VOLUME 103, ISSUE 25
www.UniversityStar.com
THURSDAY
OCTOBER 17, 2013
Defending the First Amendment since 1911
VIDEO | UniversityStar.com
SPORTS | B1
The San Marcos Farmer’s Market is a year round, bi-weekly event that allows local farmers and artists to sell their products in a friendly environment.
Georgia State Preview: Texas State football will attempt to capture its first-ever Sun Belt win Saturday against winless Georgia State at home.
FACULTY SENATE
Administrators discuss racial, ethnic identifiers By Rebecca Banks News Reporter
e nication junior, strikes a pos Emily Burns, mass commuht and Fashion Show, hosted Oct. 16 during the Bra Nig . The event aimed to raise s by CAMCO and FashioNation cer through decorated bra awareness for breast canaround campus. designed by organizations
Faculty senators discussed the differences between racial and ethnic identifiers and the problem incurred with them not being reported separately. Joseph Meyer, director at Institutional Research, said the department revised the way the university collected race and ethnicity information due to changes from the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010. Meyer said the university does allow students to select Hispanic as an ethnicity as well as the individual’s race and stores the imputed data separately. Race refers to physical features such as skin, eye and hair color, as well as bone and jaw structure. Ethnicity refers to cultural features such as nationality, culture, language and
Kate Silva, English freshman, walks during the Texas State Bra Night and down the runway Fashion Show. Reynaldo Leaños | Staff Photographer
ORGANIZATIONS
Bra Night raises breast cancer awareness By Kelsey Bradshaw News Reporter
L
ast night, fashonistas dominated the LBJ Ballroom to watch the Bra Night and Fashion Show put on by Cancer Advocacy Movement for Colleges and Outreach (CAMCO) and Fashionation. After audience members collected their “swag bags” and complimentary food at the reception, they headed into the ballroom to take part in a night dedicated to breast cancer awareness with over
600 others. More than 20 organizations competed against each other to see who had the most welldecorated bra. At the end of the night Fashionation won first place, CAMCOSO won second place and Latinas Unidas received third place for their creative bra designs. According to the Master of Ceremony Graciela Sandoval, night was all about awareness and sequined bras. “Know your body, check yourself, talk to your parents and talk to your doctor,” Sandoval said. A lot of planning went into the show, according to Iain
Kathryn Parker | Staff Photographer
By Taylor Tompkins News Editor
Mason Murphy City Council Place 2 candidate
Mason Murphy, candidate for Place 2 on the San Marcos City Council, sat down with The University Star to discuss his platform and the ideas he will bring to the table if elected. TT: Why did you want to run for city council? MM: Why I wanted to run for city council is, I have a background as a career counselor and I wanted to use that background, working with employers and employees to help bring jobs to San Marcos. I know the average income in San Marcos is around $26,000, but I
believe we have to find ways to effectively address that. I would like to address that by working with small businesses to help sustain them and help bring manufacturing businesses to San Marcos, but also to utilize my background to go out and recruit businesses to come to San Marcos that will help to give our residents quality jobs. TT: How do you feel you can use your experience at Texas State as a career counselor in a potential role on city council, beside helping to bring jobs here? MM: Being in an education setting as an employee, I have an understanding of both the K-12 system and the higher education system. And how I would like to utilize my background is to work with the school system to help address the K-12 level issues of poverty by working with nonprofits and churches to create programs that will effectively address those issues. It’s just another way that I would like to utilize my background, even though city council doesn’t directly deal with the
Sexual assault report under investigation A Texas State student has reported a sexual assault occurring between the late evening hours of Oct. 11 and the early morning hours of Oct. 12, according to a University News Service alert. The incident, which is currently under investigation, began downtown and continued on east campus. People with information about the incident can contact the University Police Department at (512)-245-2805, or call Crime Stoppers of Texas State at (512)-245-7867. —Report compiled by James Carneiro, assistant news editor
See BRA NIGHT, A3
TT: In your platform on your website, you say that you would like to address issues in the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District. In your opinion, what are the biggest issues facing the district and how do you propose to fix those? MM: It is along the lines of working with the students and addressing those issues of poverty, which some of those issues are helping our students with, for example, if students need a mentor. There are programs that are in place, but also continuing to develop those types of programs to help students, not only to mentor them from a personal perspective, like the Boys and Girls Club would, but also to help them with tutoring from an academic perspective. So I think there’s programs that exist, but (there’s) also ways that we can build on that. By helping students with both academic and personal issues, we would be raising them out of poverty in a small way. TT: You’re running against an incumbent, Jude Prather. How do you feel about running against an incumbent, what do you think the challenges are with that? MM: Well, I believe my opponent, he’s a really great guy, and one of the things I have to do as a candidate is to present my own vision for the city, but also be able to talk about my background and how I can effectively bring that to
See MURPHY, A3
See RACE, A2
CRIME
McMichael, photographer sophomore who works for Fashionation. He said Fashionation had to keep in touch with 22 organizations as well as sponsors, vendors and stores. Banana Republic, Strut, Crickets and Lotz of Shoes, Joe’s, Langford Market and New York, New York were all represented in the show. With over double the audience members of last year, the fashion show was a success in raising awareness about breast cancer and an exciting evening for all who at-
funding. That’s what the school board does. I feel that as a city councilmember, we should still be able to offer ideas and work with the community to develop programs to help our citizens.
ancestry. However Meyer said the university does not report race and ethnicity separately because many other institutions in the state and region do not report it that way. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Voluntary System of Accountability and Common Data Set do not separate Hispanic as an ethnicity but incorporate the data into an aggregated system of race and ethnicity, Meyer said. According to Meyer, these institutions use a hierarchy system that establishes Hispanics. “If they (the individual) indicate Hispanic then that trumps everything else in their report,” Meyer said. “It doesn’t matter if they indicate another race they are reported (as Hispanic)
RESEARCH
Texas State officials to collaborate with NASA Johnson Space Center By Nicole Barrios News Reporter
One small step for Texas State students may mean one giant leap for internship and research opportunities. Collaborations have begun between Texas State and the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston to plan research partnerships and a cooperative education program. Provost Eugene Bourgeois said he and other faculty members went to the space center this summer and met with NASA research heads in divisions such as material sciences, engineering and electronics. He said NASA representatives then visited the university in early October and engaged in meetings with university faculty on future collaborations. Bourgeois said the Ingram School of Engineering, the Department of Engineering Technology, the Department of Physics, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Material Science, Engineering, and Commercialization Ph.D. program are all engaged in conversations with NASA scientists and staff to begin partnerships. He said conversations on the partnership began “nearly a year ago.” “I believe, in the case of both intuitions, there are some unique equipment research
laboratory facilities that may be used by the other partner,” Bourgeois said. Bourgeois said the partnership will allow university faculty to have access to research projects that NASA Johnson Space Center personnel are engaged in. He said the collaboration will mean heightened visibility for Texas State faculty and their research initiatives. In addition to possible internships, the university is discussing plans for a cooperative education program with NASA that would allow students to work full-time for a semester when they reach a certain level in their curriculum, Bourgeois said. Stanley McClellan, director of the Ingram School of Engineering, said students will return to the semester after they work full-time and take class. He said this process of the student working for one semester and taking classes the next will be repeated three times. “They really want us to have a cooperative education program and we really want a cooperative education program,” McClellan said. “That would be a big, huge, hairy deal.” McClellan said this program would be an “enormous” benefit to the university and its students. He said NASA has a well-established cooperative education program format, and
See NASA, A2
A2 | The University Star | News | Thursday October 17, 2013
ON THIS DAY
Correction An Oct. 16 University Star article should have stated there is no fee to utilize rooms in the student center and it remains to be determined how it can be expanded.
in history
1777 British forces surrendered to American troops in Saratoga, N.Y.
1931
1973
Mobster “Al” Capone sentenced to 11 years in prison for income tax evasion
Arab oil-producing nations announced reduction of oil exports to Western nations and Japan
1979
1987
2007
Mother Teresa of India awarded Nobel Peace Prize for her work in Calcutta
First lady Nancy Reagan underwent a modified radical mastectomy
President George W. Bush presented Congressional Gold Medal to the Dalai Lama —Courtesy of The New York Times
CRIME BLOTTER Oct. 15, 4:00 p.m.
