June 26 2013

VOLUME 102, ISSUE 88

www.UniversityStar.com

Defending the First Amendment since 1911

WEDNESDAY

JUNE 26, 2013

VIDEO | UniversityStar.com Summer Slump: Food trailers at The Hitch have taken a financial hit due to a lack of Texas State students in San Marcos during summer. To see an interview with owners and managers at The Hitch, go to UniversityStar.com.

TRANSPORTATION

New director resigns

By Karen Zamora News Reporter

The newly-appointed director of transportation services has resigned, according to Texas State officials.

An email sent to faculty and staff Friday morning announced Jane Wilcox’s resignation. Nancy Nusbaum, associate vice president for Finance and Support Services, said Wilcox resigned from the position because she felt it was in her best interest to leave Texas State. Wilcox was named director of Transportation Services April 15.

Nusbaum said she is hoping to post the job opening in the next couple of weeks.

She will serve as interim director until Wilcox’s replacement is chosen. Nusbaum previously served as interim director of the department when Joe Richmond, Wilcox’s predecessor, announced he would be on extended leave.

The dean of students, director of Housing and Residential Life and Associated Student Government president have been notified of Wilcox’s resignation.

Nusbaum said they will assist with student involvement when the interview process begins in August.

Wilcox was selected in April from three final candidates for the full-time position, and was responsible for the Bobcat Tram and Parking Services. She previously worked as director of Parking and Traffic at Stephen F. Austin State University, according to the university press release announcing her hire.

Austin Humphreys | Photo Editor Mary Lou Ortunio and Martha Mendoza, volunteers, prepare food delivered by Meals on Wheels June 25 at the Senior Citizens Center. The center serves around 30 meals every weekday to seniors.

Meals on Wheels hindered by sequester

By Weldon McKenzie News Reporter

M

onday through Saturday, San Marcos resident Salvador Hernandez limps to his car to make the 10-minute trip to the San Marcos Senior Center to enjoy a hot meal and conversations with friends.

Salvador Hernandez, 90, eats a lunch donated by Meals on Wheels June 25 at the Senior Citizens Center.

Hernandez visits the center almost every day.

The 90-year-old war veteran has had the same daily routine for years, but may now be in jeopardy of losing the meals he has become accustomed to.

Hernandez is one of about 325 recipients of the services provided by San Marcos’ Meals On Wheels. The local division of the nationwide organization provides meals to those not able to prepare or provide food for themselves, according to the nonprofit’s website.

Meals On Wheels facilities throughout Texas are expected to lose 5.2 percent of

ZONING

City councilmembers vote down Sessom Creek Development 6-1

By James Carneiro News Reporter

Members of the San Marcos City Council voted to prevent Casey Development, Ltd. from building a high-rise apartment complex near Sessom Creek during their June 18 meeting.

Councilmembers voted 6-1 against the development, with Councilman Ryan Thomason, Place 5, casting the sole vote in favor of the proposed construction project.

In addition to the denial of the complex, members voted to keep development projects in the Sessom Creek area off the council’s agenda for the next three years. The councilmembers’ vote comes less than a

month after the Planning and Zoning commissioners voted unanimously to recommend the rejection of the proposal May 28.

Project developer Darren Casey originally proposed a 9.5 acre mixed-use complex that was met with backlash from citizens living in single-family housing near the property. The proposed building would have housed a mix of retail, office and 380 multi-family housing units, according to Casey’s plans. It would include a maximum of 800 bedrooms, be no more than five stories tall and contain 16,000-square-feet of retail space, according to the plans.

Councilman Jude Prather, Place 2, said he was looking forward to Casey’s development as long as it was kept away from

Austin Humphreys | Photo Editor Residents living near Sessom Creek spoke against Darren Casey’s mixed use high rise at City Council’s June 18 meeting.

Sessom Creek. Prather said he would feel guilty if he voted for something that would disrupt the lives of his constituents.

“I want to sleep well tonight,” Prather said. “I already have enough things that haunt me.”

Councilman John Thomaides, Place 3, made a motion to deny the project and keep it off the city council agenda for the

their federal budgets due to the government sequester, said Kelly Franke. Franke is the executive director for Combined Community Action, a nonprofit organization that partners with services such as Meals On Wheels to help the impoverished become more independent.

The cuts come after President Barack Obama signed the Budget Control Act into law in summer 2011. According to the act, it was created to combat the nation’s debt by an automatic cut, or sequestration, of government spending. The sequestration was implemented March 1.

Franke said San Marcos’ division will lose $22,000 of its federal funding as a direct result of sequestration. Franke said it will be difficult to maintain service to San Marcos’ Meals On Wheels recipients with the lack of federal funding.

Beatrice Pacheco is the site manager for the San Marcos Senior Nutrition Program, one of three Meals On Wheels locations in

See MEALS, A2

next few years. Matthew Lewis, director of Planning and Development Services for the city, said this would prevent developers from bringing construction proposals regarding the Sessom Creek area to city council or staff.

Councilman Shane Scott, Place 6, said he did not vote for the development the first time it appeared before the council in early 2012 and was not going to this time around.

Thomason said he voted in favor of the project because Casey’s proposal “might be infinitely better than what might come later.”

A crowd of residents who gathered to speak against the project during the public comment portion of the city council meeting cheered and applauded after hearing the results of the vote. A line of residents wound around the meeting room to speak against the project, while no one spoke in favor of the proposed building.

See SESSOM CREEK, A2

CONSTRUCTION

Legislature stalls plans for new campus construction projects

By Paige Lambert News Reporter

Though there was support from legislators to authorize bonds for new facilities at public universities, they could not agree on a bill before the 83rd legislative session ended, meaning plans for expansion at Texas State will have to be halted.

The draft legislation would have approved about $2.7 billion in Tuition Revenue Bonds, which are funds for campus construction at Texas public universities, to construct additional buildings and labs and improve current facilities. Texas State administrators requested $83 million for the construction of an engineering and science building at the main campus. The

university also requested about $50 million for the construction of medical education and research buildings at the Round Rock campus.

State Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin) said while the bonds have been important topics of discussion in both houses, a bill for one has not passed since 2006.

If the bonds are not considered in a special legislative session this year, universities will have to wait until the next session in 2015 to request funding for facilities.

The need for new buildings at Texas State is imperative, especially since the health professions building is currently at full capacity, said Ruth Welborn, dean of the College of Health Professions. The lack of space restricts the department from add-

ing classrooms, labs for clinicals and offices for additional faculty members.

“Because of accreditation standards, we have to maintain a certain faculty-student ratio,” Welborn said. “If we don’t gain more space for faculty, we can’t increase our enrollment of students.”

Programs such as communication disorders, respiratory care and physical therapy can only admit 40 students each year.

Welborn said if Texas State received funds to build the Round Rock facility, the department could add 20 percent more students to each program.

Welborn said the department would not be able to explore more research projects or programs without an increase in funding from the bonds.

“We will just be able to do what we have been doing. We’ll have very limited research and activities will eventually have to be curtailed,” Welborn said. ”We just can’t grow, and it’s very frustrating.”

The lack of bond funding will also halt construction of a new engineering and science building, said Provost Eugene Bourgeois. The proposed facility would allow the implementation of two new baccalaureate engineering degrees and growth of the biology department.

