1.29.19 by The Paisano

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

Art activating a conversation

Men’s basketball dominates

Vol. 59, Issue 3

Est. 1981

January 29 - February 5, 2019

The Paisano

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Professor Anita Moss removed again Students want professor reinstated By Heather Montoya Co-News Editor After UTSA officials removed Anita Moss, a human anatomy and physiology professor, from her classes last week, more than 600 people have signed an online petition in hopes that the university reinstates her. Kimberly Andrews Espy, provost and vice president for academic affairs, sent an email Jan. 20 to UTSA faculty stating that Moss, the professor who had UTSA police escort a student out of her class last semester, was under investigation again. “Today, college and university leadership became aware of a new concern regarding classroom management by Dr. Anita Moss, the faculty member involved in a classroom incident in November 2018 on the UTSA Main Campus,” Espy said in the email. “A preliminary inquiry revealed, that despite persistent and substantive intervention, there remain persistent concerns with Dr. Moss’ classroom management that warrant her relief from all instructional responsibilities at this time.” The Nov. 12 incident resulted in an investigation that led to Moss’ suspension and required completion of classroom management training through UTSA’s Teaching and Learning Services. Moss completed the training and began teaching again this semester. Dr. Heather Shipley, senior vice provost and the dean of uni-

By Kaylee Boggan Staff Writer

Graphic showing progression of petition signatures.

versity college, is conducting the investigation to address whether Moss followed the expectations given to her after the incident in November. While the new investigation is conducted, Moss will not be teaching her courses. Some of Moss’ students objected to her removal. Vivian Hernandez, a junior public health major, was initially registered for Moss’ class, but is now taking human anatomy and physiology with Dr. David Senseman, who has taken over Moss’ classes.

“They did it really quick, without any preparation. They did not give a lot of thought into what the students would need to transition regarding materials like Iclicker, the registration for Mastering and overall having to redo assignments through that portal,” Hernandez said. “There are people in this class who specifically registered for a class that was not with [Senseman] due to his teaching style; it’s a lot of getting used to his teaching style.” Jenna Wells created an online

Graphic by Kat Joseph/The Paisano

petition called “Reinstate Moss” through change.org. A comment coinciding the petition explains her objective. “Professor Moss is being relieved of her instructional duties due to an incident that occured in her classroom last semester. The university ensured us that the events from last semester have been resolved; however, they are resurfacing as she is Continued on page 2 See “University conducts investigation”

Behavorial Intervention Specialist emphasizes mental health By Alejandro (AJ) Lopez Co-News Editor Roseanne McSweeney began her role as UTSA’s new behavioral intervention specialist in public safety on May 1. Being a part of President Eighmy’s strategic plan, the role was created to formalize and support the existing Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT). BIT is a multidisciplinary group that consists of staff members from the Office of Student Life, Counseling Services, Academic Affairs, Human Resources and UTSAPD. The goal of the team is to address potential threats of violence either to an individual or the institution. “[BIT] all work to identify and implement successful interventions to either eliminate or significantly reduce concerning behavior,” McSweeney said. McSweeney’s background consists of years of working as a director

UTSA plans to build Student Success Center

of student conduct and as an assistant dean. Additionally, McSweeney has a master’s degree in social work and forensic psychology. “My philosophy involves a holistic approach to understanding behavior so that effective interventions can be identified and implemented,” McSweeney said. In her position, one of McSweeney’s bigger goals is to educate the UTSA community about the importance of noticing and sharing concerns. Another goal is to use research to influence how we assess situations. “There have been reports by the FBI and the Secret Service about violent acts and how to prevent them and keep UTSA safe,” McSweeney said. As the behavioral intervention specialist, one of McSweeney’s objectives is to collect and present information to the university through educational presentations in order to increase awareness for

Mental health prominent among college students.

mental health. In a recent study conducted by the Association for University and College Counseling Center

Directors, researchers found that 41 percent of students attend counseling sessions for anxiety. Addition-

Graphic by Amber Chin/The Paisano

Continued on page 2 See “Roseanne McSweeney incorporates intervention in position”

UTSA has a new plan to encourage and recruit students to pursue prosperity: the Student Success Center. The goal of the Student Success Center is to make sure student needs are met in an efficient way. The university hopes that establishing student services in a single building will accomplish this goal. The center will be led by Rhonda Gonzales, interim vice president for the Student Success Center and Kimberly Espy, UTSA provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The goal is to ensure we’re providing the best possible campus experience for our students,” Espy said. “The Student Success Center will combine essential student support services in one building on the Main Campus, thus making it easier for students to get the help they need — no matter what type of help that may be. Another benefit is it will further improve collaboration and communication among the UTSA staff members who are providing those services.” Espy believes that UTSA can expand on the current resources available. The overall cost has not yet been finalized, but it will be funded in partnership with the UT system. “Currently at the Main Campus, our student support services are spread across the campus. To make it easier for students to have access to these valuable services, we envision co-locating these services in one building, much like the model of our One-Stop Enrollment Center. The construction of the new Student Success Center will help us achieve that vision,” Espy said. The first phase of establishing the center is building a complex with architectural firm Chesney Morals, who is under contract to do the work. “The first phase of the initiative is a modular 25,000 grosssquare-foot Academic Advising Complex, which will be located just south of the North Paseo Building,” Espy said. “We hope it will be open by the end of 2019.” Gonzales and her team are currently working with Academic and Business Affairs to find places in the Main Campus to locate nearly all 150 academic advising staff and employees as soon as this fall. “It also likely will include many of those offices students need to take care of more transactional tasks related to their enrollment, such as the Registrar, One-Stop Enrollment, Financial Aid/Scholarships and Fiscal Services, ” Espy said. UTSA is also implementing a Student Success Plan and Strategic Enrollment Plan to Continued on page 2 See “University shared plans for next complex”

J an u ar y 29 - F e bru ar y 5, 2019

2 | news@paisano-online.com

Q&A: UTSA Powerlifting Team

UTSA UTSA and Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) are involved in a research project to document diverse experiences of women during different war periods. The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded UTSA researcher, Kristen E. Gardner, and Valerie A. Martinez, assistant professor at OLLU, with a grant to fund the project. The co-directors, Gardner and Martinez, named the project “An Oral History Project Dedicated to Women and War.”

