March 23 2016

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THURSDAY MARCH 24, 2016

VOLUME 105 ISSUE 50 www.UniversityStar.com

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STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER PABLO MEJIA

Aquabrew in downtown San Marcos March 22.

New gastropub on the square prioritizes local charities By Bailey Buckingham SENIOR NEWS REPORTER @bcbuckingham San Martians can drink beer and eat craft food while supporting local charities this month at Aquabrew, the newly opened gastropub downtown. Aquabrew is hosting events for charities and organizations based in San Marcos and surrounding areas until its grand opening—the date of which is still to be determined.

Owner Carlos Russo said the atmosphere he hopes to instate at Aquabrew inspired him to conduct these charity events. Russo is covering the costs out of pocket so all proceeds can go directly to the charities. “Part of our goal was always to build community,” Russo said. “We wanted to take our organization, as a whole, and make friends in the community, and just let everyone in San Marcos know that we’re here for them.”

School Fuel, HaysCaldwell Women’s Shelter and the San Marcos River Foundation have been featured in the money-raising event. Shelby Hebert, School Fuel volunteer coordinator, said the Aquabrew event was a success, and she is thankful a business would feature local charities to promote awareness. School Fuel packs and provides sack meals for students who may not have food over the weekend. The cost is ap-

proximately $215 per student for the year. “We haven’t heard the final total from Aquabrew,” Hebert said. “But, (with) donations alone we raised $500, and on top of that they are donating all of the profits from the event itself. Yeah, it’s really awesome what they’re doing.” Aquabrew was built from the ground up. It features a restaurant floor and a top deck which will soon include another bar and televisions. The business is in

the past couple of days, and that we would get more murals in the city.” The organization began in the 1980s as the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network, and has since transformed the city. The group not only focuses on beautifying its surroundings, but on community outreach as well. There are several programs that focus on job placement

See MURAL, Page 2

See ALUMNUS, Page 2

the process of building a beer garden behind the building which will have a bar, seating areas and greenery. The long tables in the restaurant were put there with the intent of motivating visitors to sit with strangers and get to know people within the San Marcos community, Russo said. Alex Robertson, floor manager, said Aquabrew is going to stand out in San Marcos because of the over-

See AQUABREW, Page 2

Philadelphia muralist shares talents with San Marcos

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER SAM KING Eric Okdeh, a Philadelphia muralist, talks about the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program Wednesday, March 23 at the Price Center.

The San Marcos Mural Arts Program hosted a presentation March 23 by Philadelphia-based artist Eric Okdeh at the Price Center. Founded by Mayor Pro Tem John Thomaides, the San Marcos Mural Arts Program is in its third year and continues to grow. “We really felt like we were getting the best muralist in

the country,” Thomaides said. “And we feel like that’s been proven since he’s been here.” Thomaides, who is from Philadelphia himself, was inspired by the murals and pitched the idea for a city mural program to San Marcos City Council. “This is part of what we promised when the program was originally proposed,” he said. “That we would learn these types of techniques that Eric has taught us over

By Richard Dray NEWS REPORTER Texas State alumnus Micah Eimerbrink was awarded the Dannon Yogurt and Probiotics Fellowship to support his research, which is focused on studying the body’s gut-brain relationship. Eimerbrink, currently a Texas Christian University graduate student, received the $25,000 fellowship because his research involves a new and emerging field of scientific study. “All of the other applicants had impressive projects as well, but he was the only one that stood out with a very innovative approach to the benefits of probiotics, which is the gut-brain interaction,” said Miguel Freitas, vice president of Health Affairs at the Dannon Company. According to a Dannon news release, the main focus of Eimerbrink’s research involves the idea of a significant relationship between the gut and its influence on environmental perception. Eimerbrink’s research focused on animals, conducting a series of tests which involved giving a group of mice a small shock and recording their reactions. Eimerbrink said these tests were humane, and the shocks given to the mice were only enough to startle them. “We provided a probiotic supplement to a group of animals and then we looked

CITY

By Brigeda Hernandez NEWS REPORTER @brigeda_h

Texas State alumnus breaks ground in new field of scientific study

University alumni share immigration stories

UNIVERSITY

By Lesly De Leon ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Dean of Students Margarita Arellano left Nicaragua in 1978, after a civil war broke out, something she says was traumatic for her, especially after her husband was taken prisoner for several days. She had never considered moving to the U.S., but after her husband was taken, it was clear— they had to move. Arellano moved to Austin and later earned a Ph.D. at the University of Texas. She worked as an administrator at the University of Texas until 2009. After, she moved to Texas State. Arellano spoke at Success Has No Borders, an event hosted by Gloria Velásquez and Alba Melgar, Spanish senior lecturers. Arellano said it was a

OF SAN MARCOS

struggle to get where she is. Progressing in her career as administrator was difficult because she was on her own and had no mentor, but she learned from her struggles. “I learned that having goals is important,” Arellano said. “I learned that you preserve in order to be successful. You also need to have courage to overcome (struggles).” Arellano said success is a 2,000-step process, and failure only occurs when one doesn’t learn from it. As an immigrant, she became a citizen of the world. “Immigrants are the pollen of the world; they pollinize the earth with better things,” Arellano said. Jesus Baeza, a Texas State alumnus, was born in Mexico and came as an undocumented immigrant with his

mother when he was only three months old. Baeza is now a software tester and teaches computer access to people who are blind. Baeza said as a young child, he was placed in special education classes in school because of his blindness until talking with the principal. The principal agreed to place him in regular classes if he could do the work without assistance. In high school, his teachers did not think he would graduate or attend university. The hardest challenge is overcoming when others believe one can’t succeed, Baeza said. Juan Hernandez, Spanish and history senior, was born in Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. at 8-years-old. Hernandez said learning English was difficult because his

school did not offer English Second Language or bilingual classes. Hernandez said in high school he didn’t think he would attend college. His father had been deported, his sister was returning to Mexico and he had to work to help his family. However, a high school teacher encouraged him to apply to a community college and he consequently earned a scholarship to continue his STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER LESLY DE LEON education. When he was accepted as a transfer student Alba Melgar, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Modern Languages, to Texas State, he didn’t poses for a photo March 10. know how he would pay for lalobos, University Police ser- students to be empowered his education when he kept geant. “The overall success is and understand anything in being told he didn’t qualify people come away with a bet- life is possible. for financial aid as an un- ter understanding of opportu“Anyone can achieve their documented immigrant. nity, a better understanding goals and be successful if they of success and some of the “Even if one person took struggles everyday people go just have determination and willingness to work,” Vesomething away from this, through.” Velásquez said she wanted lásquez said. it’s a success,” said Alex Vil-

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March 23 2016 by The University Star - Issuu