September 25, 2018

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018

@universitystar | universitystar.com

LIFE & ARTS Keep San Marcos Beautiful plans Second Annual Fall River Cleanup |PAGE 3|

Pagan Student Fellowship sheds light on paganism

Volume 108, Issue 05

Pay-to-ride bikes bring new alternative transportation to Texas State and San Marcos

|PAGE 4|

OPINIONS

Young, educated people are a powerful voting block |PAGE 5|

Testimony: Working at a strip club does not deserve its stigma |PAGE 6|

SPORTS Weekend Recap |PAGE 7|

Bobcats fall short 21-25 as Road Runners defend Alamodome |PAGE 7|

Texas State awarded $1.9 million to advance student access to math

A student uses a VeoRide bike Sept. 24 on Texas State's campus. VeoRide is a bike-share program that allows students to rent Bobcat-brandished bikes through a mobile app.

PHOTO BY CAMERON HUBBARD

By Triston Giesie | News Contributor

T

exas State and San Marcos launched a dockless bike-share program in partnership with VeoRide Sept. 20.

The gold bikes can be found around town brandishing a Bobcat logo and can be unlocked by downloading the VeoRide app and scanning each bike's unique QR code.

The bikes can then be dropped off at any predetermined location throughout San Marcos and the Texas State campus.

Cost-wise, the bikes run for 15 minutes for every 50 cents paid through the app but day passes can be bought for $6.99. Additional packages are also available for $25.99 per month or $99.99 annually, which includes unlimited 30-minute rides. Student discounts are available for the monthly and annual packages.

San Marcos Economic Development Administrator

Kevin Burke said the plan came at no cost to either the city or university. Instead of allowing multiple companies to set up shop in San Marcos, VeoRide is the only authorized bike sharing program in San Marcos.

This will help create a simpler, universal experience for riders and give VeoRide the best opportunity to succeed as a business.

“Over time, the city’s goal is to accommodate for all modes of transportation,” Burke said. “For now, we want to do anything we can to increase mobility outside of people driving single occupancy vehicles.”

The bike-share program comes as a part of the city's Transportation Master Plan to bring multi-modal transportation to the community.

SEE BIKE PROGRAM PAGE 2

Mermaids dive into downtown San Marcos with SMTX Mermaid Parade

By Brittlin Richardson Senior News Reporter Texas State received a $1.9 million grant on Sept. 6, to create an app to help engage elementary and middle school students in math.

The National Science Foundation, a government agency that funds research and education in non-medical science and engineering fields, awarded the grant for the project.

The project employs four main components: the creation of the interactive app Math Habits Tool, the assessment of classroom learning through video recordings, collecting data concerning the success of the app and professional development for teachers and school officials. The project will occur over a four-year period with the majority of the funds going towards the further development and integration of the Math Habits Tool in classrooms and schools throughout the country.

The app will give the ability to track student response to teaching methods in real time and the findings will help develop research-based ways for teachers to engage students.

SEE GRANT PAGE 2

One of many festive floats going through the streets of San Marcos Sept. 22. during the Downtown Mermaid Promenade.

PHOTO BY CHUBU NWADIEI

(TOP) Festive mermaid costumes were worn Sept. 22 during the parade.

(BOTTOM) Even those who did not dress as a mermaid still played a part Sept. 22 in the Downtown Mermaid Promenade.

PHOTO BY CHUBU NWADIEI

SEE MERMAID PARADE 2018 PAGE 4

The University Star

2 | Tuesday, September 25, 2018

NEWS

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FROM FRONT BIKE PROGRAM Matt Briggs, Texas general manager for VeoRide, said Texas State and the city of San Marcos released a joint request for a dock-less mobility service.

"Combined, the Texas State campus and the city of San Marcos gave us the ideal scenario," Briggs said. "We have gotten great, positive feedback.

Students, faculty and the community love it. It's a more efficient transport and it eliminates most problems associated with bikes like theft or not having a place to park the bike."

Texas State Coordinator of Alternative Transportation Services and Bike Cave Manager Alex Vogt spearheaded the initiative alongside Burke and Texas State Director of Transportation Services Steven Herrera. Vogt believes this bike sharing system is more than an opportunity to make traversing campus

easier.

“This could be seen as an opportunity to change the culture around biking on campus," Vogt said. "With all of these new bikes around and the fact that they’re very affordable, we’re hoping it’ll catch on with all the students here."

Vogt named several benefits to allow VeoRide on Texas State and in San Marcos and noted a specific benefit to seeing how these systems work at universities who open their doors to bike rental companies.

“We’ve been able to learn from the other colleges that have done this before us and know how to avoid some of the same pitfalls they had,” Vogt said.

“What we have is a newer product that has a few newer updates that really make the difference.”

According to Herrera, there are a

variety of features to help make the process as enjoyable as possible. The bike sharing company will also be tasked with maintenance and placement of the bicycles.

The contract is signed by the city and university and is set to be renewed annually for the next five years but can be opted out of by either entity if they or the public are unsatisfied.

Recent Texas State University graduate Brent Jenogan is an avid cyclist and said he wished this program would have been around when he was still on campus.

"It sounds like a great opportunity," Jenogan said. "Believe it or not, cycling costs a lot of money when you're getting started. Bike-sharing programs like this are gonna give everyone here the benefits of owning a bike without having to blow the bank."

HOUSING

City Council establishes workforce to address housing challenges

By Christopher Green Assistant News Editor The San Marcos City established a Workforce Housing Task Force to assist City Council in developing housing policies as working families face housing challenges.

In January 2018, City Council identified housing for working families as one of its five strategic initiatives.

The task force will try to identify and initiate housing solutions within the community by focusing on the limited supply of housing, the affordability of living in San Marcos and the number of people moving to the area. Mayor John Thomaides said there will be a number of different strategies to deal with housing policies.

