February 7,2022

TUESDAY

Tuesday, February 8, 2022 VOLUME 111 ISSUE 18

www.UniversityStar.com

DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911

What you need to know about the Texas Primaries

Opinion: Big Tech is dangerous

Opinion: Valentine's Day should be a celebration of all relationship

Women's basketball continues win streak against Coastal Carolina

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BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS

Black-owned beauty store comes to San Marcos Premium Outlets

By Marisa Nunez Life and Arts Contributor Back when she was only 13 years old, Ciscely Mackey started braiding hair in her childhood home. As she grew older, Mackey's clientele grew, presenting her the idea to start her own business in doing hair.

What began as a kitchen table idea of a business called Braids on Phire has evolved into Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply, a Black-owned and womenowned business with two storefronts and its own line of in-store products.

In December 2021, Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply opened its latest location at the San Marcos Premium Outlets.

WINTER FREEZE

Student workers keep businesses running through winter freeze

The store's original location serves as a studio inside Ingram Park Mall in San Antonio.

Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply is a beauty salon and barbershop all in one with goals to help its customers look and feel their best, all while teaching customers about hair and nail care.

Britney Grant, general manager and

loctician at Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply's San Marcos location, said the brand always intended to expand into several storefront locations. In 2020, members of the Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply team toured a space that previously served as a Lane Bryant.

SEE BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS PAGE 4

DOWNTOWN

By Madelyn Weirich Assistant News Editor starasstnews@txstate.edu Despite the university's warnings of another possible winter storm, third-year resident assistant (RA) Ansley Haman was not at all nervous Wednesday night. She picked up the on-call phone for her dorm and started her rounds as usual. After all, this wasn't her first rodeo.

As professors and university officials began sending out emails Wednesday night announcing the closure of most university operations due to inclement weather, Haman's supervisor made it clear that she and her coworkers were still on the job.

"We are right next to the residents, living with the residents. If the residents have anything going on, we're the first to know," Haman, an English senior with a concentration in creative writing, said. "We're right there with them, so we're the first line of defense."

While this year's winter shutdown wasn't nearly as frigid as last year's, Haman and other RAs prepared for the worst. They doubled up for on-call rounds in case more than one person was needed and took inventory of water socks, buckets and wrenches in case of pipe bursts. Other residential halls kept bags of sand ready should the stairs leading up to their buildings ice over.

They even scheduled "fire rounds" in preparation for long-term power outages.

SEE WINTER FREEZE PAGE 3

A photo of the Kissing Alley street sign, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at Kissing Alley.

PHOTO BY JEFFREY HALFEN

Kissing Alley serves as gateway for love, community in San Marcos

By Sarah Hernandez Life and Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu A hub for photography, group dinners, concerts and weddings, Kissing Alley has become a beloved destination in downtown San Marcos over the last several years.

In February 2017 the alley between Shade Rooftop Patio Bar and what was then Hub Cyclery was officially named Kissing Alley. Credit for the name goes to the San Marcos Main Street Program whose staff began calling it Kissing Alley in 2015 to open opportunities for placemaking.

According to Josie Falletta, downtown coordinator for the Main Street Program, placemaking means creating places where people want to spend time.

Eventually, the name "Kissing Alley" caught on and the Main Street Program began using the space to host events.

"It started unofficial and that's kind of the beauty of placemaking is that you know, you just build spaces that people want to spend time at and then over time, it might become more formalized, which I think is such a cool aspect of Kissing Alley is that it started as a very kind of grassroots campaign," Falletta said.

Some of the events that take place in the alley are a testimony to how special it is to the community and the downtown atmosphere. Falletta said she enjoys seeing all the different ways people use the spot to celebrate.

"There have been several weddings. Which is so sweet," Falletta said. "There have been farm-to-table dinners in Kissing Alley. There have been all kinds of concerts hosted by all different types of organizations and entities. And then, you know, some of my favorite things are the unplanned events ... a lot of times I'll be walking around just in my normal day of work, and I see people taking photos. It's really quite a hub for photography."

Besides concerts and dinners, the Main Street Program uses Kissing Alley as a center to celebrate Valentine's Day downtown. Since 2017, members of the public have been invited to write letters addressed to their loved ones and slip them into the Kissing Alley mailbox. Letters are marked with a special Hallmark stamp that says, "Sent from Kissing

Alley," and are then mailed to their recipients.

This year, the Main Street Program will also host a special Valentine's Day movie night with a free screening of "La La Land" at 6:30 p.m. on the Hays County Courthouse lawn.

In the past, other Valentine's Day celebrations have included a photo booth and a Galentine’s Day party where attendees were invited to Kissing Alley to dress up and enjoy snacks, champagne and live music.

