TUESDAY
JANUARY 19, 2016 VOLUME 105 ISSUE 34
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CAMPUS
COMMUNITY
Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration brings diversity By Denise Cervantes ASSISTANT LIFESTYLE EDITOR @cervantesdenise
The University Police Department is preparing for campus carry, which goes into effect on Aug. 1.
While local business owners take their stances on whether or not to allow open carry on their properties, university officials are preparing for Senate Bill 11 to go into effect next fall. SB 11, better known as the campus carry bill, will make it legal for licensed individuals to carry their firearms on campus. The University Police De-
The 31st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Celebration will be held by the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion this Wednesday. Attendees will meet in front of Old Main at 6:15 p.m. in order to recreate one of King’s famous protest marches. The march will move to the LBJ Student Center Ballroom at 7 p.m., where attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a dinner theater-like event, consisting of an activismthemed program. Jonnie Wilson, SDI assistant director, said the commemoration will highlight diversity by celebrating activists who may not be as well known as others. The dinner theater program will consist of a series of monologues performed by students portraying activists. The monologues will highlight the accomplishments made in their lifetime and also honor their lives, Wilson said. Jerrilyn Roberson, recreational administration sophomore and member of the program committee, said attendees could find themselves sitting next to an activist during the dinner. “There really isn’t a stage,” Roberson said. “They could be sitting right next to you or someone else and they could just start their monologue.” Students on the program committee are assigned activists to research and have
See OPEN CARRY, Page 2
See MLK, Page 2
MADISON MORRISS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
City, campus prepares for open carry By Madison Morriss NEWS REPORTER
@themorrisscode
Although the New Year rang in the allowance of open carry, some local business owners have expressed that firearms are banned from their premises despite the law. Adam Lilley, the owner and operator of Tantra Coffee House, has made the decision to not allow firearms
on the premises of the popular student hub. “We sell alcohol, and part of the agreement with Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission has to do with not allowing firearms on premises,” Lilley said. The TABC website states that if alcohol sales constitute less than half of gross receipts, the business must display a sign that reads: "It is unlawful to carry a weapon on the premises unless the
person is licensed to carry the weapon under the concealed handgun law.” “We aren’t personally against the law, we just want to be able to prevent problems down the line,” Lilley said. “We aren’t against the law, it’s just the matter of being smart.” Other local businesses such as Root Cellar Café and Zelicks Icehouse aren’t allowing firearms on their premises either.
“We respect the law, but we don’t feel comfortable for our customers.” said John Allen, Root Cellar Café manager. “We believe that they don’t need to come in with their firearms as far as we’re concerned.” CVS Pharmacy released a statement that those who visit the pharmaceutical store will be allowed to carry a firearm only if they have a concealed handgun license badge.
CRIME
Local officers encourage residents to be aware of burglaries trend By Madison Morriss NEWS REPORTER
@themorrisscode
Student apartment complexes have been the targets of burglary since late last October and local law enforcement officials are warning residents to be aware. From Oct. 30. to Nov. 9, 15 burglaries occurred at The Cottages at Hillside Ranch, Capstone Cottages and other complexes on Telluride Street and River Ridge Parkway. Additionally, a similar incident occurred Dec. 6 at The Retreat, where a burglary went wrong and ended with the murder of Justin Gage, a Texas State student. There are still no leads in determining who shot and killed Gage, said Kelly Earnest, commander of Criminal Investigations at the San Marcos Police Department. Officers with SMPD have made arrests in some of the cases tied to the burglaries in student communities, but not all of them.
SMPD is still looking for three dark-skinned black males, 5’8” to 5’10”, who are suspects in Gage’s murder. All of the subjects were wearing ski masks at the time of the altercation. “We’re leaning on the media and the community in general to give us information about this,” Earnest said. Management at The Retreat declined to comment on the burglaries and the murder. However, management sent an email to residents at The Retreat on Dec. 7 notifying residents that in response to the incident, courtesy patrol would be increased and that residents who felt unsafe could request an escort by a patrol officer. Earnest said recent burglaries at student apartment complexes could have led to a trend of similar crimes throughout the city. “The burglaries are centralized in student housing areas because students have things that burglars want to
have, such as electronics of high value,” Earnest said. “(Students) normally don’t lock their doors because they feel safe in their own environment.” Earnest said that theft crimes have spiked not only in student apartment complexes, but in the city as a whole. This is primarily because the criminals are going after common items. “Generally people will leave their things unlocked. Maybe their roommate’s coming home late, nobody has a key—whatever the case is, people are leaving their doors insecure,” Earnest said. “This allows burglars to come in and steal things.” Items have been stolen from people’s cars recently, simply because owners do not lock them, she said. “People are leaving their cars unlocked or the person might see a purse or an iPad laying on the seat, and it doesn’t take much to break the window or get into the vehicle,” Earnest said.
