April 30, 2019

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2019

Volume 108, Issue 28

The crowd dances until the last show ends at Float Fest 2017.

COURTESY OF CATHERINE GARZA

By Sonia Garcia News Editor After months of little to no information on the annual Float Fest, it was able to get permit approval in Gonzales County.

The festival will take place July 2021 at James Cannan’s ranch. Headliners this year are Major Lazer, Portugal The Man, Gucci Mane, Kaskade, Zeds Dead and Ice Cube. Supporting artists include GroupLove, Big Boi, Jungle, Missio and others.

The festival was previously held in Martindale, but in February the Guadalupe County Commissioner’s Court voted to neither approve nor deny the permit for 2019. Getting permit approval has been difficult in the past for Float Fest, as the city council accounts for traffic, drug usage, neighborhood trespassing, water pollution and public indecency.

In March, Gonzales City Council unanimously voted against Float Fest being hosted at J.B. Wells Park in Gonzales. In a real life “Footloose,” the vote was a result of religious affiliates denouncing the event due to the sinful nature of dancing and singing.

An hour’s worth of public testimony at the city council meeting led to conflicts regarding how local business owners would benefit and indecencies the festival would bring. The Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is currently suing

the city for misuse of the J.B. Wells Park, making townspeople fearful to go against their opposition to Float Fest.

The festival has proven to bring economic fortune to locations hosting it. According to the Float Fest team, an economic impact study was done on the 2018 festival and found a total of $12.3 million was generated from the event in the San Marcos area. The team hopes to reach the same goal in Gonzales.

Prior to the city council meeting, Float Fest organizers had the blessing to host Float Fest within county limits

by Gonzales County Judge Patrick Davis. The meeting was not to debate the permit, but to allow the use of city property for such an event.

"I had no grounds to deny it initially, and I think it will be a great economic development for the city and the county," Davis said. "Personally, I think it will be good."

Float Fest founder Marcus Federman spoke at the city council meeting after a 15-minute closed session. He is a man of faith and compared the festival to a Christian selling chicken tenders and queso in a restaurant, saying it may not be good for you, but people want it, so it is not fair to judge.

Federman offered to help with lawsuit costs, but the council still voted to end negotiations with Federman.

Nonetheless, the county judge approved the permit for 25,000 individuals at

James Cannan’s Ranch April 23. The location is about a mile from J.B. Wells Park, just outside of city limits.

Federman's team is working closely with the city of Gonzales to ensure all festival-goers are safe. There will be multiple exit points, making for improved traffic flow.

Gonzales is located about an hour outside of Austin and San Antonio.

Campgrounds open July 19, giving attendees the chance to arrive and settle in early. Unlike past years, river access will be available on-site. The campgrounds have more than 200 trees for shade, with 20×20 spaces available next to the Guadalupe River.

Federman said his team has been working on acquiring another location for months, which was gratefully found in Gonzales.

“We have been thinking about moving the festival for some time now to allow for expansion and more attendees, and a great opportunity presented itself with Gonzales,” Federman said. “Gonzales is known as the birthplace of Texas independence, and we can’t think of a better place to celebrate a festival rich in Texas traditions such as live music, floating the river and camping.”

Float Fest is going on its sixth year of action. The festival incorporates the Texas love of floating the river with music in the summer. More than 20,000 festival goers have attended in the past,

Students win Microsoft project, benefiting the Hays County Food Bank

By Julie Gonzales News Reporter The student-led F.E.E.D. team hosted a Microsoft-sponsored presentation of their award-winning project April 26 in McCoy College for the Hays County Food Bank The project won a $6,000 award in competition against four other selected colleges.

Last November, Net Impact, a nonprofit organization that promotes using business skills for social and environmental causes, selected 10 finalists to compete in a pitch in front of a Microsoft judging panel.

Texas State's team, F.E.E.D., received $1,000 in prize money and $5,000 seed money to create and perfect this project.

F.E.E.D., which stands for Food, Efficiency, Effectively and Distribution, created an app to help with food rescue, daily distribution and data entry for the Hays County Food Bank. It also assists in reducing admin burden, simplifying tasks and reducing log time of products.

The eight-person team consists of students majoring in computer science, communication design and business. Six of the eight students previously participated in Hackathon, where they were challenged to solve real-world problems in just two days.

F.E.E.D. started working with the food bank during Hackathon last year, leading to the creation of the team. The process began with F.E.E.D. in small groups that would meet with workers in staff data entry, client intake league and total distributions.

In attendance to the presentation were Microsoft judges, employees from San Antonio Data Center, advisers, professors, the Hays County Food Bank and students.

Janet Hale, finance and economics senior lecturer and the McCoy College Bobcat Net Impact adviser, discussed the concept to empower people and investing in the community as a fundamental of Microsoft and this project.

"We are thankful to be chosen as one of the four campuses in the

U.S to be selected to participate in a community pitch off'" Hale said.

San Marcos’ Hays County Food Bank has been a significant source for residents dealing with food insecurity and its surrounding areas since 1984.

At no cost, clients can receive food up to twice a week.

Food insecurity is how hunger is measured based on a household’s ability to provide food for everyone in the household. In Hays County, one in seven residents are food insecure and one in four children deal with hunger in Texas, according to the national survey by Feeding America.

and there could be higher numbers for 2019 with the venue now three times larger than before.

Cassidy Blaylock, public administration junior, attended Float Fest in 2018 and will be attending this year as well. She said while there is an abundance of local students, there are numerous out-of-town festival goers that attend.

"The community as a whole does a really great job at (cleaning the river), but I think because so many people come from out of town, they aren't very cautious of picking up their trash since it isn't their city," Blaylock said.

Every year the festival takes place, there are concerns for the safety of river life. The Float Fest team gives back to the community by organizing a river cleanup project. Divers and boats ensure the cleanliness of the river before, during and after.

Federman said individuals on the San Marcos River know the water is cleaner when they leave than it was before the team arrived.

If Float Fest goes well, it could open the door to future events and concerts in Gonzales, Davis said. Float Fest will go through another public hearing sometime next year to secure its spot for Float Fest 2020.

More information and tickets can be found on the Float Fest website.

New degrees and minor to be offered fall 2019

By Chase Rogers News Reporter

Cedrik Chavez, digital media innovation junior, alongside his team, focused on how to help food insecurity in an impactful and meaningful way.