Although she lives 15 minutes away in Fentress, Texas, Steph Cherry said she and her family love visiting downtown San Marcos and keeping up with the Main Street Program on Facebook. Cherry added it's become a yearly tradition for her family to mail Valentine's letters from Kissing Alley.

"I have three girls. So, we go there every Valentine's and mail all of our Valentines," Cherry said. "We send mail to their grandparents, we mail to friends, we do people in the nursing home. Like yesterday, we mailed 37 letters from there, so they'll all get stamped with the cute little [stamp]."

Besides sending letters through the mailbox, Cherry has also attended a concert in Kissing Alley.

She said each time she visits she can see why the street is special to downtown San Marcos.

"Everybody loves love, right? And I think it just feels like that little space that everybody has like Lover's Leap or whatever and we have this cute little quaint space," Cherry said. "We walk through there all the time … and my husband and I always kiss there so it's just a fun little thing to do."

In terms of urban planning, Kissing Alley and the entirety of downtown San Marcos seek to bring a sense of comfortability to pedestrians. The height of the buildings, the proximity to the street and the overall environment of Kissing Alley are what make it special to downtown. Being able to stumble across something like a concert or an entire community gathering in an alleyway is appealing to visitors and locals alike.

Since the formalization of Kissing Alley in 2017, funding now exists for the area and its upkeep.

Currently, the City of San Marcos is designing and planning for a $5 million project to turn

SEE DOWNTOWN PAGE 4

2 | Tuesday, Tuesday, February 8, 2022 Arthur Fairchild News Editor starnews@txstate.edu

The University Star

NEWS ELECTION

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

Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Brianna Benitez stareditor@txstate.edu News Editor: Arthur Fairchild starnews@txstate.edu Asstistant New Editor: Madelyn Weirich starasstnews@txstate.edu Life & Arts Editor: Sarah Hernandez starlifeandarts@txstate.edu Opinion Editor: Dillon Strine staropinion@txstate.edu Design Editor: Viviana Faz stardesign@txstate.edu Multimedia Editor: Natalie Ryan starmultimedia@txstate.edu Assistant Multimedia Editor: Vanessa Buentello starasstmmmedia@txstate.edu Engagement Editor: Meadow Chase starengagement@txstate.edu Podcast Editor: Carly Koon starpodcast@txstate.edu

Public & Internal Relations Nadia Gonzales PIR Director starpr@txstate.edu Elle Gangi Assistant PIR Director

What you need to know about the Texas Primaries

By News Staff

With the Texas Primaries approaching in Hays County, The University Star has compiled everything you'll need to know before heading to the polls — from who will appear on the ballot to polling locations.

The last day to register to vote was Jan. 31. You can check with your county elections administrator or on the secretary of state's website to see if and where you're registered. Those wishing to apply for a mail-in ballot have until Feb. 18 to do so. While Election Day is on March 1, early voting begins on Feb. 14 and ends on Feb. 25. Polling locations on Election Day are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. However, times may vary during early voting.

What is a primary election?

Primary elections determine which candidates will go on to represent each party in the upcoming general election.

They are two separate elections that occur on the same day in Texas. There is one election for the Republican Party and one for the Democratic Party. The winners of each election are determined by majority vote.

Can I vote in both the Republican and Democratic primaries?

No, you must choose one of the primaries to vote in.

However, the primary you vote in does not affect who you can vote for in the November general election.

County Clerk Democrats: Edna R. Peterson, Elaine CárdenasD Republican: Linda Duran

County Treasurer Democrat: Daphne Sanchez Tenorio Republican: Britney Bolton Richey

County Commissioner, Precinct 2 Democrats: Richard “Pepe” Cronshey, Linda Aguilar Hawkins, Michelle Gutierrez Cohen Republicans: Mike Gonzalez, Andy Hentschke

County Commissioner, Precinct 4 Republicans: Walt Smith, Joe Bateman

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2 Democrat: Maggie Hernandez Moreno

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2

What's on your ballot?

Democrats: Beth Smith, Amaya Cuellar

State Representative District 45

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3

Democrats: Erin Zwiener, Angela “Tía Angie” Villescaz, Jessica “Sirena” Mejia

Republican: Andrew Cable

Republican: Michelle M. Lopez

District Judge, 207th Judicial District Republicans: Mark E. Cusack, Tracie Wright-Reneau, Charmaine Wilde, George Carroll

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4 Republican: John Burns

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5 Democrat: Sandra Bryant

District Judge, 274th Judicial District

Republicans: Karen Marshall, Terry Strawn

Republican: Gary Steel

Chair, Hays County Democratic Party

Full-Time Staff

District Judge, 428th Judicial District

Director: Laura Krantz, laurakrantz@txstate.edu

Democrat: Joe Pool

Democrats: Briana "Bri" Castillo, Mark Trahan, Rodrigo Amaya

Republicans: Bill Henry

Criminal District Attorney, Hays County Democrat: Kelly Higgins

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, February 8, 2022. 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.