Howard said the majority of the bonds would have been used to build facilities related to STEM, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, fields. She said

See CONSTRUCTION, A2

A2 | The University Star | Wednesday June 26, 2013

NEWS

UniversityStar.com

MEALS, continued from front San Marcos. Pacheco said her site serves 100 meals a day, and is worried about the staying power of the operation because of the federal funding cuts and minimal access to non-federal funds.

“There’s no telling how much longer the program will last,” Pacheco said. “As someone who works with the clients day-to-day, it’s really sad.”

These automatic budget cuts are projected to have a significant impact in Texas over the next 10 years, especially since the state is facing some of the highest cuts in the country, according to the Texas Tribune’s sequester cuts data.

Nationally, the sequestration of funds for senior nutrition, which includes services such as Meals On Wheels, will see more than $36 million in cuts. Texas will be subject to more than $3.5 million of those cuts.

The 5.2 percent budget cut is universal for all Meals On Wheels programs in Texas. This percentage is far less daunting to a city like Austin with a larger client base and, therefore, more expendable funding, said Thad Rosenthal, spokesperson for Meals On Wheels and More in Austin.

Rosenthal said the combined funding the Austin facilities receive from private donations and federal dollars poses little

CONSTRUCTION, continued from front the push for these facilities correlates to how the economy and careers are moving in Texas.

“The job market needs more nurses, engineers and students in those kind of fields,” Howard said. “If we really want to invest in those jobs in the economy we need room to graduate more students.”

Bourgeois said the departments will have to maximize use of current facilities by adding sections to courses until funds are obtained for the new facilities.

“That would mean scheduling as many sections of those appropriate labs from eight in the morning through the evenings, Monday through Friday,” Bourgeois said.

“On the research side it would mean making sure the faculty use the labs appropriately and at maximum efficiency.”

Welborn said she is optimistic the bonds could be approved with discussion surrounding a second special session. If they are not proposed and approved during a second special session, the university will have to look for other ways to fund the facilities.

“We’re hopeful and know a number of legislatures support our need and request for tuition revenue bonds,” Welborn said.

“It’s still summer, we’re still around and we’re still hopeful that it will happen.”

San Marcos, New Braunfels see summer increase in crime News Reporter

As San Marcos continues to grow, the city will see more crimes of a violent or serious nature, even during the typically quiet summer months, officials say.

In the past month, officers investigated a shooting at a student apartment complex and a gun brandishing near campus, among many other incidents that are normally rare during this time of year, Howard Williams, San Marcos Police Department

State and College Station police departments respectively, said they see a decrease in crimes during the summer since there are fewer students on campus and in the town.

However, Glenewinkel said UPD does see an increase in crimes in the Sewell Park area and by Saltgrass Steak House because of swimmers and summer tourists. In addition, Logan said burglary of auto and burglary of habitation are the most frequent crimes during the summer months in College Station.

Service Calls to SMPD 2010 2011 2012 2013

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

7360 6888 6935 6620

7023 7061 6635 6632

6984 7140 6698 6566

6940 6534 6498 3670

7704 7230 6548 N/A

7277 7525 7341 N/A

Courtesy of SMPD Chief Howard Williams

chief, said. Williams said two factors contribute to an increase in calls during the summertime, including a “huge number of students” attending summer school classes on campus and tourists who have “generated a lot of issues” in the past few years.

Williams said there were 6,635 calls for service to SMPD in April 2012. In May and August of 2012, there were 6,698 and 7,341 calls for service, respectively. He said in years past San Marcos would become relatively quiet during the summer when students vacated the town. However, in the last five years this has not been the case. Williams said the number of service calls to SMPD has been increasing in the summer months.

“It’s kind of surprising, but that’s what’s been happening,” Williams said.

The number of calls for service levelout in September to October and begin to decrease in November to December, Williams said.

On the contrary, both Otto Glenewinkel and Patricia Logan, officers for the Texas

ing. There are many unused, albeit undesirable, avenues for saving money, including cutting hours for site employees, Franke said.

Hernandez said his daily trips to the senior center are a staple in his life, and recalled sharing meals there with his wife, who died several years ago. For people like Hernandez who have relied on these services for years, these budget cuts could signal the end of an era. “(Workers at Meals On Wheels) are nice and good people,” Hernandez said. “There are a lot of people who need help, and these wonderful people know that.”

SESSOM CREEK, continued from front

CRIME

By Nicole Barrios

challenge to the program’s operations currently.

“We stand to lose about 70,000 meals a year with sequestration,” Rosenthal said.

“But we have the financial wherewithal to absorb that without interrupting service.”

Franke said 35 percent of funding comes in the form of client and private donations, grants and fundraising, which has been successful in keeping the program afloat in San Marcos.

“One year we had a $72,000 deficit,” Franke said. “We were able to break even, free of government assistance.”

Franke said San Marcos’ Meals On Wheels Program is stable for the time be-

Although Texas State and College Station police department officers report receiving less calls during the summer months, Steven Hanna, New Braunfels Police Department lieutenant, said there is typically an increase in calls for service during the summer months in New Braunfels. He said during the fall and winter months NBPD receives 80 to 110 calls for service per day, and calls increase to 150 or more per day during the summer.

Hanna said there is a significant increase in property crime in New Braunfels during the summer with almost a 40 percent increase shown during May through September of 2011. He said property crime includes burglary of motor vehicles and various thefts around town, which is likely a result of tourism.

Williams said San Marcos police officials also identify burglary of motor vehicles as the most committed crime during the summer. He said SMPD sees car theft mostly around the recreation areas, near the river and around hotels.

Correction A June 5 University Star article should have said head baseball coach Ty Harrington is in his 14th season with Texas State.

Austin Attorney Renee Hicks represented the three neighborhood associations in attendance at the meeting who opposed the development. Hicks said the proposal was “fundamentally inconsistent” with the San Marcos Comprehensive Master Plan, making it immediately ineligible for approval.

There was no representative from Casey Development, Ltd. to speak during the public comments.

One resident, Betsy Robertson, said

cars from the residents who would have lived in the proposed complex could have increased traffic in San Marcos and led to “inevitable tragedy.” She said “drunken party goers” would litter her neighborhood and ruin “a uniquely beautiful piece of land.”

Mayor Daniel Guerrero said developers can be a force for good and he was not anti-developer or anti-Casey, but the project was simply “in the wrong place.”

The University Star | Advertisement | Wednesday June 26, 2013 | A3

A4 | The University Star | Wednesday June 26, 2013

OPINIONS

UniversityStar.com

Changes must occur to increase support for Bobcat athletics

A

Texas State administrator recently shared exactly what was on his mind when The University Star asked for his feedback. In his past two Q&As with the Star, Athletic Director Larry Teis did not sugarcoat his opinion when he made it clear that improving fan attendance at football games is a crucial part of the Bobcats’ move to the Sun Belt.

In a June 12 Q&A with the Star, Teis said “other schools support their teams while we look for excuses not to attend.”

He expressed similar sentiments in a June 5 Q&A, saying he hears Texas State needs to win and play quality opponents if fans are expected to attend, but other schools “are getting good support and do not necessarily live by this rule.” Teis’ honesty is both refreshing and appreciated, even though his delivery was a bit harsh. Teis’ frustration with the situation is legitimate and understandable. More members of the Texas State community need to attend football games, but a major culture shift will have to occur for this to happen.

Like it or not, having a successful athletics department is a necessary part of increasing the prestige and credibility of an institution. Unfortunately, attending athletic events is not a major part of the Texas State culture. This is partly because of the fact that school spirit is lacking at Texas State. Students would probably feel more apt to attend games and feel a connection to the school if they were exposed to the traditions and culture of Texas State on a daily basis.

