8.28.2018 by The Paisano

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

Peas on Earth

Vol. 58, Issue 2

Athlete of the Week

Est. 1981

August 28 - September 4, 2018

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Rowdy where you want me Jesse McCartney performs for Roadrunner Days By Alejandro (AJ) Lopez Co-News Editor Students, faculty and alumni gathered at Six Flags Fiesta Texas for a night of fun and music to celebrate the kickoff of a new school year. Grammy nominated artist, Jesse McCartney, performed “Beautiful Soul” and other pop hits at Lone Star Lil’s Theater. Beginning at 3 p.m., students were offered free shuttle rides to Six Flags, which ran continuously throughout the event. For students who chose to drive, parking was free after 5 p.m. for event attendees. Regular park attendees were escorted out of Six Flags prior to the start of Jesse McCartney’s performance at 6 p.m., making the event exclusive to UTSA students, faculty and alumni. After the performance, attendees received a complimentary ticket only redeemable during the month of September. For the rest of the night, attendees were given exclusive ride time and access to the entire park until closing time at 11 p.m. “It was my first major event with UTSA and I loved it,” said Jeanine Vasquez, a senior biology major. “It was great that Six Flags was closed just for us because that meant shorter lines and it felt cool to be able to look around and know we all came from the same university.” This was the 23rd Howdy Rowdy Bash, an event originally designed to introduce the student body to student athletes. When

the UTSA football program began in 2011, Howdy Rowdy Bash became a part of Roadrunner Days. Barry McKinney, UTSA associate dean of students and director of student activities, commented on previous artists who have performed at the event. “Four years ago, when we had We the Kings perform, we decided having a concert was important in fostering an exceptional student experience,” McKinney said. “We have had Robert DeLong, an EDM artist, and Smallpools, an indie-pop band. We were excited to bring Jesse McCartney this year.” As a collaboration with Roadrunner Productions and the UTSA Roadrunner Days Committee, with the support of UTSA’s vice president for student affairs, Sam Gonzales, and vice president for strategic enrollment, Lisa Blazer, a night at Six Flags was added to the agenda. “The partnership between Six Flags Fiesta Texas and UTSA is unique to UTSA because their marketing director is a UTSA alumnus and worked to get this very special arrangement,” Jesse McCartney performs at Howdy Rowdy Bash at Six Flags. McKinney said. “We are currently the only university with our student population was, at nostalgic and reminded a lot of this type of partnership with Six that time, in his target market,” students of their childhood,” Flags Fiesta Texas.” McKinney said. “That’s what Palomo said. “It was nice seeing The UTSA Roadrunner Days makes him great. Students Jesse during my college experiCommittee obtained Jesse Mcremember him from when they ence.” Cartney as this year’s musical were growing up.” With over 3,500 students, facentertainer for the event. The Politics and law senior, ulty and alumni in attendance, committee wanted to bring Blanca Palomo, enjoyed her McKinney states the event was someone that connected with the time watching Jesse McCartney a success. student population. perform. Communication senior, Caro“Jesse McCartney’s greatest “The concert was very line Munoz, said the Howdy hits were in 2009 and 2010 and

Professor Hung and reserach team.

Photo courtesy of UTSA

The office for the Student Center of Community Engagemement and Inclusion.

Ricky Galindo/The Paisano

Status on the Dreamers Center

Plans promote continual improvement for student services By Heather Montoya Co-News Editor UTSA’s Dreamers Resource Center was opened for operations on Jan. 22 as part of one of President Eighmy’s initiatives

aimed toward improving inclusion on campus. The center, housed within the Student Center of Community Engagement and Inclusion (SCCEI), provides Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

students with resources needed to navigate through college life and information that is more relevant to them. The opening of the center occurred sooner than the university had initially anticipated due to

President Trump’s injunction resending DACA. President Eighmy wanted to ensure that the center would be available to help eligible students renew their DACA status. “Once President Trump was elected, we knew his spoken views on DACA, so we were preparing,” said Lydia Bueno, assistant dean of students and director of the SCCEI and the Student Leadership Center (SLC), in an interview in January. According to Courtney Balderas-Jacob, assistant director for the dreamers resource center, the center has had its intended effect. “Over the last several months, we have assisted numerous students in a variety of areas. Many of those students have come back to tell us how grateful they are for our support,” Balderas-Jacob said. “Through the dreamers center, they have learned how to navigate the university and they have developed a network of support within the university and throughout the community.” As assistant director for the center, Balderas-Jacob provides undocumented UTSA students with services ranging from legal referrals, emotional support, counselling services, peer mentoring and funding opportunities, as well as educational program-

Photo courtesy of UTSA

Rowdy Bash was a great event to start her final year at UTSA. “It was a unique experience to see Roadrunners take over the park,” Munoz said. “What a great way to start the fall semester! I look forward to attending future UTSA events and watching the university grow.”