"We wanted to create a system that helps fight food insecurity locally," Chavez said.

When working on the project, F.E.E.D. focused on three main sections: warehouse staff and volunteers, transportation and

Texas State will be offering three new bachelor’s degrees, a new master's degree and a new minor for the upcoming fall 2019 semester, expanding on an already extensive catalog.

Among the new degrees is a bachelor's in civil engineering with six sub-disciplines: a bachelors in health sciences, a bachelor's in public health, a masters in public health education and promotion and a minor in African-American studies. The new offerings have been approved after years of development by their respective departments.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the regional bodies for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions, have given the green light for Texas State to offer a bachelors in civil engineering. It has taken two and a half years of planning and development and will make Texas State the 19th university in Texas to offer the degree.

SEE COMMUNITY PAGE 2

SEE NEW DEGREES PAGE 2

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

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

Sonia Garcia | News Editor

2 | Tuesday, April 30, 2019

The University Star

FROM FRONT COMMUNITY storage. The team considered working without capital during the beginning stages because they did not want to incur any costs on the food bank.

The digitally cost-effective time scalable solution enters temperature and weight for volunteers and staff, saving 2-3 hours of data entry. The team had a $5,000 budget and finished with $2,000 remaining.

F.E.E.D.’s biggest challenges were time scheduling and communication. Several members had jobs, so each member had to coordinate schedules to work best as a team. The group also had to garner a thorough understanding of the food banks process before they could come up with the development.

After user testing and some final adjustments, F.E.E.D. will be officially offered for the Hays County Food Bank to use.

Jessica Cruz, volunteer services coordinator at the Hays County Food Bank, said the bank is very excited to have F.E.E.D. because it provides an opportunity to work with volunteers in real-time. Volunteers will communicate with food bank staff through the app on tablets while distributing food.

"The app is super user friendly and will be easy for volunteers to use," Cruz

Texas State team F.E.E.D. stands together after their winning presentation on April 26.

PHOTO BY JULIE GONZALES

said.

Project F.E.E.D. will affect 29,000 food insecure residents that receive assistance from the Hays County Bank.

In the future, they hope to venture to new ideas and possibly add a second

phase to the project.

The Hays County Food Bank is located at 220 Herndon St. in San Marcos. More information on the Hays County Food Bank can be found on its website.

FROM FRONT NEW DEGREES

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Amaryllis Northstein studies April 26 in the lobby of Bruce and Gloria Ingram Hall, the new engineering building.

PHOTO BY CLAYTON KEELING

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According to a market analysis detailed in the university’s program proposal, there has been a predicted annual shortfall of roughly 650 civil engineers over several types of employment opportunities in Texas. This indicates a significant need for skilled graduates in this field that has been expressed by private and public sector employers.

John J. Schemmel, Bruce and Gloria Ingram Endowed Chair in Engineering, was part of the team that developed the program proposal. He characterized the need for civil engineers in Texas.

“There is no debate as to whether or not there is a need for more civil engineers in Texas,” Schemmel said.

“We are projected to have 500 students in the fifth year of our program. If you consider doing an even distribution of these students, we’ll have 125 students graduating every year; even with our program, we will not fill that gap.”

Of the roughly 250 accredited civil engineering programs in the country, Texas State will uniquely be among the University of California Berkley and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in focusing on technology-enhanced infrastructure.

Schemmel described how this focus, with the concurrent teaching of the classical methods infused with the application of technology, will make Texas State civil engineering graduates more appealing to potential employers.

“We’re the only other university that offers a degree program where undergraduates are going to learn classic civil engineering with a focus on the application of technology to civil infrastructure,” Schemmel said. “We will be producing students who are going to be in very high demand when

they start to graduate.”

Additionally, the bachelor's in health science degree will be offered fall 2019. Classes will expose students to generalized sciences like nutrition, phycology, biology and chemistry with an additional business side of healthcare, financials, administration and promotion aspects of the field.

According to the Census Bureau, the health services sector is expected to grow 20 percent over the next 10 years. This is a need Lawrence Fulton, program director for the bachelor of healthcare administration and B.S. in health sciences, sees as a symptom of the extended life expectancies of people in the U.S. “It’s the graying of America,” Fulton said. “We have a lot of people who are getting old, and older people demand more healthcare services. Demand is currently outstripping supply.”

In addition to the comforting job market, Fulton further explained that the health science degree is one that is versatile and experiencing prosperity.

“We have had a lot of success already,” Fulton said. “We have enrolled quite a few people already who have recognized the value of a generalist degree.”

The establishment of the bachelors in public health and masters in public health educations are intended to capitalize on the hungry health service sector as well, with a focus on preparing students for work in the public health settings.

The bachelors in public health is replacing the health and wellness promotion major currently offered, with a curriculum aligning with the Society for Public Health and Education for Public Health, both professional and

accredited organizations.

Replacing the health education major, the masters in public health education and promotion serves to educate students to be effective in developing wellness programs for nonprofits, hospitals, government agencies and private businesses.

The offering of an African-American studies minor by the sociology department has been in progress since the establishment of the Latinx studies minor. The implementation of this minor was in part due to the request of students and faculty.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Gene Bourgeois explained the initial proposal of the minor by students and faculty that sparked the planning to offer the courses.

“The Latino studies minor, like the African American studies, had been discussed and thought about by students and faculty in the past,” Bourgeois said. “Student reactions have been very positive from prospective and current students.”

Najha Marshall, president of the Pan African Action Committee, believes the African American minor is a big win and a step in the right direction for the university and student body.

“It feels great to have reached this goal,” Marshall said. “It was initiated by students and will be seen as a standing legacy for everyone that worked toward it.”

More information, including a proposed timeline, application form and list of courses for the African-American minor can be found online.

A complete list of the courses offered for fall 2019 can be found in Texas State's fall 2019 catalog.

LIFE & ARTS

3 | Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Diana Furman | Life & Arts Editor

The University Star

HEALTH

National Minority Health Month brings awareness to healthy living

By Brianna Benitez Life & Arts Reporter The national Office of Minority Health (OMH) is challenging minorities to incorporate fitness in their daily routines in honor of Minority Health Month.

National Minority Health Month occurs every April. The theme this year is centered on active and healthy living.

The OMH is encouraging American minorities to improve their health through physical activity.

