VOLUME 103, ISSUE 39
www.UniversityStar.com
WEDNESDAY
NOVEMBER 20, 2013
Defending the First Amendment since 1911
VIDEO | UniversityStar.com
TRENDS | Page 5
Remembering Camelot was an exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy.
Winter fashion: Winter is viewed by many as a standout season for fashion because it is the one time a year that brings scarves, hats, gloves, coats, sweaters and boots into style.
CITY COUNCIL
Smoking e-cigarettes to be allowed in vape shops after ordinance amendment By James Carneiro News Reporter
City councilmembers voted unanimously Tuesday to exempt “vape” shops from the citywide public smoking ban, which was passed early last month. City Manager Jim Nuse defined a vape shop as a store selling electronic cigarettes where people can pick out flavors of tobacco and “vape” in the establishment if desired. Vape shop owners voiced concern that the ordinance would force them out of business. Under the recently approved ordinance, smoking is prohibited in any public place or park, in enclosed areas owned by the city and enclosed workplaces.
smoking, said Mayor Daniel Guerrero. Vape shops needed this amendment in order to stay in business as well, Guerrero said. The conversation then turned to how a vape shop would be defined. Cosentino said a business is called a vape shop if electronic cigarettes are the primary source of business. Thomaides asked if people could smoke in a convenience store since it sells cigarettes. Cosentino answered no, saying cigarettes do not make up the majority of a convenience store’s business. “Vape is their main stock and trade, so they can sell them,” Cosentino said. Thomaides said the definition of “primary” could be
Numbers courtesy of Nancy Nusbaum, interim director of Transportation Services
RAM S T L TOTAEL COST DIES
FY 2011 $460,000
FY 2014 $823,000 FY 2015 $900,000+ TRANSPORTATION
(projected)
Bus fees rising next fall to fund new contract, increased oil prices
“If you allow this to occur in these shops, does that mean you are allowing a bar to sell (vapes)?” —John Thomaides, City Council Place 3 Much of the council’s discussion revolved around whether it was appropriate to amend the ordinance after much debate and work had been put into the recently approved one. Councilman John Thomaides, Place 3, said the council had discussed the current ordinance a number of times already and reached a consensus on it. “Now we are being asked to change it,” Thomaides said. Thomaides said he was concerned about inconsistencies popping up if vape shops were exempted from the ordinance. “If you allow this to occur in these shops, does that mean you are allowing a bar to sell (vapes)?” Thomaides said. City Attorney Michael Cosentino said the language of the amendment would ban bars from selling vapes, thus clearing up the inconsistency. Thomaides asked whether simple tobacco stores would allow people to smoke inside. Tobacco stores would allow
subjective, and amending the ordinance might lead to unintended consequences in the future. The legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington is resulting in marijuana shops popping up all over those states, Thomaides said. “This is the last thing I’ll say,” Thomaides said. “If marijuana becomes legal, we’ll have to allow it in (San Marcos) shops.” Cosentino said the chances of San Marcos stores eventually selling marijuana were not likely, even if it was legalized in Texas. Above all, the ordinance would keep the same definition of smoking, Cosentino said. “It doesn’t matter what’s in the pipe, it just has to be smoked,” Cosentino said. Councilman Wayne Becak, Place 4, proposed an additional amendment stating 85 percent of a vape shops’ revenue must come from electronic cigarettes in order to be exempted from the ordinance. The councilmembers approved this and the main amendment unanimously.
