TUESDAY

OCTOBER 21, 2014 VOLUME 104 ISSUE 29

Defending the First Amendment since 1911

www.UniversityStar.com

UNIVERSITY

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA FACEBOOK: facebook.com/universitystar TWITTER: twitter.com/universitystar INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/universitystar YOUTUBE: youtube.com/user/theuniversitystar PINTEREST: pinterest.com/universitystar TUMBLR: universitystar.tumblr.com

Go to universitystar.com

UNIVERSITY

Media professionals discuss creativity, future of digital world at Mass Comm Week By Houston York NEWS REPORTER Mass Comm Week kicked off with a unique panel discussion on the creativity and skills needed for the future of the digital world. Trei Brundrett, chief product officer at Vox Media; Texas State alumna Annie Werner, managing editor and product specialist at Tumblr; San Marcos native Meg Turney, host at Rooster Teeth; and alumnus Kolten Parker, digital news editor at the San Antonio Express-News, presented a panel called “Getting Creative with your Digital Career.” It began with a discussion moderated by Cindy Royal, associate professor of journalism, on the importance of creativitywhen working in the digital world, “In my current role, creativity is inherent to the development of Tumblr as a product,” Werner said. “You always have to be in the creative mindset of how can we make this more fun and interesting for our users.” Not being afraid to fail and continuing to try new things are important to creativity, Parker said. “We’re trying to find our identity online,” Parker said. “I think most newspapers are.” Writing code is a form of creativity, Brundrett said. “(Coding) is now a mode of expression,” Brundrett said. “When it comes to creativity it’s not always about making things. It’s about learning things.” The panelists discussed skills they learned in college that they use in their current jobs. Turney said she learned the importance of editing digital content during her time on campus. “It’s so helpful to be able to say, ‘I can edit my own material,’” Turney said. Parker learned reporting and journalism at The University Star, he said. “It’s really important to have a foundation of reporting knowledge and skill,” Parker said. “I learned that at Texas State.” The panel discussed what they could have learned while in school and the skills they’ve developed through their careers. Turney wished somebody had made her create a YouTube video earlier, she said.

See MASS COMM, Page 2

DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Tiffany Burks, exercise and sports science freshman, serves food Oct. 16 at Harris Dining Hall. Charwells has begun to provide vegetarian meals for students.

Chartwells offers healthier foods By Naomi Lovato NEWS REPORTER

C

hartwells officials are tastefully incorporating more healthy eating options and information into dining hall menus. Vegetarian, vegan and glutenfree options, a Mongolian grill and full salad bars are newly available to customers. Harris Dining Hall now offers a special vegan dish every night, said Chin-Hong Chua, resident district manager of Chartwells. Mr. B’s Grinders in Jones Food Court now serves grilled

vegetables, and vegetarian and vegan wraps are available in the deli case. “I know that this semester we have a lot of vegan and vegetarian questions,” Chua said. “We have been doing this for a while, but we are becoming more aggressive with it moving forward.” Chartwells is also implementing locally grown vegetables, color-coded utensils and nutritional facts displays. The local food program started last year, Chua said. Chartwells is using zucchini and squash from a farm in Fredericksburg, and starting

this month the chain will get potatoes and sweet potatoes from Texas instead of Idaho. “We’re in Texas, so it’s very seasonal,” Chua said. “Starting next year, we will be working with the Department of Agriculture.” The university might serve lettuce, tomatoes and broccoli from the Department of Agriculture as early as January, he said. The Agriculture Building uses waste from dining halls in its compost pile and employs the fertile soil in a sustainable farm, Chua said. Chua is working with

Chartwells to see if agriculture department officials can get more help to continue with the program. Chartwells will continue improving, said John Root, director of Auxiliary Services. “(New options are) something that the students want, and we offer it,” Root said. “We’ll still have places like Chick-fil-A and Papa John’s, but I think that we give a wide array of options and not have one over another.” Shawna Arteaga, exercise and sports science sophomore

See CHARTWELLS, Page 2

SMCISD

SMHS team plays first home football game at newly opened Rattler Stadium By Jake Goodman NEWS REPORTER An American flag unfolded across the San Marcos High School logo midfield, while the band played the national anthem and a jet flew across the home stands of the new Rattler Stadium. San Marcos High School (SMHS) made history Friday when Rattler Stadium hosted the first home football game ever. SMHS has had home games before, but never at a stadium of their own. The district rented the Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium for home games before the stadium was built. Thursday night games at Texas State became a memory when the Rattlers hosted Kerrville Tivy on home turf. The game resulted in a 4814 loss for the Rattlers, but the opening of the stadium marks a new era for San Marcos. Mark Soto, SMHS head

coach and athletic director, stressed the importance of having a home field. “It’s definitely worth it to have something to call our own, to congregate with the community and to share the talents of our kids,” Soto said. Nancy Cowley, training specialist at San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District, said the city has grown a lot since his time here. “When I first came here it was a sleepy little town – we’d been talking about the growth from Austin,” Cowley said. “It kind of got stuck, but now it’s here.” Many alumni were present for the history-making game. “As a kid that grew up here and graduated in ’74, this is the best thing that’s ever happened to this community,” said Danny Fisher, SMHS alumni and oncampus police officer. Chon Facundo, SMHS alumni, said since he graduated from the high school, the population has tripled.

DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR The crowd cheers for the San Marcos High School Rattlers Oct. 17 at the newly opened football stadium. “It means the whole world to see it built after 31 years,” Facundo said. Javier Ledesma, a distinguished alumnus from 1974, was recognized at the game. Ledesma said SMHS did not have air conditioning when he was in school. There are more

opportunities for the students now, he said. Rattler Stadium can hold 5,000 people in the home stands and 3,000 in the visitor stands. The home stands contain 42 rows of seats and a press box

See RATTLER STADIUM, Page 2

CITY

Drought conditions threaten endangered fountain darter By Nicholas Laughlin NEWS REPORTER Drought and human interaction cause concern for the future of the federally protected fountain darter fish, unique to the San Marcos and Comal Rivers. The fountain darter can only be found in the Comal Springs and San Marcos aquatic ecosystem, according to The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment’s website. The fountain darter requires clear, clean and flowing waters of a constant temperature. “Looking at it from the grand scale, drought and low flow condi-

See DARTER FISH, Page 2

PRESLIE COX STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER An aquarium at the Meadows Center houses the fountain darter fish.

2 | The University Star | News | Tuesday, October 21, 2014

PARKING

Proposed parking changes focus on commuters By Nicholas Laughlin NEWS REPORTER Parking Services proposed changes to alleviate parking problems around campus. The changes proposed to the President’s Cabinet, the committee comprised of university vice presidents, were all passed except a currently pending measure to increase the price of the gold permit. Gold permits allow students who don’t use their vehicles frequently to park in the Mill Street lot. Parking Services recommended the changes to the Transportation Services Advisory Council, Student Government and the Residence Hall Association. “It was important to get the student opinion out because parking is one of the most important subjects to talk about on campus,” said Tiffany Young, student body president. Nancy Nusbaum, interim director of Transportation Services, went to a senate meeting to deliver the proposal to Student Government before presenting it to the President’s Cabinet, Young said.

“I think the changes will be good for the campus,” said Anthony Galo, Student Government student services chair. The changes for the 2015-2016 academic year were endorsed by the Student Government with an exception of increasing the cost of the gold permit, said Stephen Prentice, assistant director of Parking Services. “What we stated our opinion on supported the statistics,” Young said. The Student Government sent out surveys to the student body. The results showed students were not in favor of raising the price of the gold permit but supported turning the Speck Parking Garage into a commuter lot, Young said. “We had a week to get the surveys to students,” Galo said. “Our legislation was based on student feedback.” Prentice said a proposal has been made to turn the Speck Street Parking Garage into a commuteronly parking area Monday through Friday until 5 p.m. The Academy Street Parking Garage will remain residential unless students do not

use it for that purpose. If it remains unused, the garage will then be used for perimeter parking, he said. “The Speck and Academy lot changes will be beneficial to the commuters because those lots are very popular,” Young said. Parking Services has also proposed to increase the gold permit price from $115 to $265, Prentice said. “The President’s Cabinet is still requesting more information on the gold permit,” Prentice said. “It is still pending.” Young said Student Government was opposed to increasing the cost of the gold permit and wanted the cabinet to have the students’ opinion when making a decision. “Parking is very complicated for Texas State,” Young said. “It is very landlocked and expensive to build parking.” The President’s Cabinet also endorsed a lottery by zone for residential permits, but the details still need to be worked out, Prentice said. “The majority voted on implementing the lottery system,” Galo said.

The Department of Housing and Residence Life plans to make housing assignments earlier to allow the lottery system to be put in place, Prentice said. “There was a general consensus from the student body agreeing with the parking changes,” Galo said. “If you pay for a spot, you should be guaranteed one.” Young said Parking Services is doing a great job.

HARON SAENZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER A proposal to increase the price of the gold permit, which allows students to store cars in the Mill Street lot, has not yet been passed.

CHARTWELLS, from front and vegetarian, said problems persist even with the new options and changes. “I think they need to have more vegetarian meals because what they have is only a small quantity, and everybody eats it, and there’s not enough left for me,” Arteaga said. “Everybody’s diets are different, so it’s hard to accommodate everybody, but they should still ask students what they want and advertise it more.” Dining halls will have color-coded utensils this week, Chua said. Blue-handled tongs will designate

MASS COMM WEEK, from front vegan food, green-handled tongs will be used for vegetarian dishes and yellowhandled tongs will indicate sustainable produce. “Students have been asking the workers about all the food options, and even though we’d like them to, not all the workers know what every lifestyle of eating entails,” Chua said. “With this, students will know exactly what each item is.” Arteaga said she sees problems with the new options. Even though designated sections exist for vegetarians, non-veg-

etarians eat those dishes too and often do not leave enough food for vegetarians. “Commons (Dining Hall) needs to make their damn soy milk more accessible,” Arteaga said. The soy milk is not displayed with other options, and Arteaga has to ask workers to get it from the back. “We’re just going to watch trends, and I think we’re going to start to see more and more healthy options with students taking that option,” Root said. Food nutritional facts

are listed on the dining hall website, Chua said. Starting next fall, nutritional facts will be displayed on the menu boards in dining halls. Students can access information on the dining halls, menus and nutritional value through the Texas State app, Chua said. “We didn’t market enough, but our website and the app will tell them,” Chua said. “We are trying to be more aggressive in that marketing strategy moving forward.”

