Roam Magazine Spring2017

FACES: the parts and the whole

Spring 2017 • A Student Publication • Texas A&M University-San Antonio

It starts with you.

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LETTER FROM

the Editor

Leah Riley

“They call us dreamers, but we’re the ones who don’t sleep.”

There’s something to be said about having the ability to bring a vision to life. I happen to be in my last semester of my undergraduate degree in Communication, and I’ve been granted that very opportunity. I’m able to assist in bringing concepts to life. Our magazine, growing and changing each year, is intended for students, those diverse individuals I share the hallways with every day.

Outside of school I may be a full-time worker, wife, and mommy to a little one, but here I’m a student.

Among our many roles, we share that in common -- we are students.

ROAM Magazine is a student focused publication whose goal is to provide value and entertainment to all readers. This magazine is where students can find stories about hard-won achievements within their university walls, read stories about issues that genuinely matter to them, and learn more about what options they have here at Texas A&M-San Antonio.

The campus which we are a part of is growing faster than we anticipated, and it’s exciting for me to see the achievements born of all departments. Our feature story covers how the psychology program is conducting facial recognition research under the direction of Prof. Dawn Weatherford. It’s an in-depth piece that shows what’s going on behind the scenes in our university labs and classrooms, and how faculty-mentored research studies impact student learning and career development.

We also know the importance of fitness and acknowledge that many students are interested in bettering themselves. We have a great community and an ever developing kinesiology department focused on promoting health awareness. One of our own staff members exposes his struggles, sharing the negatives, positives, downfalls, and triumphs

of extreme weight loss. What’s even more inspiring is how Ryan shares his passion, and believes his lifestyle change was one of the best things he’s ever accomplished.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, another activity that we all enjoy is eating and some of us feel a little restricted by our options on or near campus. We made sure to venture out to the closest burger spots, as we know we have a lot of campus commuters who may not know the area as well as others. Believe me, to earn your trust we ate every single burger, fry, and finished our Dr. Peppers to make sure we were adequately judging. The magazine staff assisted in reviewing the top five burger joints and one of our staff members tells you where to get your cheeseburger fixes.

There is a special article that commemorates the 1st annual Jaguars Remembered event, where we remember students who lost their lives much too soon. This piece pulls at my heartstrings as I too lost a friend this past semester. Our campus keeps us connected to one another and I welcome a new tradition the connects us to those we’ve lost, but still remember.

It took a leap of faith in order for me to step out of my comfort zone and take on the task of Editor, but I wanted to go out with a bang as I’ve told several of my classmates this semester. I fully believe in taking chances because you never know what you may be capable of. I’m overwhelmed and thankful for such a hardworking team, as they were willing to go the extra mile to produce this publication. We wrote this issue with students in mind, and my only hope at this point would be for you to be inspired by everything that is taking place right here at A&MSan Antonio, where you belong.

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the Staff

COPY EDITOR Kimberly Rivera

MANAGING EDITOR Melissa Ramos

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Isidro Medina

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Dolores Cortez

“Be patient with yourself nothing in nature blooms all year.”

“At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.” - Frida Kahlo

“Everything happens for a reason.”

“All the worlds a stage, we are merely players.”

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Melba Tellez

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Ryan Truss

PHOTOGRAPHER Robert Carrasco

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”

“Do you even meme bruh?”

“If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.”

PHOTOGRAPHER Erick De Luna

WRITER John French

WRITER Destiny Montes

“If you’re not having fun, what’s the point?”

“We are number one.”

“Fight the good fight of faith.”

FACULTY ADVISOR: Rocelyn Dunston

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Table of Contents 3 Letter from the Editor Featured Articles

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FACES: the parts and the whole

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Jaguars Remembered

Student Personal Essay

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My BIG FAT Revenge

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Alumni Spotlight

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Student Spotlight

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Faculty Spotlight

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Class Spotlights

Student Resources

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Confessions of a Cell Phone Addict

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Affordable Physical Fitness, It’s Closer Than You Think

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College Style on a Bargain Budget

Student Opinion

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Campus growth Demands Revisions Sooner Than Later

Š 2017 Copyright is reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited. ROAM Magazine uses all the materials with permission from the owners.

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Research

FACES

the parts and the whole

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Written By: Kimberly Rivera On an average school day, psychology major Shannon Freasier travels 75 minutes from Stockdale, Texas to attend classes at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. After graduating, Shannon plans on pursuing a nursing program at Baptist School of Health Professions. In addition to a 21hour course load, she also participates in a student research group in the Memory, Attention and Perception laboratory in the psychology program.

Shannon is one of a growing number of students juggling a high workload while also gaining research skills in cognitive psychology that will help launch her career. This semester, she and her peers are studying facial recognition under the mentorship of Prof. Dawn Weatherford, assistant professor of psychology.

Each week the student researchers meet in a laboratory to discuss findings and read related works on facial recognition. The room is equipped with television monitors to display information and four rooms dedicated to other activities, including ongoing studies. The research facilities include a computer, a webcam, an eye-tracker to measure gaze patterns and virtual reality equipment.

During the fall semester, students volunteered to begin four facial recognition studies. This spring, 17 student researchers studied and worked long hours in the lab studying facial recognition patterns.

“The reason I specifically like faces is because faces are something in which we are all experts,” Weatherford said.

Yet, she says, she’s driven to understand more about a process that we all take for granted. We, as humans, are excellent at recognizing faces. But scientifically, she explained, we are still trying to identify how we recognize one another.

To grasp an understanding of what facial recognition means, Weatherford requires her students to read many articles including “Meanings, mechanisms and measures of holistic processing” published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.

Her readings help student researchers understand concepts, theoretical principles, and new areas of research in the field of facial recognition.

Shannon is one of the leaders of the STAR study.

Photo by Dawn Weatherford.

For those new to the term ‘Holistic Processing,’ imagine going to a party and looking for your friend. When you recognize your friend across the room, you say to yourself, “There she is!” But, there’s a whole body of research that asks how, specifically, your visual system recognizes that person. Does your cognitive self process someone’s face as a collection of separate facial features? Or do you, upon seeing your friend, see and process her face as a whole? Holistic processing argues that we do not first recognize the nose, associate it with the cheek, the lips, and then cobble all the features together into a face we recognize. Rather, we have a quick response to determine the identity of the person.

Looked at another way, in a room of a thousand chairs it would be pretty tough to identify your office chair, right? It definitely has its unique characteristics, but we definitely don’t process and recognize the features of chairs as we do faces.

Now imagine a room with 1,000 people. You could probably find a familiar face, Weatherford explained. But how does the mind do such a thing?

The process by which we identify faces and organize the information in our minds is a large body of cognitive research.

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Learning Laboratory As part of their ongoing research, students are conducting six studies, each posing different questions related to facial recognition. (SPIT) for example is a focus on security personnel study and (COFFE) further tests the cross-race effect.

While facial recognition is her dedicated research interest, Weatherford teaches the subject matter in a way that students learn to identify their own interests. She helps them make connections and foster their own interests.

