2.20.18 by The Paisano

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

Ciudad, a crecer: remedy through recycling

UTSA baseball off to strong start

Vol. 57, Issue 7

Est. 1981

The Paisano

February 20 - February 26, 2018

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

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President Taylor Eighmy addresses the fourth Tuition and Fee Proposal committee meeting/student forum on Nov. 13, 2017.

Heather Montoya/The Paisano

Tuition and fee increase proposal to go before Board of Regents By Samuel De Leon Co-News Editor After UTSA students voted down the athletics and transportation fee vote, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy will present the university’s tuition request to the UT System Board of Regents on Feb. 27. The proposal is the effort of the UTSA Tuition and Fees Committee, a 41-person council who met five times from September to November drafting the components of the proposal. “Based on the committee’s feedback, as well as the input of local elected officials we consulted as a part of the process, the final proposal includes some new approaches to help us balance our many priorities,” Eighmy said. The current proposal will consist of increases to both graduate and undergraduate tuition for residents and nonresidents. The proposal will also include plans to raise certain mandatory and students fees. “UTSA’s proposed tuition plans reflect the lowest rate increases of all the U.T. System institutions, and they are on-par with cost of living increases,” Eighmy said. The U.T. System Board of Regents require any new tuition and fee revenue be used to address initiatives in “student success, student support and faculty recruitment, (and) retention and excellence.,” according to an email by Eighmy outlining the proposal.

The proposal lists increases to tuition and fee increases for both traditional and guaranteed tuition rates. Traditional tuition rates can change with successful proposals and rate changes, while a guaranteed tuition plan lets undergraduate students maintain the same rate if they enroll in 30 course hours an academic year. Undergraduate and graduate students who are Texas residents and using the traditional tuition rate can expect a four percent increase in designated tuition and a 3.2 to 3.5 percent increase in student fees, making the total academic cost (TAC) for undergraduates $5,301.33 by Fall 2019, and $4,552.06 for graduate students by Fall 2019. Non-resident students using the traditional tuition plan can expect a nine to 10 percent increase in designated tuition, and a 3.2 to 3.5 percent increase in mandatory fees, making the TAC $12,697.08 for undergraduate students and $13,190.40 for graduate students by Fall 2019. Texas-resident students using the guaranteed tuition rate plan would experience a decrease of about 1.5 percent in their designated tuition rates, with non-residents experiencing a 2.3 percent increase in their designated tuition charges. Mandatory fees would increase for both at 3.2 to 3.5 percent. The TAC for Texas-resident undergraduates would be $5,721.33, and $13,220.58 for nonresident undergraduates by Fall 2019. Guaranteed tuition rates are not offered to Texas-resident or non-resident

graduate students. Also included in the tuition proposal is a differential tuition rate for College of Business (COB) and College of Engineering (COE) students. COB students would be charged $42 per semester credit hour (SCH) for each upper division course they take, and COE students would be charged $55 per SCH for undergraduate courses. Graduate COB students would be charged $129 per SCH. COE graduate students would not have an additional charge. The proposal states that differential tuition rates are to supply students of their respective colleges with technicians, increase course availability, provide an answering service for student questions, give undergraduates more internship opportunities and enhance learning spaces. A Board of Regents decision on the proposal will be made by March 9. Open forums on the differential tuition outlined in the proposals will be held Feb. 20 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in BSE 2.102 for the College of Engineering, and Feb. 20 and 21 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in BB 3.04.08 for the College of Business. Students with questions regarding the process or proposal can contact Executive Director of Communications of the Office of the President Ann Peters at ann.peters@utsa. edu. To read the full proposal visit http://www.utsa.edu/ financialaffairs/TuitionFees/proposals.html.

Faculty, student synthesis through symposium COLFA to host research symposium By Heather Montoya Assistant News Editor A College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) Research Symposium will take place on Feb. 21 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the University Ballroom in the Business Building. Elizabeth Honsalek, a junior psychology major with a minor in Spanish and a COLFA senator, and Emmanuel Nyong, a junior microbiology and immunology major and a College of Science senator, have been planning this event and will also be the ones hosting it on behalf of the Academic Affairs Committee within the Student Government Association. Honsalek and Nyong are

collaborating with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Dr. Thomas Coyle, the director of undergraduate research. The symposium began as an idea Honsalek came up with about hosting a research seminar. “I am involved in research within the psychology department and wanted to create an opportunity for students to find the same passion for research that I have.,” Honsalek said. Honsalek wants the symposium to make involvment with research easier and less intimidating for students. “This event serves to encourContinued on page 2 See “COLFA Research Symposium”

Graphic Courtesy of Elizabeth Honsalek

Flyer advertising the 2018 Spring COLFA Research Symposium.

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UTSA UTSA president Taylor Eighmy sent an email briefing the referendum vote on the proposed Athletics and Transportation fees and also included information regarding the progress of his initiatives. Town hall meetings will be held in March to discuss the Finance and Budget Model Initiative as well as student enrollment and student success. The town hall meetings will be open to all faculty, staff and students who will have a chance to voice their opinions or ask questions.