Plan. This entity helps keep endangered species alive, said Dianne Wassenich, executive director of the San Marcos River Foundation. The drought has changed habitat and water chemistry in the Comal River, said Kenneth Ostrand, San Marcos Aquatic Resource Center deputy director. The continued pumping from the aquifer as well as a prolonged period of belowaverage rainfalls can be a threat to the fish, Bonner said. Spring systems in Texas have disappeared because of too much water being pumped out of the aquifer, he said. Wassenich said San Marcos River Foundation officials are working on projects to help the river and the species that live in it. “There is federal oversight to protect the fish,” Bonner said. Officials have created

strategically placed entrances so patrons will not disrupt high-risk areas and re-vegetated riverbeds with native plants, Wassenich said. “Wild rice areas have been roped off to protect the areas where the fish and other species survive and thrive,” Wassenich said. Bonner said the chances of extinction are slim due to federal protection of fish. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 contains measures to guard and recover jeopardized species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. Fountain darters are taken to the San Marcos National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center when river flows become low. This allows conservationists to hatch more and maintain the population, Bonner said. Ostrand said the fountain darter can reproduce at a wide variety of flows. The

fish reproduce at a low flow in the fish hatchery. “It is a pretty difficult thing to think about extinction,” Bonner said. The fountain darter population seems secure for now. The fish are spawning in both high and low water flows, Bonner said. “If they disappeared, I would doubt that you would know,” Bonner said. “The fountain darter probably has a very small role in these (water) systems and to human life.” San Marcos is currently in Stage 4 drought water restrictions. However, the area is “teetering” at the edge of Stage 5, Wassenich said. “Keeping the springs flowing will help keep the fish alive,” Wassenich said. “With the drought right now, it is not a sure thing that our river will continue to flow.”

DARTER FISH, from front tions have probably wiped out more fish than man,” said Tim Bonner, director of the Bachelor of Science in Aquatic Biology program. Outside forces have been acting on the fish, but the fountain darter community has stayed intact, he said. “I tend to stay away from the word ‘drought’ because I really don’t know how that is defined,” Bonner said. “If it is below-average rainfall, these fish can’t sense it.” People are pumping water out of the Edwards Aquifer, but that practice has not affected the fish, Bonner said. However, he is unsure how long the fish can survive in an environment with no rainfall. “If we continue pumping and we continue the belowaverage rainfall, at some point it can start affecting the fish,” Bonner said. The San Marcos River Foundation is a stakeholder in the Habitat Conservation

“It seems like Parking Services is doing the right thing by alleviating the commuter parking problem,” Young said. If these methods don’t work, Parking Services will find another way to fix the problem, Galo said. “Parking can be a headache sometimes,” Galo said. “Hopefully this will alleviate some of the problems and make this university a better university.”

“Making people try new things is great,” Turney said. “Even if it doesn’t work, at least you have experience in it.” Parker said he did not learn the business side of journalism in school. “You have to understand you can’t (be a journalist) if you can’t make money,” Parker said. “How you monetize, this is the biggest thing I didn’t learn.” Brundrett said the best way to learn is by making things. “When I’m hiring people, I don’t look at their resume,” Brundrett said. “I look at what they have made. It’s about your voice and your ability to create things.” The panelists discussed what the future holds for the everchanging digital world. The biggest trend is the deletion of the website as a central model for content, Werner said. “We are seeing a lot more content out in the distribution networks like Tumblr and Twitter,” Werner said. “Thinking of how your content can correlate to those distribution networks is important to how you make that content.” Homepages are the future, Brundrett said. “What generations are going to realize is you can make the Internet yourself,” Brundrett said. “These platforms are cool. The web is yours.” People will create what is trending, Turney said. “You can make a YouTube video tomorrow and be an Internet sensation tomorrow,” Turney said. “You can be famous immediately and get the job of your dreams by making one YouTube video.” Individuals and brands will be able to rise quickly in the future, Parker said. “A lot of people are afraid of where media and journalism are going, but this is a really great time to be excited,” Parker said.

RATTLER STADIUM, from front at the top with sections designated for district employees, football scouts and distinguished guests. “Before the stadium went up, I thought we would miss having one of the top facilities,” said C.J. Odom, assistant principle at SMHS. “There aren’t many schools that get to play at a college stadium, but after seeing this stadium I think we still have one of the top facilities.” SMHS students have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the stadium since the bond proposal was announced, said Mathew Delgado, defensive tackle for the Rattlers. Delgado said during spring training and throughout the course of the year, the team could see the stadium being constructed and waited with anticipation for the opening. “We get to leave a legacy, to be the first generation to play here,” said Jacob Mendoza, offensive guard for the Rattlers. Mendoza said the stadium makes the game preparation and practice easier. Before the team was forced to practice on the baseball field, but now the students and athletes can walk to the games, he said. “There’s a big difference between playing here and playing at Texas State – you take pride in what’s yours,” Soto said.

PARTY LATER? ★ ★ ★

WE CATER! COLLEGE SKI & BOARD WEEK br e c k e n r i dge

Vail • Beaver Creek

•

Keystone • Arapahoe Basin

20 Mountains. 5 Resorts. 1 Price.

FROM ONLY

plus t/s

WWW.UBSKI.COM

1-800 -SKI-WILD • 1-800-754-9453

SERIOUS

DELIVERY! ©2013 JIMMY JOHN’S FRANCHISE, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

TM

Tuesday, October 21, 2014 | The University Star | 3

TRENDS

Photo exhibit explores Latino presence in athletics By Ernest Macias TRENDS ASSISTANT EDITOR Officials at the Center for the Study of the Southwest produced the “Latinos and Sports in the Southwest� photo-exhibit to continue their mission of educating the public on Latino-American presence in Texas State athletics. This exhibit, located in the lobby of Brazos Hall, is part of the 50th anniversary celebration and Common Experience theme of the desegregation of Texas State University in 1963. The goal of the theme is to “explore the trials of segregation and the impact of integration� on campus, according to the Common Experience website. William Brkich, history graduate student, was in charge of doing the research for the exhibit throughout the summer. Brkich visited the library archives, the athletic department and the yearbooks. He traveled back in time searching for pictures and stories of Latino athletes. “The athletic department had nothing, so then I started with yearbooks dating back to just before WWII, (and) the more and more research I did, the more interesting it became,� Brkich said. “I quickly

