THURSDAY MARCH 3, 2016
VOLUME 105 ISSUE 46 www.UniversityStar.com
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CITY
Toyota Rattler Stadium: A year after the $18.4 million investment By Kelly Dunn NEWS REPORTER @kelldunn101
rants currently on file at the San Marcos Municipal Court stands at 11,862. San Marcos municipal court administrator Susie Garcia said the monetary value of warrants on file, including late fees and court costs, amounts to $3,813,369. “If the case the warrant is associated with has not been adjudicated, then the fine and court costs may be vastly different than what is projected,” Garcia said. Last year, UPD reported making 313 arrests around campus. “We had a fairly light number of arrests last year,” Lattie said. Lattie said UPD typically
After the $18.4 million Toyota Rattler Stadium was opened in Sept. 2014, San Marcos High School’s students and faculty feel the investment has paid off in terms of pride. “It has increased school pride as well as community pride and involvement,” said Mark Soto, athletic director and head football coach of SMHS. “It’s been a positive thing for both the kids and the community.” The athletic stadium, funded by school bonds, is built to hold 8,000 spectators with a total of 5,000 seats reserved for supporters of the purpleand-white Rattlers. The arena is still being paid off. With the addition of a new stadium, the Rattlers’ 20142015 scores almost doubled in losses over wins. However, the team made a substantial comeback this past season. Jaime Perez, a 2015 alumnus of SMHS and head athletic trainer, said the team has improved since the opening of the new stadium. “I think a lot of our success just comes from the feeling of being at home in the new stadium,” Perez said. The fall football schedule
See POLICE, Page 2
See SMHS, Page 2
Local law enforcement are joining a state-wide initiative to round up those with outstanding warrants.
Local law enforcement prepares for statewide warrant round up By Cristina Carreon NEWS REPORTER @Ccarreon90
San Marcos Police Department and the City Marshal’s Office will join 300 law enforcement agencies across Texas for the 2016 Great Texas Warrant Roundup. The roundup, which will begin March 5, is a concentrated effort to locate citizens with outstanding arrest warrants. Tracy Balusek, deputy city marshal, stated in a city news release that the roundup is an opportunity for San Marcos residents to avoid a driver’s license renewal hold or arrest by addressing unpaid tickets or active warrants.
This year, Texas law enforcement is seeking outstanding warrants extending beyond serious crimes to delinquent traffic, parking and misdemeanor Class C citation tickets. “In Hays County, there are 1,893 active warrants as of (Feb. 29),” said Shonah Stephens, Warrants Department clerk with Hays County. Warrants are typically served by individual jurisdictions, but the roundup is an attempt to initiate a statewide prerogative in which Central Texas counties ask city and university police to join the effort. “In the past with other warrant roundups, (Hays county) has asked our staff
to assist before,” said Capt. Rickey Lattie of the University Police Department. Although the SMPD has confirmed its participation in the warrant round up, UPD has not yet been asked to take part. “If Hays County is involved, they will probably call us to assist,” said Sgt. Christopher Cost of UPD. “We’ve gone out and worked with them—not necessarily here on campus—but helped them throughout the county and city.” Residents seeking to find out if they have active warrants will have a hard time getting access to their records from local police departments, particularly those filed through UPD.
San Marcos residents who commit crimes will have their warrants transferred from local police departments to the Hays County municipal court to be put in the county’s database, Cost said. “Anybody that runs you off of a driver’s license check or a name and date of birth check, that warrant would come back if it’s something other than a local warrant,” Cost said. “We wouldn’t have records of everybody in Hays County that has a record, or just students on campus that have warrants because they’re not filed that way—we have to actually run a particular person to find out if they have a warrant.” The total amount of war-
CITY
Lower Purgatory Creek reopened, other areas remain closed By Lesly De Leon ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @leslyd28
Residents may now enjoy sunshine while hiking trails in the lower Purgatory Creek Natural Area as San Marcos recovers from historic flood-
ing last May and October. Trails in lower Purgatory Creek Area will open March 5, but crews are still repairing massive damage from the floods. According to a March 2 city press release, the park is open but certain areas are
closed to the public until crews and volunteers finish repairing the trails. “The closed areas suffered major damage in the flood and present many hazards,” stated Bert Stratemann, parks operations manager. San Marcos Greenbelt Al-
UNIVERSITY
liance officials are “working in the closed areas and will be rerouting some trails to bypass the most heavily damaged areas.” Visitors should “expect rough conditions on the open trails” and exercise caution. According to Feb.
8 University Star article, upper Purgatory Creek Natural Area is also open. According to the press release, visitors should remain on “marked trails to avoid hazards and off-limits areas.” City officials encourage residents to visit Spring Lake
Preserve or Ringtail Ridge Natural area. Thompson’s Island and Cape’s Camp are still closed due to flood damage. All other city parks are open, but some still need repair or are being repaired.
CAMPUS
TSUS Board of Regents approves Environment, sustainability committee Digital Media Innovations major planning campus contest By Jacob B. Lock NEWS REPORTER @jacobboydlock
The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved a Digital Media Innovations degree plan Feb. 18, which will focus on technological expertise and communications skills. According to a release on the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s blog, the DMI major will be specifically designed to focus on skills required for 21st-century jobs. These industries include news app development, data, social media analysis and other media-focused careers in communications and beyond. Approval from the TSUS Board of Regents was the last of the internal step proposals
for new major programs in order to become an official degree plan at Texas State. Now, Cindy Royal, associate professor and head of the DMI project, and her team are awaiting approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board after a hearing sometime this May. “The major grew out of the need for people to work in the field of digital media,” said Kym Fox, head of the journalism sequence. Fox believes the DMI major will help produce “data journalists” or graduates who will find new ways to marry media communication and programming. If approved by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas State will be the seventh university to develop and add a major of this kind in the state, said
Debbie Thorne, associate vice president of Academic Affairs. “It is a major growth area for schools and we need to keep up with changes in society and needs of the university,” Thorne said. Royal wrote on her SJMC blog that the degree program will provide a new and innovative approach to media education. The school already offers a number of classes that teach students basic skills utilized by online media outlets. New courses are being developed that will expand on topics and skills such as coding and data visualization. “(We) want students to come out with a number of important skills, and digital media competency is one of
See DIGITAL, Page 2
By Lesly De Leon ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @leslyd28
The Environment and Sustainability Committee hopes to encourage environmentally friendly practices on campus by organizing an Earth Day competition. At the Faculty Senate meeting Wednesday night, Rebecca Bell-Metereau, English senator and committee co-chair, discussed the committee’s plan with senators. “It’s a competition for offices, individuals, departments and student groups to be acknowledge for their best practices,” BellMetereau said. The goal of the competition is to encourage student organizations and faculty departments to complete environmentally friendly tasks,
such as recycling and using reusable coffee mugs instead of cups. Students and faculty can also turn off lights when the building is empty and buy eco-friendly products. To participate in the contest, student organizations and faculty departments can submit an application listing their environmental initiative via SurveyMonkey. There will be three contest categories—one for departments, administrative offices and student organizations. The other two categories are faculty incorporation of environmental learning strategies and the most improved office, curriculum or program. Bell-Metereau said committee members would like to announce the winners at River Fest. Members are trying to get a booth at River Fest and possibly get Boko
the Bobcat to attend. “We really want to try to get have this happen so that we can give awards on Earth Day,” Bell-Metereau said. Winners will receive gift cards to places such Half Price Books and the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment glassbottom boat tours. Members of the committee plan to meet with Eric Algoe, vice president for Finance and Support Services, to identity possible participants and discuss national competitions that could reward university officials’ environmental efforts. Bell-Metereau said the competition is still in the draft stages and the committee is open to suggestions. One of the committee members’ goals is to
See CONTEST, Page 2
2 | Thursday, March 3, 2016
NEWS POLICE,
The University Star Anna Herod, News Editor @annaleemurphy starnews@txstate.edu
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
from front
expects to make upward of 400-500 arrests per year, although people around campus could have warrants that are not on file with campus police. “We usually try to serve
DIGITAL,
warrants as soon as we get them,” Lattie said. “That doesn’t mean there aren’t people on campus who have warrants issued by other agencies.” The city has contracted the
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them,” Fox said. With classes such as Fundamentals of Online and Digital Media already being offered, the school had the chance to observe a growing interest for courses about online media proficiency. Fox said the new courses will be specifically designed to benefit students who are choosing to focus their studies, but will supplement the rest of the majors offered. “I’m excited to hear about this,” said Jacob Gambill, public relations junior. “Students who are really trying to pursue a career with some-
CONTEST,
thing having to do with digital media won’t have to settle with focusing all their time here studying and working on projects for a major that will end up having very little to do with real issues they will deal with when they are actually out in the world trying to find a job.” If approved, the DMI program is scheduled to launch next fall. SJMC will hear back from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board with an update on the pending approval process of the DMI program sometime later this month.
Law Firm of Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott LLP to help with the warrant collections. Austin active warrant holders may pay their warrants online or through the city’s
SMHS,
website, and will not be arrested upon entering Austin Municipal Court to address their case. Locals can pay tickets and warrants to the San Marcos municipal court at 712 S.
Stagecoach Trail, which is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by mailing in payments with a driver’s license number and case or ticket number. Credit payments may
also be made by phone during court hours, or online at www.sanmarcostx.gov/ court with court bureau code 3290449.
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was filled with victories for the San Marcos Rattlers as the team ended the season with a total of eight wins and four losses. With the exception of the first game of the season, played Aug. 28, 2015, all home game winning scores were overwhelmingly higher than the other opposing teams. High school football continues to be a staple tradition in San Marcos, and much of the community anticipates the Friday night lights as the town comes together to celebrate their family and classmates on the field. “It gives everyone something to look forward to when playing at home,” Perez said. “It’s better now not having to travel all the way to Texas State’s stadium and running all
around San Marcos (to host home games).” Soto said San Marcos values Texas football traditions. “San Marcos is a very historic program,” Soto said. “It (has) had its ups and downs, but people up and down the states know about San Marcos football.” The football players work hard throughout the year not only focusing on the game, but on building positive character. Soto hopes the program will help to build a more positive school and community culture. “I think in the next few years you’ll see a big turn going away from the ‘win it at all costs’ programs to a more character educationbased program,” Soto said. Soto was invited to at-
tend a National Football League-sponsored character building initiative on Feb. 16 as a recognition of the program. The workshop included UIL, Texas High School Coaches Association, Coach for America and the Dallas Cowboys speaking about the necessity of character education-based programs throughout the United States. SMHS is at the forefront of this change and has been recognized due to the great strides made within the last four years, Soto stated on the website. “We are trying to develop a community of leaders through the athletic department,” Soto said. “Hopefully those community leaders become state leaders and leaders of America.” An alumna from San
Marcos High School, Carlie Contreas, feels the students deserved the new stadium. “The football players have been working so hard and finally made playoffs last season and made it all the way to the second and third round,” Contreas said. Contreas was a class officer and attended the school while the stadium was still being built. “I worked so hard to try and allow our 2014 class to graduate on the field of the new stadium, but construction just kept falling behind,” Contreas said. “It just makes me so happy as a community member to see their program expanding and all the improvements the classes of 2015 and 2016 are making.”
