMB, continued from front
BUSES, continued from front
ation center, and Wukasch said she thought the dorm was on fire. Wukasch said students were told to stay away from the doors of the recreation center, and they were not allowed to leave. “We were like ‘When can we go?’” Wukasch said. “I tried to sleep but I couldn’t.” College Inn residents were evacuated to the recreation center at 1:42 a.m. and were not allowed to return to their rooms until 6 a.m. once the bomb squad gave the all-clear, according to the press release. “I feel like they didn’t tell us a whole lot, but they were really good about it,” Wukasch said. “They did a good job.”
dents because they were able to send it out to university emails, she said. Scher said students often ask which specific buses they should ride to get around campus and the city, and he hopes to address any concerns by educating the community about the routes offered. “There needs to be an outreach effort,” Scher said. “We’re trying to get the people that have lived here a long time to understand that this service is offered to them.” CARTS officials and Nelson\Nygaard consultants are considering improvements
HEALTH
to routes and buses as well as potentially adding Saturday services if funds are available, Scher said. Scher said officials are hoping to restructure the bus route service so that it does not stop at the transit center, since some riders may not need to stop there. “We look at some different service alternatives, and we’re going to bring those back to the community in a couple of months,” Gamez said. “From there, (we will) make final recommendations on how the growth is over the next five years.”
SHOPPING, continued from front Brenda Gonzalez said. Ernesto Gonzalez, Brenda’s father, said via a translation by his daughter that he plans to come back in the future to shop in San Marcos and explained the tax in Mexico increased to 16 percent. Zaida Jasso, employee at 4N Tax Service at the San Marcos Premium Outlets, said she helps international shoppers get reimbursed for the sales tax paid at the time of their purchases. Only purchases from participating stores such as Best Buy, Kate Spade and Guess are available to receive the reimbursement, Jasso said.
“Since they’re international customers, they are not really obligated to pay taxes but it’s not by law that they don’t have to,” Jasso said. “Most of the companies that return taxes are not government owned, they are private owned.” Shoppers are required to show their passport with the I94 stamp that shows they gained approval to enter the country and a B1B2 visitor visa in order to get reimbursed for the sales tax, Jasso said. “So we do all the paperwork and we pay them the difference, which is 50 to 60 percent of their taxes back,” Jasso said.
During the holiday shopping season, some shoppers waited in a two-hour line to receive reimbursement, Jasso said. It takes about five minutes to an hour to complete everything depending on the number of receipts a shopper has, Jasso said. Maria Falcon, employee at TaxFree Shopping at the Tanger Outlet, said the busiest time for shoppers to visit from Mexico is during the winter holidays, spring break and summer. About 90 percent of the customers who come to the tax center are from Mexico, she said.
DOWNTOWN, continued from front hearing portion of the meeting about the amount of input they have had in the project’s plans, especially in light of the magnitude of the proposal. Jim Garber, Texas State anthropology professor, said he thinks less than 1 percent of San Marcos residents know about the project. While Garber said he was neither for nor against the development, he would like to see more forums for residents. “This is the most important decision you’ll make as a commissioner,” Garber said. “This (project) will set the tone of downtown for the next hundred years.” P&Z Commissioner Travis Kelsey said the project could change the way downtown devel-
After a motion to postpone the decision on the project, the commissioners asked Carson if he would be willing to keep his business plan in place if time was spent to receive more community input. “I don’t know that I can continue with this project,” Carson said. “We’ve been very forthright and try to be accommodating. Our time frame doesn’t really have a lot of flexibility.” Carson said two weeks is the longest time he can wait for approval on the project. Commissioners passed a two-week postponement with instruction to staff to gain more resident input.
opment is viewed. Resident Lisa Marie Coppoletta said the proposed development would “open the floodgates and change the character of downtown.” Another concern voiced by some residents at the meeting is the newness of the city’s SmartCode, which only allows five story buildings in the downtown area, and the impact of granting a waiver for the requirement. Resident Melissa Derrick, a former city council candidate, asked about the process for granting a waiver to allow the construction of a building almost double the size of regulations listed in the SmartCode.
ON THIS DAY in history 1844
1965
1967
1973
The University of Notre Dame received its charter from the state of Indiana.
