WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2014 VOLUME 104 ISSUE 42 www.UniversityStar.com
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TECHNOLOGY
Engineering seniors developing ‘Smart Watch’ technology for NASA astronauts By Anna Herod NEWS REPORTER JOHNEL ACOSTA STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Seven of the 136 emergency call phones on campus must be repaired.
Officials ‘aggressive’ in repairing damaged emergency call phones By Nicholas Laughlin NEWS REPORTER
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even emergency call phones located in various places around campus are broken, leaving students, faculty and staff without this extra layer of protection. Seven of the 136 emergency call phones on campus still need repairs after the last test run was performed at the end of the summer of 2014, said Jeb Thomas, Access Services supervisor. Access Services spent approximately $22,419 during the summer of 2014 to
repair emergency telephones at the San Marcos and Round Rock campuses, he said. “There were quite a few (emergency call phones) broken over the summer,” Thomas said. “Out of the 136 call phones that are on campus, only seven are not working since the last test was done.” Emergency call phones are designed as yellow boxes mounted on walls or black towers with blue lights on top. The call phones are used if students, faculty or staff do not have another way of calling 911, said Officer Susan Taylor, of the University Police Department
(UPD). “Once I have that report, we are “(The broken phones are) due going to go out and fix all of the to infrastructure because some of ones that we can,” Thomas said. these telephone lines are 20 years The emergency call system old or older and that infrastructure originated before cell phones were is broken,” Thomas said. a staple for college students. Now, The university is trying to find cell phones are more prevalent and funds to pay for the “extensive” re- used more often when students pairs, such as re-digging and putting have emergencies. new phone lines in, Thomas said. “If you don’t have a phone avail“We are getting much more able, you have emergency access to aggressive about fixing (the emer- the 911 emergency calling,” Taylor gency call phones),” Thomas said. said. Security Services will test all of Thomas said before Access Serthe call phones. The phones that do vices took over, no one really knew not work will be reported, Thomas said. See EMERGENCY PHONES, Page 2
Six electrical engineering students are working hard to leave their mark on the NASA space station. The students are creating wearable technology in the senior engineering design program after the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (S.T.E.M.) disciplines at Texas State received $15 million from NASA. The technology will help keep astronauts on task and monitor their health. It will provide a communication structure and a warning system in case of emergency. Tyler Lyssy, Mathew Mullen and Kyle Paul, electrical engineering seniors, are developing an interface called PixelSense that will intertwine with the operation of the wearable device. Both projects are scheduled to be completed in May and will be presented at senior design day. The wearable technology is a “computer you wear on your arm,” said Chad Hoffman, electrical engineering senior and member of the “Smart Watch” wearable technology project with Garet Curry and Derek Fancher, electrical engineering seniors.
See NASA, Page 2
UNIVERSITY
Technology firm to increase rented space at S.T.A.R. Park By Jake Goodman NEWS REPORTER Representatives of Quantum Materials, a technology firm, have expressed interest in renting additional laboratory space at the Science, Technology and Advanced Research (S.T.A.R.) Park, a move that would create additional job opportunities for students, faculty and residents. Officials at the firm plan to rent more lab space at the S.T.A.R. Park facility, said David Doderer, vice president of Research and Development at Quantum Materials. Officials intend to staff the labs with researchers who are currently at other facilities. Stephen Frayser, executive director of S.T.A.R. Park, said the Quantum Materials expansion is not official yet
but is part of a two-phase plan. The facility now has 14,000 square feet of usable space. The space will cover 32,000 square feet after the university completes the second phase of construction in 2015. Frayser said a total of 40 people are employed at S.T.A.R. Park, including researchers, interns and office staff. The additional space Quantum Materials is interested in will help add to that total. “Our research requires us to reach across disciplines,” Doderer said. “When we have the need, we’ll reach out to Texas State students and faculty.” Quantum Materials is currently studying photolytic cells that are placed in electronics such as LCD TV’s or smartphone displays, Doder-
er explained. The photolytic cells study would also be researched in the new space at S.T.A.R. Park. Doderer said the new researchers will be moved from other research laboratories where Quantum Materials works, including facilities in the Netherlands and at the University of Nevada. Research staff from Quantum Materials will increase from four to seven after the expansion. “In addition to being able to use space, we require companies to do things above and beyond,” Frayser said. “That includes internships and research that expands as the company grows.” The success of companies at S.T.A.R. Park makes it easier for
See S.T.A.R. PARK, Page 2
UNIVERSITY
Debate team victorious over 15 universities in state tournament By Carlie Porterfield SENIOR NEWS REPORTER The debate team is enjoying a high after a win at this semester’s Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association (TIFA) tournament. The team won the debate portion of the tournament and took first place in the sweepstakes as well, said debate coach Wayne Kraemer. The team defeated 15 opponents, including the University of Texas and Texas A&M University. “Of the last 15 TIFA tournaments, we’ve won 14 of them,” Kraemer said. Kraemer attributes the team’s success to the coaching staff and the students’ commitment. “One thing that we do here is encourage our students to participate in a variety of events, “ Kraemer said. “Our debaters will also do individual events. We encourage them to do different things. That makes them stronger in the event that their specialty is, and it broadens their horizons as well.” Shanna Schultz, a graduate assistant for the debate team, said the coaching staff emphasizes producing quality work over bringing home a victory.
