January 21 2016

Page 1

THURSDAY JANUARY 21, 2016 VOLUME 105 ISSUE 35

www.UniversityStar.com

Defending the First Amendment since 1911

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

F

COMMUNITY

facebook.com/ universitystar

t E

@UniversityStar youtube.com/user/ theuniversitystar

Go to university star.com

COMMUNITY

San Marcos to host 7th annual Senior Citizens Expo By Cristina Carreon NEWS REPORTER

City officials will make services and networking opportunities available to the elderly community at the seventh annual Senior Citizens’ Expo Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the San Marcos Activity Center. Kristi Wyatt, director of Communications & Intergovernmental Relations, said the event aims to provide senior citizens and caregivers a social environment in which they can network with local clubs and organizations as well as get access to goods, services and discounts. “The Senior Expo is an event hosted by the city of San Marcos Senior Advisory Board and the San Marcos Parks and Recreation department to give senior citizens and caregivers access to programs and discounts to improve their lives,” Wyatt said. Nick Riali, recreation programs secialist with the Department of Parks and Recreation, said the idea for the event was inspired by business expos. “(The city) wanted to have an expo to connect the senior population with businesses and organizations that provide services specifically for the older population,” Riali said. Riali said caregivers in the local senior community, especially those that provide help to family members, are crucial to elderly residents. “This event is a way to get information for their loved ones, home healthcare, or long term possibilities and to see what resources are available to them,” Riali said. “A good number of those moving to San Marcos are older adults.”

See EXPO, Page 2

DARYL ONTIVEROS MULTIMEDIA EDITOR The mermaid mural, located just across the street from Chimy’s, can be seen by pedestrians and motorists alike.

Mermaid initiative expected to make a big splash By Rae Glassford NEWS REPORTER @rae_maybe

Mermaids are expected to make a big splash this year in the San Marcos River. Although local conservation efforts and economic interests have historically clashed, San Martians can expect to see the birth of the Mermaid Society SMTX, a new initiative intent on marrying environmentalism with entrepreneurism. July Moreno, founder of Mermaid Society SMTX, said the idea behind the initiative is to transform the idea of the mermaid from what she once was—an entertainer—into a protector of the San Marcos River. “The Mermaid Society of San Marcos exists to cocreate sustainable, shared wellbeing,” Moreno said. “It was conceived to be about the co-creation of a sustainable economy and local voice for San Marcos.” The historical and symbolic significance of the mermaid in San Marcos be-

gan at the former Aquarena Springs amusement park, where women in mermaid costumes were hired to perform underwater in a submersible theater. Although the theme park itself is no longer operational, the legacy of the mermaid lives on. An upcoming byproduct of this initiative is Mermaid Week on Sept. 16-17, which will include three separate events: the Mermaid Society Ball, a parade and the Mermaid Splash. According to the society’s mission statement, the initiative is intended to be a cooperative effort featuring a combination of volunteerism, private and public investment and selfsustaining partnerships. Additionally, the society aims to foster collaboration and dialogue as well as improve the city’s profile as being both environmentally conscious and economically vibrant. “It’s the synergy of bringing like-minded groups together, in order to make all of our efforts more produc-

tive,” said Clay DeStefano, the society’s co-founder. “We want to unite the factions in San Marcos that are doing good work individually, together for the same purpose.” DeStefano said he hopes the idea will ultimately lead to locally-focused economic improvement while staying true to the principles of river stewardship and protection. The ball is set to be a Friday night affair involving music, finery and food. The mermaid court, comprised of local honorees including Shirley Rogers, one of the original Aquarena Springs mermaids, will occur at the ball. A downtown parade will be Sept. 17, and the society’s founders expect the event to draw participation from the local art community. “The ultimate vision is that this will be an arts, music and environmental festival with a focus on environmental sustainability and economic growth,” DeStefano said. “It’s an op-

portunity to get your mermaid on.” The former centerpiece of environmental efforts in San Marcos was known as the Texas Wild Rice Festival, and will be replaced by the Mermaid Festival. “The founders of the Texas Wild Rice Festival have met with us and completely embraced this vision, frankly because the Mermaid Festival is a better vehicle for environmentalism,” DeStefano said. “It will attract a broader audience and a more collaborative spirit.” It is too early to make concrete predictions as to what the festival will look like, but DeStefano projects that the event will likely entail fundraising, education, retail and entertainment. “This is a San Marcosspecific community event,” said Carina Boston-Pinales, society coordinator and representative. “Mermaid Week will highlight our efforts to reach out, and will showcase how far we have come and where we’re go-