Texas The Texas secretary of state office has flagged 95,000 registered voters and sent a list to local election officials to check if the individuals are U.S. citizens and eligible to vote. Out of the list of people flagged, about 58,000 of them have voted in at least one election between 1996 and 2018. The Texas secretary of state office flagged individuals who provided documentation, such as a green card or visa, to the Texas Department of Public Safety when getting a driver’s license or identification card.

U.S. Richard Kamrowski, 65, jumped onto the hood of a white Infiniti SUV that belonged to Mark Fitzgerald, 37, after a verbal altercation over a minor traffic accident on Interstate 90, 20 miles west of Boston on Jan. 26. At some point during the confrontation, Fitzgerald attempted to drive, but Kamrowski jumped onto his hood and held on while Fitzgerald drove for approximately three miles. Police eventually arrested both men after the driver was stopped by others on the roadway.

World After six days of negotiations, the U.S. and the Taliban are closer to ending the war in Afghanistan. Zalmay Khalilzad, the chief American negotiator, posted on Twitter on Jan. 26 stating that the meetings have been more productive than they were in previous years. Peace negotiations could lead to the Taliban ceasing fire as well as the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan.

Business The U.S. is trying to stop China from creating the 5G, fifth generation, cellular network. Cities in the U.S. such as Dallas and Atlanta have installed prototype systems to transition to 5G. Whichever country successfully develops the 5G network is predicted to have the upperhand where economics, intelligence and military is concerned. Trump’s administration has pressured Britain and Poland to ban China’s leading telecommunications producer, Huawei, from creating the 5G network.

Science A new study from Current Biology shows people sleep more soundly if they spend the night rocking. Participants in this study were tucked into a gently swaying bed for the night and reported falling asleep faster and slept deeper. Additionally, participants had experienced sharper memories the next morning.

By Alex Hanks Staff UTSA’s powerlifting team has reached amazing heights over the years, being five time USA Powerlifting Collegiate National Champions, as well as winning the 2018 Men’s National Championship. The comradery this team possesses is led by sponsor and coach Wes Zunker. A UTSA alumni himself, Zunker started the team in 2006 and has cemented his legacy through such an uplifting and proactive organization. I got to sit down with members Juany Gomez, a junior engineering major; Jared Carter, a junior biomedical engineering major; Maddi Curry, a junior kinesiology major; Miranda Garcia, a senior pre-nursing major; Phoebe Fairbairn, a masters student in anthropology and Gabby Martinez, a junior kinesiology major; to discuss the team with them and see firsthand the work they put in on a daily basis.

What is it about powerlifting that sets it apart from other sports and activities?

There’s this big misconception that people think powerlifting isn’t necessarily a real sport but it most definitely is. We spot each other, encourage each other and compete in competitions using a team point system. It has everything other team sports have to offer.

Is the powerlifting team open to beginners?

What advice would you give to someone just starting out and who may be intimidated by the gym?

The power lifting team is open to those of any level. We have people who have never lifted a weight in their life and people who have walked in who have already placed in championships and competitions. We even have special olympians involved with the team as well as military service members too! We aim to maintain a very open and accepting environment of people from all backgrounds and walks of life. It is definitely a melting pot.

It’s difficult but don’t worry about what other people are doing, we strive to have an open and accepting atmosphere, the door is always open and we are always here to help you out if you aren’t sure exactly where to start.

University shares plans for new complex Continued from Page 1 help raise the graduation rate. Some benefits of this plan are that it will increase graduation rates, improve first-year retention rates, improve second and third year persistence rates and will better the students’ overall experience.

The Strategic Enrollment Plan is to create a new facility to support students as they prepare to graduate. They plan to design a center that will bring campus services and academic services together. The group was launched this January and in April, they will have a Programming Report. The center may be open as early as Fall 2019.

University conducts investigation Continued from Page 1 being deemed unfit to lead and control her classroom,” Wells said. “However, we the students disagree and would like to see her reinstated to her position as our A&P 1 professor. We have all moved past the events from last semester and find it unfair that the university waited until the week after school started to dismiss her without an explanation to her classes. We chose Dr. Moss as our professor for a reason and would really appreciate any support for her.” As of Jan. 28, the petition received 645 signatures. Moss has consistently received high instructor evaluations from students. In the Summer 2018 semester, the most recent semester available on Moss’s Bluebook page, Moss received an instructor evaluation of 4.8 out of 5.0 with 60 students responding. In the Spring 2018 semester, Moss taught four classes and received instructor evaluations ranging from 4.4 to 4.7 out of 5.0 with 114 to 150 students responding. In response to the petition, Espy stated that the investigation will determine how the university will respond. “We appreciate and value the input from the campus community,” Espy said in an email to a Paisano inquiry. “Our response to this matter will be based on the

outcome of the investigation.” Moss’ Spring 2019 syllabus lists disrespectful behaviors as disregarding the request to stop talking, sleeping in class, sitting in class with headphones on or earbuds in, reclining in class or placing legs or feet on classroom furniture. This list of disrespectful behaviors was not included in Moss’ Summer 2018 syllabus. “You are expected to behave in a mature professional manner that shows respect and promotes a good learning environment for each and every one of us,” Moss said in her Spring 2019 syllabus. “It is discourteous to talk while I am lecturing or while a student is asking or answering a question because it prevents others from hearing what is being said.” The results of the investigation have not been released. Faculty senate president Emily Bonner said she had no comment on behalf of the senate. “We are committed to our students’ educational progress and success, and the decision to relieve Dr. Moss of her teaching duties pending the outcome of the investigation was taken in the best interest of everyone involved,” Espy said in an email response to a Paisano inquiry. “There was not a specific situation that occured in the classroom.”

