March 11

WEDNESDAY MARCH 11, 2015

VOLUME 104 ISSUE 67 www.UniversityStar.com

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RACISM

Return to core values important to Greek community JOHN CODY STALSBY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Embassy Suites, located on Wonder World Drive and Interstate Highway 35, is one of several hotels that will house South By Southwest attendees.

San Marcos unaffected

by SXSW hotel crowding

By Nicholas Laughlin NEWS REPORTER @nick_laughlin

T

ens of thousands of tourists will flock to Austin’s annual South By Southwest (SXSW) music, film and interactive festival next week, leaving minimal impact on San Marcos.

Adriana Cruz, president of the Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP), said San Marcos does not experience a “substantial increase” in tourism during the

10-day festival. Cruz and Mike Kamerlander, vice president of GSMP, will attend SXSW to represent the city and the GSMP. The festival tends to fill Austin, and hotels fill up quickly, leaving little room for last-minute reservations. San Marcos has been a location for those who could not get a spot in Austin in the past, but this year is different.

“Austin now has more than enough hotels to accommodate for SXSW,” said Rebecca YbarraRamirez, executive director of the San Marcos Convention and Visi-

tor Bureau. “Those that do decide to stay in San Marcos are those that want to pay a little lower and those that want to get away from all of the hustle and bustle and want to relax.”

Ybarra-Ramirez said San Marcos does not host any special events during SXSW for tourists staying in the city.

“What we do is just promote what we have and try to entice people that way,” she said.

Ybarra-Ramirez said tourists should take advantage of the trails and outdoor activities, such as

Purgatory Creek Natural Area, as well as shopping downtown and at the outlet malls.

“Anytime that you have tourists or outside visitors come to the area, it provides an opportunity to (go) downtown, go to the square and see the assets that we have,” Cruz said.

In the past, the San Marcos Embassy Suites reserved rooms for company representatives attending SXSW, Cruz said.

See HOTELS, Page 2

TRANSPORTATION

Cameras to be implemented in Hays County school zones

By Exsar Arguello NEWS REPORTER @Exsar_Misael Hays County officials will join forces with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to identify people speeding in school zones.

Two cameras will be installed in an unmanned vehicle on public property near school zones. A citation will be issued if someone is caught speeding. Officials with ATS, a road safety company, will take a percentage of money from the citations, and a portion will go back to Hays County, said Commissioner Will Conley, Precinct 3.

A $150 fine will be given to anyone going at least six miles per hour over the school zone speed limit once the program begins, Conley said.

ATS has over 3,200 cameras installed in the United States and Canada, according to its website.

The initiative will begin with a pilot program in Wimberley Valley and Dripping Springs, although a date has not been set, Conley said.

Conley said schools located outside of city limits that have no municipality will also be involved in the program.

Jacob’s Well Elementary School is an involved school in an unincorporated area. Andrea Gonzales, school principal, said students’ parents have reached out to her regarding the cameras.

“There is some concern coming from parents about the project,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales said some are not happy with the program and would rather not have the system implemented. She said others support the project for the safety of the children.

“I see it from both sides,” Gonzales said. “At the same time, I want to do whatever is necessary to keep the children safe.”

The vehicles will be painted with the ATS logo and will be visible in school zones, Conley said.

The vehicles will help Hays County save money in the long run, he said.

Conley said few county officers

“We support any initiative taken by the county to enhance safety. We haven’t had an accident in years, but it just takes one incident to change that all.”

—TIM SAVOY, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER FOR HAYS COUNTY CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT are able to be positioned in school zones around the area.

“It costs the county about $12,000 to put a new traffic officer out on the street,” Conley said. “It doesn’t take long for those numbers to reach into the millions of dollars.”

The expenditures include salary for the officers as well as the cost of vehicles and other resources.

“We don’t have an interest in driving up a bunch of citation

costs,” Conley said. “We do have an interest in public safety and lowering speed(ing) vehicles going through school zones.”

Dangerous forms of traffic surround school zones, said Tim Savoy, public information officer for Hays County Consolidated Independent School District (CISD).

Cars, foot traffic and buses increase the amount of danger in a school zone, he said.

See CAMERAS, Page 2

By Kelsey Bradshaw NEWS EDITOR @kbrad5 The University of Oklahoma may be a state away, but events there have affected Texas State and the nation.

Members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter at the University of Oklahoma are under national scrutiny after a video hit social media. Anonymous sources sent the video to the student newspaper, Oklahoma Daily, and Unheard, a black activist

“It is deplorable that that happened at another institution of higher education and what happens in Oklahoma affects all of us, and it hurts me deeply the effect this can have on the Greek system and all of us too, particularly students of color or African American students.”

—MARGARITA ARELLANO, DEAN OF STUDENTS group on campus. The video shows SAE fraternity members chanting a song full of racial slurs to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Lyrics from the song include “you can hang ‘em from a tree” and “there will never be a (racial slur) SAE.” Two students were expelled from OU Tuesday for their actions. A national conversation has erupted on race relations within Greek communities at universities across the country.

An event of this magnitude has never happened in the Greek community at Texas State, said Margarita Arellano, Dean of Students.

“As far as I know, it hasn’t happened,” Arellano said. “I’ve experienced that, but not at Texas State. That doesn’t mean there are not some times some remarks made by an individual at an isolated event, but something to where people are in a huge group attending—I’m not aware of something of that magnitude.”

Arellano said she could only address the last five and a half years of her time at Texas State.

Two and a half years ago, the Greek Affairs office was relocated to be in the same space as the Dean of Students. This has made a difference, Arellano said. Pre-

See SAE, Page 2

STATE

University, Texas Tribune host second symposium on water

By Alexa Tavarez SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @lexicanaa Texans are a proud community separated across varying regions, yet the issue of water permeates their cultural divides.

Representatives of The Texas Tribune and Texas State partnered to bring water experts and officials to a series of panels to discuss concerns.

The event entitled A Symposium on Water was presented by The Texas Tribune’s Festival on the Road series.

“The problem is our cities are in the mindset that they’re in the business of selling water, not saving water,” said Sid Miller, Texas agriculture commissioner, during

‘Life After Proposition 6,’ the first panel. Proposition 6 is a constitutional amendment that created the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (S.W.I.F.T.).

People see Texas as a place to come and succeed, Miller said. State officials need to utilize the water available while continuing to search for new sources.

Carlos Rubinstein, chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, shared Miller’s logic but urged discharging back into springs and aquifers.

“Part of meeting our needs in the future is conserving water where we can,” Rubinstein said.

The discussion of conservation developed further in the next panel, ‘The Battle Over Groundwater.’

A plan by Houston-based company Electro Purification to pump water from the Trinity Aquifer and resell to Austin suburbs prompted state regulation regarding groundwater use.

Electro Purification officials do not adhere to the regulation of state or county groundwater districts because of an overlap of the Trinity and Edwards Aquifers.

State Representative Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) said groundwater districts must be drawn geologically rather than by political boundaries.

By law, groundwater is subject to the rule of capture, allowing a system of fair share among users.

See SYMPOSIUM, Page 2

ANDRES J RODRIGUEZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Robert Puente, President and CEO of San Antonio Water System, Laura Huffman and Ken Kramer discuss conservation March 10 at J.C. Kellam.

2 | The University Star | News | Wednesday, March 11, 2015

SECURITY

City website running again following threats

By Nicholas Laughlin NEWS REPORTER @nick_laughlin The City of San Marcos’ website is back online after being down in the wake of a cyber threat due to a 2013 incident involving a former police officer.

City officials were made aware of the threats March 2 by the website provider, Vision Internet, said Trey Hatt, San Marcos communication specialist. The website was taken offline as a precautionary measure.

“At no point was our site actually attacked,” Hatt said. “It was taken down by our website provider for security purposes.”

“At no point was our site actually attacked.

It was taken down by our website provider for security purposes.”

—TREY HATT, CITY OF SAN MARCOS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST The city’s website was back online March 3 after Vision Internet deemed the situation safe, Hatt said.

Officials with the website provider sent notifications to city officials Monday night after being told of the threat, he said.

“We haven’t been made aware of any other follow-up threats from the hackers,” Hatt said.

No previous threats were made to the city’s website, Hatt said “We haven’t had any leads,” Hatt said.

“Our main focus was to reestablish security to our website and get it back up as quickly as possible.”

Vision Internet officials took steps after the threat to increase the website’s security, Hatt said.

The site’s removal was a response to a video posted on YouTube March 3 by the alleged hacker. The hacker threatened to “attack” the website “nonstop” in retribution for a violent assault on a Texas State alumna by Corporal James Palermo, former San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) officer.

Palermo assaulted the student during a May 2013 traffic stop, according to a September 11, 2013 University Star article.

The incident was later deemed an illegal arrest. The student suffered a concussion and broken teeth as a result of the incident.

Palermo was arrested July 2013 on charges of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury by a public servant, a first-degree felony, according to the Star article. He was indefinitely suspended, the civil service equivalent of being fired, by the department after an internal investigation.

Chase Stapp, San Marcos Police Chief, said in a March 3 citywide press release San Marcos officials and SMPD acted properly in response to Palermo’s crime.

“The department not only took action against Palermo but also initiated the action,” Stapp said. “We are here to protect and serve our community, and we did everything within our legal authority to ensure that Palermo was punished for his actions.”

HOTELS, from front The hotel does not have any rooms set aside for SXSW attendees this year, said Stephanie Guajardo, who works in guest services at Embassy Suites. “(Embassy Suites) doesn’t look like it will be too busy with (festival tourists),” Guajardo said. “We won’t have overflow.”

Cruz said members of start-up companies looking for an affordable, easy commute to Austin are a target audience for SXSW hotel guests in San Marcos.

“Believe it or not, the hotels are full no matter what event may be

going on in Austin or San Antonio,” Ybarra-Ramirez said. “Hotels don’t increase their rates because of SXSW.” Ybarra-Ramirez said hotel rates in San Marcos are only influenced

by Austin during the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. “(GSMP is) providing opportunities for our companies to participate in SXSW,” Cruz said. “As a matter of fact, we will have some passes for the trade show.”

Free passes to the SXSW trade show will be available for interested

businesses, she said.

Cruz said GSMP has a positive relationship with the SXSW organizers. Cruz talked to organizers about including the regional communities of Austin more in the future. “(At the trade show) we will be talking about San Marcos and the regional communities, Texas State University and what assets are available just south of Austin,” she said.

Cruz hopes San Marcos businesses will participate in the SXSW trade show. The interactive trade

show features new social media, websites and promotional activity technology.

“They are talking about the convergence of technology, art, music and film,” Cruz said.

Cruz hopes to reach out and talk to the companies present. “(San Marcos is) a more affordable option than Austin,” Cruz said. “We have the presence of the university, an educated workforce, the charm and culture and uniqueness that makes San Marcos special (and) a beautiful natural environment at a more affordable cost.”

Conley said a preliminary 60-day trial period will take place. Individuals caught speeding during this time will be issued a warning. All warning citations will be sent in the mail.

“Speeding is very dangerous in school zones, especially when little kids are constantly crossing the street,” Savoy said.

Schools are already a safe envi-

ronment, but prevention measures need to be taken, Savoy said. Hays CISD officials will approve any equipment county representatives feel is necessary.

Kramer said Texas has experienced an increase in economic development despite the recent recession. State officials are losing an opportunity to implement water regulations in new buildings, setting a precedent for future developments.

Most big Texas cities cannot be sustained with nearby water sources, said Laura Huffman, director of the Nature Conservancy of Texas.

“What we have is what we have,” Huffman said. “No one is making more water.”

Huffman called for a shift in mindset regarding water conservation. She urged the public to consider demand as well as protect the resource.

The final panel addressed the question of ‘Why Water Along the Border is Undrinkable.’ Experts and officials brought forth a new set of issues regarding water quality and availability along border communities.

Wendy Jepson, associate professor of geography at Texas A&M University, said there is a “gap in knowledge” about the water issues plaguing border communities and colonias, or unregulated settlements.

“This is not a border phenomenon,” Jepson said. “This is a water supply problem that is statewide.”

Jepson said collaboration between city and state governments is essential to increase the demand

for water supply and quality in border communities.

Water corporations are not required by law to translate all of their provisions to Spanish, Jepson said.

Eighty percent of residents along the border get their water from vending machines.

The use of water vending machines results in a high rate of contamination, Jepson said. Citizens transport the water from the machines to their homes without guidance from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

“Water is a human right,” Jepson said. “Everyone should have access to safe and drinkable water, and we must have water security.”

Arellano believes a disconnect exists between the fraternity’s national headquarters and the local chapter in Oklahoma.

“If they follow (the mission statement), nothing like this would be happening,” Arellano said.

She said fraternities and sororities are often in the limelight and have to meet high standards. Various student organizations haze their members, she said.

