What increased Texas State enrollment means for San Marcos

By Sarah Bey

With the rapid increase of Texas State enrollment, the student population is slowly taking over the city of San Marcos.

Thousands of students walk through the Quad daily. Photo by: Sarah Bey

In her press release, "From the Hill," Texas State President Denise M. Trauth said that the university topped 36,700 students last September. According to Trauth, Texas State is the fourth-largest university in the state of Texas and is growing even closer to becoming a National Research University. In September, several organizations generously donated a total of $10 million to the university in order to compensate for the increase in enrollment.

Many Texas State students like the overall growth of the university.  Freshman Leanne Halliburton said that it's always good to have a bigger alumni network and donor base.

"(Texas State has) that small town feel, but there's plenty to do with Austin and San Antonio nearby," Halliburton said.

While the rising enrollment rates ultimately benefit the university, San Marcos natives remain hesitant.  Junior and public relations student, Stephanie Dibert, said that her friends "absolutely hate that San Marcos is expanding due to the increase in population."

"They (San Marcos-natives) believe that San Marcos has turned into a city run by 20-year-olds," Dibert said.

In order to accommodate the rising enrollment rates, the city of San Marcos is building additional apartment complexes. Many students are concerned with the potentially harmful effects these developments will have on the city of San Marcos. Dibert said that the new apartment complex called the Woods will specifically increase San Marcos river pollution since it is built very close to the river.

Construction on North LBJ Drive Photo By: Sarah Bey

"While it (the school) grows, it can't be something that reactive; it's got to be proactive," 21-year-old Caleb Davis said.

Many students and faculty are also concerned with parking and traffic. Lubbock-native, Darbie Walker said that San Marcos plans to build an overpass the bypass the train tracks.

"I think we have our own little slice of heaven here except for all of the darn construction," Walker said.

Another concern students have is that the atmosphere on campus will become less intimate. Psychology major Elisa Alvarado said that she had passed on the opportunity to attend the University of Texas at Austin because she didn't want to be just another number and be lost in the mix.  Along with Alvarado, Dibert is also concerned that the classroom setting will not be as intimate with the increase in students.

While the increase in enrollment rates may cause detrimental effects to San Marcos, students and faculty remain positive on the issue.