TUESDAY March 7, 2023
VOLUME 112 ISSUE 24 www.UniversityStar.com
COMMUNITY
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Stephanie Reyes sworn in as new city manager By Lucciana Choueiry News Contributor On Feb. 28, Mayor Jane Hughson swore in Stephanie Reyes as the City Manager of San Marcos, officially making her the first woman to take on the position. The swearing-in ceremony took place at 5:30 p.m. at the Pauline Espinosa Community Hall in the front of an audience that included city council staff, members of the San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) and Reyes’ friends and family. A city council member's term in office officially begins when they are sworn in. In the case of the city manager, the person appointed makes a public commitment to honoring their duties and responsibilities for the greater good of the city. Reyes, who grew up in San Marcos, took an oath to “faithfully execute the duties of the office of city manager”
Bobcats playoff run ends with JMU loss and said she is committed to improving the city for its residents. “I’m deeply invested in making San Marcos be the best that it can not only for all of you, but for my children, all of our children and grandchildren,” Reyes said. “It’s a special place and we all want it to continue to flourish and prosper for all people in our community.” Reyes has a master’s degree in public administration from Texas State and over 20 years of experience working for the City of San Marcos. She has served as chief of staff, assistant director of human resources, interim economic development director and assistant city manager.
SEE COMMUNITY PAGE 3
(left) Mayor Jane Hughson leads Stephanie Reyes in taking the oath of accepting the responsibility of city manager, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at Pauline Espinosa Community Hall. (right) City manager Stephanie Reyes makes a speech to the public, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at Pauline Espinosa Community Hall.
By Carson Weaver Sports Editor
Texas State women’s basketball had the chance to win its first conference championship in its second all-time appearance, but fell to James Madison University 81-51 to end the season. The Bobcats shot 7-for-17 from the 3-point mark while the Dukes shot 12for-16. Overall, the Bobcats shot 33.3% from the field, which was behind the mark of the Dukes’ 44.3%. No player on Texas State scored more than 15 points and no player sank more than two 3-pointers. James Madison junior guard Peyton McDaniel scored 30 points in the victory and didn’t miss from the 3-point line, shooting 7-for-7. The James Madison defense held graduate guard Da’Nasia Hood, who scored 30 points against Southern Miss in the game prior, to 15 points on 5-for13 shooting. Despite the loss, the Bobcats tied their 1974-75 record for overall wins with 27 throughout the season.
PHOTOS BY FELICITY GUAJARDO
ACTIVISM
Advocacy continues for the death of Joshua Wright By Samantha Guerrero News Contributor Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of police brutality and gun violence. On Feb. 25, family and supporters of Joshua Wright, a pretrial inmate who was shot and killed by a Hays County corrections officer in December, stood vigil in front of the Hays County Courthouse to honor his life and reaffirm their calls of action. On Dec. 12, officer Isaiah Garcia shot Joshua in the back six times in the emergency room of Ascension Seton Hospital in Kyle, Texas. Joshua had been taken to the hospital for an undisclosed medical emergency and asked to use the restroom when he attempted to flee. He had been released from his handcuffs but was still restrained at the ankles when he was shot, according to his family. Joshua's older sister, Adrian Wright, said that she only wants transparency on what happened between her brother and Garcia. "There are still a lot of things we still don't know about what happened to Josh," Adrian said. "We have asked for clarity and no one seems to want to speak up." Upon her brother's death, Adrian and a group of community members began to seek out the body camera footage from that day. Three months later, they have yet to receive it. "I just want to know what happened to my brother," Adrian said. "We just want Hays County to answer the questions of the people and so far they haven't been able to do that." Natalie Freeman, a Hays County resident and friend of Joshua's family, said they have been patient in waiting for the footage but are starting to grow concerned. "I feel that we've given ample time for the footage to be released," Freeman
PHOTO COURTESY OF CALDWELL/HAYS EXAMINER
Protesters hold signs callings for the resignation of Hays County Sheriff Gary Culter outside to combat Joshua Wright's shooting, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, at Hays County Sherriff Office.
said. "Josh died Dec. 12 so it has been several months. And from the outside, I'm not understanding why it is taking so long." According to a press release from the county on Jan. 6, the body camera footage would not be released until the Texas Rangers had completed an investigation per procedure. "In Texas, there is no time limit that the Texas Rangers have to release body camera footage," Freeman said. "In other states, it has to be released in either 30 or 60 days but there is no limit here. So with that, they could stall it for years." An allegation from Charlie Wilkerson, the head of the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas, said that Joshua had assaulted Garcia while trying to flee. In response, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra released a statement calling for the release of the body camera footage. Wilkerson's post is now deleted. "At first, when it came out that Joshua had been killed, they were saying that he was trying to attack the officer and was coming at him," Amy Kamp, the Hays County jail advocate for Mano Amiga, said. "Then they had to walk back and admit that Josh's back was turned." Adrian said that her family simply
wants answers as to what happened. "Hays County needs to let those families in the community know what happened to Josh," Adrian said. "My mom has said, 'good or bad. I just want to know what happened to my son.'" According to the Hays County Jail, Garcia was placed on administrative leave following Joshua's death. However, he resumed working at the jail only two weeks later. According to the county's statement, Garcia will not be in any positions that give him "direct supervision of jail inmates until the investigation is brought to some conclusion." "It's like, 'okay, well, we don't know exactly what direct supervision means,'" Kamp said. Kamp said that many inmates were nervous about Garcia being back in jail. "The only reason that we knew that he was back at the jail was that people in the jail were calling us telling us that he was working and they were scared," Kamp said. "That's scary when somebody who's employed to keep you in custody kills somebody that you know care about are back on the job."
SEE ACTIVISM PAGE 3
(top right) Texas State graduate forward Da'Nasia Hood (32) shoots the ball over a Troy defender, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at Strahan Arena. (top left) Texas State graduate student guard Ja'Kayla Bowie (15) drives down the court against Troy University, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at Strahan Arena. (middle) Texas State graduate student guard Tianna Eaton (23) drives down the court against Troy University, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at Strahan Arena. (bottom) Texas State graduate student guard Kennedy Taylor (3) dribbles down the court against Troy University, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at Strahan Arena.
PHOTOS BY SARAH MANNING