WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15, 2014 VOLUME 104 ISSUE 27
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FOOTBALL
VIDEO
Football: The Texas State football team lost 34-10 to Louisiana-Lafayette Tuesday night on ESPN2.
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SPORTS Page 5
Sophomore quarterback Tyler Jones gets tackled Oct. 14 by Louisiana-Lafayette at Bobcat Stadium.
MADELYNNE SCALES PHOTO EDITOR
CAJUNS TOO HOT TO HANDLE
STATE
Texas State students, faculty weigh in on textbook controversy By Karen Munoz SPECIAL TO THE STAR The State Board of Education will approve textbooks in November to be used as part of Texas’ public school curriculum but met with much adversity from constituents. The State Board of Education met Sept. 16, to hear testimony from the public regarding concerns about the proposed textbooks to be approved by the board in November. Once ap-
proved, the textbooks will be available for use as part of Texas’ curriculum. Elizabeth Bishop, history associate professor, Holly Doyle, public administration sophomore, and James Carneiro, journalism junior, were three members of the Texas State community among the testifiers. Each testifier had two minutes to state what he or she thought was wrong in the proposed textbooks. A Q-and-A portion followed each two-minute testimony, giving the
individuals a chance to make their claims, Bishop said. Most of the testifiers spoke of the “bias” and “factual error” in the social studies textbooks being proposed. Little concern was raised about other areas of study, though the board allowed time for citizens to voice concerns. “The mathematics books were up for review,” Doyle said. “The language arts books were up for review. There was one person that testified about
the language arts books, and the rest of the time was spent on the social studies books.” Bishop said Texas State has an “important role to play” because education is so important to the university. She was proud to see the Texas State community represented at the meeting. In her testimony, Bishop referred to Texas State as “formerly Texas State Teachers College” and said many teachers in the state have been trained
GOVERNMENT
Some veterans, students, faculty react positively to airstrikes against ISIS By Houston York NEWS REPORTER The terrorist organization ISIS, or the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, has gained a significant amount of attention in the global media for its crimes and acts of terrorism. The United States recently used airstrikes against the group after a video of an American journalist’s beheading by the terrorists went viral online. Islam does not motivate ISIS as much as a radical rejection of western influence, said Jeremy Wells, political science professor. “The Islamic State is not so much about ideology as it is a revolutionary political, economic and social order,” Wells said. “Their motivation is to create a primarily new, different, conservative political and social order that is grounded in Islam, but Islam itself is not
the motivation.” Airstrikes and supporting and arming Syrian rebels and other militant groups are two strategies the U.S. is using against ISIS, while civilians are caught in the middle, Wells said. “What you are doing is creating stronger groups against stronger groups and making the situation much worse,” Wells said. “With both groups trying to gain some advantage over the other, their ability to control the support and allegiance of the civilian population becomes that much more important. You start seeing a lot more brutal treatment of the civilian population caught in the middle.” ISIS’s motive is ideological, but the murder and bloodshed occurring in the region is a more immediate threat, said Dennis Fivecoat, retired army veteran and legal studies graduate student. “Christians are chased out
of their home, murdered and put in mass graves and told they will swear allegiance to their ideology,” Fivecoat said. “I’m going to fall short of calling that Islam or Muslim. It’s almost inevitable that people who don’t want allegiance to ISIS but were forced are probably going to get hurt. Kids become fighters because they are orphans. People can’t feed their families, and ISIS will pay them and give them a gun to protect their family.” The U.S. will have to decide collectively what it is willing to do to end the violence, Fivecoat said. “Sometimes any step in any direction is better than what you have,” Wells said. “That is how I feel about bombing ISIS. It is bad—there might be some people that we don’t want to get hurt do—and then we have to ask ourselves, ‘Is that better than letting ISIS decide whether
they get hurt or not?’” Josh Martinez, events coordinator for the College Democrats at Texas State, agrees with the U.S. airstrikes. Martinez said he thinks ISIS’s goal is to set up a state to create “their version” of legitimacy and rule of law. “If you disagree, they’re just going to kill you,” Martinez said. “I would rather be on the side that tried something than the side that just ignored it while journalists are being beheaded. Thousands are being displaced from their homes, and civilians are murdered in genocide. You have to do something even though it may be bad news because not doing something is bad news also.” No group in the world is as bad as ISIS, Martinez said. “I don’t think we should lose sleep at night, and we should
See ISIS, Page 2
through the university. “Many of our alum, who are now teaching, tell us the struggles that they encounter when they have a text and they’re trying to square the circle,” Bishop said. “The teachers are telling us that the text, as it stands, doesn’t offer them the support they need.” Bishop spoke specifically about the “lack of balance” one textbook shows when telling about the conflict over Palestine and the “outdated in-
