Diverse Source Interview

Diverse Source Interview

February 23, 2015 Alkek Library

Name: Stephanie Dibert

Age: 20

Classification: junior

Major: public relations (originally a communication design major) with a minor in art

Hometown: Rome, New York

Q: The university had a record enrollment of 35,568 students last year and is expected to have a record or near record again this year.  How has this increased enrollment affected you?

She noticed San Marcos has been expanding and believes “it was inevitable.”

She likes that it is expanding because now there is more restaurants like Torchy’s and is sure that more businesses will come in the near future.

However, she is worried about the new apartments coming up in San Marcos, especially the one that uses the #FloatHome because it’s right next to the river, and she is concerned about pollution.   Another bad thing about expansion of enrollment is the increase in traffic.

Q: What drew you to Texas State?

She loves the size of the campus; she believes that an increase in enrollment is “just going to happen” and it’s something “she can’t control.”

Q: Do you think the San Marcos locals are going to dislike the increase in enrollment?

She has a few friends her are locals and “they absolutely hate that San Marcos is expanding due to the increase in population.”  They believe that “San Marcos has turned into a city run by 20-year-olds.”

Q: Why did you choose Texas State?

She chose Texas State because her mom had moved to Austin and she wanted a change of scenery

She had visited the college when she was either 16 or 17 and fell in love with everything—she like the warm weather; loved the river, location, and just everything.

Q: Do you think the university will change with the increase in enrollment?

She doesn’t believe that the school with change with an increase in enrollment but does think that there will be less intimate relationships with professors in the classroom.

Q: What was your first college choice?

Her first choice was Ithaca College which is a private school in New York and she goes to Texas State for free.  She thinks that if Texas State overcompensates for the increase in enrollment that of course, tuition and fees will rise. But, as long as the school manages their money well, nothing should change.

Q: Are you involved with anything on campus?

She is the treasurer for the Human Environmental Animal Team (HEAT) which is a non-profit organization at Texas State; she thinks of herself as an environmentalist and animal-lover; she has been involved with the group for about two and a half years; she likes it a lot because it allowed her to make a lot of new friends and it “feels good to help others.”

She’s going to Costa Rica this spring break to volunteer at a sloth sanctuary.

Q: Has HEAT gotten bigger in membership due to the increase enrollment at Texas State?

The increase in enrollment at Texas State is also affecting the number of members in HEAT—there used to only be five members when her friends founded the group about six to seven years ago, and now there are about 200 members.

HEAT also received a bunch of money from the city for the work they have done in San Marcos.

Q: Do you think that HEAT is a good representation of the diversity here on campus?

She believes that HEAT is a good representation of the diversity at Texas State because she has met some people that she would not have talked to otherwise who are from all different backgrounds.

Q: Aside from school, do you have any hobbies?

She’s taking 17 hours and works at Gumby’s part-time as a deliverer at night.

Q: What are your favorite spots in San Marcos?

Her favorite local spots are John J. Stokes Park, Tantra, and Pie Society

She believes that San Marcos has expanded much like Austin; there’s a pretty good music scene in San Marcos; and she thinks the expansion will attract more liberal, Austin-like crowds.

 She “hopes the expansion is beneficial rather than destructive.”

Q: You mentioned you were taking classes this summer. Do you think with the increase enrollment, the types of summer classes are going to expand or rather, will we see any changes in summer classes?

San Marcos is dead during the summer even with students taking summer classes. If the enrollment continues to increase, of course the university will expand their classes. But she believes the school and city will remain the same.