Bobcat Update

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Digital Media Innovation Program

By: Ryan Liguez  April 21, 2022

Texas State has a program in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication that teaches students where the media are headed.

The digital media innovation program was created in 2016, according to Jon Zmikly, assistant director of the Media Innovation Lab, who said the program was needed as the media industries shifted to digital and mobile technologies.

Students need to be better prepared for the jobs that "require strong technology and communication skills together," Zmikly said.

With the media landscape constantly changing, the Digital Media Innovation program will look to teach students the next evolution in media.

“I think it is very comprehensive, and you can go many directions with it,” DMI student Anna Mackeller said.

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Tubing in New Braunfels Has Resumed

By: JP Ekpe March 10, 2022

Texas Tubes in New Braunfels has reopened ahead of Spring Break. 

Texas Tubes is perched right on the shoreline of the Comal River, a river that runs through downtown New Braunfels and eventually merges with the Guadalupe River. 

“This time of year is always exciting,” Texas Tubes Manager Colie Reno said. “People have been cooped up for a couple of months so now they’re ready to enjoy the river.”

Tubes are rented on a first-come, first-serve basis and cannot be reserved. Renting requires a valid ID and payment with cash, credit cards or Apple Pay accepted. 

“I see a lot of more families here compared to the Frio or the Guadalupe River,” Floater Alyssa Nuncio said. “This place is a calm vibe and family-friendly.”

Life jackets are provided to all Texas Tubes’ customers upon request, and they are recommended for kids eight years and younger. Lockers are also available for customers to leave their belongings in a safe area.  

Texas Tubes is now open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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College Credit Earned on the Court

By: Noah Lightfoot April 14, 2022

The university offers a racquetball course as an elective. The course is taught two days a week in the Jowers Center next to Sewell Park and Strahan Arena.

"It satisfies any elective as one credit hour," said racquetball instructor Stacey Bender.

Students learn the basics of the sport and compete against other students as they develop their skills. 

"Once we got the basics we were able to just start playing," said Jona Irman, a Texas State student.

The racquetball courts at the Rec Center are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be used for practice and competition. Students can sign up for this course before any semester to earn one elective credit hour.

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University President Denise Trauth's Legacy

By: Fabian De La Cerda April 21, 2022

University President Denise Trauth will retire at the end of this academic year.

Dr. Trauth is the university's ninth president and the first woman to have the job. During the 20 years of her leadership, the university has made great strides.

"We put out three big goals for the university: to become a Hispanic Serving Institution, to become an Emerging Research University, and to become a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division 1 in the NCAA classification," said Trauth, and all were achieved.

Students at Texas State have recognized Dr. Trauth's work at the university.

"Before she was President we were an FBS 2 school, and she moved us to Division 1, which caused us to get more national recognition," Cameron Landry said.

Dr. Trauth says this semester will be her last as the university president.

"Well, I hope that the university continues to be the community that it is. We're not just a collection of people and buildings; we're a group of people who truly care about each other and the institution," said Trauth.

Dr. Kelly Damphousse will succeed Dr. Trauth as the university's president. Dr. Damphousse met recently with students, staff, and faculty to introduce himself to the campus community.

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Texas State Students Win Regional Theatre Competition

By: Jennifer Quintanar March 24, 2022

Texas State students competed in regionals at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. This is an annual convention that allows college students to compete in a variety of categories.

"It includes things like props, technical direction, cutter drapers who create costumes, mask making and all those sorts of things," said Cheri DeVol, Associate Professor of Theatre.

This year the festival was held virtually due to COVID-19.  Four students advanced to nationals. One of them is Gene Brown, a senior majoring in technical production. 

"I competed in the ally design and technology category," Brown said. "There was a costume design category, and I made the dress instead of just designing it."

Nationals will be held next month via zoom.

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San Marcos Softball Makes Playoff Push

By: Jude McClaren Apr. 14, 2022

The season has come down to the wire for the softball team at San Marcos High School.

The Lady Rattlers hope to finish the regular season in fourth place in district 26-6A and earn the final unsecured playoff spot. The Lady Rattlers will play against Del Valle and Austin High this week -- in matchups that will eliminate or preserve the team's postseason aspirations. 

“I’m excited moving forward with all the talent we have,  and we just need to win the games we need to win,” said infielder Bitsy Silva.

Lady Rattler Softball has had a roller coaster season this year, but one notable milestone was reached. Head Coach Cathy Stoughton had her 400th win as the team's leader, a position she has held the past 20 years.

