11.07.17 by The Paisano

6 | Arts & Life

9 | Sports

No meat November

UTSA men’s basketball gears up for 20172018 season

Vol. 56, Issue 12

Est. 1981

November 7 - November 14, 2017

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /ThePaisano

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CHURCH MASSACRE

The FBI searches the premises of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs after Sunday’s shooting.

Heather Montoya/The Paisano

26 people dead after gunman opens fire on First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs By Samuel De Leon Co-News Editor

In what Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history, 26 people died after a gunman opened fire on the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, located approximately 30 miles south of San Antonio. Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, opened fire on the church with a Ruger AR556 before fleeing the scene and later dying in his vehicle. The First Baptist Church was holding its local Sunday service for approximately 50 community members when Kelley opened fire outside, killing two individu-

als. Kelley then walked into the church service and opened fire once again, killing 23 people, one of whom was the pastor’s 14-year-old daughter. Another person died in the hospital and several others were injured. “As governor, I ask for every mom and dad at home tonight that you put your arm around your kid and give your kid a big hug and let them know how much you love them,” said Abbott in response to the attack. “There are so many families that lost family members. We mourn their loss.” President Donald Trump also responded to the shooting, from Japan where he was meeting with Prime Minister of Japan,

Shinzo Abe. “This act of evil occurred as the victims and their families were in their place of sacred worship. We cannot put into words the pain and grief we all feel, and we cannot begin to imagine the suffering of those who lost the ones they love,” Trump said, addressing the issue from Tokyo. Trump believes the issue is more about mental health than gun control. Kelley was a former airman of the U.S. Air Force but served one year in military prison for assaulting of his wife and child. Kelley was later court-martialed and released from the military for a bad conduct discharge in 2014. A Facebook page for Kel-

Students wait in line at the Roadrunner Café for their meals.

ley showed several photos of a Ruger assault rifle, but the page was taken down a few hours after Sunday’s tragedy. UTSA President Taylor Eighmy tweeted Sunday afternoon about the event, giving his condolences to all those affected. “So saddened to learn of the senseless Sutherland Springs shooting. The UTSA community extends its deepest sympathies to all those who lost loved ones,” Eighmy stated. Chephren Braconier, sophomore cybersecurity major, believes events such as this shooting are too commonplace. “What happened is a national tragedy. That being said, it should not be used as a political

Photo Courtesy of a Brysen Streeter

Students concerned about campus food supplier’s quality By Kenyatta Battle Editor in Chief’s Assistant

Aramark, UTSA’s food supplier, has been in the middle of many conversations concerning complaints about the quality of

food served at Roadrunner Café. Aramark supplies food services to college campuses across the nation. Megan Cole, an associate news editor of University of California Irvine’s university newspaper wrote, “Just a few violations

(by Aramark) include serving inmates meals laced with maggots, dog worms, rat bitten scraps and garbage.” Cole continued, “Dozens of American universities, however, still employ Aramark, though waves of students protests in

platform in any way. Right now, the community needs to mourn the loss of life because of this event,” Braconier said. “We have a mental health problem and a gun problem. But the best thing we can do is stand with the Sutherland community during this incredibly difficult time.” Kelley was pursued by two community members after he opened fire in the church. One member, Stephen Willeford, fired back at Kelley with a rifle of his own. Willeford halted and jumped into the vehicle of Johnnie Langendorff. Willeford Continued on page 3 See “Texas Leaders Respond”

recent years concerning campus food quality and employee welfare have threatened Aramark’s share of the higher education foodservice market.” Shariff Mohamed, a sophomore sports management major at UTSA, stated, “You compare (the food at the café) to high school food, so the first few times it is good. However, after a while you are like ‘why am I eating this?’” Another concern students have is the variety of food offered at UTSA dining halls. Nathan Bellot, a sophomore Spanish major at UTSA, stated, “It’s near impossible to be vegan on campus; the few options vegetarians have are completely inaccessible to vegans, because the dining halls rely heavily on eggs and dairy. The Roadrunner Café has a salad bar, and they will occasionally put out vegan cookies,” Bellot said. “As far as food that is fulfilling and satisfying for vegans, the Roadrunner Café is lacking.” Although some students like Bellot believe UTSA dining halls lack variety and quality, others think the overall quality of the food is good. Cody Rivas, a sophomore cyber security major, and Seren Regalado, a junior History major, believe the UTSA dining halls have great quality food. Both Rivas and Regalado rated the quality of the Roadrunner Café food as “four out of five stars.” They also believe the quality of places such as Chick-fil-A, Subway and Continued on page 3 See “Café food concerns”

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UTSA The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded James H. Bray, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at UTSA, with a five-year, $2.6 million grant for a program called Pregnant and Mothers Postpartum Enhanced Recovery-Oriented Residual Services (PAMPERRS). The goal of the program is to serve high-risk pregnant, postpartum women recovering from substance abuse. PAMPERRS will provide services at Houston’s Santa Maria Hostel. The program provides the women at the hostel with mental health and recovery support services and teaches them parenting and job readiness skills, as well as informs them about educational and employment opportunities and helps them obtain permanent housing.

Texas On Nov. 1, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg sent a brief to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals that says Bobby Moore, a man convicted of the shooting death of a Houston supermarket clerk in 1980, is intellectually disabled. Texas’s method of determining intellectual disabilities has been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, but a new method has not been implemented. Ogg’s brief asks Texas to create a method of determining intellectual disabilities using standards set by the American Psychiatric Association. There is not a set date for when the Texas court will make a decision in Moore’s case or in the method of determining intellectual disabilities.

U.S. BMW is recalling over 1 million cars and SUVs in the U.S. for risk of fires under the hood due to irregularities in the manufacturing process of 31 models between 2006-2011. BMW suggests the vehicles be parked outside until repairs are made. The repairs involve the replacement of a faulty engine heater that prevents the positive crankcase ventilation valve in engines from freezing in cold temperatures and the replacing of faulty wiring for the heating and air conditioning system. Both components can melt due to overheating issues, potentially causing dangerous fires even when the vehicles are not in use.

World Former Catalan Regional President Carles Puigdemont has turned himself in to police after fleeing to Belgium following the Catalonia independence referendum, which was challenged by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who imposed direct rule on Catalonia and dissolved the Catalan parliament. Puigdemont, who is wanted on charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust, said he will not return to Spain unless he is guaranteed a fair trial, according to a prosecutor’s spokesman.

The National Black Law Student Association poses at their Know Your Rights Event.

