BOBCATS KNOCK OFF PANTHERS IN 3OT THRILLER
AQUA SPORTS CENTER TO BE REPURPOSED TO BLEEDING-EDGE FILM PRODUCTION SPACE FOR GROWING PROGRAM
SEE PAGE 7
SEE PAGE 2
SEE PAGE 3 CELEBRATING THE BENEFITS OF YOGA DURING NATIONAL YOGA MONTH
www.UniversityStar.com
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 VOLUME 109 ISSUE 07
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
EVACUATION
162 residents evacuated at Vie Lofts
SAFETY
By Jakob Rodriguez and Sonia Garcia Editor-in-Chief & News Editor Editor’s note: the following article was originally posted online Sept. 20, this version of the article has been edited to reflect current information regarding Vie Lofts. San Marcos Fire Marshal Kelly Kistner issued a mandatory evacuation for residents of Vie Lofts, located at 817 Chestnut St. City officials on the scene stated that concern for building safety began to arise after concerns of cracking walls in the parking garage and stairwells. Fire Chief Les Stephens said the evacuation was done out of an abundance of caution. “We were called here earlier today,” Stephens said. “We were made aware of an issue with one of the stairwells that has some issues, basically (the stairwell) rendered it unable to be used as a means of emergency egress (exit) for the occupants. While investigating that, we found that a second stairwell was also unable to be used as a means of emergency egress. Out of an abundance of caution we have worked with the owners here to coordinate an orderly evacuation and withdraw of the building. The owners have secured other lodging for the residents and we’ll work with them over the weekend to get them the support that they need.” Stephens said he anticipates residents will be able to return back to their homes to retrieve other belongings and personal items early next week. Stephens said the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, as well as other departments within the city, have helped in the evacuation. “We’re instructing them ahead of time to take things, such as the stuff they need for school, (any) medication. All pets are being removed from the building, if they need help taking care of those our animal shelter here in San Marcos is going to take care of them,” Stephens said. “A lot of different agencies have worked together to do this. We do understand that this places a significant burden on the resident to have to withdraw from their residence, but again, out of abundance of caution we think this is what is best because we are not able to take care of and protect those stairwells with the building in the condition that it is in currently.” Stephens said for a stairwell to function properly, it has to be a place of safe refuge for the occupants who are fleeing the building from a fire. “The structural integrity of those stairwells has been compromised because of cracks in the (concrete masonry unit) breaks in the CMU, some of them have even collapsed and fallen away,” Stephens said. SEE EVACUATION PAGE 2
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MOLLY GONZALES
San Marcos law enforcement stresses community safety By Ziek Sanchez News Reporter New safety initiatives have been implemented following a series of violent crimes that surpass last years numbers in San Marcos. The San Marcos Police Department launched the “Your Safety Starts With You” campaign in an effort to spread safety awareness in a city with a growing crime rate. Alongside the initiative, the University Police Department is actively pushing for safety on campus to prevent students from falling victim to crime. During SMPD's campaign, officers will hold events and presentations, engaging with the community and promoting ways citizens can remain safe. More events, like the recent “Coffee with a Cop” are being coordinated. SMPD plans to visit local student housing apartments to hold presentations explaining the ways students can stay safe. The department plans to work alongside UPD to promote the campaign. SMPD Corporal Laray Taylor said after multiple break-ins and assaults in San Marcos, the police department wanted to start off the school year with safety tips. “We want people to be thinking of safety, not paranoia, but safety,” Taylor said. “As a police department, we’re here to serve and protect but we can’t be everywhere. With a combined effort between the community and the
department, we can promote a safer community.” So far in 2019, San Marcos has experienced two murder-suicides, six homicides and a string of serial sexual assaults. Crime in San Marcos has been increasing year-by-year with the growing population. This year only, it is estimated the population has jumped from about 64,589 to 65,234 people according to . According to SMPD, the amount of violent crime is at about 294 offenses as of September 2019. This increase is compared to the 2018 total of violent crimes, which was about 277. Compared to neighbor city New Braunfels, San Marcos has notably high crime. New Braunfels is at 156 violent crimes for 2019 compared to the 218 violent crimes committed in 2018. These numbers include violent crimes like assault, homicide and physical fights. Marina Ramirez, psychology freshman, said the amount of times she has heard of crime occurrences in San Marcos is alarming. “Although campus seems generally safe, hearing about people getting raped in their own apartments makes me want to be more cautious,” Ramirez said. SMPD is not the sole law enforcement agency stressing the value of safety. In an effort to make campus a safer place, UPD is working on implementing a new on-campus after-dark transportation system.
The system means a campus safety walk weeding out any spots that pose as safety concerns and an initiative to upgrade lighting quality around campus. As apart of the agency's daily procedure, UPD has implemented “high visibility patrol," which maintains a strong police presence on campus in utilizing bike patrol, vehicle patrol and on-foot officers. Otto Glenewinkel, UPD certified crime prevention specialist, said having a strong relationship with the Texas State community is the department’s goal in keeping students safe. “Along with officers present on campus, all of our members sit on different committees around the university to increase our outreach to student organizations and the students directly,” Glenewinkel said. “We work with the students and we work for the students. That’s who we try to be accountable to.” With time and effort put into campaigns and initiatives, both agencies hope to combat the rise in crime in which San Marcos has fallen victim. SMPD officers urge students to be aware of their surroundings, lock their doors and windows at night, travel in well-lit areas, avoid traveling alone and tell someone whenever they see potential criminal activity. For more information on the “Your Safety Starts With You” campaign, visit the San Marcos Police Department Facebook page.
