March 25 2014

VOLUME 103, ISSUE 70

www.UniversityStar.com

TUESDAY

MARCH 25, 2014

Defending the First Amendment since 1911

PODCAST | UniversityStar.com

VIDEO | UniversityStar.com

From the Field to the Fans: Odus Evbagharu and his team of reporters discuss Bobcat Athletics in today’s episode.

CRIME

Former student convicted of burglary, sexual assault

Blue October: The band played two shows in San Marcos over the weekend.

MUSIC

By Nicole Barrios

Assistant News Editor

A Hays County jury convicted former Texas State student Jonathan Porterie March 21 on charges of burglary and sexual assault.

Porterie, 24, was on trial for breaking and entering the bedrooms of four female Texas State students in 2012 and allegedly sexually assaulting one of the women, according to a March 20 University Star article. Porterie was convicted last Friday on three charges of burglary of habitation with the intent to commit a sex offense, according to a March 21 Austin American-Statesman article.

The fourth charge against Porterie was reduced by jurors from burglary with improper photography to a charge of improper photography for taking pictures of a woman sleeping naked, according to the same Statesman article.

The defense argued that Porterie was invited to the room by another friend, the Statesman reported.

Witnesses and victims took the stand on the second day of the trial March 18 to testify against Porterie, according to the University Star article. The first incident took place Aug. 15, 2012 when Porterie broke into a young woman’s duplex on Earle Street. The woman

Photo courtesy of Hays County Law Enforcement Center

testified Porterie took photos of her sleeping naked, and she was not aware until the police found the pictures.

The second instance occurred Sept. 1, 2012 when he broke into another room at the University Club Apartments, where Porterie was living at the time, according to the Star article. A second woman said she awoke during the night and saw him touching her leg.

The third break-in occurred at the same complex less than a week later, The third woman reported she awoke in the middle of the night and found Porterie watching her from the foot of the bed.

The fourth and final woman testified late Tuesday after-

Alexandra White | Staff Photographer Justin Furstenfeld, lead vocalist and guitarist, performs with Blue October March 22 at The Marc.

with Blue October members

»

Justin Furstenfeld and Matt Noveskey See Page 4

See PORTERIE, Page 2

CITY

Woodlands developers in process of obtaining permits for housing on Cape’s Camp

By Scott Allen News Reporter

Developers of The Woodlands of San Marcos, which will be built on the disputed Cape’s Camp property, are working toward breaking ground after Planning and Zoning commissioners approved the second phase of the environmental protection plan this January.

City councilmembers approved zoning changes that would allow Georgia-based Dovetail Development to build a 306-unit, 1,000-bedroom apartment complex off River Road and next to Interstate Highway 35 with a 5-2 vote in January 2013.

John Foreman, the city’s planning manager, said now that the environmental protection plan is approved, the developers have to survey the land to set property boundaries and obtain vari-

ous permits.

“The zoning is the first step of getting their entitlement,” Foreman said. “Now, they have to work out all the technical and code requirements for getting the lot platted and getting permits issued such as the tech permit, ownership and protection permit and building permit.”

The developer will not be able to begin construction on the complex until permits are issued, Foreman said.

Nearly 75 percent of San Marcos residents voted against the development of the Cape’s Camp property in the November 2012 election. However, related ballot items concerning raising taxes for the property and using eminent domain did not pass. Dovetail bought the land soon after.

The developer has donated 45 acres of land, 20 of which will be donated for parkland, said

Jonathan Ducet, project engineer, during the January Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Nearly a mile of paved hiking and biking trail will be installed as well as enhanced streetscapes and a turning lane from the access road onto River Road. The developer will donate $75,000 to be used for additional improvement.

Councilmember Ryan Thomason, Place 5, voted in favor of the development last January. He said although residents wanted to see the property be converted to parkland, they were not willing to vote in favor of taking the land by eminent domain or raising taxes to pay for it.

“The vast majority (of residents) said, ‘We want this as parkland,’” Thomason said.

“The same percentage said, ‘Don’t send us a bill.’ People really are all over the board on this subject.”

Allison Brouillette | Staff Photographer City councilmembers approved construction of a 1,000-bedroom apartment complex at Cape's Camp in January 2013.

Some residents say they are concerned about the development because the property is too close to the San Marcos River. They are concerned that

the environmental impact study may need additional experts for a second opinion.

See CAPE’S CAMP, Page 2

UNIVERSITY

Officials base next Common Experience theme on university’s integration

By Kacee Letbetter News Reporter

The Common Experience theme for the 2014-2015 academic year will honor the 50th anniversary of the university’s desegregation.