Chris Motz | Star File Photo
By Liza Winkler Managing Editor
T
he Bobcat Tram system will undergo a facelift to improve operations and budget efficiency once the student bus fee increase is implemented in fall 2014. Students passed a referendum in April that will raise the bus fee from $78 to $95 next fall. The bus fee increase will help sustain the university’s contract with Veolia Transportation, which will replace First Transit as Texas State’s bus provider. Veolia will be fully operational in late August, bringing with it a fleet of 43 new 40-foot buses, said Nancy Nusbaum, interim director of Transportation Services. The buses will begin arriving in May and will continue to funnel in throughout the summer, Nusbaum said. Veolia was se-
lected this past spring to replace First Transit through an interview, presentation and reference checking process with input from students and administrators. In addition to the new bus fleet, Veolia’s maintenance facility will soon be under construction on Posey Road and is scheduled for completion in May, Nusbaum said. The First Transit buses currently in operation are each about 10 years old, said Steven Herrera, interim shuttle service manager. “They are different fleets, so they were bought at different times,” Herrera said. “They’ve been in service a long time, and First Transit has done a good job of maintaining what they have. When equipment gets that old, it’s difficult to keep it in a likenew state.” Herrera said Aug. 8, 2014 will be First Transit’s last operation
date at Texas State, and the following day Veolia will take over the tram system. Veolia will conduct simulation routes during the week of Aug. 11, 2014 with safety instructors, drivers and operators in preparation for the school year. Any dollar a fee is raised by is one less dollar that can be increased elsewhere, said Gordon Thyberg, assistant vice president for Budgeting, Financial Planning and Analysis. University officials must consider potential hikes “holistically,” Thyberg said.
“We don’t have the luxury of throwing lots of money at the shuttle system.” —Steven Herrera, interim shuttle service manager The rate with Veolia will cost $84.32 per service hour, an estimated $10 increase from the current contract with First Transit, Nusbaum said. Officials may have needed to use reserve funding, cut back on service hours or eliminate routes if Veolia charged a higher price for ser-
See BUSES, A2
UNIVERSITY
College sees record enrollment, produces most teachers in state By Autumn Bernhart News Reporter
Texas State is continuing its historic trend as the highest teacher-producing university in the state, with over-
Top teacher-producing universities National Ranking
1. University of Phoenix 2. Illinois State 3. Arizona State 4. Texas State
all and freshman enrollment numbers in the College of Education reaching record levels this fall. According to reports by the office of Enrollment Management and Marketing, the College of Education had a total of 4,517 students in fall 2011. Institutional Research’s preliminary student enrollment numbers show 4,646 students enrolled in the College of Education this fall. Historically, the university is one of the largest producers of teachers in Texas. Texas State is currently ranked number one as the largest university-based preparer of teachers in the state, said Patrice Werner, chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education. According to Jim Van
Overschelde, assistant professor for Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education, Texas State is ranked fourth in the nation in the same category. He said the university only falls behind the University of Phoenix, Illinois State and Arizona State. “We are still down in numbers of producing teachers compared to other years, but the numbers entering our program are coming back up,” Werner said. “This means we haven’t seen the results on the output end of it yet, but we are hopeful that in two years time we will be back up to the numbers we had in the past and surpass them.” In fall 2011, 776 freshmen entered the College of Education, according to student enrollment data from Institutional Research. This
Bethanie James | Star Photo Illustration Leticia Aguilar, education sophomore, aims to teach second grade Spanish in the future.
fall, 849 freshmen are enrolled in the College of Education, the largest amount in 11 years, which has nearly doubled the numbers recorded a decade ago when 444 were enrolled in 2003. Job prospects for bilingual, spe-
cial needs, elementary, science and math teachers have been positive lately and are in high demand, Werner said. “I choose Texas State purely be-
See EDUCATION, A2
2 | The University Star | News | Wednesday November 20, 2013
UNIVERSITY
New ‘unearned failing’ mark added to university grading scale By Taylor Tompkins News Editor
A new type of grade will be implemented by the end of the semester to bring the university into compliance with federal regulations. An unearned failing grade will be introduced to the current grading cycle to signify students who have stopped attending class, according to information disseminated by the Registrar’s Office. The office of Financial Aid and Scholarships must report the last date of “academic engagement” for students failing classes under federal regulations. According to the registrar’s page, an unearned failing grade differs from a regular failing mark as it is given to students who do not fully com-
plete a course. This grade applies to students who stopped attending class, did not complete the objectives of the class or did not take a final. Instructors will be required to record the last date of academic involvement in their classes if they mark an unearned failing grade for a student. Students can be considered unofficially withdrawn from Texas State if they receive a combination of grades such as an unearned failing “U,” a withdraw “W” and an incomplete “I” mark at the end of a semester. If students are deemed unofficially withdrawn, under Title IV, which outlines federal collegiate funds, their financial aid will be recalculated. The student will receive a repayment letter from Financial Aid and Scholarships after the amount is determined.
