TUESDAY April 16, 2024 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 28 www.UniversityStar.com
"IT WAS CHAOS"
River Fest results in multiple injuries
By Lucciana Choueiry & Ryan Claycamp Assistant News Editor & Senior News Reporter At least two students were injured at River Fest on April 11 after attendees forced their way into Sewell Park, breaking down the barricades. University Police Department (UPD) Sgt. Michael Rodriquez, who was on-site, said 20,000 to 30,000 people were in attendance. However, UPD Chief of Police Matthew Carmichael, who is out of town, said approximately 5,000 students were at River Fest. Meanwhile, Texas State Fire Marshal James Frye who was also on-site said there were less than 10,000 people there, but he does not know the exact number. “There would be no definitive way to say [how many people were in attendance]. If you ask five different people you’re probably going to get five different numbers,” Frye said. In a statement sent via email to The University Star, Texas State wrote the festival closed its gates after the park was at capacity.
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ALL PHOTOS BY RYAN CLAYCAMP
(Top left) San Marcos Hays County Emergency Medical Services unload a stretcher, Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Sewell Park in San Marcos. (Top right) River Fest attendees jump over a fence, Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Sewell Park in San Marcos. (Bottom left) San Marcos Hays County Emergency Medical Services park outside of River Fest, April 11, 2024, at Sewell Park in San Marcos.
TXST remembers, honors fallen Bobcats By Candace Taggart News Reporter When sophomore Jeremiah Broussard died in November 2023 at the age of 19, his friends felt there was nothing that could help them heal, but they decided to honor him and his life so that he’ll never be forgotten. “If you were missing your shoes... and you needed to borrow [Jeremiah’s] shoes, he would let you borrow them and [he'd] walk barefoot,” Cecci Moreno, Broussard's friend and a public relations sophomore, said. “He was so sweet and the most down-to-earth person.” The 37th annual Bobcat Pause honored
the memories of 26 fallen Bobcats on April 15. The Dean of Students Office hosts this annual event to honor students, faculty, staff and retired faculty and staff who have died between March of the previous year to February of the current year. Prior to the commencement of the ceremony at 6 p.m., attendees wandered through the room, admiring the tables adorned with photographs, flowers and other meaningful items arranged by the honorees' loved ones. Moreno and Adriel Carrasco, Broussard's friend and public relations junior, stood tearfully at Jeremiah’s portrait.
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PHOTO BY KATHERINE REA
Family members in remembrance of Rome Henderson come together at Bobcat Pause, Monday, April 15, 2024, in the LBJ Grand Ballroom.
Texas State officers Lyndon and Duke take on training By Brianna Chavez Life and Arts Reporter In December 2023, The University Star spoke with Cpls. Aleysha Ortiz and Haley McClaran as they began to work daily with horses Lyndon and Duke at Freeman Ranch.
Since then, the tall and majestic Texas State University Police officers Lyndon and Duke trotted their hooves around campus, learning how to keep Bobcats safe. Texas State is the first Texas university and first D1 university to have a mounted horse patrol unit and an all-female unit. Over a year ago, Assistant Chief Daniel Benitez proposed the idea of having a mounted patrol unit and asked for input from the team. Multiple officers, including Ortiz and McClaran, responded with great interest. "We love the horses and it's just a new way of policing," McClaran said. "A lot of people don't get the opportunity to do what we're doing, so it's hard work and you feel accomplished." Cpls. Aleysha Ortiz (Left) and Corporal Haley McClaran (Right) patrol through Sewell Park, Friday, April 12, 2024, in San Marcos, Texas.
PHOTO BY BRIANNA CHAVEZ
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Department of Education, FAFSA announces more financial aid delays By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter The federal Department of Education announced issues related to tax data could delay the financial aid process for students. According to the announcement on March 29, the issue was caused by errors in tax data sent to the Department of Education by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and is estimated to impact less than 20% of FAFSA applications. "We recognize how important it is for schools and families to have the information they need to package and receive aid offers. Accordingly, we will continue our joint efforts with IRS to resolve these issues and implement updates to resolve data inaccuracies as expeditiously as possible," the Department of Education's announcement said. Nina Guidroz, a psychology freshman, said due to an error involving her FAFSA form being submitted without her signature, she is currently being told she will receive no financial aid this year.
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