Five black women were integrated into the Southwest Texas State College in 1963. The university will celebrate their integration and reflect upon other situations that have “come into play since then,” said Pam Wuestenberg, Common Experience co-chair. The Common Experience will address the progress Texas State has made as a society and culture, she said.

An event held May 1 will bring back the five women who inte-

grated into the university, Wuestenberg said. The university will host a discussion panel with the women about their experiences and what has happened to them since attending the university. The group will be honored with an award as part of the event.

Art exhibits and philosophy dialogues will be held along with events similar to previous years’ Common Experiences, Wuestenberg said.

Billi London-Gray, curator of the gallery celebrating the Common Experience, said she and a group of student volunteers will design a related theme for the art exhibition in both the fall and spring semesters.

Located in Lampasas, the exhi-

bitions vary throughout the semesters, but always touch on the designated Common Experience theme, London-Gray said.

“There is a kind of unofficial group of faculty and staff who are involved in representing different departments and units within the university,” London-Gray said.

Other events relating to the Common Experience vary by department, including the University Seminar classes and their participation with the theme, LondonGray said.

Attendance of the LBJ Distinguished Lecture Series, which features a Common Experience themed speaker each year, is “heavily promoted” to all University Seminar classes, London-Gray

said.

“One thing that is really great about the Common Experience is that it allows for a lot of flexibility for departments to design things that one, suit their subject matter, but also allows them to open their doors to the rest of the university,” London-Gray said.

Amelie Cabaza, criminal justice junior, said she has attended numerous Common Experience events, including a discussion with CNN reporter Soledad O’Brien her freshman year.

“I feel like the university always chooses relevant themes for the Common Experience,” Cabaza said. “I look forward to the events that correspond with the theme each year.”

The Common Experience intends for all disciplines and programs to look at the integration theme in their unique perspectives, Wuestenberg said.

Integration-themed events will provide students with pieces of history that continue to affect us today, said Karla Cardenas, public relations junior.

“The anniversary of our university’s integration is something we should take time to honor,” Cardenas said. “I am glad it will be recognized as a Common Experience.”

University Seminar officials, who are responsible for choosing the book that accompanies the Common Experience theme, selected Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody.

2 | The University Star | News | Tuesday March 25, 2014

By Taylor Tompkins News Editor

Christian Carlson ASG vice presidential candidate, international studies senior TT: What made you want to run for vice president?

CC: Really, what made me want to run for it was the overall vision that I had for the university and the student body itself as far as what the university can provide the students and what the students can provide the university with. I noticed this vision that I had, and it was never about the office position or where I would be in the student government, but what I wanted to attain and which position would allow me to attain that most effectively.

And so I realized that many things, many concerns that students have, aren’t necessarily being recognized and aren’t necessarily being moved upon. And that was noticed literally in the fall semester whenever I joined.

TT: Why do you think students should vote for you over your opponent?

CC: I believe that overall, I’m more passionate about this university as a whole and encompassed in that is student government, encompassed in that are the multiple tiers that we have on our platform and I just believe that with this passion that I have for our university, with the passion that I have for every single person that walks on this campus, I will be able to help them out with any problems that they have and help direct their problems into a certain goal and achieve that goal. I haven’t seen much progression as far as addressing concerns in the past so I stepped up and did that right away and I believe I will be able to make a consistent characteristic of mine whenever I am in office.

TT: What would you say are your main initiatives?

CC: My main initiatives, of course we have different tiers, but the tiers that I focus on the most are improving the amount of the students who are involved on campus. We have tons of organizations, we have over 350, and yet within those 350 organizations you seem to find the same students over and over again and just compounding in what they’re involved in. Along with that I am very interested in improving our status as a veteran friendly school. I know that we are already nationally ranked and that is a huge thing to me, but upon seeing and upon researching these universities that are above us in the rankings, there’s a strong difference between the num-

ber 10 school and the number 11.

And I want to push us into that top tier of veteran-friendly universities.

TT: Is there anything else we should go over or talk about?

CC: This whole me only being in the student government for even a semester and a half may seem to be a problem to some people, and I want that to be changed, I don’t like that. I don’t like that view.

And I don’t want it to seem like I am some sort of novice or I’m new to organizations, I’m new to executive boards and everything.

I began my freshman year. I had very little knowledge of the university’s resources and organizations. I worked at KTSW for one semester and that was just because of my major at the time, so my freshman year I didn’t really do much. I started to get involved, I joined a fraternity as well as became a counselor for Cat Camp, which is a pride and traditions camp for incoming freshmen.

I became a counselor again and met a bunch of other people and throughout that next year, my sophomore and junior year, I moved up to the executive board of my fraternity, I was a counselor again for Cat Camp, I did Bobcat For A Day and again held multiple positions within each of those organizations.

I joined an organization called the Student Organizations Council (this most recent fall) and became on the executive board for that as well as joined ASG.

Austin Humphreys | Photo Editor

PORTERIE, continued from front noon and recalled returning to her apartment at the University Club Apartments early Nov. 4, 2012 with

her roommate. The victim said she saw Porterie in the parking lot, but knew he was not allowed to be on

the premise after being evicted.

The woman said she passed out from drinking that night and woke

up to Porterie on top of her.

“I kept telling him he was hurting me,” she said during her testimony.

“Jonathan sexually assaulted me.”

Porterie is expected to be sentenced this week.

protection has passed all of the necessary requirements and Dovetail is accommodating the city’s requests. “(The development) fully complies with the list of issues and conditions within the code,”

Drenner said.

Planning and Zoning commissioners will hear more of the developer’s plans for the 20-acre parkland area that is being donated at the March 25 meeting.

CAPE’S CAMP, continued from front Dianne Wassenich, program director for the San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF), believes the complex will be damaging to the river and the surrounding area.

“It’s not that we don’t trust

the staff in their evaluations in watershed protection plans—we just want additional experts to review the process,” Wassenich said. “We hired Tom Hayes with the Environmental Conservation Alliance, and we have con-

cerns. We should follow the river corridor ordinance that says don’t build on highly erosive soils and we feel like that’s the types of soils that are there.”

Steve Drenner, the developer’s attorney, said the watershed

The University Star | Tuesday March 25, 2014 | 3

OPINIONS THE MAIN POINT

M.R.S. degree mentality harmful to students F emale students should spend their college years discovering themselves and pursuing their dreams—no matter what people like “Princeton Mom” have to say.

Nationwide discussions about women and their place in society have been heated, especially in the wake of a recent debacle over comments made by the so-called “Princeton Mom.” Susan Patton wrote a letter to the editor to the Daily Princetonian urging female students to spend the majority of their time in college finding a husband rather than working toward a career, which is colloquially known as “getting an M.R.S. degree.”

Although there is nothing wrong with female students pursuing dreams of marriage, motherhood and love if that is what they truly want, the editorial board believes the M.R.S. degree mentality can be a harmful and unrealistic mindset for many Bobcats. Female students should keep in mind that their time in college is meant to help them discover themselves and their own ambitions—not necessarily find a husband.

College is an ideal place for young adults to wholly devote themselves to discovering their hopes, talents and dreams while getting an education. Regardless of what students plan to do in the future, it is an important part of both young adulthood and the college experience to find oneself. In this self-discovery process, there is no reason for students to spend thousands of dollars on tuition if their only goal is finding a spouse. There are plenty of places students can find potential partners without paying a premium.

Furthermore, there is no rush.

There is nothing wrong with being a young mother or wife, but seeing as most college students are still fairly young, they need not rush into relationships and responsibilities too quickly. It is never a good idea to make important decisions hastily, and doing so could end disastrously.

In addition to the M.R.S. degree mentality, the “ring before spring” mindset puts undue pressure on young men and women who, more often than not, are still trying to

plan their futures. Figuring life out may seem stressful enough now, but it is nothing compared to planning for the future while caring for a spouse and several kids.

Another misconception young women are subjected to is the idea that they only have a small window to marry and have kids. With the advanced medical techniques we have today, students have more time than ever to find themselves before starting a family. If students are dead set on having children as soon as possible, that is fine, but they should take care not to spread false information about fertility and pregnancy.

More than anything, female students should keep in mind that it is 2014, and while choosing to be a stay-at-home mother is an admirable decision, it is no longer the only option. Women should make sure they do not rush into relationships or other responsibilities due to pressure from old-fashioned parents or peers. Modern women are slowly but surely breaking the ever-present glass ceiling and coming to take jobs and positions traditionally restricted to men.

A university education is vital to one’s future career options, and if women want to keep their options open, they should make sure not to neglect their classes in favor of relationships.

Women have more opportunities and control over their lives now than ever before, and female students should remember this as they attend college classes and make decisions that will forever alter their futures. Female students should think twice before choosing an M.R.S. degree over having years of self-discovery in college and pursuing a career afterward.

Although having a happy marriage and healthy children is an admirable goal, choosing to delay dreams of settling down in favor of self-discovery and a career is just as valuable.

ACADEMICS

Foreign language skills important for graduates

Alexis Aguirre Opinions Columnist Journalism sophomore

I

n a world where knowledge of multiple languages is becoming increasingly valuable, foreign language fluency is vital to a well-rounded education.