“At Texas State, I will tell you, there is a momentum right now in the change of culture,” Arellano said. “(The change in culture) has been

going on for two and a half years.”

SAE members at Texas State have been told to refer all questions on the event to the chapter’s president. Matt Garrity, Texas State SAE president, declined to comment at this time and said he was advised not to make a statement.

Tuesday night was the deadline for SAE members at OU to leave campus. OU President David Boren said in a statement released Monday officials have zero tolerance for threatening, racist behavior at the university.

“It is deplorable that that hap-

pened at another institution of higher education and what happens in Oklahoma affects all of us, and it hurts me deeply the effect this can have on the Greek system and all of us too, particularly students of color or African American students,” Arellano said. “It is sad they already experience so much, and this is one more thing that should never have happened.”

Boren said in his statement he hopes the entire nation will join OU in having zero tolerance of racism.

“It gives us a lot to think about,” Arellano said. “All of us.”

CAMERAS, from front “We support any initiative taken by the county to enhance safety,” Savoy said. “We haven’t had an accident in years, but it just takes one incident to change that.”

SYMPOSIUM, from front Isaac said the fair share system is “convoluted.”

Dianne Wassenich, executive director of the San Marcos River Foundation, said some wells in Hays County will go dry if Electro Purification officials are allowed to pump water from the Trinity Aquifer.

“Let’s not let Texas get behind,” Wassenich said. “We want to make sure our future generations have a Texas that is worth living in.”

Water conservation efforts have room for improvement, said Ken Kramer, former director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Kramer was one of the water experts on the panel addressing the question of ‘How Much More Can We Conserve?’

SAE, from front viously one staff member oversaw the Greek community. Now four supervise the community. “‘Recapture the values you were created with,’” Arellano said. “And that has been the message for the last two and half years.”

Arellano said university officials are trying to take Greek organizations to “new levels.” The changes being made extend past the Greek community, she said.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s mission statement says the chapter strives to mold its members into gentlemen to set an example in today’s society.

ENVIRONMENT

Chancellor discusses minority students at water symposium

By Carlie Porterfield ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @reporterfield The Texas State University System Chancellor met with The Texas Tribune’s CEO and editor-in-chief after lunch at a water symposium Tuesday to discuss the changing tides in higher education.

Brian McCall, TSUS chancellor,

and Evan Smith, Texas Tribune CEO and edior-in-chief, were featured speakers at A Symposium on Water, presented by the Tribune’s Festival on the Road series.

Smith said the TSUS has experienced positive growth since he became chancellor in 2010, especially in minority enrollment.

Schools in the TSUS are “aggressively recruiting” minority students, McCall said.

McCall said 42 percent of students enrolled at the university are minorities. African-American and Hispanic students show the highest retention rates. More Hispanic students are graduating at Texas State than any other university in the nation, a result of the university’s size and high graduation rate.

A “moral obligation” exists to allow undocumented students to attend public universities and pay

CONGRATULATIONS!

in-state tuition rates, McCall said.

Such a policy could have a huge impact on individual lives, while it would have “very little” effect on the university system.

McCall voiced his opinion on the campus carry bill proposed the legislative session. He supports allowing each university system’s Board of Regents to set gun policies for individual campuses.

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Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Seniors and graduate students in the top 10 percent of their classes may be invited to membership as are the top 7.5 percent of second-term juniors.

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QUESTIONS? For more information about the Texas State University chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, contact phikappaphi@txstate.edu.

The University Star | Wednesday, March 11, 2015 | 3

SPORTS

UniversityStar.com

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

TEXAS STATE FACES FAMILIAR MATCH UP IN FIRST ROUND OF TOURNAMENT

By Paul Livengood SPORTS REPORTER @IamLivengood Texas State’s first-round matchup on Wednesday against UTArlington is a matter of survival for Coach Zenarae Antoine.

The Bobcats defeated UT-Arlington by a combined 15 points in two meetings this season.

“It’s very realistic that we can make a run if we put our best foot forward,” Antoine said. “The team understands that. What it comes down to is what team is going to show: the toughness and the grit. That’s why they call it March Madness.”

The results of the earlier two matchups, Antoine said, are now just a “sidebar.”

The Sun Belt Conference tournament represents a clean slate for the Bobcats, who concluded the regular season with losses to Appalachian State and Louisiana-Monroe.

UT-Arlington Coach Krista Gerlich said the team is ready to play Texas State after being caught off guard by the Bobcats’ urgency late in the second meeting.

