TUESDAY October 8, 2024 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 8 www.UniversityStar.com
RAs speak out against media policy
Honoring heritage: firstgeneration Hispanic women navigate through TXST
By Jacquelyn Burrer News Contributor Editor’s note: the current Resident Assistant (RA) in this story has requested to stay anonymous as they still work for the Department of Housing and Residential Life and do not want to risk losing their job. Current and former RAs are speaking out against the Department of Housing and Residential Life’s (DHRL) media policy, arguing it restricts their First Amendment rights of free speech and expression. As of Sept. 9, 22 RAs were once again required to live with freshmen roommates due to overcrowding in on-campus housing. “[DHRL] does not want anyone to know that we’re so over capacity,” a current RA said. “On the inside [of the department], it is so chaotic. I’ve not been at the upper levels of management within the department, but just from a person [at the bottom of the] pyramid, it is so chaotic.” Some RAs at Texas State feel they do not have freedom of speech to speak out or speak to the media about issues they face in their capacity at DHRL, according to the RA.
Texas State marketing sophomore Lysha Pineda poses in front of the Vaquero Statue on campus, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in front of Old Main.
By Madelin Morales Life and Arts Contributor For many people, Hispanic Heritage Month is a marking of culture and heritage. For some first-generation female students, it is also a celebration of their higher education and what that means to them and their families. Hispanic students make up 40% of the student population at Texas State, with 43% of the school’s undergraduate students being first-generation.
SEE FREE SPEECH PAGE 2
PHOTO BY KATHERINE REA
Hispanic and Latino students on average are more likely to be first-generation students than any other ethnic group, with roughly 44% of Hispanic/Latino students being the first in their families to attend a university in the U.S., according to a Best Colleges report in 2022. Three first-generation Hispanic women who shared their journey to Texas State are a part of Latinas Unidas — a social club on campus for Hispanic and Latina women to embrace their culture, empowerment and fellowship with one another.
SEE HERITAGE PAGE 6
Experts weigh benefits, challenges of federal species conservation plan By James Phillips News Reporter
PHOTO BY KHANG LE
A sign along the San Marcos River spreads awareness about the habitat of Wild-Rice and Fountain Darters, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, near Bicentennial Park.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released a draft recovery plan aimed at protecting endangered species in the Edwards Aquifer but some experts warn that without strict enforcement, delisting species could lead to their extinction. The plan’s goal is to boost the numbers of endangered species like the Texas Blind Salamander, San Marcos Salamander, Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle, Peck’s Cave Amphipod, Fountain Darter and Texas Wild-Rice by introducing captive populations from the San Marcos Aquatic Resource Center, according to a statement by FWS. Under the plan, invasive species in the Edwards Aquifer will also be removed. According to the official draft released by the FWS, the plan aims to restore endangered species to self-sustaining populations in the wild, allowing them to be removed from the federal endangered species list. “Protections may include, but are not limited to, land management activities, ordinances, land acquisition from willing sellers, long-term conservation agreements and habitat management plans,” the draft plan states.
SEE ENVIRONMENT PAGE 3
Star Snaps: This Week in San Marcos
PHOTO BY ALLISON DRINNON
PHOTO BY ALLISON DRINNON
DJ Zakk Emery hugs DJ Candy Tribble during a set for the Frights and Sounds Music Festival, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Sean Patricks. Tribble goes by the stage name Candy Beatz.
Sacred Springs Powwow Assistant Director José Dominguez-Leal leads participants of the Sacred Springs Powwow to receive blessings from the east, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at the San Marcos River. Participants received blessings from the four cardinal directions, the sky, the earth and the heart.
SEE GALLERY PAGE 8
PHOTO BY ALLISON DRINNON
Shoemaker and owner of Tracking Natives Luis Cuervo sings and plays a drum, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at the San Marcos River. The fan is made with feathers from birds of the south and a handle typical of the north to unite energies of both sides of the Americas.