Meagan Hunter

Of the several ongoing construction projects at Texas State, the renovations at the L-B-J Student Center and Alkek Library seem to have the most impact on student life. Meagan Hunter has the story.

The L-B-J Student Center has been under construction since May of last year, and Alkek Library since September. As of now, the first and seventh floors of Alkek are closed for renovations. The same is true for the amphitheater at the student center. Long detours are necessary on some parts of the campus. Navigating the changes can be difficult for some students, and there's some resentment among those who won't be around to see the finished projects.
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Others say the renovations will provide many benefits for current and incoming students.
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The construction projects are expected to be completed next spring. For Bobcat Update, I'm Meagan Hunter.

Jacob Salois

Classes have resumed at Texas State, and many students have discovered that the most direct route to a classroom isn't always possible. Because of construction activity, they often have to take detours. Bobcat Update's Jacob Salois has more.

Texas State students need to allow extra time for their transits to and from class. The L-B-J Student Center is undergoing major renovation, and the construction could cause problems for students who are trying to get across campus.
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There is now just one main entrance to the student center, and it's located next to the L-B-J bus-circle. As a result -- to reach the quad or Alkek Library from the student center --- a detour must be taken that includes a walkway through an area next to Arnold Hall. Students may also walk in the opposite direction outside the student center building, where there's a ramp to avoid the stairs.
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The detours are a nuisance, but they particularly affect disabled students. Wooden ramps have been constructed to accommodate them, and many who AREN'T disabled are taking advantage of the temporary walkways.
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The Texas heat also poses a problem. The detours mean students are having to walk farther and endure the heat longer. For Bobcat Update, I'm Jacob Salois.

Michael Garcia

Some students say the Hines building at Texas State is too hot, and it's affecting their academic pursuits. Bobcat Update's Michael Garcia has more.

The Hines Academic Building remains at a constant temperature of 75 degrees. The air conditioning seems fine when first entering the building, but as more students crowd the hallways and get seated for class, the temperature seems to quickly rise. Electronic Media major Dalton Williams says the heat keeps him from focusing when he's in the building.
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The seats in the classrooms at Hines are close together, and some students say they feel crowded.
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Texas State senior Brynn McCurley says the building's air conditioning affects the learning environment.
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Hines is located on State Street near Old Main. For Bobcat Update, I'm Michael Garcia.

Kyle Emmott

Parking can be a pain at Texas State. It's a big campus with thousands of students, and at times many of those students are searching for something elusive: a place to park. Bobcat Update's Kyle Emmott has the story.

For many who take the Texas State shuttles, parking is no problem or even a concern. However, for those who commute, like senior Degen Hodges, parking is the biggest problem they face daily.
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Students have a few parking options. They can buy an annual pass that doesn't guarantee a spot, or they can use the pay-to-park approach.
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Solutions aren't easy or cheap, but one choice is quite simple.
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The city of San Marcos is considering the possible
installation of paid-parking meters downtown, which would affect many students who park off-campus as a last resort. For Bobcat Update, I'm Kyle Emmott.

John Squyres

Several Texas State shuttles are being rerouted this semester, resulting in complications for students. Bobcat Update's John Squyres has the story.

The bus routes are typically a saving grace for students who live off-campus. But ongoing construction at the university has affected the shuttle service, causing some students to be frustrated. The bus routes have changed and the shuttles are often crowded.
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The changes can be disruptive.
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Despite these frustrations, students have little choice when it comes to their transportation to and from campus. They realize there's not much they can do about it.
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For information on bus routes, students can contact the transportation division online or by phone . For Bobcat Update, I'm John Squyres.

Sydney Smith

You don't have to walk far on the Texas State campus to find some kind of construction going on. Several projects are underway. Some of them started months ago. Bobcat Update's Syd Smith reports on what students are saying about the hubbub of activity.

Students have mixed feelings about the on-going construction on and near the campus. Some say it's having a negative impact.
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Construction is taking place at the L-B-J Student Center, Alkek Library, and across from the U-C-M. Despite being prevalent in these areas, the construction isn't causing major issues for most students.
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Renovations at the L-B-J Student Center alone are expected to cost more than 31-million dollars. The university says the project should be finished next year. For Bobcat Update, I'm Syd Smith.

Isaac Hart

Players of a popular online fighting-game say they're having issues with Ninetendo's online services. Many of them are frustrated, because the websites on occasion havegone down completely. Bobcat Update's Isaac Hart has more on the story.

The Super Smash Brothers franchise has come a long way since the first entry was released in 1999 with eight playable Nintendo fighters. The latest entry in the series, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, boasts more than 70 fighters and it received a sizable update  last week. However, when attempting to download the update to their consoles, players encountered errors and connection problems.
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Nintendo's track record for online and online multiplayer services is far from spotless. According to top players, this isn't the first time Ninetendo has had poor online functionality. There have been similar problems with earlier versions of the Smash Brothers series.
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Prior to Ultimate's release, Nintendo's online play was free, but that's no longer the case for the Nintendo Switch. Players are paying for an almost identical experience that they once received for free. 
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Nintendo has several game releases planned that will also require the same paid service to play online. Some players say they aren't quite sure they're on-board for that.
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Mallorie Sanders

The head coach of Texas State's men's basketball team has had his contract extended. Bobcat Update's Mallorie Sanders has spoken with Danny Kaspar to learn more about what the extension means to him.

Texas State University has extended head coach Danny Kaspar's contract through the 20-23 season. Kaspar says he's very grateful for the opportunity to continue being part of the Texas State men's basketball team.
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Coach Kaspar has been head coach of the basketball team since 20-13. His teams have had 98 victories. The 2018-2019 season was the best one yet, with the Bobcats' 24-and-10 record. Kaspar says he hopes the basketball program continues to improve.
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In addition to leading the team's success on the court, Kaspar has received many awards for his coaching. They include being named the Hoops H-D (dot)com 20-19 Coach of the Year for the Sunbelt Conference as well as the 20-19 Hugh Durham National Coach of  the Year. 
SU: With Coach Kaspar's contract extension, the Bobcats are looking forward to many more successful basketball seasons. For Bobcat Update, I'm Mallorie Sanders.  

ReGine Murray

April is the month of Sexual Consent Awareness, and Men Against Violence is opening up conversation about what this month means. Bobcat Update's ReGine Murray has the story.

Men Against Violence is a peer educational group that tries to break the traditional norms of what is supposed to be masculinity and ways that men are taught to behave. It challenges men to redefine male and female relationships, and create meaningful friendships with other men. They also address other topics, such as, L-B-G-T-Q relationships, consent and hate crimes. 
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Men Against Violence held a series of events this week to bring awareness to issues related to sexual assault. Monday's event was the 'Consent Pizza Party', which provided free pizza to students in exchange for them sitting down and having an open dialogue about what consent is and how to properly have that discussion with one's partner. 
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The series of events will continue this week, tonight you can participate by going to the screening of "Audrie and Daisy" in the Alkek Teaching  Theater from 6-8 and going to the SLUTS Dance at Sewell Park tomorrow night from 6:30 to 8:30.
SU: Get involved with Men Against Violence, learn more about consent and ask your partner what kind of pizza they like. For Bobcat Update, I'm ReGine Murray. 

Preston Cox

Texans have a couple of home teams to root for in the first round of the N-B-A playoffs. The Spurs and Rockets are playing this week against the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz, respectively. In the spirit of March madness, the N-B-A is encouraging fans to fill out their own N-B-A brackets. Preston Cox takes a shot at learning which teams are favored by Bobcats.

There is a one-million-dollar grand prize for anyone who can fill out a perfect bracket, so we challenged some members of the student body to choose who they expect to win: 
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In the great words of Fergie, let's play some basketball. For Bobcat Update, I'm Preston Cox.

Stephen Findley

The Student Recreation Center at Texas State has reached a milestone. Bobcat Update's Kyle Findley has the story.

SU: This week Texas State University's Student Rec Center celebrates its 25th anniversary, and it's also the 10th year anniversary of the 2009 renovations that added more facilities and amenities to  campus. When the Student Rec Center was built in 1994 it housed four indoor multi-purpose courts, an indoor track, racquetball courts and other small features. Looking at where the recreation center is now, 25 years later,  it is almost a whole new building.
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Along with the new features, the student rec center serves as a great place for students to get involved.
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Tuition pays for using the rec so there's nothing to lose by going in and seeing what interests you. If you can't find anything yet, changes and additions are always happening so who knows what the next  25 will bring. For Bobcat Update, I'm Kyle Findley.

Hannah Shaw

Texas State is home to many diverse and unique clubs. Bobcat Update's Hannah Shaw tells us about one, focused on the sport of Quidditch.
 
Quidditch, of course, caters to fans of Harry Potter. At Texas State, it's a club sport and campus organization.
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Texas State Quidditch plays in a highly competitive league that allows men and women to engage in a full-contact sport. However, there's also a less physical version called house games, for members to play once a month.
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Members of the organization say that Quidditch is welcoming to all students even if they haven't seen the movies or read the books.
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Alex Bulko

Hazing is a concern at many college campuses. Universities have rules, but now the Texas legislature has to decided to act as well. Bobcat Update's Alex Bulko has the story.

The Texas Senate recently passed an anti-hazing bill aimed at preventing such incidents on college campuses. If the bill becomes law, it would redefine the legal definition of hazing.
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The current definition doesn't include forcing people to consume alcohol or preventing them from recording or reporting acts of hazing. Prosecuting violators can be difficult because of the vague definition of hazing. However, the bill is not just aimed at Greek organizations.
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State lawmakers have been feeling pressure to pass the bill following the deaths of several college students over the past five years, including undergraduates at Texas State, U-T, Texas A-and-M and Texas Tech. The bill not only clarifies acts of hazing but makes it easier to prosecute violators as well. At Texas State, efforts are already underway to prevent potential issues.
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SU While the bill has yet to be introduced to the House floor, Texas State still plans to uphold and maintain strict hazing standards across campus. For Bobcat Update, I'm Alex Bulko.

Allison Johnson

The warmer weather means you may be looking for outdoor fun. Floating the river and hanging out on the square are popular activities this time of year, but if you're looking for a change of scenery, check out what's in store at a nearby disc golf course. Bobcat Update's Allison Johnson has the story. 
 
Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club opened in San Marcos in 2014. The club has courses for all levels of players.
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Many players bring their own gear, but the pro shop is loaded with equipment to rent or buy. Pro Shop Manager Kevin Ballew says visitors enjoy the atmosphere of the course.
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Flying Armadillo regulars enjoy that the course is family friendly and in well-kept condition.
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Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities while at the course.
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Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club is a bring-your-own-beer establishment. Also, bring your own picnic. The course has a four-story deck complete with picnic tables for players to enjoy food and drinks. It's open seven days a week from seven a-m to ten p-m.
SU: The course is located off Hilliard Road. Now I'm going to go play a round of disc golf. For Bobcat Update, I'm Allison Johnson.

Alicia Almendariz

April is Sexual Consent Awareness month, and Bobcats across campus are participating in the  movement. Bobcat Update's Alicia Almendariz (AHL-MEHN-DAH-REES) has the story.

 
I ASK, created by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, is a campaign spreading awareness to end sex without consent. Sex without consent is a criminal assault.
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According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 67 men experience sexual assault in their lives. The Student Health Center and Men Against Violence are promoting the campaign across campus to encourage a positive conversation about sex and consent.
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Texas State offers multiple resources for sexual assault victims, such as the Student Health Center, counseling services and Title IX. Title IX, amended in 1972, encourages sexual assault SURVIVORS to continue their education.
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Men Against Violence will host various events including a movie screening of Audrie and Daisy and the S-L-U-T-S dance party at Sewell Park. The events will begin on April 22nd and end on April 26th.  SU: For more information on how to join the I ASK movement, you can visit the Student Health Center web page or  NSVRC.org. For Bobcat Update, I'm Alicia Almendariz.