realized that this was not a widely studied area, especially when it came to Mexican-Americans.� The picture-based exhibit does not focus on a single sport. It focuses on the presence of Latinos in the sports offered by the school at the time. According to Brkich’s research, Mexican-American presence was most prominent in track and field, basketball and football. The use of the words “Latinos� and “Hispanics� interchangeably can cause confusion, said associate professor Sergio Martinez, who currently holds the Southwest Center Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Southwestern Studies Professorship. This position is held for three years. Sometimes these words can have a strong political connotation or a global perspective, Martinez said. Latinos include people who speak not only Spanish but any of the six languages that derive from Latin: Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, Romanian, French and Italian. “Hispanics,� or “hispanos,� includes all Spanish-speaking cultures. “We wanted to give the exhibit a historic perspective, so we decided to start in 1940 through around 1980,� Martinez said. “Although Texas State is very diverse right now, historically it wasn’t. We have

a good representation of Latinos in sports, but we never hear about it. I think it’s important because we are in an area that is relevant to the Latino community.� The photo exhibit opened in September. The Center for the Study of the Southwest has also hosted lecture series with prominent researchers in the Latino sports field. “I was responsible for coordinating the speakers,� Martinez said. “I came across them through talking to historians and recommendations. All the speakers that I chose have recently been doing research of the history of Latinos in sports and Texas.� Of two upcoming lectures, one is by Ignacio M. Garcia. The lecture is entitled “Constructing a Mexican American Powerhouse while Remaining Colorblind� and will take place Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wittliff Collections. The lecture will be followed by a book signing. Garcia is the author of “When Mexicans Could Play Ball,� a book about his father, the first coach to lead a Latino basketball team to a championship in San Antonio in the ‘50s. The second and final lecture will be a book signing and film viewing led by William Winokur, the author and producer of The Perfect Game.

PRESLIE COX STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Images hang in the lobby of Brazos for the “Latinos and Sports in the Southwestâ€? exhibit. This novel-turned-movie is about a baseball team from Monterrey, MĂŠxico that won the Little League series with a perfect game. “I’ve always been open about culture, but by being part of this project, I learned that because of certain myths and stereotypes, Mexican American athletes do not get the credit that is due, “ Brkich said. “Through sports they have been able to break down barriers and were able to build their ethnic-

ity.� This exhibit is crucial to realizing the Latino community strives for success and breaks down barriers of stereotypes, Brkich said. This was made possible by a culture of hard work and perseverance. Such a culture is not exclusive to a white Calvinist viewpoint for success, Brkich said. The photo-exhibit will be on display for the rest of the semester.

Literary fun to be had at annual Texas Book Festival By TheresaChristine Etim TRENDS REPORTER Texas will expose a literary aspect of itself rarely mentioned this October as Austin gears up to host its annual book festival. Much is said of the nationally acclaimed “live music capital,� but Austin aims to expose another side of the city that differs from its recognized background. Laura Bush started the Texas Book Festival in 1995. Her aim was to promote Texas authors and enjoyable reading. A former librarian, Mrs. Bush was very specific about the cause of the festival, emphasizing philanthropic funding toward Texas public libraries. According to www.texasbookfestival.org, the festival is non-profit and has generated more than $2.6 million in donations to public

libraries since its opening. The festival might seem like something effortlessly assembled on a $1 million budget, but in fact an army of literary soldiers stands front and center in this operation. The festival accumulates over 1,000 volunteers annually. Over 50 volunteer committee chairs accommodate the roughly 40,000 book lovers who arrive every year. Spectators can look forward to readings, local foods and live music. The festival introduces roughly 250 authors yearly and offers a plethora of literary activities the whole family can enjoy. One activity on the schedule, Poetry For You, is a discussion designed to help others use poetry for expression. Other activities include Wild Wild West, a discussion of the American West; Surf Texas, a discussion of surfing culture in Texas; and Acting The Part,

a discussion about 1880s Texas with acclaimed author Bill Wittliff, the founder of Texas State’s Wittliff Collections. Texas State’s Wittliff Collections will have its own tent on Saturday. “We will bring info about the Wittliff as a whole,� said Michele Miller, Wittliff’s media relations specialist. “Also our brand new newsletter, Keystone, will be there as well, and the McCarthy exhibition will be there as well. Most of our photography books are also in our series and will be there too.� Texas State officials aim to make Wittliff’s presence more known to the public as its literary history is a rich one. Miller hopes to share that aspect with the public. “We have the only TexasMexican Anthology here at the collection,� Miller said. “It’s pretty huge. We will be sending books

where some can take them home. Texas State has nationally awardwinning books, where many of our photography books have won design awards. If you go to our shop online, you’ll see these books in addition to the Lonesome Dove series, which is a big seller.� The festival causes Miller to work double duty, but she sees it as more than worth the effort . “We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time, but we’ve always had photography books released in October,� Miller said. “But we’ve been able to move things around and attend the fair.� Miller is excited about the festival because she hopes it will engage people from outside the Texas State community with the Wittliff Collections. The Texas Book Festival is connected to the musical roots of Austin culture. The festival will in-

clude performances by local artists like Shelly King and international musicians such as Ziggy Marley, the eldest son of reggae legend Bob Marley, with plenty of soothing jazz tunes in between. And for those with chefs as alter egos, cooking presentations will be given along with culinary discussion. The festival will be full of free, family-friendly fun, consisting of readings from authors, arts and crafts activities and a storybook fashion show the children can enjoy. One of the notable readings will be from the book I Love You Too, written by Ziggy Marley. A new addition in the kids’ quarters is a Where’s Waldo scavenger hunt in addition to a children’s tent with more readings and activities. The Austin Book Festival, the literary playground of Texas, runs from October 25-26.