Photo Courtesy of Ana Peli, The National Black Law Student Association

NAACP and BSLC host second annual Black Homecoming Organizations focus on promoting the black community By Heather Montoya Assistant News Editor

From Oct. 30 to Nov. 4, predominantly black organizations came together to host the second annual Black Homecoming, a week full of events open to all UTSA students. Two organizations are in charge of Black Homecoming, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Black Student Leadership Council (BSLC). “Every day was hosted by a different organization, so each organization could represent themselves, so whoever wanted to be a part of it could,” said Maria Kind, a junior kinesiology major and member of the 2017 Black Homecoming Committee. Through the BSLC, students applied to be on the Black Homecoming committee. The 2017 Black Homecoming Committee had three members: Maria Kind, Erin Young and Chizube Jiwuaku. “We didn’t tell which organization to do what, but we put together the week. We reached out to organizations, gave them time slots, and they picked what day they wanted and what event they wanted to throw,” said Kind. The purpose of Black Homecoming is to promote community as well as inform students of issues that may affect them. “The whole week is focused on the black community; it is not even just a black thing. They just titled it that because a lot of people at UTSA feel like black people do not have a lot of stuff here, and we wanted to do our own thing,” said Kind. On Oct. 30, Sigma Gamma Rho hosted Black Jeopardy outside the McKinney Humanities Building and the Black Health Professions Organization hosted BraVogue, a fashion show for breast cancer awareness, in the Main Building. On Oct. 31, Youth Behind Movement and Men of Honor hosted Wild n’ Out, a comedy show between UTSA and Texas State, in the MB. The National Pan-Hellenic Council hosted Trap Karaoke, an opportunity to sing karaoke to trap music, on Nov. 1 in the Retama room in the University Center (UC). On Nov. 2, the UTSA chapter of the NAACP and the National Black Law Student Association hosted Know Your Rights, an event

Jeé Willis, winner of Black Homecoming Queen, poses with an event shirt.

Kimiya Factory/ The Paisano

informing people of the rights they have on campus, in the Travis room within the UC. Embrace, an organization that advocates for natural beauty, hosted an event called Hair, Skin and Everything Within in the Denman room. The NAACP also hosted the Block Party in the Paseo where Jée Willis, a junior geography and environmental sustainability major, was announced as the 2017 Black Royalty Queen on Nov. 3. Wills went through an application, interview and election process to earn her title. As the 2017 Black Royalty Queen, she will implement her platform of raising awareness for environmental conservation, helping students get involved, having resources accessible on campus and helping unite different communities. “Being the Black Royalty Queen means, to me, that I can be there to help and to be an example to show others that you can do anything that you set your mind to and work hard for something you are truly passionate about,” said Willis. Black Homecoming concluded on Nov. 4 with the Black Olympic Games, a field day open to all students.

UTSA Career Center hosting federal week Federal agencies look to recruit students By Ben Shirani Distribution Manager

The UTSA University Career Center is hosting Federal Week, a federal agency recruiting event featuring speakers from agencies including the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, the U.S. Department of State, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Air Force Civilian Service from Nov. 6 through Nov. 9. All of the recruiting events are hosted in the University Career Center conference room (UCC 2.02.04) on the second floor of the University Center. Students are required to register online via Handshake (utsa. joinhandshake.com) to attend the events. The week-long recruiting seminar began Monday, Nov. 6 with a recruiting specialist from the DEA, spoke to students at the University Career Center. On Tuesday afternoon, a speaker from Fish and Wildlife Services will speak at 1:30 p.m., a representative from the Department of State will speak

Five federal organizations visit UTSA this week to recruit for jobs.

at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, and an information session from the FBI will be held at 5:00 p.m. Federal Week concludes with an information session from Air Force Civilian Careers at 5:00 p.m. Representatives from DEA said under ideal circumstances the agency will hire 200 new agents in a year. The agency looks for students in any major, and candidates with advanced degrees are eligible for hire at a higher pay grade. The U.S. Department of State currently offers two student oriented programs: an unpaid U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program and a paid program called the Pathways

Program. Michelle Lee, an FBI media coordinator speaking about the UTSA FBI partnership, said students can expect to hear about a day in the life of an FBI Special Agent and what the requirements to become an FBI Special Agent are. “The FBI looks for mature, responsible candidates who possess exemplary communications skills and can demonstrate proven success in problem solving and leadership,” Lee said. Additionally, Lee said the FBI looks for candidates with degrees in cybersecurity, chemistry and biology, law, finance and accounting. Lee said that the FBI requires

Ethan Pham/The Paisano

at least an undergraduate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited university but that FBI considers candidates with advanced degrees like a J.D./ Law degree, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license or a master’s of science even more competitively. Candidates are encouraged to have professional work experience, and the FBI looks for Veterans, individuals with foreign language competency, pilots and individuals with other specialized skills and certificates. “Work at the FBI can be challenging but is incredibly rewarding. It is a career where you can serve your community and your country in a very

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Café food concerns wants and needs.” “One way we seek and encourage Roadrunner feedback is through the Napkin Talk Wall where students post comments or reother dining hall retailers are equivalent to quests and UTSA dining responds. It’s our their off-campus stores. opportunity to integrate specific requests UTSA’s Student Government Association and deliver a menu students look forward (SGA) President Marcus Thomas discussed to. Other feedback outlets are the voice of his thoughts about UTSA dining halls and the consumer and our dining styles surveys. how the SGA could help improve them. In terms of feedback, we’ve received comThomas enjoys the Roadrunner Café. “I ments asking for more vegan and vegetarwould give it a seven out of ten, but I am ian options,” said Caruso. not a hard person to please,” Thomas said. According to UC Director Herbert He also said UTSA dining halls lack food Ganey, Aramark plays a significant role in the quality and variety of UTSA dining variety, especially for students who are vegan or vegetarian. If there are complaints halls, because they have a contract and should be held accountable for the quality about eateries around campus, SGA can of the food they serve. take those complaints to UTSA’s adminisGaney believes if Aramark cannot imtration to determine what is the best course prove their services, then UTSA students of action to improve the food services. should play a role in determining the next Complaints regarding the lack of quality caterer. A suggestion by Ganey offered is and variety of UTSA’s Roadrunner Café if the school decides to find a new caterer, was brought to the attention of Sarah Cathere should be an open process where venruso, marketing manager for UTSA Dining. dors come in for a tasting period and allow Caruso stated, “UTSA Dining listens and the students to test the food and provide responds to all feedback to continuously feedback on each vendor before a decision enhance for more options at the Roadrunner to hire a new vendor is made. Café; We integrate many specific requests into our menus to accommodate student continued from page 1

Food sits in a greasy pan at the Roadrunner Café.