“Our program isn’t always about winning and getting a trophy,” Schultz said. “It’s about developing students and using argumentation and debate to help people become advocates and leaders.” Judges in competitions appreciate the students’ fair work, she said. “Students go into competitions not thinking of how to outmaneuver and make their opponents look terrible, but how to create a conver-
sation that will bring us to some sort of understanding,” Schultz said. “I think judges and people who critique these kinds of debates find that really valuable.” Debate students, upon graduating, find the skills they learned during their time on the team are an asset no matter what career they go into, Kraemer said.
See DEBATE, Page 2
DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
The debate team poses Nov. 10 in front of its awards.
ALEXANDRA WHITE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
S.T.A.R. Park will undergo expansion, creating space that will be leased by Quantam Materials.
UNIVERSITY
University partners with electric company to perform water research By Houston M. York NEWS REPORTER Nippon Electric Company (NEC) Corporation of America and Texas State announced a partnership Nov. 4 to conduct joint research and development efforts to improve water conservation and resource management. President Denise Trauth and Nobuhiro Endo, president and CEO of NEC Corporation of America, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Nov. 4 detailing the partnership. The university and NEC will exchange ideas for developing solutions to further responsible use of natural resources, according to the MOU. NEC, headquartered in Irving, is a provider of network, communications, information technology and biometric solutions for customers across multiple industries. The partnership is a unique opportunity for the university, said William
See WATER, Page 2
ALEXANDRA WHITE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
As part of the cabinet’s collaboration with Nippon Electric Comapany, the Japanese firm will conduct research on water conservation within the university.
2 | The University Star | News | Wednesday, November 19, 2014
UNIVERSITY
Freshman Council promotes Angel Tree program By Anna Herod NEWS REPORTER
The winter months usher in a season of gift-giving and feelings of cheer for many, but this is not always the case for children of less fortunate families. Freshman Council has set out to make sure needy families have presents under the Christmas tree this year. The council has partnered with the San Marcos Salvation Army to participate in the Angel Tree program. “The Angel Tree program is a program that helps needy families
to get their children gifts over the holidays,” said Doraneesha JacksonWilson, chair of the Angel Tree committee. The children’s names, ages and wish lists are sent to the Salvation Army, and the information is written on a paper angel to be hung up on a Christmas tree. Participants pick the angels off the tree, located at the San Marcos Salvation Army, and purchase the gifts on the wish lists. “Angel Tree is special to me because it gives children who are less fortunate a great Christmas,” Jackson-Wilson said. “I’ve always had great Christmases and had an
abundance of things because I’m an only child. Now it’s our turn to help make a child feel that way. It’s a big chance to give back to the community.” Additional money is sent to the Salvation Army to provide for the children whose angels do not get picked. Jackson-Wilson has sent emails to the presidents of campus organizations asking for $100 donations. The council is currently accepting donations in The Quad and the Student Government office. Participants can “adopt a family” by providing presents for siblings. “We don’t want to get people
involved with adopting a family and then some people flake out or something,” Jackson-Wilson said. “So we’d rather just collect a whole lump sum of money and give it to the Salvation Army for them to donate toward the Angel Tree.” The Angel Tree committee is preparing to perform a skit to showcase the project for potential donors, said Holly Pavlicek, chair of the freshman council. “Going to school at Texas State and in San Marcos, the students have so many opportunities,” Pavlicek said. “This is our turn to give back to the community and help the families
that are less fortunate and in need during the holiday season.” Partnership with the Salvation Army for the Angel Tree program began three years ago when the council started, she said. “We’re trying to raise as much money as we can,” Pavlicek said. “Personally, I think it’s really important to get involved with the Angel Tree committee because I know that these kids would be really appreciative to know someone is thinking about them and that they can have these things that other people take for granted.”