ASHLEY GALVAN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
“Basically think of your car as a glass display case. So, if you can see it, someone can steal it.” Earnest said residents should put their valuables in their trunk or out of the
sight of those in passing. “Typically in San Marcos, you see students leaving for the break, which leads to increases in the burglary rate in January whenever students return,” Earnest said. “We do
service patrols in residencies, but calls for service have gone up. If an officer is on a call for service, they’re not able to do patrols.”
CONSTRUCTION
Anticipated highway to start construction this summer By Lesly De Leon SENIOR NEWS REPORTER
@leslyd28
Drivers commuting from Hays County to Austin will be able to enjoy a shorter trip due to the construction of a new highway. Construction on the highway that will reduce commutes to only 9-17 minutes set to begin this summer. In December 2015, the Texas Transpiration Commission approved a $60 million loan for the project. The loan, in addition to a $28.9 million grant from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, will fund
the construction of the highway connecting FM 1626 in Hays County to Loop 1 in Southwest Austin. The total cost of the project is approximately $100 million. Hays and Travis counties have contributed $20 million. Construction on the highway is expected to begin in the summer and projected to reach completion in two years. Before construction begins, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority will release the project and request bids from contractors to get the most competitive pricing. According to the project’s
website, the Texas Department of Transportation’s environmental division signed a Record of Decision in March 2015, allowing the project to proceed into the final design phase. The highway will help relieve traffic in the Central Texas area, especially in the Shady Hollow neighborhood. When the highway is completed, drivers will have access to Loop 1 and be able to avoid congested surface roads through neighborhoods. “For years we’ve had a huge demand of traffic building up, particularly leaving Hays County going through
different parts of Travis County,” said Hays County Commissioner Will Conley, Precinct 3. The traffic accumulates in residential areas of northern Hays County and southern Travis County as drivers commute to Austin for work, Conley said. “The SH 45SW project we believe will provide a safer, more reliable (route) than what people are currently using,” Conley said. The new section of highway will be a toll road to pay off the $60 million loan. Some have concerns about the highway’s environmental impact. TxDOT conducted
an environmental study of the area between Loop 1 and FM 1626, evaluating the highway’s possible impact on the land, vegetation and the water quality. The design of the highway will incorporate ideas to reduce environmental impact, such as aligning roadways to avoid impact to the Edwards Aquifer recharge features and following existing terrain to minimize the amount of earthwork required. The environmental standards that officials have applied to the project are unmatched in Central Texas, Conley said. “We’re applying the high-
est levels of environmental protections and standards in building a roadway that should help mobility and public safety and quality of life particularly for people in southern Travis County and northern Hays County,” Conley said. The highway project is a partnership between Hays County, Travis County, TxDOT and RMA, Conley said. “We’ve put a lot of time, effort and resources into it. It’s been a long time coming so we’ll be very pleased when the project is completed,” Conley said. “We believe it will be an asset and a benefit to our community.”
2 | Tuesday, January 19, 2016
NEWS
The University Star Anna Herod, News Editor @annaleemurphy starnews@txstate.edu
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
OPEN CARRY, from front partment is taking precautions to make sure that SB 11 is safely implemented on campus. “We have had multiple town hall meetings to look at different procedures and perspectives for this particular law,” said Sergeant Alexander Villalobos. “Upon recommendations, we will determine which areas we want to make appropriate
safe areas (on campus).” Villalobos said UPD is working to gather information throughout the university community to determine how to implement the law. In addition to the open forums held last semester, university officials have scheduled three more public forums with the goal of gathering student and community member feedback on
the revised draft recommendations made by the Campus Carry Task Force. The task force drafted the recommendations after the fall 2015 open forums. The future forums will assess public opinion on the revised draft recommendations. Ultimately, the final draft will be presented to the Texas State University System Board of Regents to assert
university officials’ recommendations for campus carry enforcement, including which areas will be considered carve-out zones. Carve-out zones are areas on campus where firearms will not be permitted. This year’s public forums will be held Jan. 27 from 7 to 8 p.m. and Jan. 28 from noon to 1 p.m., in Room 3-14.1 of the LBJ Student Center.