Beginners encouraged to join powerlifting team.

Photo Courtesy of UTSA Powerlifting Team

Powerlifting is a physically demanding activity. What precautions do you take to ensure the safety of yourself and others?

Start slow and work your way up gradually, stretching before and after your workouts is extremely important when it comes to preventing injury, spotting each other (spotters save lives), warming up properly. Work to put more emphasis on technique rather than weight, don’t overshoot. Maintain a good training environment and equipment that is in good shape.

What is something you would like the campus to know about your organization?

We are always accepting new members, we are open to anyone. A lot of people don’t know about us but we do in fact exist. We train over at Texas Strength Systems located at 2418 Boardwalk Stin San Antonio. Feel free to stop by!

What is one quote that you all live by?

“No excuses just improve.”

Roseanne McSweeney incorporates interventions in position Continued from Page 1 ally, 36 percent attend sessions for depression and 35 percent attend for relationship problems. “The National Alliance on Mental Illness says their statistic is that 75 percent of mental health conditions begin before the age of 24. That is a lot of our college population,” McSweeney said. “Mental health conditions may be emerging at the time when someone is going to college and they’re under stress because they are trying to complete their degree.” McSweeney states that during her time at UTSA, there have been more than hundreds of reports BIT investigated. “When I look at how many reports we have, I see that we have a caring community,” McSweeney said. “When people care, they want to help someone feel better. So to me everytime we receive a report, I know that people care.” McSweeney states that the feedback BIT received has been really positive. In her experience, she also states that intervention does work.

“We are so lucky to have amazing resources on this campus,” McSweeney said. “They are caring, they are competent, and sometimes, just even making that connection really does shift the trajectory of someone who might be violent towards themselves or someone who might be experiencing some significant concerns in their life.” One approach McSweeny recommends using for those who might be in need of help is to use a neutrally worded question, notice the behavior and then ask an open ended question. “It’s really critical to not assume [a situation] and taking that extra step to saying ‘hey can you tell me more about what’s going on?’” McSweeny said. Students, staff and faculty can fill out a report anonymously to BIT on their website. “This is an initiative for the entire community to keep everyone safe and give them the ability to try to reach their goals,” McSweeney said. “When someone is experiencing less distress, they can focus more on being successful.”

J a nu a r y 2 9 - Febu rar y, 2019

editor@paisano-online.com | 3

opinion Remove the policy not the teacher Editorial Dr. Anita Moss should not have been relieved from teaching for “classroom management issues.” Moss is the professor who was suspended last semester for calling campus police to escort an African American student out of her classroom because the student engaged in what many considered disrespectful behavior. In her syllabus, Moss outlined what she believed was proper classroom etiquette. Some students agreed that the etiquette rules were appropriate. Others did not. Does the university believe there should not be some type of classroom etiquette? The precedent the university is setting is that students may act in any manner they see fit and teachers aren’t allowed to do anything to stop them. Furthermore, by relieving Moss of her teaching duties, university administrators are also doing a disservice to all of the students who signed up for that course specifically because Moss was teaching it. Before most students select a class, they usually go to ratemyprofessor to determine if other students enjoyed taking that professor. UTSA student Jenna Wells has created an online petition advocating for Moss to be reinstated. It currently has approximately 645 signatures. If you believe Anita Moss should be reinstated, go to change.org to sign the

petition. If UTSA administrators hope to show that they care about their faculty and students, then they should reinstate Moss. If UTSA thinks they should put their students first, then they should reinstate Moss. If UTSA believes their teachers can use their best judgement when dictating what is proper etiquette in their own classroom, then they should reinstate Moss. If UTSA disagrees with a faculty members policy, then UTSA should remove the policy rather than the professor. Students have spoken: their evaluations show that Moss is an excellent teacher; their petition shows that students want Moss in the classroom. The university should listen to those most affected by the decision and reinstate Anita Moss. A student resting her feet on a desk started the conflict with Anita Moss.

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One bottle at a time Commentary

By Joseph Torres Staff Writer In an effort to play a responsible role in society, I carry around a reusable water bottle. As I was trying to think of ways to convey the importance of abstaining from singleuse plastic water bottles, I concluded: it’s the easiest way I can make a global difference. I drink water everyday, so I have the choice of adding to an existing problem or to help be a solution. As more research reveals the implications of a growing pollution epidemic, we need to pay closer attention to it. I have thought at times, “There is no way

that I alone can make a change or difference,” but I’ve learned this is the wrong approach when dealing with big issues. I am the person who can make a difference and it starts with accountability for my own actions. “The largest clean up in history” is the first thing that reads on the The Ocean Cleanup website. “Over five trillion pieces of plastic currently litter the oceans,” they elaborated on the issue they are trying to solve. This company has designed technology that aims to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), which they describe as the largest of five garbage patches currently in the world’s oceans. The GPGP is located off the coast of California. The company includes “closing the source” of this issue to their cause, in other words: finding ways to stop throwing away single

use plastic items. Global environmental issues are subjected to high debate and scrutiny depending on where you live in the world. However, as new studies become available through publications we can assess the overall impact of a decision like using single-use plastic bottles. Should I carry a reusable water bottle, or do I discard several singleuse plastic bottles throughout the day? I choose to carry a reusable water bottle to play a role in “closing the source.” My decision was made when I came across a single-use plastic item on a beach in Africa. I purchased a Nalgene reusable bottle the very next day. I’ve only had to replace that bottle twice over five years. If instead I had consumed three bottles of water everyday

by comparison, I would have added roughly 5,475 items to the problem. If that doesn’t convince you, then how does saving $876 over that same period sound? H-E-B sells a 24-pack of Ozarka Natural Spring Water for roughly $4, or 16 cents per bottle, you can do the math on how much money you can save by making an initial purchase

of $10 to $20. UTSA and other businesses are making it easy to access clean water as well. With bottle-fillsystems now co-located with water fountains all over campus, clean water is always available. They even have a display that shows how many singleuse plastic bottles are being saved when you fill your own bottle. If you

Joseph Torres/The Paisano

have ever wondered how you can make an impact at your school, in your community or ever for the world, then reusable water bottles provide an easy solution. I encourage everyone to consider the use of a reusable water bottle because in the long run it will save you money and will help save the planet.

J an u ar y 29 - F e bu rar y 5, 2019

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Cancelling Culture Commentary

By Alex Hanks Staff Writer Exiled from pop culture and found guilty in the court of public opinion, shameful public figures are being de-platformed at a rapid rate, and I am on board. “Cancel Culture” is deplatforming a public figure for his or her horrific actions. You no longer stream their music, watch their shows, or buy their books. You cease to

pay for their craft due to heinous acts. Millennials stay in touch with an artist’s personal life because we do not want celebrities to use their platforms negatively. I pulled up to a stoplight the other day and heard a truck’s sound system bumping and Trent (we’re going to call him Trent just for the sake of the story) was blasting Tekashi 6ix9ine. I was appalled and thought to myself, “6ix9ine? I thought he was cancelled.” Tekashi 6ix9ine, the rainbow-haired, tatted up, rapper is in prison for conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering and robbery. He also plead guilty to the use of a child in a sexual act, yet his

music still plays on the radio and he gets media coverage. Why is that? It’s because people like Trent think they can, “separate the artist from their art.” I sick of hearing that. So, when should someone be cancelled? They need to have a track record of heinous acts. We need to consider that while these individuals are winning Grammys, going platinum and headlining music festivals; their victims are sitting at home with the trauma. Saying you’re going to “separate an artist from their art,” enables their behavior. Fully research the scope of the allegations to gain an understanding of the situation. It is wreckless to blindly cancel celebri-

ties when we have little to no information on the situation. We know that R.Kelly has a history of abuse, Kevin Spacey has a track record of sexual misconduct, and Bill Cosby is a predator. Those are the individuals we need to be cancelling and for the most part, we do. Yet we also cancel guys like Kanye West for wearing a MAGA and put him in the same bracket as R.Kelly or Cosby and it’s the wrong thing to do. We can’t cancel Travis Scott for performing at the Super Bowl halftime show this weekend, he’s not harming anyone. If we want to fight to create a world where people are held accountable for their actions, we need to

be careful with who we cancel. Cancelling anyone we don’t agree with will cause it to lose its meaning. I am proud of my generation. We say no to workplace harassment. We are tired of misogyny, inequality and rape culture being a part of everyday life in America. We refuse to let predatory celebrities continue to flourish. We know we can do better and we are. If you’re on campus and you hear the faint sound of 6ix9ine coming out of a guy’s AirPods, it’s probably Trent. Don’t be Trent. Let’s hold each other accountable and give platforms to unproblematic artists who deserve to shine. P.S. we have a very

real opportunity to cancel a predator in the 2020 presidential election. I hope my fellow Roadrunners are looking forward to that day.

How to keep up with school work

Quick meals to make in college

Commentary

By Sabrina Gozdzialski Contributing Writer If you are anything like me, you’re on top of your work during the start of the semester, but begin to have trouble keeping up. How do you keep up with your work and avoid falling into procrastination purgatory? Unfortunately, this requires effort and cannot be fixed overnight. The good news is that there are ways to keep up your discipline when your motivation hits rock bottom. Build the habit of studying. You’re simply going to have to sit down and do assignments every day. If you find yourself lacking motivation or time, make it work. Break up a task into smaller parts and set up a reward system. Dedicate time to studying, or invite your friends to hang out and study at the same time. Break the habit of procrastinating. Identify your distractions and remove or change them. Put your phone on silent and place it across the room, or ask your roommates to set up “quiet hours.” If all else fails, find

a new study space with fewer distractions. Make studying less terrible. One issue could be that you find studying so boring, you cry at the thought of looking at notes. Find ways to make the task more enjoyable. Put on some music, light a candle or bring a snack. Sometimes a change in scenery is needed to keep things fresh. Keep each other accountable. Sometimes, you can’t do it yourself. Find a classmate to study with or to ask if you have done your work. In dire situations, have a friend to study with you and point you back to your work when you get distracted. Get unstuck. You could be feeling inadequate and put off the assignment “until you get it.” Get caught up before it’s too late. Attend tutoring, talk to a classmate, or better yet, go to the professor! They are more than happy to help you oneon-one during office hours or after class, 99 percent of the time. Take a break. If you work your mind too much without a chance to recharge, the best study

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habits are almost useless. Take 10 minutes per hour to take a break for the best results. Set aside at least half an hour per day to not touch school work. No grade is worth sacrificing your well-being over. Take advantage of student counselling services behind the REC. You already pay for them through tuition, so get your money’s worth. They have everything from stressmanagement classes to therapists that will help you at no extra cost. If you fall behind, don’t beat yourself up over it. It will only make starting harder. Finish as much of your work as you can. The best time to start an assignment is the first day it’s assigned; the second best time is now. If you can’t finish on time, turn in your half-finished assignment anyway. It is easier to recover from a 45 than a zero. Finally, talk to your professor and be honest. Professors were once students and would be happy to know you’re trying. Hopefully these tips help you stay on top of school, and if not, I hope they help you get back on track. I wish you all the best this semester!

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Ramen? Wendy’s 4 for $4 meal? Chips and soda from a vending machine? If you buy any of these items, stay tuned for more options. Since you continued reading, welcome to the club that consists of millions of college students who struggle to find the answer to this question: What do I eat? We often choose the cheapest and most convenient meals, but are they really effective? Shouldn’t we have a meal that consists of the following criteria: inexpensive, quick and tasty? As someone who has a busy schedule, I don’t cook the best meals. Eating a store-bought meal between classes or a late night vending machine snack is not necessarily fulfilling. Whether you’re living at home with parents or on campus, finding inexpensive food you like is hard. So why don’t we just meal prep one night out of the week, you ask? Well, if we are being realistic, the majority of students who live on campus don’t

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even have the means to do so. What is my solution? For breakfast lovers, buy pancake mix and follow the steps. If you have a coffee maker, use the heating element as a pan and cook away. Feeling risky? Try pressing down a cinnamon roll into a pancake and use the heating element again. To add eggs to this delicious breakfast, pour two eggs into a mug, whisk with a fork and place in microwave for three minutes. Lunch is always a struggle due to it being the busiest time of day for a college student. Not to worry, I have just what you need to fulfill your appetite while still getting your essay and homework done. Grab the coffee maker again, we are cooking up some noodles. Place the noodles into the coffee jar with water and watch them cook into a quick and easy meal. Add some sauce from your local market. Feeling like you miss Chick-Fil-A and can’t live without a combo number two with pepper jack cheese? No need to fret. FarmRich has buffalo style boneless

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chicken that you can buy at your nearest H-E-B. Microwave as many as you want, add some burger buns and cheese and you’ve got yourself a low price chicken sandwich. I myself don’t like dinner as much. Not because I’m not hungry, but because I’m too lazy to make food that late in the day and still do more homework. For a quick meal, buy some potatoes, put one or two in the microwave for three minutes or until fully softened, then add butter and cheese. I hope I helped you find what to eat today. To find more quick meals, try Pinterest, which is a college student’s best friend. After all, we are all trying to survive this Spring semester.

The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed by UTSA. New issues are published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays and exam periods. The Paisano is distributed on all three UTSA campuses — Main, Downtown and the Institute of Texan Cultures. Additionally, Paisano publications are distributed at a variety of off-campus locations, including Tri-point and a variety of apartment complexes near the UTSA Main Campus. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed to: 14526 Roadrunner Way Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78249 Phone: (210)-690-9301 © 2018, The Paisano The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Handbook of Operating Procedures states in 5.03 that: The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) will not exercise control over the format or content of Student Publications, but will regulate distribution on campus. Student Publications will be free of censorship and advance approval of copy, and their editors and managers are solely responsible for editorial and content policies and decisions. Editors and managers of Student Publications will not be subject to arbitrary suspension/expulsion or removal from their positions within a Registered or Sponsored Student Organization (Student Organization) by the University because of student, faculty, administrative, or public disapproval of editorial policy or content. Student Organizations that distribute Student Publications are afforded the same rights and privileges as Student Organizations that do not distribute Student Publications.

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Arts & Life Art activating a conversation New exhibit opens at UTSA Main Campus art gallery

By Rudy Sanchez Staff Writer

urrently on display in the UTSA Main Campus Art Gallery, “ACTIVATE” is the latest exhibition hosted by the Department of Art and Art History. Curated by assistant professor of art, Humberto Saenz, the exhibition showcases seven national artists. The featured works collectively creates an ensemble of resounding artistic perspectives and interpretations of sociopolitical concepts including cultural identity, racism and displacement. Artists Miguel Aragon, Aaron S. Coleman, Sandra Fernandez, Annalise Gratovich, Marco Hernandez, Kristin Powers Nowlin and Patricia Villalobos Echeverria explore the history and consequences of social injustice across many cultures. Simultaneously, each of the artists uniquely challenge their viewers to consider the lives of people who have been historically (and continuously) marginalized. “My idea for the show is for the artwork to activate people’s minds and beliefs into doing something about political or social issues,” Saenz said. “ACTIVATE” blends contemporary ideas with old and new subject matter. Artist Aaron S. Coleman’s satirical prints portray religious and historical figures

Rudy Sanchez / The Paisano

barraged with emphatic comic book texts and graphics. Coleman takes the narrative even further by defacing the figures with red noses, four-fingered cartoon gloves and blackface. Coleman adds satire and contemporary concepts to traditional figures of fine art in order to capture the shortcomings of society’s current state; aristocratic, conservative institutions entrapped in their inability to progress from their prejudiced philosophies. Similarly to Coleman, artist Marco Hernandez contrasts historical and contemporary concepts. As a Mexican immigrant raised in California, Hernandez is interested in contemporary Mexican-American identity. In his etching “Regando el Maiz y el Nopal,” Hernandez portrays an ancient setting of Mesoamericans watering their corn and cacti with water guns–yes, like Super Soakers. Hernandez’ work brings modern imagery into an unlikely traditional setting in order to capture the continuing fusion of Mexican and American cultures. While “ACTIVATE” takes a retrospective look into the history of sociopolitical issues of America and various cultures, Saenz does not hide the other outspoken artists who also have their own dissatisfaction for the social injustices of our time. Saenz commented, “I was looking for artists who were invested in the very personal topics that they were trying to portray.” Artist Sandra Fernandez focuses her work on the tragedies of recent events along the Mexican-American border. Fernandez’ various silkscreen works portray Mexican immigrants and their struggle to seek safety and security. Much of her work focuses on the ill treatment of migrant children. Similar to Coleman, Fernandez illustrates the hypocrisy of American ideals by bringing light to the products of America’s xenophobia. While Fernandez highlights the tragedies in our own Southern-Texan backyard, artist Patricia Villalobos Echeverria’s 19-part print series, “Retazos/Remnants” records the violent political unrests in Nicaragua that have been left largely unreported by major news outlets. These unrests, as pictured in Echeverria’s grisly prints, are in response to the lack of democratic integrity of Nicaragua’s government. President Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian practices such as abusing immunity, quashing his own term limits, censoring the press and banning street protests have led to hundreds of Nicaraguan deaths. Echeverria’s work represents a central theme of “ACTIVATE”: How we, the viewers, can sympathize with those deprived of rudimentary human rights,

Coleman, Alex S. “The Wangeteur”, 2017

while living in a country that defines those same rights as “self-evident.” As we celebrate UTSA’s semicentennial, we must not forget to reflect upon the last 50 years of our community, country and humanity. “ACTIVATE” is intended to foster difficult conversations amongst audiences. These discussions are difficult because they require a great amount of compassion and forces us to consider our own privilege as autonomous, sovereign individuals. Saenz’ exhibition challenges us to view humanity through the artists’ visceral and emotional perspectives. “I would like the audience to try and understand the point of view of the artists, how they approach their artwork and understand the world and community around them,” Saenz said. The exhibition is free and open to the public Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The last day of the exhibition is Feb. 27. For more information about the event, go to art.utsa.edu/ACTIVATE.

Top: Fernandez, Sandra C. “CAUTION/ Dreamers in/on Sight”, 2013 Bottom: Hernandez, Marco. “Regando el Maiz y el Nopal”, 2015

Capturing the good, the bad and the truth Photographer Brenda Pina speaks on depression in art during DreamWeek series Mark - Joseph Leon Contributing Writer Brenda Pina, 30, is a photographer for San Antonio Magazine and was invited to speak at one of DreamWeek’s DreamHour Speaker Series. “You make [art] for yourself until you decide to share it with the world… You have to be happy with yourself to put yourself out there,” Pina said referring to using photography as a means to cope with depression. Those who are battling depression are able to read her message: You are not alone. Pina’s mother works at the San Antonio Museum of Art and has worked there since Pina was in the second grade. During the summer, her mother needed someplace for her daughter to stay since she could not watch over her. Pina then decided to take photography and film classes at St. Philip’s College at the young age of eight – a time in which most children were playing the Nintendo 64. She then began to fall in love with the art of developing and processing her own film. After being diagnosed with chronic depression, she decided to turn to her art. It was through art that she learned acceptance. In a portfolio titled “Depression,” Pina shares her battle through a series of self-portraits. The beauty that exists within her self-portraits comes from the raw nature of the photos and the ability they have to pull the viewer in and feel her anguish. She has invited the viewer to step inside her life by allowing herself to open up before the camera. Pina’s use of long-exposure allows for more fluidity and motion within the images exemplifying her depression is not still, it’s evermoving and changing. “With chronic depression you still have to fight in the morning to get up and go through the days,” Pina said. She uses

her art as a form of therapy and expression of the emotions she constantly feels bombarded with. In this way, she is fighting her depression through her art daily. Pina was not always confident in her art. In fact, she was frightened that people criticize her when she decided to showcase her most vulnerable moments. “You put all your emotional, physical and mental health into this art,” Pina

said. She credits her improvement to her professors at the Academy of Art University since they pushed her to step outside her comfort zone, allowing her to develop thick skin. Moreover, her passion for helping others was a motivator. Pina first decided to share her craft back in 2016 and believes that it will reach those who

still stay silent about their mental health. Today, people often stigmatize depression and its implications for those who it affects. Pina decided to speak out against that stigma by making her voice heard for those who do and do not want to hear it alike. Brenda assures that it is okay to not be okay. She continues to spread her message in her current project involving Post-it notes. Pina writes Post-its and sticks them around the city as a way to help passersby march onward when they lack motivation to do so. She sets these notes around the city in places such as the mirror in a public bathroom or on the VIA bus on a ride home from work. The most impactful thing she sees in doing this occurs when strangers reply to the notes with, “Thank you, I really needed this.” To Pina, that makes all the difference. You can find her work at http://www. bpina.com/portfolio/depression.

Brenda Pina stands on the other side of the lens. Photo courtesy of Joey Satanas

J an u ar y 29 - F e bru ar y 5, 2019

6 | arts@paisano-online.com

Rising to the occasion

Big Sis Advice: Honeymoon phase

SA RISE host Texas education bill review

By: Kimiya Factory

Alfonzo Mendoza

Staff Writer

Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of Alfonzo Mendoza

The 86th Texas Legislative Session began in Austin, Texas on Jan. 8. The Texas legislature meets once every two years, which means they don’t have time for political theatrics and must put aside political agendas to solve pressing issues. The newly elected speaker of the house, Dennis Bonnen (R – Angleton), has said that their top priority will be the public school finance system. Although the Senate wants to address property taxes, its constituents can expect many controversial bills soon to come. SA RISE, a community organization that focuses on education equality, held a public event on Jan. 25 in accordance with DreamWeek to discuss and inform the public about what bills will be heard on the congressional floor and how they will impact local schools. SA RISE Director Sarah Perez and SAISD Legislative and strategic affairs director Seth Rau led the event. Together, they covered a wide array of possible bills that would directly affect our public school system. He discussed a potential bill that would increase public school funding to over five billion dollars in the next two years, with two billion dollars in property tax relief. “We have to be able to make sure that all kids in Texas have access to a high quality of education, and that means recapturing local dollars in property taxes,” Rau said. Some of the other issues discussed were mental health in school systems, immigration, school vouchers and the contracts of public school teachers, all issues that are going to be focused on heavily in the coming months. During the public meeting, a local teacher stood up, thanked everyone for participating and commented, “As teachers, we don’t have the luxury of being neutral on these issues.” Bahia Amawi, a children’s speech pathologist, recently lost her job after refusing to sign her contract which had a subclause that prohibited her from boy-

cotting the state of Israel. Since the publication of this story, lawmakers in Texas are now looking to address the clause since it threatens the free speech of public workers. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas (ACLU) has begun the process of suing the state of Texas and overturning the bill. According to the ACLU of Texas website, “The lawsuit, filed on behalf of four Texans, argues that the law, HB 89, which went into effect last year, violates the First Amendment’s protection against government intrusion into political speech.” “You have to do more than just make noise and be angry. That is one of the reasons why I joined SA RISE. I loved that it is a group of everyday individuals that care deeply about educational equity and act on those feelings instead of just talk about them. We go out into the community and ask people, create space for dialogue, find out what the community needs and then organize around those issues,” commented SA RISE Director, Sarah Perez. As the nature of our current political system seems to fall deeper into partisan politics, Texas lawmakers have no time to put on political demonstrations. Texas’ educational quality has declined greatly over the years and many attribute that to budgeting. With Texas being in the spotlight recently under the Trump administration, representatives will have to work exceedingly hard to satisfy their constituents and the current federal government. Perez concluded the meeting with a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” To become more civically engaged and for more information about SA RISE, please visit https://sanantonio-rise.squarespace.com.

Photo courtesy of Dominique Beltran

The butterflies in your stomach before a knock on the door, the insistence that you pay for whatever movie the both of you go to see and checking your phone every five seconds to see if you got a text, all fall into the beginning stages of a blossoming relationship best known as “the honeymoon phase.” I personally view the honeymoon phase as an hourglass of doom, allowing sand to determine the anxiety of time that follows after the honeymoon phase is over. Then what? Because my time in this phase, according to societal standards, is hypothetically up, I am all of a sudden supposed to be robbed of the butterflies that Alicia Keys talks about in her famous song “You Don’t Know My Name.” I’m talking about after she made the first move, their first kiss at the park that happened on a Thursday and “set her soul on fire.” Where do the embers of that fire go and who said they have to leave? According to people in my social circle, the average honeymoon phase (college specific) lasts anywhere from 2-3 months, and with that comes becoming so comfortable around a person that the “spark” can fade. I’ve never seen the problem here, but now I see it clearly: time. One person’s experience shouldn’t define another’s and someone’s six months could be another person’s lifetime. I’m a strong believer in butterflies forever when stumbling across the right person. I guess that makes me a hopeless romantic. Basically, to hell with a honeymoon phase. Do you. For my early 2000 era Alicia Keys Fans, Xoxo, Big Sis

Send your suggestions for Big Sis Advice to arts@ paisano-online.com Graphic by Kirkland Luther/The Paisano

The Weekend February 1 - A Night of the Arts / Free 7 - 9 p.m. at Wheatley Heights First Baptist Celebrate their “34th Pastoral Anniversary” with a night of music, comedy, mime and poetry. February 1 - Mystify Your Love Life / Free 8 p.m. at Sexology Institute and Boutique Enjoy an evening of tarot card readings, love potions and spells to bring good energy to your love life.

Visit

paisano-online.com to read our article on Kaldric Dow and see “Shades of Brown” at Gallery 23, today.

Kirkland Luther/ The Paisano

February 2 - EveryDay Yogi Class / Free 10 - 11 a.m. at Southside Lions Community Center Everyone is welcome to explore connecting with the breath, ways to reduce stress in the body and connect with the present moment. February 3 - Current Joys / $10 7 - 10 p.m. at Paper Tiger Nevada artist and Surf Curse drummer/singer Nick Rattigan performs an intimate set at Paper Tiger with his dream-pop project “Current Joys.”

To feature your event in “The Weekend” email the arts editor at arts@paisano-online.com Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

J a nu a r y 2 9 - Febru ar y 5, 2019

sports@paisano-online.com | 7

Sports

Keaton Wallace is all smiles after defeating Charlotte.

Donald Escamilla/The Paisano Jhivvan Jackson preps to shoot for a layup.

Ellyson Ortega/The Paisano

Roadrunners defend home court Men’s basketball ties for first in Conference-USA

By Jose Bouquett Contributing Writer

fter one of the most memorable weeks in program history, head coach Steve Henson and the UTSA men’s basketball team find themselves tied for first place halfway through the conference schedule. UTSA (12-9, 6-2) began their week by hosting the Charlotte 49ers after a disappointing loss at UAB. The game was “popped open” according to Henson, after the ‘Runners put up a strong opening quarter of defense and sophomore Jhivvan Jackson caught fire. The second-year guard from Puerto Rico took over the game for the Roadrunners by scoring 11 straight points with two layups and three back-to-back threepoint baskets. This sparked a 26-4 run that allowed the Roadrunners to jump out to an early lead. Their defense suffocated Charlotte throughout the entire first half which made their poor shooting average

even worse. The 49ers were missing wide open three-point shots that could have brought them back in the game, however, UTSA controlled the first half and entered halftime with a 44-19 lead. Jackson contributed the bulk of the Roadrunners’ points by pouring on 21 points and outscoring Charlotte through one frame. The second half opened with more of the same from UTSA, as they went on another run that stretched their lead to 30-points and proved to be insurmountable for the 49ers woeful offense. Sophomore guard Keaton Wallace continued what Jackson started in the first half by leading the team in scoring with eight, and guiding the Roadrunners over the finish line to secure an 88-43 victory. In the shadows of Jackson and Wallace, Adokiye Iyaye had a career day by scoring 12 points and grabbing three offensive rebounds tying his career high in points. “I found my groove a little bit,” Iyaye said. “My teammates are always on me, telling me I’m divine. I was not making

shots early but they kept telling me to shoot and they bring a lot of encouragement.” Jackson and Wallace have combined to be the third highest scoring backcourt duo in the nation as the Roadrunners reach the halfway point of their season. The sophomore duo combined for almost half of UTSA’s total points with 43. Jackson’s game-high 28 points left coach Henson with an easy job in the second half. “Yeah [Jackson’s big night] helped a lot,” said Henson. “We were really locked in defensively,” Henson said. “Charlotte is different from anyone we had played, and different from anyone we will play. Their style of offense, their patience, we were really concerned if we were going to be able to handle all of their actions.” UTSA’s quest for first would reach its climax as they hosted Old Dominion in the Convocation Center on Saturday, Jan. 26. The Roadrunners’ hope for first looked bleak as they entered the final four minutes of the game down 17 points.

UTSA’s all-world backcourt took over with Jackson and Wallace each hitting a pair of three-pointers on four straight possessions to bring them within three points. ODU crumbled under the pressure by turning the ball over with 24 seconds left, and a chance to ice the game at the free throw line. UTSA took advantage of the turnover and big shot Wallace hit a threepointer that would give the Roadrunners a 74-73 advantage and eventual victory. This 17-point comeback is the largest comeback in program history led by Wallace and Jackson who each scored 29 and 21 points respectively. Senior Nick Allen had his fingerprints on the comeback with a three-pointer that sparked the comeback, and a game-sealing block with six seconds left. This historic win left the Roadrunners in a three-way tie for first place in the C-USA standings with UAB and North Texas all tied at 6-2 in conference play. UTSA travels to Western Kentucky University on Thursday, Jan. 31, for a chance at sole possession of first place.

Tennis dominates singles and doubles By Nisa Rodriguez Staff Writer The UTSA men’s tennis team had a very successful win last week, opening their spring season with a great start. The ‘Runners played against Prairie View A&M (PVAMU) on Friday, Jan. 25, and won both consecutive matches with a score of 5-1, 6-0. Both the singles and the doubles teams dominated the court in their favor. The first matches began at 10 a.m. The Roadrunners were successful, winning five matches against PVAMU. In the singles competition, Kai Brietbach came close to winning his match, but fell short when PVAMU took the lead in the first set with 6-1. Brietbach lost the next six games after the first set, totaling a win for his opponent at 6-1, 6-1. Joao Ceolin swept his opponent with a score of 6-0, 6-2. Juri Reckow followed in his footsteps, beating PVAMU at 6-2, 6-0. Following Reckow, Javier Rodriguez took the lead against his opponent after the first game in the match and continued to dominate the court, tallying a total win of 6-1, 6-0. Alan Sanson almost fell short in his first set, but began to control the court and slammed his opponent with a score of 6-2, 6-1. It was all or nothing for the doubles teams. With only one set in play, all three teams put their work into action on the court. Ceolin made a major comeback with his partner Reckow against PVAMU, totaling a score of 6-3 for the set. Sanson and Brietbach easily won their match with a score of 6-1. Finally, Javier Gonzalez and his teammate Rodriguez dominated the court with a hard volley to finish the set,

defeating PVAMU 6-2. Later that day, the ‘Runners prepared for their second match of the day against PVAMU. Rodriguez won the first singles match with a score of 6-0, 6-1. Reckow’s opponent could not catch up with the games, totaling an overall win for Reckow overall at 6-4, 6-0. Ceolin directed his hits in his favor, winning the sets at 6-2, 6-1. PVAMU won a couples game in the first set against Gonzalez but could not keep up with Gonzalez’ overhead slams, the ‘Runners won both sets at 6-2, 6-1. Although Brietbach fell short in the morning with his singles match, he won his match independently at 6-3, 6-1. The doubles team dominated their matches once again for the second time in a row that day. Brietbach and teammate Sanson swept their opponents with a score of 6-2. At 2-2 Gonzales and Rodriguez would take the lead to victory, wrapping up the games with a set score of 6-2. Partners Ceolin and Reckow played a close set, but came out on top, finishing the set with a win of 4-3. The UTSA men’s tennis team wrapped up their doubleheader over PVAMU with consecutive wins by both the doubles and singles teams. It is looking like they are on the road to victory for this spring season. The Roadrunners will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 30, where they will be travelling to Austin to play against the No. 8 Texas Longhorns at 12 p.m. Alan Sanson volleys the ball over the net.

Ethan Gullett/ The Paisano

J an u ar y 29 - F e bru ar y 5, 2019

8 | sports@paisano-online.com

Patriots and Rams set to face off By Carlos Prado Staff Writer

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Last week’s NFC and AFC Championship games were wild. Both games went into overtime play, and both games had the visiting teams come out on top. There are a lot of heartbroken fans trying to recover and move on with their lives (Saints fans). With that being said, the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams will meet in the 2019 Super Bowl on Feb 3. These two teams last met in the Super Bowl back in 2002 where the Patriot dynasty was born. That year, Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol, George W. Bush was President, the Olympics were in Salt Lake City and Tobey McGuire was still Spiderman. If Marvel can finally get Spiderman right,

hopefully the NFL refs can get their calls straightened out as well. All jokes aside, this should be a shootout. Tom Brady is coming off a big performance from last week’s Chiefs game. Brady went 30/46, threw for 348 yards and snagged a touchdown. Brady showed why they call him the “Come Back Kid,” throwing with pinpoint accuracy to bring the Patriots to victory over the favored Kansas City Chiefs. Los Angeles Rams QB Jared Goff, showed tremendous pose going into the hostile MercedesBenz Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints. The Saints haven’t lost a playoff postseason home game since 1993. That all changed with Goff throwing for 25/40, passing for 297 yards and one passing touchdown. Goff put the Rams in good field goal

QB Tom Brady attempts to catch a pass.

position for Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein to drain both game-tying and game winning field goals. How will the Patriots defend Goff? Goff has a lot of options when it comes to throwing the ball. This variety of offensive weapons will be difficult for the Patriots to manage. Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods are very dangerous threats to the opposing team’s secondary. If the Patriots can reduce these wide receivers’ receptions and force Goff to go to his check down options, this will greatly reduce their passing attack. Do not forget about the backfield: Todd Gurley. During the New Orleans game, the Saints were able to contain him fairly well, but during the season the Rams liked to incorporate Gurley in the passing scheme. The Pats linebackers will need to

keep Gurley in check. How the Rams will defend Brady? There are three factors in “controlling” the New England Patriots. First, the Rams will need to keep Brady off the field as long as possible. The less time Brady has to operate, the better. Time and time again, Brady has shown his experience with moving the ball down the field. Even with under two minutes left in the game, Brady can still score. The second, and probably most important factor the Rams have against Brady is the Pass Rush. The Rams will be counting on Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh and Dante Fowler Jr. to pressure Brady. Let’s face facts, Brady can’t scramble very well in the pocket, and if you put pressure on him, it’s going to be a tough day for the 41-year-old quarterback.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons Head Coach Sean McVay talks to QB Jared Goff.

The last factor to slowing down Brady is to limit James White. White was the workhorse in the game against the Chiefs, and has been one of the best pass catching backs in the league this year. The Rams will need to put an asterisk next to White. Who has the edge? The Patriots’ because of their experience. Tom Brady, being the Patriots field general over the last 19 years, has nine Super Bowl appearances, which have to account for something. The edge goes to the Patriots. Prediction: (24-20); Patriots. For those of you not too excited about the match up, there is always the halftime show with Maroon 5.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons