TUESDAY
September 21, 2021 VOLUME 111 ISSUE 7 www.UniversityStar.com
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
Victoria's Secret PINK campus team launches on campus SEE PAGE 4
Radish & Dill serves up healthy menu, supports local businesses
Opinion: Professors should not require textbooks the first weeks of instruction
Tailgate's return kicks off mixed emotions
SEE PAGE 5
SEE PAGE 6
SEE PAGE 7
SENATE BILL 8
MARIJUANA
San Marcos social justice organization pushes for decriminalization of marijuana
'MY BODY, MY CHOICE'
By Arthur Fairchild News Contributor In an effort to decriminalize the use of marijuana in San Marcos, Mano Amiga, a local social justice group, is working to give residents the chance to vote on the issue by the November 2022 midterm election. The group needs at least 10% of registered voters to sign a petition supporting the campaign, in order for it to be placed on Election Day ballots. Mano Amiga will have effectively 180 days to collect signatures for the petition starting in January 2022. The petition must be approved by the city.
THE TIME HAS SINCE LONG BEEN PASSED THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE CRIMINALIZING OUR COMMUNITY AND DISPROPORTIONALLY IMPACTING THOSE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED, THE POOR, THE BLACK AND THE LATINX AMONG US BECAUSE HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT POSSESSION OF CANNABIS IS THE LEAD ARRESTING CHARGE AND HAS BEEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME,” - ERIC MARTINEZ, MANO AMIGA'S POLICY ADVISOR By pushing to decriminalize the use of marijuana in San Marcos, Mano Amiga hopes to decrease arrests, prison time and stop criminal records for first-time offenses. According to the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit national research organization, about 250 people arrested in the last six months are currently serving time in the Hays County Jail for possession of marijuana. Sarah Minion, a program associate at the Vera Institute of Justice, said that when someone is arrested for possession of marijuana it tends to be their only charge. “Here in Hays County roughly one in 10 bookings into the county jail have a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge," Minion said. "Over a quarter of these bookings have no other associated charges. For an overwhelming majority of residents, cannabis arrests mean wasted public dollars that could be better spent." Despite continuing marijuana arrests, San Marcos police officers are obligated to give out written citations instead of making arrests through the city’s cite-and-release ordinance. Eric Martinez, Mano Amiga's policy advisor, said citations still force offenders to go through the justice system, thus overly impacting underrepresented groups. "The time has since long been passed that we should not be criminalizing our community and disproportionally impacting those who are marginalized, the poor, the Black and the Latinx among us because history has shown that possession of cannabis is the lead arresting charge and has been SEE MARIJUANA PAGE 3
Riley Belcher, a pre-nursing freshman, speaks on the importance of voting at the pro-choice protest she organized, Friday, Sept. 10, at the Texas Capitol. MADELYN WEIRICH
Student activists protest Texas abortion law at state Capitol
the bill. “I’m protesting for the safe and legal access to abortion,” Belcher said. “How can you say, ‘my body, Riley Belcher sat among somber faces and silence my choice’ when it comes to issues like public health in the center of the Texas Capitol. and COVID, and then take away women's rights to She, along with other demonstrators, surrounded choose?” the inside and outside steps of After taking part in a the building with decorated protest over the summer THAT'S WHAT'S posters, protesting the passing led by Feminist Action of Texas Senate Bill 8, one Project, a student-led gender IMPORTANT, YOU of the nation’s strictest antijustice activism group at the abortion laws. The bill was KNOW, FOR WOMEN University of Texas at Austin, approved by Gov. Greg Abbott Belcher was inspired to in May and went into effect on TO HAVE THE CHOICE TO DO organize her own protest led Sept. 1. by fellow Texas State students The bill, also known as the WHAT THEY WANT IN THEIR and people in Austin. With "Heartbeat Bill," prohibits the help of Feminist Action abortions once a fetal LIFE. SO, IT'S JUST NOT Project, Belcher spread the heartbeat is detected during word of the protest across an ultrasound. This usually RIGHT FOR THE GOVERNTexas State and UT. occurs between five to six Nearly 100 young adults weeks after pregnancy, which MENT TO TAKE THAT CHOICE filled the rotunda of the Texas is before some people even Capitol on Sept. 10 to join know they're pregnant. AWAY. IT'S A MEDICAL PRO- the demonstration and protest The circumstances of the bill Abbott's decision to sign the also applies to individuals who CEDURE. IT'S BETWEEN THE bill into law. The protest began are impregnated from rape or at 2:30 p.m. and lasted until 5 incest, but there is an exception PATIENT AND THE DOCTOR,” p.m. Those present peacefully for medical emergencies. In sat on the floor of the rotunda addition to banning abortion -JAZMIN GUEVARA, AN and displayed signs advocating after six weeks of pregnancy, EDUCATION SENIOR for an individual's right to an the bill allows individuals to abortion, even when the time sue medical offices or anyone period presented in the bill has who assists in helping someone passed. obtain an abortion passed the six-week period. After protesting silently inside the Capitol, Belcher Inspired by the mobility of pro-choice supporters across Texas and angered by what felt like a grab SEE SENATE BILL 8 PAGE 3 for her individual rights, Belcher, a pre-nursing freshman, organized a rally to protest the passing of By Madelyn Weirich News Contributor
