TUESDAY
November 9, 2021
VOLUME 111 ISSUE 14 www.UniversityStar.com
DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911
FMA to showcase diversity, creativity at biannual fashion show
Men's basketball seeks momentum in season opener against UIW
Opinion: On-campus living is more complicated than we thought
Letter to the editor: Texas Redistricting Needs to Repect Campus Communities
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SEE PAGE 7
SEE PAGE 6
SEE PAGE 5
VETERANS DAY
San Marcos celebrates annual Veterans Day Parade By Sarah Hernandez Life and Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txtstate.edu This past weekend, I attended the The sights of smiling faces and the sound of cheers filled the streets of San Marcos as community members waved American flags and watched the annual San Marcos Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 6. Hosted by the City of San Marcos
Community Services Division, this year's parade theme was "Honoring All Who Served the United States of America." The procession began at 10 a.m. and made its way down Hopkins Street to showcase local veteran groups, military organizations, civic clubs and bands. Before the parade, children five years and older were invited to join the Kiwanis Club Kids Bicycle Brigade to
decorate their bicycles and scooters on but the support and the outpouring of the Hays County Courthouse lawn to appreciation that our community has ride them in a procession before the for our veterans," Guerrero said. main parade. Organizations from San Marcos and Daniel Guerrero, the event's master surrounding areas were in attendance to of ceremonies, said he enjoyed seeing show support and walk in the parade. families and various organizations A few of the groups included in the acknowledge the veterans of San Marcos. "It's always wonderful to kind of see SEE VETERANS DAY PAGE 2 the support that the veterans community — actually the entire community has —
ELECTION 2021
San Marcos elects Gleason, Prather to City Council
FOOTBALL
By Staff According to complete Hays County election results, Mark Gleason and Jude Prather have been elected for San Marcos City Council positions. Along with City Council positions, San Marcos voters approved a variety of city charter amendments. The county reported official results as of 5:44 p.m. on Nov. 8. Only 12.20% (18,937 of 155,158) of registered voters in Hays County cast ballots this election.
Texas State sophomore running back Jahmyl Jeter (28) attempts to dodge a tackle from ULM senior safety Keilos Swinney (6), Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats won 27-19. PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
'Cats claw out third win of season against Warhawks By Sumit Nagar Sports Reporter
After suffering a 45-0 shutout against the LouisianaLafayette Ragin' Cajuns, Texas State football (3-6 overall, 2-3 Sun Belt) bounced back with a 27-19 win against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (4-5 overall, 2-4 Sun Belt) on Nov. 6. The victory snapped the Bobcats' three-game losing streak, all of which came against Sun Belt opponents. Junior quarterback Tyler Vitt took his second start of the season under center as sophomore quarterback Brady McBride was nursing an ankle injury. "We had thoughts of playing them both," Head Coach Jake Spavital said. "You're probably going to see them both in the future. Brady's played a lot of ball and he's done some really good things for us. Unfortunately, his injury has been one of those nagging deals, but with time he's gonna be healthier ... I think he's ready to roll. He had a good week of practice." Despite Vitt's lack of snaps this season, the offense came out aggressive early in the game. In the Bobcats' second drive, they were pinned back at their two-yard line, yet a 42-yard completion from Vitt to junior wide receiver Marcell Barbee helped set up a 42-yard field by sophomore kicker Seth Keller, taking an early 3-0 lead. ULM responded the following drive, going down the field to score a one-yard touchdown by sophomore running back Andrew Henry (23 ATT, 82 YDs, 1 TD), taking the lead 6-3.