BUSES, continued from front
EDUCATION, continued from front
vice hours, she said. Routes would have been eliminated in 2014 if the bus fee increase was not passed last spring, Nusbaum said. Part of the bus fee also goes toward diesel costs, which are covered by the university and are separate from those given to the contractor for hourly service rates. Diesel costs have increased almost 79 percent since fall 2010 from $460,000 to $823,000 this year due in part to fluctuating inflation, Nusbaum said. “Based on applying a percentage increase each year, we’re thinking that diesel could be well over $900,000 (next year), and so we’ll barely be breaking even with the $95 (bus fee) rate,” Nusbaum said. As the bus contract transition begins this summer, new employees will likely be hired through Veolia, Nusbaum said. Veolia representatives will meet with current First Transit employees and screen interested workers who are seeking to continue on with the new contractor, she said. “(At Texas State) you can’t really grow the system too much because that increases our hourly rate,” Herrera said. “We have to utilize it, maximize it and make it efficient for us because we don’t have the luxury of throwing lots of money at the shuttle system.” Nusbaum said new routes are not likely to be added next year, but current ones can be improved for efficiency.
cause of their rank in the education program,” said Leticia Aguilar, education sophomore. “I am personally not as concerned with the job market because I am planning on getting a bilingual certificate, so I will have a wider range than others in the job field.” Currently, there are 2,520 students seeking teacher certification through the university, with 1,412 of those in the College of Education, Van Overschelde said. Texas State offers students within the college multiple opportunities to improve their chances of getting hired, Werner said. The College of Education job fair is hosted every semester and has over 200 districts from around the country attend, she said. Practical experience opportunities for student teaching are available through the university as well, according to Virginia Resta, assistant chair for Department of Curriculum and Instruction of the College of Education. “Texas State offers clinical experience for students, meaning we have a set sequence that builds as a student furthers their education in the program,” Resta said. “They have two full semesters in school even before they begin student teaching.” At other universities, professors teach students on campus and then they receive student teaching opportunities afterward, Werner said. However, at Texas State, the professors go to schools with students to give them feedback and mediate the experience, she said. “With the professors being there, the professors see what a current classroom is like today,” Resta said. “In other universities, the professors have been out of the classroom for years, so they are not up to date in what is happening.” As of now, 9,214 graduates from Texas State are working in school districts across Texas, with 7,411 as teachers, Van Overschelde said.
UNIVERSITY
Student Health Center to accept private insurance By Traynor Swanson News Reporter
Changes to insurance policies and payment plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will be implemented on campus and begin to affect students in January. The Student Health Center will implement two significant policy changes in accordance with the new healthcare law, said Emilio Carranco, Student Health Center director. Beginning in January, the health center will accept private insurance, and requirements for international students will match the minimum coverage mandated by the Affordable Care Act, Carranco said. “There is a lot of information, so it can be hard to grasp, but we’re trying to help students understand the changes,” Carranco said. “We’ve been preparing for a while, but the biggest change is we will accept private insurance at the clinic and the pharmacy, which we previously did not.” These provisions of the law, which went into effect Oct. 1 nationally, were designed to increase quality and affordability of insurance indiscriminately. “The Affordable Care Act is the reason why we accept (private) insurance now,” Carranco said. “If we didn’t accept insurance at the pharmacy, we wouldn’t be serving the students effectively, and we would be losing a lot of business.” The Department of Finance and Economics and the College of Health Professions hosted an information panel for students Nov. 18 regarding the Affordable Care Act. Shannon Meroney, executive account manager for insurance company Aetna’s Public and Labor Segment, explained at the panel one intention of the act is to broaden patient coverage options. Patients under the age of 26 who are on their parents’ insurance can choose to remain on that coverage or may purchase their own, Meroney said. “You can go through the (market) exchange, or a lot of times, if you’re a student, you’re eligible