Events like rallies in The Quad before games and public meet and greets with teams and athletic officials could foster excitement among students and create more of a buzz around athletic events.

ASG President Vanessa Cortez said in a June 5 University Star article that her administration is looking to create a new Texas State tradition where students march into the stadium with the band, Strutters and Boko before each home game. The university should help establish this sort of an event as one way to build school spirit, which could in turn increase attendance at football games.

Tailgating is an enormous part of the experience of attending a home football game. Unfortunately, the tailgate area for

football games was moved to the Strahan Coliseum parking lot last fall, which is about half as large as its previous location.

The increased demand for spaces in the smaller area probably discouraged many organizations from even attempting to secure a spot.

Teis said in his June 12 Q&A that other schools’ fans tailgate all over town and campus before home games, and the “athletic department should not have to create a tailgate atmosphere for people to show up.” He does have a point. Fans should not limit their pre-gaming to only one parking lot in San Marcos. However, beggars cannot be choosers—if increasing the size of the tailgate space next to the football stadium has the potential to correlate positively with game attendance, officials should work to expand the tailgating area.

Students are not the only members of the Texas State community who need to come out to more football games.

Considering that 32 percent of the university’s alumni live in the Austin area, filling Bobcat Stadium should not be an issue. Unfortunately, that is often not the case. This probably is a result

of athletics and school spirit historically not being a major part of the Texas State culture. As the university continues its efforts to improve alumni outreach, hopefully more graduates will feel a connection to Bobcat athletics and feel the need to attend both home and away games in support of Texas State teams.

If game attendance is as big of an issue as Teis indicated, then something has to change. Students and alumni need to do what is best for the university and support Bobcat athletics by showing face at games. Additionally, the athletics department needs to inspire members the community to become enthusiastic fans.

Consistently winning more games, boosting school spirit and creating a better tailgating experience will help, but constructing a stronger fan base is something that will only happen over time.

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.

Lara Shine | Star Illustrator

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

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, starentertainment@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 Web Editor.............................................Cayla Green, starwebeditor@txstate.edu

Video Editor...................................Alex Peña, starmultimediaeditor@txstate.edu Design Editor.................................................Lee Moran, stardesign@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, chris.salazar@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator...........................Kelsey Nuckolls, starad1@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator.......................................Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu Publications Director...........................Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu

The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the spring and fall and every other Wednesday in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.

Copyright Wednesday, June 26, 2013. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief.

The first five issues of each edition of the paper are free. Additional copies of the paper can be purchased at 50¢ per copy.

Contact The University Star office at (512) 245-3487 to purchase additional copies.

Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com

The University Star | Opinions | Wednesday June 26, 2013 | A5

Administration must boost alumni donations University should find ways to appeal to potential donors

I

Ashley Trumps Opinions Columnist Advertising junior

n order to help boost alumni donations to the university, Texas State administrators should consider funneling additional resources toward the university’s alumni association and its

members.

According to an April 18 University Star article, more than half of the university’s alumni graduated in the past two decades, with 38 percent of those having graduated in the last 13 years alone. In addition, a study published by a student at Bryant University entitled “A Predictive Modeling of Alumni Donor Behavior” suggests that alumni are more likely to donate the older they become.

Freshly graduated alumni often do not yet possess the financial stability to donate money anywhere, let alone to a university they may still be paying off student loans from. With the vast

majority of Texas State alumni being relatively recent graduates, it is no surprise that Texas State does not receive as many alumni donations as some other universities such as Texas A&M. If the university wants to see more donations from recent graduates, the Alumni Association should put more effort into providing resources for graduates still struggling to secure a stable job. An increase in donations from alumni may not immediately follow an expansion in resources and support for recent graduates.

However, doing so will help graduates settle more quickly into careers where they can earn the disposable income needed in order to donate back to the university. In addition, providing some kind of support for students after graduation will foster a sense of continued connection and gratitude to the university, again making alumni more likely to donate.

To more immediately and cheaply affect alumni relations, however, administrators should seriously consider revamping the Texas State alumni webpage. Compared to other, more successful alumni organ izations such as the University of Texas’ “Texas Exes,” our alumni association’s web site is decidedly lackluster. The Texas Exes site provides colorful graphics depicting where alumni are located and how their money is spent, whereas Texas State’s alumni site sports a boring design bogged down by pages of past tax reforms. UT’s site is colorful and fun while Texas State’s is poorly

organized and a plain maroon. The Alumni Association should consider enlisting alumni who graduated in graphic design to collaborate on a new, up-to-date webpage that will attract the attention of alumni interested in getting involved.

Data from the Texas State’s Alumni Association website seems to suggest a positive correlation between investing in graduates and the number of alumni donations. According to the association’s financial statements, since 2006, alumni contributions have been greater during years with larger university and student support expenditures. Alumni seem to notice when more money is put toward programs which directly affect students, and as a result, are more willing to give back. It takes more than just fundraisers and a solid athletics program to get alumni to dig more deeply into their pockets — the Texas State administration must show that it cares about individual students as well as university as a whole if they want to get more out of the alumni population.

If Texas State expects gifts from former Bobcats, it must first reach out as a donor itself. If alumni feel that the school did not care for them personally while they attended, they will not be compelled to donate after they leave. If the university administration can scratch students’ backs now, Texas State is likely to receive bigger alumni checks in the future.

Summer weather brings increased risks Texas heat necessitates sunscreen, hydration

T

exas State students spending summer in-state need to keep the extreme heat and the complications it can cause in mind while trekking Robert Núñez through Opinions Columnist campus, Mass commmunication senior in town or anywhere else where the weather is hot.

Summer is in full throttle and so is the Texas heat. To most Central Texans, the heat index seems to increase every year, with each summer feeling hotter than the last. If students plan on spending any time outside over the summer break, they should consider taking precautions beforehand.

Texas experiences some of the most extreme temperatures in the country.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services website, in the period between 2003 and 2008, 263 Texans died of complications from excessive exposure to natural heat.

Many of these deaths likely could have been prevented if only the victims had known more about sun-related

sicknesses and had been prepared with proper hydration, clothing and other protection.

Summers in Texas can be brutal, and it is not only those who work outdoors that have high potential of getting skin cancer. Anyone who is exposed to the unprotected sun for an extended period runs the risk of getting sick or even dying, no matter his or her lifestyle.

Students should be aware of conditions such as sunstroke, heat exhaustion, severe sunburn and dehydration that can occur because of prolonged sun exposure, and prepare themselves before going out.

Students taking summer classes should especially have, at minimum, a basic awareness of diseases caused by sun and heat exposure. Trudging up the hills of San Marcos in the blistering Texas heat can easily become deadly if students are not careful.

Basic precautions, such as applying sunscreen every morning before going out, can potentially save students from skin cancer, sunburn and other painful or even deadly conditions caused by sun exposure. Making the decision to get educated on these conditions and preventions has the potential to change students’ lives entirely.

Anyone who does not take precautions to protect themselves while

enduring extended exposure to the sun runs the risk of developing skin cancer. Skin cancer can be caused in many different ways, but by protecting oneself from sun exposure, the likelihood of contracting the disease is greatly reduced.

Considering that summer has yet to hit its peak, the weather will likely only get warmer. Being raised in Texas my entire life, I am used to the heat.