CLERY REPORT TIMELINE AUGUST 12-15 THE IACLEA PEER-REVIEW TEAM WAS ON CAMPUS
2018 NOVEMBER 18 THE UNIVERSITY RECIEVED THE DRAFT OF THE REPORT FROM IACLEA
FEBRUARY 4 FOLLOWING A NATIONAL SEARCH UPD CHIEF CLOUSE WAS HIRED
MAY 14 DOE OFFERS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
SEPTEMBER 10 TEXAS STATE INTERNAL NEWSROOM PUBLISHES A STATEMENT ON THE ISSUE ON THEIR WEBSITE
2019 FEBRUARY 7 FINAL DRAFT OF IACLEA REPORT ISSUED TO DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATORS
AUGUST 21 DOE INDICATED CONCERN FOR 2016 AND 2017 NUMBERS
The University Star
2 | Tuesday, September 24, 2019
NEWS
Sonia Garcia News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT EVACUATION Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487
Editors Editor-in-Chief: Jakob Rodriguez stareditor@txstate.edu Managing Editor: Bayley Bogus starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu News Editor: Sonia Garcia, starnews@txstate.edu Life & Arts Editor: Laura Figi starlifeandarts@txstate.edu Opinions Editor: Jordan Drake staropinion@txstate.edu Sports Editor: Claire Partain starsports@txstate.edu
Additionally, Stephens said concern was also raised regarding the structural integrity of the stairwells and a damaged door frame. The apartment complex has three stairwells for resident use. In their current condition, one stairwell is structurally unsafe and the other stairwell, where it releases to the outside, is obstructed. After the initial visit to the complex, Stephens said action needed to be taken. Structural engineers and city officials walked through the property Monday, Sept. 23 for an inspection with CoFounder of Vie Management Derrick Milam. According to Milam, the stairwell and door frame do not have a direct impact with the structural integrity of the building. The city has requested Vie
Lofts compute a new safety evacuation plan for them to evacuate within 24 hours. Vie Lofts plans on submitting the plan on Wednesday so they can return students back home. “These are people’s kids,” Stephens said. “We had the previous apartment fire where we lost five students and we just don’t want a repeat of that.” Students were relocated to hotels and other apartment complexes The Avenue while Vie Lofts is repaired. Mario Fuentes, exercise science and wellness sophomore and Vie Lofts resident, was relocated to Homewood Suites with his roommates and said Vie Lofts will be picking up the cost. “I’m worried about how long it will take for me to move back,” Fuentes said. “I absolutely would not (feel safe
moving back).” A timeline of the complex’s structural integrity review by the San Marcos Fire Department has not been set in order for ownership to address necessary repairs, but Stephens reported that management has been cooperative in the evacuation process. The University Star will follow the displacement of Texas State University students and the structural assessment of Vie Lofts as updates become available. Vie Lofts passed the last fire inspection conducted by SMFD last fall. Vie Lofts was an advertising partner with The University Star during the 2019-2020 school year.
GROWTH
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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 4,500. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, Sept. 24, 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
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Aqua Sports Center to be repurposed to bleedingedge film production space for growing program By Chase Rogers News Reporter Film students are gaining the opportunity to hone their skills with a new facility. The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the approximately 26,000-square foot facility Aug. 23 to be outfitted with amenities needed to produce film, including a soundstage with a green screen, computer lab, recording/sound mix studio with an isolation booth and screening room. The project is estimated to cost $10 million. The new space will support the university's growing film production catalog, as well as new curriculum to better prepare students for a career in filmmaking. The ASC, located at 301 State St. and adjacent to the Hines Academic Center, consists of two floors: the first floor contains a swimming pool, locker room and showers, and the second houses the Texas State Gymnastics Club weekly practices and equipment. Additionally, the facility accommodated several Health and Human Performance classes until the courses were relocated to the Student Recreation Center last May. Associate Vice President for Finance and Support Services Planning Nancy Nusbaum participated in planning the proposal and renovation plans for the project. She said reforming the space is driven by the growing needs of the theatre and dance department. "(The project) is going to be putting some under-utilized space to really good use," Nusbaum said. "Their retention rate is really high, about 83-86%, which can cause issues with getting into these limited film courses to graduate. The additional space should help alleviate that." Debbie Alley, chair for the department of theatre and dance, has seen the growth first-hand and attributes it to the steady rise of new mediums for media consumption. "With the profusion of Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and now the Disney Channel, I think we now see a lot of performance art and a lot of people expressing themselves through storytelling," Alley said. "There are a lot of marketable skills and a lot of jobs in this profession right now. People see this as a viable way to make a living." Alley attributed the success and growth of the department to Texas State's unique location between two major cities and her distinguished faculty. "There is a lot of great filmmakers in Austin and San Antonio, so we get to take advantage of that by swooping up faculty members who can teach one or two classes for us," Alley. "Some of them are award-winning filmmakers and have been in the field 15-20 or 25-30 years—both bring a lot of experience to the table. I think all of these things help when you start to build a program and
The Aqua Sports center Sept. 18 across the Sessom parking lot PHOTO BY LAURYN HILL
people see that faculty have—and are— working professionally in the field and students coming out of the program and working professionally as well." Assistant Professor of Film Johnny McAllister, who is credited as the second unit director and writer for his most recent drama "Bull," was selected to be the Film Area Head in 2017. In the planning stages for the facility, McAllister reached out to past institutions where he had studied film and gained experience in the industry to plan for what was needed. "I reached out to my network in New York, at Columbia University and the University of Texas at Austin— who just built a new media center and studio—it was just a matter of making sure this building can represent the program," McAllister said. "I was the head projectionist at Columbia, so I had some experience with facilities of this sort of ambition and some of the pitfalls that you could run into." With the recent approval of the project, McAllister has begun working on a new curriculum to offer to students who choose a film concentration upon the completion of the facility. In the process, he hopes to help his students become well-rounded filmmakers and have opportunities to specialize in their respective concentrations. "I'm spending this week working on new course proposals and I have upwards of 20 I hope to submit this week," McAllister said. "I keep coming back to this notion of a complete filmmaker— someone who understands, on a deep level, all of the things that go into the making of a film. I want (students) to be able to call themselves cinematographers and be able to call themselves editors. I think they need to be familiar with all of the various technologies that go into making a film. At the same time, they will have options to specialize in something if they love it and are good at it. They'll have an opportunity to go 'I am going to take a few more focused classes on cinematography, because I think that's going be my real pursuit,
professionally.'" McAllister has already yielded such results in his students. Ray Pettigrew, business and film junior and student of McAllister, was one of the students who shifted direction after taking a class he had interest in, finding his professional pursuit. "Originally I came here to be an actor," Pettigrew said. "Then, I joined a business in film class because I thought it sounded interesting and absolutely fell in love. I went from being in front of the camera, on stage, to being behind it. Now I have my sights set on getting my masters in cinematography at New York University." Film senior James Brinkley vocalized his excitement for the project, even though he will have graduated by the time the facility is complete. "Most of us students are very happy with the growth of the program and we want to see it grow to possibly as big as the theatre program here to have its own building, community and a wonderful staff of professors," Brinkley said. "For the time being, we're happy as it is to see the arts funded in this way." Brinkley and Pettigrew have been using the skills accrued during their film courses to create—with other theatre students—a web series called "Tales of Phantasmagoria." Debbie Alley hopes the program and completed facilities will better equip students with the skills they need to be successful in the ever-growing film industry. "One of the things making us distinct as a program is we are training the students to go out and get the groundlevel jobs that then take them off to other areas," Alley said. "I hope to have students working in lighting and audio, editing and cinematography—all of those jobs you see scroll past at the end of a movie or television show." Planning for the renovation is still in progress. A timeline detailing when the project will be complete is not yet available to the public.