See TEXTBOOKS, Page 2
UNIVERSITY
Texas State dining halls ban Styrofoam, support environmental policy By Exsar Arguello NEWS REPORTER The Human Environmental Animal Team (H.E.A.T) organization has worked with Chartwells to implement a ban on Styrofoam that began last year. Such efforts have led to the ban on Styrofoam in campus dining facilities. Colin Iliff, H.E.A.T. subcommittee leader and environmental studies senior, led the initiative to ban Styrofoam on campus. “The thing about Styrofoam is that it’s a petroleumbased product that doesn’t degrade at all,” Iliff said. Styrofoam also has chemicals that can leak into the ground with adverse effects on fish, wildlife and people, Iliff said. Styrofoam containers become water-soluble when liquids are heated in them, which causes certain chemicals to leach into drinks and food, he said. Iliff’s initiative to ban polystyrene, the substance that chemically composes Styrofoam, on campus is being implemented in dining halls, said John Root, director of auxiliary services of the Food Service Committee. The ban has been executed on campus with some exceptions. “Our agreement was to use the Styrofoam until it was completely used up,” Root said. “We still use the Styrofoam on emergency cases when the dish
See STYROFOAM, Page 2
UNIVERSITY
New initiative will turn Bobcat Stadium gold for final home game By Jake Goodman NEWS REPORTER Gold Rush is a new tradition and theme Student Government is promoting that will coat the student section in a sea of gold. The event will include gold rally towels distributed to the student body attending the games and will encourage Texas State athletes to promote the university to other schools and national audiences while on the road. “We want this to be something that sticks out about Texas State,” said Austin Anderson, author of the Gold Rush resolution and director of programs for Student Government. “We’re hoping this will be something that gets us more attention in a positive way.” Anderson said Gold Rush will be a tradition for the last home game of every athletic team. “One of the tiers of it was to get students more involved in all of our athletic events, not just football,” said Christian Carlson, Student
Government senate president pro tempore and sponsor of the Gold Rush resolution. Gold Rush will use a social media initiative to get the student body to wear gold shirts, Anderson said. “We want people to ‘gold out,’” said Megan Trexler, chief of staff of the Student Government. “We also want to work with the bookstore to potentially have the rally towels and other hype-up promotional items be gold. We really just want a gold flood for all of our athletic events.” Student Government wants Gold Rush to eventually replace the “Pack Bobcat Stadium” promotion, which began last year to increase attendance at the football games, Carlson said. Dominique Jackson, athletic liaison for Student Government and sponsor of the Gold Rush resolution, said the theme differs from “Pack Bobcat Stadium.” Gold Rush will be a continued tradition, not a promotion.
See GOLD RUSH, Page 2
STAR FILE PHOTO
2 | The University Star | News | Wednesday, October 15, 2014
ISIS, from front
STYROFOAM, from front
feel better that we are doing something to help those people that are being displaced,” Martinez said. “No one is better equipped to fight ISIS than the U.S.” Westley Halbardier, chair for the College Republicans at Texas State, is concerned about the individual citizens being
targeted rather than national security. “ISIS is attacking all sorts of innocent civilians, whatever nation they are a part of,” Halbardier said. “They have a radical Islamic religion that is not identical to the true Islam. They are using beheadings as a form of propaganda so they can
gain power.” The U.S. is being called to the Middle East, Halbardier said. “The military in the Middle East is something we should definitely be mindful of,” Halbardier said. “Citizens are being irrationally treated. It is inconceivable how anyone can kill someone through beheading.”
to the freshman class, get them familiar with it and make it something they enjoy and want to continue,” Jackson said. Right now no one knows how Gold Rush will work out, Anderson said. “This year’s kind of a trial for us,” Anderson said. “We’re still working out the kinks.” A specific gold hue has not been chosen, Carlson said. Student Government has not formally partnered with sponsors or other organizations yet, but officials have spoken with Athletics Marketing and the University Bookstore, Anderson said. “We tried to push for shirts, but that costs too much right now,” Carlson said. Each shirt would cost the bookstore $10 and a packed student section would hold about 6,000 people, so the total price tag would be around $60,000,
Carlson said. The student body had mixed reactions to the Gold Rush theme. Alisha Allen, dance freshman, said she thought Gold Rush was a good idea but doubted all of the students would wear gold to the football games. “If the shirts aren’t free, it’s not going to work,” said Mari Landgrebe, senior English major. “I’ve never gone to a football game, and it’s probably going to remain that way.” Katrina Martin, accounting senior, said she thought Gold Rush would be a good way to boost school spirit. “It’s not something Texas State has ever done before, and it’s difficult to gauge how successful it’s going to be, but we’ll see,” Anderson said. “I’m a little nervous, but I think it will turn out fine as long as we get the student body behind us.”