In my experience, the months of May and June are a nothing but a warm-up for the increased heat and humidity that July and August will bring. As it is still just June, it is only uphill from here heat-wise. Students should be prepared for the weather to get worse before it gets better, staying safe in the meantime.

Whether they are floating the river or soaking up the sun, planning ahead and applying sun-screen daily can save students a lot of trouble. Once students recognize the dangers associated with sun exposure, they can act appropriately to prevent those dangers and enjoy their summer without worrying about getting sick. The complications associated with severe sun exposure can be life threatening. Knowing the basic principles of safe exposure can prevent complications among students and their loved ones now and into the future.

Students positively influence San Marcos Culture, economy, growth benefit from college demographic’s involvement

A

s enrollment at Texas State continues to increase, residents of San Marcos should embrace the unique culture the student Molly Block population Opinions Columnist brings to the Mass commmunication senior city.

According to toursanmarcos.com, the city was founded in 1848 with a population of 387 residents. Now, 165 years later, San Marcos is a thriving city with more than 50,000 residents. Although the city’s history is still relevant, it is no secret that today much of San Marcos culture has been formed by Texas State students.

According to a June 5 University Star article, a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau in May named San Marcos the fastest growing large city in the country. According to the same article, there was a 4.9 percent population increase between July

2011 and July 2012. In addition, San Marcos’ population is projected to grow by 33,000 people during the next 30 years. With so many new people moving to San Marcos, and with a large percentage of those people being students, the culture in the community has drastically deviated from its roots.

Some local businesses have been strongly influenced by the student population. Coffeehouses such as Tantra, Mochas and Javas and Wake the Dead are just some of the more well-known businesses in San Marcos that cater mainly to students. San Marcos would likely not have so many coffee shops if it were not for students supplying the demand for them. Even the environment of many San Marcos coffee shops is oriented toward students. Hipster-friendly shops with bike racks outside for fixies, various mismatched couches and chairs inside for lounging and studying and spaces for student artists to advertise and sell their art have become a fixture in San Marcos.

Other businesses that aim to attract the young, hip student population have also cropped up around town in past

years. Card and comic shops, thrift stores, frozen yogurt vendors, smoke shops and bars would likely not be as profitable if not for the large student presence in town. Many restaurants have changed business practices to attract students as well, offering student discounts and always asking if the bill will need to be split at the end of dinner. Without student patronage, many of the town’s music venues would also likely go under.

While it may feel at times as if the student culture in San Marcos has taken over and co-opted the familyoriented culture that exists in town, the two need not be mutually exclusive. In the years that come, students and other residents should attempt to embrace both sides of San Marcos culture. Although students come and go, the culture they create while they are here positively impacts other residents in many ways.

Without students spending their time and money investing in local businesses, many of the establishments San Marcos residents love would not exist. Texas State students have created a culture that is their own in many ways, but that culture is not exclusive to students alone. Instead of resenting students for controlling much of the local culture, residents should embrace the positive impact Bobcats have had in San Marcos.

Education helps prevent sexual harm, disease

Alex Pernice Opinions Columnist Mass commmunication junior

C

ollege students should make an effort to educate themselves on common sexually transmitted diseases in order to better protect themselves.

STDs are more common among college-age students than many may believe. According to the Center for Disease Control, almost half of the over 15 million STDs diagnosed each year affect young adults aged 15-24. These statistics should be a wakeup call to college students who choose to have unsafe sex regularly or who are not educated on basic STD prevention.

Even with STD statistics constantly hammered into students’ minds throughout high school and college, the facts still refuse to sink in for many. Many schools use a fear-based method to dissuade students from engaging in unsafe sex.

However, instilling fear is ineffective in persuading students to have safe sex. Instead, sex-educators on college campuses should trash the fear tactics and focus on teaching students to protect themselves.

With many schools and institutions still pushing abstinence as a method of STD prevention, many students and adults alike remain uneducated about basic STD facts.

For example, when the HPV vaccination Gardasil came out in 2006, both government officials and parents went wild. Many believed healthcare providers were promoting early sexual activity because the vaccine was recommended to be administered to girls starting at age nine.

However, starting the process of protection against HPV early is actually a positive. By receiving the HPV vaccine before sexual activity, children become better equipped to shield themselves against the complications of HPV in the future.

Regardless of how much abstinence education is shoved down teens’ throats, many will still choose to have sex, and it is better if they are protected when they do so.

The lack of sex education among young adults is a real problem.

If students still do not know the facts about safe sex and STDs, they should make efforts to educate themselves. A great place for students to start learning about safe-sex practices is the Texas State Student Health Center. The health center provides a wide range of tests to check students for STDs, as well as anonymous and confidential HIV testing. In addition, all of these services are offered at very reasonable prices that even broke college students can afford.

The health center has even done away with the possible embarrassment of buying protection by setting up a “brown bag special” containing 12 to 20 condoms packaged just like a prescription from the pharmacy. And with protection as inexpensive as $5.50, it is completely unacceptable for students to be unprepared.

Students can also gain valuable sex-education knowledge just by watching television. MTV, partnered with The Kaiser Family Foundation, has been producing award winning public information campaigns about sexual health through their “It’s Your Sex Life” and “Get Yourself Tested” programs. These successfully provide younger generations with information on everything from STD myths to the prevention of teenage pregnancies. MTV has effectively changed the way that youths learn about sex, changing the negative fear-based education received at school into a positive one.

Gaining the knowledge to be adequately protected against STDs is not only important, but easy. By committing to staying informed, students not only help themselves but their peers and future partners as well.

A6 | The University Star | Advertisement | Wednesday June 26, 2013

The University Star | Advertisement | Wednesday June 26, 2013 | A7

A8 | The University Star | Advertisement | Wednesday June 26, 2013

TRENDS

UniversityStar.com

Austin Humphreys | Photo Editor Vagabond, located on LBJ Drive, sells used and vintage clothing, hats and a large selection of boots.

Vintage clothing gaining popularity

By Amanda Ross Trends Editor

Offering students a unique look for less, vintage clothing and thrift stores are growing in popularity on college campuses across the country.

The ubiquity of theme parties, celebrity endorsements of vintage ware and, most notably, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ hit song “Thrift Shop” has catapulted used clothing into the forefront of student culture.

To David Marrs, owner of Vagabond, vintage clothing is constituted as anything that is at least 20 years old, with the 90s and 80s being the most popular decades for student shoppers.

“High-waisted shorts from the early 90s are so popular right now, so of course we sell a lot of those,” Marrs said.

Many people pair light-wash denim with tank tops and cowboy boots for an Americana style, which was most popular from 1991 to 1993, Marrs said.

Katie McLendon, fashion merchandising senior, said it is only natural that the late 80s and 90s are popular right now. Fashion changes in cycles approximately every 20 years, with a revival of old styles and aesthetics from days gone by.

“My favorite thing to thrift is accessories because they are the most versatile and wellpreserved,” McLendon said.

“Sometimes, vintage clothing can look worn and old, rather than just dated. It’s not that common to find weathered accessories, though.”

McLendon said while vintage is a popular aesthetic, it is important to style it into a mix with modern pieces to avoid ensembles resembling costumes.

Add a headscarf, a cocktail ring or a pair of funky oxford shoes to add just a touch of vintage to an otherwise modern ensemble, McLendon said.

For some students, though,

a costume is exactly what they need.

Marrs said he sees a large number of students in his store every week looking for costumes to wear to themed parties.