The University Star
Tuesday, September 24, 2019 | 3
LIFE & ARTS
Laura Figi Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
CULTURE
First Asian Culture Showcase held to increase representation on campus By Abby Gutierrez Life & Arts Reporter Texas State’s Asian culture clubs— Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), Filipino Student Association (FSA) and Korean Culture Club (KCC)—hosted the first Asian Culture Showcase in hopes of making a larger cultural footprint on the university’s community. The showcase took place 6-9 p.m. Sept. 14 in the LBJ Ballroom. The event was coordinated by the club presidents of each organization, who came together to celebrate a variety of Asian cultures. Destiny Phanyanouvong, president of FSA and an event coordinator, said she and the other leaders have been working since May to make the showcase a reality. The clubs’ main goal for the showcase was to increase Asian representation around campus. “We don’t have much (Asian representation) on campus,” Phanyanouvong said. “Last year, (events like this) were held in a classroom, which really downsized and made it seem less significant.” Corey Benbow, student body president, said he saw the importance in increasing Asian awareness around the Texas State community. “I think it’s very important we celebrate and showcase all identities,” Benbow said. “If you ask me, it’s been a long time in the making and has taken too long.” Inspired by the traditional Asian MidAutumn Festival, the showcase featured a variety of multicultural dances and fashion shows, a lantern walk and a surplus of food. Hana Cadena, interdisciplinary junior and member of FSA and KCC, performed a Hula dance at the showcase.
“I’ve been dancing for over 12 years and I never get to showcase it at school, so I thought this was a great opportunity,” Cadena said. “I’m really glad all three of Texas State’s Asian organizations were able to combine and create something this authentic.” Lindsey Burns, communication design sophomore, is the webmaster for FSA. She intends to celebrate Asian culture and all Texas State students at the showcase and around campus in any way she can.
"WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE AT TEXAS STATE FEELS WELCOME" - LINDSEY BURNS “We just want to make sure everyone at Texas State feels welcome if they are a part of the Asian culture,” Burns said. “We want to celebrate them.” Shafinaz Orthy, electrical engineering graduate student, is from Bangladesh. She was eager to spend time with people who share her culture and grateful for the
Hana Cadena performs a traditional hula dance Sept. 14 at the Asian Culture Showcase. PHOTO BY REBECCA HARRELL
showcase for providing good food and a much-needed break from schoolwork. “Lots of people from my country are going (to the showcase) to meet up,” Orthy said. “With all the studying and pressure, there isn’t usually time for us to hang out and this program is a very good place to do these things.” Brianna Yescas, music studies freshman, is a member of KCC and attended the showcase to enjoy the food, music, fashion shows and opportunity to relax. "I love fashion, so I’m really excited about (the modeling),” Yescas said. “I’m just trying to have fun. I think (the showcase) is great because you get to meet more people and explore different
cultures.” Phanyanouvong said FSA, VSA and KCC members have grown closer through this experience. Following the showcase, the individual clubs are determined to continue working together and hope to plan similar events that will increase Asian representation and cultural awareness on campus for years to come. “Hopefully in the future, we can grow to have something called Asian Leadership Council, where we’ll have all the Asian leaders of each organization come together,” Phanyanouvong said. “(The showcase) is our first trial, and we plan for it to become an annual event.”
