TUESDAY August 27, 2024 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 3 www.UniversityStar.com
Back to school issue
PHOTOS BY NATHALIE YANEZ
(Left) Freshman students (Left to Right) April Gomez, Emily Guerrero, Maribel Sanchez and Marciela Lopez pose for a picture on the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at the LBJ Mall. (Left) Bobcat trail is filled with students walking to and from class on the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, on campus.
Texas State introduces rotating food truck system By Brooke Miller News Contributor Texas State University Dining is offering a variety of food options through a rotation of food trucks on the Quad beginning Aug. 26. The rotating food trucks will be on campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and are stationed between Evans Liberal Arts and Flowers Hall. The current schedule features two new food trucks per day on campus. “A lot of people want more local food, more diverse food options, more local owner partnerships to take place and I think this is a good direction,” Chin Hong Chua, Chartwells’ resident district manager said.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
The Lady Picoza Mexican food truck sits by Flowers Hall, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, on campus.
Students can use Bobcat Bucks, credit or debit cards to pay at the food
trucks, according to Chua. Chua said some food trucks might
offer their own apps, allowing students to order ahead or arrange for delivery. However, unlike other campus dining options, food from the trucks cannot be delivered via GrubHub. As student enrollment numbers increase every year, Texas State Dining’s immediate concern was to have more places for students to eat during lunchtime, Chua said. Texas State began construction for this project on July 25, and completed it on Aug. 16. The work created a designated area for the food trucks, equipped with electricity and data lines to allow card payments. During the first week of the food truck rotation Mexican food, burgers, BBQ and wings are some of the food the trucks will serve.
SEE DINING PAGE 3
TXST sports rise in 2024 Texas State football attendance after season preview Damphousse and Kinne’s induction By Jacob De Luna Sports Reporter
Many called Texas State a sleeping giant due to its sporting programs’ infrastructures in past years, and in 2023, the cumulative efforts of the student body and its new president and head football coach resulted in a rise in school spirit and attendance. Texas State President Kelly Damphousse took his position in April 2022, aiming to elevate the university to its fullest potential. Through his work with Bobcat Athletics, Damphousse elevated Texas State’s sense of class by helping it achieve its highest average football fan attendance in school history with 21,184.
After a historic 2023 season for Texas State football, which finished 8-5 and captured its long sought-after, first-ever bowl win, the team looks to build upon its foundation. Head Coach G.J. Kinne said he doesn’t feel that the team is affected by the lofty anticipation for this upcoming season. “I don’t think [the anticipation] really changes anything, especially after last year when we opened Texas State junior running up with Baylor,” Kinne said. “People talk back Ismail Mahdi (21) breaks a about us and Troy in the West [Division] tackle for extra yardage versus Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in for the Sun Belt, but for me, it doesn’t Troy, UFCU Stadium. change anything.” Like in 2023’s preseason, Kinne placed a heavy emphasis on recruiting this offseason for the Bobcats as they looked to bolster the roster even further on both sides of the ball.
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By Brendan Fielding Assistant Sports Editor
INFOGRAPHIC BY BLAKE LESCHBER
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA