The Paisano Vol. 45 Issue 7

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

02.22.2011 Vol. 45 Issue 7

The

Paisano

Pamela Maldonado

paisanonews@sbcglobal.net

P6: Combat veterans

P7: ‘Rango’ movie review

P10: Women’s hoops

Beginning August 1 2011, the GRE, a graduate admissions testing tool, will reflect a vastly different and more difficult test.

For years, universities have used the GRE as a determinant to a student’s success and readiness for graduate-level coursework. Aspiring graduate school students will be facing the decision to take a less difficult version now or wait for the newer, more difficult version.

According to the creators of the GRE, ETS (Educational Testing Services), the newer version is designed to fit the demand of today’s skill requirements for graduate programs and to assist in making a more precise and reliable result of students’ capabilities.

One of the more evident changes will be in test scoring.

Currently, the test is based on a 200-800 point scale in 10-point increments. The new version will transition into 130-170 points, in one-point increments. The test will also be one hour longer, creating a four-hour exam that will test the endurance and testing abilities of all grad school pros-

pects.

Changes in test content were made to relate more to the skills needed to succeed once a student is in a graduate program.

Quantitative Reasoning: Included are more data interpretation questions using charts, graphs and tables. Some questions will require a numerical response without the selection of choices provided. An on-screen calculator feature will be added; however, this charge could mean more difficult problems to solve.

Analytical Writing: Some graduate programs consider this section vital to interpreting a candidate’s skills while others disregard this section entirely.

The time given to complete this section will be reduced by 15 minutes. The essay prompts will have a stronger focus on detail, making a more accurate demonstration of a candidate’s ability to respond to the task given.

Verbal Reasoning: Analogies, antonyms and sentence completion will be removed entirely.

There will be a greater focus on reading passages making a more accurate evaluation of candidates’ ability to understand what they read and how they

apply their reasoning skills.

Strengthening/weakening questions have also been added, which will be familiar to students who have taken the GMAT. A stronger focus on vocabulary has also been added with text completion and sentence equivalence. The hope for this section is to provide a sense of validity in scores.

The new GRE will allow test takers to skip questions and go back later to change answers to

previous questions. The flexibility of this option could be a plus. However, it can also initiate new challenges such as poor time management, or the risk of leaving questions unanswered, which are heavily penalized in the GRE; new or old.

“If you can take the current version, do it. It may be less stressful,” said Jeffrey Ryans, PhD candidate at UTSA. See GRE, Page 4

America’s retirement funds Victor H. Hernandez

paisanonews@sbcglobal.net

Michael Gardiner

Burk Frey\ The Paisano

paisanonews@sbcglobal.net

See SGA, Page 4

Student reads Kaplan GRE prep book to prepare new 2011 test.

Immigrants bolstering

Student body government experiences growing pains along with university

‘Borders crossing statue’ represents immigration in Texas.

Undocumented workers, through the use of bogus Social Security cards, have been paying billions of dollars in the last decade to the Social Security Agency (SSA). Last year alone, Fernando, an undocumented worker who agreed to speak with The Paisano, had to pay $1,680 for Social Security and $450 for Medicare.

The money that Fernando and several other million undocumented workers pay every year goes to an account that some have called the SSA’s “secret stash,” the Earning Suspense File (ESF).

New parking garage causes loss of parking Angela Marin

paisanonews@sbcglobal.net Feb. 19 marked the beginning of parking space reallocation to prepare for the construction of the East Garage, which is expected to be complete in summer 2012.

Crews will officially break ground on the East Garage on March 1.

Most of the “A” and “B” spaces from Lot 4 will temporarily be lost and relocated to other areas during the construction process.

Lot 3 will be mostly composed of ADA, reserved and “A” spaces.

The ESF retains taxes that do not match a person’s identity in the SSA’s database until they can be correctly assigned and placed with a valid name and Social Security Number (SSN).

As of October 2009, the ESF had accumulated about $836 billion in wages and $296 million wage items.

In 1937, during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Earning Suspense File was created; its initial purpose was to save the contributions of taxpayers who had misspelled their names, had faulty Social Security information or the newlyweds who didn’t change their names.

See IMMIGRATION, Page 4

Clinton visits the Little Rock Nine for dedication Courtesy of UTSA

The Student Government Association (SGA) has undergone growing pains as UTSA makes its way to becoming a tier one powerhouse.

Gin ju im, a four-year SGA veteran, had this to say about the transformation in SGA, “SGA used to be more like The Paisano in how it was broke but genuine. Now, instead of the person who would do the best job in the elected position, the person with the flashiest campaign wins.”

Derek Trimm’s executive ticket for the 2010 election was composed of Trimm as president; Nicole Munoz, his girlfriend at the time, as vice president; Xavier Johnson, Trimm’s roommate, as his secretary; and Roger Frigstad, Trimm’s big brother from FIJI, as his treasurer.

Jason Hensley, president of Young Americans for Liberty got involved with SGA due to making UTSA more ‘green’, which along with campus sustainability Trimm described as “his legacy.”

He was elected by the SGA senate to be Executive Senator during Trimm’s administration, sitting on the executive cabinet unaffiliated with Trimm.

“Now granted, Trimm’s [election] turnout was the second best, ever, but voter apathy is a big reason why anybody is successful in SGA,” Hensley said.

Burk Frey/The Paisano

Upcoming changes to GRE make grad school admissions tougher

Lot 8 will absorb the remaining “A” and “B” spaces that were eliminated from Lots 3 and 4. This shift will result in the temporary displacement of approximately 300 commuter spaces.

“While it is unfortunate that such a large portion of Lot 4 will temporarily be lost, it is necessary in order to grow,” Assistant Director of Parking Services, Shelley Deats said.

“Business Auxiliary Services

has been in collaboration with the design and construction teams on this project since the beginning phases and has done everything possible to ensure that as much parking as possible is left open to the community for the duration of the project.”

Faculty and students already routinely experience challenges with locating a place to park.

Associated Press

paisanonews@sbcglobal.net Former President Bill Clinton joined the eight living members of the Little Rock Nine on Saturday to dedicate an exhibit in the Clinton Presidential Center commemorating the black students who were pioneers in school integration more than five decades ago.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 1954 outlawed racial segregation in the nation’s public schools, but it wasn’t until 1957, at Little Rock, that the federal government resolved to enforce the court’s directive.

See PARKING Page 4 See CLINTON Page 3

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P2

The Paisano

February 22, 2011

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February 22, 2011 Hot Off The Press Obama meets in ‘Silicon Valley’

The Paisano SGA: student body president defends accusations

NEWS

P3

Allison Tinn

On Feb. 17, President Obama had dinner with 12 leaders from technology companies to discuss ways to invest in American innovation and to promote private sector job growth.

Just some of the big names on the guest list were Apple’s chief executive Steve Jobs and Facebook cheif executive Mark Zuckerberg.

Obama said he wanted to work with the group “so we can work as partners to promote growth and create good jobs in the United States.”

The plan the president proposed was to increase spending on high-tech initiatives like high speed internet, education in science and engineering and to double America’s exports in five years.

The future is pointing in the direction of higher technology. In 2010 Apple Inc. made $65.23 billion dollars in revenue alone; Facebook’s revenue since 2009 is $800 million. With figures like these, it is no wonder Obama has his eye on the technology field to become the future of our country’s industry.

Obama commends Facebook for using the creativity and the ingenuity of the American people to create the social network that swept the nation.

The conversation also drifted to ways of promoting students to study science, technology, engineering and math, and to go into STEM fields.

File Photo

paisanonews@sbcglobal.net

Your friendly neighborhood student government at work at the shanty shack.

From page 1 been done to secure Greek housing ence that showed conflict between until the beginning of this current se- Trimm’s cabinet and many veteran “If you’re a good campaigner, if mester, the same month as elections. SGA members. The tipping point for you throw out the right rhetoric, you “Greek housing is something we’ve many in SGA was Trimm’s removal don’t actually have to stand for any- been doing this semester, after we of Josh Bart, a political rival, Hensley thing [or] have any principles. You finished up with Green Fund and all calls his actions a “judicial loophole.” can still hold this position and have the other things we’ve been doing.

However, Trimm contends, “Josh no integrity and still get your way.”

We just recently put our focus on it,” still kept challenging me even though “And, unfortunately, it has become, Trimm said. the campaign was over, just so he literally, who hands out the most fliHowever Trimm’s administration could prove to himself that he was ers and gets their name out there did accelerate the process for the more qualified than me. Josh opmore.” sale of alcohol on campus by intro- posed me and my platforms, so I reTrimm countered with his own ducing a survey at the very beginning moved him.” theory, however “Campaigning and of their academic year.

The rest of the Standing Committhe competence of a political canThe survey illustrated to UTSA’s tee Chair became uncomfortable didate [once in office] go hand in administration the support for the after the removal, especially regardhand. If I’m not able to communicate sale of alcohol on campus. The re- ing its quasi-legality, and took issue the ideas that I have, the ideas that sounding response that it prompted with Trimm imposing his directives on I wish to implement to the students Dr. Romo to establish a university their respective committees. that are voting for me, then I should committee the day after the results Trimm, who recognized the grievnot be in the office in the first place.” were published, which were 91.8% ances of those committee chairs, Trimm’s campaign in 2010 was in favor. replied by saying, “I have to follow largely powered by platforms for “The sale of alcohol on campus has my platforms, and I’m just not going the sale of alcohol on campus, and been the one issue on our ticket that to appoint people to my cabinet that for housing for Greek organizations, has demanded the least time com- oppose those platforms. That would issues picked because of high voter mitment out of any of us because the be fundamentally against what I appeal. administration took that on,” Trimm campaigned on.”

“Me and my team sat down and said regarding further involvement Trimm’s regard for differing opinbrainstormed different ideas. That’s with the issue of the sale of alcohol ions was shown in the weeks buildthe whole point of public service you on campus. ing up to the Brackenridge Classics figure out what your constituents As newly elected president, Symposium. want and you deliver it,” he said.

Trimm’s style of governing was a “Despite promising his support to However, success in delivering stark contrast to past administrations me in executive meetings and $600 these elements of those platforms that relied more on a system that left over in other parts of the budhas been questionable. Nothing had delegated responsibilities, a differ- get,” said Gin ju im, “when it came

time for the senate to vote, Trimm completely flipped on me and bullied the senate against voting to sponsor the event. He repeatedly kept getting up and saying that he thought it was a bad idea and, of course, the senate didn’t know what else to believe.”

Trimm’s version of the situation is markedly different. “There was almost no rollover from the previous administration’s budget, and as a way to cover shortfalls and cut costs, during the summer, my cabinet and I decided to substantially decrease the amount we allocate to co-sponsoring events in the new Trimm budget. We simply could not afford to fund the Brackenridge Classics Symposium and still have enough left over to fund the larger events in the future.”

However, Trimm’s administration pushed through a $1000 sponsorship of Fajita Fest as emergency legislation in April of last year, using the previous administration’s budget. Trimm supported Fajita Fest, a primarily Greek event that had been generally funded by Greek organizations, and spoke multiple times to the senate in support of funding the IFC event.

Trimm confirmed that the money that went to Fajita Fest would have rolled over into his administration’s budget the following year.

O M H E A C S O T M U I 1 NG 1 0 2 Window Wars Winners

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Main Campus First Place: Hispanic Student Association GLBTQ

Second Place: GLBTQ

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Third Place: Catholic Student Association Sigma Lambda Alpha

Honorable Mentions: Student COLFA Council Filipino Student Association La Despedida

Downtown First Place: La Despedida

Student Activities Facebook "Like" Award Alpha Omicron Pi

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P4

NEWS

The Paisano

February 22, 2011

PARKING: approximately 70 violations written since spring of 2010 “A lot of the times I park far and take the shuttle,” senior technical communication major Robert Mitchell said. “But sometimes it sucks when you want to leave and you have to wait 15 minutes for the shuttle to get there.”

Junior psychology major Lauren Ortega said “I take the alternative route which is riding the shuttle just because I don’t want to waste so much time finding parking.”

For accounting lecturer Lorie Milam, even finding a disabled parking space seems an impossible feat.

After suffering a broken foot, she purchased a disabled permit but discovered that disabled spaces near the building where she teaches are almost always

occupied when she arrives.

While trying to locate a spot, Milam observed what appeared to be an able-bodied student parking in a handicapped space.

“The Parking Division takes [unauthorized] parking in handicap spaces very seriously,” Deats said. “Since spring of 2010 our department has written approximately 70 violations for illegal parking in ADA spaces. This is associated with our highest fine of $250.”

Deats says the parking division has recently added some additional ADA spaces south of the Main Building and once the construction of the North Paseo building is complete, another 11 ADA spaces will be available south of the North Garage.

Writing Program Lecturer Lindsay Ratcliffe has given up parking on campus and now relies

on public transportation to commute to and from work.

“One of the big reasons that I have abandoned my car commute is because of the frustration that parking has become,” Ratcliffe said. “I am now a devoted VIA rider.”

Many question why the university doesn’t simply create more lots to alleviate the parking issue altogether. Deats explains that UTSA is located on the recharge zone for the Edwards Underground Aquifer System, so the university is challenged with preserving the area and limited to the amount of hardscape that can be built.

For this reason, the university chose to build a garage to maximize space without creating a large “footprint” that will affect campus.

Constructing the East Garage

will reduce the number of available parking spaces on Main Campus; however, once the project is complete, it will ultimately result in 1200 additional slots.

According to Deats, large portions of Lots 10 and 11 are available throughout the day and there are shuttles that run from these lots to various locations.

“We are encouraging everyone to be familiar with the parking changes,” Deats said. “Arrive early and if possible carpool or use shuttle services.”

Marie Ullirch/ The Paisano

From page 1

Commuter pass are avaibale for $105..

GRE: older practice tests can CLINTON: former president says Little still help on new version From page 1 With the current version, candidates are able to retake the test once a month. With the new version candidates will be able to retest only every two months. Students should not assume that they will be able to make up for a bad GRE score in time, as in the first few months of initiation, it will take up to three months to get an official score.

Deadlines are important to consider when deciding which version to take. If a candidate needs an official score by November, it is recommended to take the current version.

“I’m a little nervous about all the GRE revisions, but if it is something I have to do, of course I will,” said Linda Gonzalez, PhD candidate. “It just means I will study harder and devote more time into preparing for the test.”

If you are taking the new version,

many practice tests before test date will be important to help familiarize you with the new features and format.

For this reason, the UTSA graduate school has been quick to make their adjustments to help graduate prospects transition to the new version of the GRE. In fact, Feb. 26, The graduate school will host a free practice test, with the newer version in place.

Vivian Padilla, graduate school admissions Officer said, “We are doing everything we can to help the students adjust to the new test. The quicker we get started on practicing this version, the more beneficial it will be to the student.”

IMMIGRATION: undocumented workers may be able to retire From page 1 Since the SSA maintains its data for a long time, individuals with earnings missing from their records can have them properly posted on their funds. Could it be that millions of taxpayers just forgot to ask for their legitimate money? This is highly unlikely. The significant increase in the account is caused mostly by undocumented workers.

“Millions of today’s illegal workers could be eligible for hundreds of billions in Social Security dollars, as evidenced by the dramatic growth of the Earnings Suspense File,” SSA General Inspector Patrick P. O’Carroll said when interviewed on Jul. 27, 2010 to PR Newswire.

According to PR Newswire, from 1937 to 1999, 63 years from its creation , the Earnings Suspense File has collected $301.8 billion dollars.

From 1999 to 2009, the account went from $301 billion to $836 billion dollars. In 2007 alone, the ESF grew by $90 billion in wages twice the value of Facebook.

In December 2007, the Congressional Budget Office estimated somewhere between 50 and 75 percent of undocumented workers pay taxes each year. An estimate of $567 billion that immigrants had contributed in the last 20 years includes tax on consumption, Social Security payments and Medicare.

Undocumented workers often get Social Security numbers with fake information or faulty data, and like any other cardholders they are charged a percentage for their paycheck.

Fernando, whose deduction comes punctually every payday, knows he will not be receiving the benefits from his contributions.

Nonetheless, he does not mind, or at least he claims so.

“It all comes down to sending money home.”

He takes the money taken from

him as a “payment” for the opportunity to work in the United States, much as other things he has sacrificed, like being with his family or bowling, to which he is an aficionado.

Like Fernando, millions of illegal immigrants are bolstering the Social Security Agency’s accounts.

Even when the working conditions of many immigrants border slavery, many of the undocumented workers will continue their 70 hours until death does its part; either that or the hope of being retired by their already struggling sons—if they happen to be in the United States.

The contributions of the illegal immigrants have not gone unnoticed by the public. In particular, it has brought the attention of a certain group that has a great interest in the SSA “secret stash”: The League of Senior Citizens (TLSC).

“Our more than one million supporters are crystal clear on one thing - they don’t want one penny of their Social Security checks now, or in the future, to be taken away by the government and given to today’s illegal workers as a reward for illegal work,” said Daniel O’Connell, spokesman of the TLSC. One of the main concerns of the TLSC is an agreement signed between the Mexican Social Security Institute and the SSA: The U.S.Mexico Totalization Agreement. The treaty, which was signed on June 29, 2004 by Jo Anne Barnhart, Social Security Commissioner and Dr. Santiago Levy, Head of the Mexican Social Security, might be the only chance of ever returning the contributions given to the taxpaying immigrants. The agreement has not been implemented since it has not been signed by the President of the United States.

To read the rest of this story please visit www.paisano-online.com

Rock, racial integration is still relevant From page 1 It was the first gathering of the group of students from Little Rock Central High School without fellow member Jefferson Thomas, who died last year.

“This is the first time for all of us to be together without Jeff among us,’’ said Carlotta Walls LaNier, president of the Little Rock Nine Foundation.

“We are eight today but in the spirit of this occasion, we will always be the nine.’’

Clinton shared in that sentiment.

“He was one of those men that was so nice and polite, it was easy to underestimate what he knew and how he felt,’’ he said.

The Little Rock Nine Congressional Gold Medal exhibit features one of the medals awarded to the group

by Clinton on behalf of the Congress in 1999. Members of the Little Rock Nine collectively donated the medal

to the Clinton Foundation in 2009 to honor their relationship with the former president.

“I want to say how proud and honored we are to have one of our most cherished awards, the Congressional Gold Medal, permanently exhibited here at Clinton Presidential Library.

It makes a powerful statement of redemption,’’ LaNier said. “No one could have imagined that this city’s resistance to court-ordered desegregation would have the national impact that it did.’’

The exhibit also features a video documenting the history of the Little Rock Nine, including a 1957 speech from former President Dwight D. Eisenhower calling for the use of troops to protect black students trying to integrate in Little Rock, along with their high school diplomas and other related memorabilia.

After his election in 2008, President Barack Obama sent each of the nine

special invitations to his inauguration as the nation’s first black president and credited the students with making opportunities in his life possible.

Clinton said the message of the Little Rock Nine is still relevant today.

“It’s important to remember one fundamental thing about democracy, and this is what we’ve got to be pulling for with the Egyptians and everybody else. You can’t have democracy that’s just majority rule,’’ he said. “We need the voices of America to remember the mission we’ve been given.’’

LaNier said she is proud to have the medal on display in her home state.

“We are honored that this medal is here to show our young people, the community and the world just how far we have come and provide hope for even greater progress,’’ she said.

“Deep in my heart, I do believe we shall overcome. There remains much to overcome.’’

February 15, 2011

The Paisano

Editor-in-Chief: Joseph Tidline

Managing Editor: Vanessa Elizarraras

News Editor: Allison Tinn

Features Editor: Joey Alabbassi

Arts Editor: Ruben Mercado

Sports Editor: Stephen Whitaker

Photo Editor: Burk Frey

Graphics Editor: Robert Calcagno

Ads Manager: Kevyn Kirven

Business Manager: Jenelle Duff

Interim Web Editor: Dan Rossiter

Interns:

Dyan Lofton, Angela Martin, Ramsey Rodriguez, Sergio Rios

Staff: Megan Lovelady, Graham Cull, Samantha Burns, Nina Hernandez, Kristoffer Hellesmark, Brandon Hawkins, Kristen Acosta, Dana Messer, Vagnie Bradley, Paty Castro, Melanie Canales, Victor H. Hernandez, Marie Ullrich, Robyn Bramwell, Kayla Larsen, Dan Rossiter, Cliff Perez, Eric Becerra

Contributing Staff:

Travis Walts, Dylan Crice, Maritza Avelar, Micheal Gardiner, Mark Muniz, Katy Schmader, Charles Horvilleur

Advisor: Diane Abdo

Advisory Board: Steven Kellman, Mansour El Kikhia, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Matt Stern The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a nonprofit, 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. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed towards:

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Editorial

The Paisano

OPINION

Political guilt trip is not the right way to address abortion

Senate Bill 16 (SB 16), dubbed as the ‘Pre-abortion Sonogram Bill,’ was passed by the Texas Senate last Thursday. It has now been sent down to the Texas House of Representatives where, given the current supermajority of Republicans, it will almost assuredly pass with little or no further revisions.

In its current form, the bill states that any woman who wishes to get an abortion must first undergo an ultrasound and have both the visual and audio content from it made available to her. Further, and far more disturbing, the mother must have the fetus’ features described to her by a doctor in detail – even if they don’t wish to hear it. After all of this is complete, the mother must wait a minimum of two hours before she will be legally allowed to get the abortion.

Let’s assume for a second that this bill is intended to achieve anything more than strong-arming the Republican’s religion-centered idealism down the throats of helpless young women. Is whatever good they are trying to achieve really enough to

counteract the incomprehensible evil of the mental scarring that such a bill would impart upon an already distraught young woman?

Taking out religion, as our constitution dictates we must, there is no logical reasoning for this bill. Clearly, the bill would at least slightly decrease the abortion rates in Texas, which could be argued to be a very positive thing. But at what cost?

For those that do decide to walk out of the clinic, they are left with a child who, prior to the sonogram, the mother had logically concluded she could not adequately care for.

Any change of mind after the imposed sonogram would be purely based on emotion – something that is generally not wise to base longterm, life-changing decisions on.

Then there is the other group: the women who do decide to go through with the procedure after seeing the sonogram. In those cases, the women who were forced to make a heart-breaking decision before visiting the clinic will now be laden with the additional, unnecessary burden of having their unborn

child’s description burned into their mind. How can the infliction of this additional pain on these women possibly be justified?

Finally, there’s the money. Who will pay for this extra expense that this bill adds to the cost of an abortion? With Texas’ debt steadily piling up, there is no chance of the state picking up the tab. And think about the population that generally goes in for abortions.

In general, this is a population made up of low-income people who can barely afford the abortion in its current state, let alone with additional costs tacked on to cover a sonogram and a doctor’s time to sit in there and describe the fetus.

Additionally, the two extra hours required by the bill might be enough to force a woman, already struggling to make ends meet, forego the trip which would cost her more working hours than she can afford.

SB 16 may be aimed at protecting the unborn, but, with the inherent cost to the born, it is a net loss to our state.

P5 Photo Poll When was the last time you went to the Riverwalk /Alamo / Alamodome?

Sapphire Serrano

Freshman / psychology “About a month ago.”

Letter to the Editor

UTSA should hype up the outside world more

I have been attending UTSA for close to four years and throughout those four years I can honestly say I have still not found the true authentic San Antonio experience.

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, so it is safe to say I had no real expectations to begin with except for the Alamo, River walk or Fiesta Texas.

With the constant growth in the student population and new programs such as the new football team, we need to burst out of the UTSA/1604 bubble. We need to start creating meaningful experiences to share to our future Roadrunners that can contribute to an overall school spirit we’re lacking.

This got me thinking about some things we can do on campus. I was wondering why we can’t display some bulletins or displays around campus that students or faculty can post about upcoming events for charities, community service hours or recommendations for the week-

end?

What about websites or online resources for UTSA students to spread the news about things going on in San Antonio? Could there be a section in the Paisano dedicated to places and events outside of UTSA? For instance, the article done on Maya Angelou, an amazing influence on our world was at La Cantera’s Barnes and Noble signing books; that’s some pretty serious stuff and it wasn’t anywhere on campus and the article written in the Paisano didn’t provide the time or date. I truly think our student population would benefit from this type of information.

There is this amazing local organization called Culinaria which has a great annual festival that allows normal people to eat and drink fancily for a fraction of the cost. You could have the country’s most recognized chefs cooking right in front of you or maybe some of the best food from San Antonio restaurants.

There is one coming up in May and wouldn’t it be great to let everyone know?

It’s easy to attend events when we know they are going on and that it’s something we can benefit from together outside of the main or downtown campus. Not only would this create a memorable experience, but this would create a strong community connection between UTSA and San Antonio.

For UTSA to be a commuter school and have so many students from neighboring cities or neighboring countries, the secret should be out about the hottest places in the city, the best music venues in the city or the most anticipated event in San Antonio that are affordable. Especially if we are going to represent San Antonio as a tier one university (fingers crossed).

It is not unusual to see marijuana at parties around UTSA. I know what you are thinking; which parties? Where?

I have no problem with those who embrace the tender comforts of pot. It is my firm belief that the government should allow any young adult to smoke marijuana if he/she wishes to; it is a matter of not limiting people’s sovereign right to decide.

Whether it is permitted or not, college students still smoke a lot of pot. Marijuana is consumed thoroughly and practically without any social recrimination around the college environment.

The freedom to exercise my liberties ends when it begins impeding others’ liberties. People in favor of the legalization of marijuana say

that folks have the right to choose.

I say the same thing. However, let us not forget that pot doesn’t come from nowhere. Chances are that whether your marijuana was brought from Hawaii or from Colombia, it was handled by the same people. I am referring to the Mexican drug cartels.

In a wild and untamed land called Mexico, the government has been fighting an unprecedented violence forged by well-organized mafias that seem to have uninterrupted funding. The main interest of these organizations is to export drugs to the United States—not forgetting their side businesses like kidnapping, extortion and human trafficking.

In the past four years, 34,000 people have been killed in Mexico alone due to the War on Drugs.

The cartels are funded by the biggest consumer of drugs in the world: the United States.

The mindless violence engulfing

several countries in Latin America is funded by consumers here in your local dorms. If somebody holds pot as a gateway for freedom, think again it might be for you, but not for the thousands of broken families in neighboring countries. Next time you contact your local dealer, look beyond; you might be endorsing one of the worst social problems of the decade.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for an alternative. Locally grown marijuana is already down the block; those who already buy marijuana may even know where to get it. I am speaking about Chris— you know, that guy. I don’t see him chopping heads off and trafficking little girls into the United States. He is just a communication undergraduate who wants to live the dream. So does everyone my friend; so does everyone.

Brandon McGrath Senior

Connor Smith Sophomore / psychology & anthropology “I was there last semester for Parents’ Weekend.”

Rachel Caesar Junior / biology “I went to the Alamo last fall.”

Commentary Yo, UTSA I heard you like to smoke

Eric Heals Junior / engineering “I went last Thanksgiving with my family.”

Victor Hernandez Staff Writer

Kaitlynn Ruiz Freshman / undeclared

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“The last time I went down there was my sophomore year of high school.”

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Senior / kinesiology “Five or six years ago.”

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FEATURES

The Paisano

February 22, 2011

Combat veteran begins new life at UTSA Sergio Rios

paisanofeatures@sbcglobal.net In one precise motion, Sergeant Richard Anthony Doyle slapped a gun magazine into his M-16 rifle, pulled the charging handle back to load the first round in the chamber and naturally placed his right index finger a few millimeters above the trigger like he had practiced hundreds, maybe thousands, of times before.

Yet outside of the relative safety of Camp Liberty in Baghdad, a simple mistake could prove fatal.

Now, Doyle, a sophomore history major from a small town in Illinois, is still confronting the demons of his experiences in Iraq.

One afternoon in August 2005, Doyle was injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated as his company patrolled a rural sector of town a few miles from Baghdad International Airport.

“The last words I remember were, ‘Look out, look out!’” Doyle recalls.

Then, as he has since pieced together, he was ejected from the vehicle and was saved by the back, left passenger door that kept the uparmored humvee from further rolling over onto its roof.

His next recollection is being pinned under 7,000 pounds of twisted metal.

“I no longer really cared about the pain in my leg, or that the humvee had me trapped. My primary concern was to find my weapon,” Doyle remembers. “Your training kicks in... you enter a self-preservation mode and you do whatever it takes.”

Doyle and everyone in his unit survived the attack, but the injury would ultimately cost him his leg.

In his 10 weeks in Iraq, Doyle tells of other infantry men, individuals he considered friends, who made the ultimate sacrifice. He recalls witnessing friends getting shot as they entered a home, and of entire

squads (groups of four) being lost to roadside bombs.

“We all knew men who were shot when they breached a building.

Nine out of 10 times, when we were clearing an insurgent house, they would be waiting for us...and the first one in the door was shot,” Doyle remembers.

“Even if your buddy was hit, your mentality was to keep moving forward to contain the threat, even if it meant stepping over your friend.

Otherwise, it could be your entire squad hit because you didn’t react the way we were trained.”

“You know,” he continues, “Sometimes it was one [fatality], some-

paisanofeatures@sbcglobal.net

Sgt. Richard Doyle

Sophomore history major Sgt. Richard Anthony Doyle, seen here with one of the locals in Baghdad, was injured during a patrol in August 2005. to the middle of the road set to go off right where we were going.”

These stories are frequent in many military families, as the United States enters its eighth year in Iraq and maintains a presence of over 50,000 troops.

But perhaps more extraordinary are the stories of individuals with no longer able-bodies that have fully adjusted to new lives as students, dedicated parents and loving spouses.

The sacrifice of individuals like Tony Doyle could never be repaid with a simple medal, life-time ben-

Student hopes to save child’s life through bone marrow donation Ramsey Rodriguez

paisanofeatures@sbcglobal.net I’ve always been afraid of needles. Particularly needles either injecting a chemical compound into my body or extracting blood from my arm.

It took a friendly face and Rodriguez an opportunity to make a real difference to change my mind forever.

This past March I signed myself up for the National Marrow Donor Program through the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center. An utter contradiction to my existing phobia but with two very close relatives who have passed away from Leukemia and Cancer, I wanted to give someone else a fighting chance.

The coordinator eased my tension, using a cotton swab rather than a needle injection to initially test for my compatibility with a patient. I was reassured that it could take years to be called for a match and, perhaps, I could never be matched with a recipient.

In mid-November I received a voice mail from a Blood and Tissue Center representative telling me that I was a potential match for an 11-year-old boy with Leukemia.

The slight wave of shock that pulsed through my veins contradicted the representative’s enthusiasm as I listened to her instructions. I called the center back and made an appointment to donate blood the following week.

My first blood donation would be to check if I was the best possible match for the recipient. A word to the wise: when you donate blood, make sure you are hydrated. That afternoon, I made up for other times when I avoided donating.

It took them four tries to finally tell me I was too dehydrated to donate. I turned myself into a camel before my next appointment.

For confidentiality purposes the doctors won’t release personal information of the donor for a year, giving the recipient time to fully recover from the procedure.

To find a match for bone marrow is much more complicated than for a blood donation.

A donor and recipient must practically be genetically identical if a transfer of marrow is to

This isn’t a how-to Joey Alabbassi

“If your buddy was hit, your mentality was to keep moving forward to contain the threat, even if it meant stepping over your friend.”

times just the vehicle would be a total loss [with IED bombs] and sometimes the vehicle and all the troops would be lost.”

With military-like exactitude, Doyle even retells of the day his convoy was saved by a seven-year old Iraqi boy.

“We were traveling on a dirt road, going 60 mph, when a young, Iraqi boy ran out in front of the vehicles yelling in broken English, ‘No-no, boom-boom GI, no-go GI!’ He was waving his hands, rapidly opening and closing his fists to keep us from going any further. Well, there were four 155 MM mortal rounds pointing

Here’s How-to:

efits or a small article in the university’s newspaper. It will, however, let those brave men and women know, whether fully-abled or disabled, that their immense sacrifice for their country did not go unnoticed.

Sgt. Richard Anthony Doyle’s full story will be available in a series of articles beginning Mar. 1, at Paisano-Online.com

Dear journal, I like to think that my weekly how-tos in The Paisano are relevant to college students – subjects that students should know and learn.

Last Saturday The Paisano celebrated its 30 years of independent student news, and what a festive night it was; full of old friends, music, food and laughter.

Congratulations Paisano!

On a negative note, I’ve noticed that some students are…

Let’s just say, uncertain about their major.

This is me: “I’m a communication major.” This is most students: “I’m a communications major.”

See the difference?

Don’t these students know that they are majoring in COMMUNICATION, not COMMUNICATIONS! If they can’t even say their major correctly, I’m pretty sure they should consider what their major entails before making a fool of themselves and crying out the wrong major name.

I wonder sometimes if students forget that they’re in college and that they’ve left high school. Immature, stupid, selfish and plain idiotic are just some keywords some students have sticky-noted their backs.

If someone is in college, shouldn’t she or he act their age?

Shouldn’t they stop texting and interrupting classes? Shouldn’t they stop Facebooking and start researching?

If these “children” are in college just to be in college and if they’re that uninterested in their studies, for their sake and mine, they should just stay home and give the rest of us caring students their parking spots.

Have a story worth telling? Contact us at paisanofeatures@sbcglobal.net

occur.

Doctors look for a donor who matches their patient’s tissue type, specifically their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) tissue type. HLAs are proteins found on most cells in your body.

The immune system uses these markers to recognize which cells belong in your body and which do not. The closer the match between the recipient’s HLA markers and mine, the better.

