February 26, 2019

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019

@universitystar | universitystar.com

Volume 108, Issue 20

BenbowThompson win election New president, vice president to take office in April.

Benbow and Thompson pose together with their campaign dog, Millie.

PHOTO BY CAMELIA JUAREZ

By Sawyer Click Managing Editor

T

exas State Student Government elections closed Feb. 21 with BenbowThompson winning by majority vote, according to the Election Board.

President-elect Corey Benbow garnered 61 percent of the total 1,977 presidential ballots, and Vice President-elect Tucker Thompson garnered 61 percent of the total 1,923 vice presidential ballots. Additionally, several oneand two-year senator elects were announced.

There were a total of 2,066 votes cast, which is 5 percent of the student body. The results have not yet been released online but were certified

by Election Board Chair Joshua Clarke.

“Tonight the student body overwhelmingly won," Benbow said in a post-announcement interview with The Star. "We ran a tough race and we’re ready to hit the ground running. I appreciate the student body participating. It’s time we had a student body president who put the students’ interest first."

Parking meters may put the breaks on student parking

By Tatum Story News Reporter Paid parking meters could be right around the corner for downtown San Marcos if City Council approves a proposal to curb non-customer parking.

The decision to implement the Parking Management Program, an 11-step plan that lays out impacts on downtown businesses, San Marcos residents and Texas State students, was postponed from the Feb. 19 meeting to an undetermined date.

Downtown business owners like Royal Cleaners owner Martha Salas think the current free two-hour parking limit is being abused by students who park and scurry to class, taking up spots that would otherwise go to customers. Instead of driving to work, Salas' husband drops her off, all in hopes to save the parking space for a potential customer.

"I would prefer to leave it open for a customer, but I’m really just leaving it open for a student," Salas said.

The proposed parking meters will charge $1 an hour on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a two-hour limit.

Salas said parking meters will help the current parking situation downtown but the city will have to keep close to make it effective "If they do put up meters, that would be great," Salas said. "But then they would also have to monitor to keep it; to make it work."

SEE PARKING PAGE 2

“

We ran a tough race and we’re ready to hit the ground running.

I appreciate the student body participating."

-Corey Benbow

The Benbow-Thompson campaign, which ran under the slogan 'Bobcats Better Together,' defeated the Plunkett-Torpey campaign, which ran under the 'Stand Up Students' slogan. Early in the campaign season, candidates Matthew Gonzalez and Alison Castillo withdrew following staffing controversies.

The Benbow-Thompson ticket focused on six primary pillars throughout its campaign: equitable representation, transparency, safety, further regulating Fraternity and Sorority Life, raising mental health awareness and working with parking services to prevent predatory ticketing. Benbow and Thompson will be sworn in following the end of the Castillo-Freund administration at the end of the semester.

“I’d like to thank the students who voted for us, it wouldn’t have been possible without them," Thompson said. "We’re going to be working much harder now that we are officially president and vice president."

VeoRide helps San Marcos environment

By Malarie Ohrabka News Reporter San Marcos' partnership with bikeshare company VeoRide has reduced gas emissions by up to two million grams across the 6,000 miles tracked on the gold-tinted bikes, according to VeoRide communications director Linda Jackson.

In recent years, city and university officials have added bike lanes and parking to support alternative modes of transportation and manage traffic congestion in the cluttered downtown area. San Marcos joined the dockless pay-to-ride trend in Sept. 2018 as VeoRide bikes sprouted throughout the city.

SEE BIKES PAGE 2

New electronic VeoRide bike sits on display Feb.22 in the quad .

PHOTO BY JADEN EDISON

Black students lead student body towards inclusiveness

By Sonia Garcia News Editor From the first black Student Government president to the first black editor-in-chief of The Star, African-American students of color are creating a presence never before seen.

President-elect Corey Benbow won the 2019-20 Student Government presidential election that ended Feb. 21 with 61 percent of the votes and became the first black Student Government president in Texas State's history. It's a win for historically underrepresented communities on a campus plagued by white supremacy, an unkeen administration and never-ending Student Government controversies.

Benbow said the problem isn't in the campus' diversity but in its inclusivity.

As he and Vice President-elect Tucker Thompson ready for their end-ofthe-semester swearing in, they want to encourage students to participate in Student Government as much as possible.

“We are at the right time in history for this to go forward," Benbow said. "How great this moment is for the student body. As we continue to impact change and move throughout (our) tenure as the Benbow-Thompson administration, this moment for the student body will be realized."

Organizations such as the PanAfrican Action Committee and Black Student Alliance actively strive for minority representation and were advocates for the recently approved African-American studies minor.

These organizations were especially proud of Benbow's election.

SEE BLACK HISTORY PAGE 2

In this issue Future teachers integrate technology into art classes SEE PAGE | 5

Bobcat Bobbies are not as helpful as they say SEE PAGE | 7

Kat Conner: The heartbeat of women's soccer SEE PAGE |10

NEWS Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487

2 | Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Sonia Garcia | News Editor

The University Star

Student Government Elections Results

Editors Editor-in-Chief: Carrington Tatum, stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor: Sawyer Click, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu Associate Managing Editor: Bayley Bogus, starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu News Editor: Sonia Garcia, starnews@txstate.edu Life & Arts Editor: Diana Furman, starlifeandarts@txstate.edu Opinions Editor: Carissa Liz Castillo, staropinion@txstate.edu Sports Editor: Jakob Rodriguez, starsports@txstate.edu Design Editor: Gloria Rivera, stardesign@txstate.edu Multimedia Editor: Cameron Hubbard, starmultimedia@txstate.edu Engagement Editor: Holly Hearn, starsengagement@txstate.edu

Advertising Staff Account Executive: Katy Goerss starad3@txstate.edu Account Executive: Carmel Lujan starad4@txstate.edu Account Executive: Mykl Miller. starad2@txstate.edu

Full-Time Staff

FROM FRONT BIKES “With more than 6,700 total users having taken 28,000 plus rides as of (Feb. 19), we are very excited with how (San Marcos) and (Texas State) has adopted our program,” Jackson said. “Our users are using our service as a transportation alternative, either as that last-mile option from a commuter parking lot or mass transportation hub to their final destination or for quick errands to the grocery store or around town. This is exactly how VeoRide is designed to help a community.”

VeoRide operates bike-share programs in several states across the nation, and VeoRide bikes have been ridden over 75,000 miles, leading to around 30,000 kilograms of emissions reduced, according to Texas VeoRide general manager Matt Briggs.

“Our potential to take (San Marcos

and Texas State) eco-friendly was part of the reason they decided to go with us,” Briggs said. “There wasn’t any specific target set though given how new the industry is.”

VeoRide bikes are designed to prevent overall environmental waste, according to Jackson. VeoRide uses water-based painting technology to minimize environmental impact during the coating and painting process of the bikes.

“Our bike frame and components are 95 percent reclaimable after the end of life,” Jackson said. “We also use electric commercial vehicles for daily operations to reduce our carbon footprint, and the GPS and locking mechanism on our pedal bikes are solar powered.

Psychology freshman Felix Garcia

said he often rides the VeoRide bikes around campus and San Marcos to avoid driving cars.

“The bikes help me get to and from work easily and cost-effectively,” Garcia said. “Even though they’re not exactly made to go up the hills at Texas State and in San Marcos, their convenience is unmatchable, and I like helping the environment in any way I can.”

VeoRide is here to help the San Marcos and Texas State community.

Jackson said the company appreciates being alerted of any concerns with the VeoRide bikes. All issues can be reported via email to hello@veoride. com or by calling VeoRide’s customer service line at 1-855-VEO-2256.

Concerns may also be reported through the VeoRide app.

Director: Laura Krantz, laurakrantz@txstate.edu Student Publications Coordinator: Mayra Mejia, mm1894@txstate.edu

Advertise With Us For advertising inquiries, please contact us at advertising@universitystar.com.

512-245-2261

About Us History: The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday of the spring and fall and once a month in the summer semesters.

It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 5,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels HeraldZeitung.

Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, February 26, 2019. 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.

Deadlines: Letters to the Editor or any contributed articles are due on Monday the week prior to publication.

Corrections: Any errors that are in the pages of The University Star and are brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible.

Visit The Star at universitystar.com

FROM FRONT PARKING John Redding, a baker at Gil’s Broiler, said the Square-located burger joint has a lot of students walk to the restaurant because of its proximity to Texas State, but there still isn't enough parking spaces for employees and customers.

“The parking now is terrible,” Redding said. “We have a regular number of parking spaces, not just for this shop, but for all the shops in the area.”

Kevin Burke, the assistant director of community services for the city of San Marcos, said there will be designated areas for employees where the meters will allow longer parking.

“The city has a really valuable asset: it’s (on-the-street parking)," Burke said.

"And currently, we don’t believe that we are managing that asset as efficiently and as effectively as we can. So the intent of our overall Parking Management Program is to do just that; to manage the system for the overall benefit of the community."

The main item on the table for

decision by the council is the On-Street Paid Parking Implementation Plan, which had its vote postponed with no set date. This plan includes paid parking meters. The council has already adopted the Framework Plan, which laid out what the entire program would do and why.

Part of the plan will see downtown divided into parking benefit districts, where revenues will go back into the city’s parking management.

“The idea of the parking benefit district is two things," Burke said. "It's the area in which we manage parking, and it’s the area within which we reinvest the proceeds that we generate through parking management. All of it’s going to be for parking benefits of some sort."

Burke said the program would be implemented in small phases, and what they have proposed to the council is to begin at the south end of the square on San Antonio Street and work their way north to campus.

A variety of non-perishable food items that can be donate.

PHOTO BY CAMERON HUBBARD

The University Star will continue to update with more information.

For more information, visit https:// www.sanmarcostx.gov/1669/ParkingManagement.

FROM FRONT BLACK HISTORY “We can’t wait to see the change your election brings to campus,” BSA tweeted to Benbow on the night his win was announced.

Another milestone for the student body was the appointment of Carrington Tatum as the editor-in-chief of The Star.

Tatum began in May 2018 and shortly after discovered he is the first black editor of the 108-year-old publication.

Despite his appointment, he said The Star is still lacking in diversity and inclusion, and he wishes there were more black journalists on staff.

“When you don’t have diverse people in the newsroom, you’re not doing diverse reporting," Tatum said. "That means we're going to have different pockets of our university that are underserved. It hurts the community in there are groups of people not being

reported on despite being a very valid part of our community.”

