University Star

When late-night hunger strikes, Jacknife, the one-man campus courier service, runs to aid students in need.  

Jacknife started the courier venture this semester. His idea is to be paid in exchange for students’ comfort and convenience. 

Jacknife is the alter ego of Josh Martin, computer science freshman. His services include food delivery to students stuck on campus, as well as printing out papers and providing computer assistance.

Martin said the business is still in the “beta phase” and needs the kinks worked out. 

“I haven’t established any solid hours yet,” Martin said. “(I’m) still trying to get a following, getting the word out, and (I’ll) see what happens.” 

He said the idea of the courier business emerged last year when dorm life proved inconvenient.

“Late at night, (my former roommate and I) wanted something, like a Monster or Coke,” Martin said. “We would have to go all the way to the gas station, because everything would be closed on campus. We were always too lazy to do that.” 

He decided what Texas State needed was a courier. 

“The foundation of entrepreneurship is to find something that people don’t want to do that you’re good at doing, and you do it,” Martin said.  

Martin thinks there will be enough students who want courier services, but business has been slow with only two customers in its first couple of weeks. However, he has been putting up fliers around campus to advertise, and his Jacknife Facebook page has 75 “likes.”

Martin participated in the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps last summer. He said the program taught the importance of having a good work ethic and not accepting failure, which Martin translates into his courier business. Madison Scouts improved his endurance, making running Martin’s preferred method of travel. The alias “Jacknife” comes from a quick-running character in the 2008 video game Mirror’s Edge.

Among his supporters is Sherri Mora, political science senior lecturer. Martin talked to Mora after class this semester and was encouraged keep the courier business going. 

“We talked about personal responsibility and ways to be engaged in our community,” Mora said. “(This includes) anything you can do in your college career to keep you engaged academically and socially and committed to the community.”

Becky Reichenau, computer science senior lecturer, said the skills Martin learned in her class last year could prove beneficial in his services.

“He learned to pay attention to detail,” Reichenau said. “That will hit home for his own business.”

Currently, Martin’s customers pay what they want for the service, though there is a 50 cent upcharge if they want to use a credit card.