The Who’s first single, “I Can’t Explain,” was released.
The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35–10 in the first Super Bowl.
President Nixon announced suspension of all U.S. offensive action in North Vietnam, citing progress in peace negotiations.
1992
1978
2001
2004
The Yugoslav federation effectively collapsed as the European Community recognized the republics of Croatia and Slovenia.
Serial killer Ted Bundy murdered two students in a sorority house at Florida State University in Tallahassee.
Wikipedia, a webbased encyclopedia, made its debut.
The NASA Spirit rover rolled onto the surface of Mars.
CRIME BLOTTER Jan. 13, 7:03 a.m. Burglary – vehicle 1001 East McCarty Lane Report
Jan. 14, 12:47 a.m. Suspicious vehicle 1001 East McCarty Lane No Contact
Jan. 13, 10:04 a.m. Criminal trespass 124 West Hopkins Street Warning
Jan. 14, 2:05 a.m. Disturbance – physical/fight 100 North Guadalupe Street Arrest
Jan. 13, 11:55 a.m. Burglary – habitation 1850 Aquarena Springs Drive In service, no report.
Jan. 14, 2:50 a.m. Theft 1001 East McCarty Lane In service, no report.
Jan. 13, 5:38 p.m. Criminal trespass 641 East Hopkins Street In service, no report.
Jan. 14, 4:04 a.m. Suspicious vehicle 1101 Leah Avenue In service, no report
Jan. 13, 7:10 p.m. Collision – minor 1600 North IH 35 Blue Form Issue
Jan. 14, 6:28 a.m. Burglary – vehicle 1202 Thorpe Lane Report
Jan. 13, 9:27 p.m. Liquor law violation 2201 South IH 35 Verbal warning
Jan. 14, 6:42 a.m. Field euthanasia 1000 block Old Ranch Road 12 Unfounded
San Marcos officials issue temporary water advisory A boil water notice was issued Tuesday morning to more than 1,000 San Marcos residents after a reduction in water pressure occurred from a planned outage during the installation of a major water main on N. LBJ Drive. A larger than expected area was affected by the water outage, said Shaun Condor, project engineer for the city, in a press release from the city. Although the advisory instructs residents to their boil water, it does not mean the water is necessarily contaminated, according to the release. The boil water advisory will remain in effect until 5 p.m. today, according to the release. Residents living in the 700 block of N. LBJ Drive, 800 block of Forest Drive and 700 to 1100 block of Chestnut Street received the notice. The water outage also affected the Spring Lake Hills and Forest Hills areas. The Spring Lake Hills area included Norcrest Drive, Lamar Avenue, Inwood Drive, East and West Mimosa Circle, Laurel Ridge, Buena Vista Street, House Wren Hill, Quail Creek Drive and Rogers Ridge. The Forest Hills area affected included Ramsay Street, East and
West Bluebonnet Drives and Mandalay Street. The city’s notification system, AlertWorks, notified 1,100 email addresses and made 1,400 telephone calls to registered utility service customers in the affected areas in both English and Spanish, according to the release The advisory was issued as a precautionary measure due to requirements from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The water pressure drop caused by the planned outage could lead to possible contamination because of the lack of pressure in the lines for a prolonged time. Residents in the affected areas are advised to use bottled water for drinking, cooking and ice making. Water should be brought to a boil and held at temperature for two minutes prior to use. The water line construction is part of the N. LBJ Reconstruction Project, the release stated. The $6.6 million street, sidewalk and utility project on N. LBJ Drive began in October and is scheduled for completion in spring 2015. —Compiled by Nicole Barrios, assistant news editor
The University Star | Wednesday January 15, 2014 | 3
TRENDS
UniversityStar.com
‘The Walk-In Closet’ Resident pushes for LGBTQIA bar in San Marcos By Jordan Gass-Poore’ Trends Reporter
S
an Marcos resident Silvia Sandoval has made it her mission to bring the first LGBTQIA bar to town and help bring overall awareness to the public about the diverse community in the process. Sandoval had planned on opening San Marcos’ first bar aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual and ally communities earlier this year. Plans for The Walk-In Closet, a name Sandoval said was aptly suited to the bar’s location a block south of The Square at 169 S. LBJ, were postponed indefinitely after an unsuccessful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign wrapped last month. The space, to which Sandoval still has a key, was to be converted into a small lounge with the $20,000 the campaign aimed to raise. The $20,000 would have covered construction and materials costs, including the installation of a second restroom, the first month’s rent and an alcohol license. “I wasn’t going to push it on anybody except the gay community. I was doing it for them,” Sandoval said. A hospital stint for one of the bar’s investors, however, was the final nail in the coffin for The Walk-In Closet. “This is not meant to be right now—this is not our time,” Sandoval said.