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Republican: David Puryear

County Judge Democrats: Brandon Burleson, Ruben Becerra Republican: Mark Jones

Judge, County Court-at-Law #1 Democrat: Jimmy Alan Hall Republican: Robert Updegrove

Judge, County Court-at-Law #2 Democrat: Paul Hill Republican: Chris Johnson

Judge, County Court-at-Law #3 Democrat: Elaine S. Brown Republican: Dan O’Brien

District Clerk Democrat: Avery Anderson Republican: Beverly Crumley

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5 Republicans: Karen Marshall, Terry Strawn

Chair, Hays County Republican Party Republicans: Bob Parks, Laura Nunn

Early Voting Locations San Marcos

• • •

Broadway - 401 Broadway Street #A Hays County Government Center - 712 South Stagecoach Trail LBJ Student Center - 601 University Drive

Kyle and Uhland • • • •

Arnold Transportation Building - 21003 Interstate 35 Frontage Road Kyle City Hall - 100 West Center Street Live Oak Academy High School - 4820 Jack C. Hays Trail Simon Middle School (HCISD Clothes Closet) - 3839 East FM 150

Buda • •

Buda city Hall - Multipurpose room - 405 East Loop Street, Building 100 Sunfield Station - 2610 Main Street

Wimberley • •

Texan Academy at Scudder Campus - 400 Green Acres Drive Wimberley Community center - 14068 Ranch Road 12

For more information visit, https://hayscountytx.com/ departments/elections/current-year-elections/01-mar-2022/.

Tuesday, February 8, 2022 | 3

The University Star

NEWS

Arthur Fairchild News Editor starnews@txstate.edu

FROM FRONT WINTER FREEZE "It's pretty much a 24-hour thing where we split up into different rounds, just walking the building making sure that there isn't a fire, because when the power goes out, our fire detectors don't work. So, if a fire did happen, we would have to go find it and evacuate the building," Haman said.

During Winter Storm Uri, Haman had to walk the building every 30 minutes from 2-5 a.m. for fire rounds.

Though she hoped she wouldn't have to do that again this year, Haman wasn't afraid.

Just like the RAs in Haman's residential hall, other student workers across campus needed to adjust for the freeze and potential winter storm. In an email sent out to students and faculty Wednesday evening, the university stated it would provide overnight lodging for critical staff.

To prepare for the implications of a winter storm, dining services took inventory to ensure it could provide food and water for those living on campus in case Chartwells trucks were unable to travel through icy conditions like last year.

Those who worked in retail areas on campus like Jones and the LBJ Student Center were transferred to either Commons or Harris dining halls during the freeze. Mason Carmona, an education freshman, took a break from the constant rush of working at ChickFil-A to help out at Harris. While the change required some adjusting, he ultimately enjoyed the new experience.

"They didn't ask much of us, because we don't know the dining halls," Carmona said. "So, like, my main job was literally just walking around, waiting for the people who were cleaning up the tables, and just making sure that the floors were swept and that everything was clean and that everyone just felt like satisfied with how clean

Texas State health science senior Niah Porcher places a customer’s bag of food on the counter, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, at the LBJSC Chick-fil-A. PHOTO BY LILIANA PEREZ

everything was."

Because the freeze didn't end up being as detrimental as expected, the change in location also provided an opportunity to get to know other workers on campus who he didn't usually run into. When the dining hall wasn't busy, Carmona talked with other workers who had been moved for the freeze.

"I felt like I had so much more free time," Carmona said. "On one hand, I liked, it because it wasn't asking a lot; they didn't ask us to do much. I also hated it, though, because I was like, 'okay, what if I am supposed to be doing something? I don't know, like the

expectations of this job.'"

Even off campus, students headed to work while some businesses closed for the freeze. Kalyssa Farrer, a geography sophomore with a concentration in urban and regional planning, spent most of their Friday working at the Starbucks on Interstate 35.

The coffee shop closed Thursday when the worst of the weather hit, but reopened on Friday, despite other businesses choosing to stay closed.

However, those who were scheduled to work on Thursday were still paid for the time they would have worked.

While the hours were shortened,

and inventory was limited, the coffee shop continued to serve its customers through the freezing temperatures on Friday. That day, the drive-thru lines extended much further than usual as people rushed to get a warm drink.