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identify projects supporting environmental sustainability on campus. A couple of senators suggested ways committee members could increase recycling on campus. Dana García, biology senator, said recycling bins on campus are often not distinguishable from trashcans. Susan Weill, mass communication senator, said stu-
dents could get in the habit of recycling. She said if university officials could earn money from recycling to fund scholarships, people would be more motivated to recycle. Lynn Ledbetter, music senator, said it would be a good idea for the marketing department to be involved in promoting the project.
ANTONIO REYES STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
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The Student Publications Board of the Texas State School of Journalism and Mass Communication is conducting an all-campus open petitioning process to select a student as Editor-in-Chief of The University Star. Term begins one week following the final issue of 2016 Spring Semester publication schedule. Applicants must be available to serve the entire term of the appointment. Each applicant is asked to complete a written petition, which is subsequently screened by members of the student publications board. The board will interview qualified candidates for the position. The board consists of the director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, assistant director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the journalism sequence coordinator and a member of the print medium, who is appointed by the director of Student Publications. The director of student publications and the current editor-in-chief serve as ex-officio members for the committee.
Minimum Qualifications To qualify, applicants must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours each semester during the term office. Students graduating in the final semester of the appointment (Spring 2017) may be enrolled in fewer hours as long as they meet graduation requirements. Applicants must have worked in a professional editorial environment, or have served as a section editor at a university student newspaper. Students of all majors and classifications, including graduate students, may petition for the position. Applicants must be in good academic standing with the university when submitting an application. Applicants must maintain a 2.5 semester and overall grade point average during their time of appointment. A student who falls below the 2.5 grade point grade semester average will forfeit the office even though he/she maintains an overall 2.5 grade point average.
The University Star Mission The editor is the primary student editorial administrator for The University Star and has authority in all personnel matters and makes the final decision regarding news, sports, feature, photo, Web and opinion content. The editor determines daily operation guidelines, provides a role model for professional behavior, delegates operational authority and fulfills policies and procedures as determined by the student publications board and faculty adviser. The editor oversees meetings and handles personnel problems, evaluates all copy and artwork for the print and online product. The editor-in-chief is responsible for hiring, properly training and supervising all members of the editorial board. The editor-in-chief promotes relations between the publication, the community and campus
organizations. The editor-in-chief is also the voice of the publication with the community.
Term of Office Term of office begins following the final publication of the Spring 2016 semester and runs through the Spring 2017 semester. Applicants must be able to serve the entire term of office in order to be considered for the position. A salary is paid during the term of office.
Petitioning Process Applications for the position will be due by noon, Wednesday, March 30 to the Director of Student Publications, Trinity Building, Room 107. People interested in petitioning should sign a candidacy list in Trinity, Room 107 and acquire an information package. Qualified applicants will be notified and interviews will be scheduled beginning April 4. Selection of the editor-in-chief will be made shortly after interviews have been completed. Formal assumption of duties will begin one week after the final newspaper of the Spring Semester is published.
Petitioning Deadlines Applications for the position will be due by noon, Wednesday March 30 to the Director of Student Publications, Trinity Building, Room 107. People interested in petitioning should sign a candidacy list in Trinity, Room 107 and acquire an information package. Qualified applicants will be notified and interviews will be scheduled beginning April 4. Selection of the editor-in-chief will be made shortly after interviews have been completed for the position. Formal assumption of duties will begin one week after the final newspaper of the Spring Semester is published. PACKETS AVAILABLE: March 2, noon; Trinity, Room 107 INTERVIEWS Will be scheduled beginning April 4
The University Star
SPORTS
Thursday, March 3, 2016 | 3 Paul Livengood, Sports Editor @IamLivengood starsports@txstate.edu
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
BEYOND THE BASEBALL FIELD: LUCAS HUMPAL STRIVES FOR ADVENTURE By Brooke Phillips SPORTS REPORTER @brookephillips_
While some athletes spend most of their lives staying busy with their sport, this baseball player has found the time to enjoy life and everything it has to offer. For many athletes, playing their respective sport has been a hobby since childhood. Corpus Christi native Lucas Humpal, senior right-handed pitcher, fits this description perfectly. He started playing baseball at 5-years-old. Humpal’s older brothers always played baseball, so he wanted to get involved in the sport as well. As a kid, Humpal always dreamed of playing Division-I college baseball. Behind the Texas State baseball cap and glove is a young man who
even plan on going that day. I was just sitting there thinking it was a normal day, and an hour later I was jumping out of a plane.” Lucas Humpal called and reserved a spot to skydive for the following day. However, his father insisted he should do it the same day he called. “I’ve gone skydiving before, and I’m a Navy pilot, so I wasn’t too nervous,” Randy Humpal said. “He just made a phone call, went out and he did it. Lucas always likes to do new things.” Lucas Humpal did not back down and was able to experience the thrill of leaping out of a plane into the sky. The athlete said this was an experience he would like to have again. Although he has been away at college for the past four years, the Bobcat still appreciates his hometown. During the fall season when
ANTONIO REYES STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Lucas Humpal pitches the baseball Feb. 19, at Bobcat Ballpark.