GOLD RUSH, from front “We realized that if you want to do something great or longlasting, you can’t do it in just three weeks,” Trexler said. “This was always a long-term plan for us to implement for next year.” The first Gold Rush game will be the final home football game this year on Nov. 20, Carlson said. However, the impending Gold Rush game may prove difficult because the decision was made this semester. “I have talked to members of the athletic department, and they’re completely behind it,” Anderson said. “They’re still wanting to do the Pack Bobcat Stadium because timeline-wise it’s pretty last minute for us to change it up.” Gold Rush will be a long termtradition that will probably take a few years to get started, Trexler said. “Our goal is to push this more
machines aren’t properly working, but other than that, Styrofoam is completely gone in our dining halls.” Iliff said the ban is a step toward making the Texas State campus sustainable. “With the river and the endangered species in the area, I felt it would be natural for the university to get behind an initiative to be more sustainable, especially in our dining halls,” Iliff said. Dining hall officials at the university are also looking for new ways to provide biodegradable plates to students. Officials want to try to use biodegradable utensils in dining halls, Root said. “The quality (of biodegradable utensils) in the industry isn’t quite there yet,” Root said. “We have run into problems such as flimsy plates that can’t hold up certain types of foods and utensils that aren’t strong enough.” Companies will provide better biodegradable products when the technology catches up and schools start demanding more, he said. San Marcos officials have also pushed environmental legislation for the city and around the river. “The City of San Marcos has actually put a ban on Styrofoam around the river,” Iliff said. “If you go down to Sewell Park, you’ll see signs that say ‘This is a Styrofoam-free park’ to help protect the river system. The city is doing a good job with awareness, and that is something H.E.A.T. is really backing.” Mary Van Zant, watershed coordinator at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, is in charge of monitoring river chemical changes and expressed concern about trash. Neighboring cities have a negative
impact on the San Marcos River, Van Zant said. Although Styrofoam is banned on the San Marcos River, trash from Martindale still flows into the system from tubing operations, she said. Floaters abandon Styrofoam ice chests that pollute the river, Van Zant said. “Styrofoam is buoyant, and it flows down water really easy,” Van Zant said. “The issue with Styrofoam is that it doesn’t break down in a compostable way. It breaks down physically into smaller and smaller pieces, and the smaller the pieces are, the harder it is to clean up.” Styrofoam has been prevalent in the food and packing industries over the past 40 years since it is so inexpensive and lightweight, Van Zant said. “I feel like the City of San Marcos needs to give businesses and restaurants incentives for using biodegradable products,” Van Zant said. “This can really help keep Styrofoam out of our city and our water.” University officials are doing what they can to help the ban, Iliff said. Although officials have to look at the ban on Styrofoam from a business standpoint, they support the initiative, Iliff said. “We’re starting to see more and more in the news about climate change, and student involvement on a college campus is very important,” Iliff said. “It’s just important to get the awareness out, and the more people educate themselves, the more projects we can get done to help the environment and the community.”
UNIVERSITY
Some university workers not required to wear identification By Naomi Lovato NEWS REPORTER University employees are not always required to wear badges identifying themselves, which has led to some confusion on campus. The university does not require staff to wear badges or IDs clarifying they are university employees, said Kyle Estes, associate director of Housing and Residential Life. Those who work in recycling, postal services, maintenance, information technology, environmental health, safety and risk management as well as vending machine operators who enter residence halls are not required to have formal identification or badges. The university has depended on
uniforms to identify employees in the past, Estes said. For example, custodial services staff wear light blue smocks, and physical plant workers wear beige shirts bearing the names of their shops, he said. “There are no badges, and some of that is on purpose because if you’re working on something where you’re stuck in somewhere, you don’t want it to catch and rip or tear,” Estes said. When workers enter residence halls, they are supposed to check in at the front desks, state their names and divisions and be escorted to wherever they are going to be inside, said Daniel Benitez, University Police Department captain. Police officers are identifiable because they wear full uniforms, Benitez said. UPD officers have
badges, their regular staff IDs and police IDs that meet all the requirements for the state of Texas, Benitez said. There have not been any issues with employees not having badges, and no one has tried to sneak into a building, Benitez said. James Dorsey, manager of Printing and Mail Services, said no one has mentioned concern about the workers’ attire. “I’ve personally never seen any problems, but it’s kind of concerning to know that there isn’t a policy and this issue hasn’t been brought up in the past,” said Jorge Morales, senior resident assistant at Hornsby and Burleson halls and exercise and sports science junior. Department of Housing and Residential Life officials have created a
badge with a picture of the worker’s face on it, his or her name and the department name for staff in the DHRL building, Estes said. Employees with the on-campus mail services can wear vests to identify themselves, Dorsey said. “The vests are a yellowish color, and no one wants to wear them because they’re kind of ugly,” Dorsey said. “I’m not there when they’re on their routes, so I can’t enforce them to wear the vests.” Students working the routes depend on face familiarity, Dorsey said. New employees go with students who have been there for a while so the people they are delivering to can see at least one familiar face. “Unless we receive a complaint, I’ll start to try and fix things, but
we’ve been doing it for about nine years now and there hasn’t been any problems,” Dorsey said. One of the biggest problems is people who do not live in the residence halls are let in after hours, Estes said. The police department has seen issues with non-students coming into the dorms, Benitez said. Resident assistants have hours of training, and UPD is part of the process. RAs have the ability to identify whoever is coming in the building, and if they do not know the person they can always call the police department, Benitez said. “We’ll identify that person to what they’re doing and why they’re doing it in there,” Benitez said. “We act as an official of the university.”
