Diverse Sources Interview with Candace Jackson

BY: Natalie Walther

Candace Jackson at Sewell

Candace Jackson
20 year old
Student at Texas State
Junior
From Dallas, Texas


1. 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?

"It made parking way too expensive. It made traffic in the small town of San Marcos way too unbearable. It made resources at the school limited, like the rec, you cant go at certain times because there will be no machines. It made prices go up, it made apartments increase their rent which is ridiculous and there is also a shortage of apartments and homes here. Plus with the laws its made it difficult to find housing. Up side San Marcos is growing massively. the income is exceeding the demand."

2. Should the university continue to grow?

"Yes. It just means that more people are coming to college, more education, more want for jobs and positions and less dumb people  in the world. More income. It was help our school become more recognized and less of a party school. People would look at the amount of academics coming from Texas State. And Texas State's image would improve."

3. Did the size of the university influence your decision to come here?

"Yes. I had the option of Tarleton, UTSA, and Texas State. Tarleton is really small so I was deterred from it because I didn't want to go to a small town school. I wanted to experience more in order to develop myself as a person. You are more cultured when you are in a bigger in environment like this"

4. So Texas State is the 4th largest university in the state. Right behind A&M, UT, and UofH. We are only about 2,000 people behind UofH. Do you want our school to grow as big as these universities or do you want to stay where we are at?

"I would like to get bigger. I think there would more school morale. There are way too many kids for our campus but I think they need to make our campus bigger. I think they need to buy more land, and make the campus bigger. I don't think they should make it harder to get in. There are people out there that really want the education, if we make it harder and more expensive, less people are going to get degrees and its just gonna make it harder for kids to get jobs and our economy will suffer. Tuition should increase at a reasonable amount compared to other schools but I don't think it needs to skyrocket."