ming for students, faculty and staff. “We have had exceedingly positive feedback and support from UTSA students, the San Antonio community and other educational and non-profit partners,” Balderas-Jacob said. The center aspires to continue helping UTSA DACA students complete this mission. “This Fall, the center will co-host an immigration symposium with RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services), other UTSA workshops and Ally training sessions for students, faculty and staff,” Balderas-Jacob said. “We will also continue to develop new partnerships with the community to grow awareness and increase our impact.” UTSA students are encouraged to take advantage of the resources provided by the center. “We want to make sure we reach all the students who would benefit from our services and provide them with the resources they need to be successful,” Balderas-Jacob said. For more information or to receive assistance, students may contact the Dreamers Resource Center through email at dreamers@utsa.edu, by phone at 210-458-7777 or by visiting the center at the SCCEI office, 2.01.04, in the Student Union.

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Waterway contamination

UTSA The UTSA Graduate School will undergo organizational changes. The Graduate School will be reorganized into three units: Graduate Strategic Enrollment, Professional Development and Academic Services. Personnel changes have been made to the structure of the Graduate School as well. Associate dean positions will be eliminated from the structure and graduate staff members will join other units within Academic Affairs.

Texas Harris County approved a $2.5 billion bond to finance flood control projects in the Houston area. The bond will help fund a flood-related buyout program, bayouwidening projects, an early flood system, floodplain maps and dredging behind dams. A portion of the bond will also be used to obtain billions of dollars in federal matching funds.

U.S. On Aug. 26, a shooting occurred during a gaming tournament at a bar in Jacksonville, Florida. There was one gunman found dead at the scene: furthermore, 2 people were killed and ten people were wounded.

World Didi Chuxing, a ride-sharing service in China, suspended the Hitch carpooling service and fired two senior executives after a woman was killed. The woman’s death was the second death of a passenger in three months. Other instances of violence or harassment by Didi Chuxing drivers have been reported.

Business Walt Disney World employees could potentially receive raises under a new contract between the company and unions. The contract would result in increasing the minimum starting pay to $15 an hour by 2021. A vote on the new contract will be conducted on Sept. 5 and 6.

Science A neuroscientist at the University of Szeged in Szeged, Hungary, has uncovered a new type of brain cell that is unique to humans and has never been seen before in mice, or other well-studied laboratory animals. The cells belong to a class of neurons known as inhibitory neurons, which cease activity of other neurons in the brain. Scientists have not proven that this special brain cell is unique to humans, but the nonexistence of this neuron in rodents provokes interest for further research. Researchers do not understand entirely what these cells’ function is in the human brain, but their absence in mice gives an example for why it is so difficult to model human brain disease in laboratory animals.

Research on effects of Hurricane Harvey Kimiya Factory Staff Writer Hurricane Harvey’s aftermath is still present nearly a year later, research for UTSA’s department of civil and environmental engineering has discovered bacteria contaminating major waterways. UTSA assistant professor, Vikram Kapoor, validated that fecal bacteria has contaminated the Guadalupe River leading to the Gulf Coast, as a result of the harsh flooding conditions Harvey created. The cause of contamination, according to KaPhoto courtesy of Creative Commons poor’s research, points to Flooding from Hurricane Harvey. fecal matter contaminated that the large number of Kapoor said. meet other waterways as water draining into fresh sewage overflows and Mass contamination a result of 800 wastewawaterways as the cause to storm-water runoff that and disease outbreaks ter plants reporting spills. the high flood levels. occurred during Hurworry researchers who “We want to come up “The research we conricane Harvey flooding see a major threat to pub- with a relationship for the ducted in the Guadalupe introduced high levels lic health after two millevels of these markers, River after Hurricane of fecal bacteria into lion pounds of contamiso if you see these markHarvey substantiates environmental waters,” nants could potentially ers what does that really

mean? Is there a public health concern?” Kapoor said. “If pathogens are present in these waters then it would be a public health concern.” Kapoor and his research team collected 50 samples from the contaminated Guadalupe River, from Seguin to Victoria, Texas. The samples used from high and low floodzones verify that the tests uncovered traces of E. coli, possibly containing other pathogens that could be equally harmful. Since the Guadalupe River is one of the most popular recreational waterways during the summer months, Kapoor wants to ensure tubers that the levels are returning to normal. According to the most recent samples taken in December, fecal bacteria levels have decreased to safer levels.