Following last April's student sit-in protest, university officials appointed criminal justice program coordinator Scott Bowman as the inaugural special assistant to the provost for inclusion and diversity, a position created to further inclusivity in courses and faculty.

However, in 2018, only 3.6 percent of Texas State's faculty was black. This is in contrast to the 11.8 percent of black students make up the student body.

By fall, Texas State will offer an African American studies minor, fought for heavily by PAAC for the last couple years. Texas State approved the minor in late January.

Texas State has had a long history with its struggle to be inclusive. In 1962, Dana Smith was rejected from

Southwest Texas State Teachers College in a letter from President John Flowers, the namesake of Flowers Hall, who stated only white people were admitted.

Her father hired an attorney who filed a complaint in U.S District Court. In 1963, Judge Rice signed a court order that ended segregation at SWTTC and soon after the first black students enrolled. African-American students were not allowed to live in residential halls or eat in the dining halls.

The school has come a long way since 1963, but there are many ways in which the school is lacking in inclusiveness.

“What I don’t want to lose sight of is, Texas State is not there yet,” Benbow said. “This is one step in the right direction, but we have a lot more barriers as marginalized students to break down.”

The School of Social Work produces graduates who appreciate and respect the amazing diversity of the human family, who grasp how that diversity is reflected in the families and organizations that people create, who embrace differences as a strength, who value social justice, and who ethically lead the struggle to foster a compassionate, productive, non-discriminatory society.

Offers Undergraduate (BSW) & Graduate (MSW) degree Part-time or full-time option for MSW Best Online Master’s Social Work 2018-2019 ranked by AffordableCollegesOnline.org (ACO) Texas State University ranks as top school for veterans nationwide.

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) INTERNATIONAL AND STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS Ghana with Dr. Pulliam Ethiopia with Dr. Hawkins England with Ms. McGee FACULTY RESEARCH –Child Welfare –Aging –Food Insecurity –School social work –Adventure Therapy –Military –Art & Music engagment –Trauma Program requires practicum. School of Social Work has a field office on campus.

Graduate Academic Advisor: Ms. Lisa Ramos

DEADLINE TO APPLY TO MSW: MARCH 15, 2019 ENCINO HALL BUILDING SUITE 150 PHONE: 512-245-7170 https://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/programs/msw.html

LIFE & ARTS

4 | Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Diana Furman | Life & Arts Editor

The University Star

CODING

Future teachers integrate technology into art classes

By Sonia Garcia News Editor Coding mixed with art may sound unusual, but art education students are proving otherwise.

Sean Justice, associate professor in the School of Art and Design, along with his art education students, have been working on Families Learning Together.

Justice started the project in 2017 to research the way educators interact with students and parents together.

The project has allowed Justice and his students to introduce families to technology that creates art.

Families Learning Together is possible with the help of a research enhancement grant provided by Texas State. The project includes weekend workshops and after-school clubs for families to come together and learn new computer science skills in order to develop an art piece with it.

The workshop times and locations vary but so far, the program has teamed up with San Marcos’ elementary schools and the public library. For the past two workshops, parents were encouraged to code with their children by using Scratch, a programming language and online community targeting children.

Attendees faced challenges but ended up creating online visuals.

The stereotype behind computer science is that it may be difficult and primarily fitting for white men in isolated settings. Families Learning Together strives to challenge that stigma.

“We need to raise the status of computer science as an art form, so as a community, we can see computer science as something fun, creative and meaningful,” Justice said. “I would love it if, as soon as you thought of computer science, the image was everyone having fun and making stories and robots.”

Justice is extremely proud of the project’s contribution to the community.

Sean Justice and his students worked with families on Feb. 17 to use computer science in an artistic way.

PHOTO BY SONIA GARCIA

No one said parents and educators can't continue learning beside children. The program Justice built created the reality that everyone can learn together.

Justice said teaching has been a constant in his life. While working toward his doctorate degree at Columbia University, he was part of a team that learned about how people operated artistically with machines.

When Justice started his job at Texas State in fall 2016, he wanted to work on something similar. Additionally, having children of his own made him much more aware of how school classrooms

worked and he wanted to become involved.

Nydia Mendoza, studio art senior, said the experience she has gotten with Families Learning Together has been very beneficial to her becoming a teacher.

“Really understanding what computers, art and technology as a whole can do in a classroom is something I think I would integrate into my curriculum,” Mendoza said.

Justice is currently working with the SMCISD to see how he can apply his work in actual classrooms. He said there

are a lot of different people who have similar ideas and concerns.

Analisa Esther, history and dance double major senior, said the community has been really receptive to the program by spreading the word about its existence.

"I feel like when I help people in the community it helps others in the community, like a chain reaction," Esther said.

To stay up-to-date with Families Learning Together, visit its Twitter account: @FLT_SMTX.

FOOD

Food insecurity remains a problem in the San Marcos area

By Brianna Benitez Life & Arts Contributor As the population of San Marcos and surrounding towns continue to grow, more and more families are becoming victims to food insecurity. Child hunger is a national crisis, and the children within the San Marcos community are among the most impacted.

To live in a household considered to be food insecure means to frequently not have enough food and constantly wonder where and when the next meal will come. Child hunger is an issue commonly affecting low-income families.

