4.24.18 by The Paisano

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

Viva Fiesta!

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Vol. 57, Issue 14

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April 24 - May 11, 2018

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UTSA combats sexual violence CLASE survey identifies most common sexual harasment, assault perpetrators on campus By Gaige Davila Co-News Editor The Faculty Senate subcommittee on Preventing Sexual Violence will present a report concerning on-campus sexual violence at the May 3 Faculty Senate meeting. A preliminary report was presented by the subcommittee on Apr. 12 that outlined findings in the Cultivating Learning and Safe Environments (CLASE) survey. The full report is supplemented by results from the UTSA CLASE survey, released Mar. 24, 2017, in which 3,385 UTSA students participated, a 13.8 percent response rate. According to a UTSA Today article from Mar. 24, 2017, students were asked to self-report their experiences in five areas. Thirteen out of 14 UT

System institutions participated in the CLASE survey. “There’s an issue. Period,” concluded Dr. Crystal KalinecCraig, assistant professor in the interdisciplinary learning and teaching department and member of the faculty senate subcommittee on Preventing Sexual Violence. Twenty percent of UTSA students who responded to the survey said they have experienced sexual harassment or victimization by other students; 12 percent have been victims of stalking; 11 percent said they experienced sexist gender harassment by faculty or staff members; 10 percent have been victims of unwanted sexual touching; six percent said they had been raped and four percent were victims of attempted rape.

Graph comparing CLASE survey results among UT System schools.

The CLASE survey also found that the most common perpetrators of faculty/staff sexual harassment were faculty (62 percent) and student employees

Espy named new provost By Sam De Leon Co-News Editor Kimberly Andrews Espy, Ph.D., has been named UTSA’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Espy will replace interim Provost and Vice President of Academic affairs Mauli Agrawal, beginning June 4. Espy officially returns to Texas after an extensive career in research and administration at top tier universities around the nation, including the University of Oregon and the University of Arizona. Espy brings to the Provost’s position years of experience in student success and academic research and she recently met with faculty, administration and staff of the Main and Downtown Campuses April 18 and 19 to discuss missions and objectives the university holds. “UTSA is a thriving discovery enterprise in San Antonio, one of the nation’s greatest cities, and it is poised to become a model for multicultural research universities of the future,” Espy said. “UTSA is an institution on the move, guided by a strong vision that student success and academic excellence go hand in hand. I am eager to help drive that effort to advance the university and the San Antonio community, create opportunities for our students and support social and economic

prosperity here.” Espy earned a psychology degree at Rice University and went on to earn her master’s and doctorate degrees in Clinical Neuropsychology from the University of Houston. Espy began her administrative career in 2004, when she served as an administrative intern for the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Research Offices at Southern Illinois University. From 2005 to 2011, Espy served as the associate vice chancellor for research at the University of Nebraska to enhance her skills in higher education budgets, policy, planning, communication and economic development. She left Nebraska in 2011 to serve as the vice president for research and innovation for the University of Oregon, one of 62 institutional members of the American Association of Universities. “Dr. Espy is an esteemed scholar and administrator with proven leadership at large, Carnegie R1 (research intensive) and Association of American Universities institutions,” Eighmy said. “She has an unparalleled commitment to students, faculty and the role that research universities play in solving society’s grand challenges. Her breadth of experiences and her body of work closely align with our path forward.” Espy has most recently served as the senior vice president for research and chief research officer for the University

(29 percent); according to the victims 49 percent of unwanted sexual contact victims and 76 percent of unwanted sexual contact perpetrators had used

of Arizona (UA). There, Espy oversaw the university’s research development services, corporate engagement services, global research alliances and research administration and compliance. At UA, she partnered with the provost to implement a cluster-hiring initiative that yielded 28 new faculty at the university, including 20 new faculty to lead various academic initiatives. Espy will bring her experience to UTSA’s nine colleges, the Graduate School and libraries. Eighmy has strategically placed Espy in this position because he believes she will help accomplish the strategic initiatives he set last fall; more specifically, Eighmy believes she will serve a crucial role on his campaign for the reimagination of the Down-

Graphic by: Amber Chin

Continued on page 2 See “Faculty senate analyzes sexual violence on campus”

town Campus, the development of new degree programs and institutions and the implementation of UTSA’s newest budget model. “I know Dr. Espy shares my passion and energy for the potential of UTSA as an exemplary urban-serving, Hispanicthriving discovery enterprise,” Eighmy said. “I am delighted to have her join our senior leadership team.”