The third forum will be held Feb. 2 from 5:15-6:15 p.m., in the Avery Building Teaching Theater on the Round Rock Campus. “The law is the law already,” Villalobos said. “We’re not going to be able to change it, but I know we’ll have some say-so in regards to what areas we deem as appropriate for carve-out areas.” Villalobos said he imag-
ines there will be an increase in the volume of emergency calls once SB 11 goes into effect. “I would imagine that the way we train our students, faculty, and staff will change in this particular community in regards to what the new law requires,” Villalobos said.
Representatives from the LGBTQIA, disabled and Native American communities will be acknowledged, Wilson said. She hopes those in attendance will leave with a new array of knowledge. “Expect to walk away with some type of emotion and education,” Wilson said. Roberson said she has learned a lot from being a part of the committee. “My favorite part has been gaining knowledge I didn’t know,” Roberson said. “I even learned a lot more about Martin Luther
King. You learn the basics, but there are so many other things that we don’t know. I’ve been very enlightened.” Antoinette Ray, interdisciplinary studies junior and member of the program committee, said writing her monologue wasn’t difficult, as it was a topic she is passionate about. “It came easy because it’s something I care about,” Ray said. “We have to write it in their perspective, put ourselves in their shoes and look at things from their point of view.”
Ray said she hopes attendees will be able to see the diversity in the activists included in the program. “Don’t look at it from a racial standpoint,” Ray said. “Look at it from an educational one. There is so much that is going to be expressed through the monologues.” Wilson said she ensures her students are thoroughly involved in the planning process in order to teach them skills outside the classroom. “I think students get an education (by participating),” Wilson said. “It’s not just cel-
ebrating, but they walk away knowing something different. The people on the committee say it’s a lot of work, but they love the process because it’s something they can use when they leave here.” Wilson said she hopes to stress the importance of activism for the rest of the semester in order to teach students how to be activists themselves. “There are different ways (activism) can catch people’s attention, and that’s something that all students need to be equipped with when
learning about social injustice,” Wilson said. Roberson said researching different activists for the program has had a unique influence on her. “I’ve taken this to be very personal,” Roberson said. “Just the fact that they had the courage to do something and some of them lost their lives, it is just so beautiful and special. And I’m just so thankful there were people before me who were able to do that and give me what I have now.”
MLK, from front sculpted the activists’ biographies into monologues for the dinner, according to Roberson. “All of us first start with doing our research,” Roberson said. “Then we go ahead and write the biographies and do our best to honor each activist.” “It’s about the celebration of various activists,” Wilson said. “Not just Martin Luther King Jr., but activists that represent a diverse array of ideas. Anybody from Harvey Milk to Angela Davis will be included.”
PRESS RELEASE
University Camp reopens after seven months University Camp opens for use Jan. 19 after a sevenmonth cleanup folllowing the Memorial Day flood. Everyone can reserve for their spring visits now, but only
students may also reserve for summer visits. The camp is a great place to relax, hike trails and enjoy the Blanco River. Currently, there are two lodges and five campsites
ready for reservations, with three more campsites being prepared. John Johnson, assistant director of outdoor recreation, has remarked on how the flood has trans-
formed the campsites along the Blanco River. “The whole landscape has made a new statement,” Johnson said, “and it’s going to look more beautiful than
ever before.” There has also been an initiative to open more hiking and biking trails in the camp. Many of these trails are now ready to be explored. Be sure
to make your reservation before they fill up at the Outdoor Center in Sewell Park, online or over the phone at 512-245-2004.
UT Austin Open Enrollment College Courses Take the courses you need and earn transferable college credit. No admission required.
Registration is open until the end of January.