Bad check issuance LBJ Student Center
A student reported that she had been a victim of a check scam. This case is under investigation.
Oct. 15, 7:57 p.m.
Theft under $50 Centennial Hall
A student reported that their personal property had been taken without consent. This case is under investigation.
Oct. 15, 10:03 a.m.
Criminal mischief under $500 Bobcat Village Commuter Parking Lot
A student reported that their vehicle was intentionally damaged while parked. This case is under investigation.
PRESS RELEASE
Community to share ideas for city growth at SMTX Talks The City of San Marcos will host an event “SMTX Talks: A Constructive Conversation about Future Growth in San Marcos” on Nov. 12, at the San Marcos Activity Center. The event will feature a series of speakers discussing topics related to the city’s growth, such as art, health, jobs, neighborhoods, education, sustainability and related issues. During each presentation, audience members will be encouraged to join the conversation and give feedback via live texting. The presentations will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and are free and open to the public. They will be followed by an open discussion until 11 a.m. “It’s no secret that San Marcos is experiencing unprecedented growth,” said Matthew Lewis, Director of Development Services with the City of San Marcos. “As we begin to rewrite the land development code, we feel that it’s important to get input from citizens about their vision for the future of our city.” The ideas generated by the conversation will contribute to the establishment and implementation of the community’s new code. Community members are invited to sign up to be a topic speaker at the event website. A luncheon will follow the presentations and will feature a panel of subject-matter experts discussing the future of San Marcos. Panelists
will include: Howard Blackson, Director of Planning, Placemakers (Moderator) Dr. Jim Gaines with Texas A&M Real Estate Center Dr. Andy Sansom, Executive Director of The Meadows Center Doug Farr, Sustainability Architect and Planner Pam Guettner, SMCISD Director of Career & Technology Education The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the website. “Bringing in the perspective of these panelists will help us to translate these ideas into real possibilities for San Marcos,” Mayor Daniel Guerrero said. The event is presented by the City of San Marcos Development Services and supported by the San Marcos Area Board of REALTORS, Texas State University, San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, The Meadows Center for the Water and the Environment and the San Marcos River Foundation. For more information about the event, visit the event website at http://www.SMTXTalks.com or call (512) 393-8230.
RACE, continued from front there.” Meyer said if an individual does select Hispanic and selects a single race then that individual will go into the single race category. Meyer said Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has an interest in African American and Hispanic enrollment. “If somebody has selected multiple races and one of them is African American then they go ahead and put them into African American category,” Meyer said. Meyer said the university allows for the student or faculty member to select a race or multiple races that apply to the individual.
“Actually there are a few people that check every single race that is listed,” Meyer said. Susan Weill, journalism and mass communication senator, said the university is counting students that specify themselves as Hispanic as a race instead of separately distinguishing them in an ethnic category. “So my black student that is Hispanic gets counted as Hispanic but not black,” said Weill. Weill said Hispanic is an ethnicity identifier and not a race determination. Debra Feakes, chemistry and biochemistry senator, said it seems to distort the university’s
racial enrollment. According to a preliminary enrollment report in fall 2012, 28 percent of students enrolled at the university were Hispanic. Seven percent of students were African Americans, 57 percent White, 1 percent International students, 4 percent multi-racial and 3 percent identified as unknown. In reference to the same report, enrollment percentages for fall 2013 are 30 percent Hispanic, 8 percent African American, 55 percent White, 1 percent international, 4 percent multi-racial and 2 percent unknown.
WILD ART
NASA, continued from front Texas State has never done it in a formalized way before. “Anything that we can do to provide better opportunities for students to get jobs and have interesting employment, to be involved in really cool projects–that’s the way it benefits the school of engineering,” McClellan said. McClellan said in the cooperative education program, the company will hire the student as a normal employee. He said the student gains work experience and benefits because of the full-time employee status. “Getting good grades is one thing, having experience is something completely different,” McClellan said. NASA is uncertain when the cooperative education program will begin because of the government shutdown, McClellan said. When the NASA staff can resume work, they will be able to discuss specifics of certain projects and coordinate plans, he said.
Bourgeois said this collaboration was brought about in part because of the university’s emerging research status, but also because of a conversation with a Texas State distinguished alumnus who works at NASA. Bourgeois said Steve Blake Ratcliff, manager for external integration within the International Space Station Program, spoke to the provost and President Denise Trauth about developing a relationship between the space center and Texas State. Ratcliff, said he was talking with Trauth, who mentioned that she would like to begin a relationship with NASA. Ratcliff said he put university officials in contact with their counterparts at NASA and was able to schedule a meeting. The university may have opportunities to work on developing new materials for NASA to use in spaceflight because of the collaboration. McClellan said within
the school of engineering, they have discussed different projects having to do with manufacturing and electrical engineering. “(NASA) is interested in some of the capabilities we have in terms of nanocomposites and nanocomposite structures, and testing of structures as well as rapid manufacturing techniques,” McClellan said. Gary Beall, professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry, said NASA is interested in nanomaterials that function as high performance materials that may help with radiation shielding for spaceships. He said there is interest in what astronauts wear and there is work going into incorporating new materials into space suits. “As soon as the government gets back to work we’ll be reinitiating discussions and seeing where we can collaborate,” Beall said.
PRESS RELEASE
Philosophy Dialogue Series examines ‘Defining, Re-Defining the Self’ The Texas State University Department of Philosophy will host a dialogue series of over 40 lectures, interactive presentations and discussions Oct. 14 – Oct. 18. Week four of the dialogue series covers “Defining and Re-defining the Self.” They are held in the Dialogue Room 111 at Derrick Hall unless otherwise noted. All events are free and open to the public.
Library: “Pride, Humility, and the Self” 3:30 p.m., Rebecca Raphael, religious studies
Oct. 14
Oct. 18
“Accomplishing the ‘Impossible’ in spite of a Brain Damaged Death” 2 p.m., Joseph Brann, author of “Being THE Successful Failure! The First DEMotivational Speaker!”
Oct. 15
“Hamlet: The Search for the Elusive Self” 12:30 p.m., Rebekah Read and David Tamez, dialogue students
Oct. 16
Dialogue at the San Marcos Public
Oct. 17
“Naturalism and the Self” 11 p.m., Gilbert Fulmer, philosophy, and the Reason, God, and Nature Class “Talk of the Times” 12:30 p.m., Phi Sigma Tau, philosophy honor society Sponsors of the Philosophy Dialogue Series include: American Democracy Project, College of Liberal Arts, Common Experience, Gina Weatherhead Dialogue Fund, New York Times, National Endowment for the Humanities, Phi Sigma Tau, University Seminar, Honors College, Provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, and vice president for Student Affairs.
For more information and a schedule of upcoming Philosophy Dialogue Series events please visit http://www. txstate.edu/philosophy/dialogueseries/Dialogue-Schedule.html.
Chris Motz | Staff Photographer Elizabeth Abe, communication studies sophmore, pies Associated Student Government president Vanessa Cortez, political science and public relations senior, in The Quad.