"I remember the day was really hectic and one of my co-workers like actually asked, 'Has this happened before?' and one of our shift leads was like, 'No, this is new for us,'" Farrer said.

While this past week's freeze was less severe than anticipated, student workers helped keep campus and other businesses running, much like they did last year.

4 | Tuesday, February 8, 2022 Sarah Hernandez Life & Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu

The University Star

LIFE & ARTS

FROM FRONT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS While the work needed to transform the space into a salon made them hesitant to make the move to San Marcos, they ultimately decided to take on the challenge.

"It's always been an idea for multiple locations," Grant said. "From the very beginning, sitting at the kitchen table when we were first talking about it, having Braids on Phire, it's always been a plan to make multiple, multiple locations."

The salon's staff specializes in haircuts, hair coloring, braids, loc maintenance, extensions, tap-ins and micro links.

Additionally, the salon offers services for eyelash extensions and nails.

Customers can also purchase items from Phire Girl Inc.'s product line which includes hair products, accessories and lip glosses. According to Grant, Mackey spent almost a year testing products to develop an all-natural formula.

“That's one thing we do like to promote is quality. We’re not here just to get the money, we really do care about our craft … and we really care about our clients," Grant said.

The salon also values how it makes its customers feel after they visit.

When coming up with the name of the business, Mackey created the acronym "phire" which stands for "positively hustling in righteous endeavors." Her goal in creating the name was for it to represent the salon's drive and purpose to build confidence and self-esteem in its customers.

"We try to make sure that our clients feel comfortable when they come in, we clap for them when they leave out, we boost them up ‘go on girl, get it' when they go out the door," Grant said.

"We really love our clients and that’s something that brings people coming back to us."

Sharing Grant's sentiment to want the best for her clients are the salon's nail techs and hairstylists. Jazza Johns, a general studies senior, is a stylist at Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply. Johns' passion for wanting to help others feel good led her to want to pursue a career in hair care.

“I’ve been doing hair for over 10 years. I started in the kitchen too, I was like seven or eight doing my neighbors' hair. We were all girls, so everybody was playing in everybody's hair. At one point our hair even fell out because we were playing with it so much,” Johns said. "Growing up I always just liked to help people. I know it takes a lot to do [hair], and it feels good to make people feel good about how they look."

While Johns previously attended beauty school, she did not get a chance

Hair products sit on a shelf at Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply at the San Marcos Premium Outlets. Phire Girl Inc.'s own line of hair care and beauty products are also available to purchase in-store.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRITNEY GRANT

Phire Girl Inc. apparel and accessories line the walls and shelves inside Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply at the San Marcos Premium Outlets.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRITNEY GRANT

to finish before starting at Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply. Once she graduates from Texas State, she intends to make a return to beauty school in order to learn how to provide her clients with the best service.

“You got to know not everything is meant for this person, and you got to be able to tell that person ‘this might not be for you, but we can go this route instead,'" Johns said. "That's why I want to go back to school because I want to be somebody that can, you know, make connections with my clients so you can ask me any questions you need to ask me so I can recommend you this or recommend that."

Latecia Robinson, a nail technician at Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply, also finds importance in teaching women how to take care of their nails.

Robinson started practicing manicures and pedicures on herself in 2018 and attended nail school at Ogle School of Hair, Skin & Nails and Vogue College of Cosmetology to improve her skills.

Learning how to do her own nails and perfect the craft inspired her to teach other women to do the same.

“I’m the type to go faithfully to get my nails done and when you're a person like me who pays attention to details and wants things to be done right … and not just rushed and overlooked because

of the quantity and not the quality, [I wanted to learn] how can I get it to where I want it to be done,” Robinson said. “So, I went to school for that to get it right … and now I'm helping others and trying to educate others because a lot of women don't know what it takes for your nails or for your hair.”

In terms of expanding the salon's services, Grant said while it is a work in progress, their goal is to turn the store's back storage space into a classroom where they can start a braiding school to teach women and girls how to braid and style their hair.

“It’s a lot of teaching that we do [at the salon]. There's a lot of mixed families … and some women don’t know how to take care of their children's hair because they have mixed hair," Grant said.

"Those are some of the moments where my heart goes out to the child because their hair can be kind of matted and it's not the mom's fault because she doesn’t know how to take care of that kind of hair."

During a customer's time at the salon, the staff will not only help customers learn how to take care of their hair but also how to maintain their hair at home.

Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply is inclusive to everybody — its staff has strived to build a community where every family member and friend can be a part of.

“Even though we are Black-owned and women-owned we do provide diversity with hair. Just because we are Black-owned I don’t want people to be like ‘oh that’s all they can do.’ That’s not the case," Robinson said. "We can work with any kind of hair texture. Coarse, fine, curly, straight … we just want people to know that they can come in and give us a chance and let us show you. You won’t be disappointed."

As for its future endeavors, Phire Girl Inc. looks to open additional storefronts and sell its products in other salons.

For now, Grant said the San Marcos storefront is the brand's priority, as she wants the staff at Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply to be booked and busy in helping the people of San Marcos look and feel their best.

The Phire Girl Hair and Beauty Supply San Marcos location is now open and accepting appointments.

The salon's tentative grand opening is scheduled for Feb. 12.

For more information on Phire Girl Hair Inc., visit its website at https://phiregirl-hair-and-beauty.business.site/?utm_ source=gmb&utm_medium=referral or on Facebook and Instagram @ phiregirlhairandbeauty.

FROM FRONT DOWNTOWN Kissing Alley into a downtown San Marcos destination.

Rohit Vij, the project manager for the Kissing Alley reconstruction project, said the transformation will include improvement in underground utilities such as wastewater replacement and electric infrastructure. The reconstruction team will also work with a design team to add things like seating, lighting and landscaping.

Vij said this project marks the beginning of a longer project to clean up the city's alleyways. He said they picked Kissing Alley as the first project since it is the main alley downtown.

"It's not a random alleyway. It's a destination spot, Kissing Alley," Vij said. "People generally go there you know, there is a sign or there's a mural on the wall, 78666, people just go there to visit that mural, get some pictures done with that mural. It's not a random project. It's the first project for the city to be taken for design and construction and we picked Kissing Alley."

In January, the City of San Marcos hosted an open house event in Kissing Alley to take suggestions and get public feedback on what should be done with the area. Residents were presented with different design concepts to determine what they liked best for Kissing Alley's transformation. Some of the public's suggestions included lighting, landscaping and signage or a gateway into the alley.

The Kissing Alley reconstruction project is expected to begin in Fall 2023 and to be completed by Spring 2025. Vij said he hopes the project will give the Main Street Program more opportunities to show people how special downtown San Marcos is.

"One of the things that we are limited on in the downtown area is public space," Falletta said. "So, it's easy for people to go and visit local businesses,

A photo of the Mainstreet Valentines Mailbox, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at Kissing Alley.

PHOTO BY JEFFREY HALFEN

A mural shows a pig shooting an arrow, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at Kissing Alley PHOTO BY JEFFREY HALFEN

but we don't have a plaza, for example, with seating, where people can go and bring their coffee and sit down and enjoy it and talk to a friend. Kissing Alley would really become kind of like an outdoor living room or a third space, as they call it in urban planning ... that environment where it encourages you to visit a local business, but it also provides that intersection of just people being able to interact with one another."

For more information on Kissing Alley and Downtown San Marcos, follow the San Marcos Main Street Program on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @ DowntownSMTX.

Tuesday, February 8, 2022 | 5

The University Star

OPINIONS

Dillon Strine 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.

TECHNOLOGY

Big Tech is dangerous

By Cole Renwick Opinion Contributor Frances Haugen, a Facebook product manager turned whistleblower, testified before Congress late last year, drawing bipartisan concern and the wrath of millions of incredulous eyes upon Silicon Valley, earning her the international title of the Facebook Whistleblower.

Haugen’s documents, which are more commonly pictures of Facebook's internal network, reveal a divided and disorderly company grappling with its own influence and the potentially lifealtering decisions hidden within the company’s headquarters.

Highlights include a report that new research accounts were exposed to QAnon, evidence of employee messages confessing a failure to combat COVID-19 misinformation and the organizing of the Jan. 6 insurrection as well as an ethically-questionable study on user’s emotions where unknowing participants had their feed’s changed to be more negative or positive.

Shockingly, Facebook’s looser regulations abroad fueled civil war and genocide. In countries like Myanmar and Ethiopia, civil war and ethnic cleansing are exacerbated by calls to violence and misinformation regarding enemy factions. In Myanmar, where about half the population uses Facebook, the algorithm leads many pro-military accounts to call for genocide against the Rohingya people, a Muslim minority that has fled the country in the hundreds of thousands.

In-house researchers went as far as blaming Facebook’s “core product mechanics,” the basis of the platform, for allowing the spread of misinformation and hate speech, yet the public was not notified that a platform, central to the daily lives of many, may be inherently biased against their wellbeing.

The Facebook documents only confirm what we have long suspected, that Big Tech has a profound influence on our lives, and we are not in good hands.

