WEDNESDAY JUNE 22, 2016 VOLUME 106 ISSUE 3 www.UniversityStar.com
Defending the First Amendment since 1911
Shock of Orlando Shooting Reverberates Through San Marcos By Nicolas Manuel Orozco News Reporter @NicoM0rozco Throughout our nation, there has been a profound display of support for Orlando in the midst of the recent tragedy. As a community, San Marcos has shown its solidarity with Orlando and has offered many ways for those affected to confront the reality of what has happened. On the evening of June 12 a crowd gathered on the Hays County Courthouse lawn. Organizers passed out candles and, one by one, they were lit. “I said pick up 75 candles, and I think we should be
fine,” said Chris Rue, general manager of Stonewall Warehouse and an organizer of the event. “We got out there and we had to break the candles in half to share, and then we kept breaking those in half and half.” The vigil served as a memorial for those lost in the June 12 Pulse nightclub shooting and showed support for those who must now endure the lasting effects. This allowed the San Marcos community to come together and attempt to make sense, process, mourn and show support for each other and Orlando in the face of tragedy. “There were so many people who truly came to show their support and love
for, not just the idea LGBT rights but as Americans, to stand up and say that we reject this.” Rue said. Katie Korioth, Stonewall Warehouse employee, said it is crazy how something that happened in a gay club in Orlando could have easily happened here as well. “It makes people live in fear,” Korioth said. “Which, I think is their overall goal... For us to live in fear and feel threatened that our community is easily targeted.” Korioth said the vigil was a beautiful experience because the community came together in support of each other. The desire to take action and heal is not just found in large displays of communal
support but, also in individuals. “As I shift my thoughts to the good that could come from this, it eases the grief,” said Topher Davis, Stonewall Warehouse bouncer. “If it would happen to any community that would bring about the most change, it’s our (LGBTQIA) community… There was a sort of this call to action to be more loving and more open and more accepting.” Texas State University held a memorial service on June 15 for those lost in Orlando. The service was hosted by the Texas State Alliance. The service filled the room with the Bobcat community, residents and city officials standing to-
gether in remembrance. The list of Orlando victims was read along with a picture of each individual who died. Texas State University and community support does not end with these services, if an individual is in need of additional or private support, the Counseling Center in suite 5-4.1 located in LBJ is available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to current students and will give referrals for persons not currently enrolled. There is also a 24 hour crisis hotline at 1-877-4660660. If anyone needs a safe place to decompress there is a Safe Space for Meditation and Gathering available at
LBJ Suite 4-9.1. An Expression Board is located in The Hub on the second floor of LBJ. Stonewall Warehouse also provides a safe space for any individual. There has been a strong outward display of individual and communal support to confront the tragedy in Orlando. These resources will continue to be available to anyone in need. David Lloyd George II, Taproom doorman said, “It has to be the beginning, not the end.”
OUTREACH
Comfort dogs bring joy to Orlando victims By Denise Cervantes Lifestyle Editor @cervantesdenise Man’s best friends have brought their wagging tails to Orlando, hoping to bring smiles to those affected by the Pulse nightclub shooting. The incident has been called the deadliest mass shooting by one gunman in the United States. 49 people died, while 53 suffered from injuries. The K-9 Comfort Dog team, a program run by the Lutheran Church Charites in Illinois, brought a team of dogs to help bring a moment of peace to those affected by the shooting. Phoebe, one of the 12 golden retrievers who visited Orlando on June 13th, was also present during the San Marcos flood last Me morial Day. Janice Marut, director for St. Paul Lutheran Church, said Phoebe and Pax, her
brother, are the two Texas dogs a part of their program. “Phoebe is owned by a St. Paul Lutheran church in Fort Worth, Texas and we’re an affiliate member of Lutheran Church Charity,” Marut said. “When there is a disaster like the flooding in San Marcos, we brought Phoebe out to help those affected by the flooding.” Lela Gomez, San Marcos resident, said she had the opportunity to interact with therapy dogs after the Memorial Day flood. “It was great for both my family and me,” Gomez said. “My son teared up and so did I, because the animals—they just make you so happy and help you forget for a little while.” When the shooting occurred June 12, a mass email was sent to all affiliates to see who could make their way to Orlando, Marut said. “We were just at the medical center in Orlando. Those
people had a really rough week,” Marut said. “We left them with smiles and a more relaxed attitude.” Marut said the comfort dogs help change the atmosphere of a tense room. “When we walked in, they just broke out crying,” Marut said. “There’s just a lot of stress here, and they had the opportunity to get down on the floor with the dogs and just love them.” Comfort dogs’ purpose is to be an emotional support system, Marut said. They are used are all over the nation during times of tragedy, and brought to schools and universities, according to Marut. Since the shooting, the K-9 Comfort Dog team has visited hospitals, memorial services and vigils for those who lost their lives during the nightclub shooting. “It just totally changes their mindset,” Marut said. “It gives them something else to think about. The
dogs are so pleasant and soft and furry. Then they go back to their job or schoolwork and they just have a different attitude.” Kay Hetherly, learning commons assistant at Alkek, said Texas State has partnered with Divine Canines and Pet Partners in the past to bring therapy dogs to the university. Since 2013, Texas State has brought in therapy dogs to help ease students’ stress during finals week every fall and spring semester, according to Hetherly. “The happy faces and affection we see between the students and the dogs are really the best feedback,” Hetherly said. “We also love to see social media comments where people tell us this is why they love Texas State or that the dogs are the highlight of their year.” Marut said the dogs are picked from a litter at 8 weeks old, and are called upon during natural disas-
PHOTO COURTESY OF LUTHERAN CHURCH CHARITIES.
ters and tragedies like the Orlando shooting. “The dogs literally just lay down on the floor,” Marut said. “They don’t move and let people just love them. If a person has an emotional reaction, which sometimes
we see, the dogs just stay very calm. It’s a beautiful interaction.”