FITNESS
Celebrating the benefits of yoga during national yoga month By Brianna Benitez Life & Arts Reporter To pay respect to the national observance of health and wellness, the month of September is dedicated to the benefits of yoga. Individuals can expect to experience "beyond the mat" satisfaction by engaging in yoga practices. PHYSICAL BENEFITS Yoga is a practice that focuses heavily on building strength and awareness. According to the American Osteopathic Association, the relaxation techniques in yoga aid by lessening chronic pain like arthritis and headaches. Engaging in yoga practices can help increase flexibility, strength and athletic performance. Josephine Wielinski, recreation management graduate student, is the fitness and wellness graduate assistant at The Student Recreation Center. Wielinski primarily focuses on daily operations and communications with the student staff at The Rec. Wielknski said the center offers four different yoga classes: rise and shine, power, athletic and general yoga. Rise and shine yoga focuses on stretching and preparing the body for the day. Power yoga is a high-intensity workout aimed at increasing heart rate and building strength. Athletic yoga is geared toward athletes and individuals who need extra time to stretch or recover from their workouts. Regular yoga is a slower-paced class that is centered on strength-building and stretching. Wielknski said each yoga class is multi-leveled, meaning anyone with or without yoga experience can participate. "Whether you’ve been practicing for years or it's your first time, you can come in and complete the class," Wielknski said. MENTAL BENEFITS Participating in yoga practices can be a coping mechanism for managing stress. Side effects of stress can include anxiety and struggling to sleep and focus. Yoga practices often include meditation and
breathing exercises to help improve mental wellbeing. Meditation is a habitual process that trains the mind to focus and redirect thoughts. Engaging in meditation and breathing practices can increase stress resilience, positive emotions and learning capacity. Jenna Clark, manager and alignment instructor at Easy Tiger Yoga in San Marcos, said yoga is a great way for college students to alleviate stress and tension. She said for students to perform and excel, they must make an effort to rejuvenate their state of mind. "If our cup isn’t full and we’re constantly giving to ourselves from our unfilled cup, then we’re never going to be able to truly provide for ourselves," Clark said. Clark said those who are interested in practicing yoga should not be intimated by the practice, nor should they aim at being good off the bat. Yoga is a process that gradually improves one's strength and flexibility over time. Clark encourages those interested in yoga to do what they can and allow themselves to fully engage with the practice. "Love yourself through every part of the journey," Clark said. "If you give yourself to the practice, it will give even more back to you." SPIRITUAL BENEFITS During the practice of yoga, individuals can undergo an internal transformation that allows them to focus their energy on state of mind and well-being. Individuals can set intentions and connect with a higher power during their yoga practice. Estelle Saba, management senior, teaches power and general yoga classes at The Rec. She has been practicing yoga for three consecutive years and was interested in becoming an instructor to share the benefits of the practice with others. "For me, yoga is the only thing that ignites the spirit, body and mind in one mindful practice," Saba said. Saba said her time in the studio serves
as an opportunity to fully dedicate time to herself and her practice. Saba leads power yoga Mondays from 5:45-6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6:15-7 p.m. She leads general yoga Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. SOCIAL BENEFITS Participating in yoga classes can allow individuals to connect with others who share similar interests. Yoga is an intimate workout that focuses on one's mental state and emotions. During a yoga class, mental barriers come down and individuals are able to bond on a deeper level. Sunshine Torres, health and wellness junior, is an athletic Estelle Saba helping a student at her power yoga class and general yoga instructor Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Student Recreation Center. at The Rec. Torres has been PHOTO BY BRIANNA BENITEZ practicing yoga since she was a toddler and began developing her own practice at 14 years old. Torres said each yoga class focuses on breathing and meditation. Students who take a class can expect to engage in active warm-up exercises, a series of posture practices and balance or coordination movements. Torres leads rise and shine yoga Mondays from 7-8 a.m., athletic yoga Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8 a.m. and general yoga Thursdays from Students engaging in a warrior pose at Estelle Saba's 7-8 p.m. power yoga class Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Student Torres said being an Recreation Center. instructor has provided her the PHOTO BY BRIANNA BENITEZ opportunity to connect with students by participating in them." what she loves. For more information on yoga and class "If it wasn't for the people the practice schedules, visit The Student Recreation has brought into my life, I don't know if Center website. To stay up-to-date on being an instructor would feel the same," upcoming fitness and wellness events, Torres said. "I'm definitely passionate follow The Rec on social media @txstrec on about the people and it's so much better Instagram and Twitter. being able to share this practice with
The University Star
4 | Tuesday, September 24, 2019
OPINIONS
Jordan Drake Opinions Editor staropinion@txstate.edu
Opinions expressed in The University Star are not necessarily those of Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, or Student Publications Board.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Let’s get young people registered and hooked on voting By Rae Martinez Director of Texas Rising There are a couple of things we like to believe about voting: it is habit-forming and contagious. We believe once a person votes for the first time, they are likely to make a habit of it. We also believe if a person votes, they are likely to convince their friends and family to do the same. That’s why at our program for young Texans, Texas Rising, we are focusing our efforts on getting new voters registered and to the polls. On National Voter Registration Day, Sept. 24, our volunteers will fan out across the state with a goal of registering 5,000 of their peers by midnight. It is part of our organization’s larger goal of registering 100,000 new, young voters in time for next year’s presidential election. Adding 5,000 new voters to the approximately 16 million who were already registered in Texas for the 2018 election might not seem like much, but
we see that number through the lens of the potential these voters have to make all the difference, next year and beyond. In an era where the electoral battles are hard-fought and sometimes won by small margins, getting any amount of new voter registrations could prove crucial. In 2010, one Central Texas House district was decided by a dozen votes. If, as is widely expected, the Texas House is up for grabs next year in a situation similar to 2010, those handful of votes could very well decide who controls one of our legislative chambers. You also surely haven’t forgotten – how could you? – that the 2016 presidential election turned on a few thousand votes across the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. If, as is also expected, Texas is a battleground next year, it will be the most hotly contested of any state. The three battlegrounds that swung the 2016 election have a combined 46 electoral votes. Texas has 38 all by itself.