“A really healthy city has to have housing opportunities and find a way to keep the middle income,” Thomaides said. “Some of the strategies we have

discussed have been land banking, Gillfillan also said they will have a where City Council partners with minimum of one community input private sectors on land and then make session and could evolve through the the housing models alternatively process. affordable so that houses that are built and owned by people and sold have to qualify."

Thomaides said these strategies will help make San Marcos an affordable place to live for middle and workingclass families.

Abby Gillfillan, planning manager for the city of San Marcos and leader of the Workforce Housing Task Force, said the task force is comprised of 20 members from all different sectors of the community, including home builders, service providers and affordable housing developers who will present policy A San Marcos house stands Sept. 24 on the recommendations to City Council. corner of Mill and Eastwood.

“They’ll meet a minimum of five PHOTO BY CAMERON HUBBARD times and by fall of 2019 they’re gonna be producing a policy recommendation to the City Council,” Gillfillan said.

FROM FRONT GRANT Kathleen Melhuish, assistant professor of mathematics and principal investigator for the project, said as a result of past research initiatives the project is important to providing an obtainable goal of teaching students and teachers alike the best practice.

"We want to work on explicating issues of access to mathematics and teaching moves that can guarantee [high-quality math instruction to] the very diverse group of students we have in schools in Texas," Melhuish said.

"It [will help to ensure] not just some students that are getting access to highquality mathematics, but everyone is."

The Texas Education Agency's statewide summer 2018 summary of the STAAR Algebra I standardized test reported out of nearly 28,000 tested students, almost 17,000 did not meet passing standards. Nearly 13,000 of the students that did not meet passing standards are considered "economically

disadvantaged." The project seeks to close the gap of inequitable math instruction and ensure schools have access to the best practices.

The project is multi-sited and includes Portland State University and Teachers Development Group, a professional development non-profit.

The project will be housed at Texas State, the main investigative authority in conjunction with Portland State doing a majority of the research with graduate students. For schools who wish to integrate the system, researchers will work with teachers or principals to merge the system with the classroom.

Andrew Pyle, history senior and student teacher at Hays High School, said he has seen numerous students struggle in math and believes math instruction should adapt to different students' learning style.

"As generations go on, students

learn differently and instruction needs to change so students can learn with their own style," Pyle said. "Math is a very important subject as more and more careers involve it. This research will make a huge impact as it affects how students learn and what they learn."

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, announced Texas State's receipt of the grant, stating they are increasingly important to ensure students are given the best opportunities within the STEM field.

"Our world's increasing reliance on technology and data means strong STEM-focused minds will continue to be in high demand, and we should give students in these fields every advantage to succeed," Cornyn stated in a press release. "I applaud area leaders for their work to obtain this grant, and I'm grateful to the Trump Administration for supporting Texas State."

INNOVATION WEEK

Liberal Arts kicks off Innovation Week by engaging students in research

By Brittlin Richardson Senior News Reporter Texas State's Innovation Week kicked off Sept. 24 with a College of Liberal Arts showcase featuring faculty research and inviting students to engage in conversation.

Texas State's Common Experience theme for 2018-19 is innovation, "as a means to engage students, faculty, staff and the community in the ideas and opportunities that will shape our future," according to the Common Experience website.

Thirty-one liberal arts professors presented across campus to explain their research and give undergraduate students an interactive experience on topics ranging from constructing and deconstructing community and generational well-being.

Aimee Roundtree, associate dean for research and promotion, said the day amplified student involvement by avoiding lectures and instead inviting students to talk one-on-one with faculty.

"It is important to highlight advances we are making in the humanities and

social sciences and human inquiry," Roundtree said. "What we do in (liberal arts) is complementary and equally important to work in technology. With the advancement of technology, we awaken new ethical issues and dilemmas and it is important to understand those things from a human and societal perspective."

Roundtree said it is important for researchers to be public scholars to foster expertise and information for global problems.

Nicole Taylor, associate professor of anthropology, presented her research on how students interact with social media as a part of the event.

"The value this research has is the fact young people spend so much time on social media but (researchers) really do not understand what it looks like," Taylor said. "What is seen in the popular media is there is a lot of angst about young people on social media by parents, educators and the general public. What we are finding is it is a much more nuanced picture of understanding the ways social media is enhancing their lives and holding them

back."

Taylor said the research will be presented to invite conversations with students by matching social media posts with the perceived amount of likes received and the identification of popular catchphrases to unpack meaning.

Lauren Fulenwider, psychology sophomore and attendee at Innovation in the College of Liberal Arts New Perspectives on Gender and Race, said the topics of the sessions were highly interesting.

"I attended because I'm always open to gaining new perspectives and I always want to be open-minded," Fulenwider said.

The Common Experience program brought the authors of "The Runaway Species," this year's Common Experience book, to campus Sept. 24. and will bring Jose Hernandez Sept. 25 as the LBJ Distinguished Lecturer. Texas State departments will be hosting events, lectures and exhibitions for Innovation Week. The full schedule can be found at www.txstate.edu/commonexperience/ events/innovation-week.html.

The University Star

Tuesday, September 25, 2018 | 3

LIFE & ARTS

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

Diana Furman Life & Arts Editor @Dianna9696

RIVER CLEANUP

Keep San Marcos Beautiful plans Second Annual Fall River Cleanup

A storm drain channels water and plant matter from walkways Nov. 6 to the San Marcos River. Signs have been placed at each drain on campus that read, "No dumping, drains to river."

STAR FILE PHOTO

By Nathanael Lorenzo Life & Arts Contributor This fall, students and community members are gearing up for another effort to clean up the San Marcos River.

The 2018 cleanup will take place Oct. 6 around various parts of the San Marcos River. The cleanup areas will include City Park to Stokes Park, Purgatory Creek, Willow Creek, downtown, and drainage ditches along Hopkins Street, Charles Austin Drive, and Texas Highway 123. Areas will be assigned at registration. Interested volunteers can sign up at https://bit.ly/2oXLU5d.

In 2017, Keep San Marcos Beautiful hosted it's first Fall River Cleanup event, drawing 350 community volunteers to remove harmful litter from several different areas that feed into the San Marcos River.

Keep San Marcos Beautiful Coordinator Amy Kirwin said the program is hoping for a larger volunteer turnout to the cleanup this year.

“All cleanups have a positive effect

on the river," Kirwin said. “Even the smallest amount and size of litter is a problem to the ecosystem.”

Chandler Sargeant, electrical engineering freshman, said he was not aware of the cleanup.

“I definitely think we should try to help the environment as much as possible if we’re able to," Sargeant said.

During the 2017 cleanup, volunteers pulled over 2,940 pounds of bagged trash, 290 pounds of bagged recycling, 200 pounds of metal, 20 rubber tires and an assortment of miscellaneous large items from the river.

Sargeant said he was surprised after learning how much litter was picked up from last year's event.

“I’ve always thought the river was pretty clean, I didn’t realize that so much litter ends up in the river," Sargeant said.

Kirwin said one of the biggest problems is the effect the litter can have on the wildlife's diets. With over 3,000 total pounds of trash picked up, the event cut down on the danger to both plants and animals.

"The larger litter will float all the way to the Gulf of Mexico and the oceans, (and be) mistaken for food by downstream wildlife," Kirwin said.

Melani Howard, Habitat Conservation Plan manager, said even though litter generally collects in only a few areas of the river, it can drastically change the habitat for miles.

Howard said after the 2017 cleanup, the river’s ecological environment improved, allowing more wildlife to flourish from the reduction in water pollution. Special among the list of wildlife is the Texas Wild Rice that grows exclusively in the San Marcos River but has been historically threatened by the gradual loss of its habitat.

“Currently, the Habitat Conservation Plan funds the removal of floating mats of vegetation from the river because they shade out the Texas wild-rice," Howard said. “The contractor consistently finds litter of all types in these mats.”

Howard said the problem is worsened because much of the litter in these mats is decomposing plastic, which releases

chemicals that are hazardous for local plant life. Other litter contained in the river is not directly hazardous but holds toxins like oil and other miscellaneous organic pollutants.

Howard said the litter found in these mats is troubling because it likely means that another buildup of litter has reformed after last year’s cleanup.

“Heavier litter stays on the substrate and damages habitat for river biota," Howard said. “We find organic pollutants, such as dirty diapers, on the banks of the river.”

Although the event already has around 100 pre-registered volunteers, all community members are encouraged to participate.

The Second Annual Fall River Cleanup takes place on October 6th, 2018. Volunteers can sign up there or can pre-register online at Signupgenius. com. The KSMB program asks that all volunteers wear close-toed shoes and arrive at 8:30 to the City Park Rec Hall.

All volunteers will receive a shirt and free breakfast tacos.

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LIFE & ARTS

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STUDENT ORGANIZATION

Pagan Student Fellowship sheds light on paganism

By Mena Yasmine Life & Arts Contributor Witchcraft, cauldrons and crystal balls may come to mind when thinking of paganism, but the Pagan Student Fellowship is challenging those misconceptions.

Paganism is commonly associated with witchcraft and Wicca. However, it encompasses a myriad of beliefs.

Paganism is an umbrella term for a number of polytheistic and other unconventional religions.

PSF, an organization made up of several different polytheistic and divination based religions meets weekly.

Through the organization, students share their personal beliefs and explore what it means to be pagan.

John Kellner, German junior, is a member of PSF. He said he began to identify as an Atheopagan, a pagan without godly worship, four years ago.

He said PSF is an ordinary organization with club meetings, fundraisers and upcoming events. Events such as Hogwarts Halloween, a divination class and tarot card reading night, are hosted by the club.

"The only real distinction would be the focus of the workshops and discussions that occur because we'll discuss things like different divinities or what the word

sacred means to us," Kellner said.

Rachel Flinn, microbiology senior and PSF member, said they have been a practicing Hellenic Polytheist, one who worships the ancient Greek gods, for five years. They said pagans are just normal people practicing varying religions.

"Just like Christians go to church and followers of Islam go to [a] mosque, we worship our gods and goddesses as well," Flinn said. "We do it in a way that is not traditional to how a lot of other people worship that are Christian, Muslim and Jewish but they are ours and they are unique."

Rory Pratt, biology freshman, said mainstream media has contributed

to their finding paganism. They said the recent normalization of forms of divination, such as the use of sage, crystals and tarot cards, led her to her current beliefs. "[Mainstream media] is bringing it out more so people have the opportunity to ask questions if they have any and explore a different religion than they're used to seeing," Pratt said.

SPF meets 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays in Alkek 148. The club welcomes students who seek a better understanding of Paganism and its practices. All are welcome to attend a meeting to participate in workshops and take part in upcoming events and fundraisers.

FROM FRONT

Mermaid Week 2018

Festive mermaid costumes were paraded Sept. 22 during the Downtown Mermaid Promenade.

PHOTO BY CHUBU NWADIEI

Festive mermaid costumes were worn Sept. 22 during the Downtown Mermaid Promenade.

PHOTO BY CHUBU NWADIEI

By Nathanael Lorenzo Life & Arts Contributor Rainbow-scaled mermaids waved hands and tails to paradegoers Sept. 22 at the Splash Festival's Downtown Mermaid Promenade.