seeks adventure and everything that comes along with it. “I like a lot of outdoor activities,” Humpal said. “I enjoy going to the river here, hanging out with friends and barbecuing.” While a calm float down the river might not sound exciting and adventurous to most people, Humpal’s history of thrills and new experiences go far beyond his daily life in San Marcos. Humpal grew up just minutes away from the Gulf of Mexico, where he spent a good amount of his free time. Whether he is in his family’s boat, fishing or enjoying the water, the outdoor life is what Humpal enjoys the most. One of the traditions Humpal likes most is something he, his father and his brothers do while spending quality time together. “I try to go hunting as much as I can during the offseason,” Humpal said. “I go bird hunting every fall.” Hunting is something Humpal has done for most of his life. Randy Humpal, the athlete’s father, recalls the memories and times they had together hunting ducks while his son was growing up. “We do pretty well doing duck hunting in Corpus Christi,” Randy Humpal said. “We really enjoy doing that together.” Not one to be left out of the fun, Lucas Humpal’s yellow Labrador tags along with the men of the family to have a good time on the hunt. Hunting and fishing are common adventures for Lucas Humpal, but other crazy experiences have been a part of his life as well. The athlete was able to cross off skydiving from his bucket list this fall. “I’ve always wanted to go skydiving,” Lucas Humpal said. “I didn’t
his schedule is free from baseball, Lucas Humpal tries to go home during the weekends at least five or six times throughout the semester. Home is where many of his favorite childhood memories reside. One family tradition he remembers best is going to his uncle’s ranch. “I was maybe four or five years old when we were at the ranch one time,” Lucas Humpal said. “I was driving a four-wheeler and my dad said I could only drive it 10 mph. When I turned a corner, though, I was going 40 miles per hour.” While the athlete finds himself in Corpus Christi during the offseason, his parents and family come to San Marcos to watch him play when baseball is in full swing. Lucas Humpal has had support from his family ever since he started playing. Reminiscing over his past four years as a Bobcat, the athlete’s college experience has treated him well. “I try to do what’s best for me, and if I make good choices, good things will happen to me,” Lucas Humpal said. “I’m just trying to take it one day at a time.” While his life has already been full of memorable moments, the athlete’s future has a whole other lifetime of enduring experiences ahead.
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES AND ACHIEVING GREATNESS By Lisette Lopez SPORTS REPORTER @Lisette_1023
Running can take a toll on an athlete mentally, physically and emotionally. Tyrone Jackson, junior runner, has tackled those obstacles. Jackson describes himself as very introverted and mellow. The junior puts his heart into the things he really cares about. Jackson hopes to do something active and helpful in advocating for minority groups. When Jackson was a freshman at Texas State he came out as bisexual to his family. He had to leave his mother’s home and move in with a guardian family. “They were very religious and I opened up to them about me being bisexual,” Jackson said. “It wasn’t really for them, so I was cut off financially and socially. I was having to deal with that and to continue to go to college. In the athletic community, that’s not something you actually see. For the LGBT community athletes, there are not a lot of us out there.” Jackson is mostly independent and is doing what he wants to do in life. When he opened up, Jackson said he didn’t understand his identity. He went to the on-campus counseling services to talk to people who were sensitive and open about the LGBTQIA community. “I didn’t understand the emotions that I was
going through or how to deal with it—being cut off financially and socially from a group of people you call family,” Jackson said. “I really love Texas State for that. There are not a lot of campuses that I know of that are actually LGBT-friendly.” Running helped Jackson get through his toughest times. He started at five years old and has loved it ever since. He remembers his first race like it was yesterday. Jackson came in second place racing against a boy named Julio, and he will never forget it. “I loved the thrill of running, and later on in life it actually became my therapy for dealing with my hardships versus doing drugs or drinking beer,” Jackson said. “It helps me express myself in a way that I can’t really express myself. Running saved me. It helped me with getting a full-ride scholarship here at Texas State. Running gave me a second chance at life.” Jackson has been injured about six times in high school and twice at Texas State. A foot sprain and tendinitis in his right knee are among the list of the athlete’s injuries. He said coming back from injury is his biggest challenge. “Being motivated to actually go after your goals after you come back from an injury. It could completely destroy you,” Jackson said. “You are so out of shape, and you feel so behind.” Advocating for others is what Jackson hopes to do in the future. He hopes to stand up for
—COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE ATHLETICS
individuals who cannot stand up for themselves. “The insecurities that I have, I want to be able to get over that kind of stuff and be myself more,” Jackson said. “Once I can accomplish that, I want to be able to do that for other people. To look past their insecurities of whatever they are going through in life.” This year, the cross country team had a new coaching staff and it was a big change for the Bobcat. Jackson said it was difficult, but he adapted. “(The team said) something that was really interesting to me and true,” Jackson said. “‘If you have done everything that we have asked of you and you don’t succeed, then it is our fault. If you don’t do what we ask of you and you don’t succeed, then it is your fault.’ I bought into that philosophy and I started doing what (the coaches) told me to do. I put myself out there,
and trust that I can put my heart into it.” This athlete came home with big wins from the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championships. He placed individually and with the team. Jackson was dealing with depression about a year ago. The athlete felt people doubted him because he did not do so well last year. He came in this season with a new attitude. He wanted to prove people wrong, and that was all the motivation he needed. “You can doubt me all you want, but it is what I do that can change whether you believe it or not,” Jackson said. “You don’t even have to believe in me, I just need to believe in myself and actually go for it.” Jackson said he believes in himself again. He has a new focus, and the Bobcat is going to do everything possible to succeed.
