8.17.2018

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

Strawless in Seattle

2018 C-USA Football Preview

Vol. 58, Issue 1

Est. 1981

August 21 - August 28, 2018

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New Year, New Eats UTSA implements new dining options for fall 2018

By Kimiya Factory Staff Writer

This Fall, UTSA welcomes back students with a broad variety of new dining options, even answering requests for vegetarian and healthy options.

According to UTSA Today, the approaching school year is filled with promise for students with an appetite and budget, now offering combo meals ranging

from $5 to $6.

Hillary Klingman, director of operations for UTSA Campus Services, weighs in on why new dining options have come to UTSA, “Campus Services and UTSA Dining regularly assess dining venues on campus to determine if services are still meeting the demands of the campus community. The renovations and additions performed

this summer will offer increased diversity, more value-priced options and menus that reflect student feedback.”

Over the summer, UTSA Dining provided renovations in the John Peace Library (JPL) at UTSA, to ensure a more spacious setting for students seeking lunch during the busy school day. Of the major renovations, the most noticeable is the entire

section that was previously occupied by Sushic, which has now been completely cleared out and moved to the location that Papa John’s previously occupied. A large amount of space is left for students familiar with long lines for Steak & Shake, Chick-fil-a and Smoothie King.

Not only does this allow more space for students waiting in line for food, but Chick-fil-a now

Graphic by Paisano Staff

offers additions to the menu that it hadn’t before, such as milkshakes.

The Sombrilla and Student Union (SU) also promise students tastier options; Rowdy Curbside, UTSA’s food truck will occupy The Sombrilla, offering a variety of Tex-Mex Continued on page 2 See “Goodbye to Taco Taco and Mooyah Burgers”

Team receives grant for fungal research Anti-fungal vaccine underway

By Alejandro (AJ) Lopez Co-News Editor Chiung-Yu Hung, assistant professor of biology at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), and her research team received a five-year, $1.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support their attempt in creating a vaccine for fungal infections.

“We applied to the grant because this fungi causes a very severe disease,” said Hung, when asked why she applied for the grant.

“It affects a lot of people living in the endemic area that’s around West Texas to the Pacific Side which includes New Mexico, Arizona and California … the NIH [National Institute of Health] believes we have a good chance of success.”

Fungi can live in the air, soil, water and plants.

When harmful fungi invade the body, they become difficult to kill due to their ability to survive the environment and reinfect their hosts. Fungal

Photo courtesy of UTSA

Professor Hung and reserach team.

infections are common throughout the natural world.

Unlike bacteria or viruses, there is currently no vaccine available for any type of fungal infection. Fungi organisms are far more complex than bacteria or viruses, which makes developing an effective vaccine to battle these infections difficult.

“Fungal infections are difficult to treat,” Hung said. “We study why fungal pathogens can cause diseases and how our immune system defends against fungal infections. We also conduct translational research

to create novel vaccines against fungal infections, to produce rapid diagnosis tools and to develop better and effective antifungal drugs.”

Hung’s work focuses on, Coccidioides, a fungus that exists in the soil of Southwest Texas, Southern Arizona, New Mexico and California. People living in these areas, and those who travel to these demographic areas, are likely to be exposed to this fungus.

When the soil is disturbed by animals or humans, the fungal spores are released into the air, causing a respiratory infection called Valley Fever.

“These demographic areas are very popular for retirees, there are many military training camps located in these areas and has become a popular area to move into,” Hung said. “These people have a chance to be exposed to this fungus living in this environment. When the soil is disturbed, fungal spores are released and are able to establish themselves in humans which then cause the disease. For those newcomers, they are not prepared for this fungus and can become infected.”

Without proper treatment, the fungus can

spread throughout the body and potentially spread to the central nervous system, where it could cause meningitis, a potentially fatal condition.

Hung’s goal is to stop these infections before they occur by developing what could be the first anti-fungal vaccine. With this grant, Hung and her team have the ability to be able to reach that goal.

“If we can come up with a product for clinical trials for the future and then administer it to the general public, then we can improve the health of people living in these areas,” Hung said.

Hung obtained her Ph.D in biological sciences at the University of Texas at Austin and studied fungal diseases under Dr. Gary Cole, a well known medical mycologist. After spending a few years conducting research together, Hung was put on Cole’s research faculty and assisted him in the lab. After following him to UTSA in 2005, Hung was put in charge of Cole’s research after he retired.

Hung is also a member of the UTSA South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases. She is one of many researchers specializing in the study of vaccine development, biodefense, immunology and molecular microbiology.

Currently, her research team consists of Althea Campuzano, a Ph.D postdoctoral fellow; YuRou Liao, an MS associate scientist; Courtney McMahon, a Ph.D student; Komali Pentakota, a master’s degree student; and Carlos Espinosa, a master’s degree student.

If you are interested in participating in Hung’s research, please email her at chiungyu.hung@utsa. edu.

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UTSA UTSA’s College of Education and Human Development’s Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching will collaborate with The Institute for P-20 Initiatives Parent Engagement Program this fall. The collaboration will allow UTSA students, who have aspirations to teach, to serve families with children in kindergarten through sixth grade in the San Antonio area. Classes will be held at the Downtown Campus and will allow UTSA students to guide children through learning programs, while their families are able to attend sessions with information on leadership, college access and college awareness.

Texas The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved Sam Houston State University’s pitch to open a medical school in Conroe in a 5-4 vote. Sam Houston’s proposal was approved on the condition that their funding will not come from the legislature. Sam Houston’s doctor of osteopathic medicine program is expected to enroll around 150 students beginning in 2020.

U.S. Dairy farms across America have been recently struggling to keep their doors open for business. Recent studies show that the number of dairy cows has decreased by 20 percent over the last five years. Some factors that contribute to this decrease include: government policy in regards to dairy pricing, an increase in general costs of running dairy farms and a decrease in demand for dairy products.

Student housing available near Downtown Campus Tobin Lofts and DoubleTree cater to UTSA students

By Heather Montoya Co-News Editor Starting in the Fall 2018 semester, student housing will become available for UTSA students attending the Downtown Campus.