Although plans for The Walk-In Closet have been temporarily put on hold, Sandoval is still making an effort to create new events catering to the LGBTQIA communities in San Marcos, which has not been easy. Sandoval began walking doorto-door in San Marcos pitching the idea for Rainbow Nights in 2010. The themed nights eventually made their debut on Thursdays at Gold Crown Billiards that year.
I felt like I got on a scooter with a rainbow flag, a rainbow cape, rainbow skates...” —Silvia Sandoval,
San Marcos resident
The reoccurring parties were specifically not called “gay nights,” Sandoval said, because she did not want them to be exclusive to one sexual orientation or to “throw people off.” Instead, the event’s name stemmed from the idea of a “rainbow soup,” where everyone is welcome to mix, mingle and sway to the beats of local DJs. Sandoval said she no longer wanted her “undercover” friends and others to feel forced to hide their sexual orientation. Sandoval was married to a man for three years and remembered being slapped by her mother when she told her she was a lesbian.
“I felt like I got on a scooter with a rainbow flag, a rainbow cape, rainbow skates,” she said. “I didn’t really leave him for a woman—I left him for me.” After a successful month-long run at Gold Crown Billiards, Sandoval said the bar’s management told her they were beginning to lose money because of its newfound reputation as a “gay bar.” The bar was fined for serving alcohol to a minor during a Rainbow Night. Rainbow Night then made unsuccessful jaunts to Taxi’s, Triple Crown and Picasso’s, which is no longer in business. The Triple Crown gig ended after one outing, Sandoval said, with management saying they didn’t “need that here.” In an effort to bring awareness to the public and safety to the LGBTQIA community, Texas State offers organizations and resources that work to promote equality through educational events and parties. Sandoval said some San Marcos residents who are not able to take part in the Texas State organizations and events are left feeling isolated. “In San Marcos we have nothing that says it’s okay,” she said. Kyle resident and long-time friend of Sandoval, Gilbert “Gia” Garza, said today’s young people are seeing the LGBTQIA communities in a different, more positive light than in his generation. “Times have changed,” Garza said. “It’s not so taboo.” The 35-year-old said he began dressing in drag as a late teen and did not have any friends who
Madelynne Scales | Staff Photographer he knew were gay until his mid20s. It was seven years later when he performed in drag for the first time. “There’s always going to be people who are against it, (but) Rainbow Night has helped so many people in so many ways,” Garza said. After bouncing around the San Marcos nightlife scene, Rainbow Nights seem to have found a home at the Full Moon Saloon off Interstate Highway 123. The
next monthly event will take place Feb. 6. For the time being, Sandoval said she is focusing her efforts on organizing an inaugural San Marcos Pride parade and festival to coincide with the events held in San Antonio and Austin, scheduled to take place this year with a grant from the San Marcos Arts Commission. “It’s been quite a journey,” she said.
LIVE MUSIC UPDATE Thursday, Jan. 16 Sons of Fathers Cheatham Street Warehouse
Crimson Devils Red 7 Austin New Arrows
Friday, Jan. 17
Saturday, Jan. 18
11 p.m.
The Organics
Triple Crown
9 p.m.
Scott H. Biram Triple Crown
10 p.m.
9 p.m.
Gold Leather
Red 7 Austin
9 p.m.
Doug Moreland Cheatham Street Warehouse Band
10:30 p.m.
9:30 p.m.
Detroit Left
9 p.m.
The Mohawk Austin 9 p.m.