In a close race, 5,000 votes in the Lone Star State could very well decide who gets to live in the White House for four years. Additionally, there was Florida in 2000. Young Texans we will register are not old enough to remember that election, but they know their history. They very well know what the official margin was in that case. This is a critical time to be a young voter. By next year, it is estimated the millennial generation combined with Generation Z will make up 37% of the nationwide electorate. It means this large group of potential voters next year will be between the ages of 18 and 39. Just last year, participation by people under the age of 30 in Texas spiked for the 2018 midterm elections. Let me tell you, that energy has not gone away. I had the good fortune of attending the Democratic Presidential Debate in Houston, where I sat with other Texas Rising members. The excitement and enthusiasm is palpable. Young people
frankly can’t wait for Nov. 3, 2020, to get here already so they can go out and vote. This rising generation of young, diverse Texans has reached voting age and are ready to make an impact. We all have a duty to work toward getting every possible voter registered and to the polls. We’re doing our part, and great organizations like Move Texas, JOLT Action and Battleground Texas are doing great work to register new voters. We would appreciate some help, too. If you aren’t registered yet, your county’s elections administrator can help. If you know a young person, encourage them to register. Now is the time to get this rising generation of young Texans hooked on voting. Rae Martinez is the director of Texas Rising, a project of the Texas Freedom Network that builds the power of a rising generation of young Texans, with an emphasis on communities of color, by advocating for change in the cities and towns where we live and at the ballot box.
STUDYING
ILLUSTRATION BY VALKYRIE MATA
Alkek noise level should be strictly monitored and enforced By Thomas Dunlap Opinion Columnist Since its opening in 1991, Albert B. Alkek Library has provided countless Texas State students with a safe and resourceful area to be productive. Each of its seven floors contains more than enough space and tools for students to effectively complete their studies. Like any other library, Alkek should be treated with respect and its visitors should be thoughtful of one another. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Despite its obvious purpose as a quiet and calm place to study, Alkek has become a popular place for students to socialize. It has become difficult to find a location in Alkek not overrun with cliques of disruptive students who loudly recount previous night's events or are feverishly planning the next ones. Unaware and obnoxious students are doing anything but studying and are often a rude distraction to the large chunk of other students in the surrounding vicinity attempting to be productive. Disruptive behavior remains widely unchecked throughout Alkek and has created an environment promoting procrastination rather than productivity. Due to the degree of disturbances,
Texas State administration and Alkek staff should implement a system to monitor and enforce an appropriate noise level on all floors of Alkek Library. Despite having the ability and privilege to reserve a private study room for free, various organizations and groups have continuously conducted their recurring meetings at public tables. While these spaces are free to use, students attempting to get schoolwork done nearby are interrupted by distractions and noise. It is common for students to focus on other matters in their lives, devolving meetings into unproductive rants and discourses. It is easy for a group involved in misguided discussions to reach an unruly noise level and disturb those around them without realizing the disruption they are causing. This situation can be frustrating for students who desperately need a quiet place to study or finish assignments. Loud dialogue—whether a large group or few individuals—is inconsiderate and disruptive and should not be tolerated outside of study rooms. A possible solution to the issue is the implementation of a rule requiring all groups above a certain size to reserve a private study room. This may enable groups to register ahead of time and for
staff to police groups violating this rule. Staff could kick assemblies of students out or make them move to another available space. The easy-to-use system to reserve study rooms is available through the Alkek website and would not be an inconvenience for organizations to utilize. This requirement would not only reduce the noise level but provide more open table space throughout Alkek. In an attempt to prevent noise issues from occurring, the library provides two silent floors and a noise/security hotline. While both are earnest attempts at noise prevention, they have proven to be generally ineffective. It is commonplace for several students on silent floors to unapologetically disregard the “no talking” rule and engage in open and free discussion. This behavioral infraction often goes unpunished since the number for the noise hotline is poorly and scarcely advertised. Only one or two small signs with the hotline information, if any at all, are present on each floor. To halt students from talking when they shouldn't, Texas State administration should employ a dedicated task force— be it student volunteers or paid staff— whose sole purpose would be to monitor
and enforce an appropriate noise level throughout the library. A Seal Team Six of sound surveillance would periodically patrol each floor of Alkek, ensuring everyone was respecting each other by maintaining a low volume level and not disturbing those around them. The group would be responsible for reprimanding—and possibly removing—offenders. The implementation of the task force would reduce overcrowding by removing students who do not observe common library etiquette. Additionally, the force would motivate students to behave respectfully in the library, as they would hopefully realize their behavior has consequences. Disruptive behavior in Alkek is a serious issue and needs to be immediately addressed. While the previously suggested solutions could alleviate some of the problems, the only real resolution lies within the students themselves. Since a majority of students seem to have trouble grasping the elementary concept of “keeping quiet in a library,” rules and enforcement need to be strongly encouraged and pushed from day one. Thomas Dunlap is a journalism junior
The University Star
Tuesday, September 24, 2019 | 5
OPINIONS
Jordan Drake Opinions Editor staropinion@txstate.edu
Opinions expressed in The University Star are not necessarily those of Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, or Student Publications Board.
Greek life is a problem By Amira Van Leeuwen Opinion Columnist Welcome to bidding season, where girls are degraded because they fail to fit the "look" and guys get drunk and go cow-tipping for fun. It should go without saying sororities and fraternities on college campuses are out of hand. Greek life has not always been part of the "go crazy, go stupid" party scene. Greek life first originated in the late 1700s after the founding of the second colonial college. However, the first Greek-letter society came after a student had been refused admission into literary society PDA. Instead, he, along with four of his friend's, formed their own society using Greek letters to name it and Phi Beta Kappa was born. During this time, secret societies were formed to invoke intellectual and controversial discussion. As American culture has evolved, so has the purpose of Greek life. Greek life is plagued by negative connotations, terrible incidents and a culture leaving a lot to be desired. What first comes to mind may be exclusive parties, expenses, alcohol and drug abuse. Sorority and fraternity members might feel a certain level of entitlement when it comes to their Greek mumbo jumbo name, which allows them to assume they are of higher status. People on college campuses should not ignore the problems that get such organizations into trouble in the first place. Hazing and alcohol tend to go hand-in-hand when discussing Greek life, as there has been at least one hazing death every year at a schoolrelated event in the U.S. since 1961. As of 2010, the number of hazing/ pledging/rushing-related deaths has totaled about 90 males and 6 females across the nation. A pledge from Penn State died after being forced to consume 18 drinks in less than 90 minutes, later suffering from a traumatic brain injury after falling headfirst down a flight of stairs. This hazing ritual is known to fraternities as “the gauntlet.” A more recent hazing incident occurred January 2017, involving sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha at Northwestern University, where hazing played a large role in the suicide of a 19-year-old college basketball player. This “alleged” hazing included paddling, verbal and mental abuse, financial exploitation, sleep deprivation and various items being thrown and dumped on her.
Texas State is all too familiar with this pain. Between 2017 and 2018, two students have lost their lives while participating in Greek life events, including Mathew Ellis who had a blood alcohol content of .38 while pledging. While Texas State suspended and revamped its policies, it may only be a matter of time before another student falls victim to the antics of Greek life organizations. The majority of these incidents seem to occur due to lack of responsibility or maturity. Even as universities crackdown on particular societies, the punishments never seem to last or take full effect, leading to other students falling victim. As young adults, members of any organization should understand the decision to haze or consume too much alcohol affects outside parties as well, including families that have lost their son or daughter due to lawless actions imposed by mindless rules. Sadly, rarely do Greek life members suffer or change their ways for long. Additionally, Greek chapters are extremely expensive and timeconsuming. The University of Southern California averages about $1,800 in dues per semester. For the majority of the time, pledges are expected to pay member dues, initiation and pledge fees, Alumni grants and fundraise. Pledges oftentimes remain unaware of the full cost their sorority or fraternity charges until halfway through the recruitment process, which has the potential to change year-to-year. Being a member of Greek life can be extremely time-consuming as well. Parents do not pay tuition for their kids to party, but instead for them to earn a degree. For some—especially freshmen—the party scene can be extremely inviting. So inviting in fact, pledges or members may be unable to effectively manage their time, leading to poor academic performance. Additionally, members have to allocate time for meetings and social events, or else they face the dangers of getting kicked out, charged or suspended. Greek life needs a new brand, one that does not include White Claw and Coors all over it. As long as this is mainstream culture, these groups should have no place on campus. Either end the party culture and bring back the focus of academia or get banned for good. Amira Van Leeuwen is a journalism major
Greek Life should not be hated on By Haley Schmidt Opinion Columnist
service and supporting other local chapters while holding each other to the standard of Nationals. Being a part of Greek life is not all parties and getting drunk. There is accountability for maintaining a high standard. Furthermore, Greek life allows for individuals to establish bonds with members of their same organization. Connections created can be highly useful in the future. One of the best aspects of Greek life is the networking opportunities, not just in local chapters, but at the national level. People participating in Greek life are not “buying friends,” nor are they wasting money. Members spend money on the social events they want to attend, the fundraising events they contribute to and the investment in their future. Members do not waste their time partying away but rather gather experience by becoming part of a group and having the opportunity to take on various leadership positions. Greek affiliation is often misunderstood and unfairly stereotyped due to incidents that have occurred but this is not the case for every fraternity or sorority. Not everyone in Greek life is involved to party. To fully understand the values involved, someone cannot simply look at Greek life from an outside perspective to accurately make generalizations based on a few encounters with various organizations or its members. The ones breaking the rules should be chased off-campus, but there is no reason to ban all Greek life. Sororities and fraternities may not be something everyone wants to be involved in, but that does not warrant organizations being expelled from campus. There are amazing people in fraternities and sororities who are trying to better themselves and those around them. This is the epitome of what Greek life strives to do and why it should remain.
On the Texas State campus, Greek life organizations tend to fall victim to myriad bad views and stereotypes. Whispers of people claim sororities and fraternities are a waste of money, the equivalency of buying friends, have too strict of a “regime” or serve people who do not care about education and simply want to party. Yet, these biases ignore the benefits of these organizations and the positive impacts they can bring to members' lives. While a point of contention is often how expensive Greek life can be, there are reasons for the dues, like paying for events where money is raised for charities or outside organizations. Chapters usually have a specific organization they donate to or help fundraise for, such as Autism Speaks, Children's Miracle Network, Huntsman Cancer Institute and Feeding America, just to mention a few on campus. Such events and their benefits extend to the San Marcos community as well. Several chapters require mandatory volunteer hours for each member to complete; these are often done through local efforts like working through Keep San Marcos Beautiful, helping at local schools or the Hays County Food Bank. Additional fees cover fun events, maintaining the chapter house— if applicable—and national dues. While there are differences in prices among different chapters, the money goes back into the members and community. Chapters encourage members to be their best selves through Greek life. Organizations help prepare for the future by teaching sociability and professionalism, having higher quality of life post grad and often make the transition into college life easier and smoother. Depending on the sorority and fraternity, there is an emphasis on maintaining academic points, Haley Schmidt is an English being involved in community junior
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The University Star
Tuesday, September 24, 2019 | 7
SPORTS
Claire Partain Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu
FOOTBALL
Bobcats knock off Panthers in 3OT thriller By Colton Mcwilliams Sports Reporter After a controversial call that saw the officials overturn a spiked ball call as the clock struck zero, the Texas State Bobcats toppled the Georgia State Panthers 3734 in triple overtime to put them at 1-0 in conference. Not only was this Texas State’s first victory of the season and Jake Spavital’s first win as a head coach, but the win also marked the first time the Bobcats have defeated a conference opponent at home since 2015. The victory was even sweeter for the team because of their triple overtime struggle, Spavital said. “I couldn’t be more proud of this team and how they just battled,” Spavital said. “The message all week was who was going to want it more, and who would have known it would have gone into three overtimes.” Texas State began the back-and-forth scoring effort off an interception from Georgia State's first drive by kicking a 45-yard field goal from kicker Justin Rowland. The Panthers responded, however, driving down the field to score on a 17yard pass. After trading a couple of possessions, Texas State was forced to punt at
the Georgia State 40-yard line. The 'Cats managed to still utilize the play, recovering a fumble from the Panthers' punt returner in the end zone to give them a 10-7 lead. After the muffed punt return, Georgia State landed a touchdown once again to retake the lead at 14-10. Texas State answered the Panther touchdown with a scoring drive of their own as Anthony D Taylor scored on a two yard touchdown run to retake the lead at 17-14. In a case of foreshadowing, Georgia State ended the half by kicking a field goal as halftime began to tie the game at 17-17. After being the sole scorers in the third quarter, the Bobcats recovered a punt but were forced to punt to start the fourth quarter. Georgia State took the opportunity, going on an eight minute drive to take the lead 24-20. The 'Cats quickly returned the favor with a near five-minute drive until Taylor ran 20 yards for his second touchdown of the night to bring the score up 27-24. With less than a minute left in the game, the Panthers went in for the win but failed to punch it after the Bobcat defense held firm in their goal-line stand. Georgia State settled with a field goal attempt after being stuffed once again to tie the game. The drama wasn't over yet,
PICK 'EM
however. In a whirlwind of events, the clock hit zero before the Panthers could kick, causing the Bobcats to rush the field amid celebratory fireworks. However, the officials reviewed the play and controversially overturned the call, giving the Panthers one second left to kick. Bobcat fans and the team were in shock after the questionable call, Spavital said. “I thought the ball hit the ground when the clock was all zeroes,” Spavital said. “It was pretty emotional because everyone thought we had won the game.” The Panthers successfully kicked the 20-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. With the Bobcats electing to play defense first, Georgia State kicked off overtime with a 13-yard touchdown to go up 34-27. Facing a fourth-down situation, Bobcats threw an incomplete pass towards the end zone but were bailed out on a pass inference call to put the ball at the 5-yard line. Texas State capitalized on the penalty as Gresch Jensen scored on the readoption keeper to tie the game at 34-34. The second overtime period was filled with drama when Texas State missed the field goal attempt, giving the Panthers a chance to win the game. However, Georgia State kicker Brandon Wright,
who is considered one of the best kickers in the Sun Belt and in the nation, shockingly missed the game-winning field goal which came up short and sent the game into a third overtime. In the third OT, Wright again missed the field goal and gave Texas State kicker Justin Rowland another chance. After Georgia State tried icing the kicker, Rowland nailed the field goal from 35 yards out and sent the Bobcats home with their first victory of 2019. “It’s kind of cool, it’s actually my first game-winner,” Rowland said after the game. “Honestly the left hash was giving me some trouble and has been my Achilles Heel…honestly when we first went out there, I was kind of like ‘crap it’s the left hash and I’ve got to get the job done’, then the ice came and gave me more time to calm down.” The game was also a historic one for London II, who tied a school record with 22 tackles. “I’ve been kind of excited about it (tying the school record) since we finished it with a win,” London said. “The tackles are cool but we won too so it makes it not appreciated.” Texas State wraps up non-conference play next Saturday in San Marcos with the renewal of the Battle of the Paddle rivalry against Nicholls State.
VOLLEYBALL
Editor's note: The University Star sports and editorial staff, as well as a guest picker each week, predict the outcomes for the coming week of the college football schedule. This week goes as follows. Louisiana Lafayette @ Georgia Southern 5:00 P.M. Sept. 28 at Allen E. Paulson stadium Statesboro, GA. Nicholls State @ Texas State 6:00 P.M. Sept. 28 at Bobcat stadium San Marcos, TX. South Alabama @ UL Monroe 6:00 P.M. Sept .28 at James L. Malone stadium Monroe, LA.
JAKOB R. RODRIGUEZ (7-5)
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lafayette Texas State UL Monroe
CLAIRE PARTAIN (8-4)
SPORTS EDITOR Lafayette Texas State UL Monroe
COLTON MCWILLIAMS (7-5)
SPORTS REPORTER Lafayette Texas State UL Monroe
ANDREW ZIMMEL (7-5)
SPORTS REPORTER Lafayette Texas State UL Monroe
GUEST PICKER: MCCLAIN BAXLEY Georgia Southern University Editor-in-Chief, The George-Anne Guest picker record: Last set by Dan Seed Lecturer and Graduate Program Assistant for the school of Journalism and Mass Communication (7-5) Georgia Southern Texas State UL Monroe Last Week's scores: 28-20 Auburn | 41-38 SMU | 37-34 Texas State
Bobcats sweep Creeds & Crests Classic By Cade Andrews Sports Reporter Bobcat volleyball clinched a tournament title and extended their win streak to five matches after going undefeated in the annual Creeds & Crests Classic tournament at home this weekend. The 'Cats went 3-0 in the tournament, putting their record at 8-5 as they head into conference play next weekend. The Bobcats took the Creeds and Crests crown after defeating the Sam Houston State Bearkats on Saturday in three straight sets (25-22, 25-19, 2517). The win came after another dominating sweep against George Washington on Friday (25-13, 25-17, 25-12). Sophomore setter Emily DeWalt showed her versatility with 31 assists, matching her season-high of three aces, recording four digs and logging three blocks. Junior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott had a team-high of four blocks and added seven kills in the sweep, while senior Cheyenne Huskey paced the team with 13 kills against the Colonials. The team made the win due to their strong offensive performance and allaround consistency, head coach Karen Chisum said. “We had our best performance of the season offensively and I thought we played pretty good defense too,” Chisum said. “This game helped us recognize that when we don’t have silly errors, we are going to be very good.” The Bobcats opened the weekend with a tougher win against I-35 rival UTSA, taking the match in four sets (2521, 24-26, 25-21, 25-20). Freshman outside hitter Lauren Teske led the way with 13 kills while sophomore Kenedi Rutherford and Huskey joined her in double-digit kills with 11 and 10 respectively. The match ended a threematch losing streak at home. The tournament continued the 'Cats' impressive offensive performance, which the team has been working to fix since a few ruts early in the season, Rutherford said. "I think in practice just going hard and working on connection with the setters," Rutherford said. "We just do reps after reps, always looking for another dub." The wins earned Texas State three conference honors. Huskey was given
the tournament’s MVP award with an average of 3.20 kills per set and eight aces, while Scott and DeWalt also joined Huskey on the Creeds & Crests Classic All-Tournament Team. Scott averaged 3.00 kills per set and led with 13 total blocks, while DeWalt averaged 11.4 assists and 2.00 digs per set along with eight kills, five aces, and four blocks. Team camraderie and a balanced team led to the tournament success, Huskey said. “The one thing that keeps us together
"THE ONE THING THAT KEEPS US TOGETHER IS OUR TEAM CHEMISTRY" - CHEYENNE HUSKEY
is our team chemistry,” Huskey said. “The coaches are really big on team chemistry and when we need someone to come in and make some plays, they are ready to do that.” The 'Cats are on solid ground approaching their final nonconference test before coming into Sun Belt play, Chisum said. "I am pleased with our play this weekend and glad to be here at Strahan Arena,” Chisum said. “Some would say we got off to a rocky start, but I scheduled some tough teams at the beginning and we still have a big match with No. 5 Baylor coming up. But right now, having a five-match winning streak boosts the team's confidence as we enter the next phase of the season." Texas State will travel north of I-35 to take on No. 5 Baylor at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Ferrell Center before returning home Thursday to open the Sun Belt Conference schedule with a 6:30 p.m. match vs. Louisiana. Stay updated on everything Texas State volleyball by following the team on Facebook, Twitter,and Instagram.
