April 16, 2019

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DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 @universitystar | universitystar.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019

Volume 108, Issue 26

Mourners react emotionally during the Bobcat Pause Memorial Service tribute video April 11 in the LBJ Ballroom. PHOTO BY JADEN EDISON

Remembering fallen Bobcats With heavy hearts and cheerful smiles, Texas State came together during the Bobcat Pause Memorial Service on Thursday to remember faculty, staff, retirees and students who have died in the last year. By News Reporter Samantha Guerrero, Managing Editor Sawyer Click and Editor-in-Chief Carrington J. Tatum Dining hall Viking Goddess Susie Mullen, Regents' Professor Lawrence Estaville and the Iconic Village fire victims: Haley Michele Frizzell, David Ortiz, Dru Estes, James Miranda and Belinda Moats - just a few of the 40 fallen Bobcats honored at the event, hosted by the Student Foundation and the Office of the Dean of Students. On April 11, tables lined the walls of the LBJ ballroom. Sprinkled on each table was a name card, a framed photograph, a Bobcat Pause-labelled bag filled with an enamel pin dipped in the San Marcos River and heartfelt trinkets. Families and friends poured into the room to remember loved ones. Laughter filled the room as attendees shared memories of their Bobcat daughters, sons, friends and colleagues. Student Regent Leanna Mouton hovered near Estaville's table. Lined with flowers, photographs and trinkets, the memorial most prominently featured a resolution from Nov. 16, 2018, naming Estaville as a Regents' Professor that was signed by the Texas State University System Board of Regents, including Mouton. The designation is prestigious and is given to tenured full professors to award dedication to students and the university. Mouton said she hadn't known Estaville long at the time of the signing. He was fighting cancer at the time of the designation, and so the board was unsure if he could attend the ceremony. Estaville did attend the meeting in the end, and Mouton said his story

and his strength moved her to tears then, just as it did again standing beside his photograph. Estaville died Dec. 20, 2018, with his wife, Sandra, by his side. "I want to make sure his memories live on," Mouton said. "I didn't know him long, but his story was so powerful." When the viewing ended, guests were directed to a separate, larger room within the ballroom in which the service was held. Several administrators, including President Denise Trauth, and students spoke.

I want to make sure his memories live on. - Leanna Mouton "Each person connected with Texas State has made an impact," Trauth said. "They are all a part of our Bobcat family." Shortly after, each honoree's name was called by a respective member of their community. Student Government President Alison Castillo read student names; Faculty Senate Chair Alex White read faculty

names; Staff Council Representative Noel Fuller read staff names; Retired Faculty and Staff Association President Darlene Smith read retiree names. “Once a Bobcat always a Bobcat," Smith said. "Whether it be students or whether it be faculty or staff, we have literally put our heart and soul in the university. And I think that it’s important for us to recognize and acknowledge in memoriam the folks that have been a part of our community. I think it helps bring us together as a community." Upon reading the names, family, friends and colleagues stood up to receive a long-stemmed white rose, which represents remembrance and love, from Student Foundation members who lined the aisles. "We want to float the flowers we received down the river today for her," said Mari Silva, mother of Kate Silva Xavier, who was found dead Nov. 3 after being missing for over a week. "She would like that." VocaLibre, an acapella group from the School of Music, performed pieces signifying the strength needed to push through losing someone loved ones and the bonds that family and friends forge in order to have comfort. The memorial ended with VocalLibre lining the aisles to perform the Alma Mater. Following, attendees left LBJ to gather the mementos left beside each honoree's photograph, holding the roses and memories high with Bobcat pride. SEE REMEMBERING FALLEN BOBCATS PAGE 3

TPUSA to remain on campus following Student Government president veto By Samantha Guerrero & Sonia Garcia & Sawyer Click

News Reporter, News Editor, Managing Editor

President Alison Castillo vetoed legislation April 11 to ban conservative student organization Turning Point USA from campus, ending a contentious battle of free speech. The resolution was authored by Sens. Claudia Gasponi and Trevor Newman and was sponsored by Sen. Alexa Browning and Sen. Ex-Officio Jules Perrodin. The Senate passed "The Faculty and Student Resolution Act of 2019" during its April 8 regular meeting after a heated public comments section. The resolution proposed to ban Turning Point USA's Texas State University chapter from campus, citing concerns over the safety of marginalized communities and the integrity of on-campus student elections. SEE TPUSA PAGE 2

In this issue Texas State exhibition showcases the pride and skill of women ranchers SEE PAGE | 4

MAIN POINT-TPUSA has a right to free speech but not attention SEE PAGE | 6

Student Government President Allison Castillo and Vice President Keely Freund listen to students during the public forum April 8 at the Student Government meeting in the LBJ Ballroom. PHOTO BY JADEN EDISON

By land, air and Spavital SEE PAGE |10


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