TEXTBOOKS, from front formation” regarding the sources of tension in Israel. Doyle said in her testimony the way the Arab Palestinian exodus is described in some of the textbooks does not accurately represent history. One member of the board, David Bradley of Beaumont, said, “(Doyle) gets an A for her homework” because she followed testifier protocol and provided information that was asked of all the testifiers. Carniero testified about the way affirmative action was represented in one of the textbooks. One of the textbooks being proposed has a cartoon depiction of two aliens on a spaceship coming to Earth, one saying to the other, “Don’t worry, they have affirmative action here.” Board member Patricia Hardy, representing District 11 in Fort Worth, responded to Carneiro’s testimony and said cartoons are
sometimes meant to provoke critical thought and discussion among students and are not necessarily “condoning or not condoning.” Proposed textbooks must follow the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills guidelines formulated in 2010. “In 2010, these standards for textbooks were passed that required a very politicized curriculum for students,” Doyle said. The State Board of Education is not comprised of the same members it had in 2010 when the new guidelines were formulated. In November, the SBOE will approve textbooks that follow 50 percent of the 2010 guidelines. The board’s job is not to disqualify books because they contains “bias.” The board must only ensure the books follow 2010 TEKS. Representatives from McGraw-Hill, one of the proposed publishers, were unable to comment on the issue.
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1990
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1993
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DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Fabiola Tamez, painting and communication design senior, works on a painting for her thesis show Oct. 8 at the Joann Cole Mitte art building.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 | The University Star | 5
TRENDS
UniversityStar.com
GET OUT OF TOWN Lockhart
By Andrea Hurell TRENDS REPORTER
Lockhart, TX, a cozy town that sits less than an hour away, is a wonderful spot for a short weekend adventure or for when students just want to get away from campus life for an afternoon. Even though it’s best known for its unbeatable barbeque, there is more to this town than just ribs and brisket. It’s easy to see why it’s such a favorite among fellow Bobcats from its picturesque courthouse to the classic look of the downtown neighborhood,.
WHAT TO EAT
HENRY’S RESTAURANT
A very cool little place with a big-
city vibe, Henry’s satisfies downhome cravings with fried pickles, but its plate presentation and wide variety of American and Italian fodder give it a very upscale feeling. 215 S Commerce St., Lockhart, TX 78644 (512) 398-4609
T&C CAFE
T&C offers something for those with both a sweet and a savory tooth. While the menu boasts sandwiches, wraps and Dr. Pepper pulled pork, patrons will forget all about them when they have a look at dessert offerings. Two words: buttermilk pie. “It’s great to come and eat, especially when you don’t want to wait in a long line for barbeque,” Lockhart tourist Matthew Layton said.
107 E San Antonio St., Lockhart, TX 78644 (512) 668-3040
GUADALAJARA MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Warning: patrons are going to need to a few days to make choices on what to order because the menu is long and everything sounds delicious. Chalupas, enchiladas, chimichangas and good old-fashioned tacos are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Guadalajara’s menu options. 1710 S Colorado St., Lockhart, TX 78644 (512) 398-7707
WHERE TO SHOP
WENDY R.
This shop is the ideal place to get gifts for everyone. Not only does it have a good selection of jewelry and accessories but it also has a wonderful selection of kitchen items just in time for the holiday season. 105 N Main St., Lockhart, TX 78644 (512) 787-6067
MG’S ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES
Wall-to-wall vintage furniture, art and even clothes. Walking in can feel overwhelming at first, but it isn’t long until guests find something they can’t help but want to take home. “I’m really into refurbishing vintage furniture, so it’s a perfect
fit for me,” Lockhart local Tara Engels said. “I can come in on any given day and find something that I want to fix up.” 113 N Main St., Lockhart, TX 78644 (512) 398-3458
WHAT TO DO
SOUTHWEST MUSEUM OF CLOCKS AND WATCHES
Right across the street from the Caldwell County Courthouse sits the Southwest Museum of Clocks and Watches. This is not a typical museum. Here guests can learn about horology—the science of time—timekeeping and time-keepers as well as the museum’s tower clock restoration initiative. 101 E San Antonio St., Lockhart, TX 78644 (512) 658-3853 LEFT: A cheeseburger, fried catfish and fries at Henry's Restaurant. CENTER: Wendy R Gifts located on 105 North Main St. RIGHT: Gene Galbraith changes the time on the Thwaites and Reed Tower Clock Oct. 11 at The Southwest Museum of Clocks and Watches.
DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Student performance of RENT wows audiences By Kara Dornes TRENDS REPORTER
The lights in the Patti Strickel Harrison Theatre at the Performing Arts Center dimmed and the crowd grew silent as the Pulitzer
HARON SAENZ STAFF PHOTOGAPHER Glenn DeVarr, musical theatre senior, and Ryne Nardecchia, musical theatre freshman, perform RENT opening night Oct. 7 at the Performing Arts Center.
Prize and Tony Award-winning musical RENT was about. Rent, one of the longest running shows in Broadway history, is a rock musical that tells the story of many different young, upand-coming and struggling artists living in New York City’s Lower East Side when Alphabet City was thriving but under the dark shadow of the spread of HIV and AIDS. The show ran on campus Oct. 7-12. Kaitlin Hopkins, head of Texas State’s musical theatre program, served as director of Texas State’s production. Cassie Abate was the choreographer, and Greg Bolin supervised the musical direction. “This is a rock musical, and it really changed musical theatre when it was originally produced because the subject matter is very
controversial and it was outside of what was common in that time,” Hopkins said. Hopkins explained that the play has to do with moving and compelling issues about love, compassion and equality. Different kinds of relationships are explored throughout the play. The play does not concern typical subject matter, especially with the discussion of diseases and death added in. “It is a beautiful story and is very moving,” Hopkins said. Hopkins explained that even though it is not traditionally included in RENT, dancing was added into the show in an effort to explore two of the main characters and show their subconscious feelings throughout the play, giving them more depth. Lydia Hogan and her friend Jes-
sica Kenitzer were excited about the show. “I expect great things out of this performance,” Hogan said. Hogan went on to explain the excitement of seeing the performance once again as well as watching one of her family members perform in the 2 p.m. matinee Oct. 12. “Texas State typically has really good productions and RENT is one of my favorite productions to see,” Kenitzer said. Practices for the show were vigorous and frequent, but the hard work put into the play paid off as the actors and actresses prepared for the performances throughout the weekend, Hopkins said. “I have had an incredible experience directing it and working with my students on it,” she said.