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opinion Breaking bad...stereotypes Editorial Six-foot-five, 220-pound African American college student on a scholarship. Sound like the description of a student athlete? Maybe. An athlete who is in college only because he can bounce a ball? Maybe not. What about the student struggling with his academics? Is he going to graduate? Maybe. Is he dumb? Maybe not. Stereotypes are dangerous. Just because he or she looks or acts a certain way—does not seem intelligent, for example—does not mean he or she is incapable of being more than a stereotype. For instance, the late senator and presidential candidate John McCain once struggled academically. McCain admitted that in a class of 899 students he ranked 894 in terms of academic performance—not what someone would expect of a future senator. During that time, many people may not have thought he would become a successful statesman—a positive influence in the world. Another person known for defying stereotypes is Kobe Bryant. Kobe will go down in history as one as one of the best NBA players, after skipping college and going straight into the National Basketball Association (NBA). Recently, Kobe won an Oscar for his animated short film “Dear Basketball,” which was based on a poem he wrote. Many think basketball players should “shut up and dribble,” but Kobe showed the world that athletes

eDITORIAL CARTOON

can do so much more. The tall black player is not just another student athlete; the person struggling with his or her studies is not another dumb student who won’t graduate. Every act of terrorism is not the work of a muslim. And every rape or murder is not the act of an undocumented immigrant. For the world to become a better place, the people in it have to be judged on the content of their character, not on a stereotypic image.

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A graduate’s guide to an undergrad Op-Ed

By Ben Shirani Staff writer As an entering graduate student, I took time to look back at my undergraduate career and phase out some things that ended up helping me get to this next phase in my life and some of the things that did not.

First and foremost, you need to be there. You have to show up. You must go to every single class. Attendance policies that don’t punish you for not attending are not that way because you don’t need to be there. They are that way because your professor expects you to be an adult. They also know that your punishment will be a bad grade. You will not succeed if you don’t attend class. Once you get physically inside the classroom, be sure to interact with the professor and the rest of the class. You want your professor to remember who you are and that you were always en-

gaged. Be good to your professors. Don’t get caught up in the behind the back talk and nasty reviews. These are the people who are going to vouch for you when you get done. If you do it right, they will write your letters of recommendation for graduate school, law school and jobs that require references (almost all of them). You don’t want to get to the end of your journey having burned all of the bridges you had to build to get there. Start making a list of places that you want to work when you graduate and then research the requirements for each. At the very least, this will get you a

good idea of where you should be applying for summer internships and jobs. For example, if you want to be a lawyer you should make a list of law firms that practice the kind of law that you are interested in (it’s okay if you haven’t decided) and consider getting a summer internship as a file clerk or receptionist at a law firm. If you think you are going to work for the government (especially law enforcement or intelligence) you need to make smart lifestyle choices now. Many positions will require a personal history statement and a polygraph. Study abroad for a semester. Start saving your financial aid

now and make a plan to get there. I still kick myself for not having jumped at any of the study abroad opportunities. Don’t make the same mistake I did, find a way and go. Last but not least: keep your grades up. It is easy to tell yourself that “people don’t care as long as you graduated” or “C’s get degrees,” but the reality of it is that people do care and C’s will not get you into graduate school nor will they get you into law school and some employers ask for your transcripts.

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Is rape actually an epidemic on college campus Commentary

By Rebecca Saenz Staff Writer One-in-five women will be sexually assaulted in college. This is the dreadful rape statistic spouted onto incoming college women, usually followed by a hotline number. But, what these women do not hear is that this statistic is severely swollen and has been debunked repeatedly by law

enforcement studies and mathematicians. The spurious one-in-five ratio has even been renounced by the original study that produced it: a loosely-conducted online survey in which researchers’ expansive definitions of rape muddled figures to include broader sexual assaults and even unwanted kissing. Even still, the one-infive statistic perpetuates due to its fear factor. Rape crimes still happen, but government statistics deem a national campus “rape crisis” uncommon. There is no reason to implicate a rape problem of one-in-five proportions at UTSA. The most recent UTSA Police Department annual crime report listed six rapes in 2016. However, rape remains one of the least reported crimes, and experts estimate that reported rape comprises only

10 to 40 percent of total rape rates. Even compensating with this professional estimation, UTSA rape statistics do not place anywhere near the one-in-five assertion. For example, if 10 percent of UTSA rapes were reported in 2016, one could reasonably estimate another 60 possible unreported rapes that year based on expert analysis. However, estimated annual rape rates at UTSA would have to number at least several hundred to near the one-in-five claim. Such rape rates would easily surpass those of the most violent U.S. cities. Parents would stop sending their daughters to college if this were the case – it simply is not. There is no reason to suppose that other universities are embroiled in this crisis either. Data from the Bureau of Jus-

First day jitters are natural Commentary

By Brent Davis Contributing Writer The first day of the Fall 2018 semester is notoriously the hardest day for students because everyone is returning from a long summer break. Some students prepare for the new semester, while others wish they still had a few more months. Many students are coming to college for the first time, while some are returning for another year. Whatever the case may be, the first day of class is always daunting, your body and mind become

encapsulated by nervousness. For many freshmen, this is their first time away from home and their first time making major life decisions. While others are transferring in, more students are moving here from other states and countries. Many students don’t know what to expect before they step into that first classroom–it creates a fear that overtakes us. This flood of emotions occurs not just for one semester but almost every semester. The question is, why do these emotions even exist, and why do they

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persist every semester? In my opinion, there is one absolute answer to these questions: fear of the unknown. Many students do not know how their professor will be; will they be hard, or easy? They may ask themselves, is there a heavy workload? Or, is the teacher interesting? Others dread these questions so much that they are more likely to vomit than to go inside their classroom and face these fears. To put it bluntly, the fear is real. I am in my last semester here at UTSA, but I was horrified of the first day of school. When I saw my class syllabi online, anxiety hit me like a brick. The fear of having so much work and not being able to finish it all paralyzed me for a few minutes. Just knowing that I had to read five books in eight weeks for my history seminar had me

on edge and made me terrified for my first day. The fear of making a bad grade terrorized my normally calm demeanor. All of these issues have something in common: fear of the unknown. Although these fears do persist for a long time, we eventually get over that first day of anxiety and classes progressively seem to get easier. As assignments come into view and leave shortly after, we find out that the class was not so bad, in fact, maybe easier than we anticipated. However, these fears tend to come back the following semester, even if we know better. In the end, it may be just a mental block or perhaps it’s human nature to fear the unknown.

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Commentary

By Arnulfo Caballero Contributing Writer Moving to college is an experience: the excitement of starting a new journey, being on your own and getting away from all those people you hated in high school are all part of the college experience. These feelings were no different when I was moving into a new apartment to start my sophomore year of college. I am not from San Antonio, so when move in day approached, my mom and I loaded all my stuff into the car, and made the two-and-a-half-hour drive to UTSA. I’ve lived in an apartment before, so I knew what to expect moving into my new place. I had previously visited the complex and toured a demo room. I knew that I was moving in with three other people, all of us were new to the apartment, but nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to experience. Once we got to my new place and received the keys, we made our way to my unit. The first thing that hit me when I

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locations, and speculation of widespread upheaval is largely unsubstantiated. Though rape crimes still occur, there is no reason to propagate the one-in-five statistic or to suspect a “rape crisis” at UTSA or other college campuses. Government data indicates that rape rates for college females are nowhere near one-in-five, even adjusting for unreported figures. College women deserve to be informed instead of afraid. Check out the most recent UTSAPD and Texas Department of Public Safety annual crime reports, as well as the National Institute of Justice and Bureau of Justice Statistics sexual violence webpages to stay informed.

Dirty and used: a move-in story

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tice Statistics sheds more light on the issue; their most recent study “Rape and Sexual Assault Among College-Age Females,” used algorithms calculating for professionally-assessed margins of unreported rape, experts calculate the typical rate of rape on college campuses to be between 5.0 and 7.2 per 1,000 people. It may not be zero-in-five, but it is certainly not one-in-five. While eliminating rape is ideal, the overall downward trend in violent sexual crimes should bring some relief to young college women. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ “Female Victims of Sexual Violence 1994-2010” report, yearly rape rates declined by 58 percent in the measured time span. Campuses are safer than ever, comparatively safer for women than off-campus

opened the door was the smell. It smelled rotten, as if someone had left out raw meat and allowed it to fester. Once my mom and I were inside the apartment, we noticed how truly disgusting it was. The sink was filled to the brim with dirty dishes that had seemingly gone unwashed for weeks. The fridge was filled with food that had been expired for weeks, there was even a piece of what appeared to be cheese in the corner of the fridge that had completely molded over. The cabinets were filled with spices, plates, cups, silverware, pots, pans, you name it. The wooden floor was so dirty that it seemed like it was covered in soot. In the supply closet, there was a table meant for beer pong along with a ping-pong table; furthermore, there was an assortment of shoes and boxes of clothes. The whole place was just a huge mess. My mom and I spent over four hours cleaning the kitchen and common area, and all management said was “Sorry, not our problem.” The funniest part was that while cleaning, we found a note written by one of the previous tenants. The note said “don’t worry bro, I’m going to clean the apartment before I leave.” It was an experience, but I learned one important lesson. No matter how dirty I think the apartment gets, it will never reach the levels of a leftover trap-apartment. In the end, it’s not the worst thing in the world.

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 Peas on Earth Excess production and consumption of meat and dairy has led to a dying planet.

By: Katrina Clements Arts & LIfe Editor aised awareness of human contribution to the downfall of our environment has made some individuals ask themselves, “What can I do to make a change?” One of the most popular eco-friendly trends has been transitioning to a vegan or vegetarian diet and lifestyle, to reduce one’s carbon footprint. Animal agriculture is one of the top culprits for emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Shown in documentaries such as “What the Health,” “Forks over Knives” and “Cowspiracy,” the climate conditions have become significantly worse over the years, as most people are raised to regularly consume meat and dairy with almost every meal, specifically in the United States. The mass consumption of meat and dairy products has led to mass production. As these products have a short shelflife, a high level of waste occurs. Due to a large demand for meat and dairy, production companies have little regard for how they treat the animals, and therefore little regard for the products they are selling to the consumer. The overcrowding in these facilities where the livestock are raised, is producing a greater concentrated amount of methane that goes into the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide emissions produced from the farm machinery are also a large contributors. According to the Huffington Post and

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 14 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are produced by agricultural practices. The reduction of mass production and consumption, encouraged by capitalism could lead to a global decrease in food waste and carbon footprints of consumers. According to the Huffington Post, vegan and vegetarian carbon footprints are half the size of meat eaters. The carbon and methane emissions caused by animal agriculture are not the only concerning factor, but also the excessive use of water that goes into producing meat and dairy products. Also, according to the Huffington Post, it takes 518 gallons of water to produce one pound of chicken, 718 gallons per pound of pork and 1,847 gallons per pound of beef. As compared to the average amount of water used per pound to produce most fruits and vegetables ranges between 20 to 100 gallons per pound. Of course, water is essential to grow or raise any type of food, but the growing animal agricultural production levels are wasting our most essential natural resource. The vegan or vegetarian lifestyle does not have to be something that takes away from the joys of life, but rather add a reassurance that you as an individual are actively participating in making a change. Justice Lovin, senior english major, said, “Going vegan is a great way to lessen your impact on the environment without having to make a really difficult lifestyle

change. It’s on the same level as not owning a car, and for some it’s equally impossible, but for most if not all can afford to cut out dairy or even just eat meat less regularly.” There is a common misconception that vegans and vegetarians are not consuming the proper nutrients the body needs to thrive. This is untrue, as with any diet, it is an active choice for what you consume. There are vegan and vegetarian options for almost every traditional food item which is an opportunity to try new things and possibly substitute some of your favorites for a more eco-friendly alternative. There are more options than just following either a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. A rising trend is “meatless Monday,” which entails that one does not consume meat products all day. Once a week, simple, right? These small changes to one’s diet can make a much larger impact than assumed. There is hope for the planet, and there is hope for humanity to make more ethical and ecoconscious choices.

“None of this is going to stop climate change, but it’s in line with the truth, which is that we need to fundamentally change how our economy works and how we live if we want to avoid climate catastrophe.” -Justice Lovin

This article is the second in a four part series on the environment. Graphic by Amber Chin

Look good, feel good

Thrifting is not only good for your wallet, but also for the world. By: Ana Richie Contributing Writer At first glance, it may not seem like future judges, doctors, engineers and architects walk the hallways of UTSA. Before they are able to put on their fancy white coats, robes and hats, students scramble to class wearing their mom jeans, birkenstocks, Adidas shorts and pullovers. Along with the drive and dedication it takes to get a degree, so does dressing confidently. For many students, it seems to be an accepted notion that fashion can actually play a role into their academic success. “I feel like my performance in school will be better when I dress well and feel comfortable in my outfit,” said Alex Yglesias, a marketing student. Student, Bryan Jallow said, “I feel empowered and like a rockstar.” This highlights how some students embrace their unique style, regardless if it’s anywhere near runway material or not, it can help them excel in the classroom. While throwing on a stylish, comfy and individualistic outfit to ace exams seems to be of value for some students on campus, does dressing for success equate spending loads of money? Other sustainable alternatives, such as thrifting, have become a direction that millennials have been moving toward for fashion finds – especially college students who want to stay on trend without breaking the bank. In fact, a recent study in the 2018 Fashion Resale Report indicates that millennials thrift more than past

generations, yet they are also the most wasteful when it comes to fashion. Fast fashion stores, clothing stores carrying collections modeled after fashion week’s most recent releases, are commonly shopped at by young adults. As a result, students fall victim to perpetuating a detrimental cycle of clothing creation and about 60 percent of those textile products end up in landfills due to the cheap and the easily tearable material. This is due to the demand for easily accessible and affordable clothing that college students see as one of the few options for dressing stylish. While some thrift stores might offer fast fashion brands, thrifting can help students achieve confidence through obtaining trendy clothing items for less, and help prevent the cycle of the 10 million clothing articles that end up in landfills each year when purchasing their “new” staple pieces as secondhand products, as found in the 2018 Fashion Resale Report. Thrifting and reselling are not only an easy solution for affordable fashion finds, but there are also hidden treasures that can be found, as well as ending the stigma of only shopping brand names to be confident in one’s fashion ensemble. Marketing student, Alexis Pinkerton said, “fashion is important to me, but brands aren’t everything.” In essence, making thrifting and reselling the new shopping alternative for fashion forward

pieces will not only add to one’s confidence and help create a more sustainable planet, but also break down the need to walk

around campus covered in logos. What they wear is not who they are. College halls do not have to be fashion runways; but,

From left: Tally Dilbert, Vicky, Noah Fuentes, Ana Richie and Raquel Guerra modeling clothing from Uptown Cheapskate on Huebner Rd.

students becoming confident in themselves, saving money and being more eco-friendly seems like a win win for everyone.

Photo courtesy of Kitty Davis

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Big Sis Advice: Cover your drink By: Kimiya Factory Staff Writer

Graphic by Amber Chin

The Paisano asked our Instagram followers how they feel about the latest jean trends this season.

Send your suggestions for Big Sis Advice to arts@paisanoonline.com

I know what you’re thinking, “Big sis? She better have something good to say.” And, while I might outright disappoint you with my opinions that always find themselves contrary to popular opinion, I want to focus this column solely on experience. Student to student, person to person, rainy day to rainy day; we all go through the same things. So, I guess consider me the big sis you can’t borrow clothes from, the one who cried her eyes out because her prom sucked and so she took the opportunity to give you “Good Luck, Charlie” advice on the couch afterwards because it is her moral duty. Yeah, something like that. I’m not a guru, expert or scientist, I consider myself real, and this week’s topic is pretty damn real: cover your drink at parties. It’s back-to-school time, which is also code for back to every kind of back-to-school party one could imagine. My lovely time here in college is all-too familiar with every cliché that college parties must bring. Among the varieties of clichés is the most common one: drunk people who tend to act more like animals than people. Lack of morals is what I’m more directly referring to; or, people who take advantage of others while they’re in an incapacitated state by slipping something in their drink. It wasn’t until I’d witnessed this during my sophomore year of college that I thought, “wow, this is a real problem.” One weekend, I went to a house party with a group of friends. The party was jumping and, like all great things do, came to an end. As my friends and I made our way out, a girl slumped over the arms of two guys caught my eye. Before my brain could tell my feet to move, I approached the sketchy situation that was oddly apparent. No, I didn’t heroically accuse the two men of being sketchy and take the girl away onto my white horse to ride into the sunset or anything, all it took was one look. A single look in both men’s eyes told me everything that I needed to know, so what did I do? I acted like the girl was my best friend in the entire world with a fake name that they didn’t even know was hers. After returning her safely to her friends, I never spoke to or saw her again. I didn’t even get her real name. But something happened that night, after finding out she’d accepted a “special” drink from the men, something changed in me. I’d wondered about the other people who didn’t have as lucky of an outcome. And the horrifying truth is, you may be sitting next to someone in class who wasn’t as lucky. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest Network, more than 50 percent of college sexual assaults occur in August, September, October and November. Students are also at an increased risk during their first and second semesters in college. Don’t take your eyes off your drink, not even for a second. Cover your drink with your hand when you aren’t looking. Be aware of your surroundings and intervene in any sketchy situation you might see. Because that person who could be taken advantage of, raped, hurt and stripped of their autonomy is somebody’s brother, sister, cousin, friend or lover; that person is somebody’s everything, we all are. I don’t know much, but I’ve seen a little so please, Cover your drinks. Xoxo, Big Sis For more information on campus sexual violence visit www.rainn.org.

The Weekend AUGUST 31 - Closing reception: St. Mary’s Street / Free 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at MBS Yoga Artist Jose Balli presents works on paper using oil paints and mixed media to display the urban landscapes and skyline of San Antonio from memory. AUGUST 31 - Data Fictions / Free 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. at Flax Studio How well do our social media platforms know us? Flax invites the public to dress in attire based on their social media interests, to then put photos of participants into the collection Data Fictions. This collection will document the border between our online and physical personas. SEPTEMBER 1 - Nature Connects: Art with Lego Bricks /$12 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at San Antonio Botanical Gardens Nature inspired LEGO sculptures by artist Sean Kenney. Sculptures such as a six-foot-tall hummingbird and a large monarch butterfly are to be displayed.

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

Graphic by Amber Chin

A u g u s t 2 8 - Septem ber 4 , 2018

sports@paisano-online.com | 7

Sports Texas-sized showdown in the desert

HC Frank Wilson on the sideline during a game.

Ricky Galindo/The Paisano

ASU HC Herm Edwards during press confernce.

via Herm Edwards Twitter.

Frank Wilson and the Roadrunners travel to Tempe for season opener By Josh Levario Staff Writer

he UTSA ‘Runners and the Arizona State University (ASU) Sun Devils are set to meet on Sept. 1 for their first game of the season. It is only the second time the teams have matched up; their first meeting happened in 2016 where the Sun Devils took down the ‘Runners with a fourth quarter comeback. A lot has changed over the past two offseasons. Let’s go over the major changes for both teams. UTSA Roadrunners Head coach: Frank Wilson (3rd year) 2017 record: 6-5 Points to consider: 1. The quarterback situation is a little dicey right now and a new offensive coordinator has stepped in. There is no clear cut starter to take the reins from recently departed quarterback Dalton Sturm. Currently, the top two candidates seems to be Bryce Rivers, a sophomore who backed up Sturm and went 5-8 passing last season, and Cordale Grundy, a dual-threat junior college transfer. On top of this, Frank Scelfo was replaced as offensive coordinator by Al Borges. Borges has been around for quite some time and will work to make the offensive as dynamic as possible, probably leaning heavily on a trio of running backs: Brett Winnegan, B.J. Daniels and Jalen Rhodes.

2. Even with the departure of star pass rusher Marcus Davenport, the defense is still poised to be great. Last year, the Roadrunners’ defense was ranked 19th overall due in large part to a strong defensive line anchored by Marcus Davenport, the most recent first round pick by the New Orleans Saints. While his absence is a blow to the defense, the front seven are likely to remain strong with the return of defensive tackles Kevin Strong Jr, King Newton and junior defensive end Eric Banks. Middle linebacker Josiah Tauaefa is returning and with him safeties C.J. Levine and Carl Austin III, all three are very good at stopping the run. Arizona State Sun Devils Head coach: Herm Edwards (1st year) 2017 record: 7-6 Points to consider: 1. This is Herm Edwards’ first time coaching in a decade. Herm is somewhat of an oddity; known for his motivational speeches and famous soundbites that have become known as “Hermisms,” ASU has had quite the interesting offseason since he has arrived. His introductory press conference was interesting to say the least, he critiqued society by saying that the problem with it is that “We don’t huddle anymore.” Anyway, Edwards has not held a coaching position since 2008, when he was the head coach of

the Kansas City Chiefs. After spending time with ESPN as an analyst, he has returned to football with hopes to lead ASU to the promised land. Edwards had already landed a top 20 recruiting class in his first year, but only time will tell if he can make the most out of it. 2. The offense is returning with key players. Senior quarterback Manny Wilkins is returning after

having amassed almost 3,300 yards in the air and 27 total touchdowns (20 passing, 7 rushing). Wide receivers N’Keal Harry (1,142 yards receiving) and Kyle Williams (763 yards receiving) are also returning. It will be interesting to see what Herm Edwards does with the offense, since historically he has leaned heavily on the run. If anyone is looking to be

the bell-cow running back in Edwards offense it will most likely be sophomore Eno Benjamin, who looked good in limited snaps. This opening game between UTSA and ASU is sure to be a good one. While UTSA’s offense is still questionable, the defense looks dominant again. ASU has an electric passing offense, but the implementation of a new

defensive scheme is sure to encounter growing pains. I expect the game to be decided once again in the latter half with neither team giving or taking much. Final score: 17-10 ASU

A u g u s t 28 - Se pte mbe r 4, 2018

8 | sports@paisano-online.com

Athlete of the week: Jalen Rhodes

Rhodes stiff arms his way past a defender. At an early By Frankie Leal age, Rhodes was interested in Staff Writer basketball rather than football, and didn’t start playing football until the fourth grade. “I started Since he first arrived on the playing in the fourth grade scene in 2015, UTSA running because I couldn’t play basketback, Jalen Rhodes, has imball that year,” Rhodes said. pressed fans with his dazzling cuts and explosiveness out of the “Twhen everybody started growbackfield. Throughout the course ing throughout the years and I didn’t. Football just fit my build of his career at UTSA, Rhodes better, so I stuck with it.” has compiled an impressive Rhodes hails from the small stat line with 17 touchdowns town of Rowlett, Texas, just on 1,728 rushing yards and 343 outside of Dallas where he atreceiving yards, along with two tended Rowlett High School. receiving touchdowns. With the “I would rate my high school departure of many offensive football experience as the best weapons, such as Dalton Sturm football experience I’ve ever and Josh Stewart, Rhodes will had,” Rhodes said. “There was become a focal point of UTSA’s just a type of bond that you can’t offense this coming season. create anywhere else.” In his juStanding at 5’9”, Rhodes isn’t necessarily physically imposing, nior year of high school, Rhodes rushed for nearly 1,500 yards but make no mistake – he is a and racked up 22 touchdowns on star.

the ground. Rhodes was poised and ready to have a monster senior season but unfortunately, he went down with an injury early in the season and missed the rest of his senior year. Rhodes was not committed to UTSA at first, but after his injury, the school he had committed to attending revoked his scholarship offer, while UTSA didn’t. “UTSA stuck by me throughout my recruiting process. Even when I had comwmitted to another school they were always there, so I felt like they were genuine when they said they wanted me, so this is where I decided to come,” Rhodes said. If it weren’t for his injury, Rhodes more than likely would not have ended up at UTSA. Off the football field, Rhodes has a degree in communication, and he has quite a few career