The Bobcats came back more aggressive as they traveled 75 yards in 1:11, capped off by a 49-yard touchdown pass from Vitt to junior wide receiver Javen Banks, going ahead 10-6 late in the first quarter. The Warhawks followed with a run-heavy drive, capped off by a 52-yard field goal by senior kicker Calum Sutherland, making the score 10-9. With a chance to increase their lead, Texas State relied on its passing game for 65 yards, leading to a one-yard touchdown by senior running back Caleb Twyford (2 ATT, 11 YDs, 1 TD), bringing the score to 17-9. The Warhawks responded with a drive, which included a 43-yard completion on a third down and a 10-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback Chandler Rogers on fourth down, making the score 17-16. Keller made a 43-yard field goal on Texas State's next drive, giving the team a 20-16 lead going into halftime. The Warhawks came back on the first drive of the second half with a 45-yard field goal by Sutherland, to put them down by one point again, 20-19. However, both offenses became relatively stagnant for the remainder of the contest as the Bobcats were left to protect their onepoint lead. With a slim margin of victory, both teams took their shots to score in the fourth quarter. Early in the period, Sutherland attempted a 51-yard field goal to take the lead yet missed wide right. Midway through the period, both teams attempted a total of three successive fourth-down attempts, yet each
SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 7
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San Marcos City Council, Place 5 Gleason was reelected for City Council, Place 5 with 54.11% of total votes. Zach Sambrano received 45.89% of the votes. Gleason joined City Council last December and previously served on the city's planning and zoning commission.
San Marcos City Council, Place 6 In a close vote against Mark Rockeymoore, who earned 49.62% of votes, Prather won the race with 50.38%. Both candidates previously served on the council. Rockeymoore served in Place 4 from 2018 to 2020. He is a board member for the Calaboose African American Museum and KSZM Community Radio. Prather served on the City Council between 2010 and 2016. He is currently an officer for the Hays County Veteran Services Office.
Proposition A: Approved by 76.81% of voters Proposition A calls to replace the City Charter's Statement of Goals with a statement that is organized by people, place, environment, economy and public service.
SEE ELECTION 2021 PAGE 4
2 | Tuesday, November 9, 2021 Sarah Hernandez Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
The University Star
LIFE & ARTS FROM FRONT VETERANS DAY
Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487
Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Brianna Benitez stareditor@txstate.edu Life & Arts Editor: Sarah Hernandez starlifeandarts@txstate.edu Opinion Editor: Hannah Thompson staropinion@txstate.edu Design Editor: Viviana Faz stardesign@txstate.edu Multimedia Editor: Natalie Ryan starmultimedia@txstate.edu Engagement Editor: Eryka Thompson starengagement@txstate.edu
procession were the Hays County Democratic Party, the San Marcos High School Rattler Band, the Veterans Alliance of Texas State, the Mermaid Society of SMTX, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association San Marcos Chapter and the Lehman High School Junior ROTC from Kyle, Texas. Since the parade was canceled last year because of the pandemic, Guerrero said he was glad the community could gather again for the event and properly thank those who have served their country. "This being focused on veterans, it's that reminder of why we separately celebrate Veterans Day, which is to acknowledge the people that served that are still here," Guerrero said. "I think that's really important that we always want to thank them for the service but then that reminder to be appreciative of their presence. We're thankful for the past, but we're appreciative they're still here."
Members of the San Marcos High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) walk in the San Marcos Veterans Day Parade, Saturday, Nov. 6 on the Square.