The University Star
8 | Tuesday, September 24, 2019
SPORTS
Claire Partain Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu
Q&A
&
facts figures
900 8 40 SEASONS OF
WITH KAREN CHISUM
By Claire Partain Sports Editor Congrats on 900 wins, or 903 now. What does that mean for you as a coach? It’s amazing, but it’s been all about the student athletes that I’ve had here at Texas State, and as I’ve told several people I have not played a point. It’s just amazing how time has flown. It doesn’t seem like it’s been 40 years since I’ve started this, But I’ve just been blessed with my student athletes and the assistant coaches and staff that have been around me. My biggest thing is I’m excited about the positive visibility that it brings to the university and to the Bobcats. What are some highlights in these 40 years? All the championships. You’ve got to say that, I think. People ask that and really all I can remember is the last game that we played. But yes, the championships and watching the student athletes celebrate something whatever the event might be. Them graduating is always a biggie. But I guess the most recent highlight I can say is the NCAA win last year against Rice up at Texas. That was our first win in the NCAA tournament and that was very special. What has changed throughout your career? Well we’ve had a lot of name changes and a lot has changed, even just with the game itself. When I started it was sideout volleyball. You had to serve to score a point and if the receiving team won the rally, it wasn’t a point, it was just called sideout. You could play for 20 minutes and it would still be 1-0. I think they changed it to make it more exciting and almost act as a time limit. Have you had to change your coaching style or approach? I don’t know if I have too much. Through the ages when my former
KAREN CHISUM HEAD COACH OF THE TEXAS STATE VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM
7TH
REGULAR
WINNINGEST
SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS 1986 1991 2000 2003 2004 2008 2011 2018
FEMALE COACH
OF ALL-TIME
10
TOURNAMENT SEASON
CHAMPIONSHIPS 1986 1991 1998 2004 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2018
"I AM A BOBCAT. I DON'T THINK THERE'S A BETTER PLACE IN THE NATION"
athletes come back we’ll talk about it. I think there’s no doubt I have mellowed. I’ve probably learned to be a little bit more patient than I used to be, but as far as relating to the student athletes I think the biggest change there is helping them to learn to talk eye-to-eye. I think it’s important that they learn about personal relationships and communication. So the
biggest change if any is the technology change and social media. But as far as people, they’ve all got great hearts. They’re still competitive, that’s the biggest thing we look for with recruiting. Student athletes are much more skilled than when we first started, and I say skilled because of clubs. We don’t recruit out of high schools anymore, we recruit
out of clubs. You’ve led some great players. What is the most important thing you implement in your program? I hope it’s personal relationships honestly. It’s all about personal skills, personal relationships, and competitiveness. Skills are going to come along, but you’ve got to be able to relate to the student athletes and motivate them. I think my biggest thing is to get them to love Texas State, because you know me, I am a Bobcat. I don’t think there’s a better place in the nation, and if they take a lot of pride in what they do, they’re going to be excited and ready to represent this university like I want them to represent and win. For six years in a row, you’ve had your team at a 3.0 or higher. How? My philosophy is... you can’t be an average individual to play Division 1 volleyball. You’ve got to be good, you’ve got to be higher than that, you’ve got to be a B+ to an A, and I think that they’ve got to understand that. It relates not only in the court as a player but also in the classroom and when they go out to get a job. You’ve got to have good work ethic, and I really believe that what they do in the classroom and on the court kind of go hand in hand. A lot of it (also) goes down to self-discipline and pride. You’ve got to have pride in what you’re doing in the classroom and on the court, and again, they’re here for an education, (so) to play in a quality, competitive volleyball program is number two. Another part of it is good time management skills. There’s only 24 hours a day and you’ve got to get everything done in those 24 hours. 40 years here and you’ve still got time to go. What are your plans this year and for your career? As for career-wise, I’ve got no idea. I have no plans for retirement, and I don’t know when that time’s going to come. I’ve had mentors tell me, ‘Karen, you’ll know when it’s time’. The ultimate goal right now is to defend our Sun Belt Championship, which we start this weekend with conference play... as well as going to the NCAA tournament again. And I’ll take it one day at a time and see what happens.
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