5 | Arts & Life
7 | Sports
Winter in the city
UTSA football earns bowl eligibility
Vol. 56, Issue 14
Est. 1981
The Paisano
November 28 - December 5, 2017
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Patriot Front targets UTSA White supremacist organization attempts nationwide initiative to recruit members By Gaige Davila Co-News Editor
Patriot Front, a national white supremacist organization, has claimed responsibility via Twitter for the unauthorized display of a banner over the UC Paseo (Main Campus) on Nov. 16. Similar banners and flyers were posted on other area campuses. Flyers were posted at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio with phrases such as “Welcome to occupied America,” “Will your speech be hate speech” and “Not here, not ever,” which Patriot Front had posted to their Twitter on Nov. 10. In October, Patriot Front flyers were found in several areas around Texas State University’s campus. The organization has claimed responsibility for flyers and banners posted on college campuses nationwide, usually put up at night then posted on their Twitter shortly after. Patriot Front’s YouTube channel has several videos of their demonstrations with their members mostly masked. According to Portland State University professor of geography and journalist Alexander Reid Ross, Patriot Front is connected to the white supremacist organiza-
tion Vanguard America, which is rooted in the now-defunct American Vanguard group. James Alex Fields Jr., who drove his car into a crowd of people counter protesting the Unite The Right event in Charlottesville, Virginia, killing one and injuring 19, is a member of Vanguard America. “Patriot Front has largely adopted Vanguard America’s organizing strategy, which mostly includes flyering and postering on college campuses to recruit members, attempting to insinuate themselves within college Republicans or some libertarian group and using university funding to bring fascist speakers,” Ross said. In September, Ross covered a Patriot Front protest at an anarchist book fair in Houston, where masked members rushed the building where the fair was held, lit smoke bombs and held a banner that read “For race and nation.” The protest was led by activist William Fears, who is currently on trial for shooting at protestors outside a speaking event held by Richard Spencer, a white supremacist, in Gainesville, Florida. Continued on page 2 See “Patriot Front attempts”
A tweet from Patriot Front’s account claiming responsibility for a banner Photo: Twitter Screengrab hung over the UC bridge.
Tweet from Patriot Front’s account responding to NAACP’s Photo: Twitter Screengrab ‘Call to Action’ event and a UTSA Today article.
Unauthorized poster promotes division in university community By Heather Montoya Assistant News Editor
A poster instructing people to “Keep employers accountable. Put American workers and lives first. Report illegal activity,” was taped on the UTSA Graduate School and Research Building (GSR) entrance in November. The paper included an official phone number and web address for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE Public Affairs Spokeswoman Nina Pruneda gave an official statement regarding the poster. “While the phone number displayed is the correct contact information for ICE’s actual tip line...this is NOT a poster issued by our agency.” Not only was the poster not released by ICE, but it was also not authorized and did not
This poster was found taped on the enterance of the GSR building. ICE confirmed the posters were not posted by their agency.
follow guidelines stated in the University’s Posting materials section, 9.09 of UTSA’s Hand-
book of Operating Procedures. According to Joe Izbrand, UTSA’s chief communica-
File Photo/The Paisano
tions officer, “The poster was unauthorized and was not approved for placement on
university property. Its divisive undertones have no place on our campus.” “In order for materials to be approved for posting, they require the name of the sponsoring campus organization and contact information to be stated prominently on the front of the poster,” said Izbrand. Rebecca Saenz, a junior English major, questioned the poster’s authenticity. “I would be suspicious of them and wonder who put them up. If they were actual ICE signs, I would be wondering why ICE is here when UTSA is such a liberal university,” Saenz said. “It seems contrary to all of the support UTSA offered undocumented students within the past year.” Continued on page 2 See “Fake ICE posters”
#UTSAUnited: student organizations respond By Vincent Valdez Assistant News Editor
Ten student organizations, led by the UTSA NAACP chapter, organized to draft a letter calling for an administrative response to a white nationalist banner hung outside the University Center. The white nationalist group Patriot Front claimed responsibility on Twitter, posting two photos of two separate banners said to be on UTSA’s Main Campus. One of the banners, espousing white nationalist sentiments, was hung on the night of Nov. 19 without authorization and was removed by university employees the following morning. Only one banner was
found on UTSA’s Main Campus. Students were given the opportunity to voice their opinions on campus at the NAACP organized forum and were joined by UTSA faculty. The central topic was UTSA’s initial response to the banner. The assembly nearly filled a 200-plus seat auditorium-styleclassroom. It was organized, colloquial and moderately tense at some points throughout. UTSA police sat quietly in the crowd as analysis and deliberation took place. NAACP Secretary Jessica Reyes jotted down bullet points assuring that all voices would be heard in NAACP’s letter to UTSA President Taylor Eighmy regarding UTSA’s response to the banner.
In an official statement, UTSA chief communications officer Joe Izbrand said, “We have absolutely no reason to believe that UTSA students were involved in this. It is so contrary to what we stand for. UTSA students are very proud to be at a university with principles and values that are based on inclusion, tolerance and respect. That is who we are.” UTSA President Taylor Eighmy later issued a statement about his thoughts on diversity and inclusion, highlighting UTSA’s multicultural identity, but some students felt it was too general. Continued on page 2 See “NAACP meeting”
A member of YDSA speaks at the NAACP open forum.
Vincent Valdez/The Paisano
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UTSA The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs awarded UTSA educational psychology researchers with a grant of more than $147,000. The grant is for a program called the Deaf Education and Educational Psychology Learning in Texas Project, it integrates educational psychology and deaf education. Twelve new school psychologists and 27 teachers of the deaf will be trained in how to apply educational psychology principles in their work with children throughout the five-year program.