CELEBRATINg hispanic heritage Did you know? Texas State has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) since 2010. As an HSI, Texas State aims to provide resources and opportunities that serve Hispanic and low-income students. Hispanic students make up over 38% of the university's total enrollment, as of fall 2020.
2 | Tuesday, September 21, 2021 Natalie Ryan Multimedia Editor starmultimedia@txstate.edu
The University Star
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Performers from Mitotiliztli Yaoyollohtli Aztec Dance Company wearing traditional Aztec regalia perform a tribal dance to celebrate HSI Community Day, Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, at the Arch. RASIKA GASTI
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Texas State sophomore running back Jahmyl Jeter (28) celebrates with his teammates after scoring the first touchdown of the game, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats lost to the University of the Incarnate Word 42-34. VANESSA BUENTELLO
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 3,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels HeraldZeitung. Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, September 21, 2021. 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.
Texas State communication design sophomore Mari Velasquez looks at Ray Benson's guitar and costumes while listening to his original commentary, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at the Witliff Collections in Alkek Library. RASIKA GASTI
Texas State Strutters perform on the sidelines during the game against the Cardinals, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats lost to the University of the Incarnate Word 42-34. VANESSA BUENTELLO
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Texas State sophomore cornerback Ashton Johnson (35) runs through the smoke-filled tunnel to the field before the game against the University of the Incarnate Word begins, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats lost 42-34. KATE CONNORS
Tuesday, September 21, 2021 | 3
The University Star
NEWS
Timia Cobb News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT SENATE BILL 8
Students from Texas State and the University of Texas at Austin join together to protest the "Heartbeat Bill", Friday, Sept. 10 at the Texas Capitol. MADELYN WEIRICH
led the group outside to the steps of the building where demonstrators held signs and shouted chants such as “my body, my choice” and “Governor Abbott you can’t hide, you don’t care if women die.” Among those protesting was Kenna Lookingbill, a human development and family sciences sophomore. As someone who is adopted, Lookingbill said she is often pressured to be anti-abortion. "[They're] like, 'well, you know, if your birth mom had gotten an abortion, you wouldn't be here,'" Lookingbill said. "But I mean, it was [still] her choice . . . it doesn't matter.” Lookingbill doesn't see her adoption as a reason
why abortion is unnecessary or wrong. In her eyes, though her mother chose to carry out a pregnancy, the important part was that she had the freedom to choose. The freedom of individual choice was an act fellow protestors also advocated for. Jazmin Guevara, an education senior, said she witnessed her mother, who had her first child at 16 years old, encounter the hardships that come with raising a child at a young age. While her mother managed to overcome these hardships, Guevara doesn't believe it's fair to expect every person who gets pregnant to go through those
same experiences and live a life they do not want or are not prepared for. “That's what's important, you know, for women to have the choice to do what they want in their life. So, it's just not right for the government to take that choice away. It's a medical procedure. It's between the patient and the doctor,” Guevara said. As the demonstration continued, protesters shared personal experiences that motivated them to advocate for abortion access. Many shared vulnerable stories of coercion and rape, asking why they should have to fight for the choice to have an abortion when pregnancy itself isn't always avoidable. Still, many addressed the idea that even in situations where pregnancy is a result of consensual acts, there should be a right to choose. Throughout the protest, Belcher delivered speeches that stressed the importance of voting. While she will still be too young to vote for the next few months, she urged protesters to register to vote and participate in the upcoming elections, supporting candidates who respect the right to choose. Though she isn't sure whether she will organize another protest in the near future, Belcher plans on attending more events advocating for the right to an abortion. She aims to continue encouraging people to exercise their civic duty and vote in each election for the changes they wish to see.