UTSA has partnered with the Tobin Lofts and DoubleTree by Hilton San Antonio to provide students with the option of living near the Downtown Campus.

“We think students will be pleased about having new housing opportunities near the Downtown Campus,” said Kevin Price, UTSA senior associate vice president of student life, dean of students and co-chair of the housing task force for the presidential initiative on the downtown campus. “Until we build housing on or near the campus ourselves, we anticipate collaborating with housing providers such as the Tobin Lofts and DoubleTree.”

A potential location for UTSA student housing is on UTSA property which is currently a parking lot adjacent to the Downtown Campus. “Our vision is to build a residential facility at Cattleman’s Square,” Price said.

The Tobin Lofts will be able to house up to 250 UTSA students and the DoubleTree will be able to house 10 to 20 UTSA students.

“You must be a student to rent at The Tobin Lofts,” Price said. “The Tobin Lofts are not open to the general public.”

The Tobin Lofts’ amenities include a swimming pool, parking garage, community center, business center and study lounge. The monthly rates for the Tobin Lofts start at $585.

The only transportation options between the Downtown Campus and the Tobin Lofts are either driving by car or riding the VIA bus.

“We are currently assessing the best way to provide transportation to the Downtown Campus from the Tobin Lofts,” Price said. “Depending on the number of students that reside there, we may provide a shuttle or credits with a rideshare program such as Uber or Lyft. We have yet to decide.”

The DoubleTree housing option includes complimentary parking in the hotel’s garage, complimentary Wi-Fi and local phone calls, a mini

refrigerator, a 50” flat panel LCD TV, cable with 54 channels, an outdoor pool, fitness center, business center and an on-site coin laundry facility. Students who stay at DoubleTree have the opDoubleTree by Hilton tion of a King Standard Bedroom (Single Occupancy for $5,180 per semester) or in a Two Double Bed Standard Room (Double Occupancy for $3,579 per semester).

Tobin Lofts on North Main Avenue Transportafall, UTSA may need to tion options expand housing options between the Downtown Campus and DoubleTree, as President Eighmy’s Downtown Campus located across the street Initiative progresses. from the Downtown UTSA is expected to Campus, are driving by release a Request for car or riding the DownProposal (RFP) for a town shuttle provided public-private partnerby DoubleTree that runs ship in the fall. every hour from 8 a.m. to “We are preparing a 10 p.m. request for proposals While students have from private developers these two housing opfor a mixed-use developtions available in the ment on the Downtown

Goodbye to Taco Taco and Mooyah Burgers Continued from Page 1 options such as nachos during later hours at the library to breakfast tacos for students with morning classes. While UTSA students’ favorite and most frequently visited food options, such as

Starbucks and Panda Express, will remain in the Student Union food court, several less frequently visited food spots in the area will be subject to change with more promise for students’ preferences. Mooyah will be replaced by Slice Pizza and Wings that offer $5 and $6 combos

with pizza, wings, salads, milkshakes, calzones, Stromboli and vegetarian options to choose from. Taco Taco will be replaced by Rowdy’s Global Kitchen, featuring Indian and Mediterranean food options. Of the Global Cuisine options presented at Rowdy’s Global Kitchen, vegetar-

World A recent study released this month by the University of Maryland suggests that 2017 was the third consecutive year that the number of terrorist attacks around the world, and the deaths caused by them, has dropped. As of now, 2018 potentially looks on track to be lower than normal statistics. The university’s Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) program found there were 10,900 terrorist attacks around the world last year.

This year’s numbers reflect a drop from 2016, which in turn was a drop from 2015.

Science A new study shows that school-aged children tend to echo the incorrect but unanimous responses of a group of robots to a simple visual task. Psychologist, Anna-Lisa Vollmer of Bielefeld University, Germany, adapted a 1950s social psychology experiment in which most adults agreed with groups of peers who had been coached to say that lines of different lengths were in fact the same lengths. Each robot was programmed to make periodic movements and spoke with distinctive, individualized voice pitches when making line judgements. The study’s 43 participating British gradeschoolers, aged seven to nine, agreed with three-quarters of the robots’ inaccurate answers.

Courtesy of UTSA

UTSA Downtown Campus

Freshmen can now fulfill degrees at Downtown Campus

By Alejandro (AJ) Lopez Co-News Editor Beginning in the Fall 2018 semester, UTSA students taking classes at the Downtown Campus will have more options to create their course schedules and reduce their need to travel between the Downtown and Main Campus to fulfill degree requirements.

These curriculum enhancements are part of the Presidential Initiative on the Downtown Campus to provide an all-inclusive learning experience to students in the College of Architecture, Construction and Planning, College of Public Policy and College of Education and Human Development.

“This is an initiative driven by Dr. Eighmy’s desire to expand enrollment and opportunities for our student at the

Downtown Campus,” said Lisa Blazer, UTSA interim vice president for strategic enrollment and co-chair of the curriculum task force for the presidential initiative on the downtown campus.

“Our ultimate goal is to allow our undergraduates to complete their entire degree at the Downtown Campus, which has already been in place for graduate students in certain academic programs.”

As part of the curriculum changes, incoming first-year students pursuing degrees in either the College of Public Policy or College of Architecture, Construction and Planning can now enroll in a full-time schedule at the Downtown Campus.

One option is to register for a block schedule, according to their chosen academic pathway. The block courses are offered on a two-day schedule,

Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday, so that students can take a full course load and have every Friday off.

“We want to provide great options and flexibility for our students,” Blazer said. “Most of them [students] work and have other obligations outside of school.

We want every UTSA student to succeed. Expanded course scheduling supports that goal.”

In regards to academic pathway block schedules, Blazer believes it will be highly beneficial for students.

“We want students to be able to come downtown for all of their courses in one day so that they don’t have to drive back and forth between the Downtown Campus and the Main Campus to attend class,” Blazer said. “We are also working to keep the hours the

Ricky Galindo/The Paisano

Ricky Galindo/The Paisano

Campus that will include a substantial number of residential units along with retail and dining options,” Price said.

