Around Campus: Nature Activities and Conservation Efforts in San Marcos

Many local groups focus on enjoying, protecting the Jewel of Central Texas

By Andrew Osegi 

The natural beauty of San Marcos, Texas is one of the most compelling reasons why so many people love to visit and live here. Located on the Balcones Fault, where the Texas hill country meets the coastal plains, San Marcos is geographically primed for its natural springs and abundance of wildlife.

The San Marcos salamander’s only habitat is the San Marcos River. It is considered a threatened species.

The San Marcos River, what many residents consider to be the life source of the city, starts its journey at Spring Lake, bubbling up from the underground Edwards Aquifer. The aquifer is home to many endangered and threatened species; those found in the San Marcos area include the Texas blind salamander, Texas wild rice, the fountain darter, the San Marcos gambusia, the Comal Springs riffle beetle, the Comal Springs dryopid beetle, the Peck’s cave amphipod and the San Marcos salamander.

Happenings: Women and Gender Research Collaborative Symposium

Gender issues highlighted during National Women’s National History Month

By Audrey Webb

Political, social and environmental issues, such as climate change, have an impact on gender equality.
(Photo: Duda Arraes / flickr.com)

On March 3, 1913 — just 100 years ago — 5,000 women marched to the White House to demand their right to vote. In the U.S., women have won many fundamental rights since then, but both here and around the world, gender inequality remains an issue to be addressed.

The third annual Women and Gender Research Collaborative Symposium, which will take place in the LBJ Student Center Multipurpose Room this Friday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., draws international scholars to present their research on a variety of topics that have an impact on gender equality, such as food security, climate change, domestic violence and women in sports.

Happenings: Feria del Mariachi

Annual festival celebrates music
of Mexico, young performers

Texas State’s Mariachi Nueva Generación will perform at the Feria del Mariachi concert March 23.

By Audrey Webb

The origin of the word mariachi has been the source of some debate. Some linguists believe it comes from the French word mariage (marriage), while others claim its origin is in the name of the wood commonly used for dance floors in Mexican dance halls. If you want to know the true meaning of mariachi, we suggest you leave the lingo wrangling to the historians and just attend this weekend’s 14^th annual Feria del Mariachi.

Around Campus: The University Star

Campus newspaper shines light, trains up-and-coming journalists

By Andrew E. Osegi 

Tucked away in the cozy Trinity Building on the Texas State University campus, dedicated students write, manage and edit their way to success through journalism.

The Trinity Building on the Texas State campus is University Star headquarters.

The University Star covers happenings and issues on the Texas State campus and in the San Marcos community. Published every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the Star distributes approximately 8,000 copies in and around the San Marcos area to keep local citizens and students informed.

Founded in 1911, the Star’s mission since its inception has been to embody the voice of Texas State, a task that falls to the 120 student reporters, photographers, designers and members of the student editorial board who work together to produce the paper. Given the multitude of honors and awards the Star has received over the years, they accomplished their mission regularly.

Happenings: Bobcat Build 2013

Bobcats build good will with
San Marcos residents

Bobcat Build is one of the largest student-run volunteer events in all of Texas.

By Audrey Webb

Every guest knows it’s common courtesy to say thank you to your host. That’s the basic premise behind Bobcat Build, an annual volunteer event that salutes the citizens of San Marcos for hosting the Bobcat family in their hometown.

Bobcat Build volunteers perform a variety of tasks based on requests made by San Marcos citizens. In last year’s event, approximately 3,400 students, staff and faculty members participated in a variety of 168 community-building activities, such as weeding a community garden to washing windows to painting a house to removing debris from a vacant lot. 

Alumni: Mike Kickirillo

Director of Spurs Broadcasting visits Texas State, advises future graduates

By Andrew Osegi

Spurs Basketball

Excitement was buzzing all around the classroom. Students in Larry Carlson’s Sports As News class gathered their note-taking materials as the instructor and his anticipated guest chatted near the entrance.

In an effort to examine the challenges of media coverage in sports, Mike Kickirillo, director of broadcasting for the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and a Texas State alumnus, visited his alma mater Tuesday, Jan. 29, to answer questions from aspiring mass communication professionals.

Around Campus: New Year’s Resolutions for Texas State Students

By Andrew Osegi ’13

Welcome to 2013, Bobcat Nation! On behalf of the university, I hope all students, new and returning, enjoyed the winter holiday.

Always be thinking ahead.

As we ring in the new year with the spring semester, now is the best time to thaw that lackadaisical frame of mind we’ve embraced over the break and set our eyes on the future.

In addition to the resolutions you may have set for yourself this year, here are five more every Texas State student should consider:

Happenings: International Education Month 2012

Learn to go global during International Education Month

Students from the International Studies Association hosted a multicultural food fair on campus.

By Andrew Osegi

Here at Texas State University, November is an exciting month. Not only are students looking forward to heading home for Thanksgiving break, but they also have an opportunity to engage with different cultures from around the world during International Education Month.

Similar to the federally sponsored International Education Week (held Nov. 12-16), International Education Month aims to connect diverse members of the Texas State community by educating students about the global nature of the world in which we live and work.

Around Campus: Renegade Roses

Renegade Roses make rugby
focus for friendship and fun

Renegade Roses is a Texas State student organization that supports the Renegade Rugby team.

By Karina Garcia ’14

Renegade Roses is a student organization at Texas State University composed of a diverse, fun-loving group of women who enjoy supporting the Texas State Renegade Rugby team and staying involved in the community. Established in 2005, the group attends both home and away rugby games, participates in community service events, stays involved on campus and requires mandatory study hours.

Around Campus: Ad Club

Ad Club offers students professional experience, peer support

President Brittany Teague, eager to see members arrive for an Ad Club meeting in Old Main

By Brittany Teague ’13

You won’t find expensive suits, ill-patterned dresses and chain-smoking workaholics, nor will you find anyone resembling Don Draper or Peggy Olson at the Texas State Ad Club. And you definitely won’t find devious swindlers out to make a quick buck. The Ad Club consists of creative, hard-working and passionate students. The only thing that separates them from other students on campus is their undeniable interest in the business of advertising.