The Splash Festival, commonly referred to as Mermaid Week, is a week-long lineup of events hosted by the Mermaid Society of Texas, a San Marcos-based organization that prioritizes environmental awareness, arts and community.

The Mermaid Society of Texas was founded two years ago and hosted the first ever Splash Festival in 2016. The society recruits local organizations to participate in the events through donations and involvement.

This year's Splash Festival ran from Sept. 15-22 and wrapped up with the mermaidthemed Downtown Mermaid Promenade.

"Everything is paper mache or recycled plastic, which we recycle again after we’re done with it."

-Cecilia Wibbenmeyer

The week pays homage to San Marcos' historic Aquarena Springs performers. Mermaids and swimming pigs were featured in an underwater tourist attraction from 1951-94 at Spring Lake. In 1994, Texas State bought the land and dismantled the theme park to build the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. However, the impact the costumed mermaids had on the San Marcos community is still celebrated.

Some events of the week were the Sept. 15 Mer-tini Shakedown, a mixologist competition, and the Sept. 21 Mermaid Society Art Ball at the Meadows Center.

Attendance was largest for the end-of-the-week parade, however, with around 600 people in attendance.

The parade had over 30 floats from a variety of volunteer groups, each drawing a constant stream of cheers from the crowds lining nearly two miles of downtown San Marcos

Owen Goodnight Middle School Gifted and Talented Coordinator Connie MartinThompson helped create the school's annual float: an aquamarine beach where mermaids rest.

Students participated as both walkers and as mermaids.

“Our art teachers and the [students] usually do all of the float’s art," Martin said. “I usually help our mermaids get ready.”

Ed Mihalkanin, City Council member and associate professor of political science at Texas State, participated in the parade and said the event helps bring the community together and remember San Marcos' history.

“Although the city isn’t personally involved with planning the festival, we still like to participate along with our community,” Mihalkanin said.

As the attractions rolled past bars and packed street corners, rooftop announcers reported the colorful and aquatic sights. Each

float was unique in both color palettes and themes. From beach martinis to stranded mermaids, the floats had it all.

San Marcos Art League, a nonprofit organization that seeks to encourage and promote local art, is already preparing for its float next year. San Marcos Art League Director Cecilia Wibbenmeyer said the organization has held workshops every month for the past year in order to have their float ready for the parade.

Wibbenmeyer said the Downtown Mermaid Promenade is not only a decorative street parade but that it was originally created to draw attention to the environmental efforts the San Marcos community must perform in order to protect the river from pollution and degradation. “[That’s why] we use completely recycled materials," Wibbenmeyer said. "Everything is paper mache or recycled plastic, which we recycle again after we’re done with it."

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(LEFT) Captivating performers entertained the community Sept. 22 during the Mermaid Aqua Faire.

(RIGHT) Mermaid paintings were left out for display Sept. 22 at the Downtown Mermaid Promenade.

PHOTO BY CHUBU NWADIEI

The University Star UniversityStar.com @universitystar

Tuesday, September 25, 2018 | 5

OPINIONS

Zach Ienatsch Opinions Editor @zachnatch

Young, educated people are a powerful voting block No mentality is more dangerous to democracy than the misconception a single vote does not matter. Even more egregious is the lack of faith in a powerful voting block of educated young citizens eager to see change in their communities and the nation at large.

Voting among the Texas State student body leaves a lot to be desired.

According to Dean of Students Margarita Arellano, only about one in four undergraduate upperclassmen at the university vote. Even less, only 10 percent of freshmen are registered to vote.

With the midterms closing in, now is the time for college students to remember how much power they have at the ballot box. An active engagement in higher education and an above average degree of social stimulation make America's newest

voters a valuable asset in every election.

Despite not having a presidential election on this year's ballot, the 2018 midterms are still just as important for civic engagement. Future legislation will be shaped by the representatives, senators, city council members, mayors, county and state officials and governors elected this November.

College students should exercise their say in who will get this authority because young people are impacted by the law and will live with the consequences the longest.

Older voters will go to the polls for their best interests. As the largest active voting demographic, older Americans have weaponized their civic duty to impact local, state and federal government. Most senior voters know this and will do it for the rest of their lives. But as Baby Boomers pass away,

their numbers will be replaced by young people. These new voters have no reason not to use the power of the ballot and exude the same energy when making their voices heard.

College students are more adept with technology and social media and can use these tools to their advantage to increase voter turnout.

These outlets can also be used to hear stories and testimony from different walks of life we would be unable to hear otherwise. In turn, this worldly approach makes for a more sympathetic voter demographic, which propagates essential legislative action for all Americans.

When casting a ballot, do it for the America you would like to see. Do it for the laws you would like to see enacted and the laws you would like to see amended. Do it for the tone you would like to see carried by the

governing bodies of the land. Do it for the future examples of what makes this country great for the benefit of all.

Today is the day to keep campaigning, advocating, protesting, demonstrating, educating and dialoguing and when the time comes, keep that same energy and vote.

Young voters should not wait ten years to decide that contemporary issues are important to them. When voting, you are not just setting the standard for the present; You are also helping to craft the laws that will remain on the books for years to come. No election is trivial enough to justify the largest potential voting demographic sitting these midterms out.

The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 9. Early voting starts Oct. 22 and ends Nov. 2. Election Day is Nov. 6.

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.

RECREATION

Leisure is an important human activity

By Patrick Tchakounte Opinions columnist Modern life is increasingly challenging. The business and industry of life is filled with anxiety and a worry that borders on insanity.

Stress appears as the main plague of modern times—a time dependent on the artifical clock, as opposed to the natural rhythm and organization of a biological organism.

There is a problem with the regulation of time, and how we use a period allowed for rest, relaxation and escapism from the worry of life.