For more information on leasing at the Tobin Lofts, contact leasing@ livetobinlofts.com or call 210-320-0822. For more information on leasing at DoubleTree, contact Jennifer Perez at 210388-0322.

ian and healthy options will also be available for students who prefer fresh items during the busy school week. “ The vegetarian options on campus make me more satisfied in choosing lunch on campus, especially because people are starting to be on a vegetarian wave, I’m glad to see that UTSA is catering to their students,” senior kinesiology major, Mor-

gan Allen said. “They not only replaced a place that was arguably unhealthy, but they’re giving students room to explore different cultures while making it exciting to eat healthy, what an experience!”

All of UTSA’s new dining options will be open and ready to welcome students on the start of classes, August 22nd.

classes are being offered between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. so that the students can avoid rushhour traffic.”

In addition to the academic pathway block schedules, which are open only to incoming first-year students, the colleges have worked to increase the number of Downtown Campus courses that are offered on a two-day schedule and are open to all continuing students.

With more students attending the Downtown

Campus, additional services are being provided to the campus. The Curriculum Task Force is ramping up the services provided by dining, advising, tutoring, supplemental instruction, peer mentoring and UTSA One Stop Enrollment Center.

The curriculum subgroup is now looking at course offerings at the Downtown Campus for the Spring 2019 semester.

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opinion Initiatives of both present and future Editorial President Eighmy has been informing students and staff about various initiatives that the university plans to enact. A few of these initiatives are apart of the Campus Master Plan, which focuses on creating a framework for the development of UTSA campuses over the next 10 years.

It also hopes to enhance the Downtown and Main Campus,

while still being an urban-serving university.

UTSA also plans to develop a Center of Excellence for over 350 student athletes. This center is aimed to help student athletes excel against their D1 competition. Each of these developments have the potential to change UTSA from a commuter campus to a top tier university. Even though the UTSA administration is advocating for institutional

enhancement, current students may not want to see their university changed from a close knit institution into a large, unrecognizable, top tier university.

UTSA should not strive for infrastructal growth if it will alienate its current students for the potential of becoming a renowned university. For example, UTSA’s administration is currently trying to find ways to get students to live at

Dream no small dreams Op-Ed

By President Taylor Eighmy University of Texas at San Antonio

Welcome to the new academic year, Roadrunners!

As you settle into your classes and adjust to the pace of the fall semester, allow me to offer you a few words to carry you through the year: Remember to dream big.

Believe me, I know it’s easier said than done. I have vivid memories of being a student and how easy it was for life’s many distractions and responsibilities to get in the way of visualizing where I wanted to go.

In fact, as a freshman at Tufts University back in 1975, I had no idea how to set big goals. After a rather lost first year (followed by a year away from school where I worked to help put myself

through college), I had the good fortune of finding a faculty mentor who changed the course of my life.

Dr. Pechenik brought me into his marine biology lab and invited me to join his research group. He sparked my AHA! moment – the realization that I had the passion and capacity to become a scientist. He helped me find my big dreams, and undergraduate research became my catalyst.

One of the most important things you can do before leaving UTSA is find a faculty mentor. When you experience an AHA! moment in the classroom, seek out those faculty members after class to have a deeper conversation. Invite them to coffee. Ask if you can get involved in their research. Putting a little energy into these connections will reap tremendous benefits.

One of our Commencement speakers last May, Lorenzo Gomez, spoke about assigning important people to your individual board of directors. You can view his speech at bit.ly/GomezUTSA. A UTSA faculty mentor is a perfect personal board member.

Enjoy every moment of your year, Roadrunners. Make the most of your time at UTSA. Your professors are rooting for you, and so am I. Be bold, think big and dream on.

the new downtown housing area; however, students at the Main Campus have still been requesting class spaces for their major and for parking to improve.

UTSA staff should also stop finding different ways to fund athletic departments (ventures).

Instead, these funds should be used to enhance different departments and courses; so, students do not have to pray they get into a course before it’s full or have

to take a shuttle to a campus that most students don’t or want or can’t to travel too.

Rather than invest in sports the university needs to invest in students, arts and humanities.

Instead of solely focusing on the future, UTSA should also focus on the present. UTSA shouldn’t get so caught up planning for the future, which can destroy what makes us great now.

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Starting the school year strong Op-Ed

By Rep. Lloyd Doggett U.S. House of Representative Whether you’re just learning your way around the campus or embracing your last year, it is clear that we need educated leaders like you to help govern our community, now more than ever.

WORKING FOR YOU: Many Roadrunners continue to contact me in support of net neutrality. I strongly agree.

With a complete disregard for

public opinion, Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Ajit Pai, led the repeal of the net neutrality rules. As a longtime advocate for a free and open internet for all, I am sponsoring a congressional resolution to override the FCC’s decision. While Republicans have been blocking a vote in the House, three Republicans joined Democrats in passing a resolution in the Senate.

MAKING PROGRESS: We must make college more affordable for families. I have supported legislation that would limit interest rates on federal loans and provide more student Pell Grants. I also authored provisions in the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), allowing a tax cut of up to $10,000 on education expenses such as tuition, textbooks, and fees. Despite this progress, many students, and their parents, are

too discouraged by the price tag of college to even apply. Many that do apply find the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process too complicated. That is why I introduced the Equitable Student Aid Access Act. This makes the FAFSA available earlier, makes more students eligible for the full Pell Grant amount, and enables qualifying students to answer fewer questions to complete the already complicated form.

SUPPORTING STUDENT PARENTS AND DREAMERS: I salute UTSA’s student-parents who, with the help of organizations like UTSA Students Raising Children, are determined to continue their education to achieve their full potential and provide for their children’s future. I support parents’ efforts to obtain the child care access they need and denounce President Trump’s proposed elimination of

the “Child Care Access Means Parents in School” program.