Lincoln Durham Stubbs BBQ
PRESS RELEASE
University biologists report threat to biodiversity in Yasuní reserve A new study by Texas State University researchers in the journal PLOS ONE raises ecological concerns over proposed oil development in Ecuador’s Yasuní Biosphere Reserve. Shawn McCracken, a postdoctoral research assistant at Texas State and Michael Forstner, Regents’ Professor and holder of the Alexander/Stone Chair of Genetics at Texas State, report that even low-impact development may have a significant negative effect on the unique frog community inhabiting high canopy bromeliads. The Yasuní is the most biodiverse rainforest on earth, containing more species of frogs and toads than the total number in the U.S. and Canada combined. Despite Yasuní’s world record species diversity, the region has become the epicenter of Ecuador’s oil boom. Oil development in Yasuní has been touted as low-impact through the use of ecologically sensitive techniques. The study is the first extensive investigation of high canopy-dwelling amphibians and the factors that influence these communities. Large tank bromeliads reside in the upper canopy of Yasuní at heights up to 50 meters above ground. These bromeliads are capable of holding in excess of four liters of water with community numbers reaching more than 150 individuals in a single tree, literally creating a 3-D wetland in the sky.
“These arboreal wetlands provide critical microhabitat for a large diversity of invertebrate and vertebrate species at the interface between the rainforest and the harsh equatorial climate,” said McCracken, lead investigator on the study. “It is remarkable the number of species we have observed living within these large epiphytes and utilizing them as a resource, especially the new species of bromeliad-dwelling specialist frogs.” The initial study plan was to compare the anuran communities living within a large epiphytic tank bromeliad, Aechmea zebrina, when tested across three levels of forest disturbance status in the Yasuní region—undisturbed forest, low-impact disturbed forest and high-impact disturbed forest. The scientists observed that as forest disturbance increased the bromeliad abundance decreased, an initial indication that A. zebrina bromeliads appear to be intolerant of deforestation and, to a lesser extent, forest fragmentation. The researchers hypothesized “that A. zebrina sampled along an oil access road edge with few forest clearings and a minimal footprint through primary forest (i.e. low-intensity disturbance) would reveal little to no impact on the anuran community.” However, they found that nearly twice as many bromeliads were occu-
pied by one or more anurans in undisturbed forest compared to low-intensity disturbed forest. The abundance of anurans found in undisturbed forest was also nearly twice that found in the low-intensity disturbed forest bromeliads. “Our findings of significantly reduced frog abundance and occupancy along the Maxus oil road were somewhat unexpected to us, as this is a road of minimal width and there is primary forest right up to the edge of the right-ofway with small forest clearings limited to a very few sites within our study area,” said McCracken. A number of habitat parameters were measured including tree height, bromeliad height, bromeliad water pH, and number of bromeliads in sample tree. Yet, forest disturbance was the only significant factor influencing anuran occupancy and abundance in bromeliads. “Our results show that forest disturbance associated with oil access roads and infrastructure has a negative effect on anurans utilizing the microhabitat of A. zebrina bromeliads in the upper canopy of eastern Ecuador’s lowland rainforest,” wrote the researchers. —Courtesy of University News Service
Red 7 Austin
4 | The University Star | Wednesday January 15, 2014
OPINIONS
UniversityStar.com
THE MAIN POINT
New developments destroying local San Marcos culture
T
he constant destruction of local landmark small businesses to make way for corporate chains and apartment complexes is detrimental to San Marcos culture—a loss that will be felt by both students and residents for years to come. Officials at development company Carson Properties have drafted plans to buy out some local businesses along the 200 block of Edward Gary St. in order to build a new, nine-story complex containing space for retail, apartments, parking and a community center, according to a Jan. 15 University Star article. Carson Properties officials have already acquired signed contracts from two of the three businesses on that block—Triple Crown and Eskimo Hut. Authentic San Marcos culture has seen a steady decline during the past couple of years. The town used to be known for its live music venues—now the scene has been reduced to tumbleweeds. Tantra used to host live music almost every night. In 2012, the coffee shop trimmed live music down to a paltry weekly bluegrass night. The Coffee Pot Bistro used to periodically host local bands, but the café was ousted from the location it occupied for decades only to be
replaced by yet another bar. Now Triple Crown, one of the last remaining venues that regularly offers live music, has been signed over to a company that wants to build a commercial megaplex likely to be occupied by flavorless nationwide chains. The Square is slowly being taken over by 21 and up only venues, a distressing problem for the huge crowd of underage students who live in San Marcos. Triple Crown is one of the few locations with live music that offers 18-and-up nights. Although Triple Crown owner Allen Manning has said he plans to relocate if construction plans for the megaplex are approved, the likelihood of that actually occurring is doubtful. Coffee Pot owners said the same thing when their original location shut down more than a year ago, and San Marcos still does not have a clear successor to the now-defunct coffee shop.