Modern life is intimately associated with a question of leisure—of how to spend time in a way that is conducive to well-being and to wellness.

The term leisure comes from the Latin ludus signifying game, play, sport, training and is defined as an activity, a recreation or a state of mind that serves purpose and well-being.

Social psychology is a branch of psychology that attempts to study this

dimension of human life in a way the individual influences society and vice versa in one's exercise of leisure.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle believed that “the first principle of all action is leisure." He tended to favor a more spiritual conception of life that conceived human activity as rising above mere mundane work done for material gain or economic profit and into a more spiritual and intellectual comprehension of human life.

For social psychology, leisure is a necessity and a human right. Leisure is divided into two components: recreation and play. Recreation is a structured activity of leisure that a person enjoys, whereas play is essentially imaginative, engaging and free and focuses on generating a sensory, intellectual experience with no limitations. Both serve their purpose for creating well-rounded individuals.

Recreational activity centers on the well-being of the human person by personal preference, but also

according to the physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual and social needs of the individual. As such, for leisure to be successful, it must be tailored and focused to the specific person.

Thankfully, a variety of sports and activities available make recreation appealing to everyone in some fashion.

The result of leisure activity is the exposure to meaning, identity and positive change that contribute to enhancing the quality of life of the individual and his well-being. In a sense, leisure is a form of therapy since it can help ease the tension of life, contribute to self-actualization and help develop strategies to cope with mental health challenges. Today, leisure activities play an important role in mental health therapy.

For its contribution, Texas State fosters leisure by offering ample space for recreation and rest. There are opportunities for the integration of the natural habitat as seen with Sewell Park, promotion of the arts and music

particularly through concerts, its state of the art recreation center, all in a safe environment that facilitates learning and community. Learning, too, can be a form of leisure. The Counseling Center also functions as an additional resource for how to incorporate leisure activities into daily life.

Sporting events, such as the Olympic games, reveal that life ought to be celebrated and that in the harmony of the body and the soul, a person finds the education that makes overcoming adversity possible.

The human body demands a certain discipline. The training of the athlete is a practice of heroism, for in that triumph over adversity, appears the conquest of mind over body and the realization of the potencies of the human nature. To be human is inherently to learn to play and appreciate the musicality of life as an art form.

- Patrick Tchakounte is a biochemistry junior

GOVERNMENT

Student Government has lost its legitimacy

By Jaden Edison Opinions columnist Bobcats are not even halfway into the 2018-19 school year, and the opportunity for a fresh start has already been undermined by Brooklyn Boreing's political mess. Fancy suits, weekly meetings and office spaces have previously conveyed legitimacy to students, faculty and media. However, nothing about Student Government in the past year has been legitimate, and it surely has not earned any of the frontpage attention it has received.

News organizations, such as The University Star, deserve part of the blame for legitimizing an illegitimate organization. Week after week, Student Government has been in the headlines and on the front page. The Star’s coverage has placed Student Government's incompetence on a pedestal. While doing so, other great organizations have lost the opportunity to have their meaningful work displayed on a local platform.

The Student Government website states that Student Government “exists to represent the student voice to the faculty and administration.” It expresses the organization's excitement “to bring about positive change to our community and campus.”

Time and time again, however, its members have contradicted these very statements as they have exhibited they are incapable of handling any form of representation, let alone for an

entire community. Over the last year, there have been numerous examples displaying Student Government's loss of legitimacy.

Student Government members were incapable of attending mandatory impeachment hearings for former president Connor Clegg last semester. Those senators’ lack of attendance non-verbally conveyed to their constituents—who they are constitutionally obligated to serve—that their voices did not need representation.

Even The Daily Texan, the University of Texas at Austin's school newspaper, wrote an opinion column in response to the lack of attendance, urging their own student representatives not to make the same mistakes. Not only did Texas State's Student Government fail their own constituents, they also transformed themselves into an example of how not to act.

Student Government members were incapable of being transparent regarding their own legislation going missing last semester. Legislation is the only commodity allowing them to act on students’ behalf. A lack of transparency in any form of government is a lack of care for constituents. As an organization that only exists for the betterment of students, Student Government could not even do what is arguably the simplest part of their job: to effectively communicate. For a president to state that there were too many pieces of

ILLUSTRATION BY CAMERON HUBBARD legislation “to keep track of ” was an to Boreing, Becerra has not given the insult to all Bobcats. student body any reason to trust his Student Government leaders have word. Only time will tell whether been incapable of displaying good or not his fate will be similar to his moral judgment. The morally right predecessors. thing for former President Brooklyn Political allegations, hearings, Boreing to do was to address her impeachments and resignations allegations head-on. Instead, she involving Student Government took an easy way out by resigning have passed more frequently than her position, leaving her former actual meaningful legislation. Bad organization to answer questions representation does not warrant frontpertaining to her own alleged actions. page attention. Ridiculousness does Boreing displayed that she was not the not deserve attention at all. If Student leader that students needed. When Government cannot prove that it the job was no longer in her favor, she is an organization that stands with conceded. its student body, it does not deserve Student Government's future looks legitimacy and should be replaced by a as if it is full of even more incapability. more suitable governing body.

President Ruben Becerra Jr. succeeded Boreing, but an investigation could - Jaden Edison is an electronic media still happen in the near future. Similar sophomore

6 | Tuesday, September 25, 2018 UniversityStar.com @universitystar

The University Star

OPINIONS

Zach Ienatsch Opinions Editor @zachnatch

AIRCRAFTS

Supersonic flight takes off again—and it’s bad for Texas

By Toni Mac Crossan Opinions Columnist Fifteen years have passed since Concorde graced the skies over the Atlantic with its supersonic speeds, carrying up to a hundred passengers at once from New York to London in only about three hours. The miracle of commercial supersonic flight, however, met its end when operational costs, exacerbated by a post-9/11 air travel slump and outdated equipment, became too high for its sole operators, Air France and British Airways, to justify keeping their small fleets of Concordes in service.

Now, nearly fifty years after Concorde’s first flight, some want to see supersonic transport return.

Unfortunately, this would herald the return of the sonic boom and other environmental concerns associated with regular operation of a supersonic fleet.

Texas has a long history with the sonic boom. Rural central Texas residents recall booms overhead as military aircraft left San Antonio at supersonic speed as recently as the 1980s. Booms like these were experienced by the people of Oklahoma City during the U.S. government’s 1964 experiment, Operation Bongo II, which subjected civilians to regular sonic booms over a highly populated area. After the first 14 weeks of Bongo II, Oklahoma City’s tallest buildings reported 147 broken windows due to the repeated sonic booms.

These tests played a significant part in the American decision not to pursue commercial supersonic transport, leaving only the British-French Concorde development team and the Soviet engineers of the Tupolev Tu-144 in the SST game. The EPA and FAA also used the results of these tests to pass regulations limiting supersonic flight via military enforcement and other strict exemptions when traveling over land—hence why even Concorde could not fly supersonically from New York to Los Angeles.

estimated that regular operation of a relatively sizeable fleet of 500 SSTs could increase atmospheric sulfuric acid concentrations to 200 percent, nitrogen oxides to 250 percent and carbon monoxide to 20 percent in the North American flight corridor.

Emissions of nitrogen oxides and water vapour would contribute to an annually averaged ozone column decrease up to 1.8 percent for the Northern Hemisphere. Climate change is already progressing at a rapid enough rate without the enhancement of the greenhouse effect that regular operation of SSTs could cause.

Although new engines designed to maximize fuel efficiency while minimizing emissions will be used in new SSTs, unlike the early 1970s-era Concorde engines, the fact remains ILLUSTRATION BY CAMERON HUBBARD that those same emissions would be However, the federal government is few decades ago. released on a larger scale with regular, bringing supersonic transport testing But sonic booms are not just widespread operation and that the high back to Texas in 2018 with test flights bothersome. As was seen during altitude at which they are released will of the Lockheed Martin X-59 QueSST Operation Bongo II, glass breaks under remain a unique problem. scheduled over the Galveston area in sonic boom pressure. Sonic booms It may be tempting to pursue November of this year. NASA claims with overpressure—that is, the level to commercial supersonic travel. The this new aircraft creates extremely which the atmospheric displacement idea of spending only two or three quiet sonic booms—around 75 seen in a sonic boom increases hours on a journey that would take a perceived level decibels at Mach 1.42, pressure above the normal atmospheric subsonic aircraft seven or nine hours just quieter than traffic noise—which pressure—in the range associated with is what made Concorde possible they have deemed, in more PR-friendly Concorde have caused glass breakage in the first place. However, what terms, a “thump.” On the ground in and plaster cracking, which, over grounded Concorde forever was its Galveston, 500 volunteers will report residential areas, could cause thousands inaccessibility and limitations. NASA’s back to NASA the perceived noise they of dollars worth of damage. experiments over Galveston will show hear when these “thumps” occur.

Aside from the effects of sonic whether Americans will accept the It is just as well that NASA is booms, SSTs require significantly sound of sonic “thumps” overhead, performing these tests, as they are higher altitudes than conventional and influence changes to the FAA ban not the only organization attempting subsonic aircraft. Concorde cruised on supersonic travel over the United to bring back SSTs. At least three around 60,000 feet, about 17,000 feet States. companies—Boom Supersonic, Spike higher than the subsonic Airbus A380.

Texans should also be aware of Aerospace and Aerion Supersonic—are The atmospheric chemistry observed the effects SSTs will have on the developing SSTs set to travel at speeds at these different levels varies widely, environment overhead. If the rate at of Mach 2.2, Mach 1.6 and Mach 1.4, and contaminants which, at altitudes which the ozone layer over Texas is respectively. flown by regular subsonic aircraft, have depleting increases, the amount of While the aircraft in development a residence time of a few months can UVB radiation in sunlight that reaches are primarily designed to be private last years at higher altitudes. More the ground will increase, putting business jets, Boom Supersonic already supersonic aircraft at these altitudes Texans at higher risk of non-melanoma has numerous orders from five airlines, only increases the effects—multiplying skin cancer and the development of like Virgin Group, and in the next ten emissions to concerning levels. cataracts. A three-hour commuter to fifteen years, Texans could look up In a 1994 review of SST emissions flight is not worth the negative impacts to see aircraft travelling at twice the data, undertaken when a small number on our atmosphere and health. speed of sound—and be shocked by a of Concordes were in regular flight sudden sonic boom just as they were a across the North Atlantic, NOAA - Toni Mac Crossan is a biology senior

STRIPPING

Working at a strip club does not deserve the negative stigma

By Bayley Bogus Opinions columnist When someone asks the typical college student, “What did you do this summer?” the response is often, “I worked every day.” This will remain how students spend their summers because college is not cheap. Most working students may have jobs on campus, internships over the summer, a job at a local movie theater, or serve at a restaurant. However, I spent threeand-a-half months of my summer working at a strip club.

The average student makes about $11-12 an hour. Every summer before this one, I would be included in this range, even as a server at a high-end steakhouse, where I worked for two years to save up for school.

However, I wanted to make so much more with far less hassle. I had often seen on Twitter or heard of how much money girls can make waitressing or dancing at clubs. While the idea was slightly out of my comfort zone at the time, I applied at the very start of summer. I was hired the same day I walked in. Come to find out, this was the best decision I could have made for myself.

Being a college student and working at a strip club is not uncommon. In fact, one in three strippers are students working to pay for their tuition. I worked as a waitress for two months before moving to private dancing. In the time I worked at the club, I made over triple the amount of any previous summer working as a server.

At no point in my life have I ever seen so much money. When movies or music videos feature people throwing money in the air at clubs as if it grows on trees, that really happens. When you

ILLUSTRATION BY JEFFREY FOLLENDER

are up on stage, you can be showered with bills.

There is a vast difference between waitressing at a club and serving at a restaurant. When I served at a steakhouse, I dreaded going in for shifts. The money was okay, but the patrons were terrible and the service industry is not easy. At the club, while I still had to serve customers, it was as if all I had to do was bat an eye and I would get a $200 tip on a $50 tab.

Men vied for my attention and time and threw money at me when I gave it to them. They begged to buy me drinks and tipped me for everything. It was empowering knowing what I had and using it to my advantage. There is nothing wrong with this type of work, especially given the large sums of money I was procuring.

I developed relationships with customers; people would come in just to see me. The longer I was there, the larger my customer base became. One man would come in about three times a week to see me and spend around $1,500 every time. Rarely did I have a bad shift; on average, I would make an upwards of $400 a night. Against what I was making at the restaurant before, I now earned about $50 an hour at the club. The job was so much fun and I felt great about myself, physically and mentally, while simultaneously securing a small fortune.

Given, there are ups and downs to every situation. It was not all fun and games. Women that work at strip clubs have to constantly put up with harassment and creeps. I had to grow thick skin quick in order to get

through some nights without throwing a drink on someone.

There is such a stigma surrounding women that work at strip clubs, be it dancing or waitressing. However, people are quick to forget that it is just a job. It is not degrading or exploiting.

I have not hit rock bottom because I chose to spend my summer doing this.

For whatever reason, patrons of strip clubs, in my experience, feel entitled to the women around them. Men would get angry when drunk and take out their sexual frustrations or recent rejections on women they deemed “less than." They figured we were obligated to do and say what they pleased. These guys were usually kicked out before the night was over, and with good reason.

I was lucky enough to work with great managers that doubled as security.

They took the extra step to protect us if something were to go wrong. Fights were not uncommon between dancers over the slightest conflicts or customers who would tussle in drunken stupors.

Regardless, I was never against going into work. I enjoyed what I was doing, as did my wallet.

Waitressing and dancing have made me more confident in who I am and how I look. Stripping can be an outlet for the expression of beauty, self-love and sexuality.

Now, I no longer have to freak out when I see the price of my textbooks this semester and I can treat myself in a way I was unable to before. Society needs to stop shaming women who choose to strip or work in this kind of environment because, in the end, it’s our choice.

- Bayley Bogus is a journalism senior

The University Star

Tuesday, September 25, 2018 | 7

SPORTS

UniversityStar.com @universitystar

Weekend Recap: Volleyball defeats ULM and Lafayette

By Daisy Colón Sports Reporter The Texas State volleyball team won back to back wins over University Louisiana Monroe and University of Louisiana at Lafayette over the weekend.

The Bobcats swept ULM 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-19) and also defeated the Ragin’ Cajuns 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 25-15), placing them at 11-5 and 2-0 in conference play.

Through three matches, Texas State recorded a .358 percent attack rate over ULM’s .146 percent. The Bobcats led in every category and registered 49 kills on the night.

Friday night’s game leaders included freshman setter Emily DeWalt with 38 assists and 11 digs, freshman outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald with 16 kills, and Micah Dinwiddie with 13 digs and four assists.

Sunday’s game leaders included freshman setter Emily DeWalt's double-double with 53 assists and 14 digs, freshman outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald with 13 kills, senior outside hitter Amy Pflughaupt with 19 kills, and junior defensive specialist Micah Dinwiddie with a double-double and 18 digs and 11 assists.

Texas State soccer wins third game in a row

By Anthony Flores Assistant Sports Editor The Texas State women’s soccer team picked up their third win in a row over the weekend with a 1-0 victory over the defending Sun Belt champions, the South Alabama Jaguars.

The win brings the Bobcats to 5-5 for the season. Texas State is 3-0 in Sun Belt Conference play, with a 2-0 home record and 3-5 road record.

Junior forward Kaylee Davis led the team to victory over the Jaguars with the sole goal of the game in the minute nine of play. The corner goal came off an assist from junior midfielder Jordan Kondikoff.

Junior goalkeeper Heather Martin kept the Jaguars out of the net, notching up a total of 10 saves.

Up next for the Bobcats is a Sept. 28 matchup against Sun Belt Conference opponents the Little Rock Trojans at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.

Jakob Rodriguez Sports Editor @jakobryrod

TRACK

Cross country athlete races toward graduation

By Daisy Colón Sports Reporter When redshirt senior Joseph Meade signed his letter of intent to run for Texas State's cross country team, he didn't expect to leave so much behind with each step forward.

Joseph Meade, business management senior and Round Rock native, said his rise as a runner came as a surprise as he never expected to compete at the collegiate level.

"My junior year was when I really fell in love with the sport," Meade said.

"My senior year was the year I really kind of exploded and came up, I got a few phone calls and yeah, it was pretty cool. “Running means everything to me, it’s pretty crazy, running I think has shaped me in a lot of aspects. It’s (going to) be hard when my final day in college comes.”

Since joining Texas State's program, Meade said he’s taken on a leadership role to further what he believes the values of Texas State athletes should be.

“Leadership, that’s the biggest thing I’ve taken away," Meade said.

"Coming in I was more of a quiet, under-spoken guy, and I just tried rising up and setting my values on the table to what I think Texas State should represent."

Meade named Coach Alex Muntefering as his greatest role model.

He mentioned how his mentorship helped shape him into the leader he

is today.

“Coach Monty has been one of my biggest role models since I’ve been here," Meade said. "He’s shown me a great path: not just how to be a better runner but how to be a better leader.

He’s definitely helped me grow and I wouldn’t be where I am in running and life without him.”

Muntefering said Meade is a positive leader for the team and believes his presence will be felt even after he is gone.

“I think he’s done a great job of leading us on and off the track over the last few years and I think that’s going to have a profound impact for the program going forward as these younger guys continue to build the program after Joseph graduates this year,” said Muntefering. “I think even after he’s gone we’ll still feel the effects he’s had on the program.”

The runner has high expectations for the next two meets before conference play begins. Meade will compete Sept.

22 in the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark. and Oct. 13 in the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station.

“I think I have a lot to prove this week, I think the first week was a nice little opener, but I still haven’t let everything out of the cage yet," Meade said. "I definitely think that this conference is (going to be shocked) in the next few races."

To close out his collegiate career, Meade said he plans on qualifying for

Redshirt senior Joseph Meade is a leader on and off the track for Texas State's track and field team.

PHOTO BY CAMERON HUBBARD

nationals, something he came close to achieving last year.

“I want to be a national qualifier, that’s my goal," Meade said. "I also want to be a conference champion or help win the team title. Being a national qualifier is what I’ve worked for and every year I’ve come closer and closer. Last year, I barely missed out, but this year, it’s my ultimate goal."

The runner said he was proud to be named as the Sun Belt Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week. It's his second time to receive the distinction.

“It’s definitely not an easy thing to get," Meade said. "It just goes to show that our conference knows that I’m working hard, and they respect me."

FOOTBALL

Texas State soccer earns 2-1 win in double overtime

By Anthony Flores Assistant Sports Editor The Texas State women’s soccer team earned a 2-1 double-overtime victory over the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns on the road.

The win gives Texas State's women's soccer team an overall 4-5 record with a Sun Belt Conference record of 2-0. The Bobcats are 2-0 at home and have a 2-5 road record.

Both teams were scoreless through the first overtime period. It was in the second overtime period, at minute 107 when freshman forward Ally Kewish scored the game-winning goal off an assist from senior midfielder Kelly Barbalias.

Cross Country competes at Chile Pepper Festival

By Atkyn Garza Sports Reporter The Texas State Cross Country teams traveled to Fayetteville, Ark., this past weekend for the Chile Pepper Festival, with the women and men's team both ending in the top 20.

The Texas State women’s cross country team finished fourth overall out of the 51 collegiate teams competing. Junior Leslie Romero placed 10th in the race with a time of 17:33.4 in her 5K race.

The Texas State men’s cross country team finished 14th overall, with senior Joseph Meade boosting the Bobcats with his 24:48.4 time for his 8K course time notching him 13th overall.

Catch the Bobcats finishing out their regular season on Oct. 13, at the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas.

Keenen Brown pushes through UTSA defenders Sept. 22 to get into the end zone.

PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS

Bobcats fall short 21-25 as Road Runners defend Alamodome

By Jakob Rodriguez Sports Editor Texas State football fell four points short Sept. 22 against the University of Texas at San Antonio Road Runners during the H-E-B I-35 rivalry game at the Alamodome.

A punt from UTSA's Yanni Routsas pinned Texas State down to its own two-yard line late in the fourth. Texas State's decision to run true freshman quarterback Tyler Vitt in this instance ultimately hammered the final nail in the coffin for the game, which brings the Bobcats to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Starting quarterback Willie Jones III was taken out of the game during his second drive early in the first quarter and was replaced by redshirt freshman Jaylen Gipson. The coaching staff did not clarify why Jones was taken out.

Gipson was only in for a drive and was then replaced by true freshman Tyler Vitt, who finished the game and completed 68 percent of his passes and threw for 192 yards on the night with two scores in the air and one on the ground.

Head Coach Everett Withers said the decision to put Vitt in was

prompted by his experience.

"We just felt like we wanted to go with a guy that maybe had played a few more snaps and Tyler had played a few more snaps than Jaylen and so we felt like Tyler had the best opportunity for us to move the ball and win the game," Withers said.

Withers also had punter Clayton Stewart attempt a field goal during the game when two weeks previous kicker James Sherman tied a program record for field goals converted with five total field goals. When asked about the personnel decision Withers said the decision was prompted after the performance and low kicks.

"Because he (Sherman) has kicked a number of kicks low when we've gone for field goals, we were looking for somebody who could get the ball up," Withers said.

Oklahoma State graduate transfer Keenan Brown said the team will remember the game, but not for long, as the focus moves to the next opponents, which will be the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns on Oct. 6.

"Well, we have to have this 24hour rule, so we have this feeling for the next 24 hours and next thing you

know we have to focus on them," Brown said.

Junior linebacker Bryan London II said he took this loss personally because UTSA is just down the road.

"When we're 40 minutes (apart), I take it personally," London said. "It's football, you want to win."

Overall, Withers said he believed the team battled and is close to being able to pull away from teams. "(The) kids played hard," Withers said. "(I'm) really proud of the way, after South Alabama last week and not getting home until about 6 in the morning and struggling early during the week, these kids fought their asses off."

Withers said he and the team will use the current bye week to correct what went wrong and polish what they do right.

"You can take the things that we did well and enhance them and the things we didn't do well and try to fix them," Withers said. "We're (at) week four in the season now and we have a bye week. We're kind of at that quarter pole of the season, so now let's try and fix some of those things. Last two weeks, no-one has beaten us, we've beaten ourselves."

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Tuesday, September 25, 2018 | 8

Solutions from Sept. 18