Photo Courtesy of Brysen Streeter

Extended education offering LSAT prep courses at UTSA By Mauro Vasquez Contributing Writer

UTSA’s Extended Education hosts GRE, GMAT, SAT and LSAT test taking preparation workshops available for all students, faculty and UTSA alumni. The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is a standardized test that often seems daunting to prospective students. These workshops offered are designed to teach students to beat the patterns of the test. “The LSAT is a challenging test, but it is very standardized, very beatable,” Adam Johnson said. “You can learn the patterns, and you can beat the patterns.” Johnson is the founder and instructor for Lonestar Education, a firm contracted to teach the test preparation workshops for Extended Education (ExtEd). According to Johnson, because the test is so standardized these workshops are successful. “The biggest myth about the test is that it’s a test of intelligence; it’s absolutely not. It’s a test of skill,” Johnson said. At the Institute for Law & Public Affairs located on Main Campus, students

can meet with Lisa Buentello, a designated pre-law advisor and the director of the institute. “Take advantage of formal preparations,” recommends Buentello, who took the LSAT without taking part in any such workshops, and her initial score reflected it.

“Stronger LSAT scores will definitely translate into more opportunity as far as law schools you can gain admission to; it also directly translates into scholarship dollars.”

- Lisa Buentello Director of the Institute for Law and Public Affiars

Texas leaders respond to tragedy continued from page 1 quickly updated Langendorff of the situation, and the two pursued Kelley as he drove away. Paisano reporter Heather Montoya visited the church grounds soon after the shooting and described the scene. “The streets surrounding the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs were closed off with caution tape. Reporters with their news teams and camera crews, as well as people of the Wilson County community, were lined up along the caution tape at the two main entry ways to the church. In front of the church, near the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs sign, was the largest crowd of reporters. The crowd in front of the church

was waiting to hear an official statement regarding specific details of the event, the suspect and the victims.” A candlelight vigil was held Sunday night for the victims at the post office across the street from the church. Many of the tragedy’s victims were identified Monday afternoon, with ages ranging from 5 years old to 72 years old. Authorities believe the event was a result of a domestic dispute and not religiously motivated. Texas Senator Ted Cruz noted the severity of the situation, but found a sense of hope in the Texas community. “Even in the hours after this tragedy, there’s also inspiration and hope,” Cruz said. “We’re seeing the community come together, and in the face of unspeakable evil, we’re seeing Texans helping Texans.”

“Stronger LSAT scores will definitely translate into more opportunity as far as law schools you can gain admission to; it also directly translates into scholarship dollars,” she said. “Many programs can help you, but if you’re not putting in the effort, writing a check isn’t going to help you on the test.” That check, when written for the UTSA ExtEd LSAT workshop, will be about half as costly compared to outside preparation workshops, says Johnson. Aside from being a fraction of the cost, students can expect to receive a few other UTSA ExtED exclusives. “The classes are small by design, and the instructor developed the program himself. He’s in a better position to tailor (the program) to individual students’ needs and recognize the strengths and weaknesses of each individual.” This small class feel is often lost when using larger LSAT programs designed for the national audience, says Buentello. Johnson believes a contributing factor to the success of the workshops is the sense

of community which is often only felt in small class sizes. Johnson has a master’s degree in education. He taught LSAT workshops and how to beat the patterns before taking the test himself. He received a perfect score of 180. By working to recognize and outsmart the format of the test, students of the workshop receive rewarding results. “If you approach this as an intelligence test, that’s a barrier to improvement,” Johnson said. “I really believe you can get any score you want.” Learning and refining test-taking-skills, not preconceived notions of personal intelligence, will aid in receiving promising scores on this test. The LSAT workshops began Saturday, Nov. 4 and will continue to be held every Tuesday through Jan. 30 skipping the week of Dec. 25. These workshops are located on the Main Campus, and there will be another session beginning in April. To register or for more information contact UTSA Extended Education.

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opinion Too close to home

The Independent Student Newspaper for the UTSA Community

Editorial Our campus is a one-hour drive from First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, where a shooter killed 26 people, but the gravity of the event feels no different than if it happened in Nevada or New York. It’s commonplace–it only interrupts our day for a few moments. President Taylor Eighmy expressed sadness on Twitter upon hearing news of the senseless shooting, and UTSA posted messages of hope on Instagram, sending support to all affected. No UTSA student, at time of printing, has expressed any direct impact from the violent act. The proximity of the terror is difficult to grapple with. How

The Paisano

should the news media respond? Should we uncover every angle of the shooting and give the public what they want–more information? The investigative aspects of these stories are impressive. New York Times, the Associated Press and other major news sources have unearthed shocking information about the shooters life, but what does the information accomplish? These shooters are all the same and the last thing they ought to receive is fame. From the outside of the event, there’s gradual apathy. The sense of apathy the public shares regarding this shooting is understandable. The frequent shootings and the pace of news cycles cut time for discussion, resulting in little reflec-

tion on the events. Post-Sandy Hook, it was hard to get away from the topic, the subject rang in hallways, classrooms, airwaves and dinner tables–times feel different now. It seems only at an event’s ground zero does a tragedy get its full observance. Perhaps the slowing of observance comes from a place of hopelessness. The frequency of these violent acts prove how unstoppable and unpredictable gun violence can be. A resounding message seems to echo louder than ever before–those with hope lead, because we don’t have it anymore. The Paisano sends their condolences to all harmed by the tragedy–we’re unfortunately getting used to saying this.

Have Something to say? Write a letter to the Editor! Send your letters to Editor@paisano-online.com

Press gathers near First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Heather Montoya/The Paisano

The darkness behind Black Friday

The Independent Student Newspaper for the UTSA Community

Commentary

By Justice Lovin Staff Writer

On the 24th of November this year, something magical is going to happen. Without any fluctuation in the value of the dollar, products, for a few hours, will sell for considerably lower prices than they do on any other day of the year. And yet, they will be the same products. The Friday after thanksgiving is called Black Friday, presumably in reference to the black magic that alters the prices of things while somehow preserving their value. The break from the normalcy provided by Black Friday offers an opportunity to peer behind the curtain at the inner machinery of price and value. That prices can be changed so dramatically reveals they are somewhat arbitrarily set, though they still must have some relationship with value. The question then is where does value come from, and to find the answer, we must trace back the product’s history to see at what point it acquired value. A cell phone, for example, can be found in a store where it was delivered by a truck that picked it up from a shipyard. The phone was at a shipyard because it traveled by ship from the factory in which it was assembled out of parts from other factories, parts that in turn were made out of materials that had their own voyages from the

The Paisano

fields, mines and factories where they were extracted or produced. So, a whole lot of people did a whole lot of work, and they were paid for that work. We know also that payment has some relationship to value. We can confidently say then that work produces value. Some will argue that value comes not from labor but from ideas. If you are one of those, by all means, let me know; I have some ideas to sell you. The same goes for any argument about leadership or entrepreneurial efforts. These are forms of work, true, but they are made possible by the work of so many others that they must be considered only one part of many. Others might point to the stores and the factories or the trucks and the ships as examples of value, and it’s true; those things do have value, but only when they are used by people doing work. The same might be said of the materials that were turned into parts for the

phone; they are quite valuable but not until someone’s done the work of pulling them out of the ground. This is the trick behind the magic of Black Friday – the value of a product comes from the collective labor of all the people who worked to make it, but at the store, they hide that social context behind a price. The most notable effect of this is perhaps the least noticeable; it makes it seem as though the person who buys the product is part of a separate social process from the one that produced it in the first place. While this is not true, it does allow us to avoid such uncomfortable questions as ‘Am I responsible for people spending their lives inside of sweatshops and factories” and “Am I complicit in the continued existence of slavery.” The answer to both is yes. So on Black Friday, and on every other day of the year, ask yourself, “Do I need this?” If not, stay home.

