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TXST FAILS TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT MEASLES CASE
DINING HALLS CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH
LINAHAN BRINGS MLB EXPERIENCE TO TXST
TUESDAY
February 25, 2025 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 23
Measles case unlikely to spread in Hays County
Companies eye San Marcos for potential data centers By Ryan Claycamp
Assistant News Editor
Two separate groups are looking to build data centers in San Marcos in the coming years. The two data center proposals are currently in different stages. Armbrust & Brown, PLLC, on behalf of Highlander SM One, LLC and Donald and Germaine Tuff, have submitted a proposal to the city. The second proposed data center from CloudBurst has not been submitted to the city. Data centers are facilities full of computers and computer servers that can be used for various purposes, such as data storage and hosting artificial intelligence algorithms. The proposals for the two data centers come just weeks after San Marcos was predicted to face a water shortage by 2047. According to Yale Environment 360, data centers can consume millions of gallons of water to cool their computer systems. “[Data centers] are absolutely huge wastes of water,” Councilmember Matthew Mendoza said at city council’s Feb. 18 meeting. “The reason why they use so much water is to cool their render servers basically. They have floors full of servers.”
By Blake Leschber & Lucciana Choueiry Managing Editor & News Editor
After an individual who visited Texas State last week tested positive for measles, Hays County Health Department said the risk of the disease spreading in the county is low. Hays County looked at three factors to determine the risk of the measles case: vaccination status with a positive patient, symptom onset of the positive patient and vaccination status within the community. The individual has one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and did not develop rashes until Feb. 20, six days after they visited campus, according to Natalie Frels, Hays County communications manager. “The individual visited San Marcos outside the most optimal time for virus transition,” Frels said. “These two facts alone give us a little confidence that we won’t see spread [in Hays County].”
SEE HEALTH PAGE 3
SOPHIA GERKE | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
SEE TECHNOLOGY PAGE 3
Inside the Capitol: House Bill 2549 By Lesdy Hernandez News Reporter
“Inside the Capitol” examines key bills from the 89th legislative session that impact the Texas State and San Marcos communities. The session began on Jan. 14 and ends June 2. A person’s biological sex may be required on their identification cards under a new bill in Texas’ 89th legislative session. State Rep. David Lowe, R- North Richland Hills, introduced House Bill 2549 (HB 2549), which would require the inclusion of a person’s biological sex on licenses including, driver’s licenses, commercial learner’s licenses and personal ID certificates. “The application for the personal identification certificate must provide space for the applicant to identify the applicant’s biological sex as either male or female as determined at birth,” HB 2549 text stated. As of August 2024, the Texas Department
of Public Safety (DPS) does not accept court orders or amended birth certificates used to update gender marker changes in state and federal IDs, including driver’s licenses, social security cards and U.S. passports. Under HB 2549, gender non-conforming markers and further changes would be made unavailable in identification cards. Lauren Gutterman, liberal arts associate professor at the University of Texas Austin who teaches LGBTQ+ history, said the bill erases and stigmatizes oppressed minority groups, posing a risk to transgender and nonconforming people. “This would forcibly out people as trans in daily aspects of their lives when they’re required to show a driver’s license or other personal identification,” Gutterman said. “So this could put trans people right at risk of harassment and even physical violence.”
SOPHIA GERKE | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
SEE LEGISLATION PAGE 2
Students explore directing with Honors Capstones By Megan Weise
Life and Arts Reporter
Four theater students are exploring their abilities as directors for their Honors Capstone projects this semester. According to the Texas State website, the Honors College requires a capstone project which allows Honors students to explore their interests independently to demonstrate skills for employers and graduate schools. Students working on Honors Capstone projects develop their ideas with the help of capstone supervisors. “I wanted to do [my project] with the Honors College and have this be my capstone project... because I also wanted to use it as a good educational tool because I’m going to be a future theatre educator,” Alyssa Rodriguez, theatre education junior, said. “I’m a firm believer that theater is a powerful educational tool to use.” Alyssa Rodriguez Rodriguez will direct “Reasons to be Pretty” by Neil LaBute for her project with performance dates on
Feb. 28-March 2 in Lampasas Hall. According to Rodriguez, the story tackles how women are affected by beauty standards and how men play a role in reinforcing the standards. “[Reasons to be Pretty] was a show that needed to be told,” Rodriguez said. “Texas State has done a great job of selecting plays that have talked about diversity and inclusion, but I’ve noticed that in the past few years, there has been not as much talk of beauty standards.” Rodriguez said she is grateful to have a platform to express the issues concerning beauty standards. “I feel like it’s such an issue that people don’t necessarily really think about because it’s not as pressing,” Rodriguez said. “But it’s something that everyone has grown up with, especially women. I remember being so young and already knowing about beauty standards and how a girl has to look a certain way to be considered pretty.” Tickets for “Reasons to be Pretty” are available on the Texas State Presents website.
SEE THEATER PAGE 6
DIEGO MEDEL | ENGAGEMENT EDITOR
Texas State theater majors freshman Andrew Tapia and senior Amelia Hobson embrace one another during a run through of “Karagula,” Thursday, February 21, 2025, at Lampasas Hall. “Karagula” written by Phillip Ridley, is directed by Abigail Thompson as part of her Honors Capstone project.