TUESDAY March 26, 2024 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 25 www.UniversityStar.com
New STEM building approved for construction By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter The Texas State University System (TSUS), which oversees the university, approved the construction of a new computer science and mathematics building after Texas State announced it in November. The approval means the building, located on North Street and Vista Street, will begin construction in June 2024. According to Gordon Bohmfalk, Texas State's architect and the director of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction, construction is scheduled to finish in June 2026 and classes will begin in the building by fall 2026. "It was a pretty typical process," Bohmfalk said. "I don't recall any questions being asked [by TSUS]. The project went up for a vote and was approved." Bohmfalk said planning included months of work, such as hiring consultants, engineers, architects and more. "We advanced the design into the development phase and then did a cost analysis of the project, then we submitted both the drawings [of the building] and a rough cost," Bohmfalk said. According to Bohmfalk, the project's approved budget is $138 million. This budget includes the $100 million contract with the development firm Skanska, as well as any other developmental costs. Bohmfalk said the new building will have an area of 167,000 square feet and will be eight stories tall, which could make it the largest building on campus by square footage, beating Ingram Hall which is 166,000 square feet.
PHOTO BY MANDALYN LEWALLEN
Local residents take a stroll through Purgatory Creek Park Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in San Marcos.
San Marcos closes four trails for endangered bird By News Staff Four natural area trails in San Marcos are closed to protect a rare endangered species of bird until May 31. The golden-cheeked warbler is a small bird that only nests in Central Texas, including San Marcos. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW), the bird migrates to Texas in March to nest and leaves
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Black graduation rates lowest among TXST students By Lucciana Choueiry Assisstant News Editor As spring graduation looms over Texas State, a stark contrast emerges: while many students prepare for the milestone, the graduation rates of Black students are disproportionately lower than their peers. In 2010, Texas State attained Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) status with Hispanic students comprising at least 25% of its population. Fast forward
around July to spend the winter in Mexico and South America. “Golden-cheeked warblers nest only in central Texas mixed Ashe juniper and oak woodlands in ravines and canyons,” the TPW webpage stated. “Warblers eat insects and spiders found on the leaves and bark of oaks and other trees. They use long strips of cedar bark and spider webs to build their nests.”
to fall 2023, the university has an increased diverse land scape, with Hispanic students at 40.7%. While their graduation rate stood at 52.97% in 2022, Black students, constituting 10.77% of the population, had the lowest graduation among all students with a rate of 48.82%. Terrence McClain, director of the Student Success Center, said there is a disconnect among Black students within the community, contributing to increased dropout rates.
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First female sports medicine director serves as role model By Hope Monte Sports Contributor Aidan Poole, Texas State's first female director of sports medicine, is a leader for athletes, coaches and athletic trainers, and creates a relatable experience for female athletes at Texas State. Poole, a Texas State sports medicine alumni and Weatherford, Texas native, stepped into the position in November 2023. Poole accumulated five years of previous training experience and a master’s degree from Stephen F. Austin University before returning to Texas State after she earned the Head Softball Athletic Trainer role in January 2023. “I'm probably one of the youngest directors of sports medicine in the country,” Poole said. “Not only that but being a female, I think the position that I've ended up in I would have never been ready for without the things that I have gone through.” Sophomore catcher Karmyn Bass said having Poole in the position creates a more relatable experience for female athletes. "She's someone that we can look up to," Bass said. "It's refreshing to be able to see her and know that she is in a high leadership position and does what she can for us." Poole said her predecessor, David Gish, is an inspir ation for her drive to continue the legacy he left on Texas State athletics.
STAR FILE PHOTO
Texas State Fall 2021 graduates stand before the start of the commencement ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, at Strahan Arena.
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Exhibit highlights artists for Women’s History Month By Marisa Nuñez Life and Arts Editor From the beginning of March to April, “The Female Gaze: How We View the World” art exhibit will be open at the Price Center. The sixth annual International Women’s Day exhibit showcases over 100 female artists, 12 women-related events and six art pieces commissioned by the Price Center. The showcase originally started with Debangana Banerjee, who curated an art show celebrating International Women's Day titled "A Room of One's Own" in 2019 at the San Marcos Public Library. Clay DeStefano, executive director of the Price Center, offered to host the showcase for a longer period of time.
“It was beautiful and powerful,” DeStefano said. “I was here at the time already so afterward, I reached out to the [Bangerjee] and said, ‘This was really beautiful. Would you want to bring it to the Price Center in the future because we could do a longer show. We can leave it up and on display.’ She was delighted, and that led to our first one here.” Banerjee continues to help plan the exhibit and the complementing events in December every year. What started with about 20 local women in the community has now become the Price Center's largest exhibit of the year, with over 100 artists’ work on display from cities such as Seguin, Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, Wimberley, San Antonio and Austin.
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PHOTO BY MARISA NUÑEZ
Price Center committee member Margaret Adie stands in front of her artwork, Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Price Center.