ing.” Despite the fact that Mermaid Week will take place in September, the society will likely be operational yearround, Boston-Pinales said. “In order to stay a viable, sustainable organization, we are looking to hold other business opportunities that will foster and generate collaboration in San Marcos,” Boston-Pinales said. “Throughout the year we will be rolling out opportunities to be a part of the initiative. This may take shape as volunteer events, local investment opportunities or sponsorship.” The society’s leaders are considering the possibilities of hosting a river cleanup and Earth Day celebration at some point, Boston-Pinales said. “Our hope is that entrepreneours use the Mermaid Society as a San Marcosspecific platform to facilitate involvement and build local identity,” Boston-Pinales said.

UNIVERSITY

Texas State's ‘best-kept secret’ By Brandon Saucedo NEWS REPORTER @bdsaucedo

Only four universities in Texas offer a National Student Exchange program, and Texas State is on the list. The program is similar to studying abroad, but participating students are given the opportunity to travel within the country—United States territories including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands as well as Canada. Just as the program sends Bobcats abroad, Texas State accepts students from other NSE programs as well. Lisa Chrans, NSE coordinator at Texas State, said the program is one of Texas State’s “best-kept secrets” because it is often overshadowed by other, more popular programs such as Semester at Sea and Study Abroad. Only 40 students were admitted into the program last year. The deadline for students

to apply this year is Feb. 24, coinciding with FAFSA deadlines. The NSE allows students of any major to travel to almost 200 participating schools across America, while allowing participating students to still pay in-state. Chrans said the program is a viable option for students considering transferring to another school. Instead of transferring to an out-of-state university for up to three times the price of a state school, students can attend the outof-state school of their choice for up to a year for no additional cost. “In many cases, (out-ofstate) school’s tuition is actually less expensive than ours,” Chrans said. “I could send a kid to Queens College in New York City and based on 15 hours they’ll pay $3,599. Whereas (at) Texas State, you’re paying $4,900.” Canada is part of the few international options offered though the NSE program and

where Haley Stuart, English senior, spent her exchange. Stuart picked the location partly because she is a French minor. “I knew that I wanted to study abroad so I could learn, practice and use French,” Stuart said. “No one really thinks of studying abroad in Canada. Sure, the accent is a bit different, but it’s still French.” Stuart said her experience at Université de Sherbrooke, in Sherbrooke, Quebec, was “absolutely amazing.” The intensive program Stuart took part in allowed her to take a full semester of French courses, which is currently not an option at Texas State. Stuart credits her exchange in Quebec for improvements in her French speaking as she was forced to use the language outside of the classroom. “I still have a lot to learn, but if anyone asks me if I can speak French now, I can confidently say ‘oui,’” Stuart said. Chrans said she recom-

See EXCHANGE, Page 2

COUNTY

BR3T in need of ‘money, manpower and materials’ By Rae Glassford NEWS REPORTER @rae_maybe

In the midst and aftermath of two disaster-level floods in 2015, the Blanco River Regional Recovery Team (BR3T) helped mitigate flood damage and provide support to victims of the devastating weather. BR3T serves Hays, Blanco, Caldwell and Guadalupe Counties. James Gabriel, executive director of the organization, said BR3T received a letter of determination from the IRS in November, authorizing the group to operate as a nonprofit. In addition, the letter authorized BR3T to act as the primary long-term recovery organization supported by the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Gabriel said. Though the organization is

relatively new, BR3T is outfitted with six task-oriented committees, and offers relief for a variety of needs. “Case management is the key to long-term recovery,” Gabriel said. “The case management committee triages the information provided by a flood survivor, and puts together a case file concerning the survivor’s remaining unmet needs. Our case management committee is currently made up of six case managers trying to serve around 2,000 cases.” As the case number greatly exceeds BR3T’s resources, the organization has received a state grant that will provide resources to build capacity and employ additional case managers soon, Gabriel said. “After the management phase

See BR3T, Page 2


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.