FROM FRONT MARIJUANA for quite some time,” Martinez said. According to Texas' Crime Report for 2019, there were over 45,000 arrests made for possession of marijuana in Texas. Of those arrests, over 14,000 were racial minorities and over 17,000 were Hispanic. Although cite-and-release issues citations rather than arrests, Samantha Benavides, a Mano Amiga campaign fellow, said a citation can severely impact someone’s life by entering them into the legal system. “While cite-and-release is groundbreaking and monumental, they still have to enter the legal system at a later date," Benavides said. "They take that citation and show up to court and still have to pay court costs and fees and get their mugshot and fingerprints taken and pay for an attorney. We think we need to end all legal penalty for possession of marijuana." Minion also believes that being arrested or receiving a citation can impact how a person lives. She explains that an arrest can drastically change the trajectory of one’s life, impacting their ability to find sustainable employment
and housing. “An arrest creates a permanent criminal record that can be found on the internet by employers, landlords, schools and banks," Minion said. "It can also result in the loss of employment, financial aid, housing and child custody." Mano Amiga plans to continue campaigning for the decriminalization of marijuana before they begin collecting signatures for the petition in January 2022. "We will be looking to bring more onto our team to help us collect those signatures come January," Benavides said. "We are especially interested in having more directly impacted people reach out to us, people who have been arrested, cited or gone through the legal system in any way. We really want to center the voices of directly impacted people in this campaign." To contact Mano Amiga, visit its website or call 512-766-6854.
JORDAN TAYLOR
4 |Tuesday, September 21, 2021
The University Star
LIFE & ARTS Victoria's Secret PINK campus team launches on campus Sarah Hernandez Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
V.S. PINK
By Brooklyn Solis, Sarah Hernandez
As students embark on a new school year, one of Texas State's newest organizations, the Victoria's Secret PINK campus team, looks forward to promoting school spirit and empowering other students with its new apparel. Kassidee Ryder, a mass communications junior, and Kiarra Regalado, a public relations junior, are the inaugural PINK campus representatives at Texas State. They both found out about the PINK campus teams from friends and other universities with their own teams. According to Ryder and Regalado, Victoria's Secret PINK is always looking to expand its market audience that consists mostly of college students. To accomplish this, the program is brought to new college campuses every year. In the spring, after receiving an overwhelming amount of campus rep applications from Texas State students, PINK ran a poll on its Instagram story to let its followers decide if the campus program should be implemented at Texas State or at the University of Central Florida. After a close competition, Texas State won with the most votes. From the pool of Texas State applicants were Ryder and Regalado who got the opportunity to interview for the PINK campus program. Ryder said the high volume of applicants wanting to become a PINK campus rep entails a long but enjoyable process. "It's mostly just they're trying to figure out who you are, how you represent yourself and how you would represent this brand," Ryder said. "Then [you will] get to make mood boards that you think represent you just so they can get a creative aspect of it ... it was super fun the whole time. It wasn't like 'oh my gosh, this is a lot.'" After being selected as the school's representatives, they attended training to learn the ins and outs of being a representative. Training days focused on topics like social media and marketing skills and learning how to be a mentor for their fellow PINK team members. Typically, training takes place in person over the summer at the PINK headquarters in Ohio. However, this year’s training was pushed online because of the pandemic. Despite not experiencing their first training in person, Ryder and Regalado enjoyed learning about being a social media influencer and how to build a