for student coverage that we offer to universities,” Meroney said. “That’s typically a lot cheaper than an individual policy.” Prior to the Affordable Care Act, the health center’s main source of revenue came from medical service fees from patient visits. By accepting private insurance, the health center will have a new source of revenue to help limit the cost of medical service fees, Carranco said. “The health center hasn’t increased the fee in over six years,” Carranco said. “The ACA should keep us from needing to raise it.” The health center is currently negotiating contracts with the largest insurance providers in the state, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna and United Healthcare, Carranco said. “Our goal is to finalize contracts with the four biggest insurance providers in Texas,” Carranco said. “It’s a lengthy process, but we aim to have the contracts by January.” The most significant change for students will be different minimum benefits covered by many insurance plans, Meroney said. Healthcare.gov lists 10 benefits required to be covered by insurance companies, including emergency services, preventive and wellness services and prescription drugs. Many insurance policies were not compliant with the requirements of the act when it was passed in 2010, Meroney said. Insurance providers have changed policies since then to meet the requirements of the law when it was implemented in October, Meroney said. “A big section of our market for Aetna is selling insurance policies to universities like this one,” Meroney said. “The university policy is an affordable one that students can buy.” Professors with the university remain largely unaffected by the implementation of the act, said Peter Siegenthaler, history senior lecturer. “The new law doesn’t change anything for professors,” Siegenthaler said. “Our health insurance is provided through the university when we work full time.”
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4 | The University Star | Wednesday November 20, 2013
OPINIONS
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THE MAIN POINT
Downtown parking plan could be positive for community D
Breanna Baker | 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.
owntown parking spots are a precious commodity in San Marcos, and city officials have a right to install paid meters to profit from students, residents and visitors who frequent The Square and surrounding areas. City councilmembers discussed implementing a proposed Parking Management District at their Nov. 5 meeting, according to a Nov. 14 University Star article. As part of the plan, a metering-rate system with varying prices depending on location could be developed in the parking areas in and around the downtown area. It is increasingly apparent that downtown parking is in a dire state. Some businesses on The Square such as the Root Cellar Café and Gallery are suffering from a loss of profit during peak hours due in part to a lack of parking for customers. In addition, many students park downtown and walk to class in order to avoid riding crowded buses or buying permits—further depriving potential customers of parking spaces. With all these factors at play, city officials have the difficult task of balancing supply and demand of spaces without discouraging potential customers with overly expensive paid meters. It is no secret that paid parking was unsuccessful in the
downtown area in the past, and some longtime residents and business owners have vocalized concerns about adopting another metered system. It is obvious why many students, residents and visitors avoid the hassle of fees such as the $3 hourly charge in the nearby Edward Gary Parking Garage when they can currently park for free in the downtown area. Since people will continue to need places to park downtown, it seems practical to monetize the spaces in some way. Monetizing the spaces is a solution that may serve to deter unwanted traffic while bringing in a steady cash flow to the city. City officials stand to potentially rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars simply by charging a few bucks an hour for prime downtown parking spots. These are funds the city needs—money that can be used to improve roads and support downtown businesses. Despite any past frustrations with paid downtown parking, the system could be revamped and offer a relatively low hourly rate of anywhere from 25 cents to $2. Downtown parking meters are a common sight in large and midsize Texas cities and garner significant profits. Especially with close proximity to Austin, city officials could seek to modernize San Marcos’ downtown parking with
FASHION
Use caution when wearing tights as pants
SOCIAL ISSUES
Graphic video games do not contribute to youth violence despite misconceptions
Ryan Pittman Imani McGarrell Opinions Columnist Journalism sophomore
who choose to wear tights as pants Stheytudents during the winter season should ensure are not accidentally revealing too much
of themselves to innocent passersby while walking around campus. As the weather grows cooler, the wardrobes of students change. For many, tights or leggings constitute a major staple of winter wardrobes. It is common knowledge Texas weather takes awhile to settle into a pattern and match the calendar seasons. This leads to what I like to call the “pumpkin spice epidemic.” The first hint of cool weather sends many running for their scarves, boots and tights. I am not sure when, but somewhere along the line, tights became the go-to cold weather staple of many students’ closets. This trend is curious to me because in my experience, most garden-variety retail tights are not very spectacular at keeping legs warm. Now, I am not bashing wearing tights. During the warmer months of the year, throwing on some mid-calf leggings and a large T-shirt is a quick and easy outfit. At a campus as hilly as Texas State’s, tights can provide a comfortable alternative to jeans or dresses. It is my personal belief that anyone can wear just about anything and pull it off as long as they have confidence. Girls both thin and thick can look awesome in not-toorevealing tights if they want to make such a wardrobe choice. It is not my place or mission to body shame anyone into not wearing something they love. That being said, I take issue with girls wearing see-through leggings as pants. I respect the decision to wear