TUESDAY April 2, 2024 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 26 www.UniversityStar.com
New bar on The Square to have grand opening By Marisa Nuñez Life and Arts Editor Bazaar, a restaurant, bar and cocktail lounge hybrid, has made its debut on The Square. Although it’s currently open to the public, Bazaar will have its grand opening on April 25 after further renovations and preparations are completed. “Essentially, the rooms not complete,” Omar
Dawoud, Bazaar business partner and TXST alumnus said. “I'd say we're probably 90% complete. Same with our menu, both beverage and food. We still got a lot more to roll out… By the time we are around the grand opening, we will be fully ready and complete, but right now, we're still at a soft opening stage.” Bazaar has been preparing to open since late 2023. The bar held soft openings for friends and family on March 19-20, followed by a sneak peek on March 21
and finally opened its doors to the public on March 22. Allison Meyer, the bar's general manager, said business has been great so far. “It's obviously a very lively environment, and it's great to see everybody coming out to kind of check out what's been going on because there's been a little level of ambiguity,” Meyer said. “It's nice to see everyone pop in to get to see what's going on in here.”
City prepares for safety ahead of total solar eclipse
SEE FOOD AND DRINK PAGE 3
Texas State readies for total solar eclipse
By Candace Taggart News Reporter
By Lesdy Hernandez News Reporter
San Marcos is gearing up for the total solar eclipse on April 8, as the moon will pass between the sun and earth, completely blocking the sun between noon and 3 p.m. A shadow will cast across North America, causing total darkness for areas in its path, San Marcos will experience a partial eclipse with 97-99% coverage of the sun according to a NASA article. City of San Marcos Emergency Coordinator Rob Fitch expects there will be people traveling to cities near or in the path of totality which will bring an estimated 50,000 to 500,000 people through San Marcos. “Our big concern is when everybody comes back out of Fredericksburg, Wimberley or Dripping Springs, that’s when we're gonna have problems,” Fitch said. “It's just like a big football game— right afterward, everybody's trying to get out of town at the same time.”
Preparations are underway at Texas State as the campus anticipates Texas's first visible total solar eclipse since 1878 on April 8. The university suspended classes from noon to 2 p.m. on the day of the eclipse for both San Marcos and Round Rock campuses according to an email from Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Pranesh Aswath on March 19. “We want to make sure most people on campus have the opportunity to experience this event because this for many of them is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see an eclipse of this magnitude here,” Aswath said. Aswath said faculty can decide whether to hold in-person or online classes for the rest of the day, however, he encourages everyone to experience the eclipse as it will serve as a teachable opportunity.
MAP BY QUINN FANTA
Our big concern is when everybody comes back out of Fredericksburg, Wimberley or Dripping Springs, that’s when we're gonna have problems. It's just like a big football game— right afterward, everybody's trying to get out of town at the same time.” Rob Fitch City of San Marcos emergency coordinator
SEE SOLAR ECLIPSE PAGE 6
"The fire hasn't died":
Antoine reflects on 201 wins as women's basketball head coach By Jacob De Luna Sports Contributor Texas State women’s basketball Head Coach Zenarae Antoine defines what a consistent and successful coach looks like in women's collegiate basketball through resilience. Antoine received her first-ever head coaching position in San Marcos with the Bobcats in 2011. Since the hiring of Antoine, or, as some call her, “Coach Z,” Texas State has achieved a total of 201 wins, five appearances in postseason tournaments and a regular-season Sun Belt Conference Championship. Antoine achieved her 200th win for Texas State against the University of Ohio on Feb. 10 in the Sun Belt-Midwestern Athletic Conference Challenge. Coincidentally, Ohio is where she began her coaching career as a graduate assistant from 1999 to 2000. According to Antoine, achieving her 200th win against Ohio PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA on the court where she began her coaching career was an Texas State Head Coach Zenarae Antoine incredible experience. coaches her team during a timeout during the game versus Troy, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, at Strahan Arena.
SMCISD releases renderings for new Mendez Elementary By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter The San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District (SMCISD) Board of Trustees approved artist renderings and designs for the replacement campus of Mendez Elementary at its March 18 meeting. The project is part of an improvement plan for all 12 SMCISD campuses. Propositions B, C and D approved on the May 2023 ballot fund the project. "The great thing about Prop B is that it impacts all 12 campuses and not one campus is being left out of the list of improvements," Andrew Fernandez, SMCISD chief of communications said. The construction of a new campus next to the current Mendez Elementary is the largest project funded by the bonds. According to Fernandez, Mendez Elementary is currently the oldest of the 12 campuses.
SEE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE 5
SEE CONSTRUCTION PAGE 2
Dam on San Marcos River could be restored or demolished By Richard Thomas III News Contributor Cape's Dam on the San Marcos River may be repaired, demolished or transformed into rapids, depending on the city of San Marcos' feasibility study. Cape's Dam is a historic landmark in San Marcos, built over 150 years ago for cotton milling and currently creates Mill Race, Mill Race Falls and Thompson's Island in Stokes Park. The dam sustained significant damage during severe floods in both 2013 and 2015, leading to destruction that has not been repaired. As a result, both San Marcos City Council and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service voted to remove the structure rather than attempt restoration in March 2016. However, multiple groups, including the Texas Historical Commission, fought against the demolition in
August 2016 mainly due to the dam's history, and succeeded in doing so which resulted in the wildlife service revoking its demolition funds. “Where we are today is city council and Hays County have entered into an interlocal agreement to study some various components about feasibility on restoration of the dam structure,” San Marcos Parks & Recreation Director Jamie Lee Case said. “The evaluation will include historical significance, environmental impact, safety and potential recreation.” According to Case, the city is in the process of issuing a request for proposals on either restoration or demolition to Cape's Dam. Case said the city drafted the proposal and its in the procurement department of Parks & Recreation ready to be issued in the next few months. SEE ENVIRONMENT PAGE 2
PHOTO BY MEG BOLES
The Thompson's Island's dam located in the Thompson's Island's section of Stokes Park. Friday, March 29, 2024.