brand that appeals to a college audience. "It was really fun. They tried to make it as interactive as possible, so I really enjoyed that. We got to meet a lot of influencers and people into their own brands," Regalado said. After training, Ryder and Regalado began the countdown for applications to be opened to Texas State's student body in hopes to grow the campus' very first PINK class. One of the newest members, Peyton Jameson, a health science junior, joined the team at the start of the semester as Texas State's PINK trendsetter. As a trendsetter, Jameson's duties include staying up to date with the latest Victoria's Secret releases and finding trendy ways to style clothes for photoshoots. Jameson is most excited to connect with her team at PINK and take on the new school year as part of an organization. "I've never been a part of anything like this, so this is all new for me so it's exciting learning new things," Jameson said. The campus reps wanted to make sure they built a team of people who are as passionate as they are about promoting the PINK brand and gaining realworld experience in social media and branding while in college. Texas State PINK campus reps Kassidee "We're just looking for girls that really want to do Ryder and Kiarra Regalado show off their this for the right reasons," Ryder said. "We're here to PINK gear in August at Stellar Coffee Co. help market Victoria's Secret PINK. We're not here to PHOTO COURTESY OF KASSIDEE RYDER do this like 'go get free stuff.'" To establish the Texas State PINK team name on campus and among students, Ryder and Regalado plan to host tabling events on the Quad and around from the collection, the reps said the collaboration is campus. They have already hosted giveaways and a big step in giving Texas State recognition. As they events at local businesses like Stellar Coffee Co. and prepare for the school year, the members of the PINK Kahvie Cafe. team look forward to spreading school spirit and "This opens up a lot of opportunities for people who getting to show their Bobcat pride. want to get involved with influencing and want to be "PINK is just a huge brand, and getting Texas involved with promoting other brands so I think that's State's name out there — I mean, I think it's the best very helpful to people," Regalado said. "It just opens university ever. I think it's so great. I think that people up a lot of doors for people who are wanting to go should know how great it is and I think us working a further route with PR and just working with huge with a huge brand like that really helps to make people titles as well." see 'oh we're not like a small university,'" Ryder said. As campus reps, Ryder and Regalado also have the "We're out there, we're big, we're fun, we always have opportunity to impact the design and marketing of stuff going on. It’s a great school." PINK products. The reps will have a say in the design For more information on Texas State's PINK team, of PINK's Texas State apparel collection. visit its Instagram @texasstatepink. Although the university does not gain any profit
The University Star
LIFE & ARTS
Tuesday, September 21, 2021 | 5 Sarah Hernandez Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
FOOD
Radish & Dill serves up healthy menu, supports local businesses By Sarah Hernandez Life &w Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu Locally sourced food, sustainability and community are all at the top of the list of things most important to the owners and friends of Radish & Dill, San Marcos' newest fine food market and restaurant. Owners Diana and Christian Espiritu had the idea to open a sustainable, farm-forward food market in which they could support local businesses by using their products in the food they prepare and selling the products separately to the community. After some setbacks and the pandemic halted plans to establish the business in 2018, Radish & Dill finally opened in early September. Located on 102 Wonder World Drive, Radish & Dill gives customers the option to order food from the menu or pick up options from a grab-and-go fridge that features menu items such as prosciutto sandwiches, heirloom tomato carpaccio salad, vegan chowder and fresh-pressed juices. A handwritten sign with the business' pledge to its customers hangs on the wall in the restaurant, telling customers that Radish & Dill exists to focus on what matters most: "the people in our community, rich experiences and expressing creativity." "We really do all feel that the most important aspect of our business isn't necessarily the food we're serving or the money we're making or the business we're running," said Diana Espiritu, co-owner of Radish & Dill. "It's really about our human experience, just here in San Marcos, really, but on the planet. Just how we're all making sure that we're all feeling good and happy and healthy while we're working here." Their mission is accomplished through the careful consideration and selection process of choosing what foods and products to sell. One section of the restaurant Radish & Dill takes pride in is the food market wall consisting entirely of products and foods from local farmers and businesses like Three Six General, a butcher shop that sells locally sourced charcuterie, produce and artisan cheese. "We spend hours upon hours upon hours sourcing the products made, making sure that everything on the shelf is sustainable ... every item is intentionally chosen to support our farmers, families, womenowned businesses and our delicate environment," Diana Espiritu said. Besides serving good food, sustainability is also an important value in running Radish & Dill. In fact, most of the food packaging is recyclable or compostable. For example, the salads at the grab-andgo fridge are served in glass jars that can be brought