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Best Start Ever for Texas State Baseball

By: Orlando Smart March 31, 2022

The Texas State baseball team is off to its best start in school history. The Bobcat Baseball team is ranked number 20 in the NCAA with a record of 19-and-5. This is the best record the program has ever started the season with and it’s the highest ranking ever for the program.

Fans are pleased with how the team is playing. "It's the best game in town," said Bobcat baseball fan John Johnson. "I want to get to the ballpark every chance I get."

"if it's not on TV, I'm watching the stat updates," said Texas State Alumnus David Baltzell, who does whatever it takes to find out how the team is doing.

The Bobcats currently hold the number one spot is the Sunbelt Conference and will finish the season with series' against ULM, Louisiana and Georgia State.

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Football's Director of Operations Profiled

By: Amanda Geyer April 14, 2022

The football team at Texas State has a new director of operations, and she is a trailblazer in a field dominated by men.

Texas State Alumna Haleigh Blocker is the youngest Division One Director of Operations in the Sun Belt Conference. Blocker started her career at the university working in the front office. Head Football Coach Jake Spavital saw something special and promoted her to be his assistant.

"When Coach Spavital got here, he ended up hiring me as his assistant," Blocker said.

Among Blocker’s day-to-day activities are scheduling media interviews for the coaches and players and managing the schedule.

Blocker said she doesn’t look at herself as a pioneer in the profession, because anyone can do it if they show what thet have to offer and prove themselves.

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A New Way to Navigate Downtown San Marcos 

By: Savannah Hartman April 21, 2022

The city of San Marcos has added some new signs downtown.

While strolling through downtown San Marcos, you may have noticed something new hanging next to the street banners. They are called pedestrian way-finding signs. The reason they’re there is to help navigate downtown.

"Overall it just adds to the appeal of Downtown," said City Downtown Manager Josie Falletta.

Falletta said the new signs can be beneficial to anyone trying to get more information about the city.

"The signs help to promote our local businesses," Falletta said.

The city has installed 30 of the new signs. Each sign has a QR code, which takes you to the visitor website that leads to helpful tips on what to do, see, eat, and drink downtown.

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UPD Has a New Chief and Headquarters

By: Trey DeWitt Feb 14, 2022

The Texas State Police Department has a new chief and a new headquarters.

Matthew Carmichael's appointment as police chief took effect last month. "I feel like I am home. It's remarkable and meant to be," said Chief Carmichael.

The police department also has a new headquarters at 1321 Academy Street. It's called The Pecan Building. The new building creates a spacious environment for officers and the department's staff.

"We were able to utilize the space better by moving to the new building," said Sergeant Daniel Benitez.

The police department will continue to have some operations at its former location in the Nueces Building near the university's quad.

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First Generation Week

Jarod Maxson November 11, 2021

November 8 marked the 56th anniversary of Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Higher Education Act of 1965, which called for more financial help and resources for students in post-secondary or higher education. The law allowed more first-generation students to get into college. The Higher Education Act is celebrated annually at Texas State during First Gen Week.

The First Gen Proud Chairman, Dr. Victoria Black, says first-generation students want "to feel seen, to feel heard.'

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Precincts to be Redrawn in Hays County

Clayton Kelley December 1, 2021

As the population increases in Hays County, there's a need to examine how voting districts are drawn. Every ten years, counties in Texas are required to redistrict their voting precincts. At a recent Hays County Commissioners Court meeting, data was revealed showing that precinct 2 is currently overpopulated by 21 percent and precinct 3 is underpopulated by 23 percent.

"It's been determined that we need to redraw our district boundaries to equalize the population," said Debbie Ingelsbe, Precinct 2 Commissioner.

Population growth along the I-35 corridor from Kyle to Buda has had a huge spike in recent years. Attorney Bob Bass says one result of the growth is the need to redistrict as more people from Travis County move south.

"You see people developing where the land is cheaper and they can do the work quicker," said Bass.

Another driving force of redistricting in Hays County is the percentage of minority voters in certain districts.

"That's made a little more difficult when we're talking about Hispanic populations," Bass said, "because they are younger demographically and they register to vote less frequently." Courts can redistrict midterm, but they prefer to work with the reliable federal census data.

"I think it's going to be important that we have an open and transparent process," said Ingelsbe.

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Recognition for Texas State's Division of Dance

Kendall Clark December 1, 2021

Texas State’s Department of Dance degree is now ranked number one in the state and number 18 nationwide. According to College Factual, a resource for higher education data, the Texas State Division of Dance is ranked highest in the Southwest Region -- with top evaluations for value and non-traditional students.

"It's wonderful to be recognized for the work we've been doing for a long time," said LeAnn Smith, director of the Dance Division. "This program has been recognized off and on for a couple of decades now."