TE X AS NATUR AL GAS SUMMITۏÛAF9Û=8@IÛ Good Jobs, Fueling the Texas Economy. OCTOBER 23, 2014 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Palmer Events Center

900 Barton Springs Road Austin, Texas 78704

Railroad Commissioner David Porter invites you to attend the Texas Natural Gas Summit, an event that will showcase companies that are creating good jobs by increasing the use RI 7H[DV QDWXUDO JDV WR IXHO YHKLFOHV DQG RLOÂżHOG HTXLSPHQW Last year oil and gas jobs grew nearly 5 percent statewide DQGKHOSHG7H[DVOHDGWKHQDWLRQLQMREFUHDWLRQ7KHVHMREV SD\ZHOO7KHDYHUDJHRLODQGQDWXUDOJDVZRUNHUHDUQVDERXW D\HDU For more information and a list of available jobs, go to ZZZUUFVWDWHW[XVDQGHQWHUÂłVXPPLW´LQWKHVHDUFKEDU For more information or to register for the job fair and trade show, F DOO$U W9DOODGDUHVDW   AFV Training $LQVZRUWK7UXFNLQJ Alamo Area Council of Governments Algas-SDI International $OOLHG(TXLSPHQW America’s Natural Gas Alliance AMP CNG $QDGDUNR3HWUROHXP ANGI Energy Systems Apache Corporation Atlas Copco Atmos Energy Austin Community College Bennett Pump Company Capital Ingenuity Caterpillar Oil & Gas CenterPoint Energy Central Texas Fuel Independence Project Clean Energy CNG 4 America CNG Source ComAp LLC Cummins Westport

D & H Pump Devon Energy Corporation Doggett Freightliner Dresser-Rand Ferus Natural Gas Fuels Ford Motor Company )UDF6KDFN$PHULFD Freedom CNG GAIN Clean Fuel Galileo Gas Technology Institute GE GP Strategies Halliburton Hexagon Lincoln Honda / The Green Group Houston - Galveston Area Council International Association of Drilling Contractors J-W Power Company Laredo Petroleum Linde North America Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance Luxfer-GTM Technologies Morris + Associates

Nat G CNG Solutions 1*97H[DV,QF Noble Energy North Central Texas Council of Governments 3DUNZD\)DPLO\)XHOLQJ6ROXWLRQV 3HJDVXV1*97UXFNLQJ Pioneer Natural Resources Company Questar Fueling Railroad Commission of Texas 5XVK7UXFN&HQWHUV Ryder SiEnergy Southwestern Energy Stabilis Energy Superior Transportation Solutions Texas Gas Service Thigpen Energy TruStar Energy UT- Austin Center for Electromechanics UT- San Antonio Westport Innovations XTO Energy Zeit Energy

4 | The University Star | Tuesday, October 21, 2014

OPINIONS

UniversityStar.com

Students must be wary of dangerous prescription, recreational drug abuse

JORDAN GURLEY STAR ILLUSTRATOR

A

casual attitude towards prescription drug abuse has become part of the college culture, but Bobcats should refrain from this activity as well as any other recreational drug usage. Social media applications like Yik Yak let users interact

MP

with other local users and often feature university students searching for an ‘addy’ hook-up. This epidemic is most prevalent during midterm and finals seasons, when student stress is at its highest. Ignoring the obvious lack of common sense that goes hand in hand with searching for

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.

drug hook-ups on social media, buying drugs from strangers is not advised. Drug dealers are not the most trustworthy group of people in the world. There is nothing to stop someone from lacing a drug with other drugs, some of which can affect a person’s body in a violently negative reaction. Playing Russian Roulette with your life just to get a handful of pills is not really worth it. Usage and abuse of prescription drugs may conflict with a person’s health history. Doctors are able to prescribe their patients drugs because they have the medical expertise and training to do so. To be on the safe side, students should not take any prescription drugs that are not provided by their doctor. Besides the fact that it is illegal to abuse prescription drugs, it can have serious health repercussions. According to DrugAbuse.gov, abuse of prescription stimulants such as Dexedrine can cause irregular heartbeat, increased potential for cardiovascular failure or seizures and dangerously high body temperature. Withdrawal symptoms include depression, insomnia, increased appetite and vivid, unpleasant dreams. The brain is wired to repeat healthy activities that make people feel good. Taking drugs like Ritalin or Adderall increases the dopamine levels in the brain. While this may lead to someone having the time of his or her life at a concert, it will also signal to the brain that this spike in the “happy” chemical should be part of its reward circuit. Activities like this are exactly what leads to chemical imbalances and addiction.

According to an Oct. 13 University Star news brief, a Texas State student died Oct. 8 after taking ecstasy with friends at Austin City Limits. The student’s parents said that they hope their daughter will serve as a serious reminder of the dangers of illegal drug use. One part of the current live music culture is getting messed up at concerts. Large festivals like ACL are notorious for drug abuse, especially those featuring electronic dance music. The stigma of avoiding drugs at festivals is serious and can lead to many people trying things they would not normally. Those that partake in drug usage and have negative reactions should be proactive about contacting authorities and seeking medical help. The nurses and doctors in hospitals and medical tents are there to help, not judge or contact parents. Withholding the truth about what drugs may have been taken for fear of getting into trouble will only hinder a doctor’s ability to properly diagnose patients and may even lead to an unnecessary worsening of health conditions. Friends of people that are having an adverse reaction to a drug should not hesitate to contact authorities for help. The Good Samaritan Law provides protection and immunity for witnesses who call 911. Negative affects of drug overdoses can be greatly reduced by quick medical treatment. There is no reason for someone to die just because someone stood by and watched, too scared to call the police. At the end of the day, drug abuse does not hold up when weighing the negatives against any fleeting positives.