Join us!

People crowd the first floor of Macy’s department store as they open at midnight on November 23, 2012 in New York to start the store’s “Black Friday” shopping weekend.

AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA

Got any questions? manager@paisano-online.com

NO V E M B E R 7 - N O V EMBER 1 4, 2017

The Paisano

Editor in Chief: Isaac Serna Managing Editor: Ethan Pham News Editors: Gaige Davila Samuel De Leon Arts & Life Editor: Enrique Bonilla Sports Editor: Frank Leal Web Editor: Ricardo Rodriguez Photography Editor: Chase Otero Magazine Editor: Samantha Ceballos Multimedia Editor: Kat Joseph Senior Copy Editor: Jessica Salinas Editor in Chief’s Assistant: Kenyatta Battle News Assistants: Heather Montoya Vincent Valdez Arts & Life Assistant: Katrina Clements Sports Assistant: Connor Zimmerlee Web Assistant: Brandon Armstead Photography Assistant: Ricky Galindo Magazine Assistants: Natalia Brookens Diana Amaya Multimedia Assistant: Oscar Torres Business Manager: Will Stransky Marketing Manager: Valery Assad Marketing Assistant: Maya Halabi

Social Media Coordinator: Kristy Olson

Public Relations Coordinator:

Andrea Trejo Advertising Marketing Liaison: Jenelle Duff Distribution Manager: Ben Shirani

— STAFF —

Aidan Watson-Morris, Carlos Hughes, Danielle Throneberry, Justice Lovin, Helen Stransky, Wylie Kurkendall, Raquel Zuniga, Sofia Trevino, Ryan Thompson, Leah Feneley, Cade Brashear, Kimiya Factory, Joseph Mabry, Briyah Phillips, Eric Pitty, Karen Gracia, Taylor Zamora, Mackenzie Dyer, Vivian Gullien, Emily Hubbard, Robin Molina

— MARKETING STAFF — Ethan Pham, Will Stransky, Jenelle Duff, Ray Hagimoto, Kat Joseph, Andrea Trejo, Maya Halabi

— CONTRIBUTORS —

Josh Zollicoffer, Diego Lopez, Lizvette Hernandez, Audrey Vela, James Ayala, Noel Montenegro

— ADVISOR — Diane Abdo

— ADVISORY BOARD — Steven Kellman, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Stefanie Arias, Diane Abdo, Red Madden

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 Tripoint 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 © 2017, 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.

Should psychoactive drugs be recreactionally acceptable for people to use? Point

Counterpoint

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

By David Wenske Staff Writer

The use of psychoactive drugs— substances that temporarily change perception, mood, consciousness and behavior—has the potential to create positive, transformative changes to one’s life. Now before I continue, I must add a caveat and a large one at that: I do not believe drug use is for everyone. I believe drugs deserve a large amount of respect and should be treated with respect; furthermore, many people live happy, fulfilling lives without any drug use. I am not arguing against sobriety. I am speaking anecdotally and will explain how I believe drug use has driven positive achievements in my life. I do not believe psychoactive drug use is intrinsically harmful. In my view, anyone trying a recreational drug for the first time should do their own research and have knowledge about the drug’s effects and dosage. The user should have full knowledge that the substance they are ingesting is indeed what they think it is. This can be achieved confidently through reagent testing, which is available cheaply online. Taking these precautions unquestionably improves a user’s safety throughout their experiences. Using psychoactive drugs has revealed sides of my character I did not know existed. This could surely go both ways, but hear me out. I’m naturally a quiet person; it’s something I’ve been aware of for a very long time. When I tried my first stimulant, I ungrace-

Drug use is a complicated and delicate subject. Recreational use of illegal psychoactive drugs are prevelent among Americans, as well as the risk of facing charges for illegal drug use. In a 2015 CDC report, around 1 in 10 people surveyed aged 12 and over had illicit drug use within the past month. There is a case both for and against drug use. This point-counterpoint will examine both sides of the argument. fully wound up engaging in social interactions well beyond my normal comfort zone. Just having a normal conversation with someone went from a herculean task to something effortless. This drug showed me I was capable of doing the very thing I had struggled with for so long. Was it the drug doing the heavy lifting? Sure. But I can remember the sensations and the thought processes I had during my experiences, and I can incorporate these lessons into my daily, sober life. Now, my takeaway from experiences with psychoactive drugs like this is not that I want to perpetuate my use of them. I understand the slippery slopes involved very clearly, but I believe the knowledge I have gained—not only of my flaws, but also of my own capabilities—has helped me mature significantly. Things I was once unable to confront seem so insignificant today, and I believe it is because of these experiences that I am a better person today.

Recreational psychoactive drug use physically alters the brain. The effect is life changing, but it’s not for the best. Drugs play tricks on you; they make you think you’re experiencing a better life, and through time, you’ll actually believe it. If you were aware and not so blinded by the drugs, you’d see how worthless they are. Even worse, you might see how worthless you’ve become through your use of drugs. You might argue that smoking weed doesn’t have a negative effect on the brain – I used to think the same thing. How stupid of me to challenge proven science. I was so blind that I denied the physical effects that weed and other psychoactive drugs have on the brain. I hardly even acknowledged it. Your eyes don’t magically turn bloodshot red after smoking a joint. That’s a physical change caused by a chemical reaction that happens in your brain, something you’re unlikely to think about when you’re high or if you smoke regularly. Bloodshot eyes will not have adverse effects on the brain, but what causes the red eyes does. The cause of red eyes is a result of THC, the chemical that gets you high, traveling through the bloodstream into the brain. From there, the THC latches onto receptors in the brain that stimulate the release of dopamine, a chemical the body naturally produces. The dopamine release sends signals to various nerve cells all around the body.

By Vincent Valdez News Assistant

This usually makes the user feel high by lowering the blood pressure in the body, which expands the arteries causing the eyes to appear bloodshot red. Being high is similar to the feeling one gets when they eat something sweet, which also releases dopamine in the brain. The difference is that the dopamine release from drug use is much more intense than the dopamine released from eating sweets. In fact, it’s so intense the brain has to compensate by reducing the number of dopamine receptors in the brain, according to the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah. This physical change makes the brain less responsive to the drug, which reduces the effect the drug will have on the user further reducing the rewarding feelings one gets from eating sweets, accomplishing goals or anything that involves pleasure. Pleasure is what we chase. Drugs stimulate pleasure and make us think, feel and act differently. It’s a beautiful thing, but it’s an artificial feeling that won’t last. Pleasure comes from the brain, not from drugs. If you deplete your brain of the pleasure chemical called dopamine by constantly chasing its release, you too will plateau. The next time you think about doing drugs, think about how much of a tolerance your brain has built for them. Are you proud?

The one that got away Commentary

By Kimiya Factory Staff Writer

Light brown, almost hazel eyes. Golden brown skin. Little blonde hairs that compliment geometric tattoos that dance up and down his forearm. When you care about someone, deeply care about someone, every fiber of their being radiates like the sun’s brightest rays. The way they look at you when you talk to them about anything that makes you passionate, or the way they tell you to put your seatbelt on only because they care. And then, you start to fall deeper when a simple touch of a fingertipshoots like electricity through your body, and everything

about this person’s being is simply bliss. We’ve all heard the saying of seeing things through rose tinted glasses, but the real question is, when do we take them off? Because somewhere between long talks and the things in common that drew you in, disagreements arise. Then immaturity. Then nothing. What was once the sun’s brightest rays becomes the one that got away. I was there; I felt these things. I remember him sitting there, letting the chaos of a college party radiate off of his calm presence. I was drawn to him. I was genuinely impressed. Soon, extreme infatuation became weeks of discussing “The Art of War” and finishing the lyrics to Daniel Caesar’s deepest songs in each other’s company. I would sit and think for hours that this couldn’t be a cliché college fling; not with the way I couldn’t see straight when he was near. That’s

where the rose-colored lenses come in. I didn’t realize how unhealthy it was that in between these wonderful things poisonous verbal insults did damage to the both of us. I became someone I didn’t even recognize. After going back and forth, the changing of minds and several “let’s try again” scenarios; it finally ended. “It’s run its course,” he said. I was shattered. Everything I saw and everything I touched became this person that turned out not to be a cliché college fling but much more. Commitment and words like love and titles can really do damage that you never saw coming to passion — don’t let it. We all have someone that got away. They’ll tell you you’re young, you have your whole life ahead of you. And maybe that’s true, but if someone lights your fire and keeps your embers burning, don’t let them go. It’s easy to let

immaturity and the stress of life distract you from what matters most. Time waits for no one, so why should we wait for time? If you can’t clean the crevices of your mind from that one person that defines your version of love or infatuation, don’t clean the crevices. Don’t fight one of the few things in life that everyone should indulge in. Vulnerability is not weakness; it is strength. Although I didn’t take my own advice at the time, I’m now beyond grateful for my golden-brown experience. Why? It taught me to be honest with myself and to not be afraid to feel. But most of all, it taught me to find myself and only love another person who’s willing to love me for who I am — passionate thoughts, stand-for-nothing attitude and all. Thank you, golden brown, because you most certainly did.

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ARts & Life No meat November National vegan month: one month won’t kale you.

By Enrique Bonilla Arts & Life Editor

ovember is known as the hairy no-shave november, national diabetes month and more recently National Native American Heritage month according to President Donald Trump. Lesser known is the fact that November is also national vegan month. For the plant-based population in San Antonio, finding nutritious herbivorous meals can be a difficult task in our city filled with manteca, milk, meat and cheese. “It’s a little difficult. The kind of food and kitchens that are more accessible to lower income people is meat based. It’s really hard when you want to go out in San Antonio to eat vegan. “It is getting a little easier with a few more options, but I think a lot of people have misconceptions on what it means to be vegan,” says Ale Tierra, Owner of Mama Tierra’s Vegan Pop-up and Chef/Partner at Viva Vegeria. So while it can be

difficult to maintain a plant-based diet in town, San Antonio’s few vegan spots are delicious and focus on the Mexican heritage that is so ingrained to our city’s culture. ¡Viva Vegeria! located at 1422 Nogalitos St. pays homage to the south Texas combo of Texas and Mexico. Combining plant-based ingredients with Tex-mex cuisine, ¡Viva Vegeria! Has a menu that favors not only the regional tex-mex taste bud, but also the glutenfree diet. The protein rich Luchador Nachos, Classic Nachos and Mushroom Chicharron Street Tacos should be reason enough to get you through the door, and the quaint papel picado and prayer candle adorned decor are enough to make you feel at home. Top it all off with homemade vegan cupcakes. A 15 minute bike ride north leads to Señor Veggie located in Lavaca neighborhood, one of San Antonio’s oldest neighborhoods. Here you’ll find a locally sourced, organic menu in the bright

yellow colored building. If you make it here after a day near the Riverwalk or Hemisfair Park must tries are the eggplant tortas, the wheat protein carne asada wrap, jackfruit and you guessed it...the nachos. Visit them Monday Tuesday through Saturday at 620 S Presa St. Further from downtown near Castle Hills you’ll find Earth Burger a football throw away from North Star Mall. The vegan nutrientrich menu is coupled by an equally impressive organic soda selection including flavors like agave vanilla cream, lemon berry açai and black cherry with tarragon. Whether you dine in or pass through the drivethrough window some must haves are the spicy chik-n sandwich, the double earth burger and coconut soft serve. If it’s a little later in the evening consider heading to the St. Mary’s strip for the gin and mint Pepino Blanco or the smokey Mezcalarita at La Botanica. The turquoise building is home to the

Ceviche Huehuecoyotl made of oyster mushrooms and hearts of palm; make sure to order the black bean empanadas. Located at 2911 N St. Mary’s St. come early for the food stay late for the drinks. For those considering converting to a plant based diet Tierra says, “People are too hard on themselves. It’s really difficult to change a diet you’ve had your entire life, but for me what worked was removing things one by one. One thing at at time. That’s a lot better than everything all at once.” Tierra runs the Mama Tierra Pop-up that shows up somewhere in town once a month. The recipes are authentically Mexican handed down from Tierra’s mother, grandmother and ex-mother in law. Follow her online @mama__ tierra on Instagram and facebook.com/MamaTierra15 to keep up with the herbivorous pop-up. Try something new, something organic and wholesome this November.

Viva Vegeria’s classic nachos.

Courtesy of Viva Vegeria

Juan’s burrito at Mama Tierra’s.

Courtesy of Wayne Holtz

The enchipotlada huarache at La Botanica.

Courtesy of Wayne Holtz

Faith, trust and pixie dust

UTSA charity orgaization FTK puts on annual fashion show to support kids battling cancer. By MacKenzie Dyer Staff Writer

“So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!” - J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan This Friday, Nov. 10, the Liu Auditorium (Business Building 2.01.02) at the UTSA Main Campus will take a trip to Neverland from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. during a fashion show hosted by UTSA’s For The Kids Dance Marathon nonprofit organization, and the pixie dust to get you through the door is free. Mocktail hour starts at 6:30 p.m. For The Kids (FTK) charity organization at UTSA is a team of dedicated students who have proven change for the better can happen with a little faith, trust and pixie dust. FTK does this via “raising money, providing emotional support and raising awareness for families battling childhood cancer,” according to this statement on Rowdylink with events such as blacklight Zumba, a spectacular dance marathon, and this Friday’s annual fashion show.

The theme for the show changes every year, and this year’s theme is Neverland. The show will feature happy children, who are battling cancer, escorted by student leaders from UTSA as the model line-up. The children get to dress up in whatever makes them the happiest, give their best strut down the runway and escape their usual hospital setting for a while. This night is their moment to take the spotlight, to forget the role cancer plays in their life and to be whoever they want to be. According to Samantha Holub, FTK Awareness Director, the goal is to gather as many people as possible to join the kids’ friends, family and hospital staff in the crowd because as she says “the more people cheering the kids, the happier the kids will be.” Furthermore, there will be food and drinks for sale at the event, as well as a silent auction. According to Cristian Gamboa, FTK’s fundraising chair, the silent auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. with roughly fifteen baskets for attendees to place donations

on until 8:30 p.m. which is when the winners will be announced. The proceeds from this auction will go directly to the FTK partnership with University Hospital. FTK speaks to the hospital’s physicians, who help FTK distribute the fundraised money to families that need priority aid. Families who sign up for FTK’s assistance do not know how much they will receive when they first apply. Gamboa also shared that when they give the families a call, “they’re always so thankful. And it’s not a one-time aid. We build relationships with our families and always invite them to all our events!” Samantha Holub, FTK awareness director, and Madysin Carter of FTK community engagement encourage people to attend this Friday’s fashion show to see where FTK’s hard work goes to and to support these remarkable kids. More information is available on FTK’s Facebook (For The Kids Dance Marathon at UTSA), and their Instagram and Twitter handle: @ftkdmutsa. Everyone is invited, and we can’t wait to see you Rowdy showing his support at last year’s FTK fashion show. there.

Courtesy of FTK

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Luminaria SA celebrates a decade of light

Courtesy of Luminaria

By Devin De Leon Staff Writer Above: Gera Lozano’s “Saddle Blanket” located off of I-10.

ists will showcase work at Hemisfair. With such little time and so much to see, it is a good idea to keep in touch with their website, which will provide an interactive map of what, where, and when events are happening. Luminaria is not an event like Fiesta; it is first and foremost about the art. There will not be any art sold at this event; Luminaria wants this to be an exhibit for the artists to showcase their work and for the community to interact with artists and even take part in some of the installations. Luminaria is about the community; this is why they will have the McNay Art Museum and Witte Museum out at the event to showcase their solidarity in fostering connections between the arts and the San Antonio community. Further, the Artpace Teen Council has created an interactive augmented reality program for the attendees to take part in. If you are wondering what augmented reality is, just think back to the days when

all of your friends were playing Pokemon Go on their phones. Although there are many artists across the spectrum, here is a snapshot of a few artists that will be there on Friday. First off, Frank Valdez, a painter from Los Angeles. For Luminaria Valdez plans on painting portraits of people and landscapes in and around Hemisfair Park. He typically specializes in painting portraits of people from underrepresented areas. Often he paints people that are immigrants, day laborers, students, maids and janitors. His work will be exhibited in the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM). Next up is artist Julia Barbosa Landois whose original installation was destroyed in Hurricane Harvey. Despite losing her work in the tragedy, the Houston native decided she wanted to still take part in the event. Landois’ new installation features repurposed materials found in Houston after the hurricane. Her installation is focused on showing the suburban ex-

of Chicana, Tejana, Latina history and culture. Her piece for Luminaria will be of an immigrant mother, whose narrative will be told by the objects that surround her. Lastly, circus artist, physical performer and choreographer Esther de Monteflores who hails from Bellingham, Washington. She will be performing a piece titled Tiny Cities, which is a 30minute contemporary circus show about a pigeon. The piece features bread-filled wine glasses, cardboard-box juggling, lifesized pigeons, live costume changes and wire walking. You can catch this performance in the Yanaguana Garden. Aside from the installations, there will be music provided by Austin legends The Octopus Project, Lower Dens from Baltimore, and local post-punk/noise punk band Filthy, who plan on

NOVEMBER 10th -11th NOVEMBER 11, 2017

Visual Arts | Performance | Dance | Music | Food & Drinks

incorporating some cool visuals into their set. This event truly has something for everyone. For a full list of installations and events, check out the Luminaria website luminariasa.org. On the other hand, it is always fun to wander around and see where the night takes you. The festivities do not end on Friday night. On Saturday there will be a ticketed brunch with artists, a CD signing session, literary readings, art-sci symposium, and artist-run workshops, all of which will take place in the Southtown arts district. At the end of Saturday there will be a closing party back at the Hemisfair, which is a ticketed event. So this Friday and Saturday be a part of the community, learn something new, meet new people and most of all, have fun.

Reskate showcased a glow in the dark piece at last year’s annual Luminaria Arts Festival.

Featured Artist: Collide

This weekend, in the Hemisfair district, Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival will celebrate its ten-year anniversary with local artists and artists from all over the country. There will also be poets, comedians, bands and numerous interactive events for attendees. On Friday, Nov. 10 the admission is free, the event lasts from 7 to midnight. On Saturday, there will be free and ticketed events all throughout the Southtown arts district with a closing ceremony back at Hemisfair. Initially, Luminaria was conceived as an event that focused on lights incorporated with art installations. However, as the years have gone on, the event has grown into something much more than light installations. Luminaria now showcases music as well as authors of poetry and literature. Kat Berrospe, alumni of UTSA who is now the administrative assistant for Luminaria, believes the San Antonio community has spurred Luminaria’s transformation. On Friday, nearly 50 art-

pansion in the Texas metro areas. This piece will be located in the 19th century Carriage House in the Hemisfair Park. A graphic arts studio from Barcelona, Spain called Reskate will have a mural located between the historic Sweeney and Herman Schultz Houses. This mural will be glow in the dark. Meaning it will be one image during the day and a new one by night. Another muralist present on Friday will be Gera Lozano, a conceptual artist from Brooklyn, New York. Lozano is going to paint a mural on the back of The Magik Theatre. This mural will feature three overlapped murals in three colors that can be viewed separately, as colored lights illuminate the mural throughout the night. Local artist Ruth Leonela Buentello has created a painting that will be mounted all along the San Antonio Riverwalk at the Hemisfair. Buentello is passionate about empowering communities through her work, particularly Chicanas. Buentello prefers the word “Chicana,” because she feels that by using that word it is a form of protest. In her opinion many artists stray as far away from the word as possible for fear of being pigeonholed, instead Buentello chooses to embrace it. Her work often explores socio-cultural examinations of Chicana identity, cultural representations of gender, and the cooptation

