NEWS
TXST UTILIZES NETWORK FOR DEVICE TRACKING PAGE 3
SPORTS
LIFE & ARTS
NEW, OLD FACES PREPARE FOR BASEBALL SEASON
READERS VOTE ON FAVORITE DATE SPOTS IN SAN MARCOS
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TUESDAY
February 10, 2026 VOLUME 115 ISSUE 20
Celebrating 115 years of Journalism Excellence UNIVERSITY
TXST spreads awareness on domestic violence
FEATURE
By Charlsie Daniels News Contributor
CAMPUS HEARTS
Couples share their TXST love stories By Vanessa Rivera and Rhian Davis Life and Arts Reporter & Managing Editor
Each year, The University Star asks couples to share how they met at Texas State University through answers on its Instagram post. The Star spoke with eight couples about their love stories and how their relationships have developed since. Kale Hensley and Katelyn Hammack Sitting in her medieval pilgrimage
graduate class in spring 2023, Katelyn Hammack didn’t expect to find the love of her life, but someone caught her eye across the table. That person was Kale Hensley. “I guess I just missed her name or something, and a couple of weeks went by, and the class had gotten moved to Zoom for a day, so I got her name from her little Zoom box,” Hammack said.”
RHIAN DAVIS | MANAGING EDITOR
Kale Hensley (left) and Katelyn Hammack (right) sit outside of Flowers Hall on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. They both work in Flowers Hall as lecturers.
SEE COUPLES PAGE 10
SPORTS
Couples catch feelings through Texas State Athletics By Adrian Ramirez Sports Editor
Sports and love go hand in hand on many occasions. The University Star interviewed three couples who met at Texas State that were involved in or currently surround their lives with Texas State Athletics. Claudia and Joseph Hill Claudia and Joseph Hill first met at Alkek Library in February 2020. On the same day the two met, they went on their first date to Panera and talked all night long. Shortly after Claudia and Joseph’s first date, COVID-19 shut the world down, leading Claudia to move back home while Joseph stayed in San Marcos. The two made it work, however, as both took trips to see each other. Eventually, Joseph asked Claudia to be his girlfriend along the Blanco River and proposed in the same spot. According to Claudia, COVID-19 was a “teaser” for their relationship, as Joseph spends a lot of time with baseball as the director of baseball operations. It’s no bother to Claudia however, as she now spends a lot of time with and around the baseball program while also cherishing the time the two get together on days off. Claudia even remarked that she knows more about baseball than she thought she ever would. PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAUDIA HILL “I’ve learned a lot about baseball in the five or six years [we’ve been Joseph Hill (left) and Claudia Hill (right) pose for a photo after a Texas State baseball together], some of our best friends are game, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at Bobcat Ballpark.. [the coaching staff]...we love it, it’s amazing.” Claudia said. “I didn’t know if she had any she loves family, God … I’m excited to Even with Claudia still learning knowledge of baseball at all, and see what the future holds.” new things about baseball, one of the obviously it’s a big part of my life, but things Joseph has enjoyed learning I shortly learned she actually did know about Claudia over the last five years a lot more than I thought she did.” was how much she already knew about Joseph said. [Outside of baseball] “I’ve SEE ATHLETICS PAGE 9 the game. learned how loving she is, how much
Content warning: The following report contains descriptions of sexual violence, assault and abuse. With holidays like Valentine’s Day around the corner, The National Domestic Violence Hotline reports an increase in domestic and dating violence cases due to heightened expectations, financial pressure, and alcohol consumption. At least one in three Texans will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, according to a study by The Family Place. Chaston Porter, an anthropology freshman, said he previously experienced dating violence but was unaware of Texas State’s support services.
SEE AWARENESS PAGE 2 UNIVERSITY
Lecturer no longer teaching after explicit messages shared online By Blake Leschber and Arabella DiChristina Editor in Chief & Assistant News Editor
A lecturer is no longer teaching classes at Texas State after a doctor shared explicit Facebook messages from him earlier this week. In those messages, Bret Bryon, who was a lecturer in the Department of Organization, Workforce and Leadership Studies, wrote that she was a “Leftist,” “whore” and should be deported, alongside other expletives. Bryon sent the messages to Dr. Dhivya Srinivasa, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in Los Angeles with no affiliation to Texas State University. She shared the screenshots on Tuesday evening and reposted them on Wednesday, tagging Texas State after confirming he was employed with the university. “I’m sure it was specific to a post, but I post daily, and more recently, it has been sort of political commentaries,” Srinivasa said in an interview with The Star. “I’m sure it’s in response to one of those, I just don’t know which one.” Texas State did not comment on whether Bryon was terminated or if he quit. Additionally, they did not comment on whether he’s only no longer teaching or if he’s completely removed from the university. “As of Feb. 4, 2026, Bret Bryon is no longer teaching classes at Texas State University. Texas State University does not discuss personnel matters,” Jayme Blaschke, assistant director for
SEE LECTURER PAGE 2