4 | Thursday, March 3, 2016
The University Star
OPINIONS
Letters
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I am disappointed in the recent actions of this newspaper. The lack of professionalism and ethical standards shown by the University Star is upsetting. The article entitled “Student Body President Lauren Stotler may have violated Student Government’s Constitution” contained many inaccuracies. If I or another member was reached for comment I would have been happy to explain the situation, however, I was not given the proper chance. The author of this article, Anna Herod, harassed several members of Student Government to give her my cell phone number without my permission. Once she got it she called at 6:47 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25. During this time, it was well known by the general public—especially the reporters at the University Star—that election announcements were about to be made (at 7 p.m. that night) and I would be busy preparing
Brandon Sams, Opinions Editor @TheBrandonSams staropinion@txstate.edu
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
for this event. The article was then published at 7:33 p.m. that very night, only leaving a 46-minute window for me to respond. I did not see her call until 8:03 p.m. The article then is based solely on information from our website. Three weeks ago our administrative assistant left us, leaving behind only one person—myself—that has access to edit the website. In the past few weeks I have done my best to update information, but a few things have slipped through the cracks. I do not believe it is best journalistic practices to assume that information is up to date and rely on only one source. I would advise getting information firsthand from someone who would know, such as myself or our Supreme Court Justice, Channing Wan. Ms. Herod never even attempted to contact anyone else. Finally, the reporter misinterpreted our organization’s code and con-
stitution. An important subsection of the Student Government Code was left out to intentionally be misleading. The following subsection was not included: Article II, Section I, Subsection D of Title VII the Courts states: “If the applicant pool does not yield at least seven (7) qualified members the Dean of Students may nominate candidates that meet the qualifications as outlined in this section.” After recruiting for over two months, (emailing departments, emailing every president of every organization, and speaking with potential candidates one-on-one), we only had five applicants. We discussed the situation with Margarita Arellano, dean of students, and got permission to proceed with only five members instead of seven. Purposefully leaving this subsection out skews the entire context of the situation. Since proper procedure was followed, I am not in violation of the Student Government Code. I believe that it is only fair that the University Star take down the current article, and post a correction. I would like to conclude by saying that I believe it is unethical to intentionally mislead the students of this university, and it saddens me to see that this is what is happening. Students pay money to this paper, and in return they are being tricked and lied to. I’ve seen this paper slowly turn into a “gossip column” and I think it is in the best interest of all Texas State students that we turn it around. Thank you, Lauren Stotler
First and foremost, The University Star does not serve as a cheerleading squad for Texas State. Our job is to seek the truth and report it and hold those in a position of power accountable for their actions. Student Body President Lauren Stotler writes in her Letter to the Editor that she is disappointed by the recent actions of The University Star. News Editor Anna Herod discovered that Stotler may have violated Student Government’s Constitution and wrote about her findings in a Feb. 25 article. As Editorin-Chief, I decided this information was pertinent to the student body due to the fact that Stotler is an elected leader and is paid via the student service fee. The article simply states what the Student Government Constitution says, what the Student Government website lists and new information that has since come to light. It is up to journalists to make sure those governing the masses are doing their job properly. Stotler, according to the Constitution, was supposed to have appointed seven members to their Election Board by the first Monday in October. The first Monday in October has come and gone, but only five members sit on the Election Board at press time. Stotler says in
her letter that not enough people applied. However, that is Stotler’s responsibility. It is her responsibility as Student Body President to ensure the Constitution is followed appropriately. The article presented the facts in a balanced manner. Had Stotler given comment instead of hanging up on Herod, her statement would have been included as an update. Stotler also claimed in her Letter to the Editor that she is not in violation of the Student Government Code because Margarita Arellano, Dean of Students, gave her permission to proceed with five members on Election Board instead of the seven required by the Constitution. However, just because university officials have allegedly validated Stotler’s constitutional violations does not mean the student body should be kept in the dark. Stotler also accuses Herod of “harassing” Student Government members and intentionally being misleading in her article. Herod texted Anthony Galo, presidential candidate, for Stotler’s phone number. Herod needed Stotler’s number so she could get a comment before the article was posted online. In all, Herod contacted three Student Government members via phone before
the story was published: Galo, Stotler and Election Board Chair Chelsea Thompson. To equate a reporter doing her job as harassment is a gross dramatization of events. Aside from comments about content, Stotler says students “pay money to this paper” and that The University Star should not trick and lie to their readers. Here at The University Star, we take our job and responsibility very seriously; we do our best to objectively present the facts. It should be noted students also pay the entirety of Stotler’s $11,556 paycheck. However, it is a journalist’s job to hold government officials accountable. Bobcats deserve to have their money fund organizations that make good on their promises. After the resignation of her administrative assistant, Stotler says she was left solely in charge of the Student Government website. She cites this as the reason Herod should not have taken what is written on its website seriously. “I do not believe it is best journalistic practices to assume that information (on the website) is up to date, and not up to date,” she wrote. During Stotler’s administration Student Government fails to place proper emphasis on making information readily accessible to everyone. For an organization that claims to be transparent and open to students that is a dire error. Even worse, deriding The University Star when we attempt to clarify discrepancies of governmental rule connotes a fundamental misunderstanding of journalism. The $8 per semester that The University Star receives from each student goes to a constantly updated and evolving newspaper where staff are held accountable for doing their jobs. Students should expect Student Government to keep its information up to date or it might be considered purposely misleading. I applaud Stotler for taking the time to point out her own faults while attempt-
ACADEMICS