DEBATE, from front
NASA, from front “Right now on the space station, they don’t have a timing system,” Hoffman said. “Timing on the space station is worth millions, and they want to make every minute count. So we needed something universal to let the astronauts know that their time is running low or that it’s time for them to move to the next project.” PixelSense will operate from a Samsung Galaxy surface computer in space with infrared cameras allowing up to 52 astronauts to work at once. Emergency alerts will be sent to the computer through the interface as well as to the wearable technology. The astronauts’ devices will display alerts and offer safety procedures that correspond emergencies such as ammonia leaks, Hoffman said. “They have ammonia on the space station to cool all of the electronics,” Hoffman said. “It’s in a vacuum, so
you’re talking extreme cold. So if they get an ammonia leak on the station, it will kill everybody.” PixelSense is equipped with object recognition capabilities that compliment the health monitoring system in the wearable technology, Lyssy said. “There will be tags with barcodes on the food packages, and the astronauts will scan them on the computer, and the PixelSense database will catalogue the food to that specific astronaut’s food log,” Lyssy said. The watches will catalogue blood pressure, diet, body temperature and oxygen levels in addition to keeping records of astronauts’ food intake. “If someone were to have a heart attack on the space station, the devices would let all the astronauts and correspondents back in Houston know what’s going on,” Hoffman said. Localization of control systems is
another key feature of the technology NASA wants, said William Stapleton, assistant senior design professor. The students will put all of the controls for equipment on efficient wearable devices. The two projects have been in the works with NASA for quite some time, he said. “Now the students have a chance to work with something very interesting, and they’re doing a great job and making a lot of progress,” Stapleton said. The projects are completely worth the strenuous hours, Lyssy said. “We’re getting to work on technology that is already out there and make it better and make it our own,” Lyssy said. “We’re getting to build on the knowledge that we’ve learned at Texas State and gain a lot of experience.”
WATER, from front Covington, associate vice president for Research and Federal Relations. “You have a major corporation wanting to work with us,” Covington said. “It will be good for our faculty and students to engage in real-world problems.” Texas State faculty and students are committed to enhancing statewide conservation and preservation efforts, Trauth said in a university press release. “We are thrilled to be partners with NEC on projects that will have such a strong impact on society,” Trauth said in the release. “NEC has a legacy of advancing green technologies and developing solutions to sustain our natural resources.” NEC uses innovative technology to help strengthen and improve communities while building a thriving and sustainable future, Endo said in the release. “This new alliance will give NEC the opportunity to closely collaborate with Texas State University, a recognized leader in natural resource management, to identify exciting and new solutions that will benefit society as a
students to find jobs in specialized industries, Frayser said. The jobs created by firms like Quantum Materials pay wages 50 to 60 percent higher than conventional companies. “The overall goal is to increase corporate activity and allow technology and brainpower to support that,” Doderer said. Frayser said the presence of technology firms also makes other companies move in to support the innovation. “The implications for San Marcos are really broad,” said Adriana Cruz, president of the Greater San Marcos Partnership. “As the companies grow, we get new jobs, suppliers relocate here and we really start to develop a cluster.” The firms in S.T.A.R. Park are already attracting more technology companies to the San Marcos area, Cruz said. Representatives of PetaOmics, Inc., another startup cat S.T.A.R. Park, have engaged in dis-
cussion with Cruz. The startup has connections to Spanish companies that may relocate to San Marcos. Frayser said the expansion creates investment opportunities for students. Companies that start in San Marcos makes investment easier than it would be at a larger companies, Cruz said. Students can become involved in local companies during their initial stages. Cruz explained the geographic position between the San Antonio and Austin metropolitan areas and research and facility support from the university make San Marcos an attractive option for innovation companies like Quantum Materials. San Marcos is being called “the innovation corridor.” “When a lot of people think about San Marcos, they might not think of these industries,” Cruz said. “But San Marcos is going to be known for these going forward.”