Photo courtesy of The Creative Commons

Dr. Kimberly Espy (left) during her welcoming reception on April 18. Sam De Leon/The Paisano

The UTSA Student Government Association (SGA) and the UTSA Libraries are crowdfunding to raise $3,000 for free textbooks for UTSA Students on Launch UTSA. Funds raised will be awarded to UTSA faculty who are transforming courses that have relied on traditional, expensive textbooks to open educational resource (OER) learning materials that are free and low cost for students. The crowdfunding initiative will run through May 1. For a full article on the initiative, visit paisanoonline.com

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UTSA Murtuza Jadliwala, assistant professor of computer science, found that texting through a wearable device while driving can be just as dangerous as texting and driving using an ordinary phone in a recent study. Jadliwala worked with Jibo He, associate professor of psychology at Wichita State University, and Jason S. McCarley, professor of psychology at Oregon State University, to create a study that allowed the measurement of distracted driving in a safe way.

Texas Students in high schools across Texas walked out of class and stood in silence for a minute and 13 seconds on April 20 to protest gun violence. The 13 seconds represented the 13 lives lost in the Columbine shooting that occurred exactly nine years before this protest took place. This protest was a continuation of the March For Our Lives movement, which arose in response to the Feb. 14 shooting that occurred at a high school in Parkland, Florida. Students from Stony Point High School, in Round Rock, delivered a gun reform petition to U.S. Rep. John Carter’s district office during the walk out.

U.S. Travis Reinking is the suspect of a shooting that resulted in the death of four people at a Waffle House in Nashville, Tenn. on April 22. The shooter was naked and only wearing a jacket, which contained additional ammunition. A customer was able to disarm the shooter of his semiautomatic rifle. Reinking fled the scene. Police later warrested Reiking shortly after 1 p.m. Monday, April 23.

World A suicide bomber killed at least 57 people and injured at least 119 others in Kabul, Afghanistan on April 22. The victims were registering to vote at a government offices when the explosives went off. The Afghan government has been concerned about low voter registration due to fraudulent elections and safety concerns such as suicide bombings like this one.

Business On April 21, the European Union and Mexico updated their free trade pact. The new deal, which has not been formally signed yet, is expected to increase trade in most goods between the two countries. The negotiations between these two countries may affect negotiations between Mexico and the Trump administration.

Q&A with Ruby Patterson Graduation spotlight By Kenyatta Battle Editor-in-Chief’s Assistant

Ruby Patterson, a geology major, will be receiving a Bachelor of Science degree this May. Patterson has been a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, the Dean’s Student Advisory Board as the senior geological sciences representative and as an outreach liaison and most recently president of the Student Geological Society.

What are some things that inspired you to choose your major?

Originally, I thought I wanted to become an elementary school teacher, but realized very early on that teaching wasn’t my calling. I actually took a job teaching kindergarten at a Montessori school in Bend, Oregon, but ended up leaving that position after just one year. I moved back home to San Antonio and began taking classes at Northwest

What are you planning to do when you graduate?

After graduating, I will complete my field course requirement and continue to work in the Space Science and Engineering Division of Southwest Research Institute until I leave for graduate school. This fall, I will begin graduate school at the University of Arkansas for

Vista College to figure out what my next direction would be. Starting from zero was intimidating, but also terribly exciting because I had nothing to lose. At the insistence of my dad, who is a geologist, I took a couple of geology and chemistry classes and absolutely loved them. Before I knew it, I had declared my major as geology at UTSA.

a Master’s of Science in Geology. I will be studying their extensive meteorite collection and writing my thesis on the tellurium isotope concentrations in meteorites using a laser ablation technique and a heavy element mass spectrometer.

How do you believe your time at UTSA will help you prepare for challenges (career, or otherwise) in the future?

UTSA taught me that I am so much tougher than I ever gave myself credit for. Juggling classes, labs, family obligations, employment, club involvement, social life and physical health is really hard. Like, really hard. I am so happy

to be done with my bachelor’s degree because now it feels like I can do anything. I’ve made it through the gauntlet. There’s no stopping me now.

Photo courtesy of Ruby Patterson

Did you have any mentors during your time at UTSA?