Radish & Dill, located on Wonder World Drive, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in San Marcos. VANESSA BUENTELLO
back to be reused. Since everything is sourced locally, Radish & Dill's menu is always evolving. As the seasons change, the produce that farmers grow and harvest does as well. With an adaptable menu, the Radish & Dill team is learning as it goes. "There's not one aspect that's not totally thought out before we do it but we have to kind of figure things out as we go as well, just because we're presented with new challenges, new opportunities, new products every day," said Nick Eaton, general manager at Radish & Dill. Diana Espiritu said she and the other partners went through many trials and errors of finding the right food and combinations of the food to end up with something they would be proud to put on the menu. "It was a lot of food tasting, changing the menu, trying things, and saying, 'oh no, that won't work on the shelf.' You know, 'that won't work in the grab-andgo.' And then trying a different sandwich and saying like, 'no, this won't work in the toaster.' 'this won't work in the cooler.' So it was a lot of testing, probably like two months' worth of tasting and testing," Diana Espiritu said. According to Ted Espiritu, Radish & Dill chef and
"THERE'S NOT ONE ASPECT THAT'S NOT TOTALLY THOUGHT OUT BEFORE WE DO IT BUT WE HAVE TO KIND OF FIGURE THINGS OUT AS WE GO AS WELL, JUST BECAUSE WE'RE PRESENTED WITH NEW CHALLENGES, NEW OPPORTUNITIES, NEW PRODUCTS EVERY DAY,"
-NICK EATON, GENERAL MANAGER AT RADISH & DILL
Radish & Dill offers fresh locally sourced produce, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in San Marcos. VANESSA BUENTELLO
the brother of owner Christian Espiritu, it is still a cycle of taste-testing and experimenting with food combinations to find what works for the restaurant. He said as he is learning to create new recipes and menu items, he hopes the customers are learning too. "I don't want to expand the menu. I'm not trying to have like, you know, some places you'll go, they'll have an overwhelming menu, where they have so many items. I'm not about that," Ted Espiritu said. "I'm more about just producing really good food with local products, but also being able to change that menu. So I don't want to just be a stagnant menu that's 'oh, I'm going to go here, because they always have that.' I want people also to be coming in and saying, 'what are you guys working on?', 'what's the newest thing that you guys are going to be putting out?' So not only are we working with local businesses, but we're also educating some people on what's available during that time and during that season." Ted Espiritu has been an executive chef for 13 years, with experience mainly in hotels and hospitality. He said when Diana and Christian Espiritu came to him with their vision of opening a food market, he was drawn to it because, as a food market, Radish & Dill could stay open if there was another quarantine. Most of all, Radish & Dill didn't sound like the busy restaurant experience he had gotten used to and tired of. Instead, it offered fresh new experiences that allowed him to experiment. He said establishing the business in a growing city like San Marcos with people from different food backgrounds challenges him to try new things so Radish & Dill can cater to different diets, cultures and tastes. "San Marcos being a college town or university town, we get a melting pot of different people," Ted Espiritu said. "[To] sort of bring different cuisines here would be, even for me, it would be great. So if I can put some of my experience into the menu and into the seasonal changes of the menu, that's all the better. Plus it also, you know, monotony — I'm not a big fan. So I like to keep things moving and keep things changing. Most people don't like change. I love it. I accept it. It's a challenge that I'd love to tackle head-on every time." The Espiritus and Eaton all hope to widen the outreach of Radish & Dill to neighboring cities like Buda and Kyle, Texas. For now, since the business is still fresh in San Marcos, their focus is on the present and making sure that their bases are covered so the future can fall into place. "We are trying to grow organically and kind of small as we kind of step things up and kind of ramp everything up," Eaton said. "We're still in the hiring process, we're still in the, basically, soft opening stage, if you will. So we're figuring out our equipment and consistency with everything ... and the next thing would be to really get the outreach going to let [the community] know exactly what our values are, where we stand and why we chose the things we do." For more information on Radish & Dill, visit its website at https://www.radishanddill.com or its Facebook @radishanddill.
