NEWS
LIFE & ARTS
OPINION
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JAIL COMPETENCY RESTORATION PROGRAM
‘ROMEO & JULIET’ PORTRAYS BRUTAL WORLD
MGC PRESIDENT DISCUSSES TXST DIVERSITY
TUESDAY
February 4, 2025 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 20
Inside the Capitol: House Bill 281 By Arabella Dichristina News Contributor
“Inside the Capitol” examines key bills from the 89th legislative session that impact the Texas State and San Marcos communities. The session began Jan. 14 and ends June 2. Some college degrees with high debt and low earning potential could face restrictions under two new bills in Texas’ 89th legislative session. State Rep. Carl Tepper, R-Lubbock, introduced House Bill 281 (HB 281) which would place certain performance ratings on degrees in public higher education institutions in Texas based on their debtto-income ratio. State Sen. Mayes Middleton R-Galveston also introduced SB 757, an identical bill in the Senate. What is the bill proposing? According to HB 281, debt-to-earnings metrics would be used to evaluate academic programs based on graduates’ post-graduation debt levels. Here’s how the system works: - Undergraduate programs are assessed two years after graduation. - Master’s programs are assessed three years after graduation. - Doctoral programs are assessed five years after
graduation. Programs are rated based on the ratio of debt to earnings: - Reward: Debt is 75% or less of earnings. - Monitor: Debt is between 76% and 100% of earnings. - Sanction: Debt is between 101% and 125% of earnings. - Sunset: Debt exceeds 125% of earnings.
Trump freezes federal aid, effects on Texas State remain unclear By Ryan Claycamp
Assistant News Editor
The Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum instructing all executive agencies to freeze any loans or grants on Monday, Jan. 27. The memo instructed federal agencies to freeze all federal loans or grants, except those issued directly to individuals. According to a Texas State spokesperson, the memo does not currently impact student financial aid. “The U.S. Department of Education is currently reviewing the full impact of the memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget on Jan. 27, 2025, to temporarily pause federal financial assistance programs,” An update on the Federal Student Aid website stated. “Per the memo, the pause does not impact ‘assistance received directly by individuals.’ This includes Title IV, HEA funds, which are provided to individual students.”
SOPHIA GERKE | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
SEE LEGISLATION PAGE 3
SEE UNIVERSITY PAGE 3
‘Advocating for themselves’: students form organization for chronic conditions By Jamin Ochoa
Life & Arts Reporter
A group of students launched a new organization aimed at providing support for students with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and other chronic conditions. PAWS for POTS is a student organization that tasks itself with creating a community, offering information about the Office of Disability Services (ODS) process and actions that can help relieve symptoms of POTS and other related illnesses. Ravyn Benfield, criminal justice senior and PAWS for POTS president, was diagnosed with POTS after years of misdiagnoses for anxiety. When she received her diagnosis, support from Alanna Rivas, theater education junior and PAWS for POTS vice president, made her realize she was not alone. They started the organization so other students could feel that same relief for others who may have a chronic illness. “You can feel so alone and just alienated and it can feel like you can’t connect with other people because you experience struggles that they might not be able to understand,” Benfield said. “Being able to have that community is just amazing because you can talk to each other.”
ALLISON DRINNON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
PAWS for POTS faculty advisor Amber Cantu (Left) and President Ravyn Benfield (Right) welcome members to the inaugural club meeting, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at the LBJ Student Center.
SEE CLUB PAGE 6
Texas State softball 2025 season preview By Kaden Bessent Sports Reporter
MANDALYN LEWALLEN | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
The Texas State softball team celebrates with the Sun Belt Conference tournament championship trophy following the victory over Louisiana-Lafayette, Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Bobcat Softball Stadium.
There is only one answer that’s fitting for a preview of what’s to come for Texas State softball this 2025 season—an exclamation mark paired with a question mark. There’s excitement for the team that returns 12 players from a Sun Belt Conference Champion roster, is tabbed at the top of the said conference in the Preseason Coaches Poll and is home to the SBC Preseason Pitcher of the Year in sophomore Madison Azua. Questions arise about who will be a regular in the starting nine, what the pitching rotation will look like, which transfers will make the most significant impact and whether any freshmen will be impact players.
The Bobcats’ season begins with a 16-game home stretch starting Thursday, Feb. 6, against the Arkansas Razorbacks, who are ranked 13th in USA Softball’s preseason rankings. Texas State enters the year receiving votes in USA Softball’s preseason top-25 poll. What’s the Hype About? Of the 12 returners from 2024, outfielder Ciara Trahan earned the Preseason All-Sun Belt nod for the second straight year,. Trahan suffered a seasonending knee injury last season, but she was impactful in her 38 games before the injury. She’s only one of the two seniors on the roster and will likely be a leader of this fairly young squad.
SEE SOFTBALL PAGE 7