The Office of Institutional Resources reported that minority enrollment at Texas State has increased in recent years.

As of fall 2018, Hispanic students counted for 37.6% of the student population while African-American students counted for 11.18%. Minority enrollment at Texas State accounts for over 50% of the student population.

In order to accommodate non-native English speakers, the Student Health Center provides video remote language interpretation services to ensure all students receive the best care possible.

In addition to clean eating, exercise and physical fitness play a vital role in a healthy lifestyle. However, according to the OMH, only 1 in 4 adults meet the physical activity recommendations for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.

Lack of physical activity can increase the chance of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, which can be more extreme among racial and ethnic minority groups.

According to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Hispanic individuals are 50% more likely to die from diabetes than white people.

Additionally, Hispanic individuals have a greater risk of being pre-diabetic compared to non-Hispanic people.

Factors that can increase someone's chances of having diabetes include being

The Texas State Student Recreation Center a place where all students can practice physical fitness.

PHOTO BY BRIANNA BENITEZ

overweight, having a family history of the disease or exercising less than three times a week.

Rebecca Rodriguez, special education junior, is a certified Zumba instructor at the Student Recreation Center.

Rodriguez said Zumba is an effective form of exercise since it incorporates cardio, toning and strength building.

As a college student, Rodriguez understands the difficulty in finding the time to include fitness into her schedule.

However, she said finding a community of like-minded individuals helped her stay accountable during her fitness and health journey.

“Exercise is a great way to release any pent-up tension or stress negatively affecting us,” Rodriguez said. “It’s good to incorporate physical activity not just to be physically healthy, but to have a healthy mindset.”

The American Heart Association reported heart diseases as the number one cause of death for Americans.

Specifically, high blood pressure is most common in African Americans.

Research from the American Heart

ART

Austin-based artist performs in San Marcos

By Ivy Sandoval Life & Arts Reporter Wake the Dead Coffee House is a local San Marcos coffee shop with a unique, eerie theme. Texas State students often go to have a cool place to study, hang out and indulge in caffeine. Additionally, the coffee shop hosts various art shows and live music performances. On Friday, April 26, Austin-based artist Scott Collins performed at the shop.

Alexys Gonzales, nursing sophomore, said she frequently goes to Wake the Dead to work on homework, and likes the art and music the shop regularly spotlights.

“I like to go to Wake the Dead to study, and when they have artists perform it’s really cool,” Gonzalez said.

“They usually have a lot of good local artists.”

Scott Collins is originally from Chicago, Illinois, but has lived in Austin for the past 27 years. Collins performs in the San Marcos area as often as possible, typically at various bars around town, such as AquaBrew and Buzzmill. He has performed at San Marcos Fest as well as the 2019 South

By Southwest Music Festival.

Collins is a singer-songwriter, and his music is a mix of indie and alternative pop with a hint of rock. He often pairs his style with piano or guitar, which showcases his passionately raspy voice.

The 34-year-old artist has been in love with music since childhood. He said his mother recalled him singing from a very young age, though he may have only sang to songs on the radio or while in the shower. When he realized he wanted to pursue music full-time during early adulthood, he hired a professional voice coach and has been working with him for several years now.

The musician said throughout his career, he gained greater appreciation for performing and takes any opportunity to experience the thrill of it.

“Performing means absolutely everything to me,” Collins said. “It's a wonderful gift to be able to share with a room full of people and connect in an intimate way through song.”

Collins said experiencing his growth as an artist and observing the improvement in his work makes the career worth it.

“I wanted to reach the highest potential I could by taking it seriously and practicing daily,” Collins said.

“Watching and experiencing the growth is totally worth it.”

Collins is currently creating new music at Chicken Run Studios, a recording studio he owns. He is working on releasing a music video or two off his latest EP “Roadmaps,” which was released August 2018. He plans on touring in honor of the EP. Additionally, Collins is hoping to begin working on his debut album as well.

“I wanted to reach the highest potential I could by taking it seriously and practicing daily.”

- Scott Collins Austin-based artist Scott Collins COURTESY OF SCOTT COLLINS

Association shows African Americans may carry a gene which causes a higher sensitivity to salt compared to other races. For individuals who carry this gene, as little as one half a teaspoon of salt could raise blood pressure as much as 5 mmHg, with the average number about 1.5 mmHg. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Integrating in regular physical fitness and limiting stress can aid in preventing high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.

Julia Fusilier, public health sophomore, runs a health and lifestyle blog titled "Zest for Life," where she discusses the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle.

Fusilier said practicing healthy living at a young age is important, given it can help decrease the chance of developing chronic diseases and gaining weight in the future.

Fusilier said students can start living healthier lifestyle in small ways, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking to class instead of riding the bus.

She said getting a little bit of exercise

every day, making healthier food choices and taking the time to destress can go a long way.

“Exercise and healthy eating isn’t as hard as it seems,” Fusilier said. “It’s all about the smaller life changes.”

Although the obesity rate for Asian Americans is relatively low compared to other minority groups, it is increasing at a vigorous rate.

According to research completed by the Journal of Community Health, Asian Americans can develop obesityrelated complications, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, at lower body mass indexes (BMIs) compared to other races.

Researchers believe this difference can be traced to cellular factors. When pregnant, fat tissues in Asian women are limited in terms of expansion. This results in the Asian population experiencing obesity complications at lower BMIs compared to other races who handle more expansion in fat cells better.

Furthermore, lifestyle changes Asian individuals may undergo after moving to America can affect their health.

Once in the U.S., Asian individuals are more likely to consume foods high in carbohydrates, fats and sugars. This change can be drastic for those who are accustomed to regularly eating foods with healthy fats and carbohydrates.

OMH is challenging minorities across the nation to change health statistics. Join the movement by using #NMHM19 on all social media platforms.

To stay informed on minority health facts, follow the Student Health Center on Twitter to receive informational tweets throughout Minority Health Month.

For more information about minority health and Minority Health Month, visit the Office of Minority Health online.

The University Star

Diana Furman | Life & Arts Editor

Tuesday, April 30, 2019 | 4

CHARITY

How Fast is Your Dog??? competition winners Lori Alcantar and Roxy the dog pose with their prize April 27 at the Buda Wiener Dog Races.