Register Today extension.utexas.edu
The University Star
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 | 3
LIFESTYLE
Carlie Porterfield, Lifestyle Editor @rep0rterfield starlifestyle@txstate.edu
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
MUSIC
Triple Crown plans comeback By Louis Zylka LIFESTYLE REPORTER @OrinZylka
When Austin venues are filled up, San Marcos is the next best place to view live music.The Triple Crown was a local bar offering bands from all around the country a place to perform their music. The local spot had its last open night Dec. 12,before it closed until relocation. Eric Shaw, co-owner of Triple Crown, said he and Allen Manning, co-owner of Triple Crown, opened the Triple Crown during November of 1996. He said the following year was when they officially started booking live music, for which the bar would become best known.Shaw said he felt the Triple Crown filled a void in San Marcos and became a place where aspiring musicians from in and outside of town could perform all kinds of music. “Very quickly, I realized that bands needed a place to play in San Marcos,” Shaw said. “We knew we were going to do music, we just didn’t know we were going to do that much.” Colin Downes, a former Triple Crown employee, said Triple Crown had a lot of support and appreciation for live music. It created a scene in San Marcos that allowed more bands to play where people enjoyed music. “(Triple Crown) got nationally recognized from minor-touring bands from all different genres for being a great venue,” Downes said. Chris Carvosa, local live music photographer, said Triple Crown had some of the best live music he has seen
SARAH BRADLEY SPECIAL TO THE STAR
in the country. He said the musicians who performed got treated with respect and appreciation. “Triple Crown focused not only on musicians here in town, but they also brought in a lot of musicians who were on tour from other states,” he said. Shaw said many critically acclaimed bands had their start at the Triple Crown. Some of the most popular include Blue October, Grupo Fantasma and Scott Biram. “A big part of our success was just being in San Marcos,” Shaw said. “There are
a lot of really talented musicians (in the area), many from Austin and many that can call San Marcos home.” Carvosa said Triple Crown was an important factor of what makes San Marcos special. He said the venue hosted a lot of benefit shows to raise money for various concerns in the community, such as support for the hospital and rebuilding the town from the recent floods. Shaw said the Texas Music Office and the city of San Marcos recognized Triple Crown in 2010 for reaching 5,000 consecutive days of
live music. “Over the years, it was a place where everyone else was welcomed,” Shaw said. “There would be people there who appreciated the music.” Carvosa said the owners had one last show in December, with a promise that the Triple Crown will return at another location. It was a celebration of 19 years of business and providing live music. “Everyone seemed that they wanted to celebrate that last night at the Crown,” Carvosa said. “They had bands playing from 12 in the after-
noon to 2 in the morning.” Shaw said after the Triple Crown shut down, some local musicians kept playing at the location. “I know for a couple of weeks after we closed, (bands) were playing songs up there every day, which I thought was pretty nice of them,” he said. Downes said no one knows what plans Shaw has for the Crown yet, or where it will be located. “I know that they want to get bigger and better,” Downes said. “I think they will, and I’m looking forward
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to it.” Shaw said he is hoping to make the next installment larger to allow for more bands and people from in and outside of San Marcos to visit. He said there will be more equipment, a bigger stage and more bands—both local and touring—to perform in San Marcos. “We’re working hard on finding the next location and we have every intention of opening up bigger and better,” Shaw said.
4 | Tuesday, January 19, 2016
The University Star
OPINIONS
Brandon Sams, Opinions Editor @TheBrandonSams staropinions@txstate.edu
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
THE MAIN POINT
Obama leads America to safer future, but only Congress can keep us there L
et’s spare the platitudes. America’s gun problem spiraled out of control a long time ago, but with Obama’s recent executive orders the nation may have just been spared from their self-inflicted abyss. Obama’s gun-related executive actions include a $500 million investment in mental-health services, broadened interpretation of current federal laws, over 230 FBI examiners to better process background checks, 200 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) personnel to enforce existing gun laws and a new ATF rule requiring background checks for people who purchase weapons through a trust or corporation. While expansive, some of these executive actions will inevitably hit a roadblock in the execution process. For instance, simply expanding the current interpretation of federal background checks will do little to close the gun show loophole, which includes online purchases. The only way to properly expand regulation is through an act of Congress, which seems highly unlikely in the current setup. The scope and breadth of the executive branch
can only achieve so much. While a valiant and relatively successful attempt, Congressional support would ensure the increased productivity and efficiency of these regulations. Granted, the National Rifle Association and GOP lawmakers may suggest the president sought to circumvent Congress, but that would simply be a falsehood. The NRA is the real villain corrupting the powers of Congress, as the organization has been holding the country hostage for years. Many Americans have favored gun control including universal background checks and mental health evaluations. As the old adage goes, however, “If it doesn’t make dollars, then it doesn’t make sense.” According to a Jan. 6 Gallup Poll, 62 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with the current policies regarding guns in America. Compare that to the almost unanimous actions of Congressional Republicans who refuse to concede to even a minimal amount of regulation. There is no logical basis to rally against background checks that exempt people on the Terrorist Watch List from purchasing firearms.