leggings as a garment. However, I need all the tights-as-pants wearers out there to likewise respect the desires of passersby to not see their undergarments through their leggings. Most of the tights-as-pants usage I have seen pairs leggings with mid-thigh tunic type garments or large T-shirts of the same length. With this outfit, even if the tights are seethrough, all the private bits are covered. Most of the see-through horrors I have fell victim to on my unsuspecting walks through campus happened when women chose to wear brightly colored underwear and too-short shirts with their opaque tights. The solution to this startling occurrence is quite simple. Do an underwear check before leaving the house. Do some moving around, step up and down on a chair to simulate walking up stairs, bend over and have an honest friend say if they can see anything inappropriate. There are some people who object to others wearing tights because they feel that some body types are not suitable for them. That is not at all what I am saying. Tights can be worn by anyone. As long as I am not being flashed by anyone’s underwear, tights as pants are okay with me.
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paid meters to stay on par with larger cities. Furthermore, meters allow students, residents and visitors a way to gauge how long they have been parked and whether they are subject to being towed. Without meters, discrepancies are more likely to arise between towing company workers and drivers because there is no concrete way to verify how long a downtown parking space has been occupied. In addition, city officials are working to develop an alternative to employee parking to avoid ticketing residents and students who park in downtown spaces for extended periods of time while they work, according to the same University Star article. Paid downtown parking should never serve to harm local business owners and employees. Creating a remote, employee-only lot with a shuttle service to the downtown area is a positive way to both free up downtown spaces for customers and avoid ticketing workers. Frustrations may run high in discussions about downtown parking, but city officials must remain calm and make decisions that will best benefit all involved parties. The proposed metered downtown parking plan is the most suitable option for residents, students and visitors alike.
Opinions Columnist Journalism freshman
espite many popular assumptions, D students must understand there is no significant link between violent
video games and children who display such behavior in real life. Many children nowadays spend a significant amount of their free time playing video games. From educational, to hand held devices to next generation consoles, video games are a popular source of entertainment for kids of all ages. The question often arises—do these games have a long-lasting negative effect on kids? My answer is no. First of all, the First Amendment protects the rights of gaming companies to create and distribute games with the content of their choosing. So far, many lawsuits filed against video game distributors have been dismissed, and for good reason. There are no widely notable studies in today’s society that show a direct link between violence in games and that kind of behavior in real life. In the 1950s, some comic books were targeted as
Editor in Chief................................................Caitlin Clark, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor..........................Liza Winkler, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters..................................................................................starletters@txstate.edu News Editor............................................Taylor Tompkins, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor.............................................Amanda Ross, startrends@txstate.edu Opinions Editor..................................Savannah Wingo, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor.......................................Austin Humphreys, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor.......................................Odus Evbagharu, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief................................Lesley Warren, starcopychief@txstate.edu Video Editor........................................................Alex Peña, starvideo@txstate.edu
the supposed culprit of children acting violent. Every generation has a different media scapegoat to explain away youth violence. Violence among youth has nothing to do with the content they consume. A child who plays a video game with a warlike setting is more than likely not going to suddenly pick up an assault rifle and fire openly out a window. Children can differentiate between reality and video games. Video games do not exert so much influence over children as to change their behaviors or personalities in the real world. Furthermore, despite the claims of some alarmist anti-video game groups, youth violence actually appears to be on the decline. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, youth homicide has substantially declined since the mid‘90s, a time when video games were rapidly gaining popularity. According to an Oct. 28 USA Today article, up to 50 percent of children and teens have some type of gaming console in their bedrooms. While I can agree kids these days spend too little time riding bikes, playing football in the street and otherwise being active, violent video games are not turning kids into violent psychopaths. If they were, statistics would show a dramatic increase in youth violence in recent years based on the amount of time modern kids spend playing such games. Regardless of whether video games influence youth violence, the fact remains that children cannot get ahold