EMERGENCY PHONES, from front whole,” Endo said. University officials are developing commercialization efforts with a commitment to partner with private sector corporations, said Provost Gene Bourgeois, vice president of Academic Affairs. “(The university) has expertise in water and water policy, in addition to various technical areas of expertise in audio signal processing and sensor development,” Bourgeois said. Oleg Komogortsev, associate professor of computer science, has performed research of interest to NEC, Bourgeois said. “NEC works with applications for strengthening personal identification, including facial and iris recognition systems that are closely related to his work,” Bourgeois said. An MOU is a formal statement of agreement to start conversations, Covington said. “(The MOU) allows the leaders of the university and NEC to come together, sign documents, take pictures and get the ball rolling,” Covington said. The next step will be a legal con-
tract between the university and NEC, he said. “It will actually be a binding contract with deliverables and a scope of work,” Covington said. “It will have a very specific scope and timeline.” Texas State does water research that could be beneficial to NEC, he said. “NEC has a lot of water technology that they would like to push out into the U.S., particularly into Texas, and they think the university could help with that research and development,” Covington said. The partnership with NEC is a good fit for the university, he said. “There are water research sensors involved, and that would bring in our engineering department,” Covington said. The collaborators will not be able to find specific research opportunities at the “speed of light,” he said. “This is the first step, and that’s where we are,” Covington said. “The next step is a matter of hitting on things that will make sense for both parties.”
which department had jurisdiction over the phones. “It was kind of floating around,” Thomas said. “It was nobody’s ball to carry. Access Services was given ownership of the call phones, and because of that we are getting more aggressive about it.” Anthony Stromberg, aquatic biology freshman, said he is “surprised” no one knew who was in charge of the call phones. “You would think with something that is so important, (the university) would have had it figured out,” Stromberg said. Finding repair funding will be easier now that Access Services is in charge of the call phones, Thomas said. “I have a new technician starting this month,” Thomas said. “It is a new position at the university, and part of his duties are to take care of the call phones.” The emergency call towers, which
are more expensive than the boxes, cost approximately $12,500 and provide 360-degree visibility. The emergency call boxes are mounted on walls and only offer a 180-degree coverage plane, Thomas said. “(The emergency call towers) are not something that is commonly used, but they are there because they are needed,” Taylor said. Thomas said an idea came up in a Facilities and Environment committee meeting about labeling call phones so people know how to use them. “There is a button on the tower,” Taylor said. “You press the button and release it, and it calls directly to our 911 call center. When it is activated, it activates the blue light on top, and it will flash and spin, making it is easier (for responders) to locate you.” Taylor said UPD responds to all the calls it receives and inspects the phones the alerts come from.
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TRENDS
UniversityStar.com
HOLIDAYS
Volunteer opportunities provide multiple ways to give back By Amanda Ross TRENDS EDITOR Giving back this holiday season is now easier than ever thanks to volunteer opportunities created by charitable organizations in and around Hays County. The Star has compiled a list of opportunities for students to do some good before going back home. Hays County Food Bank Volunteers put in over 18,000
hours of work at the Hays County Food Bank in 2013 alone, making the holiday season a little brighter for local families in need. Applicants must undergo a one-hour orientation session on Wednesday at 9 p.m. or Friday at 1:30 p.m. to get involved directly at the food bank. Volunteers can choose their own shifts and work in sectors tailored to their individual skill sets once accepted into the program. The organization is accepting donations of canned foods and other non-perishables at locations
around town from those who want to help but don’t have time for fullout shifts. Elf Louise Elf Louise is one of the Alamo City’s most popular and beloved holiday traditions just a few miles down IH-35 in San Antonio. Groups or individuals can sign up to wrap gifts at the Elf Louise warehouse to be delivered to children in need around San An-
tonio. Elf Louise makes for a great group volunteering activity as the organization accepts teams of no more than 24 people. The organization always accepts monetary donations. Gift wrapping times are open through November and December, making giving back easier than ever. Animal Shelter Volunteers are needed at PAWS Shelter of Central Texas to pass
holiday cheer on to some furry friends. Prospective volunteers must complete an orientation session. These sessions are held on the first and third Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. Volunteers can work in areas including office and administration, dog walking, fundraising, photography and transport. Those with a little more time and space to give can sign up to foster dogs or cats, hosting the animals in their homes until the pets are adopted by forever families.
