TUESDAY April 25, 2023
VOLUME 112 ISSUE 31 www.UniversityStar.com
FOOTBALL
Spring game showcases potential for Kinne By David Cuevas Assistant Sports Editor Texas State football concluded its five weeks of spring practice Saturday afternoon with its annual spring game at Bobcat Stadium. Head coach G.J. Kinne said that while some areas still need improvements, it was a great ending to a great spring. “I thought we did some good things and obviously you see some things that showed up throughout spring that we got to clean up,” Kinne said. “We’ve got to continue to eliminate the negative plays on offense, but when we were able to do that, we executed pretty well.” (Top) Texas State sophomore quarterback CJ Rogers (12) warms up throwing the ball during the spring game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium. (Bottom) Texas State sophomore quarterback Malik Hornsby (4) warms up throwing the ball during the spring game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium.
Since being hired in December, Kinne has adamantly said he would install the same offensive scheme he ran last season at Incarnate Word, which led the nation in both points scored and total yards of offense per game.
SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 8
PHOTO BY CARLY EARNEST
PHOTO BY SARAH MANNING
WILDLIFE
(Left) Texas State Bobcats conclude spring game with group prayer, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium. (Right) Texas State head coach G.J. Kinne walks around the field before the game, Saturday, Apr. 22, 2023, at Bobcat Stadium.
POP CULTURE
Birders club teaches Taking class in Styles: environmentalism Bobcats learn about through love of birds the icon, celebrities By Brianna Chavez Life and Arts Reporter
By Benjamin Middleton Life and Arts Reporter The Texas State campus is in the middle of a large migratory corridor that spans from Mexico all the way to Canada, inviting many exciting and colorful birds to make a stop in San Marcos during their journeys. Birders of TXST, a student organization that strives to teach students about environmentalism and urbanization through a deep appreciation of these birds that they find on and around campus. Birders of TXST started in the fall of 2022 when Nadia Luis, anthropology and sociology senior, met Maya Diaz, applied sociology senior. They wanted a club that talked about birds through the lens of environmentalism instead of only looking at the biology of them. Instead of ornithology, the club aims to discuss broader topics about urbanization and the politics around conservationism. “There's so many other things you can talk about with birds than just the biology of a bird,” Luis said. “So the creation of this club was the idea to really focus more on the politicization of species and preserving them.” Birders of TXST does not expect any member to have preexisting knowledge about birds. To Luis, it is not necessary to be able to identify a lot of birds to be a birder. According to them, all one needs is a love for the environment and a desire to learn more about these interesting animals. “If you enjoy looking at a bird then just look at a bird,” Luis said. “It's totally fine to just appreciate how something is and how it exists.”
Insightful conversations, lessons about gender identity and literature and chats about a curly-haired boa-wearing performer are what someone might hear when walking past room 501 in Lampasas Hall at Texas State. The honors course, Harry Styles and the Cult of the Celebrity, began this spring semester and students and fans were excited to attend. Louie Dean Valencia, associate professor of digital history, was inspired to create the course after his summer 2020 research trips to Europe were halted due to COVID-19. While locked down at home, Valencia turned his research toward some of his interests, including Harry Styles and his views on masculinity, gender, activism and more. He began to write a book about the pop star, collecting materials and diving into the world of Styles.
SEE POP CULTURE PAGE 3
PHOTO BY ABBY RUSSEL
ILLUSTRATIONS BY JUNIPER FLOYD
SEE WILDLIFE PAGE 3
Texas State Associate Professor of Digital History Louie Dean Valencia (left) teaches his Harry Styles class, Monday, April 17, 2023, at Lampasas.
EDUCATION
Approved teacher pay increase sparks debate By Christian Martinez News Reporter A new House bill in Texas has given the green light for a $302.6 billion state budget for teacher and state employee raises. House Bill 1, which was filed in January, passed with a 136-10 vote. This spending plan is for the next two years and focuses on pay raises to state employees with tax cuts and mental health services to residents. The money will also be used for border security and $5 billion for academic use. There will be a discussion on what to do with the $37.2 billion surplus. The Texas House and Senate both pass their own versions of this budget and differ on how money should be allocated. The Senate bill includes a one-time pay increase for teachers up to $2,000-$3,800. While some view this news as positive, teacher organizations around Texas do not think the same. Kate Johanns, communications director of the Association of Texas Professional Educators, said that there is much more needed from this bill. “We see three big needs from this money,” Johanns said. “One is passing a school safety bill because of all the tragedies that have been happening recently. We also believe there is the ability for the state to provide a meaningful across-the-board pay raise. At least $10,000. Lastly, we believe the state has the capability to fully fund special education needs.”
SEE EDUCATION PAGE 2 INFOGRAPHIC BY EVA BOWLER