PHOTO BY LAURA FIGI

Buda Wiener Dog Races help raise money for children living with disabilities

By Laura Figi Assistant Life & Arts Editor The Buda Wiener Dog Races is one of the biggest sausage fests in Texas.

People nationwide visit to showcase their dachshunds and compete in lighthearted races, while enjoying other competitions, fair food and flea marketstyle shopping.

The event took place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 27-28, at Buck's Backyard in Buda. The 22nd annual event featured a country fair, live music and various activities for all ages. Admission was $5 and free for children under 12.

The 2019 theme was “Game of Wieners” after the popular HBO show “Game of Thrones.” The event has been a long-standing tradition for Buda Lions Club, an organization that raises money for various areas in the community and oftentimes children living with disabilities.

There were several charities raising money at the event, including Relay for Life and the Jakku Temple Saber Guild, a not-for-profit Star Wars lightsaber performance group.

The local director for the Jakku Temple Saber Guild, Heather Trupia, said the group started attending the Wiener Dog Races a few years ago for the Star Wars theme, but has returned every year since.

“Our mission is just to come alongside communities and charities and make the galaxy a little brighter and help other people,” Trupia said.

The Jakku Temple Saber Guild often works with the Texas Lions Camp, which the Buda Wiener Dog Races help fund.

The camp provides unique experiences for children living with disabilities such as archery, music, horseback riding and canoeing.

The camp has an application process that opens in January, but if the child is admitted, they attend the camp for free.

The only qualification is the child must have a qualifying physical disability.

Texas State’s own Chi Beta Delta participated in Relay for Life and is currently part of the top performing team.

Relay for Life volunteer Rebecca Chapa said any form or amount of donation helps the organization.

“I think this is a great opportunity for so many different organizations to be able to come together and hopefully make connections that will help support each other,” Chapa said.

Attendees and participants may bring all types of dogs to the event, not just dachshunds. There is a competition that allows all breeds to compete titled, "How Fast is Your Dog???" in which dogs race one at a time and are judged on how

Five wiener dogs compete in the second set of races of the day April 27 at the Buda Wiener Dog Races.

PHOTO BY LAURA FIGI

many miles per hour they can run.

Lori Alcantar, winner of the "How Fast is Your Dog???" contest, heard about the competition in 2018 but had left her dog, Roxy, at home. This year was Roxy’s first time competing and she won first place at 27 mph.

“She’s a car chaser; she practices every day,” Alcantar said. “(My favorite part of

the races) is that I’m able to bring all my dogs and we’re able to come as a family with them, because they are part of our family.”

For more information on the Buda Wiener Dog Races, visit budalions.com.

For more information on the Texas Lions Camp, visit lionscamp.com.

OPINIONS

5 | Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Carissa Liz Castillo | Opinions Editor

The University Star

IMMIGRATION LAWYER

The on-campus immigration lawyer should be available full-time

By Laura Nunez Opinions Columnist After months of controversy and push from the student body, the Texas State University Dean of Students Office hired immigration lawyer Mark Kinzler in December 2018. Kinzler is only employed part-time, but his resources and knowledge are vital to the students and should not be limited.

The initiative to finding and hiring a campus immigration lawyer by the administration required some persistence from the student body and it took more than a year to fully accomplish.

The span of events that led up to this decision were publically showcased and ultimately altered the urgency and need for an immigration lawyer.

In late 2017, a resolution to bring an immigration attorney to campus was brought to the attention of Student Government. They held a meeting to discuss and vote upon the matter.

Unfortunately, the resolution failed to pass by one vote. This outcome naturally stirred a negative reaction from the student body.

During the Connor Clegg impeachment debacle in early 2018, students organized a sit-in at LBJ Student Center. They wanted to have their voices heard and demands from the university met. One of those demands being for the administration to hire an immigration lawyer.

Texas State announced they would actively search for an immigration lawyer to start by the fall semester of 2019 and have since hired Mark Kinzler.

He has more than 13 years of direct immigration law experience under his belt and has a deep understanding of the rights and resources available to those who are undocumented.

Even though there was an obvious need for an immigration expert on campus, Kinzler was only brought on as a part-time attorney. The administration attempted to satisfy the student demands, yet they have still fallen short because they are limiting both parties from fully connecting since the immigration lawyer isn't full time.

The Dean of Students Office program Attorneys for Students currently has two attorneys on staff. Kama Davis is employed full-time and she specializes in landlord and tenant issues, while also handling a variety of other cases. Davis joined the team in August 2014 and she was offered a full-time position from day one. Both Kinzler and Davis bring quality and experience to the table. They also specialize in issues that directly cater

ILLUSTRATION BY CAMERON HUBBARD

to our student body; however, only one of them is employed full-time and that leads to a flawed dynamic within the program.

Roughly 53.4 percent of Texas State’s student population is made up of minorities, that accounts for more than half the student body. The fact the immigration lawyer is not working full-time creates an inconsistency with that information. Having full-time availability to knowledge and services regarding immigration law is extremely beneficial for the students, especially in this climate with undocumented immigrants being constantly slandered

and targeted.

Texas State needs to make our immigration attorney a full-time asset to the university and the students need to fight for this to happen. Attorneys for Students is a service that is included in the Texas State tuition bill as a $105 student service fee. The consultations and presentations are provided by the attorneys at no out-of-pocket cost, but it’s still an expense the students pay for and should be kept at ultimate efficiency.

Texas State claims to make the undocumented and DACAmented students a priority to the system. They make sure to have opportunities and

resources available for them through their website and campus programs.

So, to have an attorney specialized in understanding their direct concerns available full-time shouldn’t even be in question.

Texas State's immigration lawyer needs to be working full-time. Otherwise, resources that are substantially beneficial to more than half of the student population are being limited.

-Laura Nunez is an advertising sophomore

SPORTS

Jake Spavital is the most important public figure in San Marcos

By Jakob Rodriguez Sports Editor When Jake Spavital took over as the Bobcats’ head coach, he promised success in the following: winning games, winning championships and winning bowl games. Should he manage to resurrect the Bobcats to their former glory, he boosts not only himself, his coaching staff and players, but also the entire city of San Marcos and university at large.

I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again: Jake Spavital is the most important public figure in San Marcos, possibly in the state of Texas.

He signed a five-year deal with Texas State with a base salary of $800,000 a year. Should Spavital find success in the 78666 zip code, he stands to make as much a year as former head coach Everett Withers made on his contract's buy out when fired from his position.