The University Star | News | Thursday October 17, 2013 | A3
BRA NIGHT, continued from front
Reynaldo Leaños | Staff Photographer Malenny Vasquez, psychology junior, represents Enviornmental Conservation Organization during the Bra Night and Fashion Show.
tended, McMichael said. Sherri Benn, assistant vice president of student diversity and inclusion, was one of the judges. The event was very important to raise breast cancer awareness, said Benn. “I’m honored and really excited to be able to have an opportunity to come out and welcome you,” Benn said. Nicole Pape, executive director for Stiletto Stampede, said students were happy to raise awareness for the cause. “Everyone is here because you have boobs or you like boobs and we want to help you keep those healthy,” Pape said. De’Andreia Joseph, a 21-year-old breast cancer survivor took the stage halfway through the evening. She said she was diagnosed when she was 15 and has been cancer free for four years. She spoke animatedly about breast cancer and early prevention. “Breast cancer is very serious and I get a little choked up,” Joseph said. “I want girls
my age to know that it doesn’t matter what age you, be precautious because you can get it and you could potentially save your own life.” One audience member was especially moved by Joseph’s testimony. Tabitha Williams, who works for the Office of Disability Services, said her favorite part was when De’Andreia spoke, because it “humanizes” the subject and made people realize that it could happen to them. “I rock pink for all thirty-one days of October,” Williams said. “(I am) very passionate about breast cancer awareness and what that stands for and what that looks like.” The fashion show was organized well and publicized effectively, said Kendra Wesson, Residence Director for Sterry Hall who was in the audience. Wesson said that the fashion show was a good push for her to start doing more checks with her doctor.
MURPHY, continued from front the city council. And what I mean by that is what I would want voters to do is to look at the ideas I propose and to look at my candidacy as if they were interviewing me for a job. And so I believe I have the background, the educational background, I have two master’s degrees, one in higher education administration and one in public administration. I’ve worked in my field for 11 to 12 years. I’ve served on boards and commissions involving planning and zoning and
infrastructure and disability awareness. I’ve also served on the Comprehensive Master Planning Committee. So I would like residents to look at my background and what I can bring. That’s what I can present as a candidate, my vision and my background and how I can effectively utilize that. For the entire uncut interview, visit UniversityStar.com and listen to the first installment of the Spotlight Series podcast.
A4 | The University Star | Thursday October 17, 2013
OPINIONS
UniversityStar.com
THE MAIN POINT
Campus construction important for university’s future growth
HOUSING
Roommate issues can be solved through maturity
W
hile the image of cranes looming over the sites of demolished dormitories and scaffolding scaling the sides of existing buildings may be unsettling, the ever-present construction at Texas State is providing an exciting glimpse into the university’s future. It is easy to lose sight of the big picture when looking at the current state of campus. Historic Old Main is almost unrecognizable without its trademark maroon roof tiling, and professors often have to lecture through the sounds of hammering and sawing. Students living in San Saba and Blanco Halls last year started a petition asking for some of their housing costs to be reimbursed, saying their quality of living was affected by the construction of the West Campus Housing Complex. While construction is often frustrating for students, faculty and visitors alike, it is important to remember it is only a temporary inconvenience that will greatly benefit the university in coming years. Construction and expansion is necessary in order for the university to accommodate its growing number of students. According to a Sept. 18 University Star article, there are 35,568 students enrolled at Texas State this fall, a four percent increase from the previous year. This is the 16th consecutive year the university has reached a record enrollment. As the university continues to grow in enrollment, it has to increase its number of facilities for both logistical and strategic reasons. Increasing the prestige of the university and achieving Tier One status has long been a goal of Texas State administrators. In order for this to happen, the university is looking to add more Ph.D. and master’s degree programs. However, Texas State currently cannot accommodate its existing students and programs, let alone new ones, so administrators requested approximately $133 million for the construction of buildings on both the main and Round Rock campuses. Unfortunately, construction plans were halted when legislators could not agree on a bill to authorize bonds for the new facilities before the 83rd legislative session ended this summer. Despite being critical of the university’s poor growth management in the past, the editorial board agrees with administrators that construction of new buildings is imperative. New facilities are necessary to attract high-quality faculty members who can help Texas State reach the monetary and research-related criteria needed to
Brandon Sams Opinions Columnist Journalism freshman
are bound to encounter issues Stricktudents with their first college roommate—the is being able to maturely handle
Breanna Baker | Star Illustrator become a Tier One university. New buildings like the Performing Arts Center and its accompanying parking garage are excellent examples of the types of facilities that will bring students and faculty to Texas State. In addition, an attractive campus with new buildings may help tip the scales for undecided student athletes and lure them to Texas State over other nearby universities. Having an aesthetically appealing campus is a critical part of helping the university achieve its long-term goals. Texas State seniors know firsthand how quickly one can see the payoffs of construction. Completed projects like the North Campus Housing Complex and the Undergraduate Academic Center were in the planning or early stages of construction just three years ago. While the construction of those buildings may have been irritating at the time, they have already become important parts of everyday life for many students and faculty members. The Texas State community is extremely fortunate to have one of the most at-
tractive university campuses in the area. Few other schools have the same level of natural beauty Texas State enjoys, with a river running through campus and hills home to both heavy vegetation and wildlife populations. Despite new buildings popping up yearly, administrators have planned the construction projects in a way that both retains and highlights the landscape of Texas State. While living through the construction of new facilities is never enjoyable, students, faculty and staff should always keep in mind that future benefits will far outweigh any inconveniences it may cause in the present. 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.
SELF-EXPRESSION
Wearing makeup is personal choice
eople who look down on girls for P wearing “too much makeup” or remark about how much they like the “natural look” do not seem to know much about it at all and should not vocalize their comments. As a selfproclaimed beauty junkie, I know quite a few things about makeup. One of which is that the “natural look” praised by so many tends to require as much makeup, if not Imani McGarrell more, than any Opinions Columnist other look. This Mass communication is just one of the sophomore many makeup misnomers plaguing our society. It is always nice to be complimented when not wearing makeup. However, some people need to realize statements about how women “do not need to wear makeup” are annoying, especially when
spoken by a male. Makeup-wearers do not need to be liberated from their cosmetics— it is not a prison that deprives people of free will. People who wear makeup often use it because they enjoy it, not so they can be judged. Most girls do not wear makeup to please men. It seems much of the male population does not seem to even notice those types of things. When getting dressed to go out, makeup application can be a soothing bonding experience for women and not a stressful attempt to secure a person’s attention. For many, applying makeup is more than an attempt to garner male attention. Males who think makeup is dishonest or a mask should examine their own preferences more closely before making such statements. Makeup is a tool just like a hair straightener or push-up bra, and no one seems to decry girls for using those. Guys seem to have no problem dumping on girls for wearing too much makeup one minute and then turning around and drooling over a celebrity the next moment. Many do not even register the fact that most celebrities would not be caught dead without a face full of makeup.