the barbecue pit and can also make a good pot of spaghetti. It turns out Rhodes can barbecue both meat and opposing defenses. Another hobby that Rhodes enjoys is listening to music. “I can spend hours scrolling through and downloading music from all types of genres,” Rhodes said. Rhodes loves all types of music, but his favorite genre is R&B. As a matter of fact, music plays a key factor in pre-game rituals for Rhodes. “When I wake up in the morning on game days my first two songs I hear have to be ‘Never Would Have Made It’ by Marvin Sapp and ‘In The Midst of It All’ by Yolanda Adams. These two songs, combined with his game day breakfast of bacon and toast, make up his game-day ritual. As he heads into his senior year, Rhodes says his favorite part about playing for UTSA has simply been the people. “I love the people in this city, I’ve never been surrounded by this much love from people who don’t even know me,” Rhodes said, “I just absolutely love the nice people Chase Otero/The Paisano of San Antonio and I really apaspirations. “I want to get into preciate them.” coaching, but I don’t know at “Football has taught me a lot what point in my life I want to of things in life,” Rhodes said. do that yet,” Rhodes said. “I “It’s taught me how to carry want to work with underprivimyself as a man and it’s really leged youth in urban areas and given me structure in my life. be a mentor to them, and, someIt’s more than a game and it’s where down the line, own my something that builds a lot of own training facility,” Rhodes your character. It’s a brothersaid. “I have a lot of ideas, I just hood.” As a young man with have to form it all together – it’s a good head on his shoulders, coming though.” Rhodes is not only poised for When Rhodes isn’t consumed success for this football season by football, he enjoys cooking. but in life as well. Believe it or not, Rhodes claims Rhodes and the UTSA football to be quite the chef. “I’m someteam begin their season on Sept. what of a seafood connoisseur,” 1 against Arizona State; howevRhodes said. “I’m still learning er, be sure to catch the Roadrunand getting recipes from my ners in action for their home mom and grandma, and stuff like game opener against Baylor on that, but I’m working on it. I’m Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Alamogoing to be a great husband one dome. day,” Rhodes said with a smile. Aside from seafood, Rhodes says he knows his way around

2018 Paisano fantasy football draft guide By Zach Truesdale Staff Writer On Sept. 6, the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons will kickoff the 20182019 NFL season. For some fans, this can only mean one thing: Fantasy Football is back the only time of the year when people root for teams besides their favorites. Everyone who plays is looking to claim the title of their league along with bragging rights. Some people study the game like it’s their final exam, while others use auto-draft and ride that to success. This production-based game continues to grow as each year passes. This draft guide is for anyone wanting some pointers for success in their league. To maximize this guide, I put reasons where and why people should get these players – along with key players to be on the lookout for. *In no particular order: QB – Usually drafted after rounds five or six and are just as important as running backs and receivers, but since you only get one quarterback a week, you do not have to worry about this position as much. A good backup always helps; however, when your starter is out for their bye week. • Aaron Rodgers (GB) • Russell Wilson (SEA) • Deshaun Watson (HOU) • Tom Brady (NE) • Kirk Cousins (MIN) RB – The position that people probably worry about the most. People will try to build their team around the skill positions as a core, so you will definitely want to get a running back within your top two rounds. Running back is the position with the least amount of depth, so they will go quick. You don’t want to struggle searching through the waivers looking for someone to help you out every week. • Todd Gurley II (LAR) • Le’Veon Bell (PIT) • Ezekiel Elliot (DAL) • David Johnson (ARI) • Alvin Kamara (NO)

WR – Along with running backs, wide receivers come off of draft boards left and right, so you want to be aware and cautious of your lineup while looking in this field. Better safe than sorry in this field group. • Antonio Brown (PIT) • DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) • Michael Thomas (NO) • Julio Jones (ATL) • Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG) TE – Tight ends sometimes get the short end of the stick because they can be overlooked compared to some of the other positions. People usually begin getting tight ends during or after they begin drafting quarterbacks. • Travis Kelce (KC) • Rob Gronkowski (NE) • Jimmy Graham (GB) • Zach Ertz (PHI) • Greg Olsen (CAR) FLEX – This position can be for a running back, wide receiver or tight end. Pick whoever you think will have the most productive week from your team that isn’t an immediate starter. • Melvin Gordon (LAR, RB) • Jordy Nelson (OAK, WR) • Jarvis Landry (CLE, WR) • Kelvin Benjamin (BUF, WR) • Derrick Henry (TEN, RB) OBJ celebrates a touchdown.

D/ST – This is the hardest aspect to gauge, in my opinion, because some weeks they will do fantastic, other times they could give up lots of touchdowns. Just always be aware of the team your defense is facing and be prepared to switch them to the bench if needed. • Jaguars • Rams • Eagles • Vikings • Chargers K – Let the record show that all points matter, you could be down two; and your kicker makes a field goal, giving you

the one point advantage. I draft a kicker based on the offense they are in. If they have a good offense who gets either in the red zone or in field goal range often, I like the odds. • Greg Zuerlein (LAR) • Stephen Gostkowski (NE) • Justin Tucker (BAL) • Robbie Gould (SF) • Wil Lutz (NO) SLEEPERS – These are players people tend to overlook that I expect to have a big impact this season: • Christian McCaffrey (CAR, RB) • Marcus Mariota (TEN, QB)

• • • • • • • •

photo courtsey of Creative Commons

Marshawn Lynch (OAK, RB) Sterling Shepard (NYG, WR) Adrian Peterson (WAS, RB) Marquise Goodwin (SF, WR) Vernon Davis (WAS, TE) Bears (D/ST) Jerrick McKinnon (SF, RB) Chris Hogan (NE, WR)

BENCH – It definitely helps to have a stacked bench. This is where the draft gets fun because there are so many players that could go off that you don’t expect, so you have to do a little research on the players available and put the rest into fate’s hands.