UTSA has the second largest population of DACA students in Texas. There is no excuse for Republican leaders to continue blocking any vote regarding the status of about 800,000 Dreamers, since Trump wrongly terminated their work permits on September 5. These are the young people, brought here as children, who have cleared a criminal background check, and many of whom have completed their studies and are contributing to our communities. I am standing up to Trump and working to overcome the other obstacles to responsible action for Dreamers.

GET INVOLVED. Tearing families apart, holding our Dreamers as ransom for an unnecessary and wasteful wall, demonizing foreigners, expressing ignorance about Mexico and Mexicans, government by

tweet—these are the trademarks of the current Administration. If there were ever a time for Roadrunners to unite in seeking increased participation, it is now!

Our democracy is at stake. We must act together to restore some genuine checks and balances.

Make sure you are registered to vote! Visit https://www.bexar. org/elections to get registered or update your address before the October 9 deadline.

Another way to get involved is through an internship in my San Antonio office. Please email your cover letter and resume to my San Antonio District Director and UTSA Alum MaryEllen.

Veliz@mail.house.gov. As you settle into your classrooms this school year, I too will be at my desk, hard at work, ensuring your priorities are my priorities.

I welcome your good counsel.

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Choosing a Major? Think With Your Heart!

Commentary

By Rebecca Saenz Contributing Writer On a sunken cushion in the University Health Professions Office, I shifted with clammy hands, clonking knees and wandering eyes that scoured the room for a way out. Nurses make

good money, I reassured myself.

It’s time to pick a major. But, I didn’t want to be a nurse; I had no idea what I wanted. I remember the hard days, but now as a senior English major, I look back and smile. A lot of freshmen don’t know what they want yet, and I reveal to them the secret to choosing the right major: think with your heart.

You must know what you really want. You don’t invent your dream life overnight, but you must think about it to live it. I used to sit in the shade, bulletpoint my wants (educational, financial, material, everything) in a journal several times a week and look for patterns amid my

entries. I was honest and reactive. The exercise never spelled out a specific major for me, but I soon realized that choosing the right major isn’t logical. Most people who love what they do attest to an unexplainable gut feeling or internal drive that brings them to their line of work.

We rationalize options, but we ought to let intuition drive us— that’s thought processing with the heart. Eventually, I knew I wanted to major in English but didn’t change my major: I was scared.

You must summon the courage to pursue what you want. During my self-reflection, I diagnosed “money” and “security” as top

Stereotyping and how it affects college students Commentary

By Brent Davis Contributing Writer Chris Rock once made a joke in his stand-up comedy about 20 years ago, where he stated that, “If you are black you will get more respect in the “hood” coming out of prison, than coming out of college.” Mr. Rock was saying that since African Americans were in the lower rank of society, higher education was not really an option. Even if one had obtained a degree, no one would care since it was so far away from the reality most African Americans would have. Stereotypes like this have affected me as a student. These stereotypes can also affect anyone and our perceptions of others. My hope is that people open their eyes to the pressures and stresses that a normal student faces while going through their college life.

No one ever said that college would be a breeze. Stress will eventually happen to everyone who goes through the rigors of

higher education. But one thing affected me when it came to stress in college; that was trying to deal with the negative stereotypes of being an African American student. I was raised in a harsh neighborhood and my story did not follow down the path that was expected of me; it was vastly different from the lives of my friends and even some of my family. When I got accepted into Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois in 2009, my mom was the only one that celebrated with me. Friends called me an “Uncle Tom,” family asked “why bother learning the white man’s education that is against the black population.” Not to mention I was going to a school that did not have many African Americans. There were classes skipped, others blamed and lots of pain that acknowledged that fitting in seemed impossible for me.

There were many days where I truly acted out in school because, in my mind, it made me feel blacker. I was truly caught into the stereotype, which in turn led to me failing out of school and the only thing my friends and family did was laugh and said “we told you so.” At the time, I did let the stereotype win and it took years for me to get back into school because of it. This, of course, is just one example of how a bad stereotype can affect one’s education. But what hap-

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Commentary

By Triston Simpson-Bland Staff Writer Jyron Joseph, a UTSA senior music major and member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, was nominated as a representative for the National Collegiate Province and won the election by a vast majority. Joseph will be holding this position for the next three years, meaning he is the liazon between the national executive committee and the average brother across the nation.

Joseph believes his new position allows him to educate minority students. “I can bring up new programs that brothers want, like teaching them how to pay back loans with the board of executives to see if it’s worth pursuing. I also want to educate my brothers throughout the nation about the cultures of HBCU [Historically Black Colleges and Universities] and PWI [Predominantly White Institutions], so that I can unify them under one mantra,” which he calls “raising the song.” Joseph thinks that “raising the song for sinfonians does

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myself together. It seemed irrational to walk away from an auspicious, high-paying career choice but I was heading into the wrong major and knew it. I’ve witnessed several waves of freshmen and spied on the meditative faces of students considering their options. If you loathe your current major, it’s not the right one for you; find something you like. Those who determine what they want and have the courage to pursue it will create their own success. From a content upperclassman to my new peers: think with your heart!

Student Spotlight: Jyron Joseph

pens when we place the stereotypes on others?

You see, I learned that we all have stereotypes, not only within ourselves but also how we perceive others. Remember when I said I could not fit in? Well, that is because I had stereotypes of white people being rich and preppy, or that Asians were only smart because their parents put pressure on them to be so.

Hypocrisy comes to mind when I think of it now and how I was labeling people, while not wanting to be labeled myself. But, as I learned more about people, a realization finally hit me and that was we are all the same. Yeah, some students are better off, but that doesn’t mean they do not get stressed out too. No matter what background one is from no one likes to be stereotyped. We all have issues, and we all know the stereotypes placed on us by our families and society as a whole.

What I am getting at is that we are all human beings and that it should not matter what these stereotypes suggest. We are all apart of humanity. The best way to overcome these stereotypes is to start listening and showing compassion. We should remind each other that labels should not bring us down; more importantly, knowing that we are all trying to be successful in college.

Sports

priorities on my list. These motivated me out of fear, and it’s true that many people would rather passively remain in an unloved major than face change with all its turbulence and risks; however, we aren’t meant to live by fear.