The more people talk in class, the more we all learn By Mikala Everett OPINIONS COLUMNIST @mikala_maquella
C
hatterboxes are amazing, wonderful creatures—they always find the perfect opportunity to carry out a raucous conversation, whether in a silent library, an important meeting or a class filled with students trying to learn. These class-act individuals give no regard as to whether or not other students care to learn, and why should they? College students are notorious for shelling out the big bucks only to skip class, text and never pay attention to what
is being taught. The idea of wasting thousands of dollars and accumulating a truckload of debt for an education that has not been received is a typical dream for any co-ed. Students would much rather hear about how many cups someone’s cat knocked over, who slept with whom at that crazy party last night and what Tiffany was doing at Justin’s apartment at 6 a.m. The only things open past three in the morning are legs, my friends—we all know what Tiffany and Justin were doing. The pupils nearest these
The University Star Editor-in-Chief...........................................Kelsey Bradshaw, stareditor@txstate.edu Letters................................................................................universitystar@txstate.edu News Editor........................................................Anna Herod, starnews@txstate.edu Sports Editor..............................................Paul Livengood, starsports@txstate.edu Lifestyle Editor......................................Carlie Porterfield, starlifestyle@txstate.edu Opinions Editor..........................................Brandon Sams, staropinion@txstate.edu Multimedia Editor..............................Daryl Ontiveros, starmultimedia@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief.................................Abigail Marshall, starcopychief@txstate.edu
blabbermouths greatly enjoy being showered in the aroma of pungent breath. So much so, they must edge as far way as possible and cover their noses to hide admiration for the natural odor of some bigmouth’s orifice. Gum, mints and of course toothbrushes are for those who fear a little variety in life. Nonetheless, it is an honor to be blessed with the sounds of breathy windbags. The fact that these delightful beings have the ability to carry on a conversation through an hour-and-20-minute lecture is awe-inspiring.
The majority of in-class gossips can go several minutes without breathing in between each rambling sentence, so I am positive they would easily survive a push into the San Marcos River. It only makes sense that these folks make excellent swimmers given their ability to hold their breaths for so long. The discourteous students around said chinwaggers, busy with absorbing knowledge, have absolutely no right to shush or bemoan the chatterer. This is America, damn it, and our delightfully talkative friends have every right to exercise their freedom of
speech—regardless of the occasion and mood of the room. If anyone should be belittled, then I nominate those who refuse to join in on the conversation. How dare these insolent mortals try to learn in the presence of such mindless gabbers? Oh, the audacity and unfairness of it all. These sad, studious souls are to be pitied because they have no knowledge of the policies of public decorum. The policies, put in place by one of our country’s finest orators and representatives, Donald Trump, are rules that should be followed closely
and to a T. Follow these four rules and you too can be a modern-day Republican front-runner. First, be sure to talk over others—they did not really want to say whatever they were about to. Try to insult people mercilessly at every turn—it will only make them stronger. Say the first thing that pops into mind—it usually is the best possible statement. And finally, always talk during class—no one is trying to learn anyway. —Mikala Everett is a mass communications sophomore
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The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Monday 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 Thursday, March 3, 2016. 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.
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The University Star
Thursday, March 3, 2016 | 5
OPINIONS
Brandon Sams, Opinions Editor @TheBrandonSams staropinion@txstate.edu
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
THE MAIN POINT
The primaries’ political pony show
NINETTE SOLIS STAR ILLUSTRATOR
I
n the wake of Super Tuesday, many people are left scratching their heads, wondering what has become of the American model as a Trump presidency becomes a tangible reality. This election cycle is a GOP pony show and a clash of radicalism—some more dangerous than others. At no other point in contemporary American politics would a person who adamantly refuses to disavow white supremacists and KKK grand wizards be leading in national polls. But alas, that person is none other than Republican frontrunner Donald
Trump. Laymen like Trump and the lesser threat Ben Carson illustrate how fed up Americans are with the current system. However, that underbelly of American political consciousness is also one borne of despair, hopelessness and nativism. The country Trump supporters once knew—the one they think needs to be made “great again”—simply does not exist. These misinformed people long for times of old, despite massive gains made for people of general marginalized status. The era in which power, influence and privi-
lege were concentrated in very specific demographic terms—white, male and heterosexual—is thankfully no longer. This group is revolting against the establishment due to its diminished influence. The rise of a candidate like Trump, who echoes hope to the so-called destitute, is not an unexpected result of changing demographics and progressive attitudes. On the other side of the aisle, self-proclaimed democratic socialist Bernie Sanders rose out of the ashes of the established party’s malfeasance. Radicalism of the left is due
to the revolutionary spirit existent in the younger generation and people fed up with politics, as usual. While the specifics are different, the spirit evident in the drastic turn from the establishment this election cycle is part and parcel of growing concerns. Everyone wants change, and they are looking toward radicalism to accomplish that goal. Radicalism can often lead to change, and it seems the people in American want change whether it’s positive or negative. To be clear, the terms “positive” and “negative” do not denote subjective qualities,
but simply differentiate between progression and regression. The Democrats have frontrunner Hillary Clinton as their establishment alternative. However, there seems to be a noticeable lack of moderate candidates in the current field of GOP hopefuls, and Americans are left with the fascistic undertones of their echo chamber. While Trump may arguably be the worst of the bunch, his closest rival and Texas senator Ted Cruz is no better. The lack of moderate candidates outside of the long shot John Kasich puts everyone on their
heels regarding the Republican field of candidates. Rest in peace, Jeb Bush. Regardless of what side of the aisle one may land, be weary of radicalism and extremist politics. Unless one supports the revolutionary or fascistic connotations of radicalism and extremism, respectively, people should be weary of the current political climate. The upcoming election is likely to change the world of conventional politics forever, so everyone should position themselves exactly where they wish to be.