Females who slam other women for wearing makeup are no better. Girls judging other women for wearing makeup only gives boys license to do the same. No one “needs” to wear makeup, they choose to. The implication that one girl is better than another girl simply because of the products she chooses to put on her face is outlandish and rude. Makeup is all about enhancing beauty, but there is no amount of makeup that can fix an ugly personality. Makeup-wearers should not be made to feel shallow by rude individuals just because they feel fierce when wearing new mascara. If a simple pleasure such as a new haircut or lipstick improves confidence, students should embrace those things instead of tearing each other down. The “Kim Kardashian complex” affects more males than people realize. The fact that many boys think she is literally not wearing any makeup should be indication enough that standards for makeup should not be influenced by males. If wearing a full face of makeup everyday is a person’s preferred beauty routine, students should encourage and support each other to continue to do so instead of passing judgment.
conflict. Living in close quarters with an unfamiliar individual is just asking for problems. Stolen food, dirty clothes, unmade beds and mysteriously absent items are commonplace. Living with another person can be a challenge, and oftentimes conflict is lurking just around the corner. Confrontation can be a scary thing for students to deal with, especially when living with someone they have to see on a daily basis like in a dorm. The way students approach living with their roommate can make the difference between a comfortable, understanding living environment and coming home to find marinara dumped in their brand-new shoes. Students should use “I” phrases when talking to their roommate, explaining what they feel and the issues they have instead of accusing the other person. For example, “I feel like you should clean your side of the room more” or “I think you should ask me before taking my food” is preferable to “you” phrases, which can come off as confrontational and catty. Statements like “you need to clean your side of the room more” or “you need to ask me before taking my food” sound confrontational and can lead to greater conflict and passive aggression. Students should consider the experience of living with their first roommate as if it were another class. It gets tiring, but it is a learning experience. I am sure I am not the only person that has awakened, glanced over at the other side of the room and snidely rolled my eyes in aggravation that my roommate was still there. My personal space and time to myself is invaluable. Sometimes I just want the room to myself so I can blast Beyoncé at the highest volume possible while lip-synching like a New York City drag queen on the latest edition of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Is that too much to ask for? Students may feel antisocial and not want to interact with their roommate. A little space is understandable—no one wants to be shut in a room with another person like they are bunkmates doing four months in the county penitentiary. However, students can and should bond with their roommates while still maintaining their personal space. University officials should consider investing in more in-depth roommate compatibility tests to help curb roommate issues. These tests would help connect students who share the same values, rules, interests and taste as roommates. While good things can come out of two dissimilar strangers getting to know each other, there is a chance things could go south quickly in such a situation. The tests could be optional for students who want to find a roommate with similar values. Students should be able to opt-in to the roommate compatibility test, especially since some might prefer to room with someone vastly different than them to broaden their horizons and perspectives. College roommate issues will continue to persist no matter what the university does, however. Wanting to strangle your roommate at least once or twice is normal. Trust me I have been there—hell, I am still there. However, students need to deal with these issues in a mature and appropriate manner. The university investing in a more advanced roommate survey system can help combat these issues to a degree. In the end, however, students just need to suck it up and take living with their first roommate for what it is—a learning experience.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Students should wait until graduation to interact with professors online
Travis Surprenant Opinions Columnist Public relations junior
any students use sites such M as Facebook to connect with friends, family and other contacts, but until they finish school, Bobcats should avoid connecting
The University Star 601 University Drive Trinity Building, Room 101 San Marcos, TX 78666 Phone: (512) 245-3487 Fax: (512) 245-3708
with professors over social media. There should always be a barrier between students and their professors when it comes to social media. It is not right for students to maintain anything more than a scholarly relationship with a person who has the authority to make or break their grades. I am not suggesting students avoid interaction with their professors outside of class completely, but there is definitely a happy medium that is surpassed as Facebook friends. Students would not like it if one of their peers made a higher exam grade just because they were favored by the professor. This happening to some degree is
Editor in Chief................................................Caitlin Clark, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor..........................Liza Winkler, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Letters..................................................................................starletters@txstate.edu News Editor............................................Taylor Tompkins, starnews@txstate.edu Trends Editor.............................................Amanda Ross, startrends@txstate.edu Opinions Editor..................................Savannah Wingo, staropinion@txstate.edu Photo Editor.......................................Austin Humphreys, starphoto@txstate.edu Sports Editor.......................................Odus Evbagharu, starsports@txstate.edu Copy Desk Chief................................Lesley Warren, starcopychief@txstate.edu Video Editor........................................................Alex Peña, starvideo@txstate.edu
probably unavoidable, but social media connections just make the possibility for favoritism even more likely. The extra interaction is not necessary. Students are here to learn and professors are here to teach, and it should be kept that way. There are other negative side effects of students maintaining an online affiliation with someone who has professional power over their success at a university. There is always a possibility an inappropriate relationship could develop. For instance, professors leaving lewd comments on students’ pictures is not unheard of and vice versa. In the event of such an inappropriate relationship
Design Editor.................................................Lee Moran, stardesign@txstate.edu Web Editor.........................................Anthony Garza, starwebeditor@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Catie Brossard, starad3@txstate.edu Account Executive.................................Blakely Knowles, starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive.....................................Hannah Wilson, starad5@txstate.edu Media Specialist............................................ Chris Salazar, c.salazar@txstate.edu Advertising Coordinator...........................Kelsey Nuckolls, starad1@txstate.edu Publications Coordinator.......................................Linda Allen, la06@txstate.edu Publications Director...........................Bob Bajackson, stardirector@txstate.edu
developing, instructors run the risk of losing their jobs. Just adding a professor on a social media site can bring into question the instructor’s professionalism and whether or not their relationship with the student is appropriate. In the end, it is safer to simply wait if students want to connect with instructors on social media. Furthermore, students can jeopardize their grade in a class if they make careless comments about the professor or the class online. Even if the student mentions something unrelated to class, professors may view the student differently because of something they said online, possibly creating problems later.
Facebook is a good way to stay in contact with professors after graduation, but when students are still enrolled in class it creates more problems than anything. Students and professors should abstain from interacting on social media until the student graduates or transfers. After a student’s grades are no longer under a professor’s influence, interacting over social media should not be a problem. Overall, it is a good idea for students to wait until they have graduated or pass a particular class to befriend professors or other university employees on Facebook or other social media sites.
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 Thursday, October 17, 2013. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor in chief. The first five issues of each edition of the paper are free. Additional copies of the paper can be purchased at 50¢ per copy. Contact The University Star office at (512) 245-3487 to purchase additional copies.
Visit The Star at www.UniversityStar.com
The University Star | Thursday October 17, 2013 | A5
TRENDS
UniversityStar.com
Campus events promote breast cancer prevention By Jordan Gass-Poore’ Trends Reporter
Nationally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October is a time to reflect on the most common cancer diagnosed in women with various events to promote awareness and prevention, as well as raise funds. The Texas State Cancer Advocacy Movement for Colleges and Outreach (CAMCO) coordinated with fellow on-campus student organization FashioNation to host the fourth annual on-campus Bra Night and Fashion Show Wednesday. Representatives from 20 other student organizations strutted down a runway in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom wearing uniquely decorated bras and jeans. The event was part of Central Texas Medical Center’s month-long “pink” initiatives and partnerships. The hospital is providing 100 free mammograms to eligible participants during its extended hours of 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the month. Those interested in scheduling an appointment can contact partner organization Community Action. “Because early detection is key for winning the fight against breast cancer, we want to provide a more convenient opportunity for women to get their yearly mammograms,” said Clay DeStefano, administrative director of PR and marketing for CTMC, in a statement. Mammograms are believed by most
professionals to be the most effective preventative measure against breast cancer. Hospital officials encourage residents and students to attend the Mammo Mixer held today at CTMC to make the mammogram process more exciting. Since 2008, CTMC has helped raise more than $70,000 for breast cancer prevention efforts, and more than $19,000
was raised last year. Sharon Jones, education junior, said she never considered getting a mammogram until her aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer about five years ago. It was “surprising” news for Jones because her aunt is a Phoenix-based oncologist. “You would think that she would be on top of it, but, you know, it can happen to
Kathryn Parker | Staff Photographer Zeta Tau Alpha shows support for breast cancer awareness Oct. 12 during the football game at Bobcat Stadium.
anybody,” Jones said. Jones’ aunt had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Although her aunt is in her late 40s, Jones said she has considered getting tested for her genetic risks. Jones may have good reason for being cautious because approximately every three hours a woman in Texas dies from breast cancer, according to Texas Oncology. The Mayo Clinic and the American Cancer Society, among others, recommend that women begin scheduling annual mammograms at 40, although not all organizations agree on these guidelines. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 60 percent of women who were age 40 or older in 2010 had a mammogram within the past two years. People can continue to “think pink” this month with other area events like Saturday’s Pink Fest in Wimberley and next Saturday’s Tommy Bahama’s Shop for a Cause at the San Marcos Premium Outlets. The Zeta Tau Alpha sorority sponsored a “pink-out” of last Saturday’s football game, encouraging patrons to dress in the color to support breast cancer research and awareness. The Josh Abbott Band will perform at the Central Texas Speedway in Kyle Saturday. They will be donating a dollar from each ticket sold to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Additionally, the band will match each donation made for every patron who wears pink to the show.