of violent games unless someone of legal age buys them. All video games, regardless of which company develops them, come with a rating. The more violence, language or suggestive themes in a game, the higher the rating is. Many of the more popular violent video games have a rating of “M” for mature audiences. Any game with an “M” rating requires that someone 17 or older purchase it. This provides a very easy solution—if parents or guardians do not want their children to play violent games, they should not purchase them. Those who would rather infringe on others’ rights to buy games simply because they do not want to glance at a label before purchasing their kids a game are ridiculous. More people than just children play video games, after all, and adults should have the right to consume whatever media they choose, regardless of how violent it is. Growing up, I constantly played violent video games. We played Halo, Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty, and everything that could be killed was laid waste in our path. But, once the games were turned off, the violence no longer existed. Not once have I met a child who, after playing Grand Theft Auto, went and stole a bike, killed 82 cops and crashed into a strip club. These accusations just are not realistic. Any correlation between the violence in video games and in real life is situational, and the mental health of the individual needs to be thoroughly examined instead of the content of the game.
University Star
POLL
The city recently moved to ban e-cigarettes as part of the Clean Air Ordinance. Do you think this ban is fair?
YES
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Vote online at Facebook.com/UniversityStar Design Editor.................................................Lee Moran, stardesign@txstate.edu Web Editor.........................................Anthony Garza, starwebeditor@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Catie Brossard, starad3@txstate.edu Account Executive.................................Blakely Knowles, starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Hannah Wilson, starad5@txstate.edu Media Specialist............................................ Chris Salazar, c.salazar@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator...........................Kelsey Nuckolls, starad1@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator.......................................Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu Publications Director...........................Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu
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 20, 2013. 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 20, 2013 | 5
TRENDS
UniversityStar.com
Cooler weather brings new fashion to campus By Ernest Macias Trends Reporter
Winter is viewed by many as a standout season for fashion since it is the one time a year that brings scarves, hats, gloves, coats, sweaters and boots into style. Colder temperatures give fashionable students the opportunity to go all-out with their styles and often wear multiple layers of clothing. The season can inspire wardrobe changes, namely the resurrection of 90s grunge trends. Crew necks, dark lips, Dr. Marten-inspired boots and boyfriend jeans all popped up in fashion shows last spring. These grunge trends might not be practical for someone attending class, but they can be tamed down and tailored to a student-friendly version fit for the fashionistas dying to try them. A must this winter are riding boots and ankle boots, said Danielle Henry, Langford Market manager. Henry recommends the chunky look of Dr. Martens or suede ankle booties, preferably in black or red. “Boots are essential, the more rugged the better,” Henry said. “The Melissa Button boot from Frye is a perfect example of the winter riding boot.” Another style that will likely keep Bobcats off the worst-dressed list is the lace-up military style boot. Otherwise known as combat boots, these boots are the new go-to item for winter. Even denim, the old cold-weather standby, is getting a new look for winter. Gray, metallic denim, boyfriend fit, flared denim and moto-
skinny looks have appeared in magazines and on runways as winter must-haves. “Everyone needs to own colored jeans this winter,” said Kelsey Jendrusch, fashion merchandising junior. “Maroon, camel or brown are the in-colors.” According to Henry, oversized sweaters are a must and crew neck, waffle or chunky-knit sweaters are worth investing in. The key to pulling off the look is to ensure the pieces are truly oversized and not just bulky. “Scarves, I am all about scarves,” said Audrey Smith, Fashion Merchandising Association member. “I love a good scarf, an oversized beanie and a flannel shirt, it’s perfect.” For the guys, a simple look for winter is corduroy pants and a sweater. The modern male fashionista can opt to wear oversized sweaters over tapered colored jeans. Madewell, ASOS and Zara have many high-fashion, low-budget options for this style. “This style works because all the attention goes to the sweater, and it’s low maintenance, but it looks high fashion,” Henry said. Many fashion-conscious Bobcats are embracing the grunge-glam blend, including mixing a plaid skirt with bling or a faux fur vest. The winter white trend, especially with peacoats and hats, is another viable option. Another popular revival is the black turtleneck. “The best trend this winter is the au naturel look, the no make-up make-up look,” Henry said. “It is great to accentuate natural beauty, and who you are. That never goes out of style.”