In the classroom, students say they find Weatherford engaging and approachable. She helps undergraduate students make complex ideas and theories understandable and relevant. She also figured out that putting a high priority on having fun and building community is just as important as becoming a solid and informed researcher.

Each student is given a nickname. For example, there’s Rollercoaster Rob, Slim Jim, and Princess Jazzhands, to name a few. Their memorable nicknames, Weatherford explains, are playful and help each student feel like they’re part of the crew.

The prof has a nickname, too: Dawnasaurus. Plus, she says, humans are cognitively wired to remember individual faces more than names. So, nicknames help Weatherford remember students, generation after generation.

Long after they graduate, she says, they keep in touch and share their successes.

“She sets expectations so high because she knows we’re capable of making that goal to exceed those expectations,” Walker said. “[It] has definitely helped shaped me as a person and made me a better researcher.”

Community Building In October, team members gathered around a table in the lab and celebrated a birthday before moving onto their research updates. Each student wore a birthday crown, sang, and enjoyed a cake made by the wife of Robert Mazak, or ‘Ro-bald’ as his classmates call him.

The lab celebrates birthdays to acknowledge students for providing time and to celebrate their 8

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The “pink shirt” club with their nicknames Photo by Dawn Weatherford

victories. In May, the student volunteers will join Weatherford for an end of term picnic to celebrate their accomplishments together.

“The celebrations are so they know they matter,” Weatherford said. “Little celebrations help us all have a little freedom and show we all care about you.”

When the student researchers are not reading related material or participating in a study, Weatherford prepares the team for career opportunities and further success.

The team reads “Getting into Grad School.” And, students learn about early applications, curriculum vitaes, cover letters and resumes.

Next semester, interested students will shadow a senior student from the Directed Research class.

Journey to Memory, Attention and Perception Weatherford says she became interested in facial recognition as a researcher and graduate laboratory manager at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Initially, she was interested in language but her academic mentor, Curt Carlson, a professor of psychology at Texas A&M University-Commerce was interested in eyewitness memory. Her first project on facial recognition was conducted as a graduate student in 2009 on the topic of how describing faces affects your memory of them.

The popular and dynamic instructor is nearing completion of her first year as an assistant professor

of psychology in the Department of Science and Mathematics. She received her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2013, specializing in cognition. Her dissertation, “Visual and Verbal Influences on Recognition Memory for Faces” is the foundation of her current research.

Prior to coming to A&M-San Antonio, she taught at Arkansas State for three years where she served as the director of the Memory, Attention, and Perception (MAP) Research Laboratory.

Weatherford has published in discipline specific journals such as Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice and Applied Cognitive Psychology with Carlson.

In October, Weatherford submitted a grant request for a study on security personnel. The study is “When security matters: Assessing the impact of real-world expertise and ecologically-valid conditions on facial identity matching.”

participants recognize the same person in low, medium and high lighting.

A lighting study is important in real life because a witness can send the wrong person to jail or accuse them of a crime and ruin their life.

Psychology senior Mary Walker, leads the COFFE study, focusing on the cross-race effect; the finding that people are better at recognizing faces who are of their own race, relative to other races.

The COFFE study, The influence of featural and configural changes on cross-race facial identification, asks the question: “How does race affect people’s ability to recognize faces across changing images?” The study made use of real faces to test and see if there was a difference in facial processing.

The next step is using computer-generated faces and test if that affects processing but still have images match up with human faces they have.

Preparation for Presentation

Faces of the Future

In November 2016, each study submitted an abstract for the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA) convention, an opportunity to showcase student work and network with professionals. Of the four studies, only two were accepted to present at SWPA, the COFFE and STAR studies.

STAR or “Study, Test, Ambient Reflectivity” is based on light variations, or different levels of lumen. Using preset levels in photoshop, students are able to change a photo and test whether

“What I want to do is eventually build a research agenda that’s strong enough where I can ask the department of defense or transit authority,” Weatherford said. “This is a task you expect people to do well but you don’t understand yet how they do it.”

While the MAP lab is still researching and growing, previous students under Weatherford’s supervision remain in contact with her to celebrate victories.

One student from Arkansas State was accepted as the second author in a publication and another accepted to a prestigious internship.

“They are the best part of my day,” Weatherford said. She says she can’t wait to hear about all their future success.

Dawn Weatherford is also an advisor for the Psychology Club at A&M-San Antonio.

Photo courtesy: The psychology club at Texas A&M University-San Antonio

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Photos By: University Communications

Jaguars Remembered Written By: Destiny Montes & Kimberly Rivera

In 1898, the Texas A&M University System began a tradition called Silver Taps to honor student members of the Aggie family who passed away. The commemorative event, held the first Tuesday of the month September through April, honors the loss of students and gives families the opportunity to connect with each other.

Each April, members of the Texas A&M University System host Aggie Muster, bringing the campus together as a community to remember all fallen Aggies.

In honor of deceased students and alumni, the Student Government Association (SGA) of Texas A&M University-San Antonio held the first annual Jaguar Student Memoriam the evening of April 21.

The event, “Jaguars Remembered,” was held in the President’s Rose Garden behind the Frank L. Madla Building offering seating to family members and friends of deceased students.

University president Cynthia Teniente-Matson spoke about the tradition and symbolism of the President’s Rose Garden designated as a serene and safe open space.

Nineteen jaguars were remembered, 16 students

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and three alumni.

Families of deceased jaguars received a vase with a yellow rose and a challenge coin, a symbol used in the military community.

Remembering Jaguars

A group of Student Government Association members and volunteers lined up to honor each deceased student with a vase and a single yellow rose.

A group of family members and friends wore “In Loving Memory of Joyce Cassandra Medina” T-shirts. Joyce Medina, a bilingual education major, died April 6 after a deadly shooting at her door step.

Joyce was a member of the Bilingual Education Student Organization.

Jaguars Remembered celebrated history major and graduate Marisa Hernandez. She graduated in 2014 and lived her remaining years serving at children’s shelters and churches. Celebrating her life at Jaguars Remembered was her mother and father, Irma and Mario Hernandez along with some friends and family.

“She fought to be a Jaguar,” her mother Irma Hernandez said. “Ever since she was young she wanted to be an A&M graduate.”

Following in her uncle’s footsteps, and overcoming a learning disability at a young age, Marisa was known for her fighter attitude.

“She wanted to teach and she did very little teaching because of her situation, but she had big dreams,” Hernandez said.

Fighting with her weight all of her life, the last five years were particularly tough for Marisa.

“And it wasn’t easy for her, but she was determined to lose the weight. She had to lose so much weight before she could have her surgery,” Hernandez said.

“And it was a struggle.”

Though she was happy and ready to begin working on her weight and pursuing a healthier lifestyle, Marisa passed away from heart complications.

She is remembered by her family and all of her friends here at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

A new Jaguar tradition

The Jaguars Remembered ceremony will continue annually.

“This is the first opportunity that students really have to get together and show their community support,” Student Government President Mary E. Walker said.

“No matter who that student is, we honor them as a community every time,” she added.