Yes, I’ve been lucky enough to have a mentor for the past two years. Her name is Dr. Danielle Wyrick, a triple alumni of UTSA. We met at the Geological Society of America conference in Baltimore, Maryland in Oct. 2015. She would later become my Planetary Geology professor in my first semester at UTSA, and now she is my boss at Southwest Research Institute. Danielle is a true badass and inspires me to regularly shatter the boundaries of my comfort zone. Whenever I begin to question whether I am smart enough, creative enough or tough enough to ac-

complish my goals, she always seems to know what to say to make me feel like a capable scientist again. I’ve realized the true power of my inner strength over the past two years, and I owe it all to Danielle. She was the one who pushed me to write all of my abstracts, give oral presentations at conferences and apply to graduate schools with space programs. She has moved mountains to help me along in my fledgling career, and I am extremely grateful for her impact in my life. One day I hope to mentor a young woman the way she has mentored me.

What are some of your largest aspirations for the future?

My largest aspiration for myself is to lead a team that mines asteroids for rare earth elements. The legacy I hope to leave behind is that of a power player in the commercial asteroid mining industry. As a scientist with a passion for both space and rocks, it is my dream job and I will do everything in my power to make it happen. This June,

I will be attending and presenting my research at a space mining conference in Colorado, so I am super pumped for that experience. Once I retire, I would love to start a small business selling unique mineral and fossil centerpieces for people to put on display in their homes or corporate conference rooms.

Faculty senate analyzes sexual violence on campus Continued from Page 1 alcohol or drugs at the time of victimization; most incidents of dating/domestic abuse and violence and unwanted sexual contact occurred off-campus; victims reported that 93 percent of physical violence and 88 percent of unwanted sexual contact incidents occurred off-campus; 37 percent of unwanted sexual contact perpetrators were students at UTSA; 57 percent of unwanted sexual contact victims had a close relationship with the perpetrator and 33 percent were acquaintances. Referring to the students who have experienced gender harassment by faculty or staff members, Kalinec-Craig said, “For us, 11 percent is 11 percent too much. It should be none. If there is anything above zero, that should be raising alarms.” The Faculty Senate was approached by Provost C. Mauli Agrawal to convene a small task force to examine the CLASE report. Kalinec-Craig says the subcommittee will focus on faculty involvement in preventing sexual violence on campus. “We need to make sure this is a sustainable effort. Long past whenever (affected) students graduate,” Kalinec-Craig said. “If we just look at it as a quick, band-aid fix of it, if and when (sexual violence) happens, that’s not thinking of it in a long-term, holistic perspective.” Dr. Richard J. Harris, professor of sociology who researches sexual harassment and assault in military environments, says that environments that have potentially sexist climates, like university campuses, are more likely to experience sexual violence incidents. “If there’s a general sexist climate, that increases the likelihood that individuals will act out and behave in inappropriate ways,” Harris said. “If sexism is prevalent, people who could potentially be perpetrators are more likely to act out. “We have more capacity to control that context than we do to control individuals.” Harris believes that the subcommittee’s recommendations will lead to changing these environments. “I see attitudinal change, the culture change, as something that emerges from effective implementation of policy,” Harris said. “In the short term, we can shape that environment much more quickly and readily than we can shape attitudes.” Though the recommendations have not yet been approved by the Faculty Senate’s executive committee, Harris says there will likely be harder sanctions on perpetrators of sexual violence on campus. “If people report problematic behavior and

it’s acted upon, and people know it’s acted upon, that’s influencing that environment,” Harris said. “If there’s no consequence ever

visible, people don’t believe (there will be consequences).”

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opinion Commit to your college network Editorial Soon to be grads may not be prepared for life after college professionally. According to a survey conducted by Gradstaff, a national career matchmaking firm, there are two recurring problems graduates have entering their new stage. Seventy-five

percent of students said other than a lack of work experience, one of their top two challenges during the job search was not knowing what positions are a good fit. Forty-five percent of students said one of the top two obstacles during the job search is understanding what to do with their major. Graduates ought to use their

UTSA network to guide them toward the next stage in their life. A wide range of to be successes are among us, understanding how these graduates got from A to B can clear up questions a graduate may have before they thought of them. To use the UTSA network graduates must find like-minded classmates from UTSA. For

example, at the Paisano, we maintain contact with our alumni through our online newsletter and through our efforts to bring them back to our base for celebrations and educational seminars. Gatherings provide opportunities for alumni and students to trade stories about what career paths are available for Paisano alumni.

For other graduates, discovering a worthwhile career path may not be as difficult as the Gradstaff survey reports. Before it is too late, students ought to ask where their classmates are headed – it may open doors. Leaving UTSA is not saying goodbye. It is recognizing that you may be a part of a similar community in the future.

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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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A Review of the Year A concerned student through SGA Commentary

Commentary

By Jerry Sharp Contributing Writer As an executive officer with the Student Government Association (SGA), I had the unique opportunity to see how the SGA operates and interacts with UTSA’s upper administration. I have developed a unique understanding of the role SGA play here at UTSA. SGA deals with Tuition and Fee proposals, which can happen every two years. This year was unprecedented. A student referendum hasn’t happened in 10 years at this scale and it even involved a student referendum vote for Athletics and Transportation Fees. These are the growing pains that come with our pursuit of being a Tier-One/R1 Research Institution. Some concerns I and others from the organization have, are the powers SGA possesses in the form of Presidential appointments, which place students in certain positions and important committees. Take the tuition and fees process, which began and ended last Fall, of the 30 students who represented the committee, only 12 students (voting members) were present at the final meeting when they voted and approved the proposals to be sent to President Eighmy for consideration. It was unfortunate and regretful that crucial information was not distributed and made easily available to the student body. Efforts were made in creating a “Student Voters Guide” for the Athletics and Transportation Fees that was included in the form of a hyperlink in the University wide email that was sent out the day of the vote. It should have been attached and made more visible. You can also find links to minutes and attendance for the whole process on the last page of the Voters Guide presentation: http://bit. ly/sgaVote In the end, students made their voices heard, And I think we owe the unusually high voter turnout to something we use everyday – GroupMe. Transportation For those who are unaware, our shuttles

and busses have been operating at a deficit (in the red) and have been using funds subsidized from the Parking budget. Given that the proposed fee failed, it would not surprise me to see an increased cost to our parking passes, to make up for the new busses the school will have to purchase and new routes they’ll have to run. White Supremacy Banner Another event that happened this year was the issue of unauthorized banners and flyers around our campus, something that we as a collective body denounced for the messages behind them. A coalition of students was formed, but ultimately fragmented because of differences in political and ideological beliefs among individuals and student groups that attended. As issues arise from national discussions, in times of uncertainty, it is crucial when topics involve our safety, our education and our university that we leave our differences of opinion at the door and work and think together as Roadrunners. The Student Action Coalition (SAC) was formed shortly thereafter and was tasked with providing viable options for the University to take from the issues we students raised from the banner incident. One of those suggestions came in the form of increased security; more cameras were installed in and around campus, increased Public Safety Officers and more frequent patrols, especially at night. “Letter of Unity” http://bit.ly/UnityLetter Yes, this is just a student government at a university, but even at this level, we should be taking it seriously. We must not forget that we are also here to better ourselves as students, citizens and future leaders of this country. “We are the future we need to be.” Many lessons were learned this year; there will always be opportunity to improve, room to grow and, of course, time to heal. SGA can be more efficient; however, students need to step up and contribute, get involved and be nosey because there might not be the same caliber of students to defend us the next go around. Transparency is key. They’ll say everything is public information, but “they” benefit from you not digging deeper or even caring enough to seek out the information. I am a proponent on public accountability and ethical reasoning, and the Paisano is one of the few avenues where information can be shared unfiltered directly to students.

By Anonymous Contributing Writer The Student Government Association (SGA) should not be a sponsored organization. As a former member, let me tell you why. SGA is given a budget of $58,000 (paid for by student fees) every year. They say this is necessary, but their largest contributions to campus life are typically either crowdfunded or were programs created by UTSA administration – not driven by students. Most of their budget goes to campus events and their own membership. In a campus culture that is far less student-focused than it could be, student government should be representing their constituents – they literally call themselves the “voice of the students” – but even as an organization with a large amount of recognition and access to many tools and resources on campus, they are remarkably ineffective. They act more like an extension of UTSA faculty and administration than student representatives, and other student boards at UTSA have done much more with much less – the Business Student Council, College of Science Dean’s Student Board and the

Honors Leadership Council are just a few examples. SGA should not be funded by students unless they can prove they are using that money for students – all of that money. In 2017-2018 SGA expenditures include: $12,775 on a members-only retreat; $2,617.50 on a members-only banquet;$1,500 on a leadership-building workshop for the executive team. The year prior, some expenditures included $8,350 for a retreat; $3,750 for an executive member retreat; $2,617.50 on a members-only banquet. The most extreme unrelated expenses occurred during the administration of Ileana Gonzalez in the 2014-15 year. Not only did Gonzalez and the four members of her executive team go on an exclusive trip to Disneyland that cost students $7000+, she also personally authorized aesthetic renovations to the student government office that used more than $11,000 of student fees. All expenditures from the last three years can be found in the student government budgets, which are available upon request from the SGA treasurer. Until the organization can get its priorities in check, it’s clear that the Student Government Association’s budget should be either reduced to only the amount needed for student initiatives or cut altogether, since the organization’s leadership can’t be trusted to look out for student interests. Student Government should be about students, (not just the ones in student government), and it’s time for us to hold them accountable.

Photo courtesy of SGA

The pursuit to perfection Commentary

By Ethan Pham Managing Editor College is meant to be a place of education, growth and learning. What happens far too often is the overwhelming pressure to succeed in college leads to severe issues that affect many students across campuses in America. A survey conducted by the Cooperative Institutional Research Program at UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute examined 150,000 students nationwide. The survey found that 9.5 percent of respondents “felt depressed” and 36.6 percent “felt overwhelmed.” College is often hailed as the path to success and achievement in life, and we’re told failure will lead to a life of struggle and stress. This type of pressure is amplified by society, family and friends to succeed and can

leave students with harmful and damaging mental health problems. We are expected to breeze through college and acquire accolades, awards and scholarly success, but those who do attempt to achieve all this are often struggling. Coming to college, I learned so much and I surpassed my previous self. I learned to lead, manage my time, and I keep learning and growing my skill set. All of this lead me to pursue all I could and make my college experience a fantastic one. I decided in my final semester I wanted to really knock it out of the park, but I may have struck out this semester. I am the managing editor of The Paisano, president of the UTSA chapter of the American Advertising Federation, a parttime internship and I take a full course load. On top of that, I try to maintain a good relationship with my boyfriend, keep a healthy lifestyle and have fun from time to time. I really wanted to achieve all that I could and leave UTSA as a student to remember. All of this hit me hard. I spent my days running to my next responsibility, doing obscene amounts of work and trying to

stay bright, happy and positive. It got so overwhelming that I had a long episode of extreme depression, insomnia and anxiety. Now I sit here, on the verge of failing a few of my classes, consistently exhausted and rarely being able to rest. I felt like I was trapped and there was no escape. I would be lying if I said suicide never entered my mind, and while I would never do that, there are far too many students who consider it. The National College Health Assessment of 2013 found that of 125,000 student surveyed across 150 universities and colleges, one-third of U.S. college student had difficulty functioning in the last 12 months due to depression and nearly half had overwhelming anxiety within the last year. In another statistic found by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health in 2014, over 30 percent of students who sought out mental health service had seriously considered attempting suicide at some point in their lives. I am beyond lucky to be a student whose parents pay for my time at college. But many, students are expected to attend college, become involved in extracurricular activities, get good

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

grades and on top of that have to worry about their finances and the debt they acquire semester after semester. We need to loosen expectations of college and understand that we are here to learn and get an education. University life should expand our life, not bog us down with immense amounts of stress and frustration. Professors often comment that their class should be a priority if the students want to pass, but in reality, every class is a priority to the student. We need to make the environment more understanding and allow students to feel comfortable talking about

stress and issues so these can be resolved. When I finally reached out to some of my professors, I was already broken, and maybe if I wasn’t expected to be so perfect I would have felt more comfortable letting them know what was going on. We need to not make students feel that if they do poorly in college, they will do poorly in life. We can retake classes and extend college, but the mental issues can last with us for the remainder of our lifetime. Let’s try to make college an expansion to our life, not a necessity to live a happy one.

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Arts & Life

Viva Fiesta!

A guide to one of SA’s oldest traditions. Andy Borunda

Contributing Writer an Antonio’s annual spring festival has had an incredible transformation throughout its 127-year history. The city-wide celebration now known as Fiesta had its humble origins as a single day event called the Battle of Flowers Parade, held on April 21, 1891. The Battle of Flowers Parade is held in remembrance of the subsequent Battle of San Jacinto, which ultimately secured Texas’ independence from Mexico only 55 years earlier. The Alamo, easily the city’s most well-known and instantly recognizable historical landmark, sat in ruins for nearly six decades. A group of prominent San Antonio women established the allfemale, all-volunteer Battle of Flowers Parade Committee in 1891 to organize the first of what was to become one of the country’s premier festivals. Aside from serving as a celebration of San Antonio’s rich history, the original Battle of Flowers Parade also served to establish the Alamo as the heart of San Antonio. By the time of the 10th annual parade in 1901, dozens of new businesses including saloons, banks, doctors, hotels and the grand opera house had set up shop at Alamo Plaza, securing its place as the cultural and economic center of the city. The Parade became one of the city’s most beloved traditions, and as it grew larger each year, the Battle of Flowers

Parade Committee became just one of many organizations that contributed to the festivities, though the parade itself remains a staple of Fiesta. The 2018 Battle of Flowers Parade will take place on the April 27 at 9:30 a.m. starting at Broadway and Grayson. This year’s 300 Timeless Treasures theme will highlight San Antonio’s culture and traditions as part of the city’s ongoing tricentennial celebration. Tickets start at $15 for reserved seating. It will not be necessary to sacrifice a good morning’s sleep in order to enjoy a Fiesta parade, the following evening, the Fiesta Flambeau Parade will be celebrating its 70th annual “illuminated night parade” at 6:45 p.m. also starting on Broadway and Grayson. The parade will feature a Three Centuries – One City theme and will be led by the University of Texas Longhorn Band. Bleacher seats start at $16.50. One of Fiesta’s most well-known and celebrated events, A Night In Old San Antonio (NIOSA) will be running from April 24 – April 27 this year, offer four nights of food and entertainment from 5:30 – 10:30 p.m. on South Presa Street in downtown San Antonio. Tickets will be available at the gate for $15.00. Although many of Fiesta’s biggest celebrations take place in downtown San Antonio, UTSA students will not have to travel very far to take part in the festivities. Last week, Roadrunner Productions hosted the largest Fiesta UTSA event in

its 41-year history. Over 100 vendors gathered under the Sombrilla and provided food and drinks for the attendees with The e7 Band providing live entertainment. This week, The 10th annual Party on the Paseo offers an alcohol-free evening of fun and games and will be taking place on April 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event will feature a Casino Night

theme and will be located at Student Union Ballroom at the main campus (HSU 1104/1.106). Admission will be free. With over 100 events in all parts of the city, there will be plenty of opportunities for residents of San Antonio to take part in this year’s festivities. For a full list of events, visit fiesta-sa.org.

Rey Feo (the Ugly King) Fred Reyes opens Fiesta UTSA in 2017 in the Sombrilla. Fiesta UTSA is an official annual event on UTSA’s main campus.

Photo courtesy of Roadrunner Productions

A new age of drag How Ru Paul’s Drag Race is redifining drag as we know it. Katrina Clements Arts Assistant Brittney Nguyen Contributing Writer Started in 2009, Ru Paul’s Drag Race has paved the way for how drag is perceived today. Before Drag Race, drag was underground and almost exclusive to the LGBTQ community. Now, we see prominent drag references throughout pop culture and mainstream media. As Ru Paul’s Drag Race enters its 10th season, drag is more prominent than ever. The show has launched the careers of hundreds of queens and continues to do so through the platform the show has created. With the raging success of the show, local drag queens across the United States have seen growth in the turnout for their performances. Drag Race has created exposure for the drag community overall, and people have started to come out and support their local drag queens. Every contestant on Drag Race or “Ru Girl” started out performing in their local gay bars and clubs, so after gaining exposure on the show they do their best to give back to local queens. “I’ve known some of my drag sisters, who are seamstresses,

designing costumes for Ru Girls. When a Ru Girl gets asked who she’s wearing, they always give credit to my friend, and it helps them get more clients, and in turn, they make more money,” local San Antonio queen and UTSA alumna Lolita Red said. Drag Race provides its contestants with expensive, high quality materials to create looks to push them forward in the competition. This may seem unrealistic in comparison to the looks local queens produce, as many local queens do drag as a full time job to support themselves. Many queens, especially up and coming queens, cannot afford to have a brand new look every time they perform, whereas on Drag Race they create multiple new looks within each episode. Even though Ru Girls may seem to have an unfair advantage, “they know how expensive drag can be and how little some local queens make. Drag Race helps local queens think creatively and make use of the budget they have,” Lolita Red said. Drag Race has given LG-

BTQ individuals a platform on national television, creating the normalization of queer culture. This has helped create a safer environment for drag performers across the country, as previously, drag could be dangerous due to the lack of exposure of the drag art form. As drag has become more accepted, it’s become more common to see drag queens in public and in the media. For instance, Ada Vox, a queen from San Antonio, has made it to the top 14 contestants on the current season of American Idol. The success of Ru Paul’s Drag Race has grown exponentially in the past 10 years and has made a significant appearance in mainstream media. Drag terms like “yass queen,” “work,” “sickening” and “no tea no shade” have become a part of many younger voices’ vocabularies. Drag references are becoming a part of common culture and bringing people together with Drag Race memes and viewing parties. What used to be exclusive to the LGBTQ community is now being enjoyed by the masses. Ru Paul’s Drag Race will

likely continue to grow and benefit both Ru Girls and local queens by inspiring them as well as helping them create lasting

careers. Drag Race is defining the generation with its hilarious challenges, breathtaking looks and multi-faceted queens.