Texas State officials should require foreign language classes as part of the core curriculum. While some degrees already require language credits to graduate, many do not. University officials should recognize the importance of foreign language proficiency by requiring four language credits for all majors.

However, there is only so much officials can do. Even in degrees that require foreign language credit, many students do not take the classes seriously and only pay enough attention to pass before immediately forgetting everything they have learned. I know the drill. I took Spanish for three years in high school, and yet managed to somehow accumulate littleto-no actual knowledge. Whether officials implement foreign language requirements for all majors, it is up to students to take their classes seriously. True, it can be tedious to learn a new language, but it is well worth the effort.

Foreign language classes can provide students with extra skills that, when added to resumes, give them a step up in the business world.

Landing a dream job after graduation is that much easier when students are fluent in multiple languages. Lan-

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

guage classes help enrich students culturally, providing diverse perspectives they might not otherwise encounter.

Learning another language is not just linguistics. When a person learns another language, they become immersed in the culture. They learn the ways of the people who speak the language. It is important for students to become more culturally aware as communication between nations continues to grow.

In many countries, being multilingual is the norm. To refuse to learn any language other than English simply because one is American is lazy, egocentric and narrow-minded.

Learning a second language is important whether one is a businessperson who has to interact with people from other countries, or a teacher who has to deal with parents who may not speak English well. To refuse to learn another language or dismiss it as trivial is to deny oneself opportunities—some of which may come in the forms of jobs.

Going into a job interview, I can almost guarantee there will be a dozen individuals with the same qualifications and schooling. Students need to understand that just learning the basic set of requirements for a certain job will not guarantee a position. If students want a leg up in the game, being a diverse individual with a well-rounded set of skills is the way to go. Speaking multiple languages fluently is a great way to stand out from the pack when searching for a job. Whether students go into international business or the medical field, knowing an extra language and how to deal with people of different cultures may be the reason they get hired.

Learning another language is extremely important in both professional and personal arenas. Language classes should be a requirement for all majors and should be taken seriously by students.

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, startrends@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 Design Editor...........................................Lauren Huston, stardesign@txstate.edu

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.

Jordan Gurley | Star Illustrator

ACADEMICS

Students should avoid multiple degree changes

Rivers Wright Opinions Columnist Journalism Junior

S

tudents should avoid hastily changing majors and instead be sure to evaluate their interests and financial positions thoroughly before making a sudden decision.

College is not cheap to begin with, and changing majors several times can add to the already steep tuition costs and living expenses. The more times students decide to change majors, the more money they must spend on school and supplies.

Even without switching majors, classes are expensive. Books, equipment and other expenses already add enough to the pile of debt many students rack up while in college. Often, students are stuck with tuition bills long after graduation.

Money spent on an indecisive student is wasted cash. Money from government aid, for example, is better used on students who know what career paths they want to pursue rather than those who are constantly changing their minds.

Students waste time by changing majors. Changing majors in the middle of a university career can add years to a student’s expected graduation date.

The further into their major students are when they switch, the more time and money is lost. The sheer amount of time and money students waste is staggering when they combine retaking classes to meet different major requirements with taking completely new courses.

Web Editor...............................................Lee Moran, starwebeditor@txstate.edu Account Executive..................................Stephanie Macke, starad2@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Catie Brossard, starad3@txstate.edu Account Executive.................................Blakely Knowles, starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Taylor Bradham, starad5@txstate.edu Media Specialist............................................ Chris Salazar, c.salazar@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator...........................Kelsey Nuckolls, kjn16@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator.......................................Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu Publications Director...........................Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu

Sitting in college classes for long periods of time has warped the way students view the world.

College can act as a safety blanket to insulate students from the harsh reality of the real world. Many students may be so afraid to move on that they change their majors several times to prolong their college careers and delay real world responsibilities.

This is a wasteful reason to stay in college. Changing one’s major several times may hold adulthood at bay for a while, but it is not a permanent solution. Students may have a lack of confidence in their choices and seek reassurance by impulsively switching majors. In moments of uncertainty, however, students should take a step back and reevaluate their choices rather than act on a whim. There is no shame in taking a semester off if that is what it takes to figure things out. It is better to take a semester off from school than to continue racking up debt for classes that may or may not count toward a given degree.

During re-evaluation, students should work or intern in the fields they are interested in to get an idea of what those particular job markets entail.

Working or interning in a field can help a student decide if it is something they want to pursue in their studies. In this way, students can figure out what they want to do in college without accruing extra debt.

I have had my fair share of doubt in my major, but I am so passionate about what I want to do. I have come to view uncertainty and doubt as just another challenge to overcome. When things get hard and I feel like quitting, I just remind myself that this is what I want to do.