4 | The University Star | Wednesday, October 15, 2014
OPINIONS
UniversityStar.com
THE MAIN POINT
Service industry workers are deserving of respect from campus community
S
tudents should make efforts to treat service workers with respect, especially those that work on campus. It is basic common courtesy to be nice to the people that complete the basic but necessary jobs in our society. Saying thank you to the person bagging your groceries or preparing food is a small step that can go a long way towards brightening someone’s day. A good rule of thumb for telling what kind of person someone is to watch how they treat their waiters and their mothers. Most people don’t hang out with their friends and their friends’ parents, so waiters are the best peek into someone’s personality available. The fact of the matter is that most members of the service industry do a lot for society. Just because it is someone’s job to bring others their food doesn’t mean they should be treated poorly or lower than anyone else. In some cases, like with janitorial staff or food court workers,
if these people weren’t doing their jobs, it would impact a large number of people. If the same amount of people that are assisted by a member of the service industry said thank you to them, the world would be a very pleasant place. At Texas State, there are many staff workers that have a hand in making campus the beautiful place students know and love. Admittance and enrollment at Texas State does not excuse the entitlement and rude behavior some students display towards university staff. Additionally, in some instances, like with bus drivers, students’ lives are literally in their hands. Of course, it is their job to transport students safely from one place to another. However, saying thank you for getting there safely is a nice gesture that is surely appreciated. People that work in service industry positions are providing a service to others. They are not servants, and they are certainly
not “the help.” Referring to them as any variation of such simply displays an archaic thought pattern and less-than-stellar manners. According to a May 1 CNN Money article, Subway, McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts are some of the worst company offenders in underpaying their employees. Minimum wage is hard to get by on for many, and dealing with spoiled or ungrateful customers surely only makes matters worse. This generation has been called everything from ‘spoiled brats’ to ‘entitled hipsters.’ However, with this generation also comes an increasing social awareness. Respectful Bobcats should continue to be courteous and encourage others to pay the niceness forward until the whole campus is a nicer place to be and work in for everyone. Improving the way minimum wage or service industry workers are treated by this generation and others can cause a ripple affect across the nation.
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.
ALCOHOL
Underage students should steer clear of fake IDs
Kirsten Peek OPINIONS COLUMNIST Journalism senior
I
t is no secret that Texas State students wildly anticipate the day they turn 21 and can legally go out on The Square. In the meantime, many underage
students make the decision to borrow IDs from legal friends or order one from a fake ID manufacturer. While this may seem worth the risk to some, students should be wary of purchasing fake IDs due to safety and legality issues. The main reason it is unwise to purchase a fake ID is because of the high-risk, low-reward nature of underage drinking. This is especially true when it comes to the likelihood of ending up driving. Many students, underage or not, seem to forget the laws regarding drinking and driving. Minors in particular need to bear in mind that Texas has a zero-tolerance law. If an underage driver cannot blow a 0.00, they get a DWI. While this is indeed a harsh law, minors
choosing to consume alcohol in public just means there are more intoxicated drivers out on the roads endangering innocent bystanders and themselves. In addition to safety considerations, fake IDs are often poorly made and are thus easily identifiable. Fake IDs can be identified by lack of blacklight features, the inability to scan and other noticeable discrepancies. While many bars will just refuse to accept the fake ID, bouncers on The Square in San Marcos are notorious for handing suspicious IDs over to police officers who then ticket the underage drinker. A true fake ID is a forged government document, and the owner can receive a felony charge if the
prosecution pursues it to the highest degree of the law. Alternatively, if a minor were to get caught borrowing a valid ID from an of-age friend, the charges would be less drastic, though the person who actually owns the ID could potentially get ticketed as well. I often hear stories of friends who ordered a fake ID online and still had not received it six months later. Fake IDs generally cost close to $100, which is usually paid up front. There is no one to hold the producers of fake IDs accountable if they never deliver their product, so the so-called producer could pocket the money and rip off the buyer if they wish. It’s not as if the buyer can report the scam to the police.