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4 | The University Star | Wednesday, November 19, 2014
OPINIONS
UniversityStar.com
THE MAIN POINT
Holiday season brings fun events, activities
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ith all of the recent cold weather, it finally feels like the holiday season is here to stay. The holiday season comes with many fun experiences to be had by even the grumpiest Grinch.
VOLUNTEERING
Students and San Martians can volunteer at many places. It is good to volunteer year-round, but the holidays are an especially great time to give back to others. Spreading goodwill and happiness will only contribute to the cheer of the holiday season. The Hays County Food Bank works with citizens every year to provide less fortunate San Marcos families with “turkey boxes” that include supplies for holiday meals. Other holiday volunteer options include
The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program and San Marcos Police Department’s Blue Santa program.
WINTER FASHION
Anyone who has been paying attention when walking through The Quad can see winter fashion is on high display. Wardrobe staples for cold days include scarves, fleece, boots, leggings and anything knit. Nothing feels more like the holidays than seeing the quad packed with red noses and fuzzy hats.
STAYING IN SAN MARCOS
Not everyone has a family to return to or is able to easily go home for the holidays. Students
who have to stay in San Marcos for the holidays should not feel embarrassed for conditions outside of their control. Getting some alone time can be a welcome relief after the stress of finals. Those who do not enjoy alone time can get out of the house and spend time volunteering or with others who may be in town for the holidays. Setting up a Facebook group can help with connecting people who cannot or do not go home for the holidays.
CELEBRATING
Oftentimes in America when society enters the holiday season people think of Christmas first and foremost. However, there are many other religions and traditions with unique December festivities that deserve to be recognized and respected. An easy way to be politically correct during the month of De-
cember is to simply say “Happy Holidays” to people instead of the more specific “Merry Christmas.” Of course, there are those who may be offended by people saying ‘holidays’ instead of ‘Christmas,’ but the same could be said of the opposite. Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Yule, Christmas and Winter Solstice can all be celebrated individually and without incident.
faculty and staff get about a month to recuperate with friends and family. Winter break means students can spend that time getting in shape for the upcoming semester or becoming one with their beds and Netflix queues. Additionally, winter break means winter food. Regardless of what people individually celebrate, food is usually involved in some form or fashion, and that is always something to look forward to.
WINTER BREAK
Time can often seem like it is flying by, but when it comes to the last few days of the semester, it can feel like a painful crawl across the finish line only to collapse on the other side. The good thing about finals is that afterwards student, MELINA SWEET STAR ILLUSTRATOR
The Main Point is the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. Columns are the opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the full staff, Texas State University Student Media, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Texas State University.
PHOTOSHOP
Body image problems won’t be solved by making cartoon characters ‘realistic’ with their own alterations and giving everything realistic proportions. Disney princesses with realistic waistlines have been added to the long list of characters being ripped from the fantasy worlds they live in and brought down to reality. These makeovers are attempts to connect with these storybook characters and try to Rivers Wright leave future generations with a OPINIONS COLUMNIST strong sense of self-confidence. Journalism junior Making fictional characters more realistic and relatable is edia has taken retouching pho- not helping anyone. If anything tos to ridiculous new heights. it makes people mad rather than It is blatantly obvious that most send a positive message. Sure it of the images in the media have is fun to imagine what it would been touched up in Photoshop be like if Belle was my bestie so once or twice. Since the use of I could borrow a book from her Photoshop has become more ap- library. However, giving her a size parent, people are fighting back six waistline will not get me closer
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to an invitation to her castle. Focusing on their image and what they would look like if they were actual human beings makes it harder to teach future generations the real meaning behind the stories. The stories of Disney characters are those of bravery, fearlessness and going after and achieving dreams. These are the messages that should ring far into the future. It should not matter if Elsa or Ariel chased their dreams with a size four or size 14 waistline. Self-confidence needs to be brought back into focus. However, it needs to be made clear that not everyone is a certain size. Not everyone is plus-size or stick-thin. People get so lost in trying to fight against the fashion industry
MUSIC STREAMING
Hunter Larzelere OPINIONS COLUMNIST Journalism junior
aylor Swift just created a lot more haters who are going to hate, hate, hate. Swift recently sent shockwaves throughout the music world by deciding to take all of her music off the streaming service Spotify, the reason for this business decision being that she claims Spotify does not properly compensate the artists who allow their music to be on the service. According to a Dec. 5 2013 Business Insider article, Spotify pays each artist about 0.6 cents each time one of their songs is played. That may not sound like much, but when you consider how incredibly popular artists such as Taylor Swift are, that can add up to quite a large sum. In fact, according to a Nov. 12 CNN article, Taylor Swift was on track to make over $6 million this year, and she had already made half a million dollars just in the short time her new album was on Spotify before it was pulled off the streaming service. While it may seem like Spotify does not pay its artists well, if you happen to be a multi-platinum-selling artist, I think the paycheck is still going to be pleasing to the eyes. Taylor Swift is just coming across as vain and egotistical. I have never had the highest opinion of Miss Swift, but I view this inane attempt to make a statement as the final nail in the coffin. She is not standing up for the entire musical community of the world by doing this¬¬. All
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This description perfectly fits what society does to everything it can get its hands on. The Disney princesses are just an example of the massive lengths people will go to just to make everything real and fathomable—because a singing snowman is completely realistic, but a size two ice princess is not. Pointing out and correcting other people’s flaws or perceived lack thereof does no one any good. Obsessing over the flaws that are reflected in the mirror does not help anyone either. Shifting the focus from some unattainable body image and redirecting it to finding beauty in the beast of life will ensure a positive and uplifting future for everyone.
BREAST CANCER
Taylor Swift’s Spotify decision egotistical, motivated by greed
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for putting models in the magazines with unrealistic proportions that it is forgotten that the models do not even look like that in real life. There needs to be more acceptance of the fact that people’s bodies belong to them and they can do whatever they want with them. Shaming someone because they are skinny or fat is no way to solve any problem. It is as if instead of loving everyone for who they are, society has developed a widespread case of Body Dysmorphic Disorder. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America describes BDD as a body-image disorder characterized by persistent and intrusive preoccupations with an imagined or slight defect in one’s appearance.
she is doing is saying that she does not believe she is rich enough. In an interview with TIME, Swift said she believes music has an inherent value and should not be available for free. With that logic in mind, I should start charging a fee for every person that hears me singing in my car. Forgive me for not feeling sympathetic to the plight of the rich getting richer. I hold a firm belief that if people like someone’s music, they will be more than willing to pay to see the artist live or, at the very least, buy some t-shirts or posters. I guess at some point Taylor Swift forgot that making music is about connecting with an audience through the music created. If the audience cannot afford to buy the music, there is no way a connection can be built. Plus, anyone can just listen to her music on YouTube and other video streaming sources such as Vevo. This massive insult to her fans will only prove to hurt Swift’s image, but for all I know, this was just some huge publicity stunt to create buzz for her new album. If that is the case, then it sure is working because her album has been number one on the Billboard 200 list since it was released. I completely understand that artists want some kind of compensation for their work. The time spent and effort put into making music is something that does deserve recognition, but when an artist is already immensely wealthy, there is no need to demand even more money. The pop music industry is a well-oiled machine, but this recent debacle is shaking things up almost as much as the Napster controversy did back in the early 2000s. For now, I hope Taylor Swift can get past her ego and realize that all of her fans deserve to hear her music, not just those who can afford to buy the whole album.