With this, an ominous storm cloud forms above Mark Zuckerberg’s proposal of the Metaverse, announced alongside Facebook’s grandiose rebrand to Meta Platforms.

Zuckerberg's vision of the Metaverse is that of a virtually augmented reality built on company-designed infrastructure, where connectivity seeps into work, education and leisure. It forms a digital reality you inhabit rather than a screen you stare into.

The Metaverse, while still a faroff vision, has already wooed eager prospectors such as Microsoft and Nvidia into betting on the unrealized concept. Even Roblox and Epic Games are apt for real estate in Zuckerberg's dystopian dream.

Facebook is not a unique threat, and it’s likely not the only superpower of Silicon Valley that’s mishandling our information and exchanges. Personal decisions may reinforce positive outcomes, but with cellphones and social media accounts nearly ubiquitous and even necessary for personal and professional life, the imagination wanders to future disasters.

The problem can’t be solved by lowering your screen time or deleting the app. Seismic shifts are needed in our awareness of how Big Tech platforms affect our emotions and friendships, even our ideals. We need to extend that individual awareness to systemic policy, and petition for stronger regulation in Silicon Valley, as its influence on public safety and opinion is clear.

Perhaps it is time to democratize key components of our digital infrastructure.

By putting the decision-making power of Google, Meta and other tech companies in the hands of their employees, à la worker-co-ownership, or in the hands of American citizens by regulating, and making visible, the internal operations of these companies. It is now necessary to legislate transparency. Misinformation, algorithmic biases and the worrying trends in our online call-and-response concern the public at large, and as such

ILLUSTRATION BY COLE RENWICK

should be controlled by that very same public.

What follows is pressure. Pressure on our lawmakers to deny campaign donations from Silicon Valley, and to keep Big Tech regulation at the forefront of their agendas. And pressure on the companies themselves, to comply with our demand for complete self-ownership and autonomy in digital existence.

By spreading awareness of their oversight, by actively recognizing and combatting algorithmic bias and by exploiting and displaying the failures of the systems, we will turn these platforms against themselves.

As college students, our age range is trapped in the ever-growing tech infrastructure. Platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Office and Google Workspace corner our educational-professional lives, while Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram command our social lives.

All the while Google watches over us, tracking our entire digital existence.

These entities have near governmentallevel power in their ability to shape the trajectory of a life. As international curators of the reality that reaches us, how can we remain comfortable without democratic control or regulation?

Without ownership of our data, or a say in the treatment of hate speech, misinformation and the functions of the algorithms that organize our data streams?

Facebook’s document leaks are a vital reminder that public discourse and safety are largely overseen by these companies. This realization doesn’t scale well with the announcement of Zuckerberg’s Metaverse, talks of Donald Trump’s own social media platform, child-focused social media and growing concerns of data collection.

Without democratization or independent review, we are actively signing over face and photo data, our locations, thoughts, opinions and the decisions over what networks of people and information we are placed within.

We need to deeply consider what happens when algorithms and digital spaces shape our social reality, especially when those algorithms are designed to keep us engaged and steal our time.

- Cole Renwick is a theater film concentration sophomore 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.

Legal Notice

Notice of Application for a Sand and Gravel Permit The City of San Marcos has applied to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for a General Permit pursuant to Texas Parks and Wildlife Code chapter 86 to remove or disturb less than 1,000 cubic yards of sedimentary material within the San Marcos River in Hays County. The purpose is flood abatement in the Blanco Gardens neighborhood. The location is approximately 0.94 river miles downstream from Interstate Highway 35 and approximately 10.07 straight-line miles upstream from State Highway 130. 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.

6 |Tuesday, February 8, 2022

The University Star

OPINIONS

Dillon Strine 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.

Valentine's Day should be a celebration of all relationships RELATIONSHIPS

By Kadence Cobb Opinion Contributor Every year, as February approaches, the countdown to Valentine’s Day begins. The first two weeks of the month are flooded with advertisements romanticizing the perfect date. However, our society has failed in celebrating the true meaning of the holiday.

Valentine's Day should be a celebration of all types of relationships in our life, not strictly the romantic ones.

The origins of the holiday date back to 496 AD. There are many different theories regarding how and why the holiday was created. One legend suggests that the first-ever valentine was sent from a prisoner. Before his death, he wrote a young girl a letter signed “From your Valentine.” Another suggests the holiday began at a Pagan Festival in the month of February. Story has it, priests would sacrifice a goat and a dog, dip the goat’s skin in blood and then slap women in hopes of increasing their fertility.

I found the history surrounding Valentine's Day very interesting because it shows that regardless of the initial reasoning behind a holiday, we are capable of changing and reshaping our ways of celebrating. What started as a way of perhaps boosting fertility, has now changed into a day of exchanging gifts, expressing gratitude and showing loved ones how much they mean to you.