6 | Tuesday, September 21, 2021
The University Star
OPINIONS
Hannah Thompson Opinion Editor staropinions@txstate.edu
Opinions in The University Star are not necessarily those of our entire publication, Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Student Publications Board.
VOTING
The election integrity bill excludes the votes of people of color By Hannah Thompson Opinion Editor staropinion@txstate.edu
On Sept. 1, Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 1, also known as the election integrity bill, into law. The bill prohibits 24-hour voting, drive-thru voting and unsolicited mail-in ballot distribution; it adds new regulations for voting times, voter assistance, new ID requirements for mail-in voting, more protection for poll watchers, monthly citizenship checks on registered voters and adds a process to fix mail-in ballots that could have technical errors. The bill's ban on 24-hour voting and drive-thru voting aren’t necessary for voting integrity and discourages communities of color from voting. Contention over 24-hour and drivethru voting started with Harris County during the 2020 election. In that year, Harris County beat the previous voting record from 2016 after the introduction of both these voting times and methods. Abbott argues that by introducing these two voting methods, Harris County created its own voting system, going against article 1 section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, as it is the state’s right, not the county’s right, to create voting laws. Moreover, Abbott insists having passengers in a car could lead to coercion in drive-thru voting.
HANNAH THOMPSON
These points were made in a conversation with Fox News's Chris Wallace. Wallace’s counterarguments pointed out that, because more than half of voters using these methods were people of color, these restrictions are acts of voter suppression toward minorities. Moreover, he argues that instead of banning 24-hour voting, Abbott could have extended this procedure statewide. The Texas Civil Rights Project also pointed out how minorities will be disproportionately impacted by these prohibitions. It states that Black, Hispanic and Asian voters made up 56% of extended hour votes and 53% of drive-thru votes in Harris County.
Moreover, the organization mentions that Texas’ Secretary of State said that neither drive-thru voting nor limiting voting hours increase voter security. In addition to this, the majority of Harris County voters, no matter their political affiliation, said they rated their experience with drive-thru voting as “excellent” in a survey by Rice University. In fact, the majority of voters in Harris County were against the changes to ban these voting methods. Abbott’s latter argument of voter coercion doesn’t really stand as people can also be heavily influenced or coerced by those they live with and are taken to the polls by. An example of this can be
seen in the 2020 election through Jules, a TikToker from Texas. In her post, Jules shows a list her parents gave her of who to vote for, which consisted of only Republican candidates. She claims she chose to drive to the polls separately, due to not wanting to be in a car with her parents after they found out that she voted for Joe Biden. Her parents were in fact disappointed by the revelation and allegedly kicked her out because of it. Although Jules may not have been physically coerced in any way to vote for Donald Trump and voted in her own preference, others who find themselves in this situation could be manipulated to otherwise. With this being said, there seems to be little reason to ban drive-thru voting and 24-hour voting polls outright. With this new bill in place, it is now impossible for other Texas counties, like Hays County, to implement practices that will make voting more accessible for communities of color. - Hannah Thompson is a history senior The University Star welcomes Letters to the Editor from its readers. All submissions are reviewed and considered by the Editor-in-Chief and Opinion Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication.