To be clear, the editorial board is not criticizing local business owners who sign over the rights of their properties to development companies. When owners are presented with once-in-a-lifetime monetary offers for their properties, it is only natural that they accept. However, the fact that more and more of the iconic local businesses that make San Marcos unique are disappearing is distressing and needs to be addressed. Chain stores and bars should not be frowned upon as a whole, but when development comes at the cost of landmark San Marcos businesses that have stood for decades, students and residents have a right to speak up and voice their concerns. Business growth is beneficial to the community, but only when it is responsible and does not come at the cost of local culture.
There are plenty of places in town where chain stores, apartments, bars and other businesses could be built. For instance, Springtown Shopping Center, located off Thorpe Lane and Springtown Way, is in a prime location and has long stood largely vacant. It would make sense for corporations such as Carson Properties to develop commercial interests in such an area because a revitalization of the Springtown area is desperately needed. While growth in San Marcos should definitely be encouraged, new developments must not overtake time-honored local favorites. Residents and students need to make their voices heard about the destruction of local culture now if there is any hope of halting the homogenization and corporate takeover of San Marcos businesses in the future.
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.
Ryan Jeanes | Star Illustrator
SOCIAL ISSUES
Students should be aware of breakup violence
Molly Block Opinions Columnist Journalism senior
exas State students need to T become better educated about “breakup violence” and should en-
courage friends who they think might be in danger to seek help. Many parents who send their children to college warn them of the various troubles that could arise. As a little girl, I can vividly remember my mother telling me to never talk to strangers, to never get into a car with someone I do not know and to always be observant of my surroundings. As I grew older and obtained my driver’s license, I knew right away it was never okay to text and drive. All of these lessons were taught to me from an early age, and have stayed with me into my college years. Although my parents and many others desperately want their children to stay safe and make wise choices away from home, sometimes, bad things will happen regardless. The term “break-up violence” was never introduced to me until this past year, and there are many students who still might have never heard of the expression. Breakup violence happens when a person is victimized after ending a relationship. Both women and men can fall prey to this type of situation without realizing it. In most cases, harassment and manipulation will ensue, and often people will be made to feel bad about the decision to break
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up. In extreme, rare occurrences, this type of violence can escalate to death. What many college students do not realize is there are many people, some even family members and friends, who may be silently suffering. To avoid any type of breakup violence and help friends in need, students should learn how to spot the signals of a bad relationship early on. According to a CBS News article from October 2013, one in three Americans between the ages of 14 and 20 report having suffered from verbal, emotional, physical or sexual abuse from a dating partner. Often, the victims will decide to tell a friend about the abuse before informing a guardian. Although it can be hard at times to approach friends who are in this type of situation, encouraging them to seek help and inform the police could potentially save a life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, dating violence often begins with teasing and name calling. Although these behaviors can often be interpreted as a “normal” relationship, they can actually signify something far more serious like physical assault and rape. Additionally, relationship abuse can take place electronically, such as repeated texting or posting sexual pictures of a partner online. According to the same CBS News article, one in four young adults who are in relationships claim they are abused or harassed online or through texts from their partners. If students want to stop breakup violence from happening, the first step is recognizing the signs of an unhealthy relationship. Anybody who believes a friend or family member may be enduring this type of mistreatment from a partner should persuade them to end the relationship immediately and contact the police if needed.
