TUESDAY
OCTOBER 21, 2014 VOLUME 104 ISSUE 29
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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.