PHOTO BY SARAH HERNANDEZ
FASHION
FMA to showcase diversity, creativity at biannual fashion show By Kim Davis Jr. Life & Arts Reporter
Public & Internal Relations Nadia Gonzales PIR Director starpr@txstate.edu
Full-Time Staff Director: Laura Krantz, laurakrantz@txstate.edu
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, November 9, 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. Corrections: Any errors that are in the pages of The University Star and brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible. Visit The Star at universitystar.com
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As the semester winds down to an end, student models, designers, stylists and artists of Texas State's Fashion Merchandising Association (FMA) are preparing to take part in their first inperson fashion show since the pandemic on Nov. 14. FMA is a student organization that brings together students who are passionate about fashion and focuses on developing creative and businessoriented insight into the industry. Many of the members in FMA are fashion merchandising majors, however, all majors are welcome to join. Each semester, FMA hosts a fashion show run entirely by Texas State students. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FMA has been holding virtual shows since fall 2020. One of the biggest differences between the virtual fashion shows and the upcoming in-person fashion show will be the walking of models on a runway. Previously, FMA showcased their models through video and photo compilations created by photographers and videographers. Natalie Ryan, a photography senior, is the fashion show coordinator for FMA. Ryan joined FMA as a photographer for the spring 2021 virtual fashion show. After that show, she applied for the fashion show coordinator role and was elected for the 2021-22 school year. Ryan said she is excited to showcase different artists in this year's show. “Fashion is art,” Ryan said. “I think it’s super cool and super fun to experience a fashion show, especially when it’s being put on by only students. Just for people to see that either you can make your own clothes, or you can get original clothes and original designs from local people, and you don’t always have to go to a store. You can support other students.” For some of the models included in the show, it will be their first time walking a runway and modeling in front of a live audience. To train new models, FMA held several meetings to help models with their walks and poses ahead of the show. Models and stylists attended sessions where they could curate outfits from San Marcos retailers like Monkies and Pitaya. Designers were also able to pick out different locations for photoshoots to accompany their clothing. Alexis “Lexi” Chavez, a business junior, has been volunteering for the fashion show since her freshman year and is contributing to this year's show as a model and makeup artist. Initially being a makeup artist exclusively for FMA, Chavez later decided to become a model for a virtual fashion show. She said while she will miss the comfortability of walking in a virtual show, she is excited to see what walking in person will be like. “It was really comforting to have it online and virtual because I was very reserved and kind of shy,” Chavez said. “So, it kind of prepared me for an inperson show for this year. I’m glad I got that opportunity to do it just virtually. [The fashion show] is definitely going to be different, but I’m really excited about it.”
Stylists pick out clothing for their models to wear, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, at Pitaya. PHOTO BY NATALIE RYAN
(Left to right) Designer Jacob Montoya, models Eddie Rucker, Lorrain Doromal, Addison Rodriquez, Christian Sampa, Naajah Johnson and designer Isaac Torres pose for a photo together for Bad Design Co., Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, at The Unknown Concept..
One part of the show and of FMA that students appreciate is the diversity in models, designers and stylists. In August, FMA encouraged students with varying levels of experience and backgrounds to apply to be stylists, models, designers, photographers, videographers and makeup artists for the show. Schuyler Hayes, a fashion merchandising senior, is one of the stylists for this semester's show after being a model in previous shows. Hayes said she's glad to work with a diverse group to showcase all the talent Texas State has to offer. “I think it makes the show a lot more interesting to have people, like, different colors and different sizes and sexualities,” Hayes said. “I guess you could say [the diversity] just adds more spice to the show. I also feel like it makes it more real, because we are all students at Texas State, and we all look different. I feel like it makes more sense to have the group of models that actually represent the students of Texas State because that’s basically what the fashion show is about, showing off Texas State talent and our love of fashion.” Toward the end of the show, attendees will be able to purchase clothing from designers whose clothing is featured in the show. Jacob Montoya, a drawing senior, is a designer for the fashion show and has been a part of it for three years. Montoya is also the co-owner of the
PHOTO BY NATALIE RYAN
street style design collective Bad Design Co. alongside Isaac Torres. Together they have grown Bad Design Co., designing and printing their clothes and selling at The Unknown Concept in San Marcos. Montoya said he is happy to have the opportunity to have his designs showcased on a diverse group of models. “I like [the diversity] a lot,” Montoya said. “I think it really fits the spirit of what we do … we’re very genuine in what we do and we’re big fans of diversity and all of that. We also got to pick the models, so we tried to strive for a nice diverse crew of people to show off our apparel.” The fashion show will take place from 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 14 in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom. Tickets to the fashion show are currently available for purchase online. Ryan encourages people to come to the show and support all of the hard work that’s been put into the show. To purchase a ticket, visit https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/fs21-fashionshow-tickets-198389988797. For more information about FMA’s upcoming meetings and events, visit its Instagram @ fmatxst. Editor's Note: Natalie Ryan is also a member of The University Star.
The University Star
Tuesday, November 9, 2021 |3
4 |Tuesday, November 9, 2021
The University Star
NEWS
FROM FRONT ELECTION 2021
Proposition B: Approved by 80.57% of voters
Proposition B seeks to establish term limits for council members and states any council member elected in November 2022 or any regular election after will be ineligible to run for any city council position, besides mayor, for two years after serving three consecutive terms.