Tynisha Jackson

Some Christian organizations at Texas State are spreading the word about their worship night. Bobcat Update's Tynisha Jackson has the story.

United is what they call their night of worship. Making the event possible are the groups Delight Ministries, BYX (bucks), Bobcat Orphans and Sigma Phi Lambda. Their common goal is to promote fellowship.
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This is the second annual United event the organizations have put on. 
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The organizations hope to line up more volunteers to participate in planning next year's event. 
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Victoria Vasquez

The event is called Bobcat Build, and every spring more than four-thousand students are dispatched to 300 job sites in Hays County to help with renovation projects. However, because of bad weather Saturday, this year's Bobcat Build had to be cancelled for many participants. Victoria Vasquez has the story.
 
On Saturday, Hays county had a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms. That didn't stop student organizations from gathering for the 15th Annual Bobcat Build. Texas State Senior Alex Molina says he came to show his appreciation for San Marcos.
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Once the students were sent to their job sites the rain began to fall, prompting Texas State officials to issue an e-mail that the event be cancelled. Texas State Senior Chase Massey says he was disappointed the event had to be called off. 
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While Bobcat Build was canceled within the city, there were some organizations in the county and beyond that were able to finish their assignments. For Bobcat Update, I'm Victoria Vasquez.

Cartney Sharp

Texas State is getting some national attention, but not necessarily in a good way. Cartney Sharp has more in this Bobcat Update.

The Student Government Senate at Texas State recently voted to ban the conservative group Turning Point U-S-A from campus after accusations of hate speech. The decision came following one of the longest Senate meetings in the school's history. The meeting was full of tears, anger and screams as both sides debated for more than three hours.
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Student behavior at the Senate meeting caught the attention of Governor Greg Abbott, who stated in a Tweet that schools like Texas State should not receive state funding if they don't stand in support of the First Amendment.
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The raucous meeting also gained national attention. Many commentaries have been written regarding student behavior during the meeting and the Senate's attempted infringement on freedom of speech. The Student Government president vetoed the decision, and the university's administration addressed the Senate's lack of authority to ban the group from campus.
SU: The decision has been made and Turning Point U-S-A will remain on campus. For those hoping to get involved in future decisions like these you can attend the Student Senate meetings held every Monday in the L-B-J Student Center Teaching Theater. For Bobcat Update, I'm Cartney Sharp.

Tom Vazquez

The Texas State spring football game offers a glimpse into the program's future. Bobcat Update's Tom Vazquez has the story. 

New head coach Jake Spavital and the Texas State Bobcats took steps in a new direction for the program this past weekend. Duking it out across the field were the offense in the white and the defense in maroon. Both fought hard, but ultimately defense ruled. The game highlighted the strengths of the defense and shed more light on what needs to be changed on offense. Fans are looking forward to seeing what Spavital does with the team.
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Some alumni say they're noticing changes on and off the field.
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Fans like David Navarro say that the team could make it to a bowl game later this year but more students are needed in the stands to make that happen.
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Last season the Bobcats went one-and-seven in conference play, three-and-nine overall, but that losing record could  be flipped as soon as next fall. The Texas State football machine is still under maintenance. There's hope the engine will soon be running all cylinders.
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Josh Davis

Texas State will be doing something for laughs next semester -- when the Theater Department has its first ever comedy class. Bobcat Update's Josh Davis has the story.

With a variety of open mics and a comedy-based student organization, San Marcos is home to a fast-growing comedy scene.  Soon students will be able to learn about comedy in the classroom. Starting next semester,  Vic Shuttee, a grad student at Texas State, will be teaching creating comedy.
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In the class, students will learn how to write stand-up and sketches, and they will perform improvisational comedy. Sophomore English major Max Foster is signed up to take the class next semester.
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Shuttee says he worked closely with Comedy Association president Garrett Buss to create the class.
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The class is full for next semester, but if students are interested in the class, they can email Vic Shuttee at VRS45@txstate.edu to be put on a wait list for future semesters. For Bobcat Update, I'm Josh Davis.