Amber Chin/The Paisano

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6 | arts@paisano-online.com

Despedida de verano

My personal recommendations for summer 2018. Enrique Bonilla Arts & Life Editor As the stress of deadlines and exams come to an end, summer’s sunny skies lie a few short weeks away. For many, this break is the first sight of the unfamiliar concept of “free time” in a few months. After you’ve caught up on sleep, make sure to explore the beauty of San Antonio and the surrounding areas in the summer time. With music fests, art exhibits and daytrips on the horizon, make sure you put on sunscreen, drink water and treat yourself! If you’re in South Texas, there are plenty of beautiful swimming places to check out that are short drives away. Near campus, you’ll find the Random Beer Garden by the Boerne City Lake Park. The bar officially reopens for the summer season this weekend. A short drive west on I-10 takes you straight to Boerne. Canyon Lake, located slightly west of New Braunfels, is another swimming hole that is both fun wet and dry. The beauty of this area is a fantastic representation of the hidden beauty of the Texas hill country. Hiking up to the gorge is a great and healthy way to start a summer day. Teach ‘Em to Fish is a guide service based out of the Canyon Lake area that shows you how to catch dinner on the lake. Coming up in July is Float Fest: a two day music fest along the San Marcos River. Tame Impala, Snoop Dogg, Modest Mouse and Run the Jewels are among the

headliners at the fest’s fourth installment. San Antonio based ScoreMore Productions will also be providing entertainment to music lovers this summer. Their threeday festival stops in Austin with Cardi B, J. Cole and Bun B to name a few headliners. ScoreMore Productions also runs the highly popular Mala Luna music festival that had its sold out

sophomore event in 2017. If the masses are too much for you, San Antonio’s music scene is spectacularly poppin’. Local music can be found all over town, and researchers in UTSA’s marketing department headed by Dr. Stan Renard have compiled a large majority of music oriented businesses booming in town. Research has shown the musical venues growing towards the northside where Main Campus is located. Specifically, The Rustic located at The Rim is hosting acts such as Dr. Dog and Cold War Kids, quite a different venue for artists of that caliber. If music in your ears,

isn’t music to your ears there are plenty of nonmusic-related events happening this summer in San Antonio. The sky is the limit at BalloonaPalooza 2018. A short drive to Marion, TX next month–dates are tentative–will lead you to the touring airborn festival. Complete with a carnival and car exhibits, BalloonaPalooza is a great way to catch the Texas sunset. If you’d like to catch a view indoors take a drive down Fredericksburg Rd. to the

Woodlawn Theatre for local thespians. While you’re in the neighborhood near downtown, support a new local eatery of San Antonio. Con Safos is a new restaurant in the Yanaguana Garden in Hemisfair Park. The locally owned business pays homage to traditional Mexican and San Antonio specific cuisine like their famous concha burger for all pan

dulce lovers. If you’ve had your fill of San Anto and its beauty–even if just for a brief moment–there are plenty of beautiful places in Texas worth checking out. The city of Marfa recently unveils its newest public exhibition entitled Stone Circle by artist Haroon Mirza. Only six hours away, The megalith inspired work consists of eight stones, one that powers the rest through solar panels. Other artists that perform in Marfa will be able to interact with the stones through the help of Ballroom Marfa, a non-profit organization focused on contemporary art in the small desert city. If this exhibit is up your alley, a bit closer to San Antonio is the stonehenge replica located in Ingram, TX along the town lake. Whether you’re putting miles on the odometer, cooling off in the river, at a house show downtown or in an art gallery somewhere, enjoy the tricentennial summer in San Antonio and Texas. There are too many Texas treasures to explore and this list is just the tip of the iceberg, but a good starting point for your plans. Salud!

Amber Chin/The Paisano

The Weekend

APRIL

Viva Vegans Happy Hour Market/ Free 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. La Botanica Local artisans share thier eco-friendly wares during La Botanica’s happy hour. King William Fair Rock n’ Roll Fiesta / Free 3 p.m. - 2 a.m. Lowcountry

Performances by The Cops, Garrett T. Capps & The Three Timers, The Rich Hands, Flower Jesus Quartet and Heather Leather.