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.
POLITICS
Why America’s antiintellectualism is destroying the country By Nate Steinle OPINIONS COLUMNIST @NASteinle
A
merican anti-intellectualism is not so much about explicit hostility toward intellectuals or knowledge. Rather, it is more of a celebration of ignorance which manifests mainly through scientific and social illiteracy and the overlap in places like politics. Presidential hopeful Ben Carson said the Big Bang Theory is nothing more than a fairy tale. It is ironic how he calls the best explanation we have for the evolution of the universe based on scientific evidence a fairy tale in order to uplift Bronze Age creation myths based on nonsense. Another hopeful, the infamous Donald Trump, said Muslims should be barred from entering this great nation of immigrants and Mexicans are sending over their drug-dealing rapists. Clearly such bunk views are not fringe if people seeking the highest office in the land are representing them. Everyday people in this country think astrology is a serious way to predict one’s future, and conspiracy theories seem to get more attention than Saturn. People are upset with an abusive government, but think an amendment to change the Constitution is treasonous. People complain about taxes, yet cannot tell you what taxes are used for. People want to bomb the ter-
rorists, but cannot tell you where on a map those terrorists are. People are ironically misinformed. Presidential candidate Ted Cruz denies climate change and is the chairman of the House Committee on Space, Science and Competitiveness. Florida Senator Marco Rubio denies climate change while his state sinks. Let’s not forget Missouri Rep. Todd Akin and his claim the female body has natural antirape powers to “shut that whole thing down.” If you thought it couldn’t get any worse, think again. Half of American adults in 2001 thought the Sun orbits the Earth and dinosaurs and people coexisted. Gallup polls have consistently reported around 40 to 47 percent of Americans endorse young-Earth creationism, meaning they think the earth is about 6,000 years old instead of the scientifically proven 4.5 billion. This is akin to thinking the distance between Los Angeles and New York is about 20 feet, because both are demonstrably false. Major mechanisms for the propagation of ignorance in our society are the failures of the public education system. For example, it was found recently only half of public school science teachers clarify that human usage of natural resources like fossil fuels is responsible for climate change. Forces of ignorance are trying harder than ever to pervade the classroom, from teaching Moses was a
founding father to teaching creationism in biology. The point of education is to overcome ignorance, not endorse it. Our public education system needs fixing. There aren’t enough teachers, they don’t get compensated well enough and educators are far too often encouraged to cut corners to meet curriculum and testing standards. Against the rest of the world, the American education system is incredibly average, and it is dangerous when we think it better to live with comfortable myths rather than face the facts of reality. The people of this democratic nation must be scientifically and socially literate so our laws are based on publicly verifiable evidence rather than private prejudice. Democracy depends on an informed public— people who do not rely on special interests to tell them what and how to think. Since the American public is so uninformed, the doors of our government are open to abuse. Americans give legitimacy to ignorance and misuse when they select scientifically and socially illiterate people for public office. Thus, we shan’t be surprised to witness America’s downfall as a world leader due to our neglect of the one guarantee for future economic prosperity: investments in science and technology. —Nate Steinle is a Physics senior
BUSINESS
San Marcos raising family wage is good for the community By Shannon Davies OPINIONS COLUMNIST @el_shannon12
As of Feb. 2, the city of San Marcos has approved raising family wages to $15 an hour for businesses that wish to receive tax breaks and other incentives, marking an important turn in socio-economic emancipation. This is great for the city If anyone out there is like me and unsure of what exactly a family wage is, let me break it down for you. According to MerriamWebster, a family wage is “the income needed for the subsistence of a family.” A family wage contrasts with the living wage, which is generally understood as income sufficient enough to sustain a single individual, not a group of people. The great university MIT has put together a living wage calculator and puts it at about $10 an hour. However, there are very few places I can think of that start their employees off at $10, unless they possibly have the experience needed. So it is very inspiring to see one of the fastest growing cities in the country actually try to better the local community by paying employees a truly livable wage. To use as incentive and bring more jobs to San Marcos, the city government has allocated $200,000 a year from taxpayer money for businesses to pay employees the new wage plus health benefits. These local businesses have been vetted using location and overall benefit to the city before being offered the incentive package. The usual argument will be made that taxpayer money should not be used to entice both local
and potentially incoming businesses to pay employees a wage some professionals only start off making. But taxes are used specifically to benefit special governmental programs. Using the same living wage calculator by MIT, the city decided around $14 an hour would be enough for people to support their families and raised it to $15. This wage is more than ample to pay for the basic necessities for some families. Since the state did not pass vthe legislation to raise minimum wage, city officials took it upon themselves to do something. Thus far, Adriana Cruz, the president of the Greater San Marcos Partnership has received little to no negative reaction. For everyone who knows about this incentive-induced raise, no one seems to have a problem with it thus far. It can greatly benefit the community and its residents. When the bigger businesses, like aviation or clean technology, eventually move here for the incentives, future college graduates will have local places of work. My peers could be more inclined to apply for these jobs for the beginning salary and to work for a company that will help grow their city. Sounds like a win to me. San Marcos is paving the way for many things. This Bobcat is definitely looking forward to seeing how this family wage helps San Marcos citizens while setting an example for cities outside our I-35 community—that progressivism maybe is not as bad as its reputation claims it to be. You go, San Marcos. —Shannon Davies is a public relations sophomore.