Even after taking time to think, students may still want to change their majors. If that is the case, making sure that the time and money are there to support a change is vital. Before making any rash decisions, students must make sure that a new major is worth the cost.

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 Tuesday March 25, 2014. 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

4 | The University Star | Tuesday March 25, 2014

TRENDS

UniversityStar.com

Free concert series promotes environmental awareness

By Kara Dornes

Trends Reporter

U

niting the San Marcos and Texas State communities through art, music and sustainability, the Keep San Marcos Beautiful Spring Concert Series returned Thursday evening and will run through the second week of April.

The free annual event kicked off in San Marcos Plaza Park with a performance

by ‘80s new wave group The Spazmatics. The concert series will feature a new musical act every Thursday in the park through April 10.

The concert series promotes themes of sustainability and ecological conservation.

“Educating and encouraging the public to be mindful about what they are doing within the community about beautification and recycling and litter prevention is the message that is going to re-

ally speak through the festival,” said Amy Kirwin, solid waste program coordinator.

While concerts and music festivals are commonplace in college towns across the country, the Keep San Marcos Beautiful Spring Concert Series has a special meaning the festival hopes to spread to city residents.

Keep San Marcos Beautiful is a chance for residents and students to not only listen to free music by estab-

lished acts, but reflect on the series’ messages about the community and preserving it for generations to come, said Lisa Morris, recreation program manager.

“The concert series is a opportunity for community service department to provide quality entertainment while promoting to Keep San Marcos Beautiful and the message reduce, reuse, recycle,” Morris said.

In addition to the musical

performances, local vendors and organizations including the San Marcos River Foundation and Sustainable San Marcos will have booths on site to showcase their messages and discuss them with members of the community, said Jennifer Mach, special events coordinator.

Local artists will have an opportunity to display and sell their works, she said.

“At every concert we will have speed art competitions starting at 6:30 p.m., where the participants compete for a 45-minute time period and everyone gets to judge who wins,” Mach said.

Featured activities like the speed art competition support the event’s message by using recycled materials for the artists’ projects, Kirwin said.

“The general public is really who is benefiting here,” Kirwin said. “The concert is free and it is really helping with a really strong educational outreach for the community of San Marcos.”

Future performances will include The Georges with Ashleigh Stone, The Crystal Creek Boys, The City Limits Us All and The Black Market Club with Christina Murphy.

KTSW 89.9 GRRRL PARTY Andrew Smith | Staff Photographer Spazmatics guitarist Brian Young, also known as Bjorn, performs at San Marcos Plaza Park during the Keep San Marcos Beautiful concert series. Free weekly concerts will be hosted every Thursday until mid-April.

By Ernest Macias Trends Reporter

Justin Furstenfeld and Matt Noveskey of

Blue October

B

lue October was in town for a special twonight performance last weekend on the heels of its latest album release. Frontman Justin Furstenfeld and bass player Matt Noveskey, San Marcos residents, spoke with The University Star about their new album “Sway,” a new tour and almost 20 years of success in the music industry.

Ernest Macias: You started in the ‘90s after a post-grunge boom. How does a band evolve with the times and stay relevant in such a fastchanging industry?

Matt Noveskey: I think that the only way to really accomplish that is to be you. I think that if you’re constantly chasing whatever’s cool at the moment and you’re trying to fit with what’s going on, eventually your luck is just going to run out. You’re going to wind up falling behind at some point in time. I think one of the reasons we’re still doing this is that we just do what comes to us naturally and every time we do a record it’s a snapshot of that moment.

EM: You've had tremendous success as a band.

What keeps you in the San Marcos-Austin area when your industry success allows you to live anywhere in the world?

Justin Furstenfeld: I love it. It’s nice and chill. I’ve stayed in L.A. before. I’ve stayed in New York before.

Half of us live (in San Marcos) and half of us live in Austin. I think San Marcos, for me, is perfect. I used to come up here as a child with my family to Wimberley and go camping every summer.

It’s always just been like a place of peace for me. As long as there’s a venue like (The Marc), we will keep coming back. I mean, why not play in your hometown that has supported you? I don’t get nervous when I play here. It’s just like, “All right, it’s time. Come on

San Marcos!”

MN: I love Austin, I love this area, and I love Texas Hill Country. There are a lot of artists that are making their way down here, and there are a lot of producers and engineers that are flocking here because it’s a great place to be. People like Tim Palmer move here because they come down for Austin City Limits, South By Southwest or whatever it is and they fall in love with it. I think we were just lucky enough to be here first.

JF: And real estate is extremely less expensive here too, for now. Once again, I sure am glad we were here first.