The overwhelming majority of sane people can see why that would be worthy legislation, but they would be wrong. In a vote of 54-45, split evenly along party lines, the Senate rejected a measure that sought to deny people on the terrorist watch list from buying firearms. And with that single legislative failure there is no further proof needed to illustrate the despotic power of the NRA. As their mangled hands lay claim to Lady Liberty, Americans are left with politicians more beholden to their pockets than their values. While politicians may not be entirely beholden to their constituents, America boasts a trustee, delegate model of governance. Meaning, politicians are given leeway to vote however they see fit due to their expertise in policy, but they are expected to take into account the opinions and stances of the people they represent. It is high time to listen when 92 percent of gun owners agree that universal background checks are a necessity in a nation a little too fixated on firearms. It’s important to understand while the NRA is a powerful lobby, they lobby
BIRMY MICHELE STAR ILLUSTRATOR
for their own benefit—not the American public. The main concern of the NRA is to procure profits for gun manufacturers. And there lies the underlying problem in the conversation about gun control and the Ameri-
can public. Money is the name of the game. The clear losers are the people forced to live in a society more concerned with going to Whataburger with an AR-15 than the lives of 20 dead children at the hands of an unregulated culture.
Thanks Obama, for slowing the ruin of America. But until Congress decides to put the lives and views of the country above their own pocketbooks, America will be nothing more than an architect of her own downfall.
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.
SCHOOL
How to successfully readjust to college life after break
Sterling Wilmer OPINIONS COLUMNIST @nycbornnraised
G
etting used to sleeping in and having a bountiful blessing of food at your fingertips will make you forget the sleep-deprived and noodle-dieted life that is university living. It is a new semester and college life beckons you again with hectic class schedules, extra curricular activities and, of course, the occasional Texas State turn-ups. The problem with the return to academia after such a long break is painfully readjusting to new schedules, teachers and academic material that is introduced right off the bat. There are three tips that can help readjusting students to ease on into the new semester with the least amount of stress possible. The first tip is to stop fighting the inevitable—like school starting again. Whether you are ready or not, we all need to realize tuition
has been paid, books and supplies have been bought and classes are registered for. Look at the situation this way: we are getting ready to knock out another semester, which brings us one step closer to graduation. If you keep your mind on the goal of getting out of your parents house and ceasing the accumulation of college debt, then the fact that you’re getting one more costly semester of school out the way will not seem so bad. On the subject of goals, the second tip is to set at least three for the semester. These goals could be things to accomplish in your studies, organizations or personal life. When students set goals for the semester, it makes them interact with the idea of the new semester. It gets them thinking about everything they want to accomplish and builds up anticipation and excitement for the events that are to come. An enthusiastic start to the new semester will help set the tone for the rest of the academic year. Energy created from the goals and plans you make for the semester will push you through the back-to-school slumps. If both tips above don't cut it and you still
The University Star Editor-in-Chief...........................................Kelsey Bradshaw, stareditor@txstate.edu Letters................................................................................universitystar@txstate.edu News Editor........................................................Anna Herod, starnews@txstate.edu Sports Editor..............................................Paul Livengood, starsports@txstate.edu Lifestyle Editor......................................Carlie Porterfield, starlifestyle@txstate.edu Opinions Editor..........................................Brandon Sams, staropinion@txstate.edu Multimedia Editor..............................Daryl Ontiveros, starmultimedia@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief....................................Abby Marshall, starcopychief@txstate.edu
have an almost sickly, pessimistic and tired outlook on starting this semester, then this next one should be the cure. When you arrive at school, it's time to find your friends. Whether or not you've been group texting, FaceTiming or calling, you and your crew will gather together again. Reconnecting everything that was there when you left will be worth the wait. Let the sparks fly. Look at the new things they’ve done with their appearance, talk about their over-the break-flings and of course check out the new clothes that you most likely will be borrowing. Being able to reestablish the relationships you left at school not only lets your friends know this is a genuine relationship, but also gives you a positive environment. You are going to need your friends to complain to about the anxiety you have for these classes, the empty pockets because of expensive books and the drama that is already starting the first week back. These tips should give Bobcats a little cheat sheet on how to reestablish their college life this semester and get on the fast track to success. —Sterling Wilmer is a psychology sophomore
HEALTH
Lifestyle change necessary for a ‘new you’
Madison Teague SENIOR OPINIONS COLUMNIST @maddiebell_bell
T
he New Year has come and with it a list of New Year’s resolutions—including fad diets. Unfortunately, the only way to make a lasting difference on one’s health is to make a lifestyle change, not by buying into these useless products. Diets fail. Not people. The truth is that diets are not meant to be sustained. Sure, you could survive off of just beet juice for three weeks and lose weight. The problem is when the diet ends and people return to unhealthy habits. The pounds which were shed immediately return. One of the worst fad diets out there is the lie about gluten-free miraculously making one lose weight. If you do not have celiac disease, the disease that prevents the body from being able to produce gluten, or medically diagnosed gluten sensitivity, then steer clear of gluten-free products. Go-
ing gluten-free can cause malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies if done incorrectly. Poor nutritional education is not the fault of the hardworking student just following the latest instructions from their health magazines and blogs. It is the fault of those pushing the useless fads. The commercials appear enticing, with models and celebrities gushing about the new “it” pill and fad diet that helped them all throughout their career. Oprah Winfrey purchased a portion of Weight Watchers, increasing its profit margin and adding to her own pocket. Oprah’s yo-yoing weight is a well-known topic of many gossip magazines and talk shows. However, when she loses weight on Weight Watchers it encourages many to follow suit—even though she tends to gain a lot of it back. It is undeniable that the program worked for Oprah. After all, she did lose the weight, but the commercials and ads forget to mention the fact that the weight returned at the end of her subscription. The only way to maintain that lower weight would be to continue to pay into the company forever. These weight loss industries make people dependent on their
products. Pills promise a new body with no effort and health magazines push fad diets to sell their sponsored juicers and blenders. None of those things are necessary to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle. The only thing necessary to become healthy is a will to change habits from bad to good and a proper understanding of nutrition. Make a change for good—not just for a week. Weight loss does not happen overnight and there is no easy health fix. Bad habits are easy to create and hard to break, so patience with oneself is necessary. Substituting water for a soda will have amazing results, not only on weight but on skin and general health overall. Be conscious of what you eat and how much. Counting calories is not always a must if what you are eating is beneficial to your body. Get up and exercise, even if it’s just for 15 minutes a day. Any beneficial change is better than remaining stagnant. Being conscientious and proactive about one’s health is the only way to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. Be active, eat well and stay patient with yourself and you will see a lasting change. —Madison Teague is an English senior
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The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Monday 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, January 19, 2016. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief. The first five issues of each edition of the paper are free. Additional copies of the paper can be purchased at 50¢ per copy. Contact The University Star office at (512) 245-3487 to purchase additional copies.
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The University Star
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 | 5
LIFESTYLE
Carlie Porterfield, Lifestyle Editor @rep0rterfield starlifestyle@txstate.edu
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
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COMMUNITY
What the cluck is up with the house on Hopkins By Taylor Thompson LIFESTYLE REPORTER @taylormegon
Instead of feeling down on his cluck due to traffic plaguing his neighborhood, one San Marcos resident decided to paint chickens on his fence in protest. George Zupp’s home on Hopkins St. is well known among San Marcos residents for the eccentric chicken paintings on his fence and house. Gabriel Tirado, microbiol-
ogy freshman, said he enjoys passing by the house while driving on Hopkins. “It makes me wonder what could have started the trend of the chickens,” Tirado said. “I always love a nice house with a history.” Zupp said he decided to paint chickens around the house in 2000 because of the bad traffic on Hopkins St. “The traffic on Hopkins St. was heavy in 1999,” Zupp said. “I wanted to make a psychological wall against it.” Elizabeth Coleman, com-
munication design freshman, said she thinks the house and its art is fun. “It has a fun and quaint atmosphere that really adds to the whole neighborhood,” Coleman said. Zupp said people often compliment him on his home. “Yeah, they all like it,” he said. Tirado believes the house could make a wonderful San Marcos tourist attraction, especially for those who have never been in the city.
“It shows that San Marcos has some quirky history,” Tirado said. Zupp said he couldn’t imagine painting an animal other than chickens on and around the house, but if needed, goats would be his pick. “I wanted to mount statues of mountain goats on top of the house,” Zupp said. “Unfortunately, that’s too much work.” Zupp said he is very proud of his chickens and gets excited when people take time to recognize his work.
“It is may be the only thing I’ve done that has really stuck,” Zupp said. He has a Facebook page titled “Chicken Head Fence,” which features updates on the house and new artwork that appears around it. In regards to newer projects, Zupp said he has some in mind for the future, even if they are very similar to his current poultry project. “I want to add more figures to (the house), make statues,” Zupp said. “I also want to form some of my favorite
party scenes from way back.” Zupp said the chicken head fence and all the other artwork that goes along with it is definitely in San Marcos for the long haul. If he ever ends up selling the house, he expects the new owner to keep the fence standing for as long as possible. “Whoever gets the fence, I hope it stays up forever,” Zupp said. “Even with all my do-hickeys on it.”
