TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 VOLUME 106 ISSUE 7 www.UniversityStar.com
New organization aims to prevent sexual assault on campus
Stay Connected @universitystar star.txstate.edu
POLITICS
TTF panels discuss gender, race and presidential standards By Bri Watkins Assistant News Editor @briwatkins17
Carly Joutraw, finance senior, Kristyn Percenti, international relations senior, President Brooklyn Boreing, business management sophomore, and Alyssa Wakefield, english sophomore and communication chair of the Not My On My Campus organization at this year’s Greek Rally festivities Sept. 23 at Sewell Park. Not on my campus is a student led organization and social media campaign dedicated to breaking the silence and stigma around sexual assault and rape culture on the Texas State campus. PHOTO BY BRANDON VALENCIA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
By Bri Watkins Assistant News Editor @briwatkins17 In order to bring change and ensure safety in a college community, a new group has launched Not On My Campus to raise awareness in hopes of preventing sexual assault and harassment. The organization was brought to campus by management freshmen Brooklyn Boreing and Kristyn Percenti, who had an agenda to shed light on a matter that isn’t often talked about. One in five women and one in 16 men have been or will be sexually assaulted or harassed on college campuses. Not On My Campus aims to lower this number by speaking out on the issue. “We want this year to be about raising the awareness and getting the topic to be
talked about, because until you have awareness on the subject, you can’t have prevention,” Boreing said. After launching the organization, members have worked vigorously to plan events and collaborate with other campus entities. Boreing is a member of Delta Gamma, and has close connections to the Greek community. One of Not On My Campus’ top goals for this semester is to partner with fraternities. Jacob Slocum, healthcare administration senior and member of Pi Kappa Alpha, said this new organization would be beneficial to campus, and is in favor of it. “I feel like Greek life has a big impact on our university, and we hold a position in which we can posi-tively impact our campus and community by speaking out against this issue,” Slocum
said. “The stigma that the majority of fraternity members engage in sexual harassment and assault seems to over-shadow all the positive things that fraternities do for their members, university and community. I just wish people could understand that not all fraternity members are the same.” Slocum said he has never witnessed harassment from his fraternity and would be intolerant to such be-havior. “I hope people can see that we would never engage in these activities, and want to do whatever we can to stop them from happening, not only on our campus, but everywhere across the nation. An in-dividual should never be put in a situation where they feel vulnerable and are harmed,” Slocum said. In addition to partnering with fraternities, Not On My Campus is collaborating
with Men against Vio-lence, the Health Center and student government. Not On My Campus plans to extend its partnership to all other organizations on campus. “We really want it to become a campuswide thing where everyone who goes to Texas State knows what it is,” Boreing said. Communications Chair Alyssa Wakefield said she always knew Boreing would do something amaz-ing like this. Immediately after Wakefield was informed about this organization, she joined the team. “Chances are, you know multiple of people who have been in that situation,” Wakefield said. With how deeply sexual assault affects and traumatizes people, Wakefield said Not On My Campus plans to educate others prevent it. “We want to bring more people into our little circle
and expand it so more people can understand that it’s a big deal,” Wakefield said. Uniting and having continual conversations about this matter will hopefully have a domino effect on the community, Wakefield said. Not On Our Campus launched on Sept. 19, and has already received 200 pledge signatories. Boreing said they are aiming to achieve a thousand signatures on their pledge this semester and continue it to grow. People can voice their support by signing the pledge or posting on their social media account with the hashtag #NOMCTXST. The Not On My Campus organization will have its first Quad day on Oct. 10, and will set up laptops for anyone who wants to be a part of the growing student family.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
Bobcats sit during National Anthem to fight injustice By Stacee Collins Assistant Lifestyle Editor @stvcee More than 125 Texas State students didn’t rise for the National Anthem at Saturday’s home football game against University of Houston. Inspired by Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players, Black Lives Matter Movement San Marcos and other student organizations planned the peaceful protest weeks in advance. Texas State’s Black Women United and Black Men United joined with BLMSM to tailgate before the game. Around 5 p.m., the groups entered the stadium as a collective and found a section where they could all sit together. Once the National Anthem began playing, the groups remained seated, bowed their heads and raised their fists in the air while wearing black attire. “We just can’t honor a country that does not honor or acknowledge that black lives are continuing to experience historical injustice and systemic oppression,”