“Cosby sweater parties are so popular right now,” Marrs said, referring to the thick sweaters with crazy cluttered patterns worn by Bill Cosby in the late 80s.

McLendon said thrift and vintage shops offer students a chance at self expression.

More and more students are trying to achieve aesthetic individuality, but it is difficult because everyone seems to shop at chain stores that carry the same trends and variations on pieces, McLendon said.

McLendon said thrift shops and vintage stores have a constantly evolving stock with unique pieces and rare labels, often at low prices. She said this makes the shops an ideal alternative for the fashionable college student who is looking to determine a sense of personal style “For many people, college is really the last chance they have to wear whatever they want,” McLendon said. “Once you graduate, you’re confined to business attire from nine to five pretty much for the rest of your life.”

The University Star | Wednesday June 26, 2013 | B1

B2 | The University Star | Trends | Wednesday June 26, 2013

room, has become some fans’ favorite song and has inspired local artist Robin Orta’s design of the character for the band’s T-shirt and future album cover art.

Orta, whose “Intergalactic Girl” painting is on display at Wake the Dead Coffee House, said he met Womble and Majors at Texas Fest in Fentress, Texas in 2009.

Their “space rock” music has delighted and enlightened fans since the band’s formation in 2008, when Majors and Womble met by chance at Sewell Park.

Local resident Dan “Frisbee Dan” Barry introduced the two experienced musicians after talk of re-stringing a guitar. Majors invited Womble, known to him as “Geetar Steve,” to his house that afternoon to play music. The two became fast friends and began to Carlos Valdez | Assistant Photo Editor explore the idea of playing at an open-mic night.

Steve Majors and Steve Womble perform March 17 at Triple Crown’s open-mic night.

It was because of the openmic routine of signing a name to register for a set time to play that the band received its name.

Majors said Womble would write “Steve and Steve” on the roster; so when their time to play was announced, that is what audiprimary songwriter and keyboardist of ence members knew them by.

By Jordan Gass-Poore’ the group, and Steve Womble, fellow Trends Reporter The Steve-n-Steve Band has since band member and guitarist. The pair are played at Houston’s Super Happy Fun Inspiration for a popular song by the no strangers to the extraterrestrial, hav- Land and plays weekly at The Gray Horse San Marcos-based group the Steve-n- ing collaborated on the song “Stargazer,” and Triple Crown in San Marcos, as well Steve Band came in the form of a female written about the time Majors saw a as Cypress Creek Café in Wimberley. fan who approached one of the band’s UFO. Womble said there is a lot of uncer“We’re almost like one thing. We’re on tainty accompanied with being a musimembers, Steve Majors, at Sewell Park.

Majors said the fan asked him if she the same page,” Majors said. cian because the number of audience Womble said “Intergalactic Girl,” members and amount of money to be could be his “intergalactic girl.”

The title stuck with Majors, vocalist, which was written by Majors in his living

Intergalactic R ck

San Marcos band Steve-n-Steve discuss music, inspiration

made for each performance may be unknown until after the fact.

“It’s always fun,” Womble said. “I don’t care if I make any money or not.

The only thing if I can make one person smile, that’s a good thing. I enjoy playing music. That’s my life now.”

But playing music has not always been at the forefront of either Steves’ lives.

For 28 years, Womble said he worked for the American Cancer Society, retiring last August. He now helps perform tree maintenance and plays his Aria Pro II that he bought in 1976 named Martha which showcases a dragon snake carving on the woodwork, as well as his 1985 Fender, Bertha.

“Spread the love, that’s how I see it, spread the love,” he said.

Majors is a construction worker who, after a decades-long hiatus, returned to being in a band shortly before meeting Womble.

His experience playing the keyboards stems from his youth. He began taking lessons after his family inherited his grandparents’ upright piano.

Inspired by The Beatles, Majors joined his first band called The Henchmen. It was 1967, the summer after he graduated high school, when he and his friends began playing gigs around their hometown of Alice, Texas.

Womble also was inspired by The Beatles, whose name he wears proudly on a belt buckle, as well as The Rolling Stones and The Who, bands that played “lovely music” and reminded him of his youth in England as a military brat.

Orta said Womble is one of the best guitarists he has ever heard.

The Steve-n-Steve Band can be seen at Green Parrot and are working toward recording their first album.

Hitchhiker, Hill Country enthusiast recalls adventures in new book

Bike Cave refurbishes, sells used bicycles across campus

said he stays out of trouble by listening to his instincts.

“Trust your gut. If you sense danger, there are different things you can do or say to get out of any situation,” Commissaris said. “Being aware of your surroundings is really the key to your safety and well-being.”

With his car back in commission, Commissaris said he continues to indulge in the adventurous path of a hitchhiker just for fun. On one occasion, he was led into the San Marcos area and was in awe of the hill country’s beauty and met interesting people along the way.

“There are so many interesting people I have met. I never want to forget anyone,” Commissaris said. “I once met a man who was struck by lightning at his son’s soccer practice, died for six minutes and lived to tell the tale with only a few scars as proof.”

Commissaris offers a firsthand look at hitchhiking in the 21st century in his book. He said that while it may be fun and exciting, there is some truth to the stigma of hitchhiking.

Commissaris said there are many ways to go about getting picked up, but there are dozens of things to keep in Courtesy of Jeff Commissaris mind in order to stay safe.

Jeff Commissaris, San Marcos resident, has published a book about For example, Commissaris advises his hitchhiking experiences. against telling the driver of final destinations. This can give a dangerous indiBy Brenda Urioste vidual the opportunity to lure hitchhikers in by Trends Reporter knowing exactly where they want to go.

Traveling in male and female couples is A lover of the Texas Hill Country and musician rumored to be the safest way to hitchhike, has documented his adventures on the road in a Commissaris said. new book detailing his encounters with an eclecAnother piece of advice Commissaris imparttic group of individuals while hitchhiking across ed was to choose pick-up points wisely. the country.

“I’ve waited up to three and a half hours to Jeff Commissaris recently published his book get picked up before,” Commissaris said. “But “Hitchhiking Colorado: Thumbs Up Experiences I keep in mind that most ‘bad’ people will just Riding With Strangers” to shed new light on the keep driving. Nicer, more outgoing people are dated form of travel. Commissaris said he had most likely to lend a helping hand to a stranger his first experience hitchhiking when he set out on the side of the road.” on a cross-country biking trip.

Despite kindness from some strangers, “I was on the side of the road with my bike Commissaris said he has had a few run-ins with when it started to downpour. I didn’t even think more intimidating individuals. about it, (and) I just stuck up my thumb on in“One man kept joking about a Taser gun that stinct,” Commissaris said. was sitting in his lap, which made me uncomfortCommissaris said he began hitchhiking out able,” Commissaris said. “He was nice enough, of need, from that first experience getting out of but I got out of there as fast as I could. Even with the rain, to finding a way around the Netherlands all the experience I have had, I’m still no expert.” and finally resorting to getting rides from strangThroughout all his misadventures, ers when his car broke down.

Commissaris keeps an open mind and his Like many people, he had heard warnings of thumb up. the dangers of hitchhiking, but Commissaris

By Zach Mayer

local businesses, including Sean Patrick’s, Century 21 and Palmer’s, among others.

“I miss England, but I think I’d miss this more. I can’t leave San Marcos, it’s an awesome place to live,” he said.

By Jordan Gass-Poore’ Trends Reporter

Christopher Barnett Local muralist Born on a bathroom floor in Hertfordshire, England, San Marcos artist Christopher Barnett has been stirring up more than paint since he first moved to the city 11 years ago.