Artist talk with A.E. Mabry / Free 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Flax Studio Discussion and viewing of Mabry’s collection “Childhood Memories?” which showcases themes of death and comedy alongside themes of nostalgia and innocence.

The Block SA Crawfish Boil / $20 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. The Block The Block’s annual crawfish boil with food, music and give aways. Tickets include two plates of crawfish and a complimentary beer for those 21 and over.

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

HU — The Sound of Soul

Thursday, April 26 , 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 for spiritual unfoldment. You’re invited to attend this event to experience singing HU, followed by contemplative time and facilitated spiritual conInfo: Mitziani: rbo233@my.utsa versations. Presented by the Eckankar Student Organization

www.EKSanAntonio.org

GOOD LUCK ON FINALS

Have a great summer! SENIORS, KEEP IN TOUCH! Visit the Alumni office to find out how to stay connected with UTSA.

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sports@paisano-online.com | 7

Sports UTSA women’s golf wins C-USA championship Houston, Gonzalez lead ‘Runners to 2018 conference title

Photo courtesy of Conference-USA

The team hoists their championship trophy after the win.

By Frank Leal Sports Editor

fter finishing the 2016-2017 season with a third-place finish at the Conference-USA tournament, UTSA had their sights set on the championship as they headed to Fort Myers, Florida for the 2017-2018 C-USA tournament on April 16. Throughout the three-day tournament, UTSA dominated the course and came away with the victory by a margin of 13 strokes to take home their first conference title since 2012 and their first ever C-USA title. The team victory was due in large part to the phenomenal play of junior Julie Houston and freshman Ana Gonzalez. The UTSA duo earned first and second place individually in the conference tournament to help lead the team to the win. Gonzalez and Houston were the only two players in the tournament to finish under par with scores of

-3 and -4 respectively. Hanley Long from Middle Tennessee rounded out the top three with a +1. UTSA played well enough the first two days to give themselves a slim lead heading into the final day of the tournament. With the ‘Runners holding a four-stroke lead, they were going to have to work hard to maintain it. “The team mindset going into the final day was definitely just to stay focused and stay in the present,” Houston said. “It’s easy to get ahead of yourself and start picturing the moment when you win and stuff like that, but everyone stayed focused and did very well.” While the team had a fourstroke lead, Houston and Gonzalez were tied with each other heading into the last day and both were well within reach of the first-place trophy. The two ran away with the lead on the final day of play, but Houston was able to edge out her teammate by one stroke to earn the first-place trophy. Houston said being neck and neck atop the leaderboard helped them bring out the best in each other.

“We’ve both pushed each other all year long to play our best, and Ana is an amazing teammate to have,” Houston said about Gonzalez. “I wouldn’t have wanted to go head to head with anyone else.” Houston led the field with 13 made birdies over the course of the tournament and had four of them in a row on her way to shooting a 69 the final day. “To win as a team is such a great feeling and to win individually as well was so amazing and so humbling,” Houston said. “It really put all my hard work in perspective.” While Houston and Gonzalez were no doubt the stars of the tournament, the rest of the UTSA team didn’t disappoint either. There were 60 players at the C-USA tournament, and not a single player from UTSA finished outside of the top 30. Becky McGeehan finished in 23rd with a score of +10 and Madison Kidd finished tied for 25th with a +12. Senior Nikki Long rounded out the group of UTSA women one stroke behind Kidd with +13 and finished tied for 27th. It was an impressive

showing from every individual on the team. While winning conference is exciting and a huge accomplishment, the UTSA women’s golf team will now have the opportunity to compete in the regional tournament in May, so the ride isn’t over yet. “We’re still focused and practicing for regionals, but we are still very excited that we won conference and aren’t overlooking that at all,” Houston said. Once the regional competition is said and done, Houston will have her senior year to look forward to. She already has big expectations for herself and the team for the 20182019 season. “We’ve seen what we can do, and we can do it again. Houston poses with We aspire her awards.

to win conference again,” said Houston. “I want to give myself a chance to win every tournament I play in and of course defend my conference title for my senior year.” The team will have some new faces next year after the departure of seniors Nikki Long and Becky McGeehan, but under the leadership of new Head Coach Summer Batiste and veteran Julie Houston, there could be big things in store for next years’ squad.

Photo courtesy of Conference-USA

Paisano sports staff NFL mock draft 2.0

Graphic by Ricky Galindo/The Paisano

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