Rec center revs up for new semester with free classes
CAMPUS
By Stacee Collins LIFESTYLE REPORTER @stvcee Losing weight and getting into better shape is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions, and Texas State students can reach their health goals by attending group exercise classes at the on-campus Student Recreation Center. Fitness & Wellness offers a plethora of group exercise classes such as Zumba, yoga, kickboxing and more. Group exercise classes will be free from Jan. 19-24, the first week of university classes. Jenevieve Struk, fitness and wellness coordinator, said anyone with a student recreation membership has access to free group exercise classes the first week. “It’s a really good time to get a feel, see what fits in your schedule, see what instructors you like and what classes you like,” Struk said. “There really is something for everyone.” Bobcats can get into shape with group exercise classes Monday through Thursday and can even stop by at the end of the week for Free Fridays. Unlimited passes usually cost $60 and allow members to attend all classes, but are on sale for $50 this week. Kristen Sacky, fitness and wellness graduate assistant, said specialty classes are additionally offered and marked with a star on the
online schedule. There will be specialty yoga sessions and a Mixed Martial Arts self-defense class as well. “Students can pay an extra fee and it will be that same group of people for four weeks,” Sacky said. “The instructor gets to know you a little bit better. It’s a little more personal and the skills are very specific with what they’re learning in the class.” Struk said specialty classes change every semester. Wellness Within and Chakra Yoga are two of the new specialty classes this semester. Sacky said the dance sessions are among the most popular group exercise classes. “We have literally everything from water aerobics, to yoga, to just cardio to weight training, but we also have classes that intermix up like the 30/20/10 class,” Struk said. “It’s a really good variety.” Struk said a new class called Pump & Pedal has been added to the spring schedule offering 30 minutes of cycle followed by 30 minutes of full body toning. “You don’t have to be Fitness America to take our classes,” Struk said. “We progress our classes to help students, faculty and staff achieve success in fitness and health.” Julie Kelly, fitness & wellness graduate assistant, said there are 25 instructors. “With spring break and New Year’s resolutions, we
are excited to fill the studios up for every class,” Kelly said. “We have some very talented instructors and they are ready and excited to begin the semester as well.” Kelly said her favorite part is watching the instructors love what they do. “I love seeing our instructors grow and improve and watch their creativity come through their classes,” Kelly said. “We’re here to make a successful program, but that can’t happen without enthusiastic and passionate instructors.” Sacky said all instructors and personal trainers are Texas State students, but they are required to obtain a national certification within a year of being hired. “The atmosphere is always fun,” Sacky said. “Whether there’s two people in the class or 20 people in the class, the instructors do a really good job of pumping everybody up and making sure everybody is having fun.” Sacky said there are multiple benefits of working out in a group exercise class as opposed to going solo in the weight room. “Its so much fun to be in a group setting. You’re not only working out physically, but you leave feeling really good about what you just did,” Sacky said. “You get excited to go work out and you actually develop a little community within each class.”
AGE
COMPENSATION
Men and Women 18 to 55
Men 18 to 55
Men and Women 18 to 55
REQUIREMENTS
TIMELINE
Up to $1000
Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 19 - 32 Weigh at least 110 lbs.
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Up to $5000
Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 29.9 Weigh 121 - 220 lbs.
Wed. 2/10 - Mon. 2/15 6 Outpatient Visits
Up to $5000
Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 30 Weigh 132 - 220 lbs.