Mallory Best, communications coordinator for the Hays County Food Bank, said about 70 percent of children in the San Marcos school district qualify for free or reduced lunch.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), children who come from homes where the income is at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines receive free lunch from public schools.

Children whose family’s income falls between 130 percent and 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines pay a reduced price for school lunch.

Best said families whose children qualify for free or reduced lunch also qualify for services provided by the Hays County Food Bank. Additionally, the main reason child hunger is so common in the San Marcos area is because of the rate at which the city is growing.

“San Marcos is one of the fastest growing cities in America,” Best said.

“Food insecurity happens when a lot of people live in one area, especially so fast.”

She said the way income levels are split over a large population causes an increase in lower-income jobs.

A variety of non-perishable food items that can be donated.

PHOTO BY BRIANNA BENITEZ

To help families affected by food insecurity, the Hays County Food Bank holds public food distributions every week. The time and place of each food distribution can be found on their website.

“We serve anywhere from 750 to 900 households a week,” Best said.

In addition, the food bank has a mobile pantry in collaboration with Central Texas Food Bank, where they distribute food at 8:30 a.m. on the first Tuesday and the third Thursday of every month at Rattler Stadium.

Furthermore, Hays County Food Bank has created the Backpack Program, which distributes food to low-income students in the San Marcos area twice a month. Each student who participates in the program receives a few fresh apples, a box of granola bars,

a can of ravioli, a jar of peanut butter and jelly and a pack of tuna fish. This program was established to provide students with a meal when they are unable to have one at home.

Several Texas State organizations affiliated with the National PanHellenic Council are hosting a food drive to join the fight against child hunger.

Amber Alston, communication studies junior, is the historian for Sigma Gamma Rho. Alston said the NPHC organizations decided to host a food drive because of the alarming food insecurity statistics in the San Marcos area.

“Throughout the stretch from Austin to San Antonio, San Marcos is the city with the highest rate of child hunger,” Alston said. “We really want to see a change and decrease in the amount of

food insecurity."

To donate to the NPHC food drive, visit the Fraternity and Sorority Life Office in LBJ room 4-14.1. The last day to contribute to the food drive is March 6.

In addition to donating to the NPHC food drive, students can donate to local food banks as well, like the Hays County Food Bank directly.

Students can donate any amount online at the Hays County Food Bank website. Every dollar donated provides four meals to San Marcos residents affected by food insecurity.

Additionally, students can purchase wish-list items off the Hays County Food Bank’s Amazon page or personally donate to the food bank by bringing in non-perishable and fresh food items.

Ashlyn Brosch, exploratory freshman, said she volunteered at the food bank because she thought it would be a great opportunity to help her new community.

Brosch said although volunteering is hard work, it is a memorable experience.

She encourages others to find time to volunteer at local food banks because there are a lot of families and people in the area that are in need.

“Even though this is a college town, there are actual families that live here,” Brosch said. “They are part of our community and if they need help, we need to help them.”

Food is a necessity everyone needs to survive, yet is something many are unable to attain. Those that have access to more resources than others are encouraged to join the fight against food insecurity and help put an end to child hunger.

To learn more ways to help combat food insecurity in the San Marcos area, visit the Hays County Food Bank website.

The University Star

Diana Furman | Life & Arts Editor

Tuesday, February 26, 2019 | 5

HEALTH

VaxFacts February opens discussion about vaccines

By Ryan Torres Life & Arts Contributor Health professionals and people everywhere are sharing their VaxFacts awareness posts throughout February.

The trend was started by health professionals who wanted to share information about the benefits of understanding immunizations. Health resources and professors participated in the trend to help inform students of the resources available to them on campus.

The Student Health Center is a resource on campus that provides students with accessible information about immunization and offers several different vaccinations.

Emilio Carranco, Jr., director of The Student Health Center, said he realized a clear correlation between vaccinations and the protection from diseases such as measles, meningitis and influenza. Each of these diseases were almost eradicated. However, the

population can suddenly make them trend again by avoiding necessary vaccines. “(A trend in past diseases) is a real concern for us,” Carranco said.

"Student’s should inform themselves of the benefits and risks of getting immunized.”

Carranco said there is a heightened danger with the rise in non-vaccinators, especially within the campus population. He said he suggests all students receive the vaccinations recommended by Centers for Disease Control. More information can be found on the CDC website.

For scientists and doctors alike, explaining the importance of vaccinations work to inform the public of the dangers of disease. The health status of the population is a year-round priority for any healthcare professional.

The issues surrounding vaccination comes from the misinformation the public intakes. Resources like the Center for Disease Control website

exist to provide helpful, factual information on everything necessary to know about vaccinations.

The benefits of being vaccinated outbalance the risks of not doing so. Structuring the argument that immunizations cause harmful bodily injury or even autism is a stigma created by false information.

Rodney E. Rohde, PhD., chair in the College of Health Professions, stressed the importance of informing the population on vaccines and the necessity of being immunized.

“It’s incumbent on us (medical professionals) is to take the message of the science and lay it out in a vehicle that’s easily understood,” Rohde said.

The goal of health professionals is to provide information rooted in data, science and facts, but is still understandable by the general public.

Rhodes said he provides insight on the issue is through podcasts and on his Twitter: @RodneyRohde.

According to health professionals, results from vaccinations can make a difference if most of the population chooses to receive them. This is known as herd immunity, which is the goal of vaccinations among a population.