EM: How has the time spent in San Marcos shaped the band?

JF: San Marcos has let us grow. San Marcos has just always been San Marcos, and that’s what I like about it. There’s no ego here, really. It’s not trying to be Austin, L.A., Dallas or NYC. It’s just its own thing. It’s humble. That’s the word I would describe it.

MN: I agree 100 percent. I think that when I first came here in ‘99 I saw a whole college town that was rallying for a band. From the outside looking in, it was really cool. It reminded me of when I grew up in Michigan and there was a band called The Verve Pipe. When I

went to college, they were like that there, but they moved away and moved on and it changed. As where we’re still here, and we still have that support system and same network.

EM: Your latest work, “Sway,” was released in 2013. What inspired that album and the lyrics?

JF: I would have to say living differently. Kind of finally figuring out what the meaning of life is. I think I tapped into a place, in the last two years, where I figured out, “Man, I’m so grateful for what I have in my life.” I’m so not into being number one on radio anymore, or being the coolest thing out, you know. I’m into what’s best for my friends and family, and anything that comes above that is such a blessing. Letting the band have more say in the album—that was huge for me. It was a huge weight off my shoulders when I could look at Matt and ask, “You got any music?” Instead of going, “No, it’s me—it’s me.”

MN: It was a really positive experience all around.

Being able to really feel like you’re contributing on different levels is a gratifying thing. Beyond that, the actual making of the record was a great time in my life, and all of our lives.

I feel like we’re all in a great place, and I feel like I will always remember making this record fondly. It was fun, there was no pressure, we didn’t care if people were up our ass saying, “Deliver this, deliver that.” We made the record we wanted to make. If it does well, then it does.

EM: What direction do you see the band taking in the future?

JF: With the way the music is going right now, once again it’s all about hooks.

It’s all about songs. It’s all

Alexandra White | Staff Photographer Justin Furstenfeld, lead vocalist and guitarist, performs with Blue October March 22 at The Marc.

about how to grab people and create something new.

I’m all about heavy beats and simplicity with amazing hooks and dreamy landscapes—you can’t beat that.

Unless you’re Drake and you’ve got them all.

March 30th 24 hours of programming ruled by the ladies of KTSW in celebration of Women’s Month ktsw.net

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Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI between 18 and 30 Weigh at least 110 lbs.

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Men and Postmenopausal Up to or Surgically Sterile Women $1500 18 to 55

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Fri. 11 Apr. through Mon. 14 Apr. Fri. 18 Apr. through Mon. 21 Apr. Outpatient Visit: 23 Apr.

The University Star | Tuesday March 25, 2014 | 5

SPORTS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Bobcats’ season record strong in conference, average overall

Quixem Ramirez Assistant Sports Editor @quixem

T

he Texas State women’s basketball team finished with a 16-16 overall record and a 12-6 record in the Sun Belt Conference.

The Bobcats were eliminated in the semifinals of the Sun Belt postseason tournament by the Arkansas State Red Wolves, who beat them three times by an average margin of 12 points this season.

Texas State entered the tournament with nine wins in its last 12 games, including an 11-point road victory against Western Kentucky, the eventual Sun Belt champion.

The team was in contention for the second seed in the playoffs up until the final week. As the fourth seed, and with some momentum heading into the postseason, Texas State’s chances to win the

tournament were reasonably high.

The Bobcats’ season fell apart against Arkansas State, the top seed in the conference.

By and large, the women’s basketball team had a very successful season, especially compared to its preseason projections. Entering a new conference, Texas State was projected to finish ninth in the Sun Belt preseason coaches’ poll.

Only UT-Arlington, which finished last in the conference, drew fewer votes than Texas State.

The Bobcats’ roster was saturated with inexperience, with nine underclassmen and only five upperclassmen. Coach Zenarae Antoine stressed throughout the season that it would take time for the younger players to acclimate to the system and Division I basketball.

Texas State opened the season with a 28-point victory against a non-Division I opponent, HustonTillotson. Then, the Bobcats lost eight of their next nine games.

The team’s largest defeat, a 54-point loss against Texas, indicated that perhaps the Bobcats were a few years from contending for a NCAA tournament berth.

Then the Bobcats flipped the switch. Antoine inserted Meghan Braeuer, junior guard, into the

starting rotation. Ayriel Anderson, sophomore guard, provided off-the-dribble punch for the bench unit. Ashley Ezeh, senior center, returned from injury, giving the Bobcats a potent interior option. Erin Peoples, sophomore forward, and Kaylan Martin, senior guard, filled in the gaps.

The Bobcats avoided a losing streak between Dec. 22 and Feb. 22. Texas State won five consecutive games against Troy, Louisiana-Monroe, Western Kentucky, Louisiana and UT-Arlington during that stretch. The team looked like a viable contender.

The Bobcats struggled to generate offense in the first half, forcing them to dig out of holes in the second half. Twelve of their 16 victories this season were by single digits. Texas State expended a ton of energy in the second half to make up for playing poorly.

It worked out fine, but at some point, that nagging tendency will catch up to any basketball team, especially against the better teams in the conference. Texas State went 2-4 against the top three teams in the Sun Belt and 10-2 against the bottom eight teams.

Statistically, Texas State was an average team, ranking fifth in point differential in the confer-

ence. While the Bobcats’ record may be inflated by an aboveaverage record in close margins, the Bobcats improved defensively this year. They allowed 67.2 points per game, fourth in the conference and almost three points fewer than last season.

Rebounding was still a problem, but Texas State usually clamped down enough defensively to win games.

This season, Antoine experimented with three-guard lineups, different rotations and a slower-paced offense. Each tactic worked. Anderson, Braeuer and Kaitlin Walla, freshman guard, improved down the stretch, giving Antoine three reliable backcourt

options in addition to Martin.

Jasmine Baugus, senior forward, took a while to acclimate to her new role, but she learned the nuances of playing off the bench in time for the postseason. Jacqueline Jeffcoat, junior forward, and Kileah Mays, sophomore center, will return next season, and they will be needed in Ezeh’s absence.

There were certainly more positives than negatives.

Women’s basketball is trending in the right direction, though building upon on this season’s success will be contingent on younger players since the team will be losing Ezeh, Martin and Baugus, a trio that scored 36 percent of the points this year.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Texas State ends season in tournament defeat

By Odus Evbagharu Sports Editor

@odus_Outputs

The Texas State women’s basketball team shot 34.4 percent from the field on the road Thursday night, ending the team’s season in a 59-51 loss to Stephen F. Austin.

The Bobcats’ season ended with an overall record of 16-16, despite the team’s postseason appearance.

Erin Peoples, sophomore forward, led the Bobcats with 21 points and nine rebounds. Peoples’ 21 points was one shy of her seasonhigh 22 on Jan. 25 against Troy.

SFA had a 13-4 run in the second half, taking a 40-31 lead, and did not look back. The Bobcats shot 1-7 from the field during the Ladyjacks’ 13-4 run.

Texas State answered the run

with a 6-0 run of its own later in the half, cutting the deficit to five. SFA ended the run by a converting an “and-one” chance. The Bobcats cut the lead to four later in the game, but SFA converted 9-9 from the free throw line in the second half to put the game away.

The Bobcats took a 19-18 lead into halftime after Kileah Mays, sophomore forward, converted on a jumper inside the paint with 17 seconds left in the first half.

Texas State made 2-13 3-point field goals in the game after averaging 4.7 per game during the season. The Bobcats shot 50 percent from the free throw line while SFA converted on 10-11 from the charity stripe.

The Bobcats forced 19 turnovers while the team had 11 of its own.

Texas State stole the ball eight times compared to the Ladyjacks’ six.

The Bobcats end the season 12-6 in the Sun Belt Conference and with six more overall wins than last year. The team will lose seniors Kaylan Martin, guard, Ashley Ezeh, center, and Jasmine Baugus, forward, to graduation.

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6 | The University Star | Sports | Tuesday March 25, 2014

BASEBALL

Bobcats defeat Hilltoppers, improve in Sun Belt Conference

By Kirk Jones Sports Reporter

@kirk_jones11

The Texas State baseball team won two out of three games at Western Kentucky over the weekend, improving to 5-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.

The Bobcats scored a seasonhigh 13 runs in the second game of the series, forcing the second loss at home for the Hilltoppers.

“We played better,” said Coach Ty Harrington. “The team played with more emotion. We didn’t play very good on Tuesday and even though we lost, we played good on Friday as well.”

Garrett Mattlage, junior shortstop, recorded a career-high seven RBI on the afternoon as well as going three for five with a run scored.

The team struck first when Tyler Pearson, senior catcher, connected with a triple over the center fielder’s head.

Mattlage knocked Pearson home for the first run of the game with a sacrifice hit to the pitcher.

Texas State forced 12 walks on the game. Matt Smith, sophomore second baseman, had three walks on the game while Pearson forced two.

Austen Williams, junior pitcher, threw six innings striking out five,

while giving up 2 earned runs improving to 3-0 on the season.

Justin Dellinger, sophomore pitcher, relieved Williams throwing three innings of no hit baseball earning his first save of the season.