Proposition C: Approved by 81.50% of voters Proposition C will implement term limits for the mayor. Any mayor elected in November 2024 or any regular election after will be ineligible to run for two years after serving four consecutive terms as mayor.
Proposition D: Approved by 90.15% of voters Proposition D seeks to require all regular city council meetings to include "citizen comment period" and "question and answer sessions with press and public" as agenda items. STAR FILE PHOTO
Proposition E: Approved by 55.65% of voters Proposition E will allow for the removal of the city manager by a vote of four city council members instead of five.
Proposition F: Approved by 50.08% of voters Proposition F calls to remove the requirement for city council approval of the city's manager's appointment of assistant city managers.
Proposition G: Approved by 53.80% of voters Proposition G will allow the city clerk to appoint assistant city clerks without city council approval.
Proposition H: Approved by 60.26% of voters Proposition H seeks to allow the person appointed to the city clerk to reside in either city limits, within Hays County or within the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Proposition I: Approved by 51.20% of voters Proposition I calls to remove the requirement of city council approval of the
presiding judge's appointment of a municipal court clerk and assistant clerks. Proposition J: Denied by 68.27% Proposition J calls to remove the residency requirement for the appointment of the presiding judge.
Proposition K: Denied by 53.15% Proposition K seeks to remove the requirement for city council approval of the city attorney's appointment of assistant city attorneys.
Proposition L: Approved by 79.82% Proposition L will prevent the planning and zoning commission from authorizing action without five or more votes from commission members.
Proposition M: Approved by 91.11% of voters Proposition M calls to require the charter review commission to create a final report of its recommendations and requires the chair or a designated member of the commission to present the report to the city council. For more information on county-wide results for the 2021 General Election, visit https://hayscountytx.com/departments/elections/election-results/.
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The University Star
OPINIONS
Hannah Thompson Opinion Editor staropinion@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.
LTE - IN MEMORY
Letter to the Editor: Bidding Farewell to Journalist Anita Miller Byley
Award-winning journalist Anita Miller Byley, who dedicated more than four decades to telling the stories of the people of Hays County, died October 26 with her husband David Byley and family by her side at Ascension Seton Hospital in Kyle. Miller served as managing editor of the Hays Free Press for a year before ill health required her to step down. She worked at the San Marcos Daily Record for 39 years. A graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in journalism in 1975, she joined the Record in 1980. She mentored countless student journalists and rising stars, including Carly Porterfield, now a reporter with Forbes Magazine, and Ashley Landis, a photographer for AP who recently covered the Olympic Games in Tokyo. She outlasted dozens of reporters, some who moved to larger publications
and others who left the profession for greener, more lucrative pastures. Her collegiality and encouragement inspired excellence and ambition. Her devotion to chronicling the lives of the people of San Marcos and Hays County never wavered—through disasters and recovery, heartwarming achievements and victories, tragedies and loss, the growth of institutions, and the adventures and passages of San Marcos heroes, icons—and a few villains. At the Record, Anita Miller rose from being a reporter in 1980 to news editor in 2000 to managing editor in 2015. For many years, Anita was THE photographer for the newspaper, capturing events in pictures and words. Her love for the San Marcos community, the river, the people, local organizations and their challenges inspired her to support their efforts by
Anita Miller Byley looks over a print issue at the San Marcos Daily Record newsroom in 1987.PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN HANSON
telling their stories—every day—in the newspaper. She reached out to organizations, provided editorial space to explore important community issues, and with every issue of the newspaper, published stories about local governments, schools and non-profit activities. In the aftermath of the 2015 floods, Anita was in Martindale, writing a story about a donation center for flood victims. When she finished her gathering the information for her story, she spent the rest of the night driving members of the small riverside community to their flood ravaged homes to inspect the damage and determine what they might be able to salvage. While reporting an event at the Devil’s Backbone, she saw that two dogs had the misfortune of encountering a porcupine. Anita spent the next several hours at a veterinary clinic helping the vet pull quills from the dogs. Another time, covering an EMS emergency response to a heart attack victim, she held an IV bag to assist the medics. Miller won numerous journalism awards from the Texas Press Association, South Texas Press Association and the Associated Press. She was a graduate of the first class of the San Marcos Citizens Police Academy. She was inducted into the San Marcos Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018 and presented with the Friend of the River Award by the San Marcos River Foundation in 2013. She also was honored by Hays County and the City of San Marcos for her achievements. Anita Miller was born on November 16, 1952, in Port Lavaca, Texas to the late Anita Estelle Campbell and Burnice “Bud” Gwyn Miller. Bud served as an Army Sergeant in WWII, was wounded in Africa, and returned home to marry Anita, who owned a children’s clothing store. Her parents managed The Catclaw dancehall and then a ranch before settling down in Port Lavaca as the Mobil Oil Company Consignee. Her beloved uncle Leonard Miller was a great influence in her life and helped her achieve her education. Fishing was a family joy, as were trips to the beach in Port Aransas. Anita attended Calhoun High School in Port Lavaca where she was a leader in the Student Council’s fight to change
