Everything' Bigger in Texas by Pamela Patino

Texas State University’s record breaking enrollment numbers for the fall of 2013 may be a celebration for the university, but students have mixed feelings about the large increase.

For 16 consecutive years Texas State has set new enrollment records. The most recent number is 35,568 students. In the fall the university also took in the largest freshman class in the school’s history of 5,181 students.

Texas State President Denise Trauth feels that the growing student population reflects the success the university has had in becoming one of the premier campuses in the state.

“This new high in student enrollment demonstrates that students and their families recognize our institution offers both an outstanding educational experience as well as an exceptional value,” said Trauth in a statement.

This sentiment is not  necessarily reflected on campus. Some students feel that growth is inhibiting their experience at the university rather than benefiting them. One of the many problems students are having is with what seems to be never-ending construction and the effects on traffic.

"People have complained about traffic and I will agree there's a lot of cars on the road. Construction is so frustrating cause it seems like it's always going on," said Mason Randolph, environmental studies major.

Another complaint that students are having is parking. For some students, it seems almost impossible to find parking on campus due to the huge freshman class currently enrolled at the university.

"It's become more difficult to find parking. Very crowded especially since we have the biggest freshman class this year," said Ashley Jeffries, music major.

Kelsey Kotzur, a senior at Texas State, believes that the parking problem has gone beyond campus, and is now affecting San Marcos as a whole.

"Now the streets are packed all the time. I can’t ever find a parking spot at HEB," she said.

Along with parking difficulties and on-going construction, some students feel that the school's growth has affected their academics as well.

"It makes it hard to register for classes that I want because of all the people in the school," said Jesse Bremea, business management major.

However, not all student think the increase in enrollment rates are a bad thing. The university's growth also means that more jobs will be on the market, and more opportunities for students to find on campus jobs.

 "I am an RA on campus, so that's good for me because it’s giving me and other people jobs," said Mayson Hornsby, dance major.

Regardless of opinion, the fact is that Texas State is growing and will continue to grow in the years to come.