Jaguar Student Media provides students opportunities to gain practical experience working with online, print and broadcast media products. The journalism laboratory is an extension of Texas A&M University - San Antonio’s institutional mission to prepare and empower students through innovative and challenging academic and cocurricular programs. Productions include The Mesquite, the campus’ award-winning online news site, JagCast and ROAM Magazine. Communication faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences advise student media by placing innovative and dedicated students in paid positions to launch and develop projects that contribute to the historically underserved communities surrounding their university campus in South San Antonio. Since launching Jaguar Student Media in 2012, students have received local, regional and national awards for their reporting and storytelling.

ROAM Magazine Contact Information Jaguar Student Media Communications Program Central Academic Building, Suite 320 College of Arts and Sciences Texas A & M University-San Antonio One University Way San Antonio, Texas 78224 Phone: (210) 784-1051 Roam_Magazine @ tamusa.edu Director of Student Media Jenny Moore (210) 784-1051 jenny.moore@tamusa.edu Faculty Advisor Rocelyn Dunston (210) 683-2795 rocelyn.dunston@tamusa.edu

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personal Essay

my BIG FAT

revenge Written By: Ryan Truss

Graduation May 2013 I always get asked, “How did you lose over 100 pounds at the age of 20 and what motivated you?”

February 2014 was the start of my fitness journey, and I never looked back. Let’s rewind back in time.

Growing up I was the fluffy, tall kid who always stuck out. I love, love, love food and food loved me back.

It was comfort food when I was bullied. Looking at myself in the mirror made me unhappy and I never knew what to do. Running outside in the hot sun?

Count me out!

I was bullied throughout middle and high school. I hung around with the wrong people and my teachers would always try to degrade me by telling me I was a failure.

Growing up in San Antonio was tough for me.

Mexican food continues to be my weakness. My eating habits every week when I was growing up were fast food or good ole enchiladas. When you’re a little kid, you don’t think about what you eat or your weight gain. We focus on our friends and family and how much fun we are having because adulting is overrated.

It wasn’t until high school that I noticed I was overweight, insecure, and bullied. It was then that I started to question myself. I questioned my life, my friends and my identity. I was lost. I went to a private school all my life and I am more than thankful for my parents enrolling me into private school. You think going to a private school everything would be OK, wrong! All four years I was bullied for my weight by teachers, students, even my “friends.’’ It came to a 12

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point where your own teachers call you a “failure” or your closest friends make fun of you so they can feel good about themselves.

I wanted to prove everyone wrong–even my family.

I had friends who I enjoyed being friends with, but I realized I only heard from them when they needed something.

It was time to get a revenge body.

A revenge body to me would prove to everyone that I could do something. I wanted to get my mind, body and soul on the right page. I wanted to finally be happy and have an accomplishment in life.

Still being bullied right after highschool got old. I thought I was happy but when I looked in the mirror I asked myself, “Am I really happy?”

Weighing in over 300 pounds at the age of 20 was just disappointing and gross. I was almost a 3XL, a 48 waist.

I knew my older brother was embarrassed to hang out with me. He always tried to help me, but that help made our friendship fade. I was at a point in life where I needed a change. I was losing my family because of my attitude. I let myself get there because I loved to eat and started pushing people away. I mean, who doesn’t love food? I had no self control. If I wanted fast food, I would get it right away.

That next week I made the decision to turn my life around and begin the new journey in life that I needed. I wanted to take out the negativity in life and bring out the positive in me. I started some immediate goals: no soda, no fast food, and I began

to surround myself with positive people who made a positive influence in my life.

Basically a new Ryan.

It was going to be hard but I knew it would be worth it at the end. I wanted to be like every other 20 year old—go out with friends, party, stay up late, and drink. I decided to put on my big boy pants and start the journey I’ve always wanted.

The first thing I did was get a Planet Fitness membership. But I don’t think I even went. After that, I needed motivation so I googled “How to lose weight the right and healthy way.”

The first thing that popped up was “CrossFit.” The next morning, I went to a CrossFit class at 5 a.m. and three years later I’m still doing CrossFit. Before I went, I looked up CrossFit and I already hated it by looking at the people on Google images. Six packs, buff. But I convinced myself that it would be fun. I went on Monday, Feb. 1, 2013 and began my weight loss journey; it’s been a hell of a ride.

Crossfit is a high-intensity fitness program incorporating elements from several sports and types of exercise. From running to lifting weights to gymnastics, we do it all. Everyone has different opinions about Crossfit but until you actually try it, don’t judge. I remember when I first started, I could barely run to the end of the street. Now I’m running half marathons and it feels great. I’m doing things that I never thought I could do.

Since starting my CrossFit journey, I learned who I am and that friends come and go. People always say you make your friends in high school. I

Photo By: Isidro Medina

Crossfit competition 2016

still talk to a handful of friends from high school, but I truly made my friends through the CrossFit community. People are here to help you and take the time out of their day to achieve your fitness goals.

You surround yourself with people who share the same goals as you, and enjoying being around each other. I have never met so many positive people in my life and that has helped me become who I am today. Surrounding myself with the right people has matured me into a young adult and I thank them everyday.

At 23 years old, I enjoy being an inspiration to all, for all ages because YOU can do anything you set your mind to. It all starts with you.

Today I don’t diet. I hate diets. I just try to eat healthy as much as I can. If I want a donut I’ll go get a donut or two, or five. I just make sure I try to burn it off and be active.

My advice to you? Believe in yourself and you will be amazed by what you do mentally and physically.

Be the badass you know you are. Follow my journey, IG: rjtuss

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alumni Spotlight Written By: Dolores Cortez

Alumni make a difference in young people’s lives

Photo By: Robert Carrasco

Emily Lopez ‘13 Emily Lopez, Sociology alumni (‘13), knows her life calling is to help out others.

Now a parent educator at the San Antonio Children’s Shelter, she makes home visits to educate young mothers between the ages of 13 to 19 years old who are either expecting, or raising children up to 3 years of age.

“We usually have a curriculum we go over with them that focuses on child development,” she says. “We also do screenings on the moms after childbirth for postpartum depression or for domestic violence issues.”

Lopez joined the Children’s Shelter in June of 2016 and says she would like to continue working with the agency for a few years and move up within the organization. Prior to joining the Children’s Shelter, she worked for the YMCA as a parent educator. However, the job ended when the grant ended.

She says the moms she educates can be from all walks of life as long as they meet the age criteria. However, a good portion of them are referred by child protective services.

Lopez said she did not know what path she wanted to follow when she started college but knew it was to help others. She said a sociology professor opened her eyes to the cause and spearheaded her journey. The education she received at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, she says, helped prepare her for the social work field.

She plans to return to school and work on her Master’s in Counseling or Social work if it becomes available.

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“When I first started, the small family-like atmosphere and the amazing professors are what inspired me at A&M-San Antonio,” Lopez said.

On a personal note, she has been married for four years to Alejandro Lopez, Jr. who is also a Texas A&MUniversity-San Antonio Graduate. Lopez earned a Master’s in Counseling and Guidance. They have a four year old son, Xavier Alejandro Lopez.

Lopez and her husband began a food ministry for Scenic Hills Seventh Day Adventist Church in 2012.

They started the ministry in December of 2012 where they would hand sack lunches to hungry people in the streets. She says it started as a one time thing to offer food to the needy over the holiday season. Over time, the ministry has grown and they have enough volunteers to assemble hot meals. A crew of approximately 15 to 20 volunteers set up under the bridge by the Bexar County Adult Detention Center on N. Comal Street and feed the homeless.

“We set up burners and chaffing dishes in an assembly line and feed about100 to 150 homeless every third Saturday of the month,” says Lopez.

The menu and organizational details are coordinated the month before through the ministries’ Facebook page. Volunteers are professionals, blue-collar and homemakers who donate whatever they can. They do receive some funds from the church. However, the majority is self-funded.

“Just knowing you are filling a need that they have is the best feeling,” Lopez says.

In the future, Lopez and her husband hope to turn the ministry into a non-profit organization.

When Lopez has free time she enjoys reading, traveling and spending quality time with her husband and their son.

For current students, she has this piece of advice: “Get involved from day one.” She said she wishes she had interned earlier to get her foot in the door to gain more relevant experience.

Photo By: Your Pace Photography

Christian Mac Donald’15 To earn the title of Teacher of the Year during your first full year of teaching is something to brag about and Christian Mac Donald can do just that.

“You have to have a heart for it,” Mac Donald said about teaching.

One recent spring afternoon, Mac Donald took one of his sixth grade classes out of the classroom to work on chalk talk. Chalk talk is where the students are given a subject to research then they draw and talk about what they learned from the research. Mac Donald said the most recent is when students individually researched a country’s economic indicators. The class drew three spectrum lines on the sidewalk labeled Gross Domestic Product, life expectancy and literacy rate. They compared their country with the other countries to see which were under-developed or well developed. MacDonald said this assignment made something that could have been boring into something exciting. The students learned a lot about their countries.

Mac Donald is a dual language instructor at Sul Ross Middle School with Northside Independent School District. A Fall 2015 graduate with a degree in Bilingual Education Mac Donald credits himself as the only dual language instructor on his campus.

Mac Donald joined Northside ISD in January of 2016 with half of the school year already completed so, he said he spent that time of the year trying to play catch up learning the teaching and grading system. He also said he spent a good part of it trying to get acquainted with his students. He said his students were apprehensive because, females make up about 90 percent of the teaching field so, him being male made his students feel a bit uneasy.

He advised me at the commencement of his full year of teaching his students were much more at ease with him and were calling him their favorite teacher.

“Tio,” said Mac Donald is one of the terms of endearment he has received from a sixth grader who stated her looked like his uncle.

Mac Donald teaches sixth, seventh and eighth graders in the gifted and talented program whose primary language is Spanish. He and the other bilingual teachers help the students master the language advanced

placement exam. His role is to advance the students in all their core content subjects beyond the eighth grade level so they can achieve college credits upon completing high school. He said he and his colleagues want to build bilingual and biliterate culture thru the dual language classes.

In reference to his Teacher of The Year award, Mac Donald said he always tries to teach outside the box. He said that when it comes to mundane courses that could cause students to drift he takes them outside to write dictation with chalk on the sidewalk or he has them jump rope while reciting history dates and events. He said his colleagues took note of his teaching style and have picked up on it as well. He said the award is very special to him because it is voted upon by his peers. The award starts off at the campus level, then district, onto state and then finally the national level. He said it’s far stretched but hopes something comes out of it other than campus level.

When asked about influences, at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, Mac Donald said all the professors showed a great passion for their profession.

“You are here because you have to teach with a passion,” said Mac Donald about the advice he was given by his professors.

He said A&M always gave him the feeling of being around family. He said the small class sizes and the same classmates in the classes allowed for a bonding that has gone beyond the classroom. He is still in touch with most of his classmate who he now calls his colleagues. He said they rely on each other for advice in reference to career opportunities along with staff development opportunities.

As for his future plans MacDonald said he is currently enrolled in the Bilingual Education Master’s program at A&M San Antonio which he plans to complete in the coming year. He said he is halfway through the program and once he receives his master’s he plans to teach a little longer then move into Curriculum and Instruction or the Administration field.

When asked what he does in his spare time he laughs and says all he does right now is work and study. He is working full time and in school full time so he doesn’t have much time for anything else. He did say once he completes the program he plans to take a trip with friends.

MacDonald’s advice for future teachers is be prepared.

Every day is a different process and you do not know what is going to happen in the classroom.

“Work your hardest, give it your best and always have positive attitude,” MacDonald says.

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student Spotlight Written By: Destiny Montes

Leah Riley

Photo By: Robert Carrasco

Erick De Luna

On any given day Erick De Luna juggles classes, schedules and impromptu meetings. During his time as the president of the Student Government Association, he was often expected to be in three places at once. It was a busy and productive year for the soon to be graduate.

De Luna stepped down as the president of Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s student government association this spring, having served for the 20162017 academic year. He is scheduled to graduate in May and passes the baton of SGA president to vice president, Mary Walker.

During his time as SGA president, De Luna learned what it was like to cultivate change for those just like him. He was around like-minded individuals who were anxious to create change, and this also has shaped who he has become. His plans for the future have been ignited for his love for helping everyone around him.

As the academic year sizzles to an end, Erick reflects on everything he’s achieved with the help of his team.

“I’d leave the next SGA president with a quote I live by: ‘If you’re not having fun, then what’s the point?’”

That’s just what De Luna does. He has fun and 16

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makes it his goal to ensure that his peers are doing the same. On a daily basis, he represents the student body determined to have their voice heard.

The sense of community is what drove De Luna during his leadership as SGA president. It’s why he chose to run in the first place, to be a part of the amazing growth of our university and to be able to stand up for his community.

“People recognize each other in the hallway here, and organizations work together to create the best experience for everyone,” De Luna said.

There are many things that De Luna and his team have accomplished but what he’s especially excited for is the voter registration initiative they produced. “As an SGA organization, we were able to be voter deputized and registered over 100 Jaguars here on campus,” De Luna said.

“Furthermore, we helped create a scholarship using the money placed on the Madla Statue for students in need of books.” These acts by the SGA organization show dedication and commitment to the A&M-San Antonio community.

De Luna is a communication major, and minoring in political science. He plans on pursuing his master’s degree in public administration, but also wants to take off some time to travel.

All of the experience De Luna has received at A&M-San Antonio, he says, leads him toward a life in service, assisting and changing the San Antonio community, specifically the South Side.

“This is where I grew up and seeing people struggle for even the most basic needs is heartbreaking,” he said. “One of the things I say a lot is, ‘the biggest sin one can commit is understanding the problems in our community and turn our backs to it,’” De Luna said. “In order to bring change, we must be the catalyst to drive change.”

Photo By: Leah Riley

Angelee Almendarez

Not every student would say Organic Chemistry is their favorite course. But Angelee Almendarez is not afraid of taking on a challenge.

Almendarez attends Texas A&M UniversitySan Antonio and will graduate with a bachelor’s of science in biology, minoring in both chemistry and psychology. She serves as the president of the Pre-Health Society, and serves as an officer of the biology club, environmental club, and a member of

Photo By: Gabriela Rodriguez

William Manning

Mr. A&M-San Antonio, better known as Will Manning brings determination, life virtues and poise to the campus.

Manning, with help from his friend, Charles Williams, is the energy behind A&M-San

Antonio’s first basketball team.

“My motive in starting the team was two-fold,” he said. “One, I saw it as an opportunity to give back to a school that’s given me so much. And two, I wanted to create something that would continue to flourish

the math club. She is scheduled to graduate at the Spring 2017 commencement, so the positions she holds will be passed on.

“The community, people and friends whom I now consider ‘my ride or dies’ are my absolute favorite things about this university,” Almendarez said. “My mom is a graduate of A&M-Laredo so I felt at home.”

Almendarez plans to immediately pursue her graduate degree in medicine. Having applied to University of Incarnate Word and Texas Chiropractic College, she is dedicated to her goal of becoming a doctor. She was very shy speaking of her aspirations, but genuine with her responses.

“Making people laugh, and making people happy is why I chose medicine,” Almendarez said.

“You’re able to provide care and a relationship that truly helps someone heal.”

“My friends and I always joke around that we’ll just apply to work in Kylie Jenner’s lab or remind each other to be the Leslie Knope of the world,” Almendarez said. “I can be a complete clutz sometimes. However, I don’t like to plan things because things go awry, but through the uncertainty I know that I’ll find where I need to be.”

well after I have graduated.”

Shortly after the team was founded, the team competed in the Texas Collegiate Club Sports League, which gave him the opportunity to compete against premier junior college basketball programs from surrounding cities.

“I, along with the coaching staff, are dedicated to laying the foundation for us to be the best team in the league,” Manning says. “By this time next year, we will be the best team in the league!”

Manning, a psychology major, said he spends his time focusing on speaking engagements and imparting what he’s learned to others. “I find it necessary to speak to some of the kids who are growing up struggling as I did... this is not about empathy it’s about growth.”

Manning says he credits A&M-San Antonio for teaching him valuable lessons, from time management to patience.

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Brantley’s approach on the pursuit Written By: Melba Tellez

College is the time most people take to figure out who they are and more importantly who they want to become. Professor Brian Brantley was no exception.

After receiving his B.A. in Radio-Television at the University of Houston, Dr. Brantley decided to continue his studies by pursuing a M.A. in Mass Communication. It was then, during his first semester of graduate school, that Brantley discovered his true sense of direction.

“I looked around at my instructors and I realized, they’re really happy,” Brantley says. “They get an enormous sense of job satisfaction.”

Driven by a desire to help students, not to mention-the cool cap you get to wear upon earning your doctoral degree, Dr. Brantley jumped at the opportunity to obtain his Ph.D. in Mass Communication at the University of Alabama. It was there, he says, he became the person we see before us.

Today, Dr. Brantley takes on an important role in the lives of many Texas A&M University-San Antonio Communication students. He performs the role of mentor, professor, and dedicated member of the community. His favorite classes to teach are 18

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Photo By: Robert Carrasco

faculty Spotlight

Theories of Communication, Media Effects, and Research Methods.

In his free time, Dr. Brantley enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. “If this sounds cheesy I’m okay with that,” Brantley says. “But what I like to do outside of this place is spend as much time as I can with my children and my wife.”

Above all else, Dr. Brantley says he has the best job of them all because he gets to witness students’ growth firsthand. More importantly, he is thrilled to know his students are moving on to bigger and greater things.

Having struggled to find his passion in life, Brantley encourages students to stick to their dreams. “It is going to be hard. It’s okay that it’s going to be hard,” Brantley says. “It is going to make you better at what you are being trained to do.”

No matter what direction you are headed, passion and a genuine desire to contribute to the field, will go a very long way. Dr. Brantley is living proof that hard work pays off.

“Never be afraid to pursue your own interests because nobody else is going to pursue your interests for you,” he says.

class Spotlight

Sports Reporting and Production Written By: Melissa Ramos Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s Communication program offered a new TV Sports Reporting and Production elective this spring.

The course explores the foundations of electronic sports reporting, including legal and ethical considerations with emphasis on responsible reporting practices while on deadline and enterprise reporting.

The course is ideal for communication students seeking a career in sports media, says Jenny Moore, director of Jaguar Student Media.

Aaron Perez, a communication major who aspires to work for Fox Sports or ESPN, enrolled in the course and shared why the course caught his attention.

“My love for sports! Whether it’s watching, playing, or talking sports, it’s what I love to do,” Perez says.

“I knew taking this class would help me understand sports media even more. I wanted to see sports from a different perspective rather than viewing sports as a fan,” he said.

Perez’s enthusiasm only continued once class officially started. “My first impression of the course was that I was able to connect to the content quickly!” he explained. “I was filled with a lot of anticipation and excitement seeing how this is where I want my career

to eventually lead.”

Halfway through the first semester of the TV Sports and Production course taught by Lecturer Barbara Audet, Perez said he’s already learned things he knows will be beneficial for his future career in sports media. “One thing I recall that I feel has been useful is learning how to make a rundown as if we were going to broadcast a news package live on TV,” Perez said. “It’s provided me with an idea of what sports broadcasters have to do daily for them to report on the day’s leading stories.”

Perez is not only learning about sports media, he’s having fun while doing it. “My favorite thing about the course, easily, has to be the ability to talk about sports the whole class,” he says. “I’m glad I’m in a class where sports news is important!”

Aaron recommends the class to any student seeking a career in sports media or communication in general.

“I would definitely recommend and suggest the class to anyone who has an interest in a career in sports broadcasting or even someone looking to learn a different aspect of a news broadcast.”

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The Sociology of Water Summer Study Abroad

Written By: Kimberly Rivera

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Many students will find themselves swimming in a pool, sunbathing at the beach or tubing at the river this summer. But a few students will travel to London to learn about the Thames River in a sociological context as part of a study abroad program.

This summer, students have the opportunity to take a class overseas through the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (CCSA) through a new upper-division sociology elective called “London & the Thames: The Sociology of Water.”

The goal of the class is to develop an understanding of the impact of water resources on culture, communities, commerce, recreation, and politics.

The two-week course will demonstrate how water affects society in complex and unexpected ways. In this class, students interested in sociology, history and environmental studies will be able to follow the flow of water through London’s history and witness first-hand the importance of a vital resource on its people.

It’s also designed as an adventure. Students will have the opportunity to visit the Tower of London, Kew Gardens, the Greenwich Observatory and

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the British Museum. During their visit, students have group travel opportunities to Scotland and Stonehenge on the weekends or may visit nearby locations such as Paris and Dublin on their own.

THE BACKSTORY: Dr. Joseph Simpson, associate professor of sociology and environmental sociologist by nature, will serve as the tour guide for the London trip.

During the course, students and professor will probe the questions of how does water infiltrate culture, water, religion, commerce, and how do humans cope with natural problems of the river?

Here on the Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus, Simpson teaches a water course under Selected Topics in Sociology where students learn about social structure, culture, politics, power, education, economy, recreation, legal power, and individuals living in a river city. During the course, Simpson takes students on four major field trips to San Marcos, the Riverwalk, the Acequia system in the missions, and the San Antonio Water System water recycling facility.

student Resources

Illustration By: Isidro Medina Written By: Kimberly Rivera

On a recent Saturday evening, while celebrating a friend’s birthday, I misplaced my cell phone. Initially, I thought I left it in the restroom but it was nowhere to be found. After making various calls, texting my phone, and asking the managers at the lounge for help, I realized that I may never see my phone again.

My night was ruined and I just wanted to go home.

My predicament: I couldn’t tell what time it was. I couldn’t listen to music on my way home. And worse, if something were to happen with me, how would I call for help? Immediately after arriving home, I changed all of my passwords for fear of identity theft.

And then, I couldn’t go to sleep because I was worried and I couldn’t watch Netflix on my phone because...I didn’t have my phone.

The next day I called my phone service provider and arranged to file a claim and a police report.

Throughout the phone call I asked my mom several times what our landline home number was because I didn’t know it. (Why memorize your house number if your cellphone has it automatically?)

I had to inform everyone I was in contact with daily to email me temporarily. During dinner I just 22 ROAM MAGAZINE

watched television and interacted with my family instead of switching through social media apps on my phone. At night I slept with my mom’s tablet device in order to wake up in the morning.

To get my homework done, I used my mom’s tablet for my email and interviews, even Google Maps. It served as a replacement for my phone but it is so bulky, I couldn’t stand it.

I needed my phone.

Phone Dependency on Campus Without my phone occupying my attention, I had time to think. During my experience, I wondered if other students were as dependent on their phone. I started to talk to other students to research the issue.

As a way of understanding my modern-age predicament, I took a stroll through campus and surveyed seven random students, from different majors and levels. I know seven is not a definitive survey, but it was the magic number to help me see the start of a pattern.

I asked students how much time they spend on

their phones and why they do so. Do they view their dependency as a problem? Or, is it just a natural evolution grown from technological change?

Four out of seven students I surveyed said they were dependent on their phone. Reasons ranged from communicating with others who live far away to a requirement to keeping their phone for emergency use. Whether dependent or not, all students surveyed said cell phones are important to have.

My first interviewee, Michelle McKinnon, a criminology senior, was most dependent relative to the other students I spoke with. McKinnon says she spends about 12 hours a day on her cell phone.

“It’s like you don’t know what to do...you feel lost,” McKinnon said, relating to my predicament.

Like myself, she lost her cell phone and could not notify anyone until she drove to her parents house.

Her main phone uses were for communicating with others and navigation.

Compare that to Candice, a biology freshman, who lost her phone a year ago and has used her iPad ever since. Candice said she lost dependency after misplacing it.

Who else is addicted?

According to a study conducted by Alabama State University called The Truth about Cell Phone Addiction, researchers found that 404 students surveyed agreed with the following statements: • I sleep with my phone within arm’s reach (86%) • I would panic if I lost my phone (81%) The study also found that three-fourths rated themselves as dependent on their phone and l-in-5 rated themselves as totally dependent.

According to a study done by Baylor University, The invisible addiction: Cell-phone activities and addiction among male and female college students, 60 percent of students admitted to being addicted to their cell phones.

The study was done to see which cell-activities are related to cell-phone use addiction.

The results were that excessive use of cellphones

poses a number of possible risks for students.

In my ‘walk-about’ interview with a limited number of my peers, I found that we’re not addicted to their cellphones but rather use it for information, entertainment and connecting with others.

Surveyed students who were mildly dependent on their phone told me they use their device for utilities such as clock, calendar, notes, calculator and schoolrelated work.

Utilities are daily necessities. They are integrated into one device for convenience. It is understandable to rely on a compact device such as the cell phone for this use.

Other students like Domingo Garcia, senior Computer Information Systems major, used their cellphones for Netflix and gaming. Depending on whom you ask, phone dependency can be a problem in society today. We rely on our phones for almost everything. They’re compact, they provide many services, and most importantly we communicate with others like never before.

Our dependency has organically changed from using a phone for emergencies and utilities to communicating with others for social reasons than a need basis.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) cell phone addiction is not listed as an addiction.

The study concludes that cell-phone use has an impact on our psyche, socialization and society but it is unknown to what extent.

After moping around without my cellphone (for a whole two days) I replaced it with an upgrade. I moved on as if nothing happened. Just like that, my phone was replaced and my life continued as normal.

During my experience, I realized my dependency was heavily on my phone as a communicating tool.

So researchers from Baylor concluded (referenced) “the paradox of technology.”

Technology is freeing, it allows us to get the information we need quickly or communicate with others and at the same time, enslaving. Cell phones keep us addicted to our pleasures, entertainment and socializing.

Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4291831/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5076301/

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Affordable Physical Fitness,

It’s Closer Than You Think Written By: Melissa Ramos

Growing up on the southeast side of San Antonio, I felt there were never any healthy eating options. But Tex-Mex food was always available. Don’t get me wrong. I love a plate of enchiladas, homemade tortillas and a margarita, but I was in much need of a healthier lifestyle. Diabetes plagues our city and walking is often replaced by driving.

After months of researching healthy eating options close to me, I researched free and affordable fitness programs. If you’re like me and you’re looking for a good pump around campus, or willing to drive a radius of about ten miles from campus, I have great news for you.

Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s Fitness Center This facility offers programs and services to provide the campus community with an opportunity to improve your overall wellbeing. You’re already paying for it through your tuition and fees, so why not use it?

The center offers a variety of programs that are convenient and pocket friendly for any individual, student group, or campus department. Services include instructor-led classes, club sports, cardio and weight training, yoga mats and well-kept locker rooms. The Fitness Center is located in the Senator Frank L. Madla Building, Room 128, at One University Way. The latest addition to Jaguar Recreational Sports is Jaguar Fit X. These classes started after Spring Break 2017 and include Yoga, Zumba, ‘Insanity,’ Monday through Friday in the Madla Building, Room 134, next to the Fitness Center.

Arturo Olague, Director of Recreation Sports, says he’s excited about the growth of the recreation program, which was established in 2015.

“We are hoping to acquire more space for 24 ROAM MAGAZINE

activities to provide more programs for fitness and wellness, as well as to broaden the intramurals sports and club sport offerings,” he said. “Student feedback is always needed for this type of campus planning.”

For the student looking for some competition, Recreational Sports offers intramural programs such as sand volleyball, soccer, ping-pong and dodge ball.

Fitness in the Park, offered by SA Parks

and Recreation, is a city-wide program that offers a wide variety of FREE exercise and fitness classes throughout San Antonio. There is no registration required and classes are open to all fitness levels.

Although this option is not on campus, classes include Boot Camp, Circuit Training, Low Impact Circuit Training, Cross Fit, Zumba, Yoga, Tai Chi and so much more! All you have to do is view the monthly fitness schedule posted on the Parks and Recreation website Fitness-in-the-Park, which is always up to date, and choose which class you’d like to try. This program has also allowed me to bring my kids to a workout and they can join me or hang out at the park.

Some San Antonio Parks found in the south San Antonio area and offer these community services include: Arnold, Pearsall and South San and South Side Lions.

Local gyms. If you’re willing to sign a contract or make a monthly payment commitment, then of course, the local gym is an oldie but a goodie to have in your pocket. Before signing any contract, be sure to read the fine print and be cautious of hidden fees and grace periods. Here is a list of popular facilities in our area. Check local pricing to verify charges, as they can increase/decrease depending on the time of year.

Gold’s gym

2828 Goliad Rd San Antonio, TX 78223 $49 enrollment fee $39.99 per month Extras: free week pass, active and veteran military discount

Planet Fitness

1131 SE Military Dr. San Antonio, TX 78214 $5 start up fee + $10 per month-no commitment $10 start up fee + $19.99 per month-minimum 12 months Extras: $1 start up promotions throughout the year

YMCA (Davis-Scott)

1213 Iowa San Antonio, TX 78203 Depends on age of participant $57 per month (city wide) ages 18-62 $36 per month (traditional) ages 18-62 $31 per month for full-time students ages 13-25

MIX FIT SA

100 Villita St San Antonio, Texas, TX 78205 Studio and Community Workouts $10 class drop-in $79 unlimited group fitness Extras: try a free class

Centro Fitness

3800 Commercial Ave. (near Gillette Blvd.)

San Antonio, TX 78221 $25 starting rates

Southtown Yoga Loft Downtown

724 S. Alamo, Suite 2 (above La Frite Belgian Bistro) San Antonio, TX 78205 $17 class drop-in New Student Promotion* $20 One Week Unlimited Yoga 5 Class Pass: $70 (expires after 5 months) 10 Class Pass: $130 (expires after 10 months) 20 Class Pass: $250 (expires after 1 year)Shared family passes available upon request.

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Written By: Kimberly Rivera

Photo By: Kimberly Rivera

South-by-Burger The freshman are coming! And they are going to need food.

Last semester, the university transitioned from a 2-year to a 4-year institution. Next fall, on-campus student housing will be available for students. While food options on campus are expanding, you’ve got to admit, it’s like a food desert once the student cafeteria closes. Being a foodie myself and bored with campus dining options, I ventured for local spots to check out.

Over the past two years, I tackled the South Side of San Antonio in my 2014 Lancer, through the neighborhoods looking for new hamburger spots to try out. With the help of Google and word of mouth from classmates and locals, I checked out a few local favorites and new spots ranging from drive-thru’s to sit downs. Here’s my list of top-five favorites for those unfamiliar with the South Side.

Who: Griff’s Hamburgers, 3.8 mi

What: Griff ’s Hamburgers is a South Side favorite for fast food burgers. The restaurant was established in 1962 in Wichita, Kansas and now boasts 12 locations in the United States. Griff ’s serves giant burgers, steak sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, and sweet treats such as ice cream floats, shakes and sundaes.

Reviewers say it’s the “best burger in the South Side.”

When: quick bite, drive-thru Where: 2418 Pleasanton Rd, San Antonio, TX 78221

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Who: TJ’s Hamburgers, 4.7 mi

What: A diner-style hamburger eatery on Southcross, this cozy eatery is just 14 minutes away from A&M-San Antonio. The local joint makes for the yummy lunch run. TJ’s specializes in old-fashioned hamburger and also serves milkshakes, chili-cheese fries, and onion rings.

When: casual family night Where: 2323 W Southcross Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78211

Who: Abe’s Boys Burgers, 3.7 mi

What : A Mom-and-Pop hamburger place with a traditional feel, Abe’s Boys Burgers makes you feel like you’re in mom’s kitchen. The establishment received three blue plate awards from News 4 WOAI. Enjoy a traditional burger, carne guisada tacos or take a flan to-go.

When: casual family night Where: 615 E Amber St, San Antonio, TX 78221

Who: Mad Mack’s Burgers, 5.2 Photo By: Wyatt Matson

What: The special is the Mad Mack, two grilled cheese “buns” stuffed with onion rings, cheese, two juicy beef patties, and all of the trimmings. You can add a side of seasoned fries for a hearty meal. Mad Mack’s is located just a few blocks from the Mission Marquee Plaza. Perfect for a night out. Reviewers say “Best burgers in SA and the friendliest people.”

When: night out with friends Where: 2933 Roosevelt Ave. San Antonio, TX 78214

Who: Monster Burgers, 4.2 mi

Photo By: Kimberly Rivera

What: Serving the spookiest burgers on the South Side, Monster Burgers is known for their unusual creations and combinations. Owner, Juan Trevino was inspired by hispanic urban legends when creating his burgers titled “El Cucuy,” “La Llorona,” “El Chupacabra” and more. Each burger has a twist, like a pizza or blueberry muffin as a bun or hot cheetos and cheese as a condiment. The restaurant is adorned with scary decor and patrons are greeted by a creepy butler doll.

When: family night, casual hangout, Halloween Where: 1922 Pleasanton Road

ADRIAN DE LOS REYES Auto. Home. Business. Life.

5724 Wurzbach Rd. Ste A Leon Valley, TX 78238 210-821-6916 (Office) 210-316-9375 (Cell) 210-569-6409 (Fax) adelosreyes@farmersagent.com

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College Style on a

Bargain Budget

Written By: Destiny Montes We want to look cute, comfortable and fashionable on and off of campus, but it can be challenging to maintain a fresh closet on a college budget.

It’s stressful! No doubt about it.

For the last four years, I’ve developed a regular pattern of places and people to visit for unique pieces that keep your ensemble game right.

First, let’s talk about your mindset. Getting great deals on clothes, bags, books and everything else will call for some serious grace and patience. Make sure you’ve matured enough to fight the good fight of bargain deal hunting. It’s worth it. Keep digging!

THRIFT STORES: Your local thrift will possibly become your favorite place to hang out. It’s the place where anything can happen, from finding name brand items for a fraction of the price to selecting rare pieces to live in your closet.

HERE IS THE DEAL: There are set days every week at most thrift stores that will give customers up to 50 percent off selected colors each week. Call up your closest store to find out. To keep my self-control in check, I only purchase colors that are on sale that 28 ROAM MAGAZINE

Photography By: Kimberly Rivera

day. So not only are your thrift store finds a gem, to begin with, but you also get additional savings (that we know are much needed). It’s good to go into your spree day with an idea of what you’re looking for.

There are a plethora of items ready for rummage, and it’s easy to get distracted. So if you want a success story after walking out of the shop, set a goal.

For the most part, things are fairly organized and you can find what you need with a little effort. The thrift stores are full of unique items from fur coats to bold floral patterns, so do not be afraid to explore that daring and adventurous side of yourself. You may inspire the next person to try something new!

If you love it, snag it. If it has that “gasp!” factor to it, it needs to leave with you! You can make that piece work because you’ve found that gold nugget that you’re eager to put on.

Always check the condition of your items before you check out. Nothing is worse than being disappointed by a good find because of a tiny ripped hole in the back! Take a stroll around the entire store. You never know what you can find in the knick-knack section, or in their selection of blankets (deep clean and sanitize them before you use!).