MENTAL HEALTH

Celebrities’ mental illnesses should not be treated as comedy, entertainment

Britton Richter OPINIONS COLUMNIST English junior

C

elebrities are not to be treated like caged zoo animals. When Amanda Bynes first began acting, she was a beloved comedic actress. In recent years, however, we have begun to see a different side to the young woman some of us grew up with. She shaved her head in April 2013, which seemed to be a catalyst to several other out-of-

character behaviors, including a bizarre series of tweets. A sporadic string of DWIs and various arrests began in April 2013 and continued through October of this year. This would seem like any other celebrity acting out of unseen frustrations or as something not too serious. It could be seen as another eccentric public idol going ballistic. However, during her stream of unusual behaviors, she was placed on psychiatric care, meaning she is mentally unwell. Many beloved celebrities are diagnosed with mental illnesses, and Amanda Bynes is now among them. So why do we treat her like a circus act while simultaneously mourning the death of those like Robin Williams? Robin Williams was severely depressed and hung himself. Amanda Bynes is mentally unwell, acts out and gets a comedic

response. While the two celebrities may not have affected their fans the same way, they both have one immensely important thing in common: they are people. They are the same as everyone else, and when people show symptoms of any type of mental disorder, they should be taken seriously. We have to take these illnesses seriously so that those affected do not end up taking their own or someone else’s life. Taking these problems seriously is the key to helping treat and better those who are affected. Mental illnesses affect everyone, no matter the background. Brooke Shields, Herschel Walker, Elton John, Craig Ferguson and Kurt Cobain are all very different and well-known celebrities who have been diagnosed with various mental disorders ranging from bulimia to dissociative identity disorder and everything

in between. The National Institute of Mental Health estimated that in 2012 around 18.6 percent of Americans aged 18 or older were diagnosed with various mental conditions. This statistic demands notice and it demands treatment, no matter the symptoms. Crying tears of laughter at Bynes’ recent outburst and crying tears of sorrow over Robin Williams’s death is both hypocritical and disrespectful. Implying that one type of mental illness is funnier than the other implies that mental illness is funny in general. Symptoms of mental distress are not cue cards for an eager audience to know when to laugh and clap. People exhibiting symptoms are not caged animals. Mental illness is not a spectator sport.

ACADEMICS

Cheating poses interesting ethical questions

Olivia Garcia OPINIONS COLUMNIST Public relations senior

“

Once a cheater, always a cheater” may apply to some students, but I do not think it applies to many. A recent discussion in one of my classes raised the ethics of a cheater. “Once a cheater, always a cheater” was the main argument. Some students argued that they only cheated once in college and never again, so the phrase was a hyperbole, and I agree. I have never cheated in col-

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

lege, and being two months from graduation, I do not see that changing. However, I do believe some college students who have cheated in college have learned from their experience and should not be placed in a confined “cheater bubble.” It is not to say that so long as you learn from your mistake and never do it again, cheating is acceptable. That is not the case with any mistake. Cheating is absolutely unethical and should never be practiced. But I do believe there is a distinction between college students who learn from their one-time affair and the students who get through college doing nothing but cheating. During the discussion, some voiced concern that if a student cheated in college, it meant future unethical behavior in the workplace. Undoubtedly, this could be the case for many sly people but not so much for a one-time offender. It all

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

depends on the person, the situation and the way in which he or she cheated. It is unfair to label someone based on one vulnerable moral decision. Everyone makes mistakes. That is the essence of being human. It is also the reason why our nation is full of second chances. A person will make a mistake and be chastised for it. This is why our university has a strict academic dishonesty policy: to teach its students that cheating is completely unacceptable and is a very real threat to student academic life. I have heard almost every one of my professors preach about ethics. They know it is very likely we may encounter a situation in our career where we have to decide between job security and the ethical way. They also know it is possible we will make the wrong decision and choose unethically. I applaud my professors and the university for constantly

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

advocating strong ethical standards. However, if a person chooses to be unethical in the workplace, it is probably because of the situation at hand, not because they plagiarized a college paper and are suddenly invincible. When I talked to a few students who admitted to cheating, they were stricken with guilt. I can never truly know if they were honest about only cheating once, but I do believe they learned from it. The best thing about college is it is an all-around learning experience. It is a chance to learn about yourself and learn from experts about the great big world out there, including learning from your mistakes. If a student is to be labeled the rest of his or her college career for one mistake, then it is not an adequate learning experience and feels a bit arbitrary, to be honest.

