He doesn't always get along with the donkeys, but Texas State student Austin Jakle (JAY-KUL) still manages to get his work done.
SB: Austin Jakle
"The baby donkey tried to kick me in the face like a few days after he was born, so he
and I don't see eye to eye, but the rest of them are all right in my
book."
Jakle's father started transforming this donkey barn into what is now known as South Congress Distillery with his business partner three years ago. When Jakle isn't in class, he's at the distillery making rum. Jakle says juggling classes and work can get tough, but he is excited to be learning the family business. He also enjoys the other perks of the job.
SB: Austin Jakle
"It's awesome, I mean I get to make rum
all day and do a lot of taste testing, so that's fun too."
The full schedules have paid off, and White Hat Rum made its debut in stores throughout Texas in February. Owner Mike Jakle is excited to be mixing his skills in sales and craftsmanship while also getting his family involved. He's even started brainstorming ways he can expand the brand.
SB: Mike Jakle
"I've already got a dark rum recipe in
mind right here that I'm gonna develop that as soon as White Hat
gains a little more traction and I'd love it, i'm going to be
distilling for the rest of my life, it's in my blood now."
Austin Jakle has inherited his father's passion and hopes he will be able to make a career out of his college job.
Stand Up: For more information on White Hat Rum, visit their website at white-hat-rum-dot-com. For Bobcat Update, I'm Nicki Schotanus.
3/12/12
Nicki Schotanus
Kritzia Rodriguez
Many apartment complexes in San Marcos are pet friendly. Aspen Heights, Post Road Place and The Timbers are just a few that have pet policies, allowing dogs and cats.
SB- Jeremy
While some complexes may have weight restrictions on what is allowed and what isn't, other complexes such as The Outpost and Bobcat Village have zero tolerance for any animals. If a person is caught with an animal, he or she is fined and must remove their pets from the property.
Students who have animals must factor in pet policies along with all of the other rules and regulations before signing a lease.
SB-Dennis
While paying 400-dollars to have a pet seems a little steep; most students are willing to pay the money so they can keep their furry friends by their side.
SB- Williams
For Bobcat Update, I'm Kritzia Rodriguez.
3/8/12
Monica Ramos
Lauren Taylor
Zach Kaddatz
3/7/12
Will Burney
Dillon Scott is known to some as the Sun Worshiper, or Sun God. Others call him Zeus. He's known for some strange antics -- usually aimed at the sun. But recently Scott was banned from the park after getting into a fight with Dan Barry, better known as Frisbee Dan.
SB SCOTT: Dan and I actually used to be friends because when I started coming to Sewell I noticed him, and who cant, so I actually went over and started talking to him. He's the one who taught me how to throw a Frisbee"
But tensions between the two icons began after a video produced by the University Star described Scott as The Golden River Man. In the video was an interview with Frisbee Dan that Scott found offensive.
(If we get permission the video will go here.)
Scott says he initially responded by keeping his distance from Frisbee Dan, and he says he asked Frisbee Dan to stay away from him. Then one day a Frisbee landed next to Scott.
SB SCOTT:"I said something to him because he will not respect people's privacy. Basically he will not respect Privacy.(Will: what did you call him?) I called him an insect."
Apparently the two became involved in an altercation, and the University Police were called. The result of it all is that a criminal trespass complaint was filed against Scott, so now he's banned from campus for a year. Scott says the way he sees it he was being bullied and had to stand up for himself.
SB SCOTT: "I take responsibility for my actions. I was not aware that you can't shove people especially bullies. There's a Bully on our playground and he's out of control."
Frisbee Dan was contacted for an interview but declined to comment because he was told doing so would not be in his best interest.
Stand up: ... For Bobcat Update, I'm Will Burney.
Connie Gonzalez
The Associated Student Government is looking into whether offering more night and weekend classes is feasible. Offering more options to students will provide more flexibility in scheduling.
SB
However, the amount of student interest is another factor.
SB
Stand-up: The increase of weekend and evening classes will not only affect students, but faculty members as well. Many factors still need to be considered before any decision is made. For Bobcat Update, I'm Connie Gonzalez.
Chelsi Smith
For 35-years, Sundance Records has been the ideal spot in San Marcos to buy music. Before I-Tunes, the record store was THE place to pick up the latest C-D's, D-V-D's, vinyls and more. Store manager Greg Ellis, who years ago was Sundance's first full-time employee, says the proliferation of digitized music definitely played a role in the store's closing.
SB: Greg Ellis, Store Manager
With the closing, many of store's regular customers will be left wondering what to do now.
SB: Aaron Smith, Texas State Sophomore
Closing the store not only affects customers; it also leaves employees out of a job.
SB: Greg Ellis, Store Manager
(Stand up: With Sundance closing, the store will offer discounts on merchandise up until its doors close on April 1st. For Bobcat Update, I'm Chelsi Smith.)
3/6/12
Christlyn Corona
Brooke Hampton
3/5/12
Tatiana Salazar
Assignments - March 5-March 8
RECYCLING Recycling promoted on campus. New bins. RobinsonM/Derrick PKG
FEEDING Breast feeding-friendly environment. New rules. Grieme/Japko PKG
LBJRENOV Renovations planned for LBJ Student Center. Crider/Achterberg PKG
QUIET City ordinance to make the trains be quieter. Ament/Olson PKG
RIVER2 Volunteers helped clean SM River last weekend. GonzalesL/Titus PKG
TANNING Tanning can be hazardous. Caution is needed. Salazar/Bruce VO
SUNDANCE Sundance Records will be closing April 1. Smith/Hernandez PKG
DDRIVING Drunk Driving Exhibit on Quad. Hampton/Himede VO
COUPON Coupons offered for those who recycle. Case/Chmelar VO
NIGHT More night classes to be offered for undergrads. GonzalezC/Muscarello PKG
SUNGOD The Sun God & Frisbee Dan get into a fight. Burney/Hey PKG
NEWNAMES Two residence halls get new names. Corona/Skinner VO
Alisha Grieme
Since January, six rooms across campus have been converted for Nursing Mothers to use. These rooms are in J-C-K, Evans, Alkek, L-B-J and the Roy F. Mitte building. A grant from the Texas Department of Health Services paid for the renovations as part of the Mother-Friendly Worksite Program, in accordance with health and safety codes. The rooms include a table, a chair, and a key lock. Some of them have refrigerators, sinks and lockers.
STAND UP
Texas State is one of the first public universities in Texas to offer such a resource to mothers. Even though private rooms are offered, there is a public area in the K-T-S-W reading lounge where they are free to breastfeed. Some students are not happy about this.
SB-Audee Salinas
An Alkek Library official says the room on the seventh floor has been checked out four times since the designation. Geology Professor Fred Day says he wishes such rooms had been set aside years ago.
SB- Fred Day
Congress has recognized the health benefits associated with breast feeding and therefore has amended the Fair Labor Standards Act, meaning that the designated areas are sure to stay. For Bobcat Update, I'm Alisha Grieme.
3/4/12
Laurie Gonzales
This past Saturday, kayakers, divers, and bank walkers came together for the Great Texas River Clean-Up to pick up trash, bottles, and cans in and around the San Marcos River. The tradition started 27 years ago and is an all-day event that covers the entire length of the river, approximately 90 miles.
For some local residents, the river holds a special place in their hearts, and volunteering is one way to show their love for it.
Soundbite- its mean everything to me, this river I think runs through my veins, -4 sec
Soundbite- "once you get in there and pick up one piece of trash, you're automatically married to it, it's amazing what it means to you at that time, you need ownership, once you get in and do that you have ownership of the river, and you're gonna back it up and love it!" 15 sec.
The San Marcos River is home to several endangered species, and for one volunteer, picking up trash means saving their lives.
Soundbite-
For other volunteers, a clean environment is a fun environment.
Soundbite-
( Stand-up) The Great Texas River spring Clean-up happens every first Saturday in March, and volunteers are always needed. For Bobcat Update, I'm Laurie Gonzales.
3/3/12
Jill Ament
You can hear it for miles: the sound of a freight train blowing its horn as it roars through the San Marcos city limits.
But it's a sound that's got the City Council working on a project that will create Railroad Quiet Zones in the city. The ordinance has been in the making for several years.
SB:Guerrero, "Since 2006 or 2007…"
Phase one of the project will turn 26 railroad crossings in San Marcos into Quiet Zones. Mayor Daniel Guerrero says at these locations the crossing gates, medians and warning systems will have to be improved.
SB: Guerrero, "Union Pacific Railroad requirements....
Phase two will focus on the railroad crossings at Uhland and Post Roads. But some residents and business owners in that area worry safety is still going to be an issue.
SB: Dr. Henry Oles
Oles has lived in San Marcos for more than 40 years. He's been the owner of the Old Mill Station Business Park for half of those years.
SB: Oles, "... if people living close to the tracks have a problem with noise, they shouldn't have moved there in the first place."
Mayor Guerrero says he hopes the ordinance will ultimately improve the lives of San Marcos residents.
SB: Guerrero
Stand up:Whichever side of the tracks you're on about this proposal, the decision stands: implementation of the Railroad Quiet Zones will begin this summer. For Bobcat Update, I'm Jill Ament.
Mason Robinson
You see it all the time: recyclable materials that could be disposed of properly, but instead they wind up just being litter on the Texas State campus. The university has hundreds of recycle bins available to students and faculty, and it hosts events
during the year to promote recycling awareness. Recent efforts even go as far as putting bins in classrooms and dorms, with the notion that having them close by will encourage people to recycle more. But would you hold on to that plastic bottle or stack of papers until you find a recycling unit? The answer for some students comes down to a matter of convenience.
[SB GOES HERE]
But others believe that benefits are to be gained from taking time to choose recycle bins over trashcans.
[SB GOES HERE]
The school recycles more than 100 tons of waste each year. Being able to properly dispose of what can be recycled is an asset that students should find valuable.
[SB GOES HERE]
[STAND UP]
Alex Ricard
Before walking the stage and officially graduating, students still need to make one important step - apply for graduation. Though it may seem like the end of the semester is far away, Texas State students must apply by the end of this week if they want to be sure to graduate on time.
(Henderson, "to apply early" 13 sec)
(Stand-up "in serious trouble" 13 sec)
(Whitfield "forgot to do it" 12 sec)
(Ibrahimovic "lots of troubles" 6 sec)
For an application to be approved, not only must it be submitted on time, but the student must undergo a degree audit and be cleared of any university holds or fees on their account. If a student for any reason misses Friday's deadline, he or she should meet with an adviser as soon as possible. To apply, go to T-X-state dot E-D-U slash commencement. Graduation ceremonies begin on May 10th. For Bobcat Update, I'm Alex Ricard.
Kathryn Crider
The L-B-J Student Center was built to be a place where students can spend their time outside of class and to act as a headquarters for student organizations. But with more than 300 student organizations on campus, university officials recognize that there isn't adequate space in L-B-J to provide enough meeting rooms and office space for every group – something a renovation could accomplish.
Sibley…"With the renovation…achieve common goals."
In addition to providing space for organizations, the student center also houses dining options, study spaces and meeting rooms. These are features some students say are already sufficient to meet their needs.
Johnson…"It's a great resource…students utilize."
The Associated Student Government has been working with an outside researcher to determine what students think could be improved at L-B-J. So far, many say they want their union to have homier aspects available.
McDaniel…"I would really…student body as a whole."
Crider…"Though support…For Bobcat Update, I'm Kathryn Crider."