Madelynne Scales | Staff Photographer Combat boots are predicted to gain popularity for staying warm and stylish during the winter.
Madelynne Scales | Staff Photographer Local clothing stores such as Langford Market are gearing up for winter and displaying styles meant to keep wearers warm.
City of San Marcos Events Calendar Wednesday Nov. 20
Thursday Nov. 21
Friday Nov. 22
11:30 a.m. Convention and Visitor Bureau Board Saltgrass Steak House
10:30 a.m. Zumba Gold Cephas House
4:45 p.m. Little Learners Club Cephas House
12 p.m. JoyDance San Marcos Activity Center
5 p.m. Yoga San Marcos Public Library
4:30 p.m. Bluebonnet Book Club San Marcos Public Library
6 p.m. West African Dance Cephas House
5:30 p.m. Arts Commission Grant Harris, Jr. Building 5:30 p.m. Main Street Advisory Board Hays County Courthouse 6 p.m. Neighborhood Commission City Hall
5:30 p.m. Ethics Commission City Hall 7 p.m. Linux Workshop San Marcos Public Library
Saturday Nov. 23 9 a.m. Farmer’s Market Southside of the Courthouse on San Antonio Street 9:30 a.m. Mommy and Me Yoga Cephas House
Your friendly neighborhood watchdog.
6 | The University Star | Wednesday November 20, 2013
SPORTS
UniversityStar.com
CROSS-COUNTRY
Team members fail to advance toward national competition By Josh Zigrang Sports Reporter @JoshZigrang
The men’s and women’s cross-country teams sent two runners to the South Central Regionals in Waco Friday and both ended their seasons without advancing to the NCAA Nationals. Sophomore Joseph Pena and senior Michelle Jones were the runners selected to represent Texas State at regionals after their performances during the season. Pena, coming off of a year-long hiatus from competition, ended his year with two top 10 performances and an 80th place finish at the Waco meet. Pena ran his first 10K at a 5:18 per mile pace. Coach Bryan Jackson made the decision to send just two athletes to the regional meet after the conference championships. “(Going into the season) I saw myself competing well at regionals,” Pena said. “I felt I did OK.” Pena came back to the team and set a standard for men’s cross-country this season. Junior running mate Joseph Rodriguez said he wants to compete with Pena all through the year. “I am definitely going after Joseph Pena,” Rodriguez said. Pena will be gearing up for his first year on the Texas State track team in a week. He will be preparing himself for a better finish during next year’s cross-country season. “Overall, I thought it was good,” Pena said. “I do set high goals for myself. I am still hungry. I don’t want to fathom anyone doing any better than I do. I am never satisfied.”
Jackson will be saying goodbye to Jones, the lone senior on the women’s crosscountry team. However, Jackson said he is encouraged and impressed by the talent remaining on the team and those who will be recruited to join. “We are young on both sides,” Jackson said. “It will be a team effort (to replace Jones). They will have big shoes to fill.” Jones finished her final race with the Bobcats in 52nd place, completing the 6K course in a total time of 22:14.5 at a 5:58 per mile pace. “I’m pretty happy with the season,” Jones said. “I feel like I am further ahead than I have ever been.” Neither finish for the two representatives was enough to take them further into the season to the NCAA Nationals. Jones said she felt something was missing while preparing for regionals—her teammates were not there to share the moment. “It was weird not having the rest of the team there,” Jones said. “There was excitement, but there was something off about it. I really like the team atmosphere that we have here.” The South Central Regionals ended Jackson’s third year as head coach for the Bobcat runners. He will be looking for new leaders after losing his only senior on the team. “(We ended) with a step in the right direction,” Jackson said. “We are gearing up to win a championship in the next two to three years on both ends.” Senior Marielle Hall from the TexasAustin won the women’s meet with a time of 19:40.7. Stanley Kebenei of Arkansas took first place for the men with a time of 29:41.3.