School of Family and Consumer Sciences offers new master’s program By Lindsey Bedford Trends Reporter
With aims to further students’ knowledge of the fashion industry, the School of Family and Consumer Sciences now offers a Master of Science in Merchandising and Consumer Studies. “It is for two types of students—the non-merchandising major who decides (that) is what (they) want to do and the merchandising major who is looking to deepen their knowledge of their area of study,” said Rodney Runyan, professor and director of the School of Family and Consumer Sciences. Students are able to begin taking classes for this master’s degree program during the last 15 hours of undergraduate coursework. Students will still graduate with their original bachelor’s degree if they choose to take this step. A GPA
of at least 3.0 and an official Graduate Record Exam score is required to enroll in the program. Four people are enrolled in the program currently, but students from all over the world have begun submitting applications. “Students get to see how concepts are applied,” said Pauline Sullivan, associate professor of fashion merchandising. “We offer them the opportunity to apply that knowledge.” The degree plan requires courses in sustainable economies, merchandising strategies and ethics. Students are required to take a statistics course to strengthen their analytical skills. Critical thinking and research skills are crucial for students going into the fashion industry, Sullivan said. “(Students) should be inquisitive and willing to question what they learn and enjoy problem solving,” Sullivan said.
“The industry changes constantly, and this program will teach students how to make proper decisions that fit the changes of lifestyles.” Students are able to choose between a thesis or non-thesis route. The thesis route allows for a graduate faculty mentor to guide students as they research and write their theses. The non-thesis option requires students earn a practicum, which will be different from an undergraduate internship because it will enable them to use theories learned in the classroom. It will be tailored to specific career goals and aims to help measure work experience. “It is the best location for shopping research,” Sullivan said, adding that the diversity in and around the university is ideal for research projects. The outlet malls and community create a opportunity for these students to go out and discover their future markets,
Sullivan said. Endless job opportunities are available for students to explore. Some career options available to students who have earned a master’s degree include becoming a fashion product account coordinator, an associate merchandiser in Europe or a fashion journalist. The program’s faculty invites companies and guest speakers to speak with students about these positions for their futures. “The program gives an insight to what companies want and expect,” said Alexandra Aparicio, business senior. “I am so happy Texas State got this program. It’s a great step into the real world, great exposure and (offers) networking.” The program is open to all graduate candidates, regardless of a student’s undergraduate degree.
Live Music Calendar Thursday,
Friday,
Saturday,
Sunday,
Monday,
Oct. 17
Oct. 18
Oct. 19
Oct. 20
Oct. 21
Damn Quails
Mount Kimbie
Josh Abbott Band
Max Frost
Beth Lee
Cheatham Street Warehouse 11 p.m.
Red 7 in Austin 9 p.m.
Waterloo Records in Austin 5 p.m.
Triple Crown 6 p.m.
Mother Ghost
Foscoe Jones Band
Melanie Martinez
Sonny Wolf
Triple Crown 10 p.m.
Cheatham Street Warehouse 10 p.m.
Central Texas Speedway in Kyle 4 p.m. Mount Sherpa Triple Crown 9 p.m.
Stubb’s BBQ in Austin 6 p.m.
The Thirsty Nickel in Austin 9 p.m.
A6 | The University Star | Advertisement | Thursday October 17, 2013
The University Star | Thursday October 17, 2013 | B1
SECTION
B
SPORTS Volleyball // Bobcats face Trojans, Jaguars Bert Santibanez, B2 Soccer // Texas State faces Lafayette, Monroe Kirk Jones, B2
Sun Belt Standings
B5
Kathryn Parker | Star File Photo
FOOTBALL Robert Lowe, sophomore running back
Gabby Tropea, B3
Ashlee Hilbun, senior middle blocker
Bert Sanitbez, B4
Lauren Prater, freshman forward
Quixem Ramirez, B4
Lejan Lewthwaite, junior golfer John Zigrang, B4
Get to Know Blake McColloch, senior defensive tackle Gabby Tropea, B2 Colby Targun, junior safety
Gabby TropeaI, B3
Bobcats attempt first Sun Belt win By Samuel Rubbelke Sports Reporter @SamuelRubbelke
T
he Texas State football team will attempt to capture its first-ever Sun Belt Conference win Saturday when the Bobcats take on winless Georgia State at home. The Panthers will look to senior wide receiver Albert Wilson, who was named to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team by Phil Steele’s College Football Preview. Sophomore running back Robert Lowe is the only offensive player for the Bobcats to be named to first team. Last week against Troy, Wilson led the Panthers with seven catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns. For special teams on the kick return, Wilson returned two kicks for 48 and 71 yards, totaling 268 all-purpose yards. Last week senior wide receiver Andy Erickson ran a 36-yard punt return, his longest of the season. Erickson accumulated 65 yards for an average of 10.8 yards per punt return. “This week to win the special teams battle everyone has to do their one-eleventh on the field,” Erickson said. “We have to think on our feet, because each play is different. You never get the same look, but most important are blocks and fundamental blocking.” Wilson leads the Sun Belt in receiv-
ing yards with 111.7 yards per game and 20.3 yards per catch. He ranks third in receptions at 5.5 per game. His average of 197.8 all-purpose yards is second in conference standings. Moving to more of a hurry-up style of offense, the Panthers are looking to catch their opponents off guard and continue to add on to Wilson’s accolades. He has surpassed 100 yards receiving in four games this season and has previously done so 11 other times in his career. “We basically started it to give our defense a look, then looked at each other and said, ‘Wait a minute. Let’s look at it,’ said Panther Coach Trent Miles. “So, we decided to put it in and do it some of the game, and I thought it gave us a spark.” Including last season, the Panthers have tallied one win in the victory column. On average this year, Georgia State has been beaten by 21.2 points. Last year, the team lost by an average margin of 21.1, and the Panthers’ one win came against University of Rhode Island. “We have to understand a good week of practice, the process, great preparation—fighting hard mentally and physically does not guarantee a victory,” said Coach Dennis Franchione. “It guarantees a chance for victory—if you don’t do those things you guarantee defeat. It’s okay to hurt after loss, but you have to put it to bed and go back to work.”
Texas State has made the transition to youth, going from a starting senior quarterback and junior running back in the backfield to freshman quarterback Tyler Jones and Lowe. “I felt like we were moving the ball pretty well,” Lowe said “It’s just those small, fundamental things that we have to get done, and it’s all in the football. You can’t just be a good offense and not be disciplined.” Since Jones has entered the lineup, he has recorded 160 yards rushing, third most on the team in that span. Jones tallied 56 yards in his first start against Wyoming, including a 38-yard scramble, which led to the Bobcats’ first scoring drive. Lowe became the primary back and has produced six touchdowns on the year. He enters the game with back-toback 100-yard rushing games. Against Louisiana-Monroe, Lowe marked a career-high 140 yards, the week before he posted 138 yards. He was the first Bobcat to receive a touchdown this year, with a 23-yard catch against Southern Miss. “We have to have a lot of discipline on defense,” Miles said. “Coach Franchione has been doing this system for quite a while. I coached against him when he was at New Mexico, and I coached against him when he was at TCU and had LaDainian Tomlinson. He knows how to run the football, and you have to have discipline on defense.”
B2 | The University Star | Sports | Thursday October 17, 2013
VOLLEYBALL
Texas State prepares to face Troy and South Alabama at Strahan By Bert Santibanez
Assistant Sports Editor @BertSantibanez
The Texas State volleyball team intends to reshuffle its current lineup as the Bobcats prepare to battle conference opponents Troy and South Alabama at Strahan Coliseum this weekend. The Bobcats are currently on a three-game losing streak and dropped to seventh in Sun Belt Conference standings. “The team saw two new players step up to another level last game,” said Assistant Coach Sean Huiet. “I think Jordan (Moore) and Brooke (Smith) provided a spark for the team. They just love to play volleyball. I think both are ready to compete and get back on the winning track. I think what they did transpired to everyone on the team.” Freshman setter Jordan Moore recorded her second-highest assist total of the season with 20 in her performance against Arkansas—Little Rock. Moore did not enter the game against the Trojans until the third set, helping the team rally back in the match after the Bobcats were down two sets early in the game. “We’re ready to put in the hard work and prove that we’re a good team,” Moore said. “In practice this week, we’re going to see if we want to incorporate Brooke (Smith)
and I in our upcoming games. When Brooke and I came into the game, we just want to bring positive energy and fun to the team. I felt really good being on the court and think that projected to my other teammates.” Moore has registered 71 assists on the season, averaging 2.73 per set, which is the second highest assisting average on the team behind junior setter Caylin Mahoney. Sophomore middle blocker and outside hitter Brooke Smith provided six blocking assists during Texas Reynaldo Leaños | Star File Photo State’s match against ArkansasLittle Rock, which is a season- Texas State volleyball will be taking on Troy Friday and South Alabama Sunday at Strahan Coliseum. high. Smith talked about the team’s mentality at their current point in the The Bobcats defeated both teams earlier in The team currently ranks eighth in Sun Belt the season in straight sets. standings. season. Troy ranks first in digs within the conferThe Jaguars are eighth in conference in “I think team is trying to figure itself out,” Smith said. “We want to bring a lot more en- ence, averaging 15.04 per set. Senior defen- opponent hitting percentage, allowing a ergy to our games now. I feel Jordan (Moore) sive specialist Courtney Cohen leads the .215 average against opposing teams. Junior and I helped the team out because we’re very team in digs, totaling 322 on the season. middle-blocker Amber Wyatt places in the calm. We want the rest of the team to stay Cohen averages 4.03 digs per set, which blocking category in conference. Wyatt has a combined 53.0 in blocking assists and solo focus on playing volleyball and not be so places her seventh in Sun Belt standings. The Bobcats will end the weekend against blocks on the season, averaging 1.18 blocks tense. It’s fun to see what we can really do by South Alabama Sunday. The Jaguars are cur- per set. Wyatt ended her previous game changing it up” Texas State will encounter fifth-ranked rently on a two-game winning streak, defeat- against Louisiana-Lafayette with a .222 hitTroy Friday. The Trojans are on a two-game ing Georgia State and Louisiana-Lafayette in ting percentage and six assisting blocks in winning streak, beating Georgia State and their previous matches. South Alabama has the match. Louisiana-Monroe in their previous games. an away road record of 1-4 on the season.
SOCCER
Bobcats face Ragin’ Cajuns, Warhawks this weekend By Kirk Jones
Sports Reporter @kirk_jones11
Texas State soccer will take on LouisianaLafayette and Louisiana-Monroe on the road this weekend. The Bobcats will begin the trip with a game against the Ragin’ Cajuns, the second-ranked club in the Sun Belt Conference. Lafayette’s only conference loss came against the Western Kentucky Lady Hilltoppers, a team Texas State took to double overtime. The Bobcats defeated LouisianaLafayette 9-0 in 2000. This year, the Ragin’ Cajuns are currently on a threegame winning streak and have the leading goal scorer in the conference. “There on a big roll, looking pretty good,” said Coach Kat Conner. “I looked at the film, and they’re looking very confident. Coming off a bye week, it’s a little nerve racking as a coach. Our players should be well rested and ready to go.” The Bobcats are currently sitting in fourth place in the Sun Belt with a 2–1–1 record. The club is tied for third in conference with the Ragin’ Cajuns for goals allowed. “We’ve done pretty well in conference,” said senior defender Ashley Jackson. “We are going to come out ready to go. We know these are important conference games. We’ve had a week off while everyone else was playing. We should be ready going into the first half.” The team is looking to bounce back from a loss against Western Kentucky that went into the 107th minute. “We are focusing on staying in the game,” Jackson said. “When we are up, coach has talked to us about finishing against these upcoming opponents.” The Bobcats are looking to bring a mentality of finishing into the matchup against the Warhawks, a team that is 0-5 in conference. The Warhawks are on a five-game losing streak and have scored two goals in their past five games. “It is kind of a weird thing. They are actually not as bad as their record looks,” Conner said. “They are actually a re-
ally good team. They have great attackers. I was watching their game against Lafayette, and it was hard to believe they were down. They had great attacks—the darn ball just wouldn’t go in.” Texas State is 10-4 all time against Louisiana-Monroe. The last matchup against the two squads was Oct. 9, 2005 when the Warhawks were still a member of the Southland Conference. Both teams went into overtime before Texas State’s former player Natalie Jackson scored to give the Bobcats the win, 2-1. “They are a very dangerous team,” Conner said. “As a coach you’re looking to take down Lafayette first and head to Monroe, a team that may not look as good on paper. As a coach, you don’t want your team to look at stats. You want them to look at the team—see they are biting and chomping to get their first conference win.”
Get to Know Blake McColloch
senior defensive tackle By Gabby Tropea Sports Reporter @gabbytropea
GT: What’s your favorite part about being on the team? BM: The camaraderie. Just getting to be out here with all these different guys. It’s just a brotherhood. GT: If you could be on any NFL team, which would it be and why? BM: I’d want to be in Texas. Dallas or Houston, for sure. GT: Multiple schools recruited you. Why did you choose Texas State? BM: Being on campus just felt like home. It felt like I fit. GT: What has been your most memorable moment at Texas State? BM: I couldn’t say there’s one. Just being a part of everything as it’s transitioning and growing. When I first got here, the stadium wasn’t this big. I just like being a part all the “firsts” here. GT: What are your other hobbies? BM: Anything. Hunting, fishing. I like to go to the lake.
Madelynne Scales | Star File Photo Texas State soccer will be on the road this week to take on Louisiana—Lafayette and Louisiana— Monroe. The Bobcats are 2–4–1 on the road.
2201 E. Ben White • Austin TX
GT: What do you plan on doing with your major? BM: I’m a construction management major so just working as a superintendent or a project manager or something. GT: Who is your future celebrity wife? BM: Sandra Bullock.
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Madelynne Scales| Staff Photographer GT: You played basketball, baseball and football in high school. How did you manage to juggle three sports and be a member of the Honor Society? BM: It was a small school. That’s just what everybody did. It was fun, I liked going to each sport and the coaches understood that. GT: Why did you choose to stick with football? BM: That’s what I got recruited to play, so I stuck with it.
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The University Star | Sports | Thursday October 17, 2013 | B3
Robert Lowe sophomore running back By Gabby Tropea Sports Reporter @gabbytropea
Named a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, sophomore running back Robert Lowe chose to attend Texas State despite receiving attention from other big-time Division 1 programs around the country. From the beginning, Lowe’s abilities were noticed when he began playing basketball in second grade. During this time, he was recruited by a football coach to join the Pop Warner team and was awarded MVP in his first year. Since then, his love of football grew. At Waxahachie High School, Lowe ran for 1,200 yards and scored 19 touchdowns while averaging 7.1 yards per carry as a junior. During his senior year, Lowe rushed for 1,682 yards and 32 touchdowns on 233 carries. He was named District 15-4A Offensive MVP and earned All-District
First-Team honors his junior and senior years. Lowe was recruited by well-known programs such as Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Texas Christian University, but decided to sign with Texas State. “It was just a great opportunity,” Lowe said. “I liked the campus especially. I really liked the coaches and the changes that were going to be going on here. I’m starting to see those changes now, and I’m really pleased with where I am today.” Lowe said he appreciates his family for shaping him into who he is today, which is part of the reason he chose to attend a university near them. His father played football, and Lowe has seen him as an important figure in his life. Lowe said he is proud to be following in his father’s footsteps. Lowe said while he has grown as a player over the last two seasons, he struggled with blocking and the speed of the game
in the past. Lowe had perfect attendance in the spring and therefore became a member of the “100 Percent Club” during workouts. “His effort level and his ability stands out because he is a quiet guy—he’s not a loud, vocal guy. He does everything more with his actions than he does with yelling,” said Co-Offensive Coordinator Jeff Conway. “Rob does a great job at knowing what we’re doing and answering questions and asking questions, too. This all helps us. The other kids hear this, and they gain a lot out of Rob’s abilities.” Lowe played in seven games for the Bobcats as a true freshman and ran for 76 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. In the 2013 season, Lowe has found the end zone six times for 442 yards so far, averaging 5.82 yards per carry. Lowe had his Chris Motz | Staff Photographer career-long run with a 49-yard Sophomore running back Robert Lowe was recruited by touchdown in the Bobcats’ first programs across the country including Texas A&M and Notre drive of the second half against Dame. Texas Tech. “He’s a great player—he’s He’s a hard worker. He gets in and does his a great running back,” said sophomore job, and you can’t ask for much more out of safety Colby Targun. “As you can see so him. He’s just a great player.” far throughout the season, he’s done great.
Get to Know Colby Targun junior safety
GoGo to the UniversityStar.comtotohear hear to UniversityStar.com
the sports team’s new podcast, FIELD TO THE FANS The sports team’s new podcast. FROM THE FIELD TO THE FANS.
By Gabby Tropea Sports Reporter @gabbytropea
GT: How do you balance two sports (football and baseball) on top of homework and a social life? CT: Just staying on top of things (and) getting ahead in classwork. As far as the sports stuff, just studying film and getting ahead is probably the main point that’s been able to make me do it.
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GT: Tell me what it is like winning three state championships in two different sports. You had to be the most popular kid in school after that. CT: Winning three state championships back in Arizona was an awesome experience. Winning both football and baseball is not something many people can do, and I’m glad that I was able to do that. GT: If you got the opportunity to pick, would you go into the NFL or MLB? CT: I don’t think I’d really care, either would be great. Whichever would be a dream come true, but I’m just focusing on what I’ve got at Texas State and try to be the best I can be here.
fan of him. I really like all sorts of music though. I got into country music when I got here.
GT: Who is your all-time favorite athlete? CT: I’m a big Colts fan, so I’d probably say Peyton Manning. I grew up watching them—my dad is a huge fan. Our whole family are huge Colts fans.
GT: What are your plans after Texas State? CT: That’s out in the open actually. I don’t know if I’ll stay here in Texas or go back home to Arizona. Wherever I’m taken, that’s where I’ll go.
GT: Who is your future celebrity wife? CT: I have to go with Eva Longoria.
GT: What game are you most looking forward to this year? CT: Our goal this season was to get to a bowl game. If we can get there, that’ll be the highlight of our year, so that’s what we’re working for.
GT: Who is your favorite music artist? CT: I like all sorts of music. I went to the Wiz Khalifa concert recently, so I’m a big
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B4 | The University Star | Sports | Thursday October 17, 2013
SOCCER
Lauren Prater freshman forward By Quixem Ramirez Sports Reporter @quixem
Dollie Garcia fidgeted in her bed, sniffled and moved again while motioning to the door. The smell of an apple was bothering her. Freshman forward Lauren Prater, an 8-year-old at the time, nodded and disposed of the apple, then liberally applied sanitizer on both hands. Garcia grunted, wanting company, and Prater leaned in to caress her grandmother’s hands. “Don’t settle for anything,” Garcia said, her voice cracking. Garcia battled Stage 4 breast cancer for two years before entering remission in 2005. Her grandmother’s bout with cancer encouraged Prater to pursue a Division I scholarship. “It was really hard seeing her get through cancer because she didn’t look very good sometimes,” Prater said. “She didn’t ever show that she was hurting. She didn’t want any extra negative energy—she’s such a strong person. She didn’t want me to settle for anything less than perfect.” The Arlington native did not want to
settle for playing soccer at a Division II or Division III university, and was inspired to work hard to become better at her sport. “My whole life has literally revolved around soccer,” Prater said. “It’s a big part of our family.” Prater made the Martin High School varsity team her freshman year. Martin reached the 5-A Regional Qualifiers each year during her tenure. Despite earning two consecutive Forward of the Year awards, Prater nearly quit soccer. Playing simultaneously in high school and on two club teams wore her out. She planned on calling her coaches to deliver the bad news, but Prater’s family stepped in. “They reminded me how hard I worked to get to where I was,” Prater said. “They told me that I shouldn’t throw it all away because I was burnt out. That’s what made me realize, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t quit. This is the sport I love. I can’t just throw it away.’ I’m so glad I didn’t quit, because I would have missed out on meeting new people.” Prater looked at Texas Christian University and Stephen F. Austin before Coach Kat Conner offered her a scholarship. “I knew when she was in eighth grade that she would be playing soccer at a big college,” Prater’s mother, Michelle White, said.
“She’s very driven, head strong and goal-oriented. She sets her mind to something, and she makes it happen.” Once Prater accepted the offer, Conner envisioned playing her in high-leverage situations because she did not seem fazed by pressure. “She’s kind of like Michael Jordan,” Conner said. “She’s very determined to win. She wants the ball—she wants the pressure. You want players that aren’t afraid of the pressure, and Lauren rises to the occasion.” Prater scored her first career goal in her first game. Prater coralled senior midfielder Sydney Curry’s rebound and tacked on Texas State’s third goal in a 3-1 victory over Northwestern State. Prater has appeared in every game this season, notching the Madelynne Scales | Staff Photographer third most minutes of playing Freshman forward Lauren Prater has appeared in every match time among her freshman class. up this season and scored in her first game with the Bobcats. “She’s taught me that you can do. I’ve seen that through Lauren. I couldn’t succeed in whatever, as long as you put in the hard work,” White said. “You be prouder of her.” just don’t give up on something you love to
VOLLEYBALL
Ashlee Hilbun senior middle blocker By Bert Santibanez
Assistant Sports Editor @BertSantibanez
Senior middle blocker Ashlee Hilbun has calculated 730 kills, 500 digs and 1,830 attack attempts over her collegiate career, but her contributions as a teammate extend beyond the court. Hilbun participated in a club volleyball team with fellow teammate and senior right-side hitter Amari Deardorff throughout her junior and senior years of high school. Both players went to high schools 8.3 miles from each other, competing against the other as district opponents. Deardorff explained her experiences playing against and with Hilbun, finding an instant respect for her game and Star File Photo character. “As rivals in high school, it Senior middle blocker Ashlee Hilbun is the was fun to finally get to be on second tallest player and has scored the second the same team with her,” Dearmost points in Bobcat volleyball.