I believe successful people are those propelled out of bed every morning by their own inquiry, fascination and zeal. When I was a freshman, I hadn’t figured that out. Now I consider myself successful not because of money, but because I do what I love – have courage!

I’m typically calm, but I panicked in that office. I murmured some excuse to the secretary and fled to the bathroom to pull

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not just mean bringing awareness for things like diversity, equality and acceptance – but also actively working towards change everyday.”

He plans on putting this into action by traveling to various schools throughout the nation to talk to the “average joe” sinfonian to see if they think they are making a difference. “If they believe they are not on track, I want to challenge them to do more,” Joseph said, “Doing this will unify us and help Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonians put a face to the name.”

Jyron Joseph also has plans that are more local to UTSA, he explained this by saying “I want to change people’s perspectives of fraternities and sororities.”

Joseph “no longer wants them to be seen as a group that only drinks and parties.”

“We are individuals that live by ideals. For us, our mantra is to uplift mankind with the power of music.”

Joseph wants people to know “what they do, have done and will continue to do is bring change to improve people’s lives with music.”

Ossian E Mills, the founder of Phi Mu Alpha, stated, “This is it to be a man of the highest type.

To be and not seem; to do and not simply to talk; to have the right ideal, the true motive and patiently to transform conduct in accordance with it.”

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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6 | editor@paisano-online.com

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A u g u s t 2 1 - A ugu st 2 8, 2018

arts@paisano-online.com | 7

Arts & Life

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

The beaches of Guyana littered with tires and waste.

Strawless in Seattle

The recent fad of reducing plastic straw usage draws attention to larger ocean waste .

R

By: Natalia Brookens Staff Writer

ecently, social media has been filled with images and videos of beaches covered in plastic, as well as sea animals washed ashore dead with their stomachs filled with plastic.

Of the 260 million tons of plastic produced each year, only 10 percent of that will end up in the oceans. In 2018, the amount of plastic polluting the oceans has become a hot topic.

This has led to a mainstream push from people to become aware of their plastic use. The main focus of these protests has been one-use plastic straws.

At the beginning of July, 2018, Seattle became the largest city to ban plastic straws, soon to be followed by many other cities like Miami Beach, New York City and Portland, as well as legislators in California and Hawaii introducing straw restriction proposals.

Starbucks wants to phase out plastic straws from their stores by 2020, and McDonald’s is going to ban plastic straws in their UK and Ireland stores. While the push to use less plastic is much-needed, people should also be aware that the push to ban plastic straws ignores people with disabilities and their need for one-use plastic straws.

While there are alternatives to plastic drinking straws, like paper straws, pasta straws, silicone straws and metal straws, they all have their own accessibility issues for people with disabilities. Not all disabled individuals have the funds to afford these straws.

If they can afford it, it is another thing that people with disabilities would have to remember to bring along with them when they go out into public spaces. And, if they forget to bring their own straw to a place that doesn’t offer straws, that could disable them from being able to eat or

drink. Reusable straws need to be cleaned and sanitized, which would be difficult for people who do not have full mobility.

And, straws made of paper and pasta get soggy and fall apart if left in liquid too long.

This push for plastic-use awareness has been amazing, but it should not ignore people with disabilities. Nor should it ignore the fact that the majority of plastic polluting the oceans is not plastic bottles and straws, but abandoned fishing gear.

Of the 79,000 metric tons of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a trash vortex circulating in the central North Pacific Ocean, microplastics only make up 8 percent of the patch.

Fishing nets make up 46 percent of the patch, along with other abandoned fishing gear making up a majority of the rest of the patch. Ghostnets, a term created to describe fishing nets that have been purposely or accidentally discarded, are drift-

ing throughout the ocean and this causing an estimated 100,000 marine animals to become strangled, suffocated or injured.

People should continue their push to use less plastic in their daily lives, but companies should be held accountable for their overuse and improper disposal of plastics. The movement must continue, but it must move past straws, “gateway plastic” and onto larger and more serious plastic pollution issues.

Of the eight million tons of plastic that flows into the oceans every year, plastic straws only make up 0.025 percent of that. The focus on individual products should be moved onto bigger issues, like proper disposal techniques of plastic by manufacturing companies.

This article is the first in a four part series on the environment.

Fiesta Dancers Revamped By: Katrina Clements Arts & Life Editor The fiberglass sculpture of the infamous Fiesta Dancers created by Luis Jimenez was reglazed this summer to give a fresh glossy look to the work. The sculpture being

installed outside the UTSA Student Union in 1996, however this work is not unique to UTSA as there are four other statues around the country.

Photo courtesy of Paisano Staff

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This I promise you

Lebron James creates a new school to extend quality education across financial borders.

By: Kimiya Factory Staff Writer Lebron James makes history on and off the court with something as simple as a promise; the promise of an education and much more.

Once an at-risk youth himself and the child of a single-mother on welfare, the present-day National Basketball Association (NBA) star hasn’t forgotten his roots; James has opened an $8 million school for at-risk kids in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

This new establishment is oriented towards children who face issues at home that most children wouldn’t have experienced at a young age. Lebron’s nonprofit foundation and the Akron Public School system have come together to create the new school named IPromise, that goes above and beyond the classroom to better the lives of the students that attend the new school.

James has focused on the children’s educational and personal needs by implementing a curriculum that focuses on the root of any issues faced at home or at school.

Other sports greats like Andre Agassi, who created the Andre Agassi College Prep Academy a tuition free school focused on minority enrollment, or Roynell Young’s Pro-Vision Academy

which had an average graduation rate of 90 percent, have all opened similar schools with a philanthropic outlook. What makes James’ IPromise school any different from other stars who want to make a change? Although these schools were going in the same direction as James, the end game wasn’t necessarily the same. Not only does James take a bottom-up approach by

offering GED courses and job opportunities for the parents of students attending the school and free meals, but he also promises tuition for a post-secondary

education, specifically for students who successfully complete his program. Enrollment at his school also comes with a brandnew bicycle for every student who comes in the door on their first day of school.