Editor in Chief................................................Caitlin Clark, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor..........................Liza Winkler, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters..................................................................................starletters@txstate.edu News Editor............................................Taylor Tompkins, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor.............................................Amanda Ross, startrends@txstate.edu Opinions Editor..................................Savannah Wingo, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor.......................................Austin Humphreys, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor.......................................Odus Evbagharu, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief................................Lesley Warren, starcopychief@txstate.edu Video Editor........................................................Alex Peña, starvideo@txstate.edu
SOCIAL ISSUES
Criminalizing prostitution violates personal liberties
Brandon Sams Opinions Columnist Public relations freshman
rostitution, like all other forms of vicPOne timless crimes, should be legalized. of the many conundrums I have
never been able to understand is how in today’s world people still do not have basic personal freedom. A woman can have sex with a man on any given day at any given time, but if she asks him for money as compensation then all of a sudden they both have committed a crime. This puzzling argument of what is and is not acceptable sexual behavior is problematic. The specifics of draconian prostitution laws are outdated, confusing and backward. In pornography, actors and actresses are paid to have sex with one another, last time I checked. How is it that porn is legal and prostitution is not? According to lawmakers, adding a camera and selling footage for mass consumption is somehow morally superior to more private, for-pay intimacy. Personally, I am of the mindset that consenting adults should be allowed to engage in whatever activities they wish, so long as they do not infringe on another person or group of persons’ rights. It is unclear when sexual intercourse becomes a crime. The line becomes blurred when it comes to giving a woman $50 for a sexual favor versus dropping $200 at a fine restaurant in the hopes of getting laid. With the legalization of prostitution would come regulation and taxation—arguably the cornerstones of modern democracy. The best way to combat the epidemic
Design Editor.................................................Lee Moran, stardesign@txstate.edu Web Editor.........................................Anthony Garza, starwebeditor@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Catie Brossard, starad3@txstate.edu Account Executive.................................Blakely Knowles, starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Hannah Wilson, starad5@txstate.edu Media Specialist............................................ Chris Salazar, c.salazar@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator...........................Kelsey Nuckolls, starad1@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator.......................................Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu Publications Director...........................Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu
of teenage prostitution and the coercion that “pimps” use to force unwilling women to sell their bodies would be to place regulations on the sex industry. Sweeping it under the rug and acting as though it does not exist clearly has not worked. This mindset has done nothing for men and women who have been unwillingly forced into the industry. The logical thing to do would be to set up government-regulated, taxable brothels in specifically cordoned-off red-light districts. Sex workers would have to meet specific criteria in categories such as age, health and drug usage. Regulation from government entities would keep things under wraps. This would also help combat possible coercion of sex workers, as well as rape, violence and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and infections—all issues that are commonplace in the lives of illegal sex workers. Taxing the sex industry would add much needed revenue to local and federal governments. Much like the legalization of marijuana has been projected to add $400-$700 in revenue to Colorado and Washington, taxation of the sex industry would be massively profitable for the U.S. government. Naysayers often legitimately ask, “What is legalization supposed to do for the abolition of human trafficking?” Simple, the same thing that criminalization has done for the abolition of human trafficking—little to nothing. Government and police officials should continue to combat the inhumane practice of human trafficking indefinitely, but the policing of what consenting adults do with their bodies has no impact on that issue. Instead of looking at prostitution from a subjective view of “right” or “wrong,” Americans should start viewing the industry as a complex personal decision and possible financial boom to the U.S. government. Instead of forcing insular politics on consenting adults, we should legalize prostitution and reap the multiple benefits that would come with such a decision.