José Prado, pre-nursing sophomore, said he understands the medical standpoint on the importance of vaccinations. As a future nurse, Prado sides with science when it comes to explaining his reasoning for vaccines.

“Why put other people at risk of diseases we have the cure for?” Prado said. “Explaining the beneficial side (of vaccines) can make people less afraid of the potential side effects.”

For such a large-scale issue, the public should be more aware of the benefits of vaccines year-round. A healthy, caring environment is what Texas State should thrive to create.

More information about scheduling an appointment with the Student Health Center can be found on the website.

FASHION

Fashion organization brings thrift shops to campus

By Ivy Sandoval Life & Arts Reporter The Fashion Merchandise Association holds pop-up thrift shops in The Quad a couple times a semester to raise money that goes toward the organization’s fall and spring fashion shows.

FMA is a student-lead organization on campus open to students of all majors. The organization's purpose is to educate students about the fashion industry through fun activities, socials, guest speakers, fashions shows and networking events.

Adeline Loper, events coordinator for the Fashion Merchandising Association, said she loves putting on the thrift shops.

“It’s great getting to put on the thrift shops and provide a variety of clothes for students to buy for cheap prices,” Loper said. “It helps support our organization as well as be able to put on other events. I also think it’s great when people volunteer to help set up or work the thrift shop just because they want to or find it fun.”

Jasmine Perez, elementary education sophomore, said the pop-up thrift shop is a great opportunity for students to gain easy access to cute clothes at

reasonable prices.

“The fact that it’s on campus and run by a student org. is great,” Perez said. “It’s cool to be able to shop and get cheap cute clothes all on your way to class.”

Thrifting is a great, inexpensive alternative to shopping for fast fashion, which is when inexpensive clothing is mass produced by mass market retailers in response to the latest fashion or culture trends and sold at higher prices.

Rebecca Ibarra, fashion merchandising sophomore, said the fast fashion market is growing and people need to be informed about the places where they purchase clothes.

“Fast fashion mass produces clothes and workers in different countries are having to work in horrible or dangerous conditions to get clothes to us,” Ibarra said. “It’s hard, but I think everyone should be more aware of where they buy their clothes or at least the hard work it took to get the final product.”

The FMA is hoping to host more thrift shops and is currently preparing for their spring 2019 fashion show, taking place April 4. The event will showcase the talents of Texas State student models, designers and stylists. Attendees can RSVP on the organization's Facebook page.

Model walks in Fashion Merchandise Associations' fall 2018 fashion show.

PHOTO BY CHINEDU CHUKUKA

OPINIONS

6 | Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Carissa Liz Castillo | Opinions Editor

The University Star

SUCCESS

4.0 GPAs do not ensure career success

By Carissa Liz Castillo Opinions Editor “C’s get degrees” is an infamous sentiment that every college student has heard at some point, and it’s right.

C’s do in fact get degrees. Students with 2.0 GPAs walk the stage and participate in commencement in the exact same way that students with 4.0 GPAs do. Graduating from college is something both A and C students will have in common at the end of the day.

In no way does this mean students should settle for doing the bare minimum, but they shouldn’t be so hard on themselves if they’re struggling to make those A's. Students shouldn’t sacrifice their mental health and social life for the sake of a 4.0 GPA. For some students getting a 4.0 GPA, or at least a GPA close to that, is the most important goal during their collegiate career. They study and work hard daily to maintain their A-grade status and to graduate summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude.

While a 4.0 is an outstanding accomplishment to boast, it can end up harming students and is simply an unrealistic expectation for some.

When the only focus of a student is trying to get a 4.0, they can miss out on creating, exploring and cultivating support systems, friend groups, student organizations and networking opportunities.

A 4.0 is not an indicator of success in college, either. An A does not gage intelligence. While GPAs do gauge a student’s ability to handle pressure or learn quickly, a study found that academic grades don’t assess other important hiring factors such as creativity, leadership and teamwork.

In fact, there is no correlation

cases of mental health conditions begin by age 24 and one in four adults between the ages of 18 and 24 have a diagnosable mental illness.

The American College Health Association also found that 31 percent of college students have felt so depressed in the past year that it became difficult to function and 50 percent have felt overwhelming anxiety, making it difficult to achieve academic success.

In no way should students settle for a C, but they also shouldn’t feel so bad if that ends up being the best they can do. Some students can successfully juggle a social life and decent mental health while making a 4.0, but some just don’t have the capability for it.

This does not mean they’re any less intelligent than or unqualified as other students.

Still, students should not slack off. The goal shouldn’t be to do the bare minimum. In higher education, everyone wants to pass, obtain a degree and ultimately have a well-rounded knowledge of whatever their field of study might be; but there must be a balance between academia and social life for students. The goal of students should not be a perfect GPA, but rather gaining a well-rounded college experience where they do the best that they can.

A degree is a degree is a degree and crossing college’s finish line is admirable either way. Students should not stress about an A but rather enjoy their time in college and learn other important skills that will be more beneficial to them in the grand scheme of things.

ILLUSTRATION BY JADEN EDISON

between academic excellence and career excellence. Students who graduate at the top of their class usually have successful careers, but rarely do they reach the top ranks of a company, researcher Karen Arnold found. This is because academic success usually means that a student has learned to comply with rules and fall into conformity

rather than challenge the status quo and think outside the box.