“A bicycle for me was the only way to get around the city,” James told the Wall Street Journal, “Everything I do comes from my child-

hood, my growing up, and what I feel was part of my success.”

James is determined to make an impact throughout the lives of students impacted by his program, superseding the efforts of stars with similar ideas.

With every great at-

tempt at making a change, comes scrutiny; and what better way to poke a hole in one of the most generous efforts in history?

Tax payers. One of the most controversial topics concerning Lebron’s new school is the funding; aside from his generous $8

well, why would tax dollars going towards a holistic approach in the education system create a noticeable deficit? Only time will tell, and James is determined to see change within that time.

Philanthropist for a lifechanging public school by day and an NBA star dunking in the Finals by night; Lebron James healed the deep cuts that poverty inflicted upon his own academic performance by addressing many others in similar situations.

IPromise is the start of a promise that writes James in philanthropic history forever.

million donation, it is, after all, a publicly funded school. However, would it hurt one to think that if at-risk students occupy Akron’s other public schools as

Under pressure Millennials face growing stress of high expectations placed by society.

By: Lori Moreno Contributing Writer A common misconception is that these “new-coming” generations have everything handed to them. The irony is, millennials have the most onerous burden that others cannot fathom and expectations that are more than a little ridiculous.

Both sides (baby boomers and millennials) seem to have contradicting views on the subject. Jubilee, a public debate account on YouTube, has had this very same argument. “A baby boomer is somebody who was taught to work hard, and if you want something, you have to figure out how to go get it rather than someone handing it to you.”

Although isn’t it the same for any generation, or anything in general? There will always be people who take advantage of the system and there will still be people that will find whatever reason they can to not work. This could be a reason as to why expectations are so high.

The ever-declining pool of jobs is alarming as the world continues to advance with automation and technol-

ogy. A survey would show that incoming college students have a consuming desire for luxury, but lack the will to work for them. Two out of the three baby boomers interviewed for this article say that the high expectations come from being “old school.” But, the reality is that not all baby boomers integrate and take into consideration that it is a new society.

In their prime, boomers grew up in a very black and white picture where the grey was little to non-existent. Whereas today’s society, the whole film is grey with spots of white and black splattered in indiscriminate placements.

Millennials have a completely different point of view for the new generation. Millennials believe in opportunity and believe in their ability to strive to achieve those opportunities unconditionally.

Honor students at the university think that it is “not easy at all” to meet their quota, and believe it or not, it is not due to their capabilities. The genuine difficulty is finding the motivation to continue to earn

the honor’s status when those achievements become expectations. “We are put on a moral pedestal to do well and rise above the majority, yet, we are given the same resources.” An honor student stated that the expectations can be overbearing, especially when the ‘cookie cutter’ stereotype becomes the expected. If honor students, the top tier of our society, seen as the most intellectual and mature, agree that it’s too hard, how can it be expected from the ‘lower tiers’?

So, why is it so difficult to integrate into the work force with these new developments and new opportunities to be successors of the past generations? This question seems to resonate in the essence of the millennials themselves, not only that, but new opportunities do not equal further and greater success. “Because we were put under a ‘glass ceiling’ as children we never really experienced an honest day’s work,” said a UTSA sophomore student, who is currently in the job hunting process.

Today’s employers want that experi-

ence, and since those opportunities are not extended to the newer generations, it is a lot harder to find a job, much less hold a position. Employers also want college degrees and hours.

Baby boomers were not required to have these in their prime. Speaking of which, a lot of people are dropping out of college because their families are not fortunate enough or capable of investing in the money for their college degree; because due to the contrary belief, college is expensive. Which it wasn’t back in the prime of the baby boomers.

The pressure is existent for millennials and is so overpowering, that achievements have become expectations and the standard for success is as unreachable as the Moon while standing on the Earth.

The Weekend AUGUST 24 - Howdy Rowdy Bash / $25 5:30 - 11p.m. at Six Flags Fiesta Texas Exclusive UTSA event with music from Jesse McCartney and exclusive ride time on the parks attractions.

AUGUST 25 - Pearl Farmers Market / Free 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Historic Pearl Local and surrounding area vendors bring fresh produce to San Antonio every Saturday.

The Paisano

The Independent Student Newspaper for the UTSA Community

Join us! | Journalism | Writing | Photography | | Audio/Video Production | Graphic Design | | Magazine | Advertising | Marketing | | Website Management | Events Planning | | Social Media | Public Relations |

When: Every Wednesday 6 p.m.

(Beginning Aug. 22) Where: The Paisano Media Arts Center 14526 Roadrunner Way

AUGUST 25 - UTSA Football Fan Day / Free 6 - 8:30 p.m. at The Alamodome Open for tailgating at 10 a.m. with the Spirit Walk to follow at 4 p.m. The team will scrimmage at 6 p.m., and after the scrimmage there will be a photo and autograph session with the team.

AUGUST 26 - Sunday Sumertime Markets / Free 12 - 5 p.m. at Brick at Blue Star Arts Complex Local artists and vendors bring vinyl records, photography, custom art, vintage fashion, jewelry, soaps and oils.

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

A u g u s t 2 1 - A ugu st 2 8, 2018

sports@paisano-online.com | 9

Sports 2018 Conference USA preview

Ricky Galindo/The Paisano

Josiah Tauaefa and the Roadrunner Defense are poised for another strong year.w

Teams to watch in the C-USA west division

By Ryan Garza Sports Editor With football season on the horizon, this season is starting to shape up as a very interesting year for Conference USA (C-USA). Let’s take a look at how each school in the West Division will stack up against one another this fall season: The University of North Texas (UNT): 2017 Record 9-5 (7-1 C-USA) The surprise team of the conference last year who won the West Division and wound up playing Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic University (FAU) was close to not even doing any of that. The Mean Green were able to pull off close wins against the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), the University of Alabama (UAB), Louisiana Tech University (“Louisiana Tech”) and the Army football team. With quarterback Mason Fine at the helm this fall season and a defense that is looking to improve off of last season, I predict that UNT can win at least eight games this season with their biggest game on Nov. 17 when they take on FAU. The University of Southern Mississippi (“Southern Miss”): 2017 Record 8-5 (6-2 C-USA) After a strong 2017 campaign, where the Golden Eagles saw great success all season, running the ball and winning

close games things this season could fare very different. With the loss of four year running back, Ito Smith, Southern Miss could lose a little bit of their punch in offense. I predict this year to be a down year for Southern Miss, where they’ll only win five games and their biggest game on Nov. 3 against Marshall University.

UAB: 2017 Record 8-5 (6-2 C-USA) After tying with Southern Miss for the second-best record in the West, don’t expect the same thing this upcoming season. With senior quarterback, A.J. Erdely, returning for his final season, and the second leading rusher in the conference, Spencer Brown, back and a strong defense with most of their returning starters, I can see the Blazers winning at least eight games this year with their biggest game on Oct. 20 against UNT. Louisiana Tech: 2017 Record 7-6 (4-4 C-USA) The Bulldogs are always a threat in CUSA and 2018 should be no exception to that. Louisiana Tech could play spoiler if they can rack up enough wins this season.

J’Mar Smith will be the starting quarterback this fall season, and I expect that he will continue to make an impact for his team. But, if the defense doesn’t stay healthy, expect the games to be close. My prediction is that the Bulldogs will win

at least six games this season with their biggest game against Southern Miss on Nov. 17.

UTSA: 2017 Record 6-5 (3-5 C-USA) After starting out the season 3-0 against Baylor, Southern University and Texas State University, the Roadrunners would go on to lose some heartbreakers against North Texas, Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech. But, don’t count out the ‘Runners in 2018, with new offensive coordinator (OC) Al Borges here to breathe in some new life for the offense. Expect Jalen Rhodes and new junior college athlete (JUCO) Deven Boston to provide a dynamic backfield on the offense. The defense looks poised to remain as strong as last season with havoc creators on the defensive line Eric Banks and Kevin Strong Jr. being key pieces. It’s also a bonus when you have a special team’s unit with Yannis Routsas and Jared Sackett. I predict a seven-win season for the Roadrunners with their biggest game against UNT on Nov. 24.

Rice University: 2017 Record 1-11 (1-7 C-USA) There wasn’t much that went well for the Owls last season. But, with a new season and a new head coach, Mike Bloomgroom, Rice can start to lay the foundation down for a rebuild. With most of their backfield returning to the team that can

help, I don’t expect much to come out of the Owls for the next couple of seasons.

But, I think that they will be able to win at least two games this season with their biggest game against Houston on Sept. 1.

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP): 2017 Record 0-12 (0-8 C-USA) The 2017 Miners were anything but spectacular. UTEP hired Dana Dimel this offseason who once worked under legendary coach Bill Snyder at Kansas State University. Expect UTEP to go through some major rebuilding, including this upcoming season as the Miners will try to find their identity. The defense should be modest with some of their returning starters. I predict a two-win season and the most crucial game to come against Rice on Nov. 3.

I didn’t mention the East Division but I still envision FAU as the clear favorite with Marshall University and Florida International University (FIU) contending as well. I also believe that Western Kentucky University will have a bounce back year and, if the conditions are right, will be able to challenge FAU in the East.

My final prediction is that FAU and UAB will meet in the C-USA Championship game this year.

Super Bowl LII? Rams and Jags, of course Most valuable player and other bold predictions for 2018 season

By Josh Levario Staff Writer Super Bowl Prediction: Los Angeles Rams vs Jacksonville Jaguars Carried by their stellar defenses, these two teams will have no problem defending the top offensive juggernauts in the league throughout the playoffs. In the end, the Rams’ strong offense lead by Todd Gurley, will be too much for Blake Bortles and company to match. Expect a highly defensive game that is decided in the latter half of the matchup. Final Score: 20-10 Rams.

National Football Conference (NFC) Championship: Rams and Packers Aaron Rodgers will be back in most valuable player (MVP) form, but the Packers defensive woes will come back to haunt them. Not to mention Sean McVay and the rest of the Rams coaching staff will be coming prepared with a strong offensive game plan. Jared Goff and Todd Gurley will wear down the Packers defense and close out the game.

Final Score: 35-24 Rams.

AFC Championship: Patriots and Jaguars These two teams met last year, but this time, the Jags will turn the tide and defeat

the Tom Brady-led Patriots. The Jaguars’ stellar defense led by cornerback, Jalen Ramsey, will keep Brady at bay while Blake Bortles takes a huge leap forward offensively and has his best year yet.

Final score: 21-17 Jaguars.

MVP: Todd Gurley / Los Angeles Rams Todd Gurley was getting slight MVP nods last season before the award was handed to Tom Brady, but if the Rams manage to win the Super Bowl in 2018 there is no doubt that Gurley will be an integral reason for it. Head coach Sean McVay overhauled the Rams’ offense last year, during which Gurley saw himself not only be the Rams leading rusher but

also its leading pass catcher. Obviously, the odds are stacked against Gurley to win MVP, as the last five winners have all been quarterbacks. However, if there is anyone with enough talent to take it, it is definitely him.

Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers / Green Bay Packers After being sidelined with a broken collarbone during week six of the 2017 regular season, Rodgers returns to light the league on fire. Although he lost Jordy Nelson to free agency, his ability to throw Continued on page 10 See “Super Bowl LII”

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Super Bowl LII? Rams and Jags, of course Most valuable player and other bold predictions for 2018 season

Photo courtesy of David Ludwig/flickr

QB Jared Goff looks for an open target during practice.

Continued from page 9 his receivers open is unprecedented. He will end the season with the most touchdowns out of any quarterback, barring injury. Expect at least 4,400 yards passing, 42 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jalen Ramsey / Jacksonville Jaguars An award usually given to defensive ends and linebackers, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, has enough talent to snag the award. Coming off a 2017 All-Pro and Pro Bowl season, Ramsey is the antithesis to many of the great receivers and quarterbacks in the league. In 2017, he and his teammate AJ Bouye held quarterbacks to their lowest completion rates when

targeted at 35.7 percent and 38.7 percent, respectively. With a chip as big as anyone else’s on his shoulder, the sky is the limit for Ramsey.