Texas A 20-foot monument called the “Price of Liberty” will be placed on the south lawn of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission on Capitol grounds on Dec. 2 to honor Texans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. The base of the statue will feature dog tags that will include the name of a soldier or a prayer. The monument secured a plot on Capitol grounds in two legislative sessions and after veterans and Gold Star families raised funds for its construction.
U.S. President Trump named Mick Mulvaney director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau after former director Richard Cordray resigned. Mulvaney’s appointment sparked controversy due to his past criticism of the agency. During his first day on the job, Mulvaney ordered a 30-day hiring freeze and delayed some standard operations.
World The Beijing Municipal Education Commission will hire educational inspectors stationed at kindergartens throughout the city following child abuse allegations at a facility run RYB Education, a publicly traded corporation. Allegations report that children were sexually and physically abused with needles and forced to swallow unidentified pills. The scandal appalled China and caused RYB’s New York-listed shares to plunge.
Business Meredith Corp., the publisher of Shape, Lifestyles and other magazines is buying Time Inc., the publisher of Time, Sports Illustrated and Fortune, in a $2.8 billion cash deal. Meredith said the deal is being backed by conservative billionaires, the Koch brothers, who are known for their advocacy of conservative policies. Both companies said the Koch brothers will not have seats on Meredith’s editorial board.
Fake ICE posters conflict with UTSA core values continued from page 1 This has not been the only instance of posters that include official ICE information and advocate reporting undocumented people have been posted. “We have also previously received media inquiries in other media markets about similar bumper stickers and posters. However, these flyers, stickers and posters are not issued by or sanctioned by ICE,” said Pruneda. Other unauthorized posters appeared on campus in November. Posters featuring figures such as Princess Diana and Henry Ford captioned “It’s okay to be white” were seen and then removed promptly by members of the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA). YDSA believes divisive posters, such as the ones posted, have the potential to affect the learning environment of students at UTSA. “I think students would be uneasy. This isn’t the kind of safe atmosphere that UTSA wants to promote. Students who have concerns would be looking over their shoulder rather than focus-
Patriot Front attempts to recruit continued from page 1
ing on their studies, and I don’t think UTSA is the place to be chasing undocumented students. UTSA has its own safety concerns and safety priorities, and ICE isn’t one of them,” said Saenz. According to Pruneda, it is important for students to understand that the poster is fake. “Please underscore to your readers and students that these are fake. These fliers are similar to the recent rash of false reports involving purported ICE checkpoints and random sweeps; these reports are dangerous and irresponsible,” said Pruneda. “We are a university that embraces diversity, welcomes students, faculty and staff of differing opinions, cultures and backgrounds, and promotes a safe environment where there can be a free exchange of ideas,” said Izbrand. Students who are concerned about materials posted on campus can contact the UTSA Police Department or the UTSA Ombudsperson.
Students unhappy with administrative response NAACP drafts letter to Eighmy
The demonstration was filmed and posted on their YouTube channel. “They are, in fact, a dangerous group: they’re openly fascist, meaning their goal is genocide. Their goal is to recruit on campus to gain momentum to use violence against innocent people and political opponents,” Ross said. Drexel University professor of political science and activist George Ciccariello-Maher believes that Patriot Front and other white supremacy organizations see universities as ideal spaces to recruit members. “They think campuses are a soft target, that they can show up with flyers, take advantage of disaffected white students, who feel that the world is out to get them,” he said. “The point is not so much to announce their presence as it is to draw in potential new members.” Ciccariello-Maher continued, “The reality universities need to recognize is that it is often explicitly students who have been recruited by these organizations.” In a statement issued to the university, Eighmy said, “At this time, we have no reason to believe that UTSA students were involved in this incident, and our police department is continuing
their active investigation.” Ciccariello-Maher emphasized that both a university’s administration and its students are responsible for preventing further recruiting efforts by white supremacist organizations. “The strategy has to be ‘What are we going to do to eliminate these threats from our spaces?’ and ‘What are we going to do to make UTSA a space that is not safe for Nazis?’ and to really take that seriously,” CiccarielloMaher said. “The administration should recognize that these organizations are a threat to their students. But it’s going to be the students who make this (counter) organizing possible, that track these people down and figure out who they are; and if they’re students, to reveal that to the world, so they can be taken off campus.” Security footage from the night the banner was hung has since been reviewed, and security on campus has increased. The Paisano made multiple attempts to contact Patriot Front but received no response. “There is no obligation to respect white supremacy organizing, or to say that it has a space, or to put it under the banner of free speech, or as a difference of opinion. This is about the humanity of entire groups of people,” Ciccariello-Maher said.