the dress code for girls, finally allowing them to wear pantsuits instead of only dresses. She sewed many of her own clothes and was named Best Dressed her senior year. She was also named Most Beautiful Hair. Family folklore has it that due to a near fatal case of pneumonia when Anita was 6 years old, her hair changed from brown, coarse and wavy to the sleek jet-black hair she was known for. Anita Miller was a member of both band and choir and graduated from CHS in the top 10 of her class in 1971. She chose to attend The University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a B.A. in Journalism in 1975. She was an active member of The First United Methodist Church. She married musician David Byley on November 11, 1984, at the Veramendi Plaza Gazebo in San Marcos and they devoted the next 37 years to each other, living for many years in a house near Martindale on the San Marcos River. Anita Miller persisted despite many personal challenges: she was once bitten by a rattlesnake and survived. She successfully overcame cancer and once broke her hip and came back strong. Anita is survived by her husband David; her sisters Susan Tippit, Gloria Crone and Betsy McDaniel; brothersin-law Allen Tippit, Gary Crone and Terry McDaniel; nieces and nephews Remi Chaisson Miller Tippit Keathly, Hannah Estelle Crone, Lori McDaniel Henry, T.J. McDaniel, Julissa Lopez and Gary Crone Jr.; and second cousins Beth Nichols Gibson and Kelly Nichols. A celebration of Anita’s life will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5 at The Meadows Center at Spring Lake. Donations in Anita Miller Byley’s memory may be made to The River Foundation, El Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos and its Amigas group, Dunbar Heritage Association, Mano Amiga, LULAC, the Institute for Indigenous Cultures, La Sociedad de Cuauhtemoc, Southside Community Center and the Hays Caldwell Women’s Center. Submitted by Melissa Millecam with contributors David Byley, Gloria Crone, Dianne Wassenich, Susan Hanson, Diana Finlay Hendricks, Kim Porterfield and Ashley Landis.
LTE - REDISTRICTING
Letter to the Editor: Texas Redistricting Needs to Respect Campus Communities Over the past several months, Texas has been entrenched in redrawing its district boundaries as part of a once-ina-decade redistricting process. Districts are redrawn in order to ensure that each district continues to have a relatively equal number of residents. Since 2010, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, Texas has gained four million residents. And, as a result of Texas’ population growth in comparison to other states, Texas has gained two Congressional seats in the United States House of Representatives. However, the new Congressional and State Legislative district boundaries, signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott on October 25, do not accurately reflect where our state’s population has grown over the past decade. The population of Hays County, where Texas State University and the San Marcos community are located, has
grown by 53 percent since 2010, making it the fastest-growing county in the nation. Situated in Central Texas, Hays County is in a region of the state that has had some of the more competitive elections. For the past decade, Texas State University and the San Marcos community have been divided between Congressional Districts 21 and 35, State Senate Districts 21 and 25, and State House District 45. And in the maps signed into law by Governor Abbott, our community remains divided. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution in an incredibly diverse community, Texas State University should be kept together within single Congressional and State Legislative Districts. Students who study, live, and work in this community have similar interests and policy concerns that need to be heard. At the moment, student voting power is cracked and diluted into multiple districts. As a
result, we are underrepresented and unable to elect representatives who will best understand and advocate for our needs. A few months ago, I joined Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project as a redistricting fellow. As a redistricting fellow, I have been empowered to be a voice for college students in our state’s redistricting process. On September 18, after waiting nearly five hours, I testified at a Texas State House redistricting public hearing. I shared concerns about our campus community being split into multiple districts and advocated for us to be redrawn into single districts. While the map proposals do not reflect the concerns that I shared, it is important that student concerns are part of the public record so nobody can say otherwise. Students are participating in our democracy at record rates. In fact,
student voter turnout is finally on par with the rest of the nation. According to Tufts University’s Institute for Democracy & Higher Education’s Democracy Counts 2020 report, student voter turnout increased from 53 percent in 2016 to 66 percent in 2020. Looking forward, student voices need to be powerful in our communities, but our communities need to be drawn in a way respecting that. Let’s continue making our voices heard and holding our elected officials accountable at the polls and at public meetings and hearings in our communities. CJ Cetina is a senior majoring in political science and minoring in political communication at Texas State University. He is also a redistricting fellow with Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project.