6 | Thursday, March 3, 2016
LIFESTYLE
The University Star Carlie Porterfield, Lifestyle Editor @reporterfield starlifestyle@txstate.edu
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
ACADEMICS
Study abroad doesn’t have to be challenging By Vivian Medina LIFESTYLE REPORTER @vjmedina6
Students do not need much convincing to study abroad, whether their motivation is immersion in a completely new culture or reenactment of the plot from The Lizzie McGuire Movie. However, many factors such as timing or the cost can discourage someone from even looking into the various programs before considering the possibility. The first step to take is to attend a general information session at the Thornton International House to learn more about the programs and available scholarships, as well as have any questions MADISON MORRISS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER or concerns addressed. Their are several Study Abroad programs being offered for students in the Honors College. On March 2, applied A common worry for stusociology junior Toomi Aldhahi and communication studies senior Lauren Lee, study for their upcoming classes. dents is not having enough time to spend oversees, but Oleksandra Sehin, study abroad representative, said once students graduate, it will be much more difficult to travel. “College is the perfect time for students to study abroad, because they do not have as many responsibilities,” Sehin said. Another misconception is that studying abroad will delay a student’s graduation date. Sehin said it is best to start planning for a trip one year in advance to adjust class schedules accordingly and to avoid any complications. “You are able to transfer all
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of your credits to Texas State by filling out the necessary form in advance,” Sehin said. “However, you will need to talk with your academic advisor to work out all of the details of your class schedule.” There are a variety of programs to choose from that can fit in any student’s criteria, major and budget, such as faculty-led, affiliated, non-affiliated and exchange programs. Also, a student can pick summer, fall, spring or even a full academic year. “Faculty-led programs are the easiest to apply for, and the UK and Spain are the most popular destinations, but we are seeing interest in other programs and locations as well,” said Ila Mar, study abroad representative. “As long as you know what program you want to do, apply for that program as early on as possible.” Both Sehin and Mar said any student wanting to study abroad needs to do his or her homework and research all of the different programs. It is also important to stay on top of all the application paperwork, fees and deadlines. After being accepted and following up with the advisors of the program, dealing with money is usually the most dreaded part for students. Financial aid and scholarships can help cover the costs. “You have to apply to the International Education Fee Scholarships, and it is mainly based on GPA and
financial need,” Sehin said. “Usually, around 80 percent of students who apply receive some amount.” Each case is different, which is why it is best to meet with a financial aid advisor to talk about the different payment options for study abroad. Valerie Leal, social work junior, will be attending a faculty-led summer program to Spain. She said the hardest part of the process was trying to figure out to pay for the $3,700 trip, not including airfare or spending money, which can cost up to $2,300. “I am taking 18 hours this semester and I have maxed out all of my loans for this 2015-2016 school year,” Leal said. “Financial aid only assisted in $2,000. I applied to (International Education Fee Scholarship), but only got awarded $750.” Leal said that studying abroad is very achievable, but students should start planning and saving as soon as possible. Nonetheless, Mar said all of the effort, time and money put into going abroad is definitely worth it. “When you study abroad, you are going to be totally different and completely changed by the time you come back,” Mar said. “Studying abroad should be a part of your education because you gain a new set of eyes that have a different perspective.”
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The University Star
Thursday, March 3, 2016 | 7
LIFESTYLE
Carlie Porterfield, Lifestyle Editor @reporterfield starlifestyle@txstate.edu
UniversityStar.com @universitystar
POLITICS
Donald Tramp teases a less stressful election season By Brandon Gamez LIFESTYLE REPORTER @BrandonGamez
Another Bobcat is following in the hallowed footsteps of legends like the Bubble Believer, Brother Jed and other recognizable Texas State characters. Over the past month, Kristoffer Ian Celera, computer science junior, has been performing stripteases around campus sporting a blazer, short shorts and a Donald Trump-esque wig. He calls this now widely-recognized character Donald Tramp. His sensual moves have garnered him attention. "When I first saw him I was so confused,” said Kaylee Martinez, fashion merchandising sophomore. "Then I realized who he was supposed to be, and I thought
it was pretty funny.” Celera has received interview requests from media outlets across the country as a result of his stripteases. However, Celera said he’s not sure most people who have seen him portray Donald Tramp understand the meaning behind his character. "Donald Tramp is no endorsement against Donald Trump," Celera said. "He's actually a response to Brother Jed." Brother Jed is another familiar face on campus known for touring universities all over the nation expressing his wild remarks. Jed preaches loudly that feminists, fornicators and homosexuals (amongst many others) are doomed to hell.\ "I knew that to show him how ridiculous his messages and actions were, I had to do
something just as ridiculous as him,” Celera said. "He was on campus that day and my group, the Young Americans for Liberty, took his spot." Besides being a direct response to Brother Jed, Celera hopes to convey another message through Donald Tramp. "It's all in good humor," Celera said. "Politics doesn't have to be painful. My message is not for people to not get emotional.” Chelsey Medina, interdisciplinary studies freshman, said she understood the message Celera hoped to convey. "Seeing this guy dressed up like Donald Trump is hilarious and really lightens up the whole campaign process," she said. "People need this in order to ease up and realize it doesn't have to be extremely serious the whole time."
DARYL ONTIVEROS MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Kristoffer Ian Celera, computer science junior, as Donald Tramp Feb. 10 in the quad.
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