TUESDAY April 30, 2024 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 30 www.UniversityStar.com
Community gathers for pro-Palestine sit in
Texas State, ACC introduce guaranteed transfer program By Candace Taggart News Reporter Texas State partnered with Austin Community College (ACC) to launch Bats to Cats, a program that will guarantee ACC students a smooth transfer to Texas State. Texas State and ACC signed off on this partnership on April 18 at the Round Rock campus. ACC students in the program will have their transcript automatically sent to Texas State at the end of each grading period, receive advising from both colleges and earn financial aid after transferring. “As the product of a community college myself, I was drawn to this initiative because Texas State wants to be part of the solution to build a direct, seamless, affordable and efficient pathway from community college to a fouryear university,” President Kelly Damphousse said in a press release. According to Gary Ray, associate vice president of enrollment management at Texas State, when students apply for Bats to Cats they have to fill out a declaration form that shows their intention to transfer to Texas State, when they plan to do so and the degree they wish to pursue. Students who maintain the eligibility criteria specified on the declaration form will be automatically admitted to their declared program for the specified semester. They wouldn't need to submit any applications or pay any fees and would receive early access to advising. “[Sharing transcripts] provides [Texas State] with an opportunity for our advisors to work with the Bats to Cats participants to make sure they're staying on track with the right classes,” Raysaid. “It's important we track that from the beginning of the first semester at ACC.” Director of Transfer Services for ACC Renee Esparza said one of the biggest advantages is students no longer have to request transcripts and fill out applications as that process took additional time and steps.
PHOTO BY ALLISON DRINNON
Supporters of the sit in for Palestine hold up signs and march through The Quad Monday, April 29, 2024, to call for the removal of the Israeli flag from the Multicultural Lounge in Lampasas Hall.
By Nichaela Shaheen Managing Editor San Marcos community members gathered Monday at the Stallions statue and shared laughter, tears and chants for a free Palestine, joining other college demonstrations across the U.S. The Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) at Texas State organized the seven-hour sit-in, which ended with a march to Lampasas Hall after an uproar overtook the University of Texas at Austin campus 30 miles away.
President of PSC at Texas State Joseph Ely said the goal of the sit-in was to have a peaceful, educational demonstration, allowing the space for attendees to learn about the ongoing war in Gaza. “What will be most effective [on-campus] is pushing the needle toward people seeing Palestinians as human beings that are entitled to dignity and human rights just like everybody else,” Ely said. “The most effective means is education. We've already lost in a sense. Both political parties are very dedicated to genocide. But what I think will help is if in the long term, we can help people care.”
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SEE PALESTINE PAGE 3
“Nobody knew what I was going through”: Thompson speaks out about tumor By Candice Gilmore Sports Reporter Lauryn Thompson, a former forward on the Texas State women's basketball team, devoted her childhood to fulfilling her dream of becoming a Division 1 basketball star. However, at 22 years old a cancer diagnosis changed her plans permanently. In September 2022 after struggling mentally and physically, Thompson sought medical attention and received news she had elevated prolactin levels that had developed a growth. After speaking with a specialist that month, Thompson was formally diagnosed with a right-sided pituitary microadenoma— a benign brain tumor. Thompson began treatment in secret only telling her family and immediate friends. Due to the strength of her medicine, her days on the court lessened.
PHOTO BY SARAH MANNING
SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 14
Former Texas State forward Lauryn Thompson (25) floats the ball over her defender during the game versus Troy, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023
PHOTO BY MANDALYN LEWALLEN
San Marcos river flows between Rio Vista Park and Ivar’s River Pub, Monday, April 29, 2024.
San Marcos decreases water restrictions By Lesdy Hernandez News Reporter On April 16, the San Marcos City Council approved new changes to the water restriction policy for the first time since 2015, decreasing the number of drought stages from five to three. The previous water conservation and drought policy consisted of year-long restrictions based on the amount of water locally available to limit usage
during a drought. Under the new conservation and drought contingency ordinance, restrictions are reflected across the city’s water levels instead of solely measuring the Edwards Aquifer water levels. Jan De La Cruz, conservation coordinator for SMTX Utilities, said the changes to the ordinance would simplify the previous water restriction rules and new water sources would become available over the next couple of years.
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Newsroom Champs declare victory By Editorial Board The University Star and its editorial board worked tirelessly throughout the summer, fall and spring to achieve the ultimate goal of this year: bringing more coverage to you, the audience, that you wanted to read.
The Newsroom Champs, the title of our Slack chat, is a name that resonated with the editorial board and has shown in our work throughout the year. Our work this year demonstrated to the Texas State community the power of journalism through our coverage of important community events. PHOTO BY MANDALYN LEWALLEN
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The University Star editorial board poses with a recent issue on the Old Main stairs, Sunday, April 21, 2024.