Comeback Player of the Year: Josh Gordon / Cleveland Browns Gordon has had a difficult relationship with the National Football League (NFL) and its substance abuse policies. Since he was suspended for the majority of the last three seasons, he has not had a chance to recreate his electric 2013 All-Pro year, which saw him achieve over 1,600 receiving yards. Now, surrounded by new talent and a seemingly full season ahead of him, there is no limit to what he can do.

Rookie of the Year: Saquon Barkley / New York Giants

The stars are aligned for Barkley to break out. All he has to do is go out there and grab it. The all-star of the most recent NFL Scouting Combine is going to a team that will depend on him from day one. His job will be easier with Odell Beckham keeping safeties wary of staying in the box and the Giants’ offensive line improvement from last year.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Saquon Barkley The second overall pick is a sure shot to get touches starting week 1. With the return of Beckham, Barkley is unlikely to see stacked boxes and can do some serious damage with a rare combination of size and speed. Expect at least 1,000 rushing yards and 10 plus touchdowns on

the ground.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Bradley Chubb With a defense already featuring one of the game’s best pass rushers with Von Miller, Denver’s Bradley Chubb will have no problem reaching the quarterback in his inaugural season. The fifth overall pick was the first Edge player selected and will showcase his skills in the upcoming 2018 season. Teams will have no option but to cover Chubb with one man as Von Miller has proven that he requires a double team at the very least to keep him at bay. Look for Chubb to end the year as the rookie sack leader.

Wild NBA offseason shakes up the whole league Big name players were on the move this offseason

By Zach Truesdale Staff Writer Another summer passed, another rollercoaster of an offseason for the basketball world and its fans. From trades, free agents signings and drafts, every team is bulking up their rosters in hopes for a shot at the National Basketball Association (NBA) title for the 2018-19 offseason.

First things first, we will address the elephant in the room, and by elephant, I mean the 270 pound, 6’11’’ center that is Demarcus Cousins. Cousins signed with the Golden State Warriors and only made the back-to-back champions even more dominant with arguably the best center in the league. Although his Achilles is injured, once he comes back I don’t expect to see too much of a downfall in his statistics as he averaged 25.2 PPG, 12.9 RPG and 5.4 APG in only 48 games last year. The Warriors have never had a center of this caliber, surrounding talent Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green making the starting five all participated in All-Star games. The five have a combined total of 25 All-Star Game appearances.

The other and probably most important signing in California was the King, Lebron James, deciding to take his talents to the West Coast. Shaking up the Western Conference and leaving the Eastern Conference up for grabs, LeBron James has joined the dynasty that is the Los Angeles Lakers. He liked the potential in the young stars and the opportunity to compete in a tougher conference. He also understands the team’s history and wants to be added to list of Laker legends.

The Lakers were also able to add JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley and Lance Stephenson. Is this the beginning of a new era? Only time will tell, but with these additions to their young core, the Lakers look to make a big splash this season.

With the devastating loss of LeBron James, a silver lining was took place for the Cavaliers as they will keep Kevin Love on a four-year contract. Eighth overall pick, Collin Sexton, looks to immediately make an impact on the Cavaliers

and keep them in playoff contention.

All Spurs fans were hurt once rumors began that Kawhi Leonard wanted out of San Antonio. The 2017-18 season seemed to drag on and, out with his injury, the team lost their connection with Leonard out of the way. Once he expressed that he no longer wanted to be a part of the organization, the Spurs began weighing their options on where to send him. The Spurs may have got the steal of the year by getting DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl along with a protected first-round pick in 2019 for Leonard and Danny Green. The Spurs are looking to not miss a beat with the absence of Leonard this season.

After Boston lost to Cleveland 4-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics wanted to keep their core intact. They were able to bring back guard, Marcus Smart, on a four-year, $52 million contract.

The Mavericks got DeAndre Jordan, signing him and Dirk Nowitzki for another season. With Dennis Smith Jr. and the 2018 third overall pick, Luka Dončić, the Mavs are looking to contend for another title as Dirk’s playing window closes.

Guard, Devin Harris, is making his return to the team as well after jumping around the league a bit.

Last season, after getting traded from Boston to Cleveland, to Los Angeles, point guard, Isaiah Thomas, is looking to make a fresh start with the Denver Nuggets. He signed a one-year contract and looks to show he still has plenty in the tank. There is still a chance of Thomas coming back to Boston for a reunion but only time will tell.

After opting in to the final year of his $27.9 million contract, Carmelo Anthony was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks waived him almost immediately, clearing the way for Anthony to become an unrestricted free agent. Once that happened, Anthony signed with the Houston Rockets joining his longtime friend Chris Paul and reigning MVP James Harden to compete for a shot at dethroning the Warriors. At least he got a jersey with his stint with the Hawks.

Dwight Howard got traded by the Charlotte Hornets to the Brooklyn Nets

LeBron taking shots in a game.

in early July. He was waived soon after and decided to sign with the Wizards. In his first press conference, Howard said, “I learned Magic for eight years. Traveled to La-La Land. Learned how to work with Rockets. I went and learned to fly with some Hawks. Got stung by the Hornets — just a joke. But through all of that, it’s taught me how to be a Wizard.”

The former defensive player of the Year is looking to show he can still bang down in the paint.

Vince Carter is going to the Hawks.

The 41-year-old is to take on the leadership role for this young team in his 21st season in the NBA. After a monster season, center, Clint Capela, signed a five-year extension to

Photo courtsey of Keith Allison/flickr

stay with the Houston Rockets. Capela was a crucial part in Houston’s success last season, and eagerly waiting for another shot at the Western Conference Championship.

All of these big names jumping around the country makes the NBA look even more different than last season as all players are chasing greatness as well as titles.

With the development of super teams as well as the young and hungry teams, this upcoming NBA season will be the most interesting yet.