Jessica MacCall

The Texas State International Office celebrated the first week of classes with a party. Jessica MacCall tells us more in this Bobcat Update.

Every semester the Texas State International Office partners with Student Affairs and the University Bookstore to welcome new international students to the university.The party kicked off Thursday afternoon in the L-B-J Ballroom. About 35 new students attended the reception, where they had an opportunity to meet and socialize with their classmates.
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The social featured free food, games, door prizes and karaoke. Several international student organizations were also present to talk about the many different ways to get involved at Texas State.
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Student body president Nathan McDaniel welcomed the students and challenged them with some Texas State trivia and prizes.   
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After teaching the new students the Texas State hand signs, McDaniel led them in signing the song every Bobcat needs to know - the Texas State fight song. For Bobcat Update, I'm Jessica MacCall.   

Haley Parmer

It seems that construction projects are underway all over San Marcos these days. The Texas State campus is where most of the activity is taking place. And, as Haley Palmer tells us in this Bobcat Update, a new project has just begun.

The latest construction site is Old Main, Texas State's oldest building. Old Main is where Journalism and Mass Communication students have most of their classes. The building needs a new roof and windows. Also, the landscaping will be changed.
Some students say the university should have waited until summer to start the construction. But others, like senior Alex Navarro, agree that some of the renovations are needed.
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Construction barriers have been set up, causing students, faculty and staff to take different paths than normal to get inside the building. Senior Bianka Valdez says the noise from the construction has affected her ability to focus in class.
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University officials say the construction at Old Main, which will last through the summer, will cost about three-and-a-half (m) million dollars to complete. For Bobcat Update, I'm Haley Parmer.

Shelbie Watts

Walk across campus and you'll likely encounter one or more construction projects. They're a part of everyday life at Texas State and will be for quite a while. Shelbie Watts has the story.

Since 2011, the university has organized its construction activities under a Master Plan. New buildings have gone up, and several more are still under construction. Older buildings, like Old Main, are being renovated. For some students, the projects amount to an inconvenience.
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Some streets are also construction zones. For examples, Sessom Drive has been reduced to two lanes to repair waste-water lines, and the sidewalks along University Drive are being taken out. These projects should be finished in about a month.
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The university says the Master Plan should be fully implemented in about four years with a price tag of more than 730-million dollars. For Bobcat Update, I'm Shelbie Watts.

Marco Enriquez

Some students are finding it more difficult to get to class lately. The reason -- barriers have been put up for new construction. Marco Enriquez has more in this Bobcat Update

Scaffolding, buzz saws, bulldozers, concrete trucks -- You can find them on campus at various locations. Texas State is getting a facelift of sorts. New buildings are going up, and old buildings are being renovated. If you have classes near Old Main, Brogdon Hall or the new theater building, you'll likely have to find a new path.
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Bus routes are also affected by the construction projects. Some students are showing up late to class because of the construction.
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Texas State students might as well get used to the noise. Beeping, pounding and grinding are going to be commonplace for a while. For Bobcat Update, I'm Marco Enriquez.

Maddie Serviente

There's a lot of construction activity on campus. And, as Maddie Serviente tells us, it can be good or bad depending on your perspective.

Texas State has several projects underway to improve the facilities on campus. But construction also has a downside. Traffic is disrupted. Parking is harder to find. Bus routes have to be changed. And some students discover that they have to find new routes to class.
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The construction will bring many benefits, but a lot of current students won't be around to see the end result.
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The Campus Master Plan should be completed within four years at a cost of 585 (m) million dollars. For Bobcat Update, I'm Maddie Serviente.

Morgan Wilson

Some students have reason to believe that construction projects never end at Texas State. Morgan Wilson has more in this Bobcat Update.

Construction projects abound at Texas State. Streets are being improved. New dorms have been added. By the time the university completes everything on its drawing board, more than 585 million dollars will be spent.
You don't have to go far on campus before seeing a construction site. For example, Old Main's roof and windows need repair. Unfortunately, the construction can also be disruptive.
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Construction is underway at the Bobcat Trail Mall, Commons Dining Hall, Brogdan Residence Hall, the Performance Arts Center, and the Psychology building. For many, the positives far outweigh the negatives.
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The construction projects are not likely to be completed before 2015. For Bobcat Update, I'm Morgan Wilson          

John Beck

Construction is affecting many of the activities on campus this semester. John Beck has more in this Bobcat Update.

Whether it's the long commute to campus, say by car or bus, or the shorter one from a dorm or from class to class, students and faculty alike are being affected by the constant presence of construction on campus. Day one of the spring semester was no different than last semester as students were welcomed by the familiar sounds of machinery and the clanging of hammers. Surprising to some, however, was the sight of scaffolding and fences around Old Main.
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Normal pathways are being disrupted at Texas State because of sidewalk closures and barriers.
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Off-campus traffic is being affected as well. Bus routes have been altered due to road closures near campus. Students are having to adjust their schedules accordingly.
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Texas State students and San Marcans alike will have to work around the construction projects for several months to come. The facelift will cost an estimated 585 (m) million dollars.
For Bobcat Update, I'm John Beck.

Dawn Brooks

The New Year brings new construction to the Texas State campus. Dawn Brooks has the story.

Students are affected by the continuing construction on and around campus. The ever-expanding student population has made it necessary to construct new buildings. And all of that activity means parking is at a premium.
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Some parking spaces are no longer available to students. Those who commute will find it very difficult to park close to campus. Another issue that students are dealing with is the noise.
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The most recent project is at Old Main where the roof will be repaired and the windows replaced. Those who work at the campus radio station have been told to expect some disruptions.
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Those who are affected by the ongoing projects should not expect relief any time soon. According to the Campus Master Plan, construction will last through at least 2017. For Bobcat Update, I'm Dawn Brooks.       

Price Newell

The fall semester will end soon, which means students must turn their attention to finals. The schedule is a bit different this year. The last day of classes falls on a Thursday instead of a Monday, which should benefit students who will have a three-day gap between the end of the semester and the beginning of finals. However, the SLAC Lab will be closed during finals week, so anyone who needs help may have to hire a private tutor. Counselors say students are generally more successful at taking finals if they maintain a good diet, get plenty of sleep and stayed focused on their studies.

Lynn Anderson

The Texas State Study Abroad staff is busy recruiting students for next yearÕs spring and summer exchange programs. More than 400 students study abroad annually and are advised to apply for scholarships early, if possible. Brochures can be found at the Study Abroad office at the Thornton International House on campus.

Daisy Saenz

Texas State University has officially opened its first research facility -- STAR One -- at its 38 acre Science, Technology, and Advanced Research Park. The facility serves as a technology incubator for start-up companies. The goal is to collaborate with these companies and conduct research and development for new products. STAR One officials say companies are already starting to move into the facility and are expected to begin research in January. The park is located south of the main campus at McCarty Lane and Hunter Road.

Brittney Vaughn Frank

The fall semester is coming to an end, and for many students, so is the lease on their apartment. Moving out can be a stressful ordeal, and getting your deposit back can seem almost impossible. You can rent much of what you'll need, like steam cleaners or moving trucks. Rentals can make the experience much easier. U-Haul says that it rents out its trailers on a first-come-first-serve basis, with the smaller trailers being the first to go. Grocery stores such as HEB offer steam-cleaner rentals and can usually have them ready the same day that you request one. 

Jenny Sessions

The Lyndon Johnson Museum in San Marcos will celebrate its sixth anniversary this December with a holiday reception and Christmas tree lighting ceremony. This year's event is dedicated to the president's wife, Lady Bird Johnson. The community is invited to tour the museum and learn more about the former president and first lady. Students will participate in the reception by singing Christmas carols to those who attend.

Christopher Green

With final exams coming up, students at Texas State will soon need some quiet time to study. Bobcat Update's Chris Green has found some places where students can go.

Record enrollment at Texas State has made nearly every place on campus a bit louder. Parts of the library are packed with people hacking away on keyboards and printing papers. The fifth and sixth floors of the library are reserved for quiet study. There are even private study rooms available for students to reserve. The library is not the only place students can go to get away from the clamor.
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Boko's Living Room is the best place if you are seeking serenity with darkness.
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Texas State's oldest building, Old Main is surrounded by hidden spaces away from distracting foot traffic.
The area around the agriculture building offers peace from the crowds in a beautiful natural setting. One can relax at benches, tables or even a hammock.
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Matt Southall

A recent survey shows that the United States is increasingly secular. Matt Southall has more in this Bobcat Update. 

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a study last month showing that one in five Americans claim no religious identity. This group of non-believers has a name -- Nones on the Rise. As a group, it's second only to Catholicism in size. According to the study, the Nones have in five years grown from 15 to 20 percent of adults in America. They feel no need to be part of a religious organization. 
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The  Secular Student Alliance chapter at Texas State is just one of many that have been created in the United States.
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It's unclear what kind of cultural or political impact the lack of religious identification will have in America, but there are signs that the trend will continue. For Bobcat Update, I'm Matt Southall. 

Matthew Boyd

A Texas State employee leads a double-life that might surprise you. Or, put it another way, she has weekend gig that is filled with excitement...you might even say...A LOT of fun. Matthew Boyd has more in this Bobcat Update.

This is the 400-seat teaching theater in Centennial Hall at Texas State University; Brianne Corn is the Media Technician for the theater.
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Brianne has been working for Texas State for 12 years and has learned much from the diversity of courses taught in the teaching theater.
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While Brianne’s job doesn’t seem like a story we should cover, it is what she does when she’s not working that may surprise you. Brianne is a professional rally car racer and has built her own track, Brianne Corn Raceway, near the San Marcos Municipal Airport.
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Brianne realized her passion in life while racing down a hill in Italy. A month after returning to Texas, she entered her first race at the age of 36. Since then she has racked up several accomplishments including winning three championships last year.
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While her work and passion seem to be different she says they actually go hand in hand.
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Brianne urges you not to give up on your dream.
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Brianne even took the time to show my photographer Sammantha, and me her talents behind the wheel.

Matthew Boyd

The Texas State football team looks to end its three game losing streak this Saturday when the Bobcats travel to Annapolis. Texas State will take on the Navy Midshipman in their first-ever meeting. This week's contest will be televised on the C-B-S Sports Network starting at 2:30. Texas State is coming off a high-scoring shootout loss against nationally- ranked Louisiana Tech. The Bobcats lost 62-to-55.

Jenny Sessions

Hays County has started its annual Brown Santa drive. The drive collects donations for families needing assistance in San Marcos.  Students, residents and local businesses are participating in the drive by donating canned goods, toys and money.  The Brown Santa drive has helped over 850 families in the area and has been a tradition in Hays County since 1988. Donations can be dropped off at the county sheriff's office through December.

Erik Pompa

Some students are noticing more trash on campus. Are garbage cans being missed? It's hard to say but the crews who work to keep the university clean are finding more to do these days, because the amount of trash and cigarette butts littering the campus has gone up. Students are being urged to hold on to their garbage and use trash receptacles found at many locations on campus. 

Daisy Saenz

Central Texas is braced for the race this weekend. Formula-One launches in Austin, and its impact will be felt far and wide. Daisy Saenz tells us more in this Bobcat Update.

San Marcos officials say they expect the F-One race will bring new business to San Marcos.
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The Convention and Visitors Bureau says reservations at San Marcos hotels are nearing capacity. Hotel officials are excited about the weekend. They're looking forward to showing visitors a little Texas hospitality.
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[STANDUP: The San Marcos Municipal Airport may see an increase in traffic. Those who make last-minute travel plans probably won't be accommodated in Austin if they haven't made reservations. Some of the overflow will have to come here.]
Airport officials say they're prepared.
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The F-One race brings with it anticipation and excitement. Many in San Marcos are ready.
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Reporting for Bobcat Update, I'm Daisy Saenz