Russell Wilson, BLMSM cofounder said. “Now, more than ever, we need to utilize the rights that were given to us in the Constitution, although the Constitution was never intended for us.” Lonvis Naulls, exercise and sports science junior and BLMSM co-founder, said the sit-in gained massive support once the flyer was posted on Twitter. People of any race, age or gender were invited to the peaceful protest. “We had a great response,” Naulls said. “Some of the band members, UH football players and coaches said thank you. As an opposing team, it meant a lot to see them say thank you and appreciate what we were doing. Everyone that participated enjoyed what we did.” Samantha Garcia, philosophy junior, said she supports the BLMSM sit-in and freedom of expression. “I get what they’re doing and I agree with it,” Garcia said. “I think there’s a problem in this country with stereotyping, and the justice system is completely crooked and unfair. It need-
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSEPH DUARTE | HOUSTON CHRONICLE
ed to be addressed.” However, some do not approve of the recent protests. A video of the sit-in was tweeted by a Houston Chronicle writer, and over 3,000 people retweeted it. Replies consisted of either overwhelming support or opposition. Naulls said backlash was expected because he knows a lot of people don’t agree with the movement. “We have to tune that out because this is our way of fighting back,” Naulls said. “If you haven’t been in a black person’s position, it’s hard for you to understand where we’re coming from deeply when we see another one of our black women or men gunned down in the street while unarmed.” Kayla Wilburn, commu-
nication disorders sophomore, said her roommate who participated in the sitin invited her to join, but she didn’t want to. “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but the National Anthem is a time where we should be united,” Wilburn said. “For that one moment, we should all come together as Americans. I guess they stood for what they believed in, but they’ve made their point.” Naulls wants to remind those who oppose the movement that BLMSM is not a negative organization and the protests do not harm anyone. According to Naulls, the black community has been most active this semester, when compared to the previous four years. “As a black community,
we’re going to be there for each other,” Naulls said. “To sit in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world who are doing it—it was a proud moment.” Alexus Barree, BLMSM co-founder, said the movement has gained momentum because of police brutality around the country. “We decided to do this now because this time for black people is a really hard time,” Barree said. “This wasn’t happening 3 or 4 years ago as much as it is now. We do it now because it’s more visible to us, so it’s more hurtful to us.” The groups plan to protest at every home game, Naulls said. In addition, they will conduct sit-ins at basketball games when the season begins.
The 2016 Texas Tribune Festival featured panels that expressed dialogue from different speakers regarding issues of gender and race, while incorporating the president’s role in change among these topics. Texas Tribune’s Editor-InChief Emily Ramshaw facilitated discussion regarding if Texas was a good place for women. The panel featured former Texas Comptroller Susan Combs and former Texas Senator Wendy Davis. Davis said her experience living in Texas has forced her to become tough, as she fought to be heard. She believes Texas has fallen behind on passing an equal pay law and lifting the minimum wage, which has created a lack of business opportunities for women. While women’s participation in politics are low, Combs encourages women to get involved. She said she is determined to fight for any woman who wants to run for office. Davis followed with the high standards set for women when they have to prove themselves twice as much as men when running for office. Ramshaw then moved into discussion on what Combs’ and Davis’ preferred candidates can do for the future of women. Davis, in support of Hillary Clinton, said she thinks about what candidate would lay the best foundation for her 5-month-old granddaughter. Combs, who is in support of Donald Trump, who she feels is better for the country and for Texas. The discussion of who would be the best leader for our country was a common theme throughout the festival. This topic was heavily weighed in the panel titled, “The State of Black America,” which also focused on racism in America and within political parties. Tourè moderated the discussion between Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor and Allen West, former Florida state representative. The panel touched on presidential racism, policing views and free expression. An audience member asked West if he would cast a vote for Donald Trump. West said he is 65 percent in support ofTrump. West dodged questions regarding race-related issues, but said the GOP has given up on the black community, while Democrats take it for granted. In order to improve better relations between police and community, Taylor said San Antonio is working on implementing body cameras and de-escalation training. Conversation moved on to Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest, getting speakers to open up about their views on free expression. While West pressed concerns on undermining authorities and protesting in an appropriate manner, Taylor and Reed both agreed that opportunities to express different views should be respected and cherished. The festival was composed of different perspectives between panelists and created an opportunity for ongoing discourse as elections approach.