FLEA MARKETS: Ah! The sweet smell of flea markets. Seven a.m. wake up calls, some warm coffee, and change in your pocket; flea markets are ideal for a weekend morning of relaxation and treasure hunting. There have been many times where the excitement of finding something great eases the early morning alarm clock. Your best bet are the local and organic flea markets like Eisenhauer Road Flea Market, Highway 90 Marketplace, and even some church parking lots. I’ve found some vintage pieces that can easily be flipped into a modern day fashion trend. You’ll find such a variety of things at the flea market, but you have to be patient. Some days offer a richer selection than others, but on any given day you can find at minimum one thing that really catches your eye.

My favorite finds at the flea market are not always clothing items, per se. I love great statement pieces, like pins for your blue jean jacket, or patches for your backpack, even floral scarves. Make sure to carry your cash with you when you go. There aren’t many people at the flea market who have gotten around to implementing the card readers just yet. Lastly, develop relationships with the vendors. They always enjoy a friendly conversation and some quality time with their shoppers.

SALES RACK: Don’t forget to shop the sales rack!

Maybe you work at the mall, or maybe you pass by it on your way home from school and feel the desire to stop. That’s okay! You don’t have to spend a lot of money when you do go. Make sure to start with the sales rack whenever you do find yourself in retail.

Some days you can find incredible discounts on new pants, tops, and shoes. But it really is the luck of the visit. Don’t feel pressured to buy just anything to keep up with the Jones’. You can work those sales pieces to look like they are fresh off of the runway.

You can find just about any style on sale, at the flea markets, and/ or thrift store if you’re willing to search for them! There are exciting things to be worn, done up, and discovered. Don’t feel pressured to look the best or to be the one who has spent the most money on their outfits, but find the articles that fit you and your lifestyle. After all, what we wear communicates what we think about ourselves and the world around us.

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student Opinion

Campus growth demands revisions sooner than later

Written By: John French You’re part of a growing campus. That means you’re confronted with the ups and downs of start-up university life on a daily basis.

Let’s start with the parking situation.

Since Texas A&M University-San Antonio does not have its own dorms yet, it’s a safe bet that most of the students attending the university commute to class. Depending on how far away students live and the timing of their classes, they could be in for anywhere from a five minute drive to an hour, or more. The last thing students want to see after commuting to campus are parking lots with no available spaces. A high number of afternoon classes leave premium parking at a minimum, leaving only spaces ‘on the hill’ far away from the main campus.

It was just a few years ago that parking was plentiful.

Now, a five or more minute walk to get to the main building has students irritated and looking for solutions.

Another issue we’re hearing a lot about? The space crunch. There’s just not enough places to eat and study, either with people or on your own.

A number of students have multiple classes in one day (some unfortunate souls might have all of them 30 ROAM MAGAZINE

Photography By: Robert Carrasco

in one day), and not all of them are scheduled back to back. With time between classes, a lot of students might want to chill out in the hallway, study for other classes, listen to some music, or maybe just scroll through Tumblr and laugh at silly animal videos.

But wait, sitting next to you are a couple of guys who are laughing and voicing their excitement about their favorite UFC fighter, and they’re doing so in a way that shows they’ve never heard of the term “inside voices.” You could step away, but on the other side of the hall are some women who want to chat about how much they hate that one friends of theirs, even though they plan on going shopping with her in an hour.

Okay, maybe the cafe would be a good alternative?

It’s been a few hours since breakfast. It might be a good idea to get some food and take it easy in the dining area of the campus. Much to your dismay, you didn’t realize until the loud speakers started booming that it’s student karaoke day. The guy hosting speaks out to the crowd through his mic in that tone of voice that says he knows that the crowd is unenthusiastic, but darn it, he’s going to do his job anyway. Good for him, right? Sure, good for him. Not so much good for

you though, since you’re just looking for some peace and quiet.

But, I’m not here to rant. I’m here to talk solutions.

Thankfully, the future development of the campus will offer remedies to the problems students have been talking about as they go through the highs and lows of a start-up campus. During a recent interview with Dr. Bill Spindle, A&M-San Antonio’s VP of Business Affairs and CFO, we talked about student amenities.

You might have seen or heard about the Campus masterplan addressing the needs of more than 5,000 students. Maybe you even attended a forum or two.

Spindle tells us we’re just finishing up phase 1 of development for the campus master plan.

“This is the third master plan,” he said. “What came out of the first master plan was the Madla building. The second master plan resulted in the Central Academic Building and the Patriots’ Casa.”

The most recent master plan reconciles both of those into one. The next two buildings phased for completion are the Science and Technology Building, and Esperanza Hall, the first campus dormitory.

One of the reasons for the delay in building things is a lack of funding. The campus has been denied capital funds this year, which it usually only gets so often anyway. The campus gets its finances from state funding and permanent university funding.

“The state this year said it’s not doing any kind of capital funding, period,” Spindle said, “And we only get it every two years. There’s two main sources of our big building funding: one is through the state and the other way is through what they call ‘PUF money’ which is the permanent fund that Texas A&M and Texas University have, we get onethird, Texas University gets two-thirds. So, it’s up to the system, depending on how things are going, as to whether we might get some of the PUF money.”

Along with housing, there are plans to create a larger food center to accommodate the larger population, along with a student union.

“Now we’ve worked out with Chartwells, which is one of the major food service providers of higher ed in the country. The cafeteria is going to receive a face lift in the back to give it more food prep and storage

[room]. We’re going to have a coffee cart in the game room. And eventually, a year from now, there’ll be a coffee cart in the new science and technology center.”

Finally, to bring some relief to cafe patrons seeking to eat their meals in relative peace, there are plans to build an event center on campus for students to attend when they’re specifically seeking entertainment. The new event center will be the area where more rowdy and lively events take place, instead of in the corner of a small cafe.

“Our goal is to build a pavilion outside that has a canopy cover. We’re trying to create an outdoor area, between the Madla and Central Academic buildings.

You could have a band play on a stage, or you can set up so a movie could be played outside.”

According to the rate of student enrollment and school financing, these amenities will most likely not be available for another year or two. The senior and junior class will be long gone and unable to enjoy them by the time they roll around, but hopefully the freshman will get to enjoy them before they graduate. And if they do, then you were around to help build it.

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Thank you for another successful edition of ROAM Magazine! We sincerely appreciate everyone’s help in making this possible.

Special thanks go to our professor, Rocelyn Dunston our Communications Director Jenny Moore, our wonderful advertisers, and of course all our readers. We hope you enjoyed our second edition of ROAM and look forward to bringing you more!

32 ROAM MAGAZINE

Community means everything.

That’s why I’m proud to be here to help life go right ™– and to support TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO. If there’s anything you need, call me.

Jaime Luna, Agent 9719 Poteet Jourdanton Fwy San Antonio, TX 78211 Bus: 210-927-5862 jaime.luna.u3cb@statefarm.com Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturdays 10am-2pm Please call to schedule Appt Hablamos Español

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State Farm, Bloomington, IL

ROAM MAGAZINE

33

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We would love to assist you with your real estate needs.

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Monique Rivera

TAMUSA Alumni

moniquebhhs@gmail.com (210) 744-1365

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