Courtesy of Luminaria

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Modernism at Flax Studio

Local artist and professor, Justin Korver’s new exhibit defines gender norms. By Katrina Clements Assistant Arts & Life Editor

In San Antonio, there are a variety of museums that display great works of art from before our time. Big name artists seem to take the spotlight off the modern, experimental and emerging artists of the world. Many of these up and coming artists walk the streets every day, and we don’t even realize it. Many of these artists are showcased in small local galleries or at pop-up events around the city. This weekend on Nov. 10, Flax studio is participating in the Second Saturday Art Walk and will be showcasing local artist Justin Korver’s new collection “The Difference Between a Flower and a Weed is Seeing.” Katy Silva, owner of Flax studio, launched this space in January of

2016 to focus on emerging creative talent in the San Antonio area. With a background in nonprofit marketing and with her current marketing and advertising job at the Rivard Report, Silva was inspired to start her studio space. As a painter herself, Silva is otherwise fascinated with performance art and sculpture. Due to her interest in sculpture, she took a fast liking to the work of UTSA graduate Justin Korver. “I’m a huge fan of his work. He’s painterly in some regards, but I was really interested in his use of materials and topics of femininity, gender and identity,” Silva said. Korver’s previous work incorporates the use of tools and industrial materials making connections to

Sneak peek of Justin Korver’s new collection “The Difference Between a Flower and a Weed is Seeing,” which goes in a new direction from previous collections that focused on sculpture work.

masculinity in objects. The upcoming show is moving in a slightly new direction according to Silva, with many layers of different issues in this new collection. There will be a few works on paper, embroidery pieces and an extension of his work with tools and feminine color palettes. The title Korver chose for this show, “The Difference Between a Flower and a Weed is Seeing” had “an immediate positive connotation” to Silva. She said, “It’s about outlook, and that is what art is all about; because it is so subjective, and it is the viewer’s choice to decide if it is a flower or a weed, positive or negative, masculine or feminine.” In Korver’s statement of his previous collection “The Expressive

Mark & Other Ideas I Stole From Painting” he says, “I’m interested in tools because they are extensions of us, and like the things we surround ourselves with, they act as still life. These tools are meant to express an absent subject. We may, therefore, invent our own subject or possibly become the subject of these types of still life.” The use of paint within his work transforms these tools to be “passive, decorative, pretty.” In his statement on his collection “Accessories of Modern Men” Korver said “within my work I create a set of surrogate objects that allow for discuss or reformulate the masculine.” His focus lies on the American standard of masculinity to be defined by the active male body and how to reinter-

Courtesy of Katy Silva

pret these ideals. This new collection, expanding on his focus on gender will open at 6 p.m. on Nov. 10 at Flax studio, which is located at 1906 Flores Street. Both Silva and Korver will be at the event to discuss and answer questions about Korver’s art. This event will be free and open to the public, as Silva’s goal is to expand the public’s knowledge on local artists and emerging talent within San Antonio. The San Antonio art community is overflowing with talent and variety, and the Second Saturday Art Walk is the perfect time to go out, experience art and interact with artists unlike your typical museum experience.

Enjoy a FREE night at the McNay Art Museum Friday, November 17 8:00–11:00 pm College students only

Fall semester got you feeling beat? Take a break with free food, live music, and art-making fun at the McNay! INCLUDES FREE ADMISSION TO Chuck Ramirez: All This and Heaven Too mcnayart.org Chuck Ramirez, 1964-2010. Scott from Piñata, 2002. Digital print. © Estate of Chuck Ramirez, Courtesy Ruiz-Healy Art, San Antonio, Texas.

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Sports UTSA men’s basketball gears up for 2017-2018 season What to look for in Henson’s second season as head coach

By Frank Leal Sports Editor

wo years ago, UTSA men’s basketball had their worst season in program history. The 2015-2016 squad finished the season with a dismal 5-27 record, and their three wins in conference play placed them dead last in Conference-USA. Following that season, long-time Head Coach Brooks Thompson was fired, and UTSA hired former Oklahoma Sooner Assistant Coach Steve Henson to step in and replace him. In the first year under Henson, UTSA men’s basketball improved quite a bit. The 2016-2017 men’s basketball team earned a 14-19 record in Henson’s first season as head coach. Although it isn’t an impressive record at first glance, it was a big step up from 2015. One of the biggest stories of last season was the team’s success on their home court. The Roadrunners were almost unbeatable when playing in the Convocation Center, going 11-3 at home. After seeing the stands nearly empty at every 2015 home game, it was refreshing to see UTSA fans fill the bleachers for men’s basketball once again last season. Now, UTSA men’s basketball is on the horizon of a new season. In only his second season as head coach, Steve Henson will face quite a challenge. Last season, the men’s basketball squad was led by forward Jeff Beverly. Beverly proved to be the heart and soul of the team, as he consistently led the team in scoring. Beverly averaged 15.8 points and six rebounds per game last year and quickly became the star of the team. Beverly played in all 33 games last season, and he put up a total of 522 points throughout the

Sophomore Giovanni De Nicolao attempts a floater.

year, which was first on the team by a long shot. Byron Frohnen was second with 280 points to his name. UTSA fans expected Beverly to return as the same leader and superstar for his final season. However, Beverly’s success in his 2016-2017 campaign drew the attention of other basketball programs, and over the offseason, Beverly jumped at an opportunity. Beverly accepted an offer to play with Big XII school Iowa State, and will play with the Cyclones for his final season. With the departure of Beverly, there is now a massive hole the team must fill. As the 2017 season gets underway, there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the teams offensive production. One of the surprises last year was freshman

Chase Otero/The Paisano

point guard Giovanni De Nicolao. He averaged a solid 8.7 points per game and over three assists. He was also a stickler on defense, averaging almost two steals per game. Heading into the new season, De Nicolao will try to avoid a sophomore slump and help fill the offensive void. Frohnen was another impressive freshman on the court last year. With so much attention on Beverly, few took notice of Frohnen’s stellar freshman season. Frohnen averaged 8.5 points a game and led the team in field goal percentage with 47 percent. Frohnen also grabbed nearly seven rebounds a game and was named to the C-USA All-Freshman team at the end of the year. The Las Vegas native will look to follow up his impressive freshman year with an even better

sophomore season. This past weekend, UTSA men’s basketball played in an exhibition game against Sam Houston State in order to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. The Roadrunners were victorious with a score of 89-76. Freshman Keaton Wallace led the way with 22 points while shooting 6-7 from three-point range. De Nicolao also added 14 points of his own while earning four steals on defense and dishing out six assists. If the exhibition matchup was any indicator of what’s to come, perhaps the Roadrunners are poised and ready to make a run at success in the 2017-2018 season and earn their first winning record since 2011. The ‘Runners home opener is Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the Convocation Center.

NCAA football’s race for the playoffs heats up

The Alabama defense prepares for a goal line stand against LSU.

By Connor Zimmerlee Sports Assistant

Every year in college football, fans eagerly anticipate the release of the initial College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings. It offers a chance for fans to see where their team stacks up against the rest of the country. If your team is in the top four of the final rankings, then they have earned their spot in the college football playoffs. However, the initial rankings are not without controversy. Fans of teams not in the top four will make their

team’s case as to why they belong in the top four, even if they don’t actually belong. Regardless of your team affiliation and their spot in the initial ranking, the ranking itself is far from perfect. Hit: The Top Three The initial rankings this year came as somewhat of a surprise to college football fans. Not only was Alabama not ranked at number one, but Notre Dame snuck into the number three spot. At number one, however, was Georgia. While these rankings were unexpected, they are the correct ones. The selection committee rewarded Georgia for not only their undefeated record, but their

The Coiner/Wikipedia commons

strength of schedule as well. While both Alabama and Georgia are undefeated so far, Alabama has yet to play anyone noteworthy. On the other hand, Georgia holds a victory over the third ranked Fighting Irish. Speaking of Notre Dame, they find themselves at number three due to their only loss coming by one point to the number one team in the country. Miss: Clemson at Number Four One of the many teams with only one loss on their season so far, Clemson comes into these rankings at number four. However, whether or not they deserve the number four spot is highly

debatable. Their lone loss came in an ugly Friday night game against Syracuse by three points. The team with the best argument to take Clemson’s number four spot is Oklahoma. OU’s loss came to a surprising Iowa State team that holds wins over two of the top ten teams in the nation. If Oklahoma wants to crack the top four, and the college football playoffs, they’ll have to win out and hope for other teams to falter down the stretch. Hit: Miami and Wisconsin at Nine and Ten Despite both teams being undefeated so far, Miami and Wisconsin are looking at multiple one loss schools ahead of them in the rankings. The reason for this is simply that Miami has played too many close games to lesser opponents while Wisconsin has yet to truly play anybody competitive. Win out, including a victory of Notre Dame, should put Miami in the thick of the playoff conversation. For Wisconsin, the best they can do is win out, win the Big Ten title and hope some of the one loss teams ahead of them lose again. Miss: Washington State at 25 With the initial rankings, Washington State only has two losses. This can be argued as a fair basis for their low ranking. However, only one of their losses was by a wide margin with a 37-3 loss to Cal. The other loss is to a surging Arizona team, that has been dominant lately. Despite this, two of WSU’s victories come over teams ahead of them in the rankings – USC and Stanford. Two key wins should play into the Cougars favor. With a now impressive 8-2 record, Washington State should see their rank increase to the low 20’s and as high as the 17-19 range.

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Houston Astros win their first ever World Series

Altuve and Springer celebrate after they score a run.

By Connor Zimmerlee Sports Assistant

The 2017 World Series featured the two best teams in baseball from the regular season: the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros who won 104 and 101 games respectively. Going head to head, both teams played arguably one of the best World Series ever played. In a seven-game marathon of a series, the Astros defeated the Dodgers and brought home their first World Series title in franchise history. Looking to change the narrative that he disappears in the post-season, Clayton Kershaw took the mound for the Dodgers in game one. Kershaw looked dominant early, as he cruised through three scoreless innings. Dallas Keuchel, the Astros

pitcher for game one, got rattled early as he gave up a home run on the very first pitch to Chris Taylor. Kershaw’s lone mistake came on a fourth inning home run by Alex Bregman to tie the game at one run each. The Dodgers added some insurance for Kershaw in the form of a two-run Justin Turner home run in the sixth inning to put the Dodgers ahead for good. After a relatively tame game one, the series proceeded to go off the rails and offered baseball fans some of the most entertaining World Series games ever played. The first two innings of game two saw both starting pitchers in complete control. Houston struck first in the top of the third on an RBI single by Alex Bregman. The Dodgers would tie it up on a Joc Pederson solo homer in the bottom of the fifth. Corey Seager would give

Keith Allison/Flickr.com

the Dodgers a 3-1 lead with a sixth inning homer of his own. Down to their last six outs, the Astros would scratch a run across in the eighth inning to narrow the deficit to one. And then in the top of the ninth, Marwin Gonzales mashed a leadoff homer to tie the game at three and send it to extra innings. The game only got crazier from there, as the two teams went homer happy. Houston would go ahead for good on a two-run homer by George Springer in the top of the eleventh, to win 7-6. Following an instant classic in game two, games three and four lacked any drama. After a scoreless first inning, the Astros lit up Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish for four runs in the second. The Dodgers manage one run in the top of the third on an RBI groundout by Corey Seager. They weren’t able to muster much more on offense, ultimately dropping game three 5-3. Game four was almost a carbon copy of game three, except the Dodgers came out on top of this one. Rich Hill took the mound for the Dodgers and pitched five and two thirds scoreless innings before George Springer hit a mammoth home run to give the Astros a one run lead. The Dodgers

would get that run back in the top of the seventh to tie the game. In the top of the ninth the Dodgers would explode for five runs, en route to a game four victory to tie the series at two games apiece. Remember the insane, drama laden game two that ended in extra innings? Game five completely surpassed that. The Dodgers jumped all over Keuchel early, knocking in three runs in the top of the first. They would tack on another to go up 4-0 in the fourth inning. The Astros responded quickly with four runs in the fourth. The lead wouldn’t last long though, as Cody Bellinger would go deep in the fifth to give the Dodgers a 7-4 lead. After tying the game at seven, the Astros took an 8-7 lead on a George Springer moonshot that exploded upon contact. Looking to close out a 12-9 lead in the top of the ninth, the Astros naturally gave up three runs to send the game into extra innings tied at 12. Houston went on to win on a walk-off single by Bregman. Game six, like games three and four, was void of drama. It took until the third inning for the first run to be scored, as Houston took the lead on yet another homer by Springer; his fourth of the series. That was the only run the Astros would manage, as both Rich Hill and the Dodgers bullpen were able to quiet the Astros’ bats throughout the game. Los Angeles would take a lead in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Chris Taylor. LA would go on to win 3-1 to force a game seven. The Dodgers’ quest for their first title in 29 years and the Astros’ hopes of their first ever title would all come down to game seven. The Astros again got to Yu Darvish early, tagging him for five runs in the first two innings. With Verlander on the mound, the Dodgers batters weren’t able to muster much of an offense, as they only brought across one run. The Astros, led by World Series MVP George Springer’s five home runs, would win game seven 5-1 and bring Houston their first World Series title.

Danny Presson/Flickr.com

George Springer celebrates atop the float