TOO EXTREME
Xzaviar Allen OPINIONS COLUMNIST Public relations senior
C
igarette commercials should not be so extreme. Although the harmful effects of cigarette smoke are not exaggerated, modern anti-cigarette campaign advertisements usually pick the worst-case scenarios. To add insult to injury, advertisers plaster the faces of the victims all over television. They may see it as a warning, but these acts can prove themselves annoying scare tactics to smokers. By now, every American citizen should know cigarette smoke could kill you. What they may not know is exactly how much is potentially damaging. Cigarette commercials usually give the impression of instant harm, as if a single cigarette could send your health spiraling out of control. Advertisers should explain that extreme effects only come from years of cigarette abuse. A pack a day for 20 years could definitely plug a lung, but a single loose cigarette on Square nights is perfectly fine. Advertisers should also respect the freedom of others to do as they wish. People who regularly purchase cigarettes are well aware of the effects they have on the body. Even with that being said, they continue to smoke them. The message against cigarettes is certainly noble, but personal responsi-
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NECESSARY TOOL
bility is the only thing truly stopping people from smoking. Each new story about the toxic effects is worse than the last, but the victims themselves are at fault. If people across the world continue to smoke cigarettes, the commercials are proving themselves inefficient. Advertisers go to great lengths to pull up the nastiest details about smoking as well as various worst-case scenarios. If people everywhere are still smoking, the message is not getting through to them. A drastic change in the manner in which the message is delivered may yield better results. If anything, advertisers should live and let live. As I said before, people are going to live their lives the way they choose, even with the possibility of dire consequences. Airing a few less anti-cigarette commercials would not disservice anyone. Advertisers may think they are helping people by showing a man with a hole in his throat but are in fact irritating smokers. In a way, they are using the tragic stories of actual victims to scare smokers into quitting. Today’s anti-cigarette commercials may very well be considered modern propaganda. They are predicting the worst possible outcome for going against their beliefs or feelings, urging people to change their ways. If advertisers wish to have a larger impact on the antismoking campaign, they should change the way their message is delivered. Smokers understand the risk they take when they smoke. Advertisers are welcome to educate people on the potential effects of cigarettes but should not try to scare them away from the activity. Healthy or not, no one wants to see a man pull his teeth out on cable television.
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
Another time it would be inconvenient to have a fake ID of any form would be if an emergency situation occurred where police intervention would be needed. For example, if a minor were to get assaulted in a bar or out on The Square, they would be less likely to report it because they would implicate themselves in the process. Another circumstance would be if someone were to get injured or get alcohol poisoning. They may be less likely to seek medical attention for fear of getting in legal trouble. Students should make the choice to stay safe and spare themselves court dates and similar headaches by waiting to drink in public until they are 21.
Imani McGarrell OPINIONS EDITOR Journalism junior
TALK IT
OUT
cigarette advertisements
Design Editor...........................................Lauren Huston, stardesign@txstate.edu Assistant News Editor........................Nicole Barrios, starasstnews@txstate.edu Account Executive..................................Stephanie Macke, 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
A
nti-smoking advertisements are an extreme but necessary tool for demonstrating the negative effects of smoking. Long gone are the days when the effects of smoking were unknown. There have been thousands of studies done on the harmful effects of cigarette smoke for those smoking and the people around them. There is no excuse for smoking now that we know exactly what can happen as a result. It is an individual choice to smoke, and no one ever deserves sickness or cancer, but it is increasingly difficult to feel bad for people that smoke becoming sick. Cigarette advertisements display a disturbing but serious side to smoking. In older media such as television shows and movies, smoking was depicted as a fun and glamorous activity. However, the truth is that smoking even one cigarette can have serious health effects. According to a pamphlet from the Victorian Smoking and Health Program, smoking just one cigarette has many side effects, including an increase in carbon monoxide in the lungs and nicotine present in the brain and muscle tissue. Additionally, tobacco smoke reduces lung capacity, making it more difficult for lungs to get air into them. This generation could literally be the generation that puts an
end to tobacco usage once and for all. The generation of people that grew up smoking as kids on the corner is getting further and further away. We need to crack down on big tobacco companies and hold them responsible for their behavior. Part of the harm of cigarettes is the casual attitude that people seem to have about smoking. I have lots of friends that claim to only smoke when they are drunk and act like that is no big deal but yet have no shortage of negative comments about smoking when they are sober. This sort of behavior is part of the problem because nicotine is highly addictive. According to a Jan. 17 Huffington Post article, research shows that nicotine is as addictive as cocaine and heroin. Another thing to consider is the fact that consumers as a whole are generally not holding big tobacco companies responsible for their behavior. In that same article it mentions that there are little regulations on tobacco companies as far as how much tobacco they put in their products. Therefore, cigarettes may grow more and more addictive, and consumers will be none the wiser. People that only smoke every now and then when they’re stressed or sad may find it increasingly difficult to quit those few cigarettes they already smoke. The nature of addiction is that it takes hold of people and does not let go. If anti-smoking commercials depicting things like people with holes in their throats or pulling out their teeth is uncomfortable, it is serving a purpose. The fact of the matter is that smoking is bad for you. If a disturbing commercial will make someone think twice about putting something as hazardous as nicotine into their bodies, then it is serving its purpose and should continue to air.
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, October 15, 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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Wednesday, October 15, 2014 | The University Star | 5
SPORTS
UniversityStar.com
LOUISIANA DEFEATS TEXAS STATE 34-10 FOOTBALL
By Quixem Ramirez SPORTS EDITOR @QUIXEM
It took two plays for Louisiana-Lafayette to reassert its dominance over the Texas State football team. Louisiana-Lafayette running back Elijah McGuire squeaked by the Bobcats secondary for a 62-yard receiving touchdown before the 18,509 fans in attendance could settle into their seats. The Ragin’ Cajuns were in the drivers seat in their 34-10 win, while the Bobcats idled in the passenger seat, unable to take control of the game. “They took it to us pretty good,” Coach Dennis Franchione said. “We never really had much momentum and never sustained it. We didn’t make enough plays to get ourselves in the ball game.” Fo l l ow i n g M c G u i r e ’ s touchdown, the defense held Louisiana-Lafayette scoreless in its next four possessions. Then, Louisiana-Lafayette linebacker Trae Johnson threw a wrench into the Bobcats’ offense. Johnson pressured Tyler Jones, sophomore quarterback, creating a turnover. His teammate, defensive lineman Christian Ringo, scooped the ball for a 41-yard touchdown. “I don’t think we blocked well,” Franchione said. “I don’t think we got off blocks well. We made too many mis-
takes to have a chance to beat a team like that, too many self-inflicted wounds.” Louisiana-Lafayette scored 27 unanswered points before Jones connected with Brice Gunter, freshman wide receiver, on a 33-yard pass play with 1:04 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. In their last two matchups against Louisiana-Lafayette, the Bobcats have lost by a combined 48 points. “Every time we have been on a big platform, whether it was Texas Tech or Navy this year, we just haven’t responded to the challenge,” Franchione said. Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Terrance Broadway facilitated the Ragin’ Cajuns running game while throwing for 225 yards and one touchdown in the win. Without time to throw the ball, Jones was forced to create offense on his own. He finished with 187 total yards, his second-lowest mark this year. “Not one of his better ones,” Franchione said. “Our protection wasn’t great. We had the turnover for a touchdown. He seemed a little off. He’s had a lot better games and he’ll have better games.” Prior to the game, Rob Lowe, junior running back, and Terrence Franks, senior running back, were averaging 162 rushing yards per game. The duo combined for 66
yards as the offense struggled to find rhythm against the Ragin’ Cajuns defense. “(Jones’) supporting cast has to play well around him too,” Franchione said. “It’s not a one-man game. He can only do what he can do. Maybe sometimes he tries to do too much and they have to protect him. The quarterback gets a little more placed on him than he deserves and I think in this case it’s probably accurate.” Louisiana-Lafayette exposed the Bobcats in front of a nationally televised audience, knocking the Bobcats down a peg in the Sun Belt Conference hierarchy. “You reach a point in your program where the demand is winning,” Franchione said. “We are trying to get to that point. We believe we can, but we don’t have the confidence like Lafayette. They’ve been through these battles.” David Mayo, senior linebacker, extended his season streak to six games with 10 or more tackles. The Bobcats, outmatched on both sides of the field, finished with a season low 270 yards. “We have some things to work on for sure,” Mayo said. “We haven’t been around this conference long like Lafayette, but I definitely believe in my guys. I believe in this team. We have some great talent. We have the team to do it. We just need to keep working.”
MADELYNNE SCALES PHOTO EDITOR Texas State fans attend the Oct. 14 game against Louisiana-Lafayette.
MADELYNNE SCALES PHOTO EDITOR The crowd cheers on the Bobcats Oct. 14 at Bobcat Stadium.
FOOTBALL
Notebook: Texas State 10, LouisianaLafayette 34 By Mariah Medina ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @MARIAHMEDINAAA
WHAT THE LOSS MEANS:
Now 3-3 on the season, the Texas State football team is in a season defining position. The loss has put the Bobcats in a vulnerable position heading into the bulk of their conference schedule.
TYLER JONES: Jones showed glimpses of maturity
at the beginning of the season. The past two games, however, have told a different story for the sophomore quarterback. Coach Dennis Franchione cited poor protection at the beginning of the game for Jones’ less-than-great performance.
THE SUPPORTING CAST: Rob Lowe, junior
running back, and Terrence Franks, senior running back, accounted for a season low 66 yards on 15 carries. The offensive line allowed four sacks, and they didn’t generate enough holes for Lowe and Franks to capitalize on. Jones completed a pass to seven different receivers, but only three finished with 30 or more yards. MARIAH MEDINA ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
GOOD: There are 11 days until the Texas State foot-
ball team takes on the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. This will give the Bobcats ample time to prepare for the 3-3 Warhawks, who have lost the last two games by a combined 48 points.
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BAD: Three—the number of points the Bobcats had on the board until the fourth quarter when a pass from Jones set up a 33-yard touchdown by Brice Gunter, freshman wide receiver.
THIRD THURSDAY
UGLY: 528—the number of yards allowed by Texas
State’s defense. Louisiana-Lafayette senior quarterback Terrance Broadway had a field day against the Bobcats’ over aggressive defense.
WHAT THEY SAID: “Last year we didn’t put much
of a fight against them,” junior cornerback David Mims said. “We didn’t really challenge them. We came into this year with a different mentality to the game. They just had a few more things go their way.”
WHAT'S NEXT: Texas State plays the 3-3 Louisiana-
Monroe Warhawks Oct. 25 in its first road conference game. The game will be televised on ESPN3 at 2 p.m.
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6 | The University Star | Sports | Wednesday, October 15 , 2014
VOLLEYBALL
SOCCER
BROOKE RAMSEY
LAUREN KIRCH
Freshman middle blocker memory about playing here is being with my teammates. They have really allowed me to get accustomed to college sports.
By Derrick Holland SPORTS REPORTER @DHOLLAND23 DH: What is your favorite movie? LK: I would have to say “She’s the Man.” That’s a great movie. DH: Describe your perfect vacation. LK: Honestly, I can go anywhere and be happy. I like going to the beach, but since it’s about to be winter, I would like to go to the mountains sometime soon. I used to go to Colorado a lot with my family and ski, and I love it. DH: What is your favorite thing to eat? LK: I have a very big sweet tooth, so I am big on candy and junk food. DH: What is your favorite memory about playing volleyball at Texas State? LK: This has been one of the best experiences I’ve had because this team has really taken me in and accepted me. My best
Freshman midfielder
DH: What do you miss most about your hometown? LK: I miss all my friends from high school and all the different places to go out and eat. DH: If you could meet anyone (alive or dead) who would it be? LK: My grandfather on my dad’s side. DH: Who is your favorite musician? LK: I would have to say Jason Aldean. DH: Why did you choose Texas State? LK: The campus is beautiful, and the people are so nice. Also, it’s close to home, so I can go see my family. DH: Who is your favorite athlete/professional team? LK: I like the Dallas Mavericks.
STAR FILE PHOTO
house music. I really like Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding.
By Devin Tyler SPORTS REPORTER @DEVINNOONECARES DT: What is your favorite hobby? BR: This may seem random, but both of my brothers play hockey, so I have grown up around it my entire life. I really enjoying watching hockey and going to hockey games. DT: What is your favorite movie and why? BR: My favorite movie right now is “The Equalizer” with Denzel Washington. It was really good and had a really cool message. DT: What is your favorite type of music and favorite artist? BR: Recently, my brother has gotten me into
DT: What is your favorite food? BR: Anything chocolate, and also chicken strips. You can never go wrong with chicken strips. DT: Do you have any pets? BR: I have one dog named Jackson. He is a golden retriever and weighs about 90 pounds. He’s a big boy. DT: What is your biggest fear? BR: Honestly, my biggest fear is working a job that I don’t like. I want to find my dream job that I am happy to go to every day. DT: What is your most memorable soccer moment?
BR: In eighth grade, my soccer team went to the national championship, but we lost in penalty kicks. DT: What is your biggest pet peeve and why? BR: When people have bad breath. It just drives me crazy. DT: What is your favorite part of soccer? BR: Getting close with the team. I’m getting closer with the girls because we are always together. As cheesy as it sounds, you make friendships that will last forever. DT: What do you enjoy most about being a Bobcat? BR: It’s really cool that our school is growing fast, and just being a part of that is really cool.
STAR FILE PHOTO
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SOCCER
Maddie Nichols Sophomore midfielder
By Devin Tyler SPORTS REPORTER @DEVINNOONECARES The Texas State soccer team cleared the bench and huddled together in celebration of its overtime win in the Sun Belt Championship quarterfinal against the Troy Trojans. In the center of her teammates’ scrum stood Maddie Nichols, sophomore midfielder. Tori Hale, senior forward, played the corner kick to Nichols as she floated the ball into the upper left corner of the Trojans’ goal. Troy was devastated. Some Trojans walked away with their hands on their hips, while others crumpled to the ground. “It was an even game, but as we went to overtime everyone was exhausted,” Nichols said. “It was the best feeling ever. The whole team rushed out to me, and we all jumped around.” Nichols led her Cinco Ranch High School team to its first 5A Region III finals appearance in seven years before she was recruited by Texas State. After scoring 12 goals and 10 assists in her senior season during district play, she was named All-Greater Houston Girls Soccer Athlete of the Year by the Houston Chronicle. “The Houston area is really good at soccer,” Nichols said. “I mean, the award could have went to anyone, but I was just very lucky, and it’s such an honor. I just worked hard because it is the one thing I can control.” Nichols’ family played an important role in her soccer career growing up. Nichols’ father, John, was her first coach when she began playing soccer at four years old. “My wife and I make every home game and try to make it to as many away games as possible,” John said. “We were there when she scored the game-winner. Other parents were high-fiving us as if we scored the goal.”
Maddie’s sister, Allison, shared the field with her younger sister during high school. While some siblings are competitive at sports, Allison and Maddie were the opposite. The Nichols sisters’ love for soccer reflected in their games together. Maddie, midfielder, would pass the ball to Allison, forward, as she scored goals during their high school season. “We never played the same position, so we were never competitive towards each other,” Allison said. “I loved having her play the ball to me, and when I would score off of it, we would call them ‘sister goals.’” When Nichols isn’t on the field, she is in class or participating in the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. “My Maddie is a really hard worker with a great sense of humor,” John said. “I am extremely proud of her. It is a big commitment to play at this level and maintain the schoolwork, but somehow she manages to do both at a high level.”
WE ARE HIRING. Stop by 101 Trinity and fill out an application... most sections hiring for the spring 2015 semester MEDIA PRACTICUMS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE SO BE SURE TO ASK US ABOUT THOSE, AS WELL.
STAR FILE PHOTO