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continued from page 1 “I think the response was kind of generic, like something any school would do to clear up an instance like this,” Basseema Abouassaad, member of Embrace, Muslim Student Association and Black Student Leadership Council, said at the forum. Before she finished, cheers from attendees overpowered her voice, a trend that would continue throughout the assembly. “What really caught my attention—that I did not appreciate—was that that they said there was no reason to suspect a student was responsible. Just because we’re a diverse campus doesn’t mean things like this don’t happen,” Abouassaad concluded. Others agreed with Abouassaad and polished her remarks, questioning UTSA’s response from every angle. Another attendee said, “There are cameras on campus, they can see who did it, they can take action!” Others called the statement reckless and unqualified. Some were vexed that the statement was delayed until the incident went viral on Twitter, and one person questioned the integrity of UTSA’s security. A faculty member adrenalized the crowd as she stood and demanded diversity training for administrators, faculty, staff and students. Before the NAACP could draft the letter, Eighmy sent out a second statement on combatting hate saying, “Please know we take these incidents seriously, and that the security and well-being of our students, faculty and staff are our top priority. We will continue to investigate this incident and to ensure that security measures are in place to keep our community safe. In addition to keeping you informed, I will continue to advocate for our institutional core values.” Dominique Lee, NAACP political action chair, noticed that Eighmy’s second statement included many topics discussed at the assembly, including the hashtag the NAACP planned on using for a social media blast: #UTSAUnited. “I think this information was relayed because there was an administrator in attendance,” said Lee. Whether or not Eighmy was briefed on the forums composition is unknown. He later invited the NAACP chapter and its leadership team to meet with him and discuss topics central to their mission, according to NAACP Secretary Reyes. “President Eighmy is making his efforts,” said Reyes. “He reached out to us to find productive ways to move forward and spearhead these issues.”
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NO V E M B E R 2 8 - DEC EMBER 5, 2017
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San Antonio community condemns UIW athletes in blackface By Kenyatta Battle Editor-in-Chief’s Assistant
Students from the University of Incarnate Word’s (UIW) athletic teams wore blackface for Halloween and received condemnation from the San Antonio community. Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used by predominantly non-black people to portray black people. The students received a punishment, according to a spokeswoman who spoke with NEWS4SA. Due to the student’s privacy protections by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), their punishments were not made public. Kennedy Jefferson, sophomore business major, said “The use of blackface during the era of Jim Crow was used as a negative portrayal of plantation and freed black men and women by their white counterparts “As one can imagine, these stereotypical caricatures took a firm hold on the white imagination as to the traits of the typical black man and woman.” The student athletes at UIW painted their faces black to portray famous characters such as Tyler Perry’s “Madea” and rapper Lil Yachty. UIW administration did not publicly address the issue until a week after the incident occurred. The students at UIW made the issue public by posting on social media their comments and pictures of the students dressed in blackface. UIW student Darcy Renfro, freshman government major and member of Student Government Association said, “I think it was disrespectful, and there is a lot of thought that has to go into doing something like that, which by then, they should have realized it was a bad idea. “Many of my classmates were
upset by it, and I can see why. No one should feel as if they are less than anyone or a joke. It was in bad taste, and it makes Incarnate Word look bad, as if we think it’s ok, which we don’t.” Darcy praised UIW for having a great student body, who was willing to call out the students for appearing in blackface. Chukwuebuka Emedoi, junior marketing major and member of the African Student Organization at UIW, expressed his frustrations about the students he believed disrespected people of color. “It was wrong because not only was it portraying blackface and all of its negatives, but it also gave off the idea that being black is as easy as just painting your skin whenever you feel like it, when it’s much more than that,” Emedoi said. “I cannot wipe my black off at the end of the day. It’s with me forever.” Emeodi claims some of UIW’s staff members threatened him and two other student organization leaders for asking questions. “The University handled it poorly in my opinion,” Emeodi said. “The staff members that I and other leaders of student organizations spoke with told us that it was a non-issue and even threatened to take away student organizations leadership positions on campus and scholarships.” Emeodi and company would not substantiate the claim due to fear of retaliation. Some students did not believe wearing blackface was a problem. College students across Texas took to Twitter to discuss why they did not see a problem with white students dressing up as black characters. “Blackface was created to be degrading, unlike black people dressing up like white fictional characters,” former city councilman for District 2 of San Antonio
The University of the Incarnate Word subject of controversy when student athletes wear blackface.
and current UTSA professor Mario Salas said. “To use the argument a black person dressing up like a traditional white role is somehow degrading is simply not true. That’s a real stretch of the imagination, and it’s a skimpy
“To use the argument a black person dressing up like a traditional white role is somehow degrading is simply not true. That’s a real stretch of the imagination, and it’s a skimpy attempt to make blackface acceptable.”
- Mario Salas
attempt to make blackface acceptable.” “Dressing up in blackface, to me, is tantamount to dressing up as a starving person in a concentration camp at a Halloween party,” Salas said. UIW made a public statement on Nov. 8, almost a week after the students came to campus in blackface, via the university’s Twitter page stating, “UIW does not tolerate any discriminatory actions or comments from members of our community. We are looking into concerns brought to our attention and have already taken action and will continue to do.” On Nov. 9, UIW held an open forum titled “Let’s Talk about Race.” UIW administration talked about the student athletes who appeared in blackface. “We need to reevaluate what type of training we offer to incoming freshmen. Do we make an annual class? Do we think to educate people about (blackface) so this doesn’t happen again? I
Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons
think that we take (UIW’s noncontroversy over the years) for granted in this campus,” Athletic Director Brian Wickstrom said. The three student athletes who appeared in blackface apologized and addressed the crowd at the forum. One of the student athletes, a softball player who didn’t identify herself by name said, “I’m really hurt from what I did, and I really did not mean to do it in any malicious way, nor would I ever.” Another student athlete on the softball team, holding back tears, said, “I, too, did not know what blackface meant, and I just really want to say I’m sorry for everything.” The student athlete, who identified himself as a member of UIW’s swimming team and appeared in blackface as rap artist Lil Yatchy, stated, “My intent was not malicious at all. I was raised in a family that taught me to respect everyone and not disrespect anyone in anyway.”
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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, Mauro Vasquez
opinion Scelfo fired:
a difference in opinions Editorial
Hangoverless Commentary
By Ethan Pham Managing Editor &
Ricky Galindo/The Paisano
Coach Frank Scelfo consoles Running Back Jalen Rhodes after a pivotal fumbles against UAB.
UTSA football head coach Frank Wilson fired offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo before bowl game announcements. Wide receivers coach Jeff Kastl will call the plays if UTSA is awarded a bid next Sunday. UTSA football fans’ outsized expectations for the 2017 season led to great disappointment and frustration following the ‘Runners widest-margin loss to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. San Antonio Express-News reported a victory against Louisiana Tech would have guaranteed a bowl bid, but Wilson expressed confidence UTSA’s 6-5 record will be adequate. Nonetheless, Scelfo will not be included in the program’s second bowl appearance. Much of the fans frustration with UTSA’s season downturn was directed to Scelfo. His play-calling was called into question and often blamed for many losses–particularly red zone opportunities in the final minutes. Scelfo at times was even charged with wasting Quarterback Dalton Sturm’s final season. Outside and inside views of a football program often conflict. UTSA football players’ opinion of Scelfo did not match the fans’ disapproval. Sturm and other play-
ers tweeted their deep gratitude and admiration for their former coach following the announcement. Coaches are held to a simple standard—produce results or get fired, but fans smearing Scelfo on social media didn’t sit well with Sturm. “Funny to see people who know absolutely nothing about college football think they are suddenly masterminds,” Sturm tweeted in response to criticism of Scelfo. Scelfo held his position at UTSA for two years. Prior to that, he was an NFL quarterback’s coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. His mentorship experience impacted Sturm and players alike. The high praise shared by UTSA players in contrast to the fan’s criticism sheds light on how the players view who is at fault for their lackluster offensive performances. UTSA did not score an offensive touchdown in the last two games. Scelfo departed on friendly terms. He praised UTSA’s passion and described his time as a Roadrunner as an enjoyable stop in his coaching career. With Scelfo gone, the ‘Runners next mission is to replace him with an offensive coordinator who fits the UTSA football program’s direction.
By Andrea Trejo Public Relations Coordinator
Hangovers are undeniably the worst, but neither author of this piece has ever experienced a hangover. Most of us have probably seen friends the day after a night of partying, looking like they just awoke from their grave, but less commonly, we’ve seen that friend who awakens as if they slept their full eight hours on a bed of clouds. What caused this superhuman reaction for them to go from passed out drunk to fine and dandy the morning after? There is a looming statistic thrown around that 25 to 30 percent of drinkers are immune to hangovers. Upon research, the idea is highly debated on whether this is possible for that to happen. For us, we have never experienced a hangover, nor do we want to, and believe us, we have put it to the test numerous times. However, that fact about us earns sheer jealousy and eye-rolls from our peers. We’ve heard it all. “That’s not possible!” “You’re not drinking enough!” “You’re not doing it right.” Whatever you may believe, studies have suggested that hangovers
are not as universal as people might think. According to the Australian Twins Registry, a study was conducted and found that “genetic factors accounted for 45 percent of the difference in hangover frequency in women and 40 percent in men.” Dr. Sarah Jarvis, general practitioner and charity medical advisor, said some people may be “less susceptible to the effects of acetaldehyde, the toxic substance produced when alcohol is first metabolised in the liver.” Our bodies are all unique and different, and the claims of those who don’t get hangovers should not be dismissed. An open discussion about the issues surrounding ourselves and our bodies should take place because they may lead to future insights, rather than claiming people as liars for their reaction to a substance. This goes for more than just alcohol and hangovers, it also applies to how our bodies and minds work in different ways than the majority. Shaming people for something they do or do not feel breeds negativity and exclusion. It’s not your place to tell another how they should feel for their disposition. What we should do is listen to people without snap judgements and snarky remarks that make people feel guilty because they are “lucky” or make them feel bad because you don’t agree or believe them. We are all unique; we all experience the universe a little differently. Some people see the world in a prettier light. Some people feel more intensely than others. And maybe some people just won’t ever know what a hangover feels like.
— 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 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 © 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.
Is this the end of the internet as we know it? Commentary
By Kenyatta Battle Editor-in-Chief’s Assistant
The internet is a large part of our lives as college students, but it may be subject to corporate regulation soon. In short, these regulations mean the public is dishing out more cash and being told what type of content we can and cannot view. On Nov. 21, the Federal Communications Commission released a plan to repeal landmark regulations that ensure equal access to the internet. These regulations are known as Net Neutrality, and the term predates the Obama administration. Net Neutrality is the principle that internet service providers (ISPs) must treat all data on the internet the same; ISPs cannot discriminate or charge differently by user,
content, website, platform application or method of communication. For example, under the principles of Net Neutrality, ISPs are not allowed to intentionally block, slow down or charge money for specific websites and online content; however, on Dec. 14, these regulations may change. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai made a proposal to dismantle Net Neutrality, “Under my proposal, the federal government will stop micromanaging the internet,” Pai said. “Instead, the FCC would simply require internet service providers to be transparent about their practices so that consumers can buy the service plan that’s best for them.” Pai claims if governmental regulations are removed from the internet, consumers will be happy; but by removing government regulation, Pai is creating stricter regulations for the internet and taking the power out of consumers’ hands. Instead of being able to freely roam the web, consumers (internet users) now will only be able to view websites, streaming services and
other platforms that are provided by ISPs. Even if internet users are able to view other websites under Pai’s proposal, some sites may be slower than others due to bullying by ISPs, who want consumers to use websites under their company’s umbrella. If Net Neutrality is repealed, only large companies could afford the expense that ensures their sites receive preferential treatment. For example, a company such as Comcast may offer certain packages that include websites, search engines and streaming services at a fixed rate for purchase; however, if Comcast packages don’t include Netflix, then you will be unable to watch it or Netflix may be slower than Comcast’s streaming service. Pai’s proposal to repeal Net Neutrality will stifle startup websites, independent voices and entrepreneurs who can’t afford to pay ISPs to be a part of their packages. Jason Citron, co-founder and CEO of the videogame centric chat and video conferencing app Discord, in a statement said, “Net Neutrality
is incredibly important for small startups like Discord because all internet traffic needs to be treated as equal for us all to have access to the same resources as the big companies.” Companies such as Facebook, Amazon and Netflix have discussed their disapproval of Chairman Pai’s proposal stating, “We are disappointed that the proposal announced today by the FCC fails to maintain the strong net neutrality protections that will ensure the internet remains open for everyone.” If you are against Chairman Pai’s proposal to repeal Net Neutrality and you are for a free and open internet that stimulates ISP competition, helps prevent unfair pricing practices, promotes innovation from small internet businesses, promotes the spread of ideas and protects freedom of speech, then go contact the FCC at gofccyourself. com and leave a public comment in support of Net Neutrality. The future of the internet may depend on it.
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ARts & Life
Winter in the city
Alamo City gears up for holiday festivities as December quickly approaches.
T
The San Antonio River Walk embraces the holiday spirit by lighting up the cypress trees that guide you through the heart of San Antonio.
hanksgiving is over, and all around San Antonio, things are beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The halls of businesses and tourist destinations around San Antonio are fully decked, and there are plenty of events to help you get into the spirit. A great way to get into the spirit for both UTSA and the holidays is by attending Light the Paseo. On Thursday, Nov. 30 at the University Center (UC) Paseo from 7 to 10 p.m., students can enjoy performances, free food and the lighting of the Paseo. Hosted by the Roadrunner Pantry, this event is a great way to ring in the season in your own backyard. Many events are happening beyond our beautiful campus. In fact, there’s one happening at Six Flags’ Holiday in the Park. They have many attractions, such as their new Winter Wonderland, the North Pole Reflections,
a Christmas tree lighting on Dec. 23 and more. Holiday in the Park began Nov. 18 and ends on Jan. 7. Be sure to buy your tickets on campus at the UC Roadrunner Express to save money. For those of you who enjoy the hustle and bustle of downtown, there are the lights on the River Walk. Here you can enjoy the spectacular display of 122,000 lights draped over the towering bald cypress trees that line the San Antonio River. The famous holiday lights on the River Walk are lit on each year the day after Thanksgiving and remain on from dusk to dawn until Jan. 2. This year the lights will remain on until Jan. 7. The event is free, and it wouldn’t be a San Antonian Christmas without it. So you’ve hit the lights at the River Walk, but what’s Christmas in San Antonio without tamales? If you’re in need of a tamale fix, there are two events that are perfect for you. La Tamalada at the Witte Museum and the Tamales!
Photo Courtesy of The River Walk
By Briyah Phillips Staff Writer
Holiday Festival at the Pearl. A tamalada (tamale making party) is a traditional Mexican party that brings family and friends together to assemble tamales. The Witte is hosting a Tamalada on Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Here you can learn about the art of making tamales from Comadre Gloria Solis. By paying for admission ($15 for members; $25 for non-members), you will get the opportunity to make a half-dozen bean tamales to eat on the spot or take home. If that option is too pricy, then head on over to The Pearl on Dec. 3 from noon to 6 p.m. to indulge in that corn husk covered goodness. Admission into the event is free and features both traditional and creative tamales from over forty vendors. There will also be live Tejano music. If you really enjoy the Pearl, you can stop by a second time to hit up the Holiday Gift Market. You can a pick up unique gifts for your loved ones. Vendors will
be setting up tents on Pearl Parkway in front of Cured to sell handmade gifts such as artisan chocolates, soaps and more. If you need a gift for your special someone, be sure to stop by Dec. 3, 10 and 17 from 3 to 7 p.m. If you don’t mind taking a trip outside of San Antonio, there are a couple of small cities where Christmas cheer abounds. The Germanic city of New Braunfels is home to Santa’s Ranch, a drive through Christmas Light Park. This park boasts over 1 million lights and the best part about it is you can enjoy the view from the comfort of your own car. Speaking of comfort, make sure to head over to Comfort, TX for a taste of Christmas in Comfort. The dates for this event have passed, but it is annual, so make sure to mark your calendars for next year. Ever celebrated Christmas in a cave? Well, you can this year at Christmas at the Caverns. The folks at Natural
Bridge Caverns have turned the park into a Christmas Wonderland. Help Santa find his reindeer in The AMAZEn’ reindeer roundup, take a ride on the Christmas hayride or fly above their mini Christmas Village on the Flying Elf Ziplines. On Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10 and Dec. 16 through 23, you can enjoy listening to your favorite Christmas carols 180 feet underground on the 80 minute Caroling in the Caverns tour. Of course, Christmas isn’t the only holiday celebrated this time of year, so take some time out to get cultured while you get into the spirit. On Dec. 13, from noon to 4 p.m., head out to the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures to enjoy Winter Celebrations Around the World. At this informative kid friendly event, you will learn all about major winter holidays from international students participating in the AYUSA Global Exchange Program. The event is both informational and charitable. The San Antonio Food
Bank will be there collecting non-perishable food items to help out families in need during the holidays. There will also be a traditional Pastorela play performed by Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, and you can view suites from the Children’s Ballet of San Antonio’s rendition of The Nutcracker. And of course, what’s Christmas without the Nutcracker? The San Antonio Ballet will perform the Christmas classic multiple times on Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and Dec. 2. The performance is at the H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center. A different special guest will be performing at each performance and details can be found on the Tobin Center website. Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice; any holiday you celebrate, may your holidays be merry and bright.