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The University Star | Wednesday January 15, 2014 | 5
SPORTS
UniversityStar.com
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Bobcats to face rival UT-Arlington By Quixem Ramirez Sports Reporter @quixem
The UT–Arlington Mavericks travel to San Marcos Wednesday to take on the Bobcats with an overall 1–14 record, having the worst point differential in the conference. Texas State and UTA are in their first season in the Sun Belt Conference. Last season, as a member of the Western Athletic Conference, the Mavericks finished last with a 7-23 overall record. The Mavericks have won seven of their last 10 matchups against the Bobcats. Five games were decided by
“I’m really happy with where we are going, and I think we are going to get it together.” —Kaylan Martin, senior guard
fewer than 10 points. “I’m really excited to play UT-Arlington. All records, all statistics are truly out the door,” said Coach Zenarae Antoine. “They’ve played very close games thus far—they’re a team. Although they have a shorter bench, they’re still believing and playing with a lot of confidence.” The Mavericks have lost five games by single digits, not including a 74-63 loss in overtime to the 15-2 Virginia Commonwealth Rams. Mavericks’ opponents have made 31.1 percent of their 3-pointers, the fourth lowest mark in the conference. “They’ve done a great job predominately playing zone,” Antoine said. “They understand their shifts, and I’m looking for an exciting rivalry game. It’s going to be important that we stay focused, take good shots and get to the free throw line.” UTA has three players averaging more than 9 points. Senior guard Laila Suleiman, senior forward Briana Walker and senior center Desherra Nwanguma account for 35.8 points per game. Walker ranks in the top 10 in points and rebounds per game in the conference, while Suleiman has played a conference-high 540 min-
utes this year. Texas State senior guard Kaylan Martin is averaging 9 points, 3.3 assists and 43.3 percent shooting in four games against UT–Arlington. “I expect it to be a good game,” Martin said. “They know our game, and it’ll be tough to from start to finish.” After losing eight of 10 games, Texas State is 3–2 in its last five games. They have a 5.4-point differential in this span. “We got through it by remaining confident and still believing in ourselves and working harder to fix our problems,” Martin said. “I’ve seen major improvements from the start of the season. I’m really happy with where we are going, and I think we are going to get it together.” Antoine attributes the team’s improvement to maturity. “We have eight new faces, so you’re going to go through growing pains,” Antoine said. “As long as we are getting better and maturing, we will be okay. We are right where I’d like to be at this point in conference play. We aren’t playing our best yet, but we are right there.”
Star file photo
Women's basketball will take on UT Arlington Jan. 15 at Strahan Coliseum. The team has a 4-4 record at home.
TRACK AND FIELD
Texas State performs in first indoor meet of season By Cameron Cutshall Sports Reporter @CameronCutshall
The Texas State track and field team began its indoor season Saturday at the Houston Invitational, where four athletes won their events. The men and women’s teams won three WAC championships last year in the Bobcats’ first and only season in the conference. Coach Dana Boone said the teams are looking to bring last year’s success to the Sun Belt Conference, where the level of competition will be raised.
Get to Know Dana Boone track coach
By Ishmael Johnson Sports Reporter @Ish_46
IJ: What was your favorite memory as an athlete? DB: One of my fondest memories was the first time I jumped 21 feet, 9 inches. I still have that feeling of euphoria. It was so much fun and exciting at the same time.
Leading the Bobcats in the meet was the throws team. Sophomore Talore Kelly finished first in both women’s shot put and weight throw, where she set a meet record of 17.63 m. Sophomore Darian Brown finished fourth in men’s shot put and first in the weight throw. Brown set a meet record in the weight throw with a distance of 19.25 m. Freshman thrower Jordan Huckaby finished fourth behind Brown in the weight throws competition, posting a distance of 16.98 m. “It was a good day for the throwers. The men and women’s vault group did a solid job as
well,” Boone said. “For the spring group, we’re off to a better start than we have in a while. We had quite a few personal bests in those events. Those are some things that are a nice spark to add.” Freshman pole vaulter Seth Arnold finished first in the men’s pole vault with a height of 5.3 m. Sophomore pole vaulter Anicka Newell finished second in the women’s pole vault with a career best height of 3.85 m. “I think a lot of our freshmen stepped up and performed well (this week). There were definitely some nerves, especially from the freshmen,” Boone said. “You could see some deer in head-
lights because it was their first time competing, and for some it was their first competing indoor. There are always a bunch of firsts, and it’s new for all of us because we’re in a new conference again.” Some other notable performances included the women’s 4x400 relay team, who placed second behind Houston, with a time of 3:53.47. The runners in the group include freshmen Marika Brown, Amber Gilmore and Abby Hani, and sophomore Briana Sharp. Freshman Mylana Hearn and sophomore Camille Bender finished first and second respectively in the women’s triple jump.