DRUGS

ADHD medications not acceptable study tools

Kirsten Peek OPINIONS COLUMNIST Journalism senior

W

ith midterms in full swing and finals quickly approaching, many college students illegally purchase Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) prescriptions such as Vyvanse and Adderall to get through. Facing the extreme workload of a college student, particularly an upperclassman, can be very daunting. Many students feel that popping an Adderall to get through long nights of studying is a wise and even responsible decision, while disregarding the negative effects of doing so. Students should avoid using ADHD medications nonmedically. ADHD stimulants increase levels of neurotransmitters, allowing the brain to feel more awake and focused while studying. In a college town such as San Marcos, ADHD medications such as Adderall and Vyvanse are easily attained through friends and peers who have actually been prescribed the medication by a doctor. These drugs are so commonly abused that there is little stigma in using them or difficultly finding them. Unfortunately, there are negative effects to using these stimulants non-medically. The very reason many students turn to ADHD medications is the same reason many choose to discontinue use. One of the most noticeable effects of stimulant use is an altered sleep cycle. Students on ADHD stimulants can pull an all-nighter full of studying and homework with little difficulty, but may continue to experience this side effect long after they wish to. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), common side effects of Adderall and Vyvanse use include loss of appetite, headaches, changes in sex drive, mood swings and an increased heart rate. While students may experience these side effects to varying degrees, there is an inherent danger in taking a drug that is not prescribed to that specific person. Doctors monitor their patients’ reactions to the prescriptions they give them and are aware of the potential dangerous drug interactions their patient is at risk for if they are on other medications as well. There are also medical conditions, particularly heart problems, which would cause a person to not be a candidate for an ADHD prescription in the first place. In these cases, it is no safer to consume prescription medications that are for someone else than to buy some meth on the street. Okay, that escalated quickly. Though these medications are not necessarily a medical hazard so much as a psychological one, I feel as if students who regularly use ADHD stimulants non-medically develop a lack of faith in their own abilities to accomplish their tasks without drugs. It cannot be good for a person’s self-esteem to believe that they cannot successfully get through finals or ultimately graduate college without buying stimulants from their friends. An alternative to staying up all night on Adderall cramming for a test or finishing a project is to allot the appropriate amount of time to complete the given tasks ahead of time. Though students have all probably heard “don’t procrastinate” more times than they can count, sometimes the simplest answer is the best. Students need to trust that they are capable of succeeding without turning to non-medical use of ADHD medications.

The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the spring and fall and every other Wednesday in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 6,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright Tuesday, October 21, 2014. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief. The first five issues of each edition of the paper are free. Additional copies of the paper can be purchased at 50¢ per copy. Contact The University Star office at (512) 245-3487 to purchase additional copies.

Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com

Tuesday, October 21, 2014 | The University Star | 5

SPORTS

UniversityStar.com

Quick Five is a new University Star segment in which

Sports Editor Quixem Ramirez and Assistant Sports Editor Mariah Medina tackle five quick-hitting questions regarding the Texas State football team.

these losses. Last week, Coach Dennis Franchione mentioned how his offensive line did a poor job of protecting him, so it’s hard to call his last two performances anything of concern just yet.

By Quixem Ramirez SPORTS EDITOR @QUIXEM By Mariah Medina ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @MARIAHMEDINAAA Is Tyler Jones’ last two performances concerning? QR: Yes. Jones averaged 268.3 passing yards and 7.9 yards per attempt during the team’s first four games of the season. These numbers have regressed to 126 passing yards and 5.9 yards per attempt, respectively, during his last two games, as he has struggled to stretch the field vertically. The Bobcats needed 390 rushing yards to defeat the Idaho Vandals. Jones didn’t have the necessary rhythm and timing with his receivers to challenge the secondary. This trend carried over to the game against Louisiana-Lafayette, when the offense devolved into a one-dimensional affair with little diversity. MM: The only thing concerning about his performances is the poor morale he is left with after

Considering the fact that he still has the highest QBR in the Sun Belt Conference his mediocre performances don’t instill concern. His performance can be a product of virtually anything, and during media time, no one really shed light on what the loss could be attributed to. If wins don’t start coming, and if things don’t start going in the Bobcats’ favor it will be difficult to see the benefit of hard work. Ultimately, it’s a down hill rollercoaster if things don’t start going their way. Has the defense adjusted to defensive coordinator John Thompson’s system? QR: Not yet. The Bobcats, fifth in scoring defense in the Sun Belt, are allowing more points and yards compared to last season. While the overall numbers indicate regression, Texas State is generating more pressure on the quarterback this year. They have already surpassed last season’s mark (18) in six games, with Michael Odiari, senior defensive lineman, accounting for a team-high six sacks. Bend, don’t break. For the most part, the team has bended just enough to support the offense. Pass coverage hasn’t been smooth. The aggressiveness has negatively affected run coverage. There is

plenty of room for improvement. MM: You can make both cases for and against. I’ll play devils advocate and argue in favor of their adjustment. This year, the Bobcats are top heavy defensively. David Mayo, senior linebacker; Craig Mager, senior cornerback and Michael Odiari, senior defensive lineman have produced 156 total tackles and nine sacks. In the absence of Michael Orakpo, senior linebacker, the team has shuffled through several linebackers to fill his shoes. They have adjusted to Thompson’s system, but they haven’t mastered it. On a scale of 1-10, how concerned should we be after the 34-10 loss to LouisianaLafayette? QR: 7. Louisiana-Lafayette dominated the Bobcats from the beginning of the game. The Ragin’ Cajuns didn’t let up as they finished with 528 total yards in the victory. Senior quarterback Terrance Broadway torched Texas State’s hyper-aggressive defense in the passing and running game. The Bobcats didn’t have a chance. They were outclassed, outplayed and outcoached. The margin of victory was identical to last season, when Louisiana-Lafayette won 48-24. Rather than taking a step forward, the program took several steps backward.