Texas On Feb. 16, the Austin City Council approved a rule requiring businesses within their jurisdiction to provide paid sick leave for employees in a 9-2 vote. However, some Texas lawmakers are working to overturn the ordinance in the next session. The ordinance is scheduled to go into effect Oct. 1.

U.S. The family of Korryn Gaines was awarded over $38 million on Feb. 16 after three weeks of trial. Gaines was fatally shot by a Baltimore County police officer in 2016 with her 5-year-old son nearby. The jury based the damages of the case on their conclusion that the first shot fired by the officer was unreasonable; Gaines’ civil rights were violated and the officer committed battery against both Gaines and her son.

World An Iran Aseman Airlines airplane crashed into a mountain, Mount Dena, in Iran on Feb. 18. All 66 people on board, including crew members, were killed in the crash. Since Iran has been under international sanctions, the country has experienced regularly occurring aircraftrelated accidents because the sanctions prevent them from updating their fleet.

Business The Trump administration has declared imports of steel and aluminum a threat to national security. The Commerce Department has said the influx of foreign metals threatens American manufacturers who make products for the military. The secretary of commerce, Wilbur Ross, has suggested options for protecting American manufacturers, involving tariffs and quotas limiting imports.

Q&A with Fatema Basari, member of Forbes 30 under 30 By Brandon Armstead Assistant Web Editor Fatema Basrai, a 27-year-old first generation college student pursuing her MBA in finance at UTSA, was recognized last November in Forbes Magazine’s 30 under 30. Each year Forbes selects 30 innovative individuals under the age of 30 in one of 20 businesses or industries. Basrai was selected in the education category. She was nominated for her eight-year involvement in various education programs from AmeriCorp to her current work as executive director of Leadership San Antonio Independent School District.

How did you react when you found out you were nominated for Forbes’ 30 under 30?

I found out I was nominated in October when a reporter from Forbes contacted me and told me that I had been nominated, but that the official list would be published in November. I didn’t know I made the final list until Forbes published it in November. I was really surprised that I made the list. I am very grateful and humble, and I actually still don’t know who nominated me.

Could you tell readers about Leadership SAISD?

It is a nonprofit organization that develops leaders who are interested in serving public schools in some way. I am the executive director of Leadership SAISD and our goal is to focus on making public schools and public education better for San Antonio students.

Photo courtesy of Fatema Basrai

Fatema Basrai

What does being a member of Forbes’ 30 under 30 mean to you?

The best thing about being a part of 30 under 30 is the network of people. There are so many social entrepreneurs and educators and people who are passionate about what they do. It’s great to have access to brilliant people from all over the world. For example, this summer I will be attending Forbes Global Summit which will be in Israel. I will get to meet members from Forbes 30 under 30 from all over the globe. These kinds of opportunities are so amazing and only happen once in a lifetime.

What does education mean to you?

Do you have any advice to offer to your fellow Roadrunners?

To me, education has always been a way of opening up more pathways. Growing up in Oklahoma and Texas I always went to small rural schools where I sometimes didn’t get the same education as friends of mine who went to bigger and better public schools in the suburbs. I got into education because I noticed the disparity that lives even within the same public education systems. For me, it has always been about making things better and improving outcomes for all students. Right now, one big issue facing San Antonio is that there are so many school districts within the city and where you live and your zip code can have a big impact on the education you get and the type of schools you attend. My focus has always been on helping people figure out what we can do as a community to make all of the schools better, so that no matter where students live, whether they live on the Southside of San Antonio or the Northwest side, students have access to a really great school.

The biggest piece of advice I could give to any fellow classmate is to find something you’re really passionate about and focus on it 100 percent. I know it can be easy sometimes to chase the job title or the higher pay, but unless you’re really passionate about something and you feel good waking up every morning doing that work, it’s going to be hard to be successful. You just have to be passionate about what you do and give it 100 percent.

COLFA Research Symposium Continued from Page 1

age students who otherwise may not have even considered doing research, to reconsider that. This will be done by offering them the opportunity to bypass the often tedious process and meet directly with the professionals conducting the studies themselves,” Honsalek said. Honsalek also feels the initiative for students to produce more research would increase the national recognition of UTSA’s COLFA and move the university closer to top-tier status. “At the very least, participating in undergraduate research is a great way to prepare for graduate school and create lasting connections with their professors,” Honsalek said. The symposium will include a presentation from the undergraduate research informing students on how to get involved, a panel highlighting professionals and their experiences with research, a meet-and-greet, connecting students with professors currently conducting research and a presentation showcasing previous UTSA research. Students will have the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about research and getting involved “The idea, mainly, is to create a place for students and researchers to connect directly in an informal and fun environment,” Honsalek said. Nyong believes the most critical part of the symposium is the opportunity for students to network with faculty in current research projects. “This event is important because research plays an essential role in developing well-rounded students with the ability to critically think and creatively solve problems.” Mykayla Jones, a sophomore psychology major, is looking forward to attending the symposium. “I’m excited to network and make connections with the professionals in my field,” she said. Honsalek wants students to know three main things about this event. “First of all—free food. Second of all, this is an invaluable experience that has never been done before on such a large scale. This may be exactly what students need to jumpstart their professional careers. Lastly, at the very least, this is a great opportunity to learn and network.”

Experience HU— The

Sound of Soul

Thursday, February 22, 7:30–8:30 PM UC Magnolia Room, 2.01.30 HU, a sacred sound and ancient mantra, has been sung for thousands of years in many lands for spiritual unfoldment. You’re invited to attend this event to experience chanting HU, followed by contemplative time and facilitated spiritual conversations with others of like heart. For more info on HU visit:

www.TheSoundOfSoul.org Info: Mitziani: rbo233@my.utsa, Justin: 832-244-6502 www.EKSanAntonio.org

Sponsored by the Eckankar Student Org.

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editor@paisano-online.com | 3

opinion Everyone has a stake in the gun debate Editorial The action high school students—particularly those most affected by the gun violence—have undertaken brought a glimmer of hope in recent coverage of the Parkland shooting. Students, including Emma Gonzalez, have spoken passionately about gun reform, and their actions have appeared on various news feeds and television. Those students found their stake in the gun debate and are acting upon

it. Many say it is up to their generation to bring change for a better good, but they are wrong. Everyone owes a responsibility to addressing the mass shooting of school children, including millennials. Instead of shying away from addressing gun violence, we and our predecessors need to find our stake in the debate in the same manner students in Florida have. Millennials are also bestowed the responsibility to clean up past generations’ messes. We hear baby boomers say it’s up to us to repair their wrongs, such

as the destruction of the environment, which raises the question: when will the buck stop being passed down the line? The buck will continue to be passed until each generation buckles down, finds their stake in the debate and acts for that interest. Most millennials may not need to worry about being shot in high school halls and therefore may not echo Gonzalez’s sentiments, but data proves millennials are invested in many other issues which are directly related to gun violence and reform.

The reality of the situation Commentary

By Peyton Dillberg Contibuting Writer We hear almost immediately after acts of evil that, “something must be done,” and it has to be done now. Of course, this is almost never the case. We exist in this paradigm where after a sick and demented person or group of people murder innocent men, women or children, we often adhere to a drastic change in policy after such horrific events. The issue with this is that once something like this happens, each side races to their respective sides, which makes it almost impossible to engage in a realistic discussion on policy that could have prevented tragedy from occurring. This prompts the question: should we let empathy and emotion dictate our policy? Well, let’s approach it from one perspective. We have an absolutely horrible event unfold, such as the Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. Many are heartbroken at such a senseless act of violence; however, those on the left jumping to conclusions without waiting for any sort of facts and run their usual shtick, which is usually something along the lines of “do something” and “we need common sense gun reform now.” There are a few problems with this though; saying vague things like “gun reform” and “do something” does not solve anything and actually hinders any possible discussion of potential policies and here’s why: In order to have an active discussion on what may prevent gun related crimes from taking place in the future, you must be able to propose a solution that we can evaluate, debate and possibly test. When you go to the doctor, you simply cannot go in and say “I hurt.” You must tell the doctor what exactly is going on so they can correctly diagnose and prescribe you a remedy. The same theory applies here; when you say “gun control now,” you do not provide any possible solutions, and when you are faced with opposition because of your lack of prescription, the opposition is accused of not caring enough about those murdered. This empathetic and emotional approach to policy from the left grants an unearned moral superiority, while at the same time shutting down the debate. It’s this type of grandstanding from the left that makes these horrible occurrences worse. It is standing on the graves of the innocent in order to further their own agenda that is pushing so many people on the edge of moral bankruptcy. When groups like CNN bring out a mother of one of the deceased to beg

President Trump to jump to action, they are granting her a position of legitimacy in the debate. Of course, what she is going through is unfathomable and everyone’s heart breaks for her, but the idea that she should dictate how policy should be shaped based on her horrific experience is as unproductive as it is frustrating. Again, I will use the example of the doctor. There is a reason a doctor cannot and will not operate on someone whom they are close to. This is because emotion often clouds judgment. The ability to think rationally and logically is essential when discussing policy, especially with an issue as complex as gun control. Many will still be angry, and that is understandable. It is impossible not be upset when something like this happens, but we must allow the dust to settle. People will argue that if not now, then when? Well, the answer is later. Sympathy is important, but empathy is disadvantageous. When discussing policy, putting yourself in the shoes of an individual and formulating policy around one individual or individuals’ experience ignores the vast majority of the population. Be sympathetic, so you can think with logically and rationally rather with than emotion and irrationality. Finally, when you allow empathy to drive decision making, you will inevitably set yourself up for failure. As it turns out, everything is easier to do in theory than in practice. What the left wants after these shootings would be a straight repeal of the second amendment and gun confiscation. For example, we saw this at the vigil at Stoneman Douglas High School when people broke into a chant exclaiming “no more guns.” Again, this is a heartbreaking situation, but the emotions in the group clouds judgment, and crafting policy that is empathetic to that same crowd will only lead to failure and eventually more heartbreak. So if you are going to chime in on the issue, I implore you for the sake of our community: remove emotion and empathy when you discuss issues like this. Study them objectively and draw your own conclusions based on facts. And most importantly, prescribe your own solution. Rather than accusing groups and people of not caring, have a discussion so we can ensure that we have an open and honest dialogue, so that we may eventually prevent these horrific acts of evil from happening again.

For example, millennials are more anti-capitalist than their predecessors who experienced the Cold War. A 2016 Harvard University poll showed only 42 percent of millennials support capitalism and 33 percent want socialism. A 2015 Gallup poll found that 70 percent of them would consider voting for a socialist presidential candidate, as indeed many did in 2016. The anti-capitalist sentiments of millennials are related to gun reform, because the lack of gun reform revolves around money driven by an irresponsibly regu-

lated armament market. Other examples can be produced and the only matter is understanding a generation’s motivations. Everyone owes a responsibility to addressing gun violence and everyone has a stake in the debate. If we seek out the why we need change instead of passing it down the line, perhaps it’ll begin to happen.

White Privilege: “He was troubled” Commentary

By AJ Lopez Staff Writer In the wake of the recent Parkland shooting, a word that keeps reappearing in the media and the mouths of many politicians is “troubled.” Troubled may describe a situation or a person but certainly not Nikolas Cruz. This white young man has left 17 families to grieve and a nation in complete shock. If this crime was committed by any person of color, they wouldn’t be called troubled. Headlines would focus on the fact they were Black or Brown and would blame the action on the color of their skin. I typed in “Nikolas Cruz” in Google search and with the first four articles that appeared, CNN’s article was titled “From ‘broken child’ to mass killer at Florida school,” and the New York Times’ article was titled “Nikolas Cruz’s Lifetime of Trouble: Family Loss, Flashes of Rage.” What CNN and the New York Times are telling you is to not blame the kid, to look at his past and take into consideration what he went through and more importantly, to look past his skin color. If you look at headlines from black victims like Trayvon Martin or Sandra Bland, NBC News titled Martin’s article as “Travyon Martin was suspended three times from school”, while NBC Chicago titled Bland’s article as “Woman Found Dead in Jail Had Prior Run-Ins With Law.” Compared to their headlines, Cruz was humanized while Martin and Bland were made were made to look like troublemaker and a criminal. In their book Social Thought and Research, authors William Mingus and Bradley Zopf research how white

privilege affects mass shootings and how it comes into play when portraying these stories in the media. In their conclusion they state that white shooters are “labeled as aberrations, anomalies within society, or psychopaths who represent the antithesis of mainstream America. Without the benefits of white privilege, shooters who are not white are forever doomed to be the blackguards of their race, a permanent shadow to those who bear a cultural or phenotypical similarity.” In a sense, being white allows you to not have to apologize for your actions. Being white allows you to be deemed troubled or mentally unstable instead of a “super predator,” a statement made by Hillary Clinton when she described African American kids. According to the Joel Miller, executive director of the American Mental Health Counselors Association, only three percent of all violent acts are committed by people with serious mental illness and only one percent of all violence using firearms to kill people is committed by people with a serious mental illness. With a very bleak correlation between mental health and general mass shootings, it is obvious to see being “troubled” cannot be a reasonable excuse for someone to commit such crimes. Looking at an analysis created by MotherJones, they record mass and spree shootings that have occured within the United States since 1982 to now and according to that analysis, 56 percent of those shootings were committed by white men. Society simply ignores the fact that a majority of these shooters were white, and tries to hone in other issues that make you forget about their skin color. So please, stop labeling Nikolas Cruz and the countless other white men who commit these mass shootings as “troubled individuals.” Stop giving them excuses. Stop defending them. Stop looking past their skin color and start holding them as accountable as we do every other murderer.

President Donald Trump addresses media following the Parkland shooting.

Photo Courtesy of the White House

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Black History Month: week three

Commentary

By Kimiya Factory Staff Writer Imagine; the only time that your race is credited with owning a business or being successful is when it’s associated with bars, nightclubs or drug dealing. It isn’t until you grow older that you realize black business owners hold some of the highest seats in corporate positions, and that there is an abundance of successful and educated black entrepreneurs across the country. This week’s column is dedicated to the hardworking, vision minded

Tuition rise Commentary

By Loy Fong Contributing Writer Sitting in on the Tuition and Fee Proposal committee, I got an interesting opportunity to see how UTSA tries to work out the complexities of what to prioritize. As the faculty’s and presenters’ least favorite committee member, due to my frequent questions and criticism, I’d like to relay what I witnessed in order to provide a general understanding to why I’m in favor of the fee proposal. Let’s start with differential tuition. The idea behind the College of Engineering (COE) and the College of Business’s (COB) plans for a separate rate for certain majors seems at first displeasing till you look at what it is for. The COB plans to build new collaborative workspaces, increase course availability and build on assistive programs such as a “faculty prime time” where dedicated staff help students work out problems. It seemed brilliant to me, all the money came back to students. For the COE, differential tuition was geared toward opening more labs and getting more lab technicians to assist students with lab work and equipment. I saw, just like in the COB, the COE is looking to put 100 percent of this money into the degrees of the affected students. Moving further into the proposal, the green fee is about as simple as its name sounds. The green fee is designed to provide more environmentally friendly options for UTSA, such as the in-wall water stations and compacting trash cans. The student service fee was about supporting

young black entrepreneurs who sit next to us in our classes and grace our campus with their driven presence. These black entrepreneurs are not only full time students but chase a dream during their down time. While most business owners wait until they’re older to pursue beginning a business, these three black students see potential in not only the craft of what they have to offer society, but in a social struggle that only seems to instill the idea of wealth in the minds of society with rich white men as the only ‘sole’ holders. Meet Sebastian Sanders, CEO of Sanders Hand, a nonprofit organization that empowers the youth and inspires ideas about success. Sanders juggles the intense major of business management and yet takes every opportunity he can to visit schools and speak with students about setting goals for themselves, all the while implementing positive ideas about college in their young minds. His organization

the budgets for services and programs dedicated to the students. It’s a long list, but in short, continuing to pull back or re-budget things like the One Stop Enrollment Center or the Student Financial Aid program would be detrimental in the long run. The automated services and computer access fee really made me mad during the original presentation. The Office of Information and Technology (OIT) has been running a near negative budget with a projected fiscal year 2019 budget of negative 1.4 million. I was upset for two reasons. First, because we boast highly of our cyber security program yet we are going to vastly underfund technology for the number one Cyber School; second, their proposal aimed to give them only breakeven or $500,000 more. I gave them an additional option with hopes they would come back and give a new plan, and I was satisfied that OIT took the time to listen to a student and adjust their budget plan. The money OIT now has will go towards making our university more functional with the increased costs of maintenance and technology for infrastructure, supplying phone charging stations and free applications. I personally see a lot of value in the proposal that comes with the tuition and fee’s increase, and I fully support it. I urge the faculty members on the committee and the presenters to fully explain what’s going on with the figures more than anything; the charts they provided do not make sense to a lot of students because it’s simply large numbers on paper. I think that a quick explanation of “this is what your money will go to if it passes,” and “this is how much it will affect you,” really needed to be highlighted and would have provided clarity. Hopefully, this has helped those confused on the whole proposal!

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The Paisano Isaac Serna | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com Ethan Pham | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com Kenyatta Battle | Editor-in-Chief’s Assistant

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doesn’t stop there though; it lends a helping hand with community service projects like Habitat for Humanity and Toys for Tots. Sanders reflects on being a black business owner in his statement: “We live in a world where so many barriers are placed on us due to the color of our skin. As a minority, you have to defeat the odds and strive each and every day for greatness while learning and growing with your business.” The black excellence on campus doesn’t stop there, Ana Richie and Morgan Allen own thriving businesses that exceed sales and leave the two of them successfully sold out every week! Sophomore senator of SGA by day, handcrafted jewelry maker by night, Lillian + E Accessories is surely a flower that Ana enjoys growing. Allen, CEO of MoePrep; a healthy meal preparation business, offers busy students the luxury of having freshly cooked meals packaged and ready to go for their eventful weeks.

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Allen shares with us the secret of cooking amazing meals while recognizing her own black excellence in the process when she states: “It is truly a blessing to be able to call myself an entrepreneur as a black woman. This freedom was earned by hard work and dedication, so it is only right that I continue this legacy as such!” Richie couldn’t have said it better when she said being a black entrepreneur honors your ancestors who worked so hard. As Maya Angelou once said, ‘I am the hope and dream of the slave.’ The quote reminds Richie to live out her dream to do what she loves and reap the benefits of her labor. On behalf of every person of color who has a dream and is afraid to chase it, I think it’s safe to simply say, thank you; your story is ours.

Business

Will Stransky | Business Manager Business@paisano-online.com Valery Assad | Marketing Manager Marketing@paisano-online.com

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

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Arts & Life Ciudad, a crecer: Remedying through recycling A glance at our growing city’s waste management situation.

Mackenzie Dyer Staff Writer

ountains of rubbish. Toxic chemicals in the air. Doubtful signs of sustain-

able life. When asked about the way people dispose of waste on campus, one UTSA Biochemistry student, Liz Cervantes said,

“When I see people not recycling, I want to scream ‘have you not seen WALL-E!” The 2008 film WALL-E, was set in two locations: One showing a dystopian future of what may happen to the Earth if humans do not sustain and care for the Earth’s future; the other set on a spaceship where those wealthy enough can escape the Earth. Though WALL-E depicts a fictional tale, it resonates with warn-

ings about our potential future. The direction of our future quality of life is typically spearheaded locally. Regarding San Antonio, UTSA professor of U.S. history Lesli Hicks, recalls the local National Public Radio affiliate stating 147 people are moving to the city every day. In fact, U.S. Census data indicates that Texas continues to be one of the fastest growing states in the country and has been for the

last three decades. Hicks explained she could ‘feel’ the change in comparison to when she first moved here in 1971, when the population consisted of roughly 300,000 people. “Traffic is intense… lines at H-E-B and Walmart–and everywhere are longer than they used to be.” Given that 1.1 million more people will live in the San Antonio area by 2040, it is clear that “business as usual” cannot be continued.

Chase Otero/The Paisano

This growth represents a tremendous opportunity for the San Antonio metropolitan region but could undermine our quality of life if we do not plan and act appropriately, specifically speaking to the growth and development of the population’s effect on waste management.

Continued on page 6 See “Ciudad”

Mil setecientos dieciocho

New exhibit at San Antonio Museum of Art tells the story of San Antonio’s first century.

By Aurelio Minesinger Staff Writer

San Antonio is taking the opportunity to examine its cultural heritage through as many outlets as possible during the Tricentennial. Its initiatives for involvement in fostering strong commu-

Selected works from 1718 Art from Viceregal Mexico.

All photos courtesy of SaMa

nity bonds and identity can be seen in the events the city has coordinated with art-centric institutions like ArtPace for Common Currents, which is still in the process of rolling out work from the artists the gallery

commissioned. San Antonio 1718: Art of Viceregal Mexico opened this past weekend, transmuting San Antonio history to tangible visuals through 100 portraits, landscapes, devotional pieces and sculptures that were collected in order to tell a story about the first century of our city’s life. These works range in size, style and execution but come together to tell a collective narrative about the lives of the people who occupied San Antonio during its formative years as a colonized area. The institution responsible for providing the space for this exhibition, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA), allowed Dr. Marion Oettinger, curator of Latin American art, to create an atmosphere in which viewers engage directly with their history. “Putting this exhibition together was like a five year treasure hunt in the great museums and private collections of Mexico,” Oettinger said. As Oettinger took the time to explain the reasons

he selected each of the works, he meandered through the exhibition catalog, pointing out each of the pieces selected. This was only a small part of a much larger puzzle, which was painstakingly researched and compiled together in this collection. The works he collected tell a story of the early days of San Antonio, when it was strategically established to defend the colonial interest of New Spain, while also advancing its goal of converting indigenous peoples to Christianity. Walking through this exhibition is like taking a trip through space and time, where these facets of San Antonio’s early history are presented in the form of beautifully rendered portraits, architectural paintings, devotional shrouds and small sculptures of saints, which are divided into categorical representations of the city’s early inhabitants: People and Places, The Cycle of Life and The Church. The socio-historical context of the work being procured for the tricenten-

nial makes it a rare opportunity to take a look at San Antonio history through a visual lens. Whether you are a San Antonio native or transplant, it will certainly be an event to remember, because it is the

context of time and place that makes these exhibitions so special. San Antonio 1718: Art from Viceregal Mexico runs through May 13.

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6 | arts@paisano-online.com

Ciudad Continued from page 5

San Antonio’s population as of 2016 clocks in at 1.493 million. Considering the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) calculations that on average, Americans recycle and compost 1.51 pounds of the individual waste generation of 4.40 pounds per person per day, the question begs to be asked: Where does all of that waste go? Moreover, how are we managing it? The City’s Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) developed a Recycling and Resource Recovery Plan that outlines a vision for zero waste. It offers strategies and actions to improve waste reduction and recycling programs through education, outreach, incentives and regulatory changes. According to SWMD, the average single-family household in San Antonio generates about eight pounds of waste every day. Fortunately, despite population growth, recycling rates have increased and consumers are now sending less waste to landfills. After instituting automated recycling services and other improvements to make recycling more convenient for residents, household recycling increased almost four-fold. According to an SA-Tomorrow report, 29 percent of the residential waste stream was being recycled by 2014. The City’s goal is to increase the singlefamily residential recycling rate to 60 percent by 2025. Since the adoption of the Recycling and Resource Recovery Plan in 2010, annual landfill waste has seen an 18 percent reduction, from 444,000 tons to 362,000 tons. To move closer to fulfilling its zero waste vision, the city can establish regulations to minimize waste generation through effective waste reduction, reuse and recycling. City residents are also encouraged to take the lead

by prioritizing the use of as many recycled materials as possible for all city facilities and programs. Waste management begins with the individual. If a student buys a cup of coffee before a morning class every day of the week during the school year, that is roughly 160 paper cups, plastic lids and paper sweetener packets or stir straws that contribute to annual waste production. At UTSA, the Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management oversees the daily collection of waste and recycling on UTSA campuses. Recycling and waste minimization efforts do not just save money, they contribute to a sustainable environment and a greener campus. The goal is to improve recycling efforts, aided by UTSA’s adoption of a single-stream recycling process to decrease waste and increase recycling. In this process, all recyclable items are placed in a single container and are sorted off-site at a recycling facility. Streamline is similar to the recycling program implemented by the City of San Antonio. In recent years, the UTSA community has recycled hundreds of tons of mixed paper and cardboard, electronics, lamps, batteries, glass, metal, plastic and other materials. The UTSA campus provides recycling containers for all faculty, staff and students at the University housing. Indoor and outdoor receptacles are located throughout campus, offering a convenient way for everyone to do their part. UTSA is also competing in Recyclemania 2018, the nationwide intercollegiate contest. This friendly annual competition, which runs this year from Jan. 21 to Mar. 31, is a way to help our community become better stewards for our environment. Students, faculty and staff can quickly contribute by thinking of recyclable products for disposal in the blue recycling containers. Schools that

recycle the most per capita win the competition. Here are recycle Do’s and Don’ts at UTSA: As UTSA Texas Politics and Society Professor Henry Esparza says, “awareness and education go hand in hand.” The successful ad campaign “Don’t Mess with Texas” speaks to this, but it can only go so far. Texas has punitive laws to try and dissuade citizens from littering. “Land is finite,” Esparza continues, “communities do not want to deal with waste dumps in their backyard. We remember NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) when communities fought to keep unsightly waste dumps from their neighborhoods. As neighborhoods get more and more congested, the pressure for us all will be paramount. Passing a waste law to future generations or just passing the burden will not work!” The city of San Antonio waste management website and core mission is as follows: “Protect the public health and safety of the City of San Antonio by providing quality municipal solid waste services and environmental programs that are safe, efficient, cost-effective and environmentally responsible.” Esparza suggests the UTSA community must adopt the same core mission and make it part of freshman orientation and allow those vested to speak to students about the importance of environmental waste management. If we are not good stewards for our environment by efficiently managing waste now, we will pay for it heavily in the future. The environment will continue its trend of a downward spiral if individuals do not act now. San Antonio is taking steps in the right direction, but San Antonio is you, it is me, it is your neighbors. Think about what bin your waste goes in before tossing it.

The Weekend Feb

Emma Tenayuca’s Struggle for Justice / $5 8 - 10 p.m. Guadalupe Theater A stage adaptation of the children’s book “That’s Not Fair” told with live music and

23 LGA N OT FA IR

HUE

dance performance to honor a heroic Mexican-American figure. The Throwback Party/ $5 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Paper Tiger All ages ‘90s and early 2000s themed event featuring DJs playing hip-hop, r&b and pop hits from the past. SA Climate Ready Town Hall/ Free 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. UTSA Downtown Assembly Room BV 1.338

A panel of community members share their thoughts on San Antonio’s first Climate Action and Adaptation plan. I Love PP/ Free 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Esperanza Peace & Justice Center

Family friendly poster making event for the International Women’s Day March.

The Paisano

Chase Otero/The Paisano

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

The Independent Student Newspaper for the UTSA Community

02.24.18

Location: The Paisano Media Arts Center 14526 Roadrunner Way WWW.UTSADIPLOMADASH.ORG

Got any questions? manager@paisano-online.com

$15 STUDENTS | $75 STUDENT TEAMS For more information email us at alumni@utsa.edu

Fe b ru a r y 2 0 - Febru ar y 26, 2018

sports@paisano-online.com | 7

Sports UTSA baseball has a strong start to season Roadrunners drop first game, but win series over San Francisco By Connor Zimmerlee Sports Assistant

ell, the best time of the year is upon us. That’s right, it is officially baseball season. The UTSA baseball team opened the season over the weekend with a three game series against the University of San Francisco Dons. The ‘Runners clinched the series victory by winning both games of a double header on Saturday, after dropping the season opener on Friday. UTSA entered opening day on Friday looking to build on a solid 2017 season and gain early momentum for the 2018 campaign. Chance Kirby took the mound for the ‘Runners against the Dons and had a dominant start, striking out four of the first six batters he faced. Offensively for UTSA, not much was going their way, as they too were held scoreless for the first two innings. However, the flood gates opened in the third inning. Kirby’s strong start faltered in the top of the inning and, aided by two errors, the Dons were able to push across three runs. The ‘Runners would not go down without a fight though, they started the inning off with back to back hits to put runners on the corners with nobody out. UTSA would go on to load the bases, picking up runs on a Tony Beam infield single along with a wild pitch. From there out it was all Dons, as UTSA only managed to score two runs. The ‘Runners would go on to drop

Bryan Arias takes a lead at first base.

the first game of the series 11-2. Chase Keng led the way at the plate, recording half of UTSA’s hits on the night in his first game for UTSA. Aside from Keng, the UTSA bats were kept quiet throughout the game. Kirby was saddled with the loss, though he does not deserve all of the blame. He pitched rather well to start, before a few mistakes and poor defense behind him chased him from the game. UTSA entered Saturday’s double header looking to bounce back from the embarrassing loss on Friday. There was a noticeable difference between game

JJ Perez/Insiderunnersports

one and games two and three of the series. After only managing two runs in the first game, the ‘Runners offense exploded for 24 runs on 22 hits for 11-1 and 13-5 victories respectively. The first game of the doubleheader started off with a bang for the ‘Runners, as Bryan Arias smacked a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to give UTSA a quick 2-0 lead. UTSA would tack on another four runs in the third, off a Ryan Stacy RBI double and three-run Trent Bowles home run to stretch the lead to 6-0. Jonathan Tapia and Ben Brookover joined the homer

parade themselves with solo home runs to eventually balloon the lead to 11. Along with the offensive explosion, the pitching staff was dominant for a 11-1 win. Hoping to keep things rolling, the ‘Runners went into the rubber match of the series seeking a crucial opening series victory. However, they quickly found themselves down 4-0 before their first at bat of the game. That lead was quickly erased though, as Brookover drove in Arias with an RBI single to start the rally. By the end of the first, UTSA had knotted things

back up at 4-4. After that UTSA stepped on the gas and would tack on nine more runs before the game was over. The starting pitching was a little shaky out of the gate, but the bullpen was able to come in and shut the door on the Dons offense. Following the opening series victory, the ‘Runners will travel to Abilene Christian University before returning for a three game home series against Texas Tech that will begin Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.

Athlete of the week: Marie Benson By Frank Leal Sports Editor Sophomore Marie Benson of the UTSA women’s basketball team has been a stud on the hardwood for the ‘Runners ever since she first suited up in the blue and orange. Despite the women’s basketball team having a disappointing 2017-2018 season, Benson has been fantastic.

As the season draws to an end, Benson is nearly averaging a double-double with 14 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per game. Although she still made an impact last year, Benson’s numbers have taken a huge leap forward from the five points and six rebounds per game we saw in the 2016-2017 season. Benson started playing basketball in the sixth grade, but

Benson dribbles around an FAU defender.

she said she wasn’t that good at first. Even so, Benson powered through and decided to stick with basketball. “Being an athlete just runs in the family and my sisters played basketball,” Benson said. “So that’s what made me stick with it.” Benson’s sister Barbara is a year younger, and also plays for UTSA as a freshman. “We’ve been playing together for a very

Jef Huehn/UTSA athletics

long time,” said Benson. “Last year was just like a break, but it’s good to play with her again since we have that sister connection when we’re on the court together.” After living in Amarillo throughout the early years of her life, Benson moved to Waco, Texas where she attended Midway High School. While playing basketball at Midway, Benson was a four-year letterman and averaged 17 points per game her senior year. She also led her team to the playoff semi-finals in her final high school season and earned all-academic honors. After high school, Benson visited a few other universities but eventually wound up choosing UTSA. “UTSA just felt more home-like than some of my other visits,” Benson said. “My other visits I felt like they were just telling me what I wanted to hear to go there, but UTSA felt real.” Now a sophomore at UTSA, Benson is a health major but plans to go into nursing in the future. “I’m a health major because nursing is only a twoyear program and health is four. I just want to get as much as I can out of college,” Benson said. Hopefully in a few short years, Benson will have a new successful career in the nursing field. During basketball season, Benson, like many other athletes, has very limited free time. However, when she does get time to herself Benson says she enjoys spending time with her friends and teammates. “I like to

hang out with my teammates because we’re always together. If not, I’ll binge-watch something on Netflix,” Benson said. Aside from basketball, Benson also considers herself somewhat of an artist. “I can draw a little bit although it’s not something I do daily,” Benson said with a smile. “When I was in high school and whenever i was stressed or something I would usually draw.” “My favorite part about playing basketball for UTSA has been just being with my teammates,” Benson said about her time at UTSA thus far. “My freshmen year I only hung out with the other freshmen, but this year I feel like I’m connecting with everybody,” she said. For Benson, basketball has played a tremendous role in her life, and has shaped her into a more confident individual. “Basketball has helped me come out of my shell and be a lot more confident in myself,” said Benson. “I never made friends or put myself out there. That wasn’t me, but the sport has taught me how to speak up for myself and be more confident.” Although Benson is just a sophomore, she’s already proving to be the cornerstone of the team. Her unwavering production and solid play shows that she is poised to lead the team come next season. Benson and the rest of the UTSA women’s basketball team will be back in action on Feb. 23 when they take on the UTEP Miners in El Paso.

8 | sports@paisano-online.com

F e bru ar y 20 - F e bru ar y 26, 2018

Paisano sports staff NFL mock draft

Graphic by Chase Otero and Ricky Galindo/The Paisano