Editor-in-Chief............................................Lesley Warren, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor....................Odus Evbagharu,starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters...........................................................................universitystar@txstate.edu News Editor............................................Kelsey Bradshaw, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor.............................................Amanda Ross, startrends@txstate.edu Opinions Editor.....................................Imani McGarrell, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor........................................Madelynne Scales, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor......................................... Quixem Ramirez, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief.................................Sam Hankins, starcopychief@txstate.edu
Breast cancer foundations sexualize deadly disease
Hannah Foster OPINIONS COLUMNIST Journalism junior
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t is absolutely disgusting that people feel the need to resort to sexualizing a dangerous disease in order to raise awareness of it. “Save the Tatas,” “I love boobies!” and “save second base” are all sayings people have grown accustomed to hearing during the month of October, which happens to be Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These phrases are reducing women to a single body part: breasts. Keep in mind that keeping the breasts in many of these cases could lead to death for these women. The phrases completely disregard the fact that most cases of breast cancer end in a single or double mastectomy, which is actually not saving the breasts at all. Breast Cancer Awareness Month includes slightly more than these cheeky slogans. I often find myself completely bombarded by the color pink during the month of October. Pink is on everything, including tshirts, water bottles, ribbons on processed foods at the grocery store, miscellaneous objects like flashlights and pepper spray and even in the NFL. There is nothing wrong
Design Editor...........................................Lauren Huston, stardesign@txstate.edu Assistant News Editor........................Nicole Barrios, starasstnews@txstate.edu Account Executive..................................Hanna Katz, starad2@txstate.edu Account Executive.................................Morgan Knowles, starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Jamie Beckham, 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
with the color pink, but there is something wrong with the actual amount of donations coming from the revenue of these products. For example, an Oct. 2013 Business Insider article states that only about eight percent of money spent on pink NFL merchandise actually goes towards cancer research. This means that for every $100 of pink merchandise sold, $12.50 goes to the NFL, of which $11.25 is donated to cancer research. The rest of the funds are divided between the company that makes the merchandise (37.5 percent) and the company that sells it (50 percent). The manufacturer/seller is usually the NFL itself or the individual teams, in which case almost all of the funds are going straight back into football and not into their supposed pile of donations for cancer research. The NFL is not the only pink campaign that does this. The beloved Susan G. Komen organization has also lost its flawless reputation. The decline began in late 2010 when a Huffington Post article was published announcing Susan G. Komen’s aggression towards other campaigns using the phrase “for a cure” in their titles. The organization went under fire for using profits gained through donations to fund lawsuits against smaller organizations for simply using the phrase “for a cure” while simultaneously using the color pink in their campaigns, even if their missions had nothing to do with breast cancer.
The Susan G. Komen organization faced controversy again in 2012 when, according to a Washington Post article, the organization was discontinuing its funds for Planned Parenthood to provide free breastcancer screenings. Many were upset by this because the giant organization supposedly meant to aid in awareness and research of breast cancer was suddenly making an effort to do the opposite. I hear many people defend these groups and their gross phrases like “Save the hooters!” by saying that at least these organizations are raising awareness and donating some sort of money to the cause, but my findings show otherwise. By the looks of it, not only do these companies objectify women, but they do so for profit with few donations being made. It is absolutely disgusting that these companies feel the need to sexualize a deadly disease, which 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with in their lifetimes, just to gain profits. Over the past year, 40,000 women were expected to die of breast cancer, yet none of those slogans reflect the seriousness of this disease. Society needs to stop focusing on the “boobies” and profits and begin focusing on the lives of these women. Sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice “the tatas” in order to save the woman, and that, too, deserves honorable mention.
The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the spring and fall and every other Wednesday in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright Wednesday, November 19, 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.
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The University Star | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 | 5
SPORTS
UniversityStar.com
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
BOBCATS FALL IN OVERTIME TO TEXAS TECH By Devin Tyler SPORTS REPORTER @DevinNoOneCares
BREANNA BAKER STAR ILLUSTRATOR
LUNCH COACH FRAN By Odus Evbagharu MANAGING EDITOR @odus_Outputs
win their next game eight times since 2011 following an initial loss, so maybe there isn’t much light at the end of the tunnel. It doesn’t help the game is in the middle of the week. The Red Wolves hold an 11-5 record in all midweek games since 2001 and have won seven of their last nine midweek games. The Bobcats did not fare well in their last midweek game. Louisiana-Lafayette “took (Texas State) out behind the woodshed and spanked us pretty good,” as Franchione eloquently said. The team lost the contest 34-10 on Oct. 14. Coincidentally, that was the last time the Bobcats played on national television. The matchup against Arkansas State
Finish or be finished.