He and his wife, local author and Texas State alumna Jennifer Barnett, were recently featured on an episode of the television series “My Ghost Story.” Christopher Barnett said he and his wife wondered why their home off Lindsey Street was nicknamed the “Boneyard,” until they learned former residents had found a headstone on the property.

Barnett has created murals for numerous

Jordan Gass-Poore’: When and why did you move to San Marcos?

Christopher Barnett: I’ve always been an artist. I’ve been doing this for 40 years onand-off and, like most artists, I normally have to have another job as well. So, I was working in the Texas Embassy (Cantina) in Trafalgar Square, which used to be the actual Texas Embassy and, my now wife, phoned up for a job and we hit it off over the phone. When she walked through the door I thought, “Wow, she’s cute too.” We were friends for about four years before anything happened and it just grew and grew and grew. We had to make a decision: is it the U.S. or is it the U.K.? It was just much easier for me to come here than it was for her to come to London.

JGP: When you first arrived in San Marcos, what were some of the ways that you formed connections, especially with business owners to contract work?

Trends Reporter

pend upon their value, condition and the cost of labor. Used bikes can cost from $50 to $80, depending on quality and come with a seven-day warranty.

The shop offers tire patches, cable repair and sells new bike parts priced similar to other local bike shops.

Vogt said the cave’s refurbished

Transportation woes such as constant construction, rerouted buses and an increase in parking fees have led to many students trading in four wheels for two.

Commuter biking has seen an increase in participants over the past school year, offering students a fast and easy way to arrive and navigate campus. Bikes can be an expensive investment for the average student. However, the university-owned Bike Cave is attempting to make bicycles a more viable option for Bobcats strapped for Lee Moran | Design Editor cash.

The cave offers Adam Pellerin, physics junior, makes a repair to a bicycle wheel used and refurbished at the Bike Cave. bicycles at discounted rates, acquired through the University bikes are fixed to a better quality than Police Department’s bike pick-up pro- mass produced bikes sold at chain regram. The program consists of collect- tailers, though many students may not ing unclaimed bicycles chained to bike know about the cave due to a recent funding cut. racks throughout campus.

“In the past few years, business has The program was implemented for campus beautification, preventing 50 really been dependent on how able we or more abandoned bikes from ac- were to serve people and tell people we cumulating each year, said Peter Alex were here,” Vogt said. “Recently our funding and staff have been cut. We’ve Vogt, senior bike technician.

The Bike Cave can expect about 70 actually seen fewer people come in.”

Vogt said the funding decrease has bikes by mid-fall as a result of the program. Technicians will repair the used hurt the ability to advertise the Bike bikes until they are ready to be sold to Cave by fixing bikes in the Quad. He said the drop in the amount of people the public.

Vogt said the cave handles most, but coming to the shop has not been too not all bike problems. Some problems dramatic, but it has been noticeable. have to be solved unconventionally to He said about 30 people come in on a busy day and 10 come in on slower make up for a lack of equipment.

Some of these repair techniques in- days.

While the university-owned cave has clude hitting warped parts with a mallet on the floor or using parts from dif- faced a drop in patronage, other stores in the San Marcos area have seen an inferent bikes to repair one bike.

Adam Pellerin, bike technician and crease in customers, driven to cycling physics junior, said this “Franken-bike” because of frustrations with constructechnique may be unconventional, but tion, said Alex Lincoln, Hub Bicycle Lounge owner. it works.

“More and more people (having) “[The bike] doesn’t have to be exactly as it was intended to be right,” difficulty with parking and everything else makes cycling much more appealPellerin said.

He said for-sale, used bike prices de- ing,” Lincoln said.

CB: Well, my first mural I did in San Marcos, like commercial piece, was for the Century 21 building (333 Cheatham St.), the Tuscan. The reason I got that is because I bought my house from them. The lady that I bought my house from introduced me to the owner and he was looking for a mural artist. Of course, I was like, “Well, I’m a mural artist, hey.” I ended up doing that, and from there I was able to build a website of stuff that I’ve done in the U.S. ‘cause none of my stuff in England is on my website. And places like (Sean Patrick’s) they just sort of contacted me. I don’t advertise anywhere. I just purely work word of mouth (and) online. That’s all I do. I’m very fortunate, very lucky. I’m looking for an agent, but if it happens it happens and if it doesn’t it doesn’t.

JGP: Can you describe your art history?

CB: When I was at school they didn’t recognize what dyslexia was, so I was sort of shoved at the back of the class like an idiot because I couldn’t spell and I couldn’t write and I couldn’t read properly. And when they shoved me at the back of the class and said “You’re an idiot” they gave me a piece of paper and a pencil and I started drawing. And I’ve really drawn ever since. And

I’ve always, always painted. I wanted to do a fine art degree at university, but everybody around me was like, “Oh, that would be a really nice hobby. You’ll never make a living,” like a lot of artists get. I’m sure they do. So, I did a three-dimensional design course and came out with a degree and worked straight out of university; I worked for Burberry for four years, I was a fashion designer for them – you can still buy some of my stuff. It’s bizarre. I see people walking down the street with a Burberry coat and I’m like, “I designed that!” But even then I was painting and drawing.

JGP: Future plans for you, what do you have coming up?

CB: The Czech Heritage and Cultural Center (in LaGrange, Texas) does painted churches. Big, big time painted churches.

And it’s all painted with really intricate, detailed flowers, leaves and stuff. They’re building a brand new one on the site of the museum where I’ve already done a mural and they said when it’s done they want me to do a painted church. That’s a year’s work. That’s wonderful. That’s my dream.

I’ve done churches before, but I’ve never done anything quite that big. I’m so looking forward to that.

The University Star | Advertisement | Wednesday June 26, 2013 | B3

B4 | The University Star | Wednesday June 26, 2013

SPORTS

ZENARAE ANTOINE Women’s Basketball Coach Austin Humphreys | Photo Editor

By Samuel Rubbelke

QA

their skill sets. There’s a lot of different ways for coaches to figure out how to win. It’s the coach’s @SamuelRubbelke ability to be great a communicator. For things to move forward, Coach Zenarae Antoine coaches need to be able to recruit spoke with The University to a system that they like and they Star about recent basketball run and that works well for them. trends, what makes a good You look at some great BCS (Bowl coach and the criteria she Championship Series) schools and looks for on the recruiting they just sign great players regardtrail. less of the system, those kids just Star file photo make plays, and they’re freer in SR: What’s the mindset of a their system. My personal philosophy is that head coach this time of the year?

ZA: Right now it’s nice for us because wom- I like to recruit players to a system, but it’s en’s basketball, like men’s basketball, we are important that I understand their limitations in our first year of having summer access as well as their ability to blend together as a with our athletes. We can work with our stu- person, not just a basketball player. dent athletes during the summer. (Men’s) basketball opened up that opportunity last SR: What are the top three criteria you look summer. Now women’s basketball has it as for in young athletes when recruiting for your team? well.

ZA: The X’s and O’s and her ability to score SR: You have five months before the sea- for sure, I believe that’s important. I like son’s tip-off. Where’s your team now? And players who are able to score. I really enjoy where do you need to be at the start of the length as well with players who have a high basketball IQ, meaning she can make the season?

ZA: I think just by recruiting alone we al- right basketball decision when it comes to ready have the size that we have been lack- ball handling or passing. Those are X’s and ing for the past couple of seasons. So I’m O’s wise. If you’re talking about the intanexcited about that. Now it’s a matter of gibles, I like team players that are winners. putting in time with the team, and helping I like a tough mindset with good character. them develop on the defensive end in order to get up and get those rebounds, and make SR: Going into your third year at Texas our opponents take difficult shots. In addi- State, what does it mean for you personally tion, we like to score, so we need to continue to be a Bobcat? improving our offensive skill sets. Our main ZA: If I had to pick one word, about Texas priority is working on our team defense, our State and being a Bobcat, it is family. team chemistry and spending more time as Everything Texas State encompasses is family. There are different organizations and a team together. faculty members for students to reach out SR: Is good coaching when you have players to, rely and lean on. As for athletics, Texas buy into your personal system or base your State allows students to participate and view games for free. Dr. (Denise) Trauth has been system off their strengths?

ZA: That is a very good question. To me able to foster the feeling and the true sense good coaching comes from a number of dif- of the word family. There’s nothing like colferent things, it is the X’s and O’s, which is lege, it isn’t the end-all, be-all, but it’s a wona big part of it. In addition to that, I think derful place to find and discover who you that you need to have the ability to relate are. Texas State makes for a wonderful learnto the current student athlete and enhance ing environment.

Assistant Sports Editor

MIKE AKERS Women’s Golf Coach

By Odus Evbagharu Sports Editor

UniversityStar.com

KAREN CHISUM Volleyball Coach

By Bert Santibanez

She’s going to be our outside hitter. Amari Deardorff and Ashlee (Hilbun) have got to @BertSantibanez come up big for us this year.

Amari had a great spring, so Coach Karen Chisum I’m extremely pleased with her discussed what she loves development. We got about about Texas State as a eight or nine new kids coming university, how she is able in, and one or two of them are to stay competitive going going to have to step up immeinto her 34th season as diately. We’re going to have to the volleyball head coach focus on our overall team play. and the competition she It’s not going to be centered will face in the Sun Belt. on just one individual. We BS: Your team finished Courtesy of Texas State Athletics need to move the ball around 9-9 in conference, which resulted in a sev- and maintain good ball control. We need enth place spot in the WAC. As a coach to have fun, the more fun we have the who has had a lot of success, was last year more competitive we can be. a bit of a disappointment?

KC: As far as our expectations, there was BS: You’re a long-tenured coach at Texas some disappointment with our finish in State. How have you been able to re-enerthe WAC, because we could’ve easily fin- gize yourself and continue to be competiished third or fourth. I still think it was a tive? great learning experience. We lost some KC: It’s my passion for Texas State and kids late in the year, so there was some re- love for the Bobcats. My coaching staff building happening. We had a lot of new is very helpful as well. We come in the people playing different roles, so no mat- office, have a good time, but work very ter what conference we were in, a third or hard. Again, my passion for competition, fourth finish was more of the expectation. Bobcats, my kids and Texas State is what motivates me to continue to come to work BS: Now that the team has acquired a and makes my job easy. taste of Division I competition, have you BS: What exactly is it about Texas State as seen some maturity in the team overall?

KC: I thought we gelled during spring a collegiate entity that you love so much? play, especially our tournament in Dallas. KC: It’s goes back to the beginning, really.

I saw a lot of maturity and team chemistry. Texas State was a small school with a famWe took Oklahoma and Baylor to three. ily atmosphere. Although we’ve grown Now that Alexandria (Simms) is a junior as a university, I continue to look at the on this team, I saw her gain a lot of expe- school as a small university that’s hidden rience and confidence. Kaylen Deloney, up on the hill. I still believe the university who is our setter, is our quarterback of is very personal when it comes to its stuthe team this year. I think (Deloney) took dents and academics. I think many people ownership of the team during the spring take our students, athletes and teachers as and I think she knows it’s her team now. people and not just as numbers. I think we continue to have that small school BS: Coming into the Sun Belt Conference, mentality. what is your evaluation of the competiBS: Even though the athletic program has tion?

KC: It’s a very good volleyball conference. grown, like you said, you’ve been able to Better than the Southland, and not the recognize Texas State as very personal. same level of competition as the WAC. Have you been able to implement that There’s one school, Western Kentucky, into your coaching? who’s a top 20 program. They’re a very KC: Yes, for sure. My program is an all-enstrong Division I program. They’re the compassing program, and not just about team to beat in the conference. They’re volleyball. It’s about the players as student going to be expected to win. Everyone athletes and people. My players know I’m going to watch them on what they do both else, it’s going to be a close battle. on and off the court and in the classroom.

BS: Coming into the upcoming season, I want the players to represent Texas State what are some of the areas the team can with a lot of pride. I tell the athletes everyday that it is a privilege to play for Texas improve on?

KC: It’s going to be on the offensive end. State and not a right.

It’s going to come down to (Simms) a lot.

Sports Reporter

@odus_Outputs

Texas State women’s golf coach Mike Akers touched on the recent success of the program, the direction it is headed and how they have not only found success on the golf course, but in the classroom as well.

OE: After coming off of another successful year, can you reflect on the 2012-2013 campaign the women went through on the golf course?

MA: Overall I feel like this was the best season in our program’s history. We reached as high as 26th in the national rankings. We spent the majority of the year ranked in the 30s. Overall it was just a good year with a couple of wins and a lot of top-5 finishes. We had a really strong and consistent season.

OE: Krista Puisite did really well this year and was a contender in every tournament it seemed. What do you think she has done for the program in terms of recognition?

MA: Krista was phenomenal all year. She improved every year in her four years of playing here. She won a couple of times this year and just had a great year. She was our number one golfer all four years she was here. I’m happy she was able to improve every year she was here and she was a great leader for us. Krista really helped bring our program to the next level.

OE: What goes into the thought process of recruiting in women’s golf, not just in the area, but for overseas as well?

MA: We were able to sign the two best young ladies in the state of Texas back in November, and they will be starting in the fall. Our program has moved to the national spotlight and that’s always good. I’ve always recruited Texas, I feel you recruit your backyard first and I’ve always done that. We recruit internationally pretty well, and I feel like Krista opened doors for more opportunities here.

OE: The schedule for the 2013-2014 season was recently released. Can you elaborate on what a tougher schedule does for the program next year?

MA: The rankings in golf primarily work on strength of schedule. I try to get the most difficult schedule possible because the only way we could get ranked in the top-25 is if we play top-25 teams. Scheduling is very important.

Our sport is very different from other sports, we play our conference once and that is in the conference tournament at the end of the year. Otherwise, we play everywhere and anywhere we can get, especially against Big 10 and Big 12 opponents.

OE: You have made the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) tournament three out of four years now. What does that say about where the program is heading?

MA: I’m extremely proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish. The last two years we have received at-large bids, which is very difficult to do. You have to be nationally ranked in the top-50 to get an at-large, so I’m really proud of that. It just speaks volumes to the program and where it has come from. I’m going to continue to try to have the program ranked in the top-25 annually and the ultimate goal is to win the national championship. I will continue to work hard to meet those goals.

OE: The NCAA recently came out with their APR (Academic Progressive Rate) report and the women’s golf team was one of two Texas State teams to have earned Division I Academic Performance Public Recognition Awards for ranking among the top 10 percent nationally.

What does that say about the team’s success off the golf course?

MA: I was very proud to see that. We always strive to do well in the classroom. Our team GPA over the past three years has been over 3.5. It’s good to see we are doing well in the classroom as well as the golf course, but to be publically recognized meant a lot to me. It just shows that we are committed to the classroom as well as the golf course.

Courtesy of Texas State Athletics

BOBCAT News and Notes

By Odus Evbagharu Sports Editor

@odus_Outputs

Lucky 13 Phil Steele listed 13 Texas State football players in his annual Phil Steele’s College Football Preview. The total is the second most in the league behind the 15 players selected from the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

Receiving honors for the Bobcats were D.J. Yendrey, Michael Orakpo, Jafus Gaines, Andy Erickson, Craig Mager, Will Johnson, Zach Robinson, C.J. Best, Isaiah Battle, Charlie Will Tuttle, Blake McColloch, David Mayo and Xavier Daniels. Texas State will kick-off the football season Aug. 31 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi against Southern Mississippi.

Out of WAC The Texas State athletics program will officially join the Sun Belt Conference July 1. The university wrapped up its first and last year in the Western Athletic Conference by winning the track and field women’s indoor conference championship and the men’s and women’s outdoor conference championship. Soccer, softball, men’s basketball and baseball were all one game away from competing in their respective conference championship games while the women’s golf team earned an at-large bid to participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship. The move will mark the Bobcats’ third conference in three years.

In and Out

Starting with the 2013 Texas State football season, fans can exit an d re-enter Bobcat Stadium beginnin g at halftime. Fa ns must have th eir ticket or student ID scanned at an exit upon leaving to be qualified to reenter. Exit scanni ng will be availabl e at all gates beginn ing at halftime. If a fan exits prior to halftime, they mus t purchase a new tic ket to get back into the stadium. Each fan may only have one ticket or ID ex it scanned per pe rson. Fans can be readmitted prior to halftime under sp ecial circumstance s or emergencies.

Texas State is al so modifying its polic y to allow fans to bring their umbr ellas into the st adium. In the past, fans were asked to leave their umbrel las at the entranc e to the stadium. N ow they will be al lowed to carr y th e umbrellas to th eir seats.

The University Star | Advertisement | Wednesday June 26, 2013 | B5

B6 | The University Star | Advertisement | Wednesday June 26, 2013

The University Star | Sports | Wednesday June 26, 2013 | B7

NEWS & NOTES

Shine Bright on the Diamond

HELLO

my name is ...

Tori Hale

Junior Midfie lder

By Kirk Jones

Sports Reporter @Kirk_jones11

KJ: Who is your biggest fan when you are on the field?

TH: My biggest fan would definitely have to be my mom. If she is not at every game she is watching the game on tracker, or she is the first one to text me how I did. She tries to be at as many (games) as she can.

KJ: What has been one of your greatest accomplishments on the soccer field?

TH: I would probably have to say the game against Texas Southern. I scored two goals and had two assists. That was one of my better games. It was kind of at the beginning of the season when I first transferred so it kind of got me off to a good start.

Star file photo

the box, and I ended up double kicking it and wiped out on the floor. My team was laughing and my coach was yelling, and it wasn’t good.

KJ: What other sport would you be competing in if you weren’t playing soccer?

TH: I would probably be in track if I were not playing soccer. I have run track since the third grade and for a while I didn’t know if soccer would work out and hoped track would be my fall back.

KJ: If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you want to play you?

TH: I would have to go with Jennifer Lawrence. She’s hilarious, and she always does a great job in all the movies she does.

KJ: If you were a superhero, what superpower would you want?

TH: I would definitely want to be able to fly.

KJ: Who is a hero in your life and why?

TH: My hero would have to be Jesus Christ because he has gotten me through a lot, and I would not be where I am now if it was not for my faith. If it were not for him, I do not think I would even be at Texas State.

KJ: Who is your favorite professional athlete?

TH: My favorite athlete ever would be Mia Hamm. I definitely have always looked up to Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach, being someone who still plays, is someone I also look up to.

KJ: Describe an embarrassing athletic moment in your athletic career.

TH: Probably the most embarrassing moment was when I was dribbling along the sidelines and planning to use my left foot.

I was trying to send an air ball cross into

KJ: What are some of your favorite hobbies?

TH: I really enjoy reading and writing, and I really enjoy running. I have been running for a long time and it’s something I really like.

The Winningest Coach Ricci Woodard was named the Southland’s All-Time most winning coach in the conference’s history. Woodard was joined on the All-Time team with nine of her former players. Those players include McKenzie Baack, Ragan Blake, Jessica Chase, Haley Gaddis, Chandler Hall, Nicole Neuerburg, Alex Newton, Katie Ann Trahan and Kristen Zaleski. Woodard collected the most wins in league play with a 249. She lost 75 games and tied one during her stint in the Southland from 2001-12. Her overall career mark during that time included 440 wins, as she led Texas State to six regular season Southland titles and four tournament crowns. Her teams advanced to five NCAA regional appearances, and she coached 59 All-Southland players, six league hitters of the year, eight pitchers of the year and 27 All-Southland academic choices.

classifieds for rent/sale 1/1 APARTMENT, QUIET AREA, w/d, All Bills Paid, $675 512-5571124 2 BDR/1BA ON TWO acres, 6 miles from the TxSt. $700 per mo and $700 deposit. Call 830-6600787 or 512-357-6271.

3/1 HOUSE FOR RENT on Sycamore St. in San Marcos.

Wood floors. W/D Connections.

CA/CH. $1095/ mo. For more information, call Barkley Houses at 512-472-2123.

jobs/misc

jobs/misc DIRECT CARE COUNSELORSProvide positive role modeling, structure, and supervision to adolescent boys. NO EXP. REQ., WE TRAIN COMPREHENSIVELY. $8.50 to $14.50 per hr for flexible 8 & 16 hr shift schedules.

Health/life/dental insurance after 60 days. Min. requirements: Must be 21 yrs old, HS/GED, clean TDL, clean criminal history, pre-employemnt TB skin test, and drug screen. Growing (20 year old) non-profit organization. www. pegasusschool.net.

Call 512-376-2101 for further information.

BECOME AN EGG DONOR Give a miracle with egg donation.

See how to qualify for compensation. www.txeggdonor.com or call 888-my-donor.

SALES REP FOR T-shirt printing company. E-mail resume to david@ teedshirts.com

SEMEN DONORS NEEDED! $150 per specimen, healthy college students age 18-39. For application go to www.123donate. com

The Texas State baseball team had five members make the Southland’s 1990s All-Decade team and four players make the conference’s 2000s All-Decade team. Players on the 90s AllDecade team includes two-time Southland Hitter of the Year and the 1992 Player of the Year Gary Hermann, the 1990 Hitter of the Year Alby Carvajal and Chad Spears who picked up the 1997 Southland Player of the Year. Darwin Pennye and William Brunson also made the team. Brunson was the 1992 Pitcher of the Year while Pennye was the 1988 Hitter of the Year.

The Bobcats were represented on the 2000s team by Paul Goldschmidt, Kane Holbrooks, Matt Miller and Keith Prestridge. Miller won Newcomer of the Year in 2004, as did Prestridge in 2009. Holbrooks was named Southland Pitcher of the Year in 2009, going 10-1 that season. Goldschmidt earned the 2009 Player of the Year honors while collecting the conference’s Hitter of the Year awards in 2008 and 2009.

Goldschmidt was an eighth round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009.

B8 | The University Star | Advertisement | Wednesday June 26, 2013