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The University Star
OPINIONS
Hannah Thompson Opinion Editor staropinion@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.
HOUSING
On-campus living is more complicated than we thought By Mckenzie Siller Opinion Contributor
As of 2021, Texas State offers 24 dorms across campus and requires its first-year and freshmen students to live on campus unless they live within a 60mile driving distance. The average price for a traditional style double occupancy room for one semester is $3,023, which is sometimes a quarter or more of the average tuition for Texas State. This is the cheapest housing option. Not to mention having a decent meal plan, which is required for students living on campus, costs between $2,000-3,000. Living on campus is expensive and the rates for dorms are increasing every year. At first glance, it might seem easy to lower dorm rates and provide funding for more student housing options. In reality, the housing issue on campus is complex. Students should not be too tough on the Department of Housing and Residential Living (DHRL), due to its limited resources. According to the university's 20172027 University Master Plan, Texas State plans on removing four resident halls, replacing or renovating three halls and building higher density halls. With only six more years to go, some students have yet to see any renovations. “I lived in Lantana from fall 2020 to spring 2021," George McRedmond, an undeclared sophomore, said. "It was livable, passable really. There were no renovations or new construction when I was there. I even came back from Winter Storm Uri with all of my stuff wet because the pipes burst and flooded the whole floor." Those who were stuck on campus during the winter storm suffered intermittent power outages, false alarms blaring and evacuations from their dorms. Even before the winter storm,
there were issues of sprinkler systems discharging and forcing evacuations. Associate Director of Housing Facilities Services in the Department of Housing and Residential Life Kyle Estes said master plans are theoretical and, therefore, are subject to change. Estes adds there are renovations happening each year whether students can see them or not. "One of the things that people don't realize about housing is that we don't get any money from the university," Estes said. "We are an auxiliary, so we are essentially a stand-alone business. The only way we pay our bills is based upon the room rate and so if the cost of utilities go up, we have to be able to pay that. We do our best to try to give a variety of rates so that people have choices, and we try not to go too high very fast because we know the impact on the student and the cost of education. It's a balancing act." In the past seven years, requests for housing contracts exceeded operating capacity. The total number of undergraduates living on campus is 17%, 84% of that total consists of freshmen students. DHRL has repeatedly overbooked student housing which results in some students being housed in temporary rooms, usually consisting of a study room covered in black paper for privacy. During fall 2020, it wasn't until the 12th day of class when students placed in temporary housing found out if they were able to move into a no-show student's room. Currently, Estes said there are no students living in temporary housing as permanent offers were made to the remaining students about two to three weeks ago. "Nationwide, all housing programs go through this," Estes said. "You have this many beds and you have this many students, you think. You are really
Texas State sociology and criminal justice senior Kyle Benacquisto and theater junior Jada Adams are announced as Homecoming King and Queen, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Bobcat Stadium.
ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON WARE
reliant on admissions and then data analysis to predict how many spaces are going to be needed for each gender, but it is not 100% guaranteed." While it is impossible to plan for a perfect future, DHRL is actively seeking innovative solutions to prevent overbooking. In spring 2021, the DHRL implemented a housing contract lottery. While signing up for the lottery does not guarantee a housing contract, it presents an equal opportunity for everyone to be considered for housing. Housing issues are nothing new, especially in Texas where the population is growing and affordable housing is increasingly getting harder to find. At Texas State alone, the university had a record of freshmen enrollment totaling 6,600 students. Housing this many freshmen is difficult, even for a large campus like Texas State. While I had a good living experience
in the dorms — despite the bathrooms almost always being unclean — others have not. However, after learning more about DHRL and the work employees put in to meet the university and students' needs, I've realized how complicated housing can be. "We are a compassionate business. It's not just about the dollars, but how do we give you, the student, the support structure you need to help set you up for success," Estes said. - McKenzie Siller is a biochemistry junior 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.
Texas State Strutters perform during the homecoming halftime show, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Bobcat Stadium. PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
Texas State dance sophomore Strutter Olivia Salazar performs during halftime of the men's basketball exhibition game against St. Mary's, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, at Strahan Arena. PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
Boko gets the crowd pumped before the start of the men's basketball exhibition game against St. Mary's, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, at Strahan Arena. PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
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The University Star
SPORTS BASKETBALL
Men's basketball seeks momentum in season opener against UIW By Dillon Strine Sports Contributor After earning its first-ever Sun Belt Conference regular-season title last season, Texas State's men's basketball team prepares to bring back historic wins with its season opener on Tuesday. Following an exhibition win, 52-43, over St. Mary’s, Texas State will head to San Antonio to face the University of the Incarnate Word in a non-conference game on Nov. 9. The Bobcats won 72-64 in the first and only meeting in history between the two teams last season. Texas State enters the 2021-22 season with three returning players that earned all-conference preseason honors: senior forward Isiah Small, senior guard Caleb Asberry and senior guard Mason Harrell. Small, Asberry and Harrell are the Bobcats’ top three returning scorers. Small led the team with 5.8 rebounds per game last season, Harrell delivered Texas State senior guard Shelby Adams (4) goes up for the layup against St. Mary's University, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, at Strahan 78 assists while Asberry scored 50 Arena. Bobcats won 52-43. 3-point shots. PHOTO BY LAUREN LIGUEZ The Bobcats also return with the 2021 Sun Belt Coach of the Year, placed 10th in the conference in Terrence Johnson, along with new turnovers, averaging 14.3 per game. In Texas State’s exhibition game For the Bobcats, with the status of Assistant Coach Donte Mathis. They were second in the conference in against St. Mary's, Harrell sat out, Harrell unclear heading into Tuesday, Texas State looks to defend the 3-point percentage, shooting 37.4%. leading the team to struggle offensively junior guard Drue Drinnon will initiate conference title this season on the The Cardinals are returning two and turn the ball over 19 times. The the offense and looks to cut the margin back of its stout defense. The Bobcats players who received all-conference Bobcats only turned the ball over 19 or of turnovers. led the conference in scoring defense preseason honors: junior guard more times in three games last season, The Bobcats seek to build on last last season, allowing only 61.7 points Brandon Swaby and junior guard Drew losing two of them. season with depth and experience against per game, and defensive rebounding, Lutz. Keaston Willis, the team's leading “I would expect the turnovers to be a youthful and hungry University of allowing opponents only 29.8 rebounds scorer last season, has since transferred cut down once Mason gets back,” Head the Incarnate Word team that will be per game. to Louisiana Tech. Swaby will be the Coach Johnson said in a postgame press searching to fill a scoring hole.w The University of the Incarnate player the Cardinals will look to lean on conference. “Having Mason, I would Texas State's men’s basketball season Word looks for a bounce-back season for scoring as he shot 43.5% from the hope that we can cut that turnover tips off at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the after finishing last season eight in the 3-point line and 46% from the field last margin down, by about at least eight or Mcdermott Center in San Antonio. Southland Conference. The Cardinals season. nine.”