MM: 8. I say an eight solely because L o u i s i a n a - L a fayet t e isn’t the best. You have to look at Georgia Southern who leads the conference with an undefeated record. The Eagles have lost two games in the non-conference schedule, and the point deficit was less than seven points in both losses. It was anyone’s game. The Bobcats haven’t reached the meatiest part of their schedule. It seems like the train is already derailing. However, I wouldn’t hit the panic button yet. The team has only played two conference competitors, but as stated previously things need to turn around quickly. Otherwise the team will be looking at another 6-6 season. How important is the game against Louisiana-Monroe? QR: A win is imperative for a team reeling after a 24-point loss on national television. A loss puts the pressure on the Bobcats to win the rest of their games just to save face. The reality of the situation: Texas State needs to finish with at least seven wins to be considered for a bowl game. If they fall to the Warhawks, they’ll be nearly out of bowl game consideration. MM: Looking at last year’s against Louisiana-Monroe, the team fell short by one touchdown. Playing a familiar foe isn’t always the same story, but in this case it should be a close game since Texas State is

returning potent contributors on both sides of the ball. Will the Bobcats respond with a win against Louisiana-Monroe? QR: The Bobcats are not in a good position as currently constructed. The offense is in dire need of an overhaul. Louisiana-Monroe is a winnable game, but the Bobcats will need several breaks in their favor to win on the road. Their chances of accomplishing that are dubious at best. MM: The Bobcats have proven themselves capable of competing with teams like Navy. In fact, Texas State held the Navy to 352 rushing yards, a season low for the Midshipmen. Louisiana-Monroe should be an easy task to manage in comparison, but everyone has to show up. Last week it was the offensive line’s gaffes. That can’t be the case this week. The point is: the team is physically capable of competing with Louisiana-Monroe. Whatever is going on behind the scenes, however, is what has to change. Franchione can take the horse to the trough, but he can’t make it drink. Texas State has to come into the game mentally prepared, because its mentality is what’s plaguing the team. The Bobcats should be undefeated in conference play. This is a high caliber team that is currently demonstrating a low caliber mentality.

SOCCER

Team defeats two Louisiana teams at home over weekend By Devin Tyler SPORTS REPORTER @DEVINNOONECARES Tori Hale, senior forward, set the tone early in the Bobcats’ 2-1 victory against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns at home. Hale’s unassisted goal in the tenth minute gave the Bobcats a 1-0 lead, and the team capped the weekend with a victory on Hale’s birthday. “It was really good because last year I lost on my birthday,” Hale said. “It was definitely a good birthday.” The Bobcats sealed the win with 16 shots, six on goal, in the team’s final home game of the season. “It’s sad and bittersweet because our team has had a great season, but I had to keep it out of my head so I would not get too emotional,” Hale said. Texas State pressured the Ragin’ Cajuns to play more defense than offense. The results showed on the field. Maddie Nichols, sophomore midfielder, scored the second goal of the game in the 39th minute, assisted by Rachel Grout, freshman midfielder. “The Ragin’ Cajuns do a great job of possessing the ball and making teams chase the ball,” Coach Kat Conner said. “We had to make sure we were disciplined in our defense, and I am really excited our players were able to execute and get it done.” The disciplined defense continued for a

majority of the second half as the Bobcats allowed one goal by Ragin’ Cajuns junior forward Elizabeth Manuel in the 68th minute. “A little bit of a miss mark on the side allowed them to score that goal,” Conner said. “We will have to solve that on that left-hand side, but we will get that done this week to ensure it does not happen again.” Texas State attempted 26 shots, the second-highest mark this year, in the 2-1 loss to Louisiana-Monroe. Karlea Fehr, Warhawks junior midfielder, scored the game-winning goal in the 69th minute. “I thought they did a tremendous job,” Conner said. “We need to finish better, and we have to be able to go forward better. We need to get turned quicker so we can go forward and get into those spaces they leave open.” In the first half, Texas State pressured Louisiana-Monroe, forcing the Warhawks to play the Bobcats’ style of soccer. At the end of the half, Louisiana-Monroe attempted five shots with none on goal. The Bobcats attempted 11 shots with seven on goal. Despite the shot total, the score remained tied at 0-0. The teams combined for three goals in the second half with Kelley O’Dwyer, LouisianaMonroe forward, scoring the go-ahead goal in the 54th minute of the game. The Bobcats are second in the Sun Belt Conference and will conclude the regular season with matchups against Georgia Southern and Georgia State.

classifieds $5,500-$10,000 PAID EGG DONORS. All races, N/Smokers, ages 18-26, SAT>1100/ACT>24/ GPA>3.0 Contact: info@eggdonorcenter. com HELP WANTED Tutors wanted for all subjects taught at Texas State.

Pay starts at $10/ hr. Apply online at 99TUTORS.COM or call 512-354-7656. SEMEN DONORS NEEDED! $150 per specimen, healthy college students age 18-39. For application go to www.beaspermdonor.com

KUNGFUSANMARCOS.COM NEED A TUTOR? Friendly, helpful, oneon-one tutoring for all subjects taught at Texas State. Apply online at 99TUTORS.COM or call 512-354-7656.

AGE

COMPENSATION

REQUIREMENTS

TIMELINE

Men and Postmenopausal or Surgically Sterile Women 18 to 55

Up to $2200

Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 30

Thu. 10/23 - Mon. 10/28

Men and Postmenopausal or Surgically Sterile Women 18 to 55

Up to $2200

Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 30

Thu. 10/30 - Mon. 11/4

Women 18 to 49

Up to $3600

Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 29.9

Fri. 11/7 - Mon. 11/10 Fri. 11/14 - Mon. 11/17 Fri. 11/21 - Mon. 11/24 Outpatient Visit: 12/5

Women 18 to 49

Up to $3600

Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 29.9

Fri. 11/21 - Mon. 11/24 Fri. 12/5 - Mon. 12/8 Fri. 12/12 - Mon. 12/15 Outpatient Visit: 12/23

6 | The University Star | Advertisement | Tuesday, October 21 , 2014

SANCTUARY LOFTS

BISHOPS SQUARE

SMStudentHousing.com

WHERE STUDENTS ™ LOVE LIVING APPLY TODAY FOR FALL 2015

THE RETREAT

THE OUTPOST

SAVE UP TO $300 WITH REDUCED FEES Fees subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.