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Local organizations collaborate to provide literacy assistance to SA youth. Enrique Bonilla Arts & Life Editor
San Antonio is number nine on Forbes’ list of America’s fastest growing cities. With that sort of growth, some parts of communities can be forgotten or glossed over: food, poverty, education and more. In a city that also has a robust arts culture, the arts community steps in where public institutions leave gaps. This upcoming Saturday at Ventura at 1011 Avenue B, the power of community will be pragmatic as well as entertaining. San Antonio Youth Literacy (SAYL) leader Micaela Mize alongside UTSA music marketing major Emily Rubio have spearheaded this collaborative event to raise awareness of SAYL, gather books for youth and bring artists together for a night of electronic and indie music. UTSA’s Musicians of Business will also be present to coordinate the event.
This infographic explains why SAYL is intregal to our community’s growth.
Photo Courtesy of SAYL
Among the lineup is indie pop rock four piece Macho Peach, who are entering the studio in 2018 to piece together a new full length record. The Grown Folks Collective will also lend their progressive fusion jazz rock sounds to the fundraiser; the group contains six members who collectively play 11 instruments. Dolphin Dilemma, the solo project of Versimilitude’s frontman Zachariah Applebaum will headline the event. Dolphin Dilemma keeps the same upbeat dance vibes as Verisimilitude, but stripped down to electronic components. Entrance to the event is $5 online or $10 at the door. Attendees are encouraged to bring books to donate. All proceeds will go to the San Antonio Youth Literacy organization to benefit the educational future of tomorrows youth.
One man electronic synthesizer based band Dolphin Dilemma headlines at Ventura.
Photo Courtesy of Emily Rubio
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What cuts through winter’s silence UTSA’s Music Dept. brings the spirit of winter to campus.
UTSA’s talented music department puts on beautiful concerts with their Winterlude concert series for the masses to enjoy.
Photo Courtesy of Dept. of Music
By Leah Feneley Staff Writer
UTSA’s Music Department is currently hosting the fifth annual Winterlude concert series, which celebrates the upcoming holiday season and the diverse musical talents of many UTSA students. The 2017 Winterlude concert series consists of three musical performances. On Sunday, Nov. 19, the combined UTSA Choirs and Orchestra performed George Handel’s “The Messiah.” The second Winterlude event occurred on Monday, Nov. 20 and consisted of many holiday selections performed by various UTSA instrumental ensembles, which were followed by the combined UTSA Choirs and Orchestra in the Hallelujah Chorus of Handel’s “The Messiah.” The final Winterlude concert event occurs on Monday, Dec. 4 in the Art Building’s Recital Hall on UTSA’s Main Campus at 7:30 p.m. The final concert focuses on instrumental performances by the UTSA Concert Bands: Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and the University Band. The bands will be conducted by directors of bands and band area coordinators Dr. John Zarco and professor Ron
Ellis, along with Christina Moersen, a UTSA graduate student whose focus is in conducting. Ellis said, “One of the great things about this concert is that we get to combine all the students from the concert ensembles onto the stage and share great sounds and feelings of the holidays together, at the same time helping out the UTSA Music Department with the benefit concert aspect.” Admission into the Winterlude 2017 concert event is $10, or in groups of five people or more at $8 per person. All of the proceeds of the event will go to help fund the Music Department. The concert will have a secular and sacred holiday music selection, which consists of ten songs such as “Dashing Through the Snow,” “Feliz Navidad” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” “The students have worked incredibly hard to create and bring to life a terrific evening of music for the entire family. Complete with a retelling of ‘The Night Before Christmas’ done by select students in each ensemble,” said Ellis. The three bands performing at the final concert of the Win-
terlude event are comprised of talented students from many different educational backgrounds. Zarco said, “If you’re a student at UTSA, you can be in any group; you can be in the top group if you want, but you have to audition into it. The bands are not just for music majors. You can be in any major and play within any of the groups; they represent a wide variety of majors. Winterlude really is a university event.” The Music Department is spreading the holiday spirit this semester with the Winterlude 2017 event, and everyone is encouraged to attend. Music can create a sense of community and happiness between everyone here at UTSA. “Music is important because everyone listens to it. It is a way to connect with different people. Music is an important part of peoples’ lives; I go crazy if I don’t have my radio on. The type of music we play here at UTSA you can’t find everywhere. We are very happy to be providing live music in this format every year. It provides a great deal of joy,” said Zarco. For more information about UTSA’s Music Department and future band events, visit music.utsa.edu or utsabands.org.
Cementing their identity Creative Creatures, local art duo, open new gallery, shop, and studio. Katrina Clements Arts & Life Assistant Editor
The beginning of the month in San Antonio always entails something exciting. Every first Friday of the month, there is a variety of free events and shops that pop up at and around
the Brick at Blue Star Arts Complex. This upcoming First Friday Dec. 1 from 6 to 11 p.m., local art team Creative Creatures will debut their very own gallery, shop and studio at 1420 S. Alamo
Founders Karen and Eddy Rios open up shop and gallery at Brick at Blue Star.
space 106 B. Husband and wife duo Eddy and Karen Rios have pursued their lifelong goal of opening up a creative space to share art with the public. The long time contribu-
Photo Courtesy of Creative Creatures
tors to the San Antonio arts community and have previously hosted events at Brick at Blue Star. Karen and Eddy both have backgrounds in art. Karen said “when we teamed together it was apparent that we had our sights on the same goal, for the long haul.” They developed Creative Creatures in January of 2014, and Karen said “after doing seasonal Creative Creatures events around the city, people took notice and both participants, family, friends and supporters alike would often tell us that opening our own space would be a perfect fit.” The goal of opening up this space is to provide a place for both seasoned and emerging artists, and the gallery will give artists an opportunity to participate in shows and get their work out to the public. The space itself is going to be a retail shop carrying work and merchandise of local artists, musicians, photographers and design-
ers including Eddy Rios’ work Taco Boy Designs and Karen Rios’ work Nouveau Nostalgic. The gallery portion of the space is where they will host monthly group and solo exhibitions which will launch every First Friday. Some exhibitions will be themed, but there is no limit to the types of art the space will include. Creative Creatures will be home to a vast variety of art forms including painting, illustration, screen-printing, photography, fashion, sculpture, mixed media, collage, cards, postcards, stickers and patches, just to name a few. Creative Creatures’ founders have been in the art game for a while now and frequently get asked if they will continue to host their events. Karen Rios said “Yes! It’s something we love doing and have no plan on stopping!” Karen and Eddy Rios are both active members of the community and hold a mutual strong passion for art.
Because of this, they will now be using the new Creative Creatures location as their own personal studio and have big plans to create new work and get inspired in a place they can call their own. Within the next year, Creative Creatures has plans for a variety of upcoming exhibitions. With this space, the founders plan to host mixers, DJ nights, workshops and possible pop-ups to unveil new artists and designers whose work will be carried in their shop. The past four years of Creative Creatures has led them to success, and this new opening will create more opportunity to further serve the San Antonio creative community. As Karen Rios said, “The possibilities are endless!”
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Sports UTSA football earns bowl eligibility Roadrunners beat Marshall, fall to LA Tech to finish season 6-5
Chase Otero/The Paisano
The UTSA sideline celebrates after Sackett makes the game winning field goal.
By Connor Zimmerlee Sports Assistant & By Ryan Garza Staff Writer
Following the 2016 season in which UTSA became bowl eligible for the first time in the program’s history, the ‘Runners came into the game against Marshall sitting at a 5-4 record needing one more win to become bowl eligible again. The game against Marshall also marked UTSA’s senior night in which they honored 26 seniors. Looking to become bowl eligible and give the seniors one last victory at home, the ‘Runners would go on to beat Marshall 9-7 behind the leg of Jared Sackett and his game winning 41-yard field goal. Marshall received the opening kickoff and looked poised to move the ball with ease against the ‘Runners defense. However, UTSA’s defense stiffened up and forced Marshall to go three and out. On their first possession, the ‘Runners were able to impose their will on the Thundering Herd defense, eventually driving into the red zone. From there, however, the ‘Runner offense stalled
Brett Winnegan breaks free for a big gain.
and was forced to settle for a field goal to give UTSA an early 3-0 lead. Following the Sackett field goal, points would start to come at a premium as neither team allowed much on defense. The momentum took a sudden swing when the ‘Runner defense forced the first turnover of the game on a fumble recovered by Jim Philistin. Following the turnover, Dalton Sturm marched the offense down the field to set up another Sackett field goal to give UTSA a 6-0 lead at the half. The second half would turn out to be more of the same as both defenses came out firing on all cylinders not allowing any points during the third quarter. However, Marshall’s offense began to show signs of life late in the fourth quarter as they began to drive the ball down the field. With 1:33 left in the game, Chase Litton delivered a beautiful throw to receiver Hyleck Foster to put the Thundering Herd up 7-6. With bowl eligibility on the line, Sturm took the field for one last time in the Alamodome. Needing only a field goal to win the game, Sturm swiftly led the ‘Runners down the field and into field goal range for Sackett. Marshall would call a timeout to try and ice Sackett, but the pressure
did not get to him as he knocked through the game winning field goal to give UTSA the win. The ultimate theme of the game was a defensive battle, as both defenses left it all on the field. However, UTSA was able to pull out a victory and reach bowl eligibility for the second year in a row. “It’s a great feeling, it’s one of those things that you work for. I love my teammates and this coaching staff. We’re a team that believes, we’re a team that is going to fight,” said Kerry Thomas on becoming bowl eligible. After a crucial win against Marshall, UTSA traveled to Louisiana to take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. LA Tech entered the game with a 5-6 record with their own bowl eligibility hopes. A win for UTSA would push them to seven wins and help their chances for a better bowl game. Just a week after reaching bowl eligibility, the ‘Runners would fall to LA Tech 20-6, thus the Bulldogs themselves became bowl eligible. Much like the majority of the season, the story of this game was UTSA’s defense playing at a high level and the offense not matching it. The LA Tech defense for the entire first half did not allow UTSA to accomplish much on the offensive side of the ball, as they kept UTSA off
Chase Otero/The Paisano
the scoreboard entirely. The ‘Runners defense did their job while on the field, holding the Bulldogs to a mere 10 points at halftime. Coming out of halftime, UTSA had a chance to force a few stops on defense and score on offense to take control again. Once again, only the defense did their part. The UTSA offense only managed to put up six points in the second half. Kicker Jared Sackett nailed two field goals, but the ‘Runners were unable to find the endzone for a second straight game. Dalton Sturm had his worst game of the season, throwing for 91 yards and two interceptions, the second one coming in the end zone to effectively seal the win for LA Tech. On Sunday, due to the recent struggles of the UTSA offense, offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo was relieved of his duties. Head Coach Frank Wilson announced that wide receiver coach Jeff Kastl will handle the play calling duties for the pending bowl game. UTSA will wait until Dec, 3 to learn what their bowl game matchup will be.
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Club fencing on the rise after statewide tournament By Zach Truesdale Staff Writer
UTSA Fencing, one of the school’s oldest groups on campus, dating back to the 2000’s, competed in a tournament hosted by the Southwest Intercollegiate Fencing Association at The University of North Texas on Saturday, November 4. In response to the team’s overall performance, junior Joseph Mendez said “the team
was really balanced.” The team has recruited many new faces, and are all positioned to compete, to learn, and to get tournament experience. Fencing senior Chase Bowling commented on the team’s performance at the tournament, “It’s a learning experience for the team. This was the first time rookies were allowed to compete, so it was a lot of learning on how it actually works.” With new oppurtunities to learn, the members are poised to participate in
Nathaniel Sattler in a bout against A&M Corpus Christi.
future tournaments. Team morale is relatively high during competition both on and off the fencing strip. Megan Beeson, a senior fencer said “I love the road trips… the opportunity to go to different schools and meet different teams is my favorite part.” Uplifting and motivating members is imperitive to maintaining team chemistry and camaraderie. Beeson said “Everyone is accepting of everyone else…building each other up is really important... it’s important we lift each other and
talk to each other.” The team’s overall success has been put on notice lately. In 2016-2017, the fencing team won “Intramural Club of the Year” and aim to build from heir momentum and progress as a club. As a team, they are slowly working on achieving their future goals of recieving more members. “The future’s pretty good. We got a good turn out this year. I’m excited,” senior and President Julian Robinson reports. Robinson’s favorite part of the tournament was “seeing our new fencers go in, compete and see what they learn. It was really gratifying seeing how much we put in to practice and see them do well.” The rise of the fencing team’s numbers as well as the progress they have achieved inspired the team to pursue new goals. Their future goals include branching outside of Texas, senior Megan Beeson said “we’re wanting to branch out to national competition sphere.” The future of the team is bright and with their optimism as well as work ethic, they may achieve their goals. If becoming a member of UTSA’s fencing team interests you, you can contact them on RowdyLink. They also meet periodically in the blue room of the Recreation center.
Photo courtesy of UTSA club fencing
Midseason individual award predictions around the NFL By Raul Diaz Contributing Writer
The 2017 NFL season has been nothing short of entertaining and unpredictable. Fans witnessed many exciting rookies make an instant impact, injuries and suspensions to superstar players and new touchdown celebrations. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are officially the Tim and Pop duo of the NFL; The New Orleans Saints have solved their defensive troubles; The Texans finally found their quarterback, but he got hurt, and the Browns still suck. In the absence of Ezekiel Elliot, the Dallas Cowboys are… nevermind. It should be a competitive season down the stretch and many players are posting great numbers. Heading into week 12, here are some NFL award predictions. Offensive Rookie of the Year At the beginning of the season, expectations were high for rookie running backs. Jacksonville Jaguars’ Leonard Fournette and Carolina Panthers’ Christian McCaffery were the talk of the draft. But, opening night we saw the improbable performance of Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt. Hunt scored three touchdowns and tallied 246 total yards against the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. Hunt hasn’t been as productive as of late, but he is first in rushing yards for rookies (by a wide margin) and has a rather easy remaining schedule. Hunt is the favorite for offensive rookie of the year. Defensive Rookie of the Year New Orleans Saints rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore has helped contribute to the massive improvement of the Saints defense. Lattimore has done a fantastic job covering some great wide receivers. Lattimore will be tested in the remaining games, but expect Lat-
Carson Wentz throws a pass under pressure.
timore to be ready for the challenge. He will solidify himself as the defensive rookie of the year. Comeback Player of the Year Last year, expectations were high for first overall pick Jared Goff, but the Los Angeles Rams quarterback looked like a “bust.” Perhaps thanks to his new head coach offensive mastermind Sean McVay, Goff has transformed into a great quarterback and now the Rams are the number one scoring offense in the league. Goff is the anticipated pick for comeback player of the year. Coach of the Year This award is definitely the toughest to predict, but Minnesota Vikings’ Head Coach Mike Zimmer has earned it. Zimmer has constructed possibly the best defense and the most overachieving offense in the league. Zimmer had to adjust to star rookie running back Dalvin Cook and veteran quarterback Sam Bradford’s early season injuries. Through his leadership, undrafted quarterback Case Keenum and undrafted wide receiver Adam Thielen are playing like first round picks. Zimmer’s Vikings are the most overachieving team this season. Offensive Player of the Year Slow and steady wins the race. Carson Wentz has played well in every single game for the Philadelphia Eagles. Wentz can’t stop throwing touchdowns. He has thrown for the most touchdowns in the league, and his Eagles have the best record in the NFL. Wentz will win offensive player of the year. Defensive Player of the Year We should see an exciting race for defensive player of the year. Jacksonville Jaguars’
Keith Allison/Flickr.com
Calais Campbell was a big free agent signing this past offseason. Campbell has led the “Sacksonville” Jaguars to first in total yards allowed per game. He will continue to get after the quarterback and win the defensive player of the year award. Most Valuable Player At 40 years old, Brady is playing as good as he ever has in his 17 year career. He lost
his star wide receiver Julian Edelman early in the season, so he has leaned on new wide receiver Brandin Cooks and star tight end Rob Gronkowski. Brady ranks first in passing yards by a wide margin. Brady will beat out Wentz because Brady has a higher completion percentage, quarterback rating and has thrown for fewer interceptions. Expect Brady to win his third MVP award.