TEXTBOOKS
Professors should not require textbooks the first weeks of instruction By Hannah Thompson Opinion Editor
staropinion@txstate.edu
Remember when getting school supplies used to be exciting? I used to beg my mom for us to go and get them in June, despite the new school year being months away. It was always fun to get to choose your journal colors, get a new backpack or, if you were lucky, get a pack of 64-count crayons. With all of these supply choices we had in K-12, the one I took for granted was choosing the summer reading book. In middle school and high school, you were either assigned a single book to read over the summer or given a couple of options to choose from. I was never really in a rush to buy the book. After all, I had the entire summer to read it. Buying supplies for college isn’t quite the same. Typically, that 64-count crayon pack is replaced with a single mechanical pencil and the summer reading choices are replaced with multiple required textbooks. Although having to buy books may not be a new experience, having to buy so many in a short period of time is for some students. Instructors should not require students to have textbooks within the first weeks of school as some may need more time to get them. The cost associated with textbooks can create a burden for students who need them for class. College Board’s Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2020 report estimates that for both two-year and four-year undergraduate budgets, $410 are allotted for course materials and $1,240-1,460 for other supplies. In its report, College Board notes that the cost of textbooks has recently declined. The decline in costs, however, still doesn't make textbooks an affordable course material for all students. Because of this, some college students, like Jailene Ortiz, a biology sophomore, have struggled to purchase textbooks in a timely manner. “It was overwhelming because at the moment I didn’t have, like, a lot of money,” Ortiz said. “So, I had to get it from my savings and my savings is just, like, for college tuition.”
AFAAF ALNAHAS
Although Ortiz found a way to make it work, not every student is willing to make financial sacrifices for books. According to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s Education Fund, 65% of students in the U.S. decide not to buy textbooks, no matter the blow it may cost academically. I originally thought this was an unbelievable majority, until I realized I contribute to this percentage. There have been times where I opted out of a textbook because it was not explicitly required, or I could copy the chapters at the library. However, not everyone has the luxury of going on campus often, especially if they don’t live in the area. Even if students find a way to purchase these books, there’s also the matter of the books arriving on time if they were ordered online. If students need to purchase books in a timely manner, then they deserve to get a fair amount of notice beforehand. Ortiz said she had
found out about the required textbooks and the necessity of them for the first week of class the day before school started. Dayna Harris, a nursing sophomore, also found out about the need for required textbooks only days before class started. She said she was only given a two days' notice for books that were needed for her English class. “Honestly they were kind of pricey, so I bought them for a cheaper price but they didn’t come in until later,” Harris said. “I wish they could give you a twoweek notice because that’s how long it takes for books to come in or even get one.” Whether students can or cannot afford books, it can easily be a struggle to obtain them within the first couple of weeks. An alternative to professors using textbooks could be something the university offers for free: databases. University research databases allow
students to access journals, newspapers, articles and more through their website. This means students wouldn’t have to make a trip to the library to obtain them like they would a physical book. Second, resources in databases are peer-reviewed meaning that those knowledgeable in the respective subject assess the source. Moreover, students at universities like Texas State already pay tuition fees that grant them access to numerous databases. With databases containing publishing approved sources that are easy to obtain at home and come at no extra cost to the student, using sources from them the first couple weeks of classes could be an easy alternative. However, the argument could be made that this alternative does not apply to fictional books students may need. Regardless, databases could still be used for the context surrounding the book, like the historical setting or even reviews of the book. Harris also suggests there could be a website created where materials needed for a particular class are listed beforehand. “So, like your teacher doesn't have to tell you what book it is, you look up your class and it already tells you what book you need so that ahead of time, when you sign up for classes, you already have it," Harris said. This idea reminded me of the lists that were made available in stores like Target or Walmart that provided the needed materials for schools in the area weeks before classes started. No matter what school students went to, they always knew what they’d need. Although high school teachers warned that college wouldn’t be like high school, maybe the way in which students are notified of required course materials should be. - Hannah Thompson is a history senior The University Star welcomes Letters to the Editor from its readers. All submissions are reviewed and considered by the Editor-in-Chief and Opinion Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication.