Texas State erased a ninepoint deficit with 2:15 remaining in the second half. Taeler Deer, freshman guard, sent the game into overtime with a

3-pointer.

Overtime belonged to the Bobcats, who outscored the Mavericks by seven points in the period.

“I think it’s an exciting matchup,” Gerlich said. “I think it’s gonna be a great game.”

Antoine said the two wins give the Bobcats confidence.

The teams have played each other every year dating back to when both were in the Southland Conference. The schools transitioned to the Western Athletic Conference together before relocating to the Sun Belt in 2013.

“I think it gives the team confidence because there is some familiarity,” Antoine said.

“The opposite is also true. It also gives UTA the same type of confidence. The familiarity is basically a wash. All things aside, both teams are going to play their hardest to have an opportunity to advance.”

Antoine said March is the time for upsets—for underdogs to step up and put their best foot forward.

Texas State must win three consecutive games to secure an automatic berth in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

“They are embracing it,” Antoine said. “That’s what you want. You want your team to

embrace it, not to cower. You don’t want to win them by default. Right now I have a lot of confidence in my team in that regard.”

UT-Arlington’s 53.2 opponent points per game ranks second in the Sun Belt. The Mavericks rank first with a 36.1 opponent field goal percentage.

The Mavericks are led by Rebekah Van Dijk, freshman center, who averages a doubledouble this season with 13.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

Van Dijk had 13 points and 16 rebounds in the last matchup against the Bobcats.

Antoine emphasizes effort in preparation for the game.

“I’ve said this a million times,” Antoine said. “People have probably got tired of me saying it, but I’ve been about it for the entire time, and that’s what we need to continue to do.”

Texas State would play the winner of the Arkansas-Little Rock and Georgia State game in the semifinal round.

“Of course the goal is always (to) try to make a run,” Antoine said. “The team is really excited about the opportunity this year.

These young women clearly understand that they can get it done. It all comes back to consistency. The talent is there.”

STAR FILE PHOTO

SOFTBALL

BASEBALL

TEAM TRAVELS FOR NATIONALLY RANKED OPPONENT

BOBCATS RETURN HOME TO PLAY LAMAR CARDINALS

By Christian Rodriguez SPORTS REPORTER @crod9521 The Texas State softball team returns home Wednesday to play Lamar after a three-week trip along the southeast coast of the United States.

The Bobcats earned a 9-5 record during the trip, winning their last three games against Georgia Southern in the team’s first conference series of the season.

Coach Ricci Woodard understands the challenges her team faces. The Bobcats are focused on minimizing the other team’s opportunities at the plate because the Cardinals are hitting .315 this season.

“It looks to me as if they’re pretty aggressive offensively,” Woodard said.

“They don’t walk too much, and they don’t strike out too much. Looks to me as if they are a team that puts the ball in place, so our goal as a team is to not give them good pitches to do that

with.”

Lamar, a non-conference opponent, has won five consecutive games led by Shannon Sain, Cardinals senior infielder, and Casey Cromwell, Cardinals senior utility player, who are each hitting above .390 for the season.

The Bobcats are currently riding a season-high fivegame winning streak of their own.

Lamar is 9-0 this season when leading after the second inning. The Cardinals are 1-9 when trailing or tied after the second inning.

Woodard understands the importance of a fast start.

“I think our pitchers have done a good job at battling,” Woodard said, “But its sounds to me like if they are getting beat earlier in the game, they don’t play as well. So that’s a good thing for us to know on the opposing side of things, but it’s just always important for us to score early in the game.”

Randi Rupp, freshman pitcher, who leads the team with a 2.62 earned run average, has supported Texas

State’s defense. Rupp has won 10 of 16 decisions.

Kendall Wiley, junior first baseman, continues to lead the offense with a .417 batting average and eight home runs, good for fifth and second in the conference.

Wiley was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season for her performance against Georgia Southern. She has reached base in a career-high 23 consecutive games.

Woodard feels that this may be the stretch the Bobcats need to gain momentum as they continue the transition into conference play.

“It’s perfect timing,” Woodard said. “I think we’re all a little bit tired, and some of that is (being) on the road for three weeks, and some of that is just from the grind of the opening conference series. I think it’s a good deal to finally be back at home for the next five or six ball games. It can only help us.”

By Matt Gurevitz SPORTS REPORTER @Matt_Gurevitz The Texas State baseball team travels Wednesday to play against the Rice Owls.

Texas State and Rice have played against each other every year since 2006, with Texas State losing 14 of 17 meetings.

The Bobcats went to Rice last season and lost 4-3 in 11 innings.

“I remember we had success the last time we went in there,” Assistant Coach Jeremy Fikac said. “We’ve played well, but we haven’t fared well there. It’ll be a good challenge, and we’ll be ready.”

Tanner Hill, junior catcher, went 2 for 5 and recorded a run batted in while playing first base in the last matchup against Rice.

“I always look forward to playing the big schools like Rice,” Hill said.

“I’ve been trying to shorten up my swing, and that’s been giving me success, and hopefully it continues at Rice. The coaches have been telling me to shorten up my swing for two years, and now I’m finally listening.”

Texas State is 1-0 against ranked

teams this year. The Bobcats beat Houston, which was ranked third in the nation prior to the matchup.

Six players on Rice are hitting .306 or better this season. The team’s leading hitter is Kirby Taylor, Owls senior infielder, who is batting .407 this season.

“Leon Byrd (junior infielder) is a good player at the top of their lineup,” Fikac said. “Tristan Gray (infielder) is a good freshman that we see a lot in the summer circuit.

They’re returning a lot of kids that have been there and have had a lot of success.”

Rice’s bullpen has six relief pitchers with earned run averages under 2.00. These pitchers have recorded a strikeout on 41.1 percent of at bats.

The Owls have success closing out games this season, but coming back has been a problem. They are 9-2 this season when leading after the sixth inning. Rice is 0-4 when trailing in the eighth inning, with two runs scored in the ninth.

Texas State continues the road trip following the matchup with the Owls to play against the Appalachian Mountaineers for a three-game series.

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4 | The University Star | Wednesday, March 11, 2015

OPINIONS

UniversityStar.com

THE MAIN POINT

How to dominate your office March Madness pool

RYAN JEANES STAR ILLUSTRATOR

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.

On March 15 the official brackets for the 2015 NCAA Tournament will be released. Each year millions of Americans participate in the tournament bracket challenge by predicting the outcome of all 67 games correctly. The odds of receiving a perfect bracket are astronomical. Without including the four play-in games, a participant in the challenge has a nine-quintillionth chance of correctly picking a bracket. The odds are slim, but here are some suggestions to help tip them in your favor.

KNOW THE LEGITIMATE CONTENDERS The official bracket has not been released yet, but knowing the teams that have a legitimate shot throughout the tournament is important. All of your one and two seeds are typically good indicators of the teams that have a good chance of winning and will help make brackets easier to predict.

Plenty of resources are available to help make decisions easier. Study up by reading quick blurbs about the teams. Expert analysts devote a lot of time and research into these teams and this tournament for the sole purpose of making your decisions easier.

GET BEHIND A NO. 1 SEED A popular strategy used by participants in the March Madness bracket challenge is advancing all of the No. 1 seeds automatically to the Sweet 16. A 16th-seeded team has never defeated a No. 1 seed in the history of the tournament. In addition, it is a safe bet to choose a No. 1 seed to win it all. Teams in the No. 1 seed spot have been crowned champion 18 times since the tournament’s 1985 expansion to 64 teams.

DON’T PICK THE TEAM THAT WILL WIN. PICK THE TEAM THAT WILL MAKE YOU WIN This sounds convoluted, but hear us out. Picking the best team in the tournament is a novice mistake.

That is not the optimal decision if you are serious about winning an office pool. Instead, pick the team that gives you the best odds of winning. An ideal championship pick is a top-three seed heavily undervalued by Vegas odds. If you choose the consensus champion— this year, it’s Kentucky—then you are competing against everyone who picked that team. That lowers

your odds dramatically because your margin of error is slim in your other games. You have to be essentially perfect if you choose Kentucky. If you pick Iowa State, a projected third seed in the tournament, you are competing against fewer people. Beating 35 people is harder than beating four.

KNOW YOUR OFFICE POOL Each office pool is created differently. Some reward upset picks.

Some devalue earlier rounds.

Some weigh the Final Four heavily.

Some have hundreds of people.

Some have 10 people. You need to know the office pool like the back of your hand. A simple rule of thumb: If there are more people in the pool, take more chances with upsets. Pick more favorites if it is a smaller pool. Catering a bracket to your specific group gives you a significant advantage over the lessknowledgeable people.

THE 5 VS. 12 SEED MATCHUP The 5 vs. 12 matchup is key to winning your bracket. Since 1985, 41 teams with the 12th seed advanced to the second round of the tournament. If you’re going to pick an upset, your most likely chance for

success is with this matchup. In 26 of the last 29 years, a 12th seed has advanced against a 5th seed. If you’re looking for an upset, there’s a good chance it’s here.

FLIP A COIN Historically, the 7-10 and 8-9 matchups are a coin flip. Instead of researching the matchups extensively, simply flip a coin. It will save time you can otherwise use on other matchups. You can spare a few losses in the 7-10 and 8-9 games because everyone is likely going to miss some as well.

HOW TO FIND A GOOD UPSET TEAM A poorly executed underdog Cinderella pick could make or break your bracket entirely. Tread carefully. The strategy for upsets is the same as eating burritos. Do not pick too much because it will not go over well.

There is an important distinction between identifying the appropriate number of upsets and picking the right upsets. The good news is there is some science to finding optimal underdog teams.

Here are five factors to consider when finding those undervalued basketball teams.

2. Turnover creation. A high percentage of turnovers creates extra opportunities to score.

3. Offensive rebounding. Teams that corral offensive rebounds consistently give themselves more leeway to make mistakes.

4. Low pace. Fewer possessions means fewer chances for the better team to exert its talent. You want teams that slow down the pace and maximize their possessions.

5. Experience. This is a rare commodity in college basketball.

Experienced players are generally less prone to make mistakes and falter in high-leverage situations.

In summary: You want to pick the high-volatility basketball teams because they present you with the best risk-reward. This is not a foolproof method, of course, but it is better than simply going with the crowd favorites.

HAVE FUN At the end of the day, the NCAA Tournament is supposed to be fun.

It is sports in its purest sense. Win and advance. Lose and go home.

1. Three-point shooting. The added value of a 3-pointer is a key equalizer for less talented teams.

MARCH MADNESS TERMS DICTIONARY PLAY-IN GAMES – Eight teams compete for the final four slots in the NCAA tournament bracket. The four play-in games are often known as the first round of the NCAA tournament.

REGION- The 64 teams competing in the NCAA tournament are divided into four separate regions. Sixteen teams are placed within each region.

SEED- The 16 teams in each region are arranged and given a preliminary ranking from No. 1 seed to No. 16 seed.

SWEET 16- The Sweet 16, or the round of 16, are the final 16 teams remaining in the tournament.

CINDERELLA- The NCAA tournament is often referred to as “The Big Dance.” The term “Cinderella” is given to a lower seeded team, or teams, who makes an unlikely run and has a chance to win the entire tournament.

UPSET PICK- When a lower-ranked seed defeats a higher-ranked seed during the tournament, it is often referred to as an upset pick.

The University Star Editor-in-Chief...................................Nicole Barrios, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor....................Cameron Cutshall, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters................................................................................universitystar@txstate.edu News Editor..............................................Kelsey Bradshaw, starnews@txstate.edu Lifestyle Editor..........................................Britton Richter, starlifestyle@txstate.edu Opinions Editor.......................................Imani McGarrell, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor...........................................Madelynne Scales, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor........................................... Quixem Ramirez, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief.....................................Sam Hankins, starcopychief@txstate.edu

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The University Star | Wednesday, March 11, 2015 | 5

LIFESTYLE

UniversityStar.com

ART GALLERY BRINGS AMSTERDAM TO SAN MARCOS

By Denise Cervantes LIFESTYLE REPORTER @cervantesdenise Imagine being blindfolded and taken from the streets of Texas State to the city of Amsterdam in an instant.

That is what participants who venture into Hills Snyder’s latest art exhibit, “Steam,” will experience.

Texas State is hosting the fourth installment of Snyder’s work through March 13 in The University Galleries (1) & (2) in the Joann Cole Mitte Building. Individuals take turns sitting in an anti-gravity recliner while blindfolded and listening through headphones to recordings of ambient noise from the streets of Amsterdam.

Snyder is a San Antonio based performance and interactive artist and senior lecturer at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Mary Stump, gallery coordinator, said each person experiences the exhibit in a different way.

“I have done it a couple of times here in the gallery,” Stump said. “Each time I have

done it, I hear different things.

You experience this on a couple of different levels.”

Snyder allows participants to walk through the gallery while waiting to take a turn in the anti-gravity recliner, Stump said.

The recordings heard through the headphones are also played in the gallery, she said. As a result, there are no surprises when participants put on the headphones.

nication design sophomore, said the process felt like a dream.

“It’s hard to explain,” Hernandez said. “You sort of lose yourself in the process. I felt as if I was in a dream, and I just remember sitting there for a few minutes analyzing his physical sculptures.”

Snyder chose Amsterdam because of its walkability, Stump said. Snyder was able to capture the raw sounds of

“It is about space. It is about the creation and architecture of space and how it defines itself.”

–MARY STUMP, GALLERY CORDINATOR

“This is a very unique opportunity to go and experience the art while you also are the art because you’re a component of that gallery space,” Stump said.

Snyder incorporated a visual aspect to accompany the auditory experience, Stump said. Ssmall sculptures are displayed above the recliner for participants to focus on after listening to the recordings.

Ariana Hernandez, commu-

people’s everyday lives.

“The sounds of the street are the sounds of people,” Stump said. “There is the sound of bicycles, the sound of people walking (and) the sound of people talking across the street. And to get those things overlapped and layered creates this very interesting sculpture.”

After seeing the exhibit, Calvin Stein, fashion design junior, said “Steam” cannot be placed

in any specific art category.

“You can’t really classify this,” Stein said. “It’s art, yes, but it isn’t a painting or anything. It’s sort of its own thing.”

Stein said the uniqueness of the exhibit shows Snyder’s talent.

“Snyder is truly amazing,” he said. “This piece allows you to be a part of the art. You are a piece of his gallery when you think about it.”

Stump describes the exhibit as an auditory sculpture.

“It is amazing how it fills the space,” she said. “It is about space. It is about the creation and architecture of space and how it defines itself.”

Stump said individuals can take away various messages from the experience.

“It’s not tied to its objectness,” she said. “It’s tied to its ideas, and there are a lot of ways to portray these ideas.”

Stump said the Texas State exhibition is the fourth time Snyder has displayed “Steam” to the public.

“In the twenty years that I’ve been here, we’ve never had a show like this,” she said. “And who knows, we may never have one like this again.”

Your friendly neighborhood watchdog.

CAMPUS ORGANIZATION TREATS STUDENTS TO ORGANIC MAKEOVER

By Adriana Ruiz LIFESTYLE REPORTER @Adreezzy

Avocados, coconut oil and honey were some of the ingredients used to make organic beauty products during the “Treat Yo Self” event hosted by the Student Association for Campus Activities (SACA).

Valerie Gonzalez, public relations senior and coordinator of the activity, said SACA officials like to host events students will enjoy. Officials allow the coordinators to showcase their personalities.

Gonzalez wanted to show students how to make beauty products out of raw organic materials. She said the products help students treat themselves and de-stress before midterms.

“I want to show people how to make products that are not chemically enhanced,” she said.

Gonzalez is a self-proclaimed DIY expert. She came up with the idea to make raw, organic and vegan beauty products while exploring Pinterest.

Gonzalez sometimes makes her own beauty products, in-

cluding body scrubs and rose water toners, and wanted to share her recipes with other students.

“They are pretty simple, and you can make them yourself,” Gonzalez said.

The event featured three

ktsw.net

allowed about 70 students to make all three products.

Bethany Garay, family and child development senior and resident assistant at Elliot Hall, said she invited some of the students in her hall to participate in the event and encourage

“I want to show people how to make products that are not chemically enhanced.”

–VALERIE GONZALEZ, PUBLIC RELATIONS SENIOR stations giving students the option to make a raw coconutand-lime sugar scrub, an edible lip product or a vegan hair mask.

London Lutin, accounting sophomore, said she hopes to incorporate the edible lip scrub into her daily beauty routine.

“I thought it was pretty cool and easy to make,” Lutin said.

“I usually buy it, so it’s cool to make it myself.”

Each product uses about 3-5 affordable ingredients, Gonzalez said. The ingredients at the event cost under $100 and

community involvement.

Garay said the event was her first opportunity to make organic beauty products. She hopes to use her experience to host a similar event at Elliot Hall.

“I want to maybe incorporate a coffee scrub,” Garay said. “I think you can even make lip gloss out of crayons.”

Gonzalez said this event is the first of its kind, but she hopes to host similar activities.

“When it comes to recipes, think outside of the box and just do it,” Gonzalez said.

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