The Texas Tribune reported that Texas State's athletics department received $17,891,514 from student fees and an additional $7,160,629 from the university. Netting $9,646,208 in revenue, Withers was faced with almost a nearly impossible challenge: make

the program successful and make the department successful.

Withers would not have much success on the field. Although his defensive unit would continuously get better, the offensive unit and team at large failed to follow suit.

According to the Texas Tribune, Withers made an impact on the department's bottom line, earning the most out of any team on campus and $327,893 ahead of the next closest program in the same reported year.

Spavital is looked at the same way the Los Angeles Ram's head coach Sean McVay is looked at in the National Football League: a fresh set of eyes that can see through the old way of doing things and inspire new life into a program.

Success has eluded the Texas State football since Jim Wacker was head coach where he won back to back NCAA Division II championship in 1982 and 1983. The Bobcat’s AllAmerican linebacker Tim Staskus made what would turn out to be a damning prediction for the following season.

“Let’s make it three in a row,” Staskus said.

Wacker separated himself from the

Bobcats and became the head coach of Texas Christian University the following season. The Bobcats would find marginal success but struggle to transition into a true Division I force under nearly every other head coach after Wacker.

John O'Hara left San Marcos for a staff position at the University of Iowa following the Wacker era, so would Denise Franchione and Jim Bob Helduser who both rounded out the early and mid-90s with departures of their own.

Under the next four coaches, Texas State could barely separate itself from an intramural team.

Bob Debesse, Manny Matsakis, David Bailiff and Brad Wright all separated themselves or were fired after mediocre records.

Not even the second coming of Franchione could truly turn the program around, producing a 20-28 record.

Worse, with lack of success on the field, the Bobcats struggled to turn a profit during the majority of those eras.

Coupled with the fact that Spavital had been a part of explosive offenses for the entirety of his coaching career, the hiring decision seemed like a no brainer for Texas State.

Apart from his success at West Virginia, where Spavital oversaw the offense, the mountaineer's program was also elevated in part due to their starting quarterback's Heisman trophy contention.

Failing to win at Texas State now almost rivals that of not having esteemed Southwest Texas State Teachers College alum Lyndon Baines Johnson's presidential library in San Marcos. A winning season here could galvanize the I-35 corridor to new heights not just economically and politically, but also in football.

According to Brian C. McNerney, an archivist for the LBJ library, former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson said "We had a sentimental longing to put it at Johnson City or in San Marcos," attesting to the fact that his alma mater was a consideration, but ultimately not chosen and instead the Johnson's opted for the University of Texas at Austin.

For a program with as much history as Texas State's, winning should be secondary. Instead, for almost a century the program and university have both had varying levels of success across the board. So, here's to hoping, Jake.

The University Star

Carissa Liz Castillo | Opinions Editor

Tuesday, April 30, 2019 | 6

Letters to the editor The University Star welcomes letters from our readers. Letters must be 500 words or fewer to be considered for publication. Please include your full name, mailing address, major and academic year designation, phone number and e-mail address when submitting a letter. Submissions that do not include this information cannot be published. This information is seen only by the editors and is not used for any commercial purpose. Letters become the property of The Star and may be republished in any format. The letter may be edited for length and clarity. You will be contacted if your letter is a candidate for publication. We will not run letters that are potentially libelous, discriminatory, obscene, threatening or promotional in nature. To make a submission, email stareditor@txst.edu

Texas State must address food insecurity Dear Editor, As we all know, food insecurity is a huge problem that many Americans face every day and it is sad to say it is happening to our students at this university as well. Many students who do not make ends meet fall short when it comes to eating a properly balanced diet. I discovered last semester that this campus offers an on-campus food pantry for students, which is

another great resource for students to choose from. According to one of your published stories, San Marcos is one of the fastest growing cities in Texas, but I do want to propose one thing: the dining halls and cafeterias at Texas State University should offer leftover meals from that day's menu to students at no charge. It can be from any of the vendors on campus. The majority of the food will eventually be tossed in the trash and hauled over to a landfill.

Instead, it can go to students that don’t have a meal that night so they do not have to worry about when they will have a hot meal next. Students face adversity every day with high tuition, books, housing and basic necessities.

Many students spend many late hours at Alkek library to get ahead in their classes or study for their final exams, and some students go without eating a proper meal. Having a balanced diet can help a student focus on his or her

classes and overcome challenges they face in school. A meal shouldn’t be one of those challenges. I do hope one day Texas State University can offer students hot leftover meals at no charge from the dining halls or cafeterias.

J. Del Valle is a mass communications major

Senior Farewells the day newsrooms across the country refresh national and local reporting sites for hours to be the first to break Student Media has been a part of my the results. Although I had to learn on life since high school and I could not the fly to report quick and accurate be more thankful that I took advantage results on social media, the pressure I of the opportunity. I started working was expecting was not there. Editors at The Star as Engagement Editor on from across sections volunteered to help November 6, 2018. It was Election Day, and guided me through the evening. By

the time we left the newsroom near 11 p.m., it felt like we finished a marathon.

I’ve never felt such a sense of comradery from any group project in my entire academic career.

The Star has helped shape my ideals about journalism and I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for local news. I’m not sure where my career will take me,

but if it leads back to a newsroom, I won’t be too upset. For all the friends I’ve made, tweets I’ve sent and coffee I’ve drank, thank you, University Star

accommodate the campus. People are becoming more and more aware of food insecurity and how it uniquely affects students. I think students should be aware of the commercialization of universities and pay close attention to with whom we do business and what it means for student workers.

I think there is merit to say that students are more than business opportunities for apartments and lenders.

There are plenty more opportunities for improvement on our campus but it will be up to the student body to set the priorities.

Since day one I’ve tried to make the Star more accessible, visible, and sharper than it’s ever been. The Star has been at nearly every Bobcat day and orientation the same as any other student organization. I also created the Soapbox Soundoff where we occasionally put a soapbox in the Quad on which you can stand and say anything you’d like. After my public relations team and faculty advisor made it a reality, we won third place in Freedom of Expression from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

Our reporting on issues like TPUSA, Sutherland Springs and housing has earned awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, College Media Association and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. Furthermore, our web traffic increased by 115% in this year alone.