FROM FRONT FOOTBALL
Texas State junior wide receiver Rontavius Groves (0) runs out of the tunnel with his teammates before the start of the homecoming game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats won 27-19.
Texas State junior quarterback Tyler Vitt (11) carries the ball upfield past ULM defense, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats won 27-19. PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS
PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO
failed. With 2:42 left in the contest, the Bobcats had the ball with expectations to run out the clock. However, after the Warhawks were forced to burn two timeouts, they allowed sophomore running back Jahmyl Jeter to score a 26yard touchdown, putting them down 27-19, but still giving themselves 1:43 on the clock. Despite the tactic as well as one timeout left, ULM had another failed fourth-down attempt. Looking at the stat sheet, the Bobcats' victory looks slightly improbable as they performed worse than the Warhawks in multiple categories. Texas State committed six offensive penalties in the game, costing them 51 yards. They were also dominated in time of possession, having the ball for only 21:58 compared to ULM's 38:02. Additionally, Texas State could not convert on third down (3-12) while ULM consistently capitalized on those same opportunities (11-22). Despite the pitfalls, Texas State's defense held the Warhawks to only 4.4 yards per play for the contest, crucially defending a one-point lead for the majority of the second half. "We had more explosive plays in the first half and played team football in the second half," Spavital said. "That's what it comes down to ... stats can be skewed in a lot of ways. Time of possession was bad for us in the second half. It was actually bad for us in the entire game,
but we were scoring pretty quickly in the first half. [The Warhawks] never had a drive where they went right down the field and scored ... you gotta end up looking at how the game played out ... however the stats are, we ended up coming out with the win and that's all that matters." Vitt finished the game with 16-of31 passes for 262 yards, 37 yards on the ground and one touchdown. His performance earned him Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week honors. "Vitt's awesome," Spavital said. "He's a great teammate. He's one of our team captains ... just proud that he got a win." Jeter led all rushers with a seasonhigh of 92 net yards on 16 carries, scoring one touchdown. Barbee nabbed five receptions for 102 yards on the day followed by Banks with two catches, 62 yards and one touchdown. On defense, senior inside linebacker Markeveon Coleman led the team with 14 tackles. The safety pair of freshman Zion Childress and sophomore DeJordan Mask followed up 11 tackles apiece. Freshman linebacker Issiah Nixon finished with nine tackles, two of which were for loss, along with one of the Bobcats' three sacks. With three games left in the season, Texas State must win all three to remain bowl-eligible, yet, according to Spavital, that is not the team's focus. "It's one game at a time with us," Spavital said. "I think every Sun Belt
game takes two years off my life ... every week's a new season. Every week's a new process." The Bobcats will defend home field for a final time this season against the
Georgia Southern Eagles at 2 p.m. on Nov. 13 at Bobcat Stadium. This game will air on ESPN+.
Notice of Application for a Sand and Gravel Permit The City of San Marcos, Engineering and Capital Improvements Department has applied to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for an Individual Permit pursuant to Texas Parks and Wildlife Code chapter 86 to remove or disturb 200 cubic yards of sedimentary material within the Blanco River in Hays County. The purpose is to construct berms, flood walls, bank stabilization, and a relief channel to provide flood protection for homes, businesses, and city facilities along River Road and in Blanco Gardens. The location is approximately 175 feet downstream of the Old Martindale Road crossing and approximately 3.7 miles upstream of the Old Bastrop Road crossing. Notice is being published and mailed pursuant to Title 31 Texas Administrative Code section 69.105(b). Within 30 days of the receipt of an administratively complete application, TPWD will publish notice of a public comment hearing regarding the application in the Texas Register at least 20 days prior to the date of the public comment hearing. The hearing is not a contested case hearing under the Texas Administrative Procedure Act. Oral and written public comment will be accepted at the hearing. Written comments may also be submitted directly to TPWD and must be received no later than 30 days after the date of newspaper publication of this notice or the Texas Register notice publication, whichever is later. Submit written comments, questions, or requests to review the application to: Tom Heger, TPWD, by mail: 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744; fax 512-389-4405; or e-mail tom.heger@tpwd.texas.gov.
8 |Tuesday, November 9, 2021
The University Star