The Bobcats defeated the Hilltoppers in the series finale 7-5 with momentum from Saturday’s 13-4 victory.

The offense provided the win as the team hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth. Tanner Hill, sophomore first baseman, led the inning with his third home run of the season followed by Ben McElroy’s, junior outfielder, first homer of the year. This was the team’s first multi-home run game of the season.

“This was a good one to win,” Pearson said. “We had some momentum coming in as an offense and it was an important conference game to win.”

Granger Studdard, freshman outfielder, hit a 2-run homer, giving the Bobcats a 5-3 lead and breaking his 0-6 hitless streak in the series.

Lucas Humpal, sophomore pitcher, went 6.1 innings, giving up 3 runs on eight hits and striking out three. Humpal improved his record in Sunday’s victory to 2-0.

Cory Geisler, sophomore pitcher, finished the seventh, walking two and not allowing a hit to keep

Texas State baseball went 2-1 in a series March 21-23 against Western Kentucky at Bowling Green. the score 5-3.

Hunter Lemke, senior pitcher, entered in the eighth allowing 2 runs after a walk and double to shrinking the lead 7-5.

Lemke came out in the ninth and hit a batter, and with one out in the inning the Hilltoppers hit a game-ending double play earning the 7-5 victory.

The Bobcats went back and forth Friday in the series opener against the Hilltoppers until the bottom of the fifth when Western

Kentucky struck first with a 2-run single.

Taylor Black, junior pitcher, threw eight innings for the complete game despite the loss.

Black allowed 4 earned runs on eight hits while striking out five for his first complete game of the season.

Justin Hageman, Western Kentucky pitcher, countered Black’s performance with a complete game of his own.

Hageman struck out nine and

Allison Brouillette | Star File Photo

did not give up an earned run after the error scored Smith in the ninth.

“It’s baseball and you are going to play the teams in your conference,” Harrington said. “They aren’t going to be easy. We played a good team in our second Sun Belt series and we played well.”

The Hilltoppers dropped two of three after starting the season at home 8-1.

SOFTBALL

Texas State swept by Tech in three-game series at Lubbock

By Cameron Cutshall Sports Reporter @CameronCutshall

The Texas State softball team was swept by Texas Tech this weekend after giving up the lead in all three games, moving its overall record to 18-15 for the season.

“We competed off and on throughout the series,” said Coach Ricci Woodard. “No part of our game was spot-on. We had both offensive problems and defensive problems. In every game we had the lead at one point, but we were unable to hold onto it throughout the game.”

Rayn House, senior pitcher,

earned all three losses over the weekend, making her record 15-10.

Texas Tech won the first game 3-2 with a walk by Kristi Belshe, Red Raider left fielder. House started the first game of the series, pitching 6.2 innings in the loss against Texas Tech. The Bobcats outhit the Red Raiders 9-5 in the matchup, leaving seven runners on base.

Courtney Harris, junior third baseman, singled to score Jordon Masek, senior shortstop, giving the Bobcats the 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. The Red Raiders gained the lead with 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Bianca Prado, freshman right

fielder, hit her third home run of the season in the seventh inning to give the Bobcats their second run of the game.

Texas State lost its second game of the series 7-2, managing just two hits against the Red Raiders.

House started the game, giving up eight hits and 5 runs in 5.1 innings.

Kaylee Garner, freshman pitcher, came in to relieve, throwing 0.2 innings and giving up three hits and 2 runs.

Texas Tech earned the win with all 7 runs for the Red Raiders coming in the fifth and sixth innings.

The Bobcats lost the final game of the series 5-3. Ashley Wright, sophomore pitcher, started the

game, going 4.2 innings and giving up eight hits, 3 runs and three strikeouts.

All three of the Bobcat runs came in the fifth inning, earning the team the 3-1 lead in the game.

House came in to relieve Wright with two runners on base in the bottom of the fifth. House gave up a grand slam to Gretchen Aucoin, Red Raider first baseman, after allowing a walk to the first batter to load the bases. The home run gave Texas Tech the 5-3 lead and victory.

“I think we did a good job of battling in all three games,” said Timishia North, senior left fielder. “We never gave up and always

found a way to stay in the game.

Things just didn’t go our way.”

Texas State now sits in fourth place in the Sun Belt Conference standings. The Bobcats are getting ready to face No. 20 Louisiana this upcoming weekend on the road, and the team is looking to fix the fundamentals of the ball club.

“We need to fix the little things,” North said. “Things such as base running, getting our signs and moving the base runners will help us out a lot as we head into conference.”

Texas State will play former Southland conference foe Lamar on Wednesday night before heading off to play the Ragin’ Cajuns.