When I speak with administrators

looking for more support for The Star, they’ve let me know on several occasions that their priorities lie with awards and revenue. However, I think I speak for most of my colleagues when I say these are all byproducts of the good reporting we strive to do for the San Marcos community.

I have always measured the success of The Star with the amount of feedback we receive from readers. I’ve also measured success by the number of letters to the editor we can run and the amount of good impact we’ve helped bring with our platform. Because it has always been my philosophy that the University Star has an obligation of service to students, faculty and permanent residents of San Marcos.

Whether it’s the 18-hour days, the missed meals, interrupted sleep, calls to grieving families, or rushing to a fire, we never say no because that’s how much we believe in our duty as journalists.

Everyone involved with The Star has made sacrifices and poured themselves into stories with the hope of being not another product, but a resource for the campus.

I recognized that this also means having diversity in our newsroom and our reporting. Through intentional recruiting and encouraging open dialogue, I’ve tried to change the internal culture and perspective of The Star to ensure it is welcoming to more than the “typical” journalist. Being an African-American journalist, I understand feeling like a

guest in someone else’s field. And as with being a black man anywhere, there will always be someone unconvinced you’re qualified to belong, even after you’ve proven that you are.

However, I’ve always kept Jay-Z’s words, “A wise man told me don’t argue with fools because people from a distance can’t tell who is who.” Therefore, I’ll leave it up to numbers, history, and the audience to decide if I’ve always made the right decision. But I can say for sure that any decision I’ve made, I did so with integrity, accountability, and in the best interests of The Star and by virtue our campus community. And I am confident in this next group of editors that they will carry on these same values as they are met with a different set of challenges and agenda items.

Lastly, it’s important that I thank my editorial board, faculty advisor and every reporter, photographer, columnist, illustrator, sales representative and auxiliary staff for their work and dedication throughout the year. Without them, there is no University Star. There isn’t enough space available to thank everyone who has supported either me or The Star in a tremendous way. However, I’d like to especially thank Gilbert Martinez, Kym Fox, Ronald Johnson, Laurie Fluker and Denise Cervantes for their guidance. And most importantly, thank you to Texas State and the student body for having me as your editor-in-chief. It has been a pleasure.

By Holly Hearn Engagement Editor

By Carrignton Tatum Editor-in-Cheif On my first day as editor-in-chief, I set three goals: to increase the Star’s campus presence, evolve to a more digital publication, and be a resource for students. Looking back on the Star’s performance, I think we have made significant gains toward each of these goals, but the work isn’t done.

I’ve seen our campus split by political and racial differences. I’ve seen the integrity of our campus representatives questioned. I’ve seen the campus lose friends, family, and icons. But I’m optimistic that Texas State has grown.

When I was Opinions Editor, I wrote an editorial titled, “The future belongs to the youth” and in it I gave a history of young activists and how they did not assume there was someone smarter who would make the change they wanted to see their communities, they simply empowered themselves.

I still believe this to be true and want to encourage student representatives, activists and journalists to apply this same rigor to see our university at its best. Especially now that the drama of Connor Clegg’s Student Government has had time to leave the ecosystem, there are plenty of issues that deserve our attention.

Students have been working to bring menstrual hygiene products to campus for a year. The Counseling Center needs more resources to comfortably

'Cats Got Our Tounges now streaming on Spotify and Soundcloud

By Carissa Liz Castillo Opinions Editor I first joined the Star as an opinions columnist last year and came in with virtually zero experience in student journalism or media. I was hired with open arms, however, and immediately was taught the ropes thanks to my incredibly helpful coworkers who encouraged and honed not just my writing skills, but open, honest discussion and freedom of expression as well. This last semester I got the wonderful opportunity to serve as the Opinions Editor. Through this position, my experience with and love for journalism and freedom of expression grew exponentially.

Thanks to the University Star I have had so many opportunities to learn, grow and discover what my passions and career goals are.

Although brief, I've enjoyed my

Best wishes

-Holly Hearn

time not just as the Opinions Editor, but as a columnist and member of Texas State's very own student-run publication as well. The experience I've gained working for the Star is incomparable to the experience I would've gained through any other avenue, I believe. I am so grateful to have been a part of the Star. Although I'm sad to part ways with this publication upon graduation, I look forward to seeing what content The University Star will produce in the future. I encourage anyone, regardless of major or status in the university, to consider joining one of The University Star's numerous sections not only for the experience but also to continue to speak up, for and about our university and community.

-Carissa Liz Castillo is an English senior

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SPORTS Bobcat baseball reaches highest win streak in the nation

9 | Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Jakob Rodriguez | Sports Editor

The University Star

FOOTBALL

By Claire Partain Assistant Sports Editor Bobcat baseball upped their win streak to 10 straight games, the longest active streak in the NCAA, after sweeping the University of Louisiana at Lafayette this weekend.

Texas State closed out the series with a 10-8 victory on Sunday, bringing their record to 31-13 overall and 15-6 in the Sun Belt.

Jaylen Hubbard kicked off the game with the Bobcat’s first single, grounding a single down the rightfield line. Hubbard brought in two runs off of two hits, stealing his ninth base of the season along the way.

Connor Reich (6-1) struck out five Cajuns and had zero walks in his six innings pitched, allowing six hits and nine runs throughout the game.

Brayden Theriot secured the win in his tenth career save, allowing zero runs and two hits in his 2.2 innings pitched.

The win came after Saturday’s 3-2 victory led by sophomore Hunter McMahon, who went for zero walks and a season-high 11 strikeouts in his second complete game of the season.

The Bobcats began their series with a 13-9 win on Friday. Texas State managed a 10-0 advantage by the fifth inning after Felipe Rodriguez’s massive three-run home run over left field.

Texas State baseball is now first in the West Division of the Sun Belt with the best conference record by over 10 percent with a .714 winning percentage.

Bobcat baseball will look for their third win against the University of Texas at San Antonio for a one-game matchup at 6 p.m.Tuesday night.

Texas State baseball reaches 30 wins

By Claire Partain Assistant Sports Editor Texas State captured its thirtieth victory of the season as they defeated the University of Louisiana at Lafayette 3-2 Saturday afternoon at Russo Park.

For the second game series, sophomore Hunter McMahon threw a complete game, chalking up 11 strikeouts and no walks.