dorff said. “She was always the best player on her high school volleyball team and definitely a very competitive person. After I heard that she signed on at Texas State, I started to put a lot more consideration with being part of the program myself.” Hilbun talked about the bond she and Deardorff were able to form during those two years on the club team and how they prepared for their final year together at Texas State. “We became really close during club (volleyball),” Hilbun said. “I think these past three years have helped us become even closer as teammates and friends. After last season with the team ranking so low in the conference, we talked a lot during the summer, figuring out how we were going to get ourselves and the team winning again.” Both players have combined for 373 kills and 105 assisted blocks during this season. Hil-
bun ranks second on the team in kills, totaling 164 on the year and a team-best .339 hitting percentage, which places her fourth in Sun Belt Conference standings. Hilbun recorded a career-high 24 kills against former WAC rival UTSA earlier in the season, helping the team pull out the win in five sets. “Ashlee was nothing like the kind of player (she was) her freshman year that she is now,” said Coach Karen Chisum. “Her improvement over the years has been due to her work ethic, dedication and commitment to the Texas State volleyball program. Her game against UTSA was one of the best performances I’ve seen from a middle blocker in a long time.” Hilbun has averaged 7.25 kills and contributed 37 points since her game against the Roadrunners. Chisum said a particular moment during the game against nationally ranked Western Kentucky, which was the
first SBC road loss for the team, exemplified Hilbun as a leader. “One of the fun things about my job is watching young girls develop into young women,” Chisum said. “Ashlee can be one of the grittiest individuals on the team. Most recently, during a timeout against Western Kentucky, I didn’t even have to say anything to the players. It was Ashlee that really got after them. She wants her last year to be as good as possible.” Texas State has a conference record of 3–4 on the season, currently ranked seventh in SBC standings. However, Hilbun has no reservations about where she envisions the team and herself to be at the end of the season. “I imagine my senior year ending with a championship ring,” Hilbun said. “I don’t expect anything less. My goal was always to get a ring my senior year and to share that with Amari (Deardorff) and the rest of the team would mean so much.”
GOLF
Lejan Lewthwaite junior golfer
Courtesy of Texas State Athletics
By Josh Zigrang Sports Reporter @JoshZigrang
Junior golfer Lejan Lewthwaite is one of several foreign student athletes on an internationally diverse Texas State women’s golf team, but her life before San Marcos was unlike any other. At the age of nine, Lewthwaite began to sail with her father and participated in competitions as her parents hauled her around the coasts of South Africa, her home country. Her father, an avid sailor, and mother supported her involvement in many different sports. “They support everything I want do,” Lewthwaite said. “When I used to sail, they used to take me to opposite ends of the country to compete.” A decade ago, 14-year-old Lewthwaite went to Poland and manned a 77-pound dinghy, a small sailing boat often used by young sailors in competitions, in the European Boating Championships in the Baltic Sea. “We sailed out into the ocean,”
Lewthwaite said. “It was scary sometimes, but you can’t just sit and cry out in the ocean. Being young takes away a lot of your fears. I just kind of said, ‘Oh look, a shark.’ I was just fearless.” Before ever picking up a golf club, Lewthwaite was also a tennis and field hockey player in Johannesburg, South Africa. “I actually played tennis against Jessica Kahts (senior women’s tennis player at Texas State),” Lewthwaite said. “I won the first set, but then my racket strings broke on the only racket I had. I had to borrow somebody else’s racket and it went downhill from there.” The junior’s tennis dreams were ended after her parents would not allow her to drop out of school and pursue a life of professional athletics. She decided in order to become a professional, she had to find a sport she could play throughout the years. Golf was that sport. “I love sports. It is just simple,” Lewthwaite said. “Golf is a sport that you don’t have to be young to be good at.” Lewthwaite began her golfing career on a course her cousins lived near. During some of her vacations, she would go to the golf course and was encouraged to play by her family and some South African professionals. Lewthwaite met Gavan Levenson, a
well-known South African golf coach, at the Gavan Levenson Golf Academy, and three years later found herself at a Division I college. “It is unheard of,” said Coach Mike Akers. “It is unbelievable how far she has come.” Lewthwaite was golfing with Levenson, an uncle to Charl Schwartzel who won the Masters Golf Tournament in 2011, two times per month during her year and a half at the academy. “I got really tired and really exhausted,” Lewthwaite said.
“Golfing was my job. If my body was sore, I always went to practice. I worked hard.” Whether in the water amongst the sharks or on a now-developed golf team, Lewthwaite knows even 9,157 miles away from home that her family will be there to support her. “(You’ve) got to grow up,” Lewthwaite said. “It is life, and you have to learn to do things on your own. Coming here was tough because I am a very family-oriented person. One of the things that kept me going is the
support of my family.” Lewthwaite, known by many as “LJ,” has one more year with the Bobcats. She wishes to continue her now sixth year of golf and attempt to go into the LPGA to continue her childhood pursuit of becoming a professional athlete. “She has made great strides,” Akers said. “I just think her future is great and if she wants to take her talents to the next level, then I think she can.”
The University Star | Sports | Thursday October 17, 2013 | B5
SUN BELT STANDINGS
TWEET OF THE WEEK
FOOTBALL
Team
Sun Belt
Louisiana-Lafayette Arkansas State Western Kentucky Troy South Alabama Georgia State Texas State Louisiana-Monroe
2-0 1-0 1-2 2-1 1-1 0-1 0-2 1-1
Pct.
Overall
1.000 1.000 .333 .666 .500 .000 .000 .500
4-2 3-3 4-3 4-3 2-3 0-6 3-3 3-4
Streak W4 W1 L1 W2 L2 L6 L2 W1
SOCCER
Team
Sun Belt
Western Kentucky South Alabama Texas State Louisiana-Lafayette Troy Arkansas State Georgia State Louisiana-Monroe Arkansas-Little Rock
5-0-0 3-1-1 2-1-1 4-1-0 2-3-0 2-3-0 2-3-0 0-5-0 0-3-0
Pct.
Pts. Overall
1.000 .700 .625 .800 .400 .400 .400 .000 .000
15 10 7 12 6 6 6 0 0
7-3-4 10-4-2 5-6-2 7-5-2 6-9-0 7-6-2 4-8-1 5-10-1 3-9-0
Streak W6 L1 L1 W3 L2 L2 W1 L3 L6
Amy Lea S.J. Akers Attorney at Law
TheAkersLawFirm.com
VOLLEYBALL
Team
Jordan Moore, former Texas State quarterback, in reference to his departure from the team
Sun Belt
Western Kentucky Arkansas-Little Rock Texas State Texas-Arlington Arkansas State Louisiana-Lafayette Troy Louisiana-Monroe South Alabama Georgia State
6-1 7-0 3-4 4-3 5-2 3-4 4-3 1-6 2-5 0-7
Pct. .857 1.000 .428 .571 .714 .428 .571 .142 .285 .000
Overall 16-5 15-4 13-9 11-9 9-12 13-8 9-12 5-18 7-10 5-16
Streak L1 W13 L3 L2 W2 W1 W2 L2 W2 L9
VOLLEYBALL
The Texas State volleyball team leads the Sun Belt Conference in opposing hitting percentage. The Bobcats allow a .150 percentage when facing other teams this season.
The Bobcats are currently on a three-game losing streak with all three of the matches going to five sets.
Entering last week’s matchups against Texas-Arlington, Arkansas State and Arkansas-Little Rock, the Bobcats sat third in the Sun Belt. Now the volleyball team has slipped to seventh, three spots from last place.
P.O. Box 578 San Marcos, TX 78667
(512) 897-5708 **AkersLaw TheAkersLawFirm@cs.com
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B6 | The University Star | Advertisement | Thursday October 17, 2013