Students also face a variety of mental health issues that can affect their grades. Adding the stress of trying to obtain or maintain a perfect GPA can lead to or worsen mental illness.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness found that 75 percent of lifetime

- Carissa Liz Castillo is an English senior

FOOD

Promoting overconsumption of food is irresponsible

By Naomi Wick Opinions Columnist Last week, The University Star ran an article promoting eating competitions in and around San Marcos. Restaurant managers and those who have attempted food challenges attest to the fun atmosphere while people race to finish a near impossible amount of food, but there’s a dark side to this social activity. Each year, billions of pounds of food are wasted in the United States alone.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 133 billion

pounds of food were wasted in 2010.

That number only accounts for food thrown away or lost; there’s little data for how many calories are consumed in excess.

In an age where climate change is a rising concern among young voters, with policies such as the Green New Deal being proposed and the undeniable fact that animal agriculture is a leading cause of climate change, wasting food through overeating is something to be shunned, not celebrated.

College students battle food insecurity. According to the Hays

County Food Bank, 1 in 7 Hays County residents are food insecure.

When statistics show that nearly 70 percent of students in San Marcos CISD qualify for free or reduced lunches, it’s morally irresponsible for people to eat themselves sick.

Eating when one isn’t hungry is throwing money down the drain and throwing food in the trash.

People who have the means to eat out should be grateful for that simple fact. They shouldn’t be quick to eat all they can. Continuing to eat solely because one has the ability to do so is not only bad on a health level, but on

an ecological level, too.

Food should be satisfying. People should feel full, content and reenergized after a meal. Binge eating contributes to waste, to climate change, shows no empathy for the hunger epidemic and detaches people from good, pure consumption.

Though eating competitions are a playful activity for people to bond through, gorging oneself on salty, fatty foods for the purpose of bragging rights shows the disgusting side of consumerism.

- Naomi Wick is a journalism senior

Letters to the editor

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Confetti column successfully represents student concerns Hello, I am writing to you in reference to Naomi Wick's environmental article, "If They Throw Confetti, Don't Let Them Walk."

I commend Naomi on her boldness in content and professionalism in execution. She raises an important yet consistently overlooked issue on our

campus and delivers her opinion on the matter gracefully and thoughtfully.

To reach people's hearts and ears, it is crucial to remain devoid of emotion and passion even when dealing with triggering subjects (I know I am triggered by the confetti problem).

I especially appreciate her calling attention to the university's lack of enforcement on this issue as well as

practical suggestions for enforcing this rule and punishing the offenders. Not many articles offer such reasonable, applicable solutions to the problems they present. Naomi's ideas of community accountability and graduation-related consequences are brilliant and directly challenge the university's ongoing lack of action.

As a Texas State student, I

was proud to read this article. It successfully represents my concerns as a student and (I think) boosts the reputation of the University Star. I hope to read more articles as concise and effective as this one.

Thank you for your hard work, Jessica Healey

The University Star

Carissa Liz Castillo | Opinions Editor Tuesday, February 26, 2019 | 7

SAFETY

Bobcat Bobbies are not as helpful as they say

By Carissa Liz Castillo and Kindlynn Ortega Opinions Editor and Opinions Columnist While the Bobcat Bobbies service seems to guarantee student safety, it often ends up missing the mark.

Bobcat Bobbies is a service Texas State offers students to ensure that we remain safe while traveling from one location to another on campus. This service becomes available at dusk, and after 1 a.m. UPD Security Service police officers administer escorts to fit students’ needs. This resource is made known to incoming freshmen during their orientation as a way to protect themselves while on campus.

However, students do not always have the experience they are hoping for when requesting a Bobcat Bobbie.

The call is quick, to the point and polite. You tell the person on the line where you are, where you need to be and they tell you that a Bobcat Bobbie will be sent your way. But, there have been multiple occurrences in which the Bobcat Bobbie does not show or takes much more time than a student expects, leaving students alone for longer than necessary.

Students navigate around campus at night for food runs, to visit friends, for events or for schoolwork purposes, but when Bobcat Bobbies cannot be counted on, students are faced with the decision to walk by themselves at night instead.

The lack of lighting around campus is also a major issue and contributes to putting students at high risks of danger. Most sources of light during the night are found in more popular sites around campus, but eerie walkways and less popular areas are left lightless. This increases the possibility of something unwanted to occur.

This is a dangerous situation for students especially when Bobcat Bobbies is a service that is heavily relied on when students might feel the most vulnerable. The Bobcat Bobbies are also not in service while it is raining. This is understandable being that it is dangerous to drive in hazardous weather, but Texas State

ILLUSTRATION BY CAMERON HUBBARD

should find a way to make up for this and prioritize the wellbeing of its students.

There is also no way to know if the Bobcat Bobbie has arrived. It seems that the simple way to know is to wait, but many buildings—including dorms—have several entrances.

During inclement weather, students might stay inside the building for shelter. However, this becomes an issue because the Bobcat Bobbie expects a student to be at a particular entrance, but when the student is not seen or is at the wrong entrance, the driver leaves. It would be helpful to contact students through text, call or an app that keeps students updated on the Bobcat Bobbies’ location and arrival.

In the 2018 fall semester, a stabbing transpired at Sights & Sounds, a local Christmas holiday event held in

downtown San Marcos. The suspects were later found after fleeing the scene. With campus being so close to downtown San Marcos—where most city events are held—it is possible for people who commit crimes at these events to use the campus as an escape route or hiding place, creating an even greater need for a safer system for students.

Texas State requires that freshmen— except for a few exceptions—stay in dorms during their first year. However, studies show that a new student’s first two semesters are when the most sexual assaults occur. It is detrimental that possible “what if ” situations are not overlooked, and Texas State should better facilitate its students in order to combat this.

The shoddy reliability of the Bobcat Bobbies should concern

the students of Texas State. There have been incidents both on and off campus, such as the Texas State student who went missing and whose body was later recovered in Blanco River, the recent murder of a Texas State freshman and the cases of sex trafficking that San Marcos is no stranger to. These incidents are alarming for not only San Marcos residents, but also for students of Texas State, as well.

It is important that Bobcat Bobbies review their current policies and look for potential improvements to be made in order to keep students safe and to remain a dependable source for students that need nighttime travel.

- Carissa Liz Castillo is an English senior and Kindlynn Ortega is a psychology freshman

SPRING BREAK

Fight the FOMO on Spring Break

By Laura Nunez Opinions Columnist Spring break shouldn't mean an automatic plane ticket. It also shouldn't be deemed boring for being too simple.

Realistically, most students won’t be having the traditional spring break experience full of beaches and alcohol.

That doesn't mean social media won't be swimming in posts that create heavy cases of FOMO, fear of missing out.

College students need to avoid these feelings by staying away from social media and focusing on their own lives.

It’s no secret social media is the root of all evil. So, imagine how it’s going to be during spring break with people posting their lives all over their favorite platforms. The fear of missing out on all the fun will be at an all-time high for those who aren’t traveling to the desired destinations. College students who aren’t making it to the big events need to fight the feelings of being left out.

Many college students are living a double life: the virtual world against the real one. Sometimes their online appearance becomes more of a priority than actual reality is. This spring break, students need to remove themselves from the idea of creating an acceptable image of their free time. They need to focus on themselves and avoid getting caught up in trying to impress or

compete with other people through social media.

College students are surrounded by expectations of carrying out a perfect life. Understandably, they struggle in adapting themselves to their reality with this kind of pressure. They need to ignore the fear of standing out and reject the idea of conforming to specific standards.

Society can create unrealistic expectations and illusions that lead to unhealthy habits of self-deprecation.

College students are easy targets in these times of fitting in and following the crowd. Some people thrive in the intense atmosphere of the traditional spring break, yet others hate the idea of it. People have different interests and different ways of relaxing.

Attending a concert, for example, can relieve stress, pain and isolation tendencies. College life can be suffocating at times, so it’s encouraged to find outlets for stress and endorphin release. This is a time to fully focus on re-energizing the brain and mental health.

Most students will be staying home to work, so time will be a big barrier to keeping students from fully diving into spring break activities. However, they need to set aside some time in the week to relax and explore. After the break, they’re going straight back to extensive hours of homework and studying for exams, so this is the opportunity to

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSHUA IMAGBE

make plans and not waste any time.

San Marcos is a perfect spot for activities and there are plenty of popular cities surrounding it. In Austin, there are cool art galleries and 6th street shenanigans. San Antonio boasts the River Walk and good Mexican food. Or students can just spend the week floating at Sewall Park. Not everyone has time or money to travel across the country, but any simple excursion can create a relaxing

time during the awaited holiday.

Spring break is a nine-day release from the stress of school. College students need to view this as a time to take care of themselves. They need to focus on their individual needs and stay away from the dangers of social pressures.

- Laura Nunes is an advertising sophomore

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SPORTS

8 | Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Jakob Rodriguez | Sports Editor

The University Star

SOCCER

Kat Conner The heartbeat of women's soccer Head Coach Kat Conners directs players on the field during practice.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE ATHLETICS

By Jordan Drake | Sports Reporter Steel is strong and unmoving, but when placed into the intense fires of a forge, it becomes workable and emerges stronger. Texas State women's soccer coach Kat Conner has embraced this heat for most of her career. Allowing those challenges to mold her into the coach she is today.

Conner began playing soccer at four years old after she took home a little league flyer with soccer legend Pelé, born as Edson Arantes do Nascimento, doing a bicycle kick.

Even in the early years, Conner faced adversity, according to her mom Sylvia Conner.

“Her first adversity was coaches," Sylvia Conner said. "Youth soccer was so new in Irving it was difficult to find coaches who knew the game. Her first coaches were volunteer moms who were learning the game along with their team.”

This, along with the fact there were few teams for girls, meant Conner was learning on the fly while playing against boys’ teams.

Despite this, her talent was on full display, and at just 10 years old, she was playing in an age bracket above her own.

“They were all older girls, I was scared," Conner said. "We were playing in a championship… and I got a PK (penalty kick) and put it away. It sent us to the regional championship of the United States, so I think that was one where it clicked in.”

With passion, talent, and dedication, Kat became a successful athlete. At the conclusion of her high school career, she had the ability to play in college.

Unfortunately, there were not many choices at the time.

Determined to stay close to home

in Texas, Conner said there were only two schools in the state offering scholarships in 1987, Southern Methodist University and HardenSimmons University.

“Those were your two choices if you were going to stay in Texas," Conner said. "I knew SMU had two phenomenal forwards. I was a forward at the time and so I knew that wasn’t going to happen and so HardenSimmons asked me to play and I said of course."

Despite the limited options, she excelled early, helping HardinSimmons get into the final four of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics tournament before falling to eventual champion, Berry College, in the 1987 season.

The next season she led HardinSimmons back into the NAIA tournament. Kat and her team reached the finals of the tournament only to see the championship slip away again in a loss to Pacific Lutheran University.

Despite these setbacks, she held herself up as an influential leader, according to Gerald Guerreri, her coach at the time.

“She was my team captain and was very influential in the way we play and was a key figure and leader on and off the field,” Guerreri said.

Following the end of the 1989 season, Conner was rocked by bad news.

Hardin-Simmons was going down to Division three which meant the end of scholarships. Like every other time, Kat overcame this adversity and joined the program that had defeated her two years prior, Pacific Lutheran.

In the 1990 season, Kat, playing under legendary Hall of Fame coach Colleen Hacker got her team back to the championship. Pacific Lutheran’s

Baseball goes (3-1) in Lake Area Classic Texas State's baseball team went 3-1 at the Lake Area Classic last weekend in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Bobcat's record stretches to 5-2.

Texas State lost the first game of the tournament 5-6 against Creighton, which went up by 5 runs early in the game, hitting three home runs in the first three innings. Texas State threatened a late-game comeback but failed to bring home any runs against Creighton's last three pitchers.

Leading the way for Texas State's offense was Jaylen Hubbard and Will

Hollis. Hubbard had four hits in five at-bats and scored three times. Hollis had three hits in four at-bats, one of which went for yard over the center field wall in the seventh inning.

The Bobcats finished the tournament on Sunday by beating hosts McNeese State 5-3. The game was surprisingly low scoring considering both teams combined for 24 hits.

Texas State baseball will play its next game against Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Wednesday 6 p.m. at Bobcat Ballpark.

third in a row but once more, Conner tasted the bitter sting of defeat.

“When I lost it that last time, my senior year, I took off my cleats and threw them in the trash," Conner said.

"My teammates pulled them out of the trash and said 'No, no, no.' That was the final realization I wasn’t going to get that national championship. Bummed as a player, but I knew I wanted to get into coaching."

Hacker said she also knew Conner was destined to coach. "(I knew) two student-athletes (who) I met who were going to coach the rest of their lives and Kat was one of them,” Hacker said.

Joining PLU as a graduate assistant coach, she was able to help them get back to the championship. Leaning on all she had learned and experience earned from going through the experience as a player. When that game concluded Kat was finally considered herself a national collegiate champion.

Shortly afterward, she would join her former coach, Guerreri, at Texas A&M University, which had just started their soccer program.

After an extraordinarily successful run where A&M saw multiple appearances in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament throughout the early and mid-90s, Kat was finally given the chance to run her own program and earned the head coaching job at Texas State in 1999.

Conner was immediately successful and won the Southland Conference title in her first season, going on to win again in 2001, 2002 and 2004. For the next three seasons, however, the Bobcats struggled, posting their worst season in 2007 when they stumbled to

a 5-11-2 finish.

Conner knew adversity well and if anyone was gonna come back from it, it was her. The Bobcats emerged from the disastrous 2007 season, putting together the best season in school history claiming the Southland Conference trophy and getting into the NCAA tournament.

She had yet to face her greatest challenge, however. In 2015, Conner was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

“It changed my mindset," Conner said. "I think as athletes sometimes we think we are superheroes. Sometimes you just think you're ten feet tall and bulletproof. That definitely knocked me to my knees to show "no you’re not. you are human'.”

She credits the psychological aspect of sports, of digging deep to achieve as part of her fight. All the adversity she had faced in her life had given her the strength and ability to fight cancer off. In her fourth year of survivorship, she has become stronger and a living testament to what she preaches, said current junior goalkeeper Heather Martin.

“She takes what has taught her, and she is grateful for every day and she shows that in her work and care for us,” Martin said.

The Bobcats are coming off their first Sunbelt Championship and are poised for big things in the future.

Behind their battle-hardened coach, the sky is the limit. Like steel, Kat Conner let her fires reshape her into greatness. Like steel, she now stands strong and unyielding no matter what the team may face; and in doing so, has become the heart of women’s soccer at Texas State.

Softball goes 2-1 in Tampa Tournament TThe Texas State Bobcats closed their weekend with a shutout loss to the University of South Florida Bulls, splitting the four-game USF Rawlings Invitational.

Texas State opened the tournament with an impressive 17-5 win over the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Virginia Tech jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before the Bobcats erupted with a 14-run fourth inning, putting them firmly in the lead. Texas State added three more insurance runs in the fifth inning, sealing the victory.

The Bobcats split games two and

three of the tournament in a back-toback doubleheader on day two of the event.

Game two of the invitational saw Virginia Tech best the Texas State, returning the favor from the day before, blowing the Bobcats out 10-0 Dalilah Barerra earned the loss, going 2-1 over the three-day event.

With the split, Texas State moves to 7-7 overall.

The Bobcats will take part in the 2019 Houston Red and White Showcase, opening the event March 1 against the DePaul Blue Devils.