Sophomore John Wuthrich led the way for the Bobcats with multiple hits, scoring two of the three runs with the other coming from Travon Benton.

Texas State scored in the second inning when Dalton Shuffield recorded the third straight single of the inning to bring home the first run. Two batters later, Ryan Newman matched with a single of his own to put the Bobcats up 2-0.

The Cajuns matched with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

John Wuthrich led off the fourth inning with a double. He eventually gave Texas State the lead following a wild pitch.

McMahon finished the game as he allowed one hit in the third, fourth and eight innings. He threw seven strikeouts in the final seven innings.

Texas State baseball looks to sweep the series as they play the Ragin' Cajuns for a third game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Troy shuts down Texas State softball to start series

By Cade Andrews Sports Reporter Texas State softball was only able to produce three hits in a 3-0 shut out by the Troy Trojans at home on Friday.

Troy produced the first run of the game off of a one-run double in the second inning and added two more in the third inning off of a two-run home run.

The Bobcats ended up leaving seven baserunners stranded off of three hits during the game, including two doubles from junior Christiana McDowell and sophomore Tara Oltmann. Meagan King pitched the complete game with seven IPs, three runs, seven hits and three strikeouts.

Junior transfer quarterback Gresch Jensen handing off the ball April 13 to senior running back Anthony D. Taylor.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE ATHLETICS

Gresch Jensen: New kid on the block

By Cade Andrews Sports Reporter While Texas State's spring schedule concluded with a scoreless game, a few new faces hope to give the Bobcats' offense life.

Besides the multiple coaching staff changes from the Jake Spavital era, the Bobcats have also added a couple of interesting players to keep an eye on, including quarterback Gresch Jensen.

Jensen played high school football in Washington and played at Montana for his first year before transferring to Fullerton Community College for the 2018 season. Jensen is reunited with former Montana coach Bob Stitt, who was announced as the offensive coordinator for the Bobcats a week before Jensen's transfer. Stitt said he recruited Jensen to transfer to Texas State and had some high praise for his quarterback.

“Gresch and I had a great relationship at Montana,” Stitt said. “It’s great to be coaching him again. To say I’m excited is an understatement. I believe he’s in a great place now here at Texas State.”

In 2017 at Montana, Jensen took over as the starter after teammate Reese Phillips suffered an injury, throwing for 2,531 yards and 20 touchdowns along with 10 interceptions in 10 games.

He also ran for 203 yards and six touchdowns. Jensen's successful season

led to him becoming a HERO Sports first-team FCS All-American and finish third in voting for the Jerry Rice Award.

“I haven’t been around many people who love the game of football more than Gresch," Stitt said. "He’s very intelligent and in a great position to succeed at this program.”

“

I haven’t been around many people who love the game of football more than Gresch.”

-Bob Stitt Jensen had an immediate impact at Fullerton Junior College in California for his sophomore season, throwing for 2,330 yards and 16 touchdowns with five interceptions in 10 games. He also ran 289 yards for six touchdowns.

Fullerton College offensive coordinator Garrett Campbell had the chance to coach Jensen, who he believes is a unique individual.

“When Gresch came to Fullerton, he was already a mature and developed player,” Campbell said. “He is an

extremely consistent player whether it’s on the field, in the media room or in the weight room. He is a very engaging player that wants the best for himself as well as his teammates.”

For Jensen, coming to a new university has had its perks. Whether it’s on the football field or in the classroom, he believes he has found himself a new home.

“Coming from halfway across the country in Seattle, it’s been challenging but it has been a great experience,” Jensen said. “I love the new environment and the people have been great.”

Despite the welcoming environment Jensen described, the adjustment to living in San Marcos has come with some challenges.

“I’m still learning and trying to figure out where everything is here," Jensen said. "I’ve heard the summers here are really hot so I’ll have to learn to get used to that.”

Jensen made his debut for Texas State in the spring game that took place on April 13. He had an impressive performance that caught the attention of the Bobcat faithful, completing 11 of 21 passes (52 percent) for 130 yards and two touchdowns.

One of these passes was a 68 yard throw to receiver Mason Hays. Two plays later, he found Hays in the end zone for the first score of the game. He also ran for 14 yards on three carries.

BROADCASTING

"The voice of Texas State" Bill Culhane celebrates 25 years as broadcaster

By Sean Anchondo Sports Reporter Twenty-five years ago, Bill Culhane called his first game as a broadcaster for Texas State University. With countless unforgettable calls, ranging from the playoff football teams in the early 2000s to the game-winning shots from Nijal Pearson, Culhane has become an unforgettable icon to the university.

Troy University's radio play-by-play Barry McKnight said production of Culhane's 25-year tribute came from hearts around the Sun Belt Conference.

“Whenever they organized the tribute to him for 25 years at Strahan Coliseum, I was part of that video tribute,” McKnight said. “It was a labor of love from all of us, and we were very proud to just be associated with that night for Bill. There is no one in the Sun Belt more highly regarded by all of us than Bill.”

With his on-air presence and outgoing personality, broadcasters around the SunBelt hold him in high regard, including Brant Freeman, who has worked alongside Culhane since 2003.

“For the early part of his career, if you wanted to follow Bobcat athletics, you had to listen to Bill,” Freeman said. ”Bill is the connection to the fans and athletics. He has always promoted the Bobcats is such a positive light. He is a Bobcat through and through.”

Throughout the 16 years that Freeman has worked with Culhane, he has gained not only a valued coworker but also a friend. Freeman said he got his start as a student at Texas State and worked for KTSW 89.9, the student-run radio station.

SEE BROADCASTING PAGE 10

Jakob Rodriguez | Sports Editor

The University Star

Tuesday, April 30, 2019 | 10

FROM PAGE 9 BROADCASTING “He is very genuine. Bill and I are great friends. I think of him as a brother,” Freeman said. “For many years of my career he was my mentor and I still think of him that way. I still look up to him. He is so easy to get along with.

You can talk to him about sports, life, really anything because he has a great sense of humor. He knows when to relax and when to have fun.”

Georgia Southern’s play-byplay broadcaster Danny Reed said what separates Culhane from his contemporaries is not only what he does when calling games, but what he does

behind the scenes. Culhane is heavily involved in developing talent and mentoring students at the University.