In addition to romantic relationships, we engage with a variety of relationships in our everyday lives: family, friends, platonic relationships and our relationship with ourselves. All these relationships are important to celebrate every day, especially on Valentine's Day. A poll by YouGovAmerica, revealed only 28% of U.S. adults recognized Valentine’s Day as a “real” special occasion. The fact that so few people found meaning in the holiday is upsetting. Valentine’s Day is a holiday dedicated to showing love to the special people in your life. Seeing the small number of people recognizing the holiday supports the idea that many are hesitant in expressing their love for one another.

By reshaping our viewpoint on the holiday, I believe we would create a much more inclusive environment for all relationships.

In 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau reported there

ILLUSTRATION BY NOAH NOLET

were 126.9 million unmarried people in America from the age of 18 and older. The report also revealed that the group of divorced, widowed, separated and never married citizens made up nearly 50% of all U.S. residents. Regardless of whether people are married or in a relationship, nobody should feel like Valentine's Day is not a celebration for them.

We should encourage those who feel left out of the holiday to look at all the relationships present in their lives rather than focus on the idea of a romantic partner. By redefining the meaning of Valentine’s Day, we can relieve the pressure felt by those without a significant other.

It is also important to recognize that Valentine’s Day is not always a positive day for those in relationships.

A study examining Facebook status updates found that couples are more likely to break up in the weeks both before and after the holiday. For many couples, the holiday has created impossibly high expectations that later lead to disappointment. Normalizing for other relationships, such as the relationships with family and friends, to be celebrated on this holiday would decrease the pressure placed on how romantic relationships should be celebrated on Valentine's Day. For students like Haley Bell, a business management junior, spending Valentine's Day with friends makes

for a day filled with memories and celebration.

"I love it so much," Bell said. "It's a good reason to have a night with the girls, and for my friends that aren't in a relationship. I always make the best memories when it's just the girls."

Spending quality time with family and friends is very important, not only for leisure but also for the wellbeing of our health. Researchers found that people maintaining strong relationships are more likely to live longer than those without social connections. These relationships are also tied to helping relieve stress, improving self-esteem and bettering mental health.

For those who do not have healthy relationships in their lives, Valentine's Day also serves as an opportunity to acknowledge the most important kind of love: selflove. The relationship we should focus on the most is the relationship with ourselves.

Research shows those who practice self-love experience less anxiety and depression, better stress recovery, a more optimistic outlook on life and a stronger commitment to healthy behavior changes.

Taking the time this Valentine’s Day to practice selfcare is a great way to celebrate the holiday.

It is important to prioritize ourselves and focus on strengthening that relationship, as much as we do with other relationships in our lives. Self-love doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. It can be as simple as watching your favorite movie, making your favorite meal or learning a new skill. Doing whatever it is that makes you feel content and relaxed is a great way to practice self-love this Valentine’s Day. I have always been a huge fan of Valentine’s Day. While showing love is important every day, the holiday is a great excuse to show loved ones how much they mean to you. By celebrating all kinds of relationships this Valentine’s Day, we would make the holiday much more inclusive, relieve any stress that may arise and create a more positive outlook on what this day really means.

- Kadence Cobb is a journalism freshman 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 political science sophomore Elizabeth Armor sells coffee, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, at the Quad. Brew Bike is a cold brew stand made by students and opened today.

PHOTO BY CASSIE BUTTERFIELD Texas State alumna Elle Cross talks with students about decriminalizing marijuana in San Marcos, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, at the Quad.

PHOTO BY CASSIE BUTTERFIELD

A sign details information for the Mainstreet Valentines Mailbox, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at Kissing Alley.

PHOTO BY JEFFREY HALFEN Texas State Mascot Boko pumps up the crowd in the final seconds of the men's basketball game against Coastal Carolina, Sat. Feb. 5, 2022, at Strahan Arena.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

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SPORTS Bobcats pull third win in a row MEN'S BASKETBALL

By Dillon Strine Sports Contributor Texas State men's basketball (156 overall, 6-3 Sun Belt) put away the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (12-10 overall, 4-6 Sun Belt) Saturday night 69-64, improving the Bobcats record at home to 10-1.

In the waning minutes, senior forward Isiah Small came up clutch with two huge buckets late, including the dagger three at the end of the shot clock with 33 seconds left in the game that put the ‘Cats up six.

Down the stretch, Small came up huge on his way to a game high of 15 points to go along with a team-high of nine rebounds.

The first half was back and forth as neither team could grab the lead at the end of it, resulting in a tie game, 29-29, after the first 20 minutes.