Get to Know Joseph Pena
sophomore runner Courtesy of Texas State Athletics
By Josh Zigrang Sports Reporter @JoshZigrang
JZ: What are your top three favorite dishes? JP: Chicken pasta, sirloin and seafood fondue. What is your ultimate goal while at Texas State? To put my name on the map, to strike fear in people and to set records. Who is your favorite collegiate team? Texas State, but I grew up loving the Aggies.
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Do you have any superstitions before a race? I have to eat two hours before my run. I have to take a cold shower and I have to tie my shoes several times—20 times at least. I have to wear the same pair of socks each week. Obviously, washed. I have to be in bed by 10PM.
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The University Star | Sports | Wednesday November 20, 2013 | 7
FOOTBALL
Team gears up for final home game against Western Kentucky By Kirk Jones
Sports Reporter @kirk_jones11
Kathryn Parker | Star File Photo Coach Dennis Franchione said the Bobcats are looking to boost their physicality in the next games against Western Kentucky and Troy.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Texas State’s defense is gearing up to face a top-five rusher in the nation after the Bobcats gave up a season-high 328 rushing yards against Arkansas State. The Bobcats gave up 200-plus rushing yards one previous time this season against the current first place team in the Sun Belt Conference, Louisiana— Lafayette, before Saturday’s loss to Arkansas State. “We have to work on our fundamentals,” said senior safety Justin Iwuji. “We need to make sure we are gap-sound and doing the little things right. As a defense, we’ll come together and make stops.” The Bobcats are now preparing to go up against Western Kentucky running back Antonio Andrews, who currently leads the conference in all-purpose yards with 2,192. “We just have to watch film and see his tendencies,” Iwuji said. “(We need to) see what type of plays they like to get him the ball with. I think we will get things done.” Senior wide receiver Andy Erickson said the team is hoping for a packed stadium to show the bowl committee the team knows how to win important games at home. “It’s a huge deal that fans come to this game,” Erickson said. “People don’t realize it, but it really is. (To) all those people who decide who goes to the bowls, attendance is a factor. They want people to come to the bowl games.”
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Erickson said the team realizes, if the Bobcats want to go to their first bowl, winning at home is important. “We lost a tough one on the road,” Erickson said. “That was a winnable game, but we just have to come out these next two games against (Western) Kentucky and Troy and take care of business. These are huge games.” Erickson said the players understand that when teams start to win, the expectations are raised along with the pressure. “The team views these games as winnable games,” Erickson said. “The Sun Belt Conference is a very evenly spread conference in my opinion. For us, we need to win these two games. It’s either 6–6 or 8–4.” Coach Dennis Franchione said Texas State is finding out the physicality of the Sun Belt is something the Bobcats have to deal with. Franchione said he feels they will need to bring that physicality to close out the season. “We are finding out the physical level it takes,” Franchione said. “To play in the Sun Belt, we have to match that physicality of Western Kentucky and Arkansas State and even raise past that level.” Franchione has told his team that “November defines them,” and wants the Bobcats to respond against the Hilltoppers, who are chasing a bowl game as well. “Coach Petrino has done a good job with (Western Kentucky),” Franchione said. “They are the only team in our conference and one of the few that is in the top-35 in both offense and defense in the nation. They are a good team.”
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The Texas State volleyball team finished the 2013 season with 20-plus wins. This marks the 21st time the team achieved that many wins out of Coach Karen Chisum’s 33 years as head coach.
w No ing Hir The Bobcat football team gave up a season-high 328 rushing yards Saturday in the defeat against Arkansas State. The only other time a team rushed for 200-plus yards on the Texas State defense was in a loss against Louisiana—Lafayette.
The men’s basketball team was defeated 82–65 Friday by Oral Roberts University, falling to 0-3 on the season. The Bobcats are allowing their opponents to shoot a Sun Belt-worst 52.3 percent from the field.
is hiring Ad Assistants Stop by Trinity 101 to fill out an application Deadline: Dec. 4th Contact Kelsey Nuckolls for more information
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