“Bill is one of the best broadcasters I know, but it doesn’t compare to how good of a person he is," Reed said. "Texas State has been so lucky to have him for so long, and I know that Bobcat fans greatly appreciate him as a dedicated ambassador."

KTSW's sports director Riley Chestnut took a path similar to Freeman as he was mentored to be a broadcaster under Culhane's tutelage. Chestnut said that Culhane puts nervous students at

ease in the booth with his easy going personality.

“He is very professional, yet very open and very casual,” Chestnut said. ”He knows that students are very nervous when they first start, so he is more natural when leading his color (commentary analysis). He will joke around with you and makes you feel comfortable and gives you a lot of laughs."

To close out the last regular season home game against the Louisiana Rajun Cajuns, a video produced in part by Freeman, general manager of Learfield IMG. Bucky Lamb and the marketing

team at Texas State was played during halftime honoring Culhane.

Included in this video were many broadcasters and friends of Culhane from around the country, including Bill Schoening from the San Antonio Spurs. A ceremony and a golden mic were presented to him and Culhane was greeted by a standing ovation by the thousands of fans in attendance.

Taken aback with emotion, Culhane took the mic, thanked fans, friends and family, then said: “Beat those Cajuns!”

TRACK

Senior track and field distance runner Kyle Denomme in baton transition March 27 with a relay team member at the Texas Relays in Austin Texas.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE ATHLETICS

Track and field places first, honors seniors at final home meet

By Claire Partain Assistant Sports Editor For the final home meet of the season as well as some athletes’ careers, Bobcat track and field took first place for both the men’s and women’s side at the Texas State Bobcat Classic on April 26-27.

The teams combined for 25 new top ten Sun Belt spots, with the men’s side racking up 301 points and the women’s taking 237 overall.

Texas State athletes also got the gold in 22 separate events, toppling opposing teams including University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Incarnate Word, Lamar and Southern Methodist University for first place overall.

The Classic was also a senior appreciation meet, with an event held Saturday to celebrate the seniors’ contributions to the team. Flowers, families and friends in hand, the seniors walked the center stage to commemorate their athletic careers. The athletes’ future plans were also announced, giving fans a chance to see the other half of their lives and goals.

Senior Tramesha Hardy, an Electronic Media major, already has a video editing job lined up after graduation and said she hopes to have a future editing for television for track as well as other sports.

“I think being around sports is something that you always carry with you,” Hardy said. “If I’m doing something I enjoy as my career, I know I’ll never get tired of it.”

Hardy also had a stellar performance at the meet, breaking her own school

record in the 200-meter dash with a conference-pacing time of 22.72 seconds. The sprinter also placed second at the meet and conference in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.46 seconds and was the second leg in the first-place 4-x-100 meter relay team alongside teammates Live Hilton, Sadi Giles and Anayah Washington.

Over the course of her career, Hardy broke the school record in the 100, 200 and 400-meter races. She was also named the Sun Belt Conference Outstanding Track Athlete as the top scoring performer for three consecutive years.

Other seniors who showed out include Kyle Denomme, who sits at second in conference in the 800-meter after his meet-winning time of 1:50.20.

Denomme, who was named one of the Sun Belt Conference Players of the Week earlier in the season, is now at No. 4 in the school record book for the event.

Johnson, who was nominated as Player of the Week twice this season, also took home a first-place finish with a meet-winning throw of 18.91 meters in shot put. The senior also placed second in discus with a hurl of 49.91 meters and fourth in hammer throw for a 50.87-meter throw. Johnson currently paces the conference in shot put and discus and holds the No. 1 spot in school history for shot put.

Texas State had plenty of other standout performances in throws, sweeping men’s shot put, discus and hammer throw.

Behind Johnson, sophomore Bobby Smith, sophomore Brandon Busby and

senior Samuel Hussey took second, third and fourth in shot put respectively.

Smith also took the gold in discus with a 51.91-meter throw, with Busby close behind in third at 49.20 meters. Junior Jorge Jaylon took first in the hammer throw with a 56.49-meter hurl, with Hussey and Busby at second and third.

Senior Melanie Rusch also brought home a medal on the women’s side in the hammer throw with a 51.04-meter throw as well as a fourth-place shot put performance of 13.63 meters.

The Bobcats also took a near-sweep in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, with Kylah Smith, Kattiana Ealy-Pulido, Ariana Ealy-Pulido, Javlyn Cameron and Kaylee Krenek bringing home second, third, fourth, fifth and eighth respectively. Texas State currently holds three of the top ten spots in the event, headed by Smith, who sits at second with a time of 13.69. Smith, a senior, also placed second in the javelin throw with a 37.43-meter throw and third in the long jump for a leap of 5.77 meters.

Texas State had strong performances in distance as well, with Devina Schneider outpacing competitors by over 15 seconds with a time of 4:31 in the 1500-meter run for No. 1 in the meet and No. 3 in the Sun Belt. Taking first on the men’s side was freshman Dereck Elkins, who broke the 4-minute barrier for a personal record of 3:58.

The Bobcats also took gold in both men’s and women’s high jump. Junior Zhafear Ray placed first with a leap of 1.95 meters alongside Katherine Stuckly, who leaped 1.73 meters for No. 8 in the

Sun Belt.

Ray, who sits at 10 in the conference for the event, said that there is a simple reason for the Bobcat’s success.

“I mean, a lot goes into it, but it really comes down to practice and commitment,” Ray said. “Practice, practice practice is all you have to do.”

Other top competitors include Ben Collerton, who took gold at the meet and ninth in the conference in the 110-meter hurdles for a time of 14.51.

Collerton is now top ten in five events in the Sun Belt, including a conferenceleading and school-record breaking score of 7218 in the men’s decathlon.

The Classic not only celebrated senior athletes’ careers but also served as the last bonding activity before the final Sun Belt Championship meet.

Sophomore Noah Herring, who won the triple jump at the meet with a jump of 15.01 m, said that the team’s goal was to give the seniors the recognition they deserve for hard work this season.

“Everyone came out here with great energy today, especially the seniors,” Herring said. “Even for those of us who aren’t graduating, we just wanted to make sure they went out with a bang.

This season, I’ve seen the team grown as a unit instead of as individuals, so it’s great to see our last home meet end like this.”

Texas State track heads to the Sun Belt Conference Championship meet in Jonesboro, Arkansas May 10-12 to close out the season.