Both teams began the game on individual runs. The Chanticleers captured a 10-0 lead to begin the game as it looked like they would dominate the paint with the play of sophomore center Essam Mostafa, who finished with his 11th double-double of the season, 11 points and a game-high of 12 rebounds.

The Bobcats turned the game in their favor at the start of the second half, by getting open looks and creating ball movements that led to their first five field goals. During the run there was a great hesitation drive by senior guard Shelby Adams that freed senior forward Nighael Ceaser for a wide-open, uncontested dunk. The run was capped off by a transition layup by Small.

But the Chanticleers did not stop as senior guard Rudi Williams kept them within striking distance. However, every time the ‘Cleers would get close, the Bobcats responded. After a series of threes by senior guard/forward Vince Cole, the Bobcats matched up, thanks to a step-back three by junior guard Drue Drinnon and a corner three by junior forward Tyrel Morgan.

A series of turnovers by the Bobcats

P Texas State senior guard Nighael Ceaser (22) goes for a shot underneath the basket in a game against Coastal Carolina, Sat. Feb 5, 2022, at Strahan Arena. The Bobcats won 69-64.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

Texas State senior guard Mason Harrell (12) looks for an open teammate to pass the ball to during a game against Coastal Carolina, Sat. Feb 5, 2022, at Strahan Arena. The Bobcats won 69-64.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

led to a transition dunk by Coastal Carolina’s freshman guard Josh Uduje and a pair of free throws by Mustafa with just over two minutes left in the

game.

This was not the first time Texas State faced such a close game in the past week, as the Bobcats won their previous two

games by only a combined seven points.

However, the Bobcats' stellar team defense shut the Sun Belt’s number one scoring offense down late and held them way below their season average of 74.8 points.

The Bobcats will now head to Louisiana for a two-game road trip. First, they will play the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns at 7 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana. Before they come back home, they will face off against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at 2 p.m. on Feb. 12 at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe, Louisiana. Both games with air on ESPN+.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Women's basketball continues win streak against Coastal Carolina

By Carson Weaver Sports Contributor

Texas State women’s basketball (1111 overall, 6-4 conference) extended its winning streak to three after defeating the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (127 overall, 2-6 conference) 64-59 on Saturday afternoon.

After winning the tipoff, Coastal Carolina went on to turn the ball over five times in the first quarter, giving the Bobcats an early opportunity to take a 19-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Turnover struggles for the Chanticleers didn’t stop in the first quarter, however.

By the end of the first half, the ball was turned over to the Bobcats 12 times.

This gave the Bobcats eight points off turnovers and a 35-28 lead going into the half.

Senior guard Kennedy Taylor (12 PTS, 4-9 FGS, 1-2 FT, 5 REB, 2 AST) led the charge in the first half with seven assists and three 3-pointers. Taylor is second in career assists among Texas State women’s basketball.

Texas State was outscored in the third quarter 15-14, making the game within reach for Coastal Carolina.

A 3-pointer by junior guard Tyra Brown with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter put the Chanticleers just one more 3-pointer away from tying.

However, senior guard Sierra Dickson landed two late free throws with 16 seconds left to put the game out of reach for Coastal Carolina.

“This was an excellent team game,” Head Coach Zenarae Antoine said.

“The adversity they’ve gone through and the fight that they have and the determination they have to be a better team … I think we saw that today.”

The Bobcats had seven players finish with over 20 minutes of play, including senior guard Jo’Nah Johnson. Johnson (15 PTS, 5-7 3FG, 2 AST) was Texas State’s leading scorer, draining five 3-pointers.

Texas State sophomore guard Sierra Dickson (4) looks for an open teammate to pass the ball to during a game against Coastal Carolina, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at Strahan Arena.

The Bobcats won 64-59.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

In total, the Bobcats finished with 27 points off the bench, making up for nontypical performances from typically high scorers.

“They can score, but they needed to play defense,” Antoine said. “This game to me was more about defense than our ability to score.”

Senior guard Da’Nasia Hood’s (7 PTS, 3-11 FGS, 1-2 FT, 7 REB, 1 AST) streak of double-digit points in conference games came to an end as the Chanticleers defense held the Bobcats leading scorer to only seven points.

Texas State now looks to play against Louisiana-Lafayette at 7 p.m. on Feb. 7 at Strahan Arena in San Marcos.

Texas State senior guard Kennedy Taylor (3) attempts to find a path around Coastal Carolina freshmen guard Kayla Buggs (23), Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at Strahan Arena. The Bobcats won 64-59.

PHOTO BY VANESSA BUENTELLO

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