That is the sentiment Coach Dennis Franchione and his staff should be echoing throughout the Bobcat locker room heading into their Thursday night matchup against Arkansas State. The Bobcats have consistently come up short this season. Texas State should have eight wins right now, with losses to Illinois, Georgia Southern and South Alabama by one possession. The Bobcats held the lead at halftime against Illinois and South Alabama but blew those games late in the fourth quarters, putting them in the predicament they are in now. The football team is essentially one loss away from being bowl-snubbed for two consecutive years. The Bobcats need a victory against a Sun Belt Conference powerhouse to finally garner the signature win they have been desperately yearning for all season long. The victory Kim Kardashian broke the Internet will not come easy. Arkansas State has dominated the The Giants won the World Series conference for years, and when it comes to the month of November, the team is Philae Spacecraft landed on a comet doing something Charlie Sheen would appreciate: winning. The Red Wolves Republicans gained Senate majority are 12-2 since 2011 in November. The team is 24-5 in the conference since 2011 with three straight conference championships. It gets worse for Texas State. will be televised on ESPNU, and one can The Red Wolves, who are visiting San only hope the Bobcats won’t be cameraMarcos for Senior Night, love playing shy this time around. away from Jonesboro, Arkansas, espeTexas State will need to dig deep and cially come conference season. Arkansas play the game of its life. Thursday is SeState has won 12 of its last 14 confer- nior Night, and players such as David ence road games dating back to the 2011 Mayo, senior linebacker, Colby Targun, season. Texas State is 2-3 this season at senior defensive back, Charlie Will Tuthome and has not won at Bobcat Stadi- tle, senior offensive lineman, and Bradum since Oct. 4, defeating a 1-9 Idaho ley Miller, senior tight end, will need team on homecoming night. to step up if they want to cement their To put it into perspective, Texas State names in history and lead the Bobcats to has not won a home game in 46 days. In their first-ever bowl game. that span, Kim Kardashian tried to break Simply, the Bobcats need to take a the Internet, the San Francisco Giants page out of late Oakland Raiders ownwon the World Series, the Philae space- er Al Davis’ owner manual—“Just win, craft landed on a comet and the Repub- baby.” licans gained control of the senate. Point is, it has been far too long since the Bobcats have won In the Mercantile Building Across from Gruene Hall at home, and things need to change. There is a glimmer of hope for the Bobcats. Appalachian State defeated Arkansas State last week 3732, a rare November loss for the Red Wolves. Arkansas State has lost back-to-back games in the same season twice over the Apply online or in person between 2-4pm Monday-Thursday last four years. The Red Wolves have rebounded to moziesbarandgrill.com
The Texas State women’s basketball team was defeated by 45 points in its previous meeting against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The margin was closer this time around, but the outcome remained the same. Texas State lost in overtime 81-77, dropping to 1-1 this season. “We came out with the confidence that we really belong playing this team,” Associate Coach Sue Serafini said. “They took the floor and weren’t nervous or scared and just played basketball. I’m so very proud of the energy effort and attention to detail they put out tonight.” Prior to overtime, the lead changed five times in the final six minutes, before Texas Tech drew a blocking foul with five seconds remaining. Junior guard Rayven Brooks made one of two free throws sending the game to overtime. “Honestly it was a four minute segment,” Sue said. “ Texas Tech hit a 3-pointer.
We came down and didn’t make a shot. (Texas) Tech came back and scored off a second chance point. That was the differential in the game.” Meghan Braeuer, senior guard, scored a career-high 24 points in the loss, including two 3-pointers in overtime. Texas State’s lead was as high as 10 points after Kaitlin Walla, sophomore guard, hit a 3-pointer with 15 minutes remaining in the second half. “We had five more minutes to compete and that is what we focused on,” Sue said. “We needed to execute offensively and rebound to limit their opportunities at second chance points.” Erin Peoples, junior guard, Jacqueline Jeffcoat, senior forward, Ayriel Anderson, junior guard, and
Braeuer combined for all 35 points in the first half. Despite having 11 fouls in the half, Texas State held on to a 35-31 lead going into halftime. The team received scoring contributions from six players. “Our program has really worked on sharing the basketball and recognizing any of our five players can score,” said Sue. “We have full faith and confidence that the ball can be scored from any single position as proof tonight.” Texas State will return home to host Houston Baptist in its next game. “We had five more minutes to compete and that is what we focused on,” Sue said. “We needed to execute offensively and rebound to limit their opportunities at second chance points.”
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