Hearn posted a length of 12.15 m while Bender jumped for 11.57 m. Juniors Garrett Robinson and Danielle Candelaria both finished third in the men and women’s high jump. Robinson posted a height of 1.95 m, and Candelaria jumped for 1.70 m. “Overall it was a good start (to the season). There were solid performances across the board,” Boone said. “We have some areas we can work on, and we can always get better. We all have things we can improve and work on.” Texas State will head to College Station Saturday for the Texas A&M Invitational.
IJ: What about as a coach? DB: As a coach, it’d have to be my first NCAA champion, when Candyce McGrone won the NCAA title in 2011.
across the board. IJ: What’s your favorite type of food? DB: I’ve never been a person with a favorite type of food. Probably a steak—I’m a meat-eater— meat and potatoes.
DB: I like the weather, until this year, but the fact that it doesn’t stay cold for very long.
years as a Virginia Cavalier, and I never competed for Middle Tennessee State. I was just a graduate assistant, so I helped the team out. I would consider myself a Cavalier.
IJ: Athletes have pregame rituals, or pre-meet rituals. Do you have any as a coach, or did you have any when you competed? DB: I had to laugh at myself last year because I felt that I had a lucky pair of shoes. I would only put them on at the conference meet indoor when we won. So I’m going to wear them outdoors too. Other than that, I consider myself a creature of habit, but I don’t feel like I have a ritual. IJ: What’s your favorite type of music? DB: I actually like a little bit of everything, but I like ‘80s music
IJ: If I’m talking to someone, and I mention your name, what do you want to be the first thing that comes to his or her mind? DB: I would hope there would be a respect for the body of work that I’ve tried to put together over my 20 years of coaching. That’s the biggest thing. I would like respect from peers as every coach would—to know that the work you’ve done hasn’t gone unnoticed. IJ: You’re from Virginia. What’s your favorite part about Texas?
IJ: What do you like specifically about San Marcos? DB: I like that I don’t have to deal with as much traffic. Having used to live in Austin before, the traffic was a mess. IJ: You just have trains, right? DB: Exactly, trains, yeah that’s a new thing, but I enjoy the location. It’s kind of laid back, but between two big cities. IJ: You represent the Bobcats now, but before when you went to Virginia and Middle Tennessee State, did you consider yourself more of a Cavalier or a Blue Raider? DB: Well obviously I spent four
classifieds
they play, and it makes them exciting to watch.
Get to Know Kileah Mays
redshirt sophomore center By Gabby Tropea Sports Reporter @gabbytropea
GT: What are your other hobbies? KM: I really like fashion. I like to go thrifting and get clothes. I like to polish my nails, go shopping, paint and pretty much anything involving creative things. I’m really creative. I make a lot of things like my pillows in my room, curtains and stuff like that. GT: What’s the most played song on your iPod right now? KM: Probably Katy Perry’s “Roar.” GT: Who is your celebrity crush? KM: Idris Elba. GT: What is your dream car? KM: A Range Rover. All black, everything. GT: Who is your favorite pro team? KM: Miami Heat because of my mom. When I watch her watch them it’s just really funny. So every time Miami Heat is playing I make sure I call her cause she gets so crazy when
GT: I noticed you were in Girl Scouts from second grade through high school, what was your favorite part about the program? KM: Probably when we went to camp. We used to go canoeing and sit by the fire and make s’mores and stuff
SUB-LEASE ON AN open br in a 5 br unit at The Avenue (1111 Avalon Way). Lease expires in May. Monthly rent of $509, bills not included. Jan rent is already paid, and another $200 provided. Includes: hardwood floors, washer and dryer, large fitness center, pool, etc. On the Bobcat Tram Route. Great roommates. Immediate occupancy. Call Shayne Johnson at 817-7973792; e-mail to: kentsuej@ att.net
GT: What would you say is the best part about being a Bobcat? KM: I can call any of my teammates up and just go hang out with them. Some teams you can’t do that, but here I can call any of them up and go out and have fun. GT: If you could spend the day with any famous person, who would it be and why? KM: Beyoncé. I just want to see how she lives. GT: What’s your favorite part about playing basketball? KM: When we’re winning and stuff, I like the energy. I like that feeling. I didn’t have that with my previous team, but I have that here, and it’s such an exciting feeling.
Courtesy of Texas State Athletics
Star file photo
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