Thu. 2/11 - Mon. 2/15 Multiple Outpatient Visits
6 | Tuesday, January 19, 2016
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The University Star
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 | 7
SPORTS
Paul Livengood, Sports Editor @IAmLivengood starsports@txstate.edu
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
MEN’S BASKETBALL
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BOBCATS: MEN’S BASKETBALL By Jose Campos SPORTS REPORTER @josewithaj
After finishing a three-game, 1-2 road trip on Saturday against Troy, the men’s basketball team is looking forward to back-to-back home games. The Bobcats will be heading into this week’s games with a 2-3 Sun Belt Conference record and a 8-6 record overall. The Bobcats will play two home games against Little Rock on Thursday and Arkansas State on Saturday. Looking at the Little Rock matchup, this will be an early test for the Bobcats as Little Rock is currently 15-1 with a 5-0 conference record. Little Rock is number one in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring defense, only allowing opposing teams to average 58 points per game in their conference games. The offense also runs
through Josh Hagin, senior guard, who is third in the Sun Belt Conference in assists, earning four per game. Little Rock’s only loss this season was a 53-65 defeat to Texas Tech. After the loss the Trojans are now on a fivegame winning streak since Sun Belt play began. Last season the Bobcats and Trojans split the season series as each team won on their home court. Little Rock won 69-61 while Texas State had a memorable victory against them at home winning in double overtime 77-74. Texas State will look to use the home court to their advantage as the Bobcats currently have a 5-1 record at home this season. The other matchup this week will be against Arkansas State, who is 8-8 overall but has a 4-1 record in Sun Belt Conference play. Arkansas State is second
in scoring offense in the Sun Belt, averaging 76.8 points per game. The Red Wolves are led by juniors Devin Carter, Anthony Livingston and Donte Thomas. Carter is currently fourth in Sun Belt conference play in scoring, putting up 18.2 points per game. Livingston is averaging a double-double with 14.8 points and 10.2 rebounds, which places him second in the Sun Belt in rebounds. Thomas averages 15.6 points per game while also being the Sun Belt conference leader in assist with seven per game. Looking at their matchups last year, the Bobcats and Arkansas State split the season series. The Red Wolves defeated Texas State on their home court in overtime 7378, while the Bobcats won at Strahan Coliseum 70-60. For both of these games the Bobcats will look to rebounds from Emani Gant,
STAR FILE PHOTO
Kavin Gilder-Tilbury and Ethan Montalvo in order to get the wins this week. Gant is averaging 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds in Sun Belt play. Gilder-Tilbury
and Montalvo are within the top fifteen in three-point field goal percentage. Texas State also ranks first in defensive rebounding, averaging 32.6 per game.
Texas State will play Little Rock on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and proceed to take on Arkansas State Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
ward, leads all players in the Sun Belt for rebounding with 9.3 per game. Brown-Haywood also leads in defensive rebounding with an average of 7.1 boards per game. The Red Wolves are a relatively tall team compared to Texas State. Arkansas State’s average height is 5’9” ranging from 6’3” to 5’6”. The Bobcats average height is 5’8” ranging from 6’1” to 5’3”. ASU played in three rounds of the Sun Belt Conference championship last year. Arkansas State beat Appalachian State in the first round by 15 points. Following, they beat Louisiana-Lafayette by 2
points in the second round. The Red Wolves ended up losing to Little Rock, who the Bobcats play on Thursday, by six points in Sun Belt Conference Championship game. The Red Wolves are leading the conference in field goal percentage with .452, while the Bobcats rank No. 2 in the conference with a three-point percentage of .338. Hosting two teams out of Arkansas, the Bobcats hope to improve their conference record of 3-2. The game against Little Rock is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. while the Arkansas State game is set to be played at 2 p.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
COMING UP: WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
STAR FILE PHOTO
By Autumn Anderson ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @aaautumn_ This Thursday, the Bobcats will be hosting the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans in Strahan Coliseum for Texas State’s sixth Sun Belt Conference game of the season. Little Rock’s current overall record is 5-10 compared to Texas State’s 8-7. The Trojans
and the Bobcats share a similar 2-4 record on the road. The two teams are equal in the conference with 3-2 records in Sun Belt Conference play. UALR won the Sun Belt Conference tournament last year in New Orleans, defeating Arkansas State by six points. The Trojans won their first round matchup against Texas A&M in the NCAA Tour-
nament. Little Rock lost a close game to Arizona State 54-57 in the second round. A missed three-pointer with one second left in regulation was the difference in going home empty handed as opposed to tying up the game. Arkansas-Little Rock graduated their best player last season, Taylor Gault, who averaged 15.2 points per game.
UALR has a senior forward on their roster this season, Shanity James, who is seventh in the Sun Belt Conference for scoring with an average of 14.4 points per game. The Bobcats are above the Trojans in several stat categories. This season the Trojans are averaging 57.0 points per game, while Texas State is averaging 63.9. The Bobcats are also beating the Trojans in three-point percentages, with .338 compared to Little Rock’s .290. The Bobcats have yet another home game this week, hosting the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Saturday Jan. 23. The Red Wolves are currently leading the Sun Belt with an unblemished conference record of 5-0. Arkansas State’s overall record is 12-3, equal in the Sun Belt just under UL Lafayette’s 12-3. ASU’s Aundrea Gamble, redshirt senior guard, is second in the Sun Belt for scoring with an average of 16.5 points per game. Gamble leads the conference in assists with 4.9 per game. Arkansas State’s Khadija Brown-Haywood, senior for-
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