Tuesday, September 21, 2021 | 7
The University Star
SPORTS
Sumit Nagar Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu
TAILGATE
Tailgate's return kicks off mixed emotions Texas State Bobcat fans play cornhole during tailgate before the football team arrives for the Cat Walk, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Bobcat Stadium.
By Carter Bordwell Sports Contributor Tailgate festivities and traditions have returned to Bobcat Stadium in celebration of the 2021-22 football season. For the first time since the pandemic, Bobcat Stadium welcomes fans to pack the stands at 100% capacity. The university's decision to open the stadium at 100% capacity and implement the return of tailgate at home games sparked a mixed bag of reactions from students. While some are excited to get back to Texas State traditions, others share concerns over the possible consequences large gatherings could bring under the COVID-19 pandemic. Texas State hosted its first tailgate of the season on Sept. 4, during its home opener against Baylor. Over 26,500 people attended the game. Ruston Breaux, a construction science management junior, enjoyed his experience at the tailgate and was glad to see it return this year. Breaux said he understands the concern students may have with tailgating and the spread of COVID-19; however, he believes students can still participate in tailgating activities. “It’s something that we have to be careful about but it can be done safely,” Breaux said. “Just making sure that if someone feels sick then they need to go get tested and if we do get sick, we need to stay home.” Breaux believes that it is up to the students to make the right decisions, and the university has done all it can do to help stop the spread of COVID-19. “With Bobcat Trace, they are letting everyone know if you came in close contact with someone who got COVID-19,” Breaux said. “They are providing everyone with tests and vaccines on campus. I think the school is doing everything they can. Now it is up to the students to do everything safely.” Last season, when the stadium operated at 25% capacity, fans were
required to wear facial coverings and sit in designated reserved seats. In an Aug. 24 statement, Texas State Athletics acknowledged that "COVID-19 infections are on the rise," and recommended for students to continue to wear masks at games and get vaccinated. Even with the concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, Athletics has made a clear move to get fans to attend games. Texas State Football's Twitter account has used the #PacktheWack
stated in his introductory press conference on Aug. 5. In a statement provided to The University Star, Coryell emphasized his desire to continue running the fan experience and football season as business as usual. “We are excited to be back to normal operations regarding our tailgating and offering our fans a great opportunity to enjoy VANESSA themselves amongst family BUENTELLO and friends,” Coryell said in the statement. “We are hoping for a great and safe turnout all season long.” However, this return "to normal operations" has instilled fear into some students. Alex Gonzales, Texas State Bobcat a music studies junior, is fans barbecue at required to attend games and tailgates as a member of the Bobcat Marching tailgate before the Band. Gonzales said he was not first football game thrilled with the lack of COVID-19 of the season against guidelines in place given the number Baylor, Saturday, of people in attendance at the seasonSept. 4, 2021, at opener game. Bobcat Stadium. “It is way too much,” Gonzales VANESSA said. “The problem was how crowded BUENTELLO everything was. There were a lot of people packed very close together, and that scared me. The idea that you can be outside and not wear a mask in multiple posts is assuming that you are going to be leading into both of its home games. socially distanced, which they were not.” Bobcat Stadium also added new Gonzales feels that tailgating can be attractions for fans at football games a health risk for students and could such as Katzegarten and the Coca-Cola bring consequences to those that attend Fun Zone, which are both free on-field games. experiences featuring photos booths, “I know freshmen that are getting games and food. There are post-game notifications from Bobcat Trace six music concerts scheduled for Oct. 16, times a day,” Gonzales said. “How can Nov. 6 and Nov. 13 as well. we know that tailgating isn't causing These initiatives are part of new that? If the university shuts down in a Director of Athletics Don Coryell's few months everyone is going to point plan to make Texas State athletic events at tailgating as the main reason.” into an entertainment destination, as he
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8 | Tuesday, September 21, 2021
The University Star