Texas State has an established program and a community of dancers. The university last year awarded 49 bachelor’s degrees in dance.

"The professors are super caring," said Kaylee Woest, a dance major at Texas State. "I've been a dancer since I was five, but I have never been around such a supportive community in the dance world. It can be super competitive."

The dance program is a division of Texas State's Theater Department.

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Creatives Prepare for Fall Fashion Show

By: Melina Madrigal Nov. 29, 2021

Creatives and local retailers from San Marcos are getting ready for the fashion merchandising associations fall fashion show.

"We've been doing styling sessions, having model practices where all the models are walking and practicing their walks and doing lots of photoshoots and video shoots and planning with the venue and making sure everyone is ready and prepared," said fashion show coordinator Natalie Ryan.

Sewing, painting, creating jewelry-the student designers are hard at work building their collections that showcase their personal style.

"I've met a lot of cool people and I've made some good friends along the way and it's really cool that Texas State does this and I look forward to it every semester," said student designer Rachel Roosth.

Many members of the Fashion Merchandising Association have been waiting a long time for when they could do a live show again

"I'm very excited for the upcoming show because it's our first in person fashion show since 2019, " said fashion show coordinator Lexi Bauerle. "Previously, the last few semesters we've only done online like virtual shows and then maybe did like a wash party if we could safely do that. This year is going to be in person and we have like three hundred tickets so it's going to be really good."

Along with the collections from student designers, the show will showcase the clothing from local retailers Monkies Vintage and Pitaya boutique.

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Greeks Promote Philanthropy

by: Destany Fuller Nov. 29, 2021

Texas State’s Fraternity and Sorority Life put the spotlight on philanthropy this month to highlight the various Greek organizations on campus as well as give them a chance to do community service.

“The importance is to highlight the community, to give them a chance to showcase them giving back to the community," said FSL Coordinator Elizabeth Ayala. "It also gives us an opportunity to bring the councils together.”

Participants such as Texas State Junior Autumn Jones regard philanthropy week as a chance for the Greek organizations to give back.

“I think it’s great," said Jones. "Service was the main reason why I even joined my organization. So the fact that we have a week that’s just focused on it is essentially the entire reason why I wanted to be there."

Those interested in Greek life on campus should visit the Fraternity and Sorority Life page on the Texas State website.

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Resident Assistants Maneuver Around COVID

By: Paige Greene Nov. 29, 2021 Texas State will notify you through Bobcat Trace if you have been in a CLASS with a COVID positive student, but not if you live with them. Many students have a received a Bobcat Trace email, which notifies you if you have been in the same class as a COVID positive students.

Freshman living in dorms receive these emails but do not get notifications if someone they are living with has COVID. Many resident assistants find this concerning because the only notification they get, is from the student. "The only time I've every been notified about a student on my floor having COVID is whenever the student themselves reached out to me," said Laurel Hall Resident Assistant Mags Palmer.

COVID-positive dorm residents are told to make arrangements to isolate at home or another location that meets their needs. If there is any delay in arrangements, then they can inform their front desk or housing staff.

Last year, the campus had multiple places for quarantining COVID-positive students. This year, students are told to make arrangements on their own.

"Having quarantine places is a good measure, but a lot of people can't go home," said Gaillardia Hall Resident Assistant Quinn Summers. "They might try and hide their COVID symptoms."

Some RA’s say the Department of Housing and Residential Life does not do enough to keep students informed especially those who live in on campus housing.

"DHRL is kind of keeping it under wraps who has COVID and who doesn't," said Summers.

COVID-positive students are told to isolate for 10 days before coming back to their on campus housing.

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Body Positivity: The Pursuit of Perfection

By: Alexis Patterson April 29, 2021

Body positivity is the idea of that all bodies are beautiful and loving yourself as you are. Social media influencers, such as Chloe Bailey, Sienna Mae and Lizzo, are trying to take back the narrative that you have to have a picture-perfect body.

“I’ve learned to focus on the little things that I love about myself, rather than focusing on my insecurities” said Texas State Student De’Jah Ashford.

Many teens and young adults strive to be more confident in their bodies. Women are not the only ones who struggle; men, too, are trying to learn how to maintain body positivity.

Prairie View Student Cameron Smith said obtaining body positivity is a constant journey. “I’m short, dark skinned, and scrawny," Smith said. "When I was chubby, I was still insecure.”

There are various ways to overcome feelings of insecurity about how one looks.

Smith gives us insight on what he does to achieve it: “I go to the gym and push myself a little harder, or I wear clothes that complement my body”

The journey to body positivity looks different for everybody. The important fact is that you are on the journey.