For the most part when I would tell someone I was going through the process of donating marrow, their initial reaction was much like if I had put their hands in a fire. A scrunched up face with a hiss between their teeth and even an occasional “Why?” Two weeks before Christmas, I received a phone call confirming that I was the best possible match. My earlier qualms about donating bone marrow were now replaced with curious excitement at the concept of helping a sick child.

The Monday before Christmas, I went to the Methodist Hospital for an examination and spoke with my doctor who explained the procedure and all possible scenarios and effects that he assured me were rare.

They would be extracting marrow from my back hip bone, and I was to be put under anesthesia throughout the surgery.

I received another call on Jan. 4 from the Blood and Tissue Center verifying my clean bill of health and I was scheduled for donation on Jan. 18 at 7:00 a.m. The recipient would go into chemotherapy a week before.

The first thing the nurse asked me when I woke up was “Want some morphine?” The initial pain I felt was much like extreme soreness coupled with general disorientation.

The injection wounds in my back made it impossible to bend in any direction. I spent the first couple of days recuperating at a friend’s apartment, reading on my stomach and waddling around like a pregnant lady whenever I needed to get up.

A few days and a bottle of pain pills later and I was moving around, practically back to my old self.

I’m left now with a curiosity and hope that this 11-year-old is somewhere, alive and on the way to recovery.

paisano-online.com

The Paisano

February 22, 2011

ARTS

P7

Paisano Eat & Drink

Every week the Paisano reviews a different local restaurant.

This week, we review...

Suck It , S a n An to n io - SISA o f f e rs

From pirates to lizards: director Gore Verbinski discusses film, animation Kristoffer Hellesmark

paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net

Gore Verbinski is the director of films such as ”The Ring”, ”The Mexican” and the ”Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy, but hasn’t made a movie since the last installment of the “Pirates” saga way back in 2007. He now returns with the animated western “Rango” starring Johnny Depp.

In 2003, Verbinski found himself very busy with work after the first “Pirates” film exploded to both commercial and critical success. He then filmed the two following installments: “Dead Man’s Chest” and “At World’s End” back to back.

“Rango” tells the fish out of water story of a chameleon that aspires to be a swashbuckling hero. Rango stumbles upon a western town plagued by bandits and villains. Rango is forced to play the part of the mysterious heroic stranger who has come to save the town.

Being the creative force behind the Budweiser frogs, Gore Verbinski has dealt with animation before, but Rango is his first completely animated feature film.

What are you going to take away from Rango that will change the way you make other films now, including live action and if you decide to just make animation again?

Gore Verbinski: Wow. That’s a good question. Short answer is I’m going to listen to the sound a lot more. We spent, you know, so much of this movie with just pencil and paper, and nothing moving. Sound is everything.

And what are you going to bring from this experience

to live action?

Gore Verbinski: We brought a tremendous amount of live action to this animation. I have immense respect for animation directors. It’s a lot harder than I ever imagined. There are no gifts. Everything is manufactured and created. It’s just – you have to fabricate every frame from zero. So other times when you’re shooting, you’re orchestrating chaos and they’re trying to, you know, capture a moment of truth and it’s giving back. It’s kicking back, all sorts of good and bad.

Do you have a favorite genre?

Gore Verbinski: You know what? It has been the Western.

I mean, I think those pirate movies were westerns. When I was very young, I found Sergio Leone movies, you know, “Duck, You Sucker” and “Once Upon a Time in the West.” I saw them probably at an age-inappropriate period and felt like I was sneaking into a forbidden world.

And so, I’m a fan of Westerns but really the more modern Western, the “Wild Bunch,” the sort of – the myths are dying and it’s the end of an era, progress is inevitable for us. The railroad’s coming!

You know, with corruption.

There’s no place for honest thieves anymore. Those sort of things have always been present, I think, in my DNA.

paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net

What’s in a name? Well, with a name like Suck It, you have to wonder what could be inside this tiny storefront at the corner of Babcock and De Zevala.

What was originally supposed to be a hooka bar is swiftly becoming known for also serving a delicious and uncommon drink, bubble tea.

It has quickly turned into a hot spot for both UTSA students and locals.

Originating in Taiwan, there are three different types of bubble tea served at Suck It. The first is traditional bubble tea, which is mixed with milk, fruit and has tapioca pudding balls at the bottom of the cup.

“I also offer a smoothie blend made with either milk or soy milk and has a creamy, fruity taste to it,” Vinh Hoang, Suck It owner said. “And also a slushie blend without milk that has more of the fruit flavor.”

Suck It sells its wonderful bubble tea ( over 20 flavors to choose from) for $3.99 each, all day and night, and has hooka (75 different flavors in all) starting at 4 p.m. until close for just $10.99, each with weekly house specials on two hooka flavors for $8.99 each.

If you come during the day the place is pretty empty, but only then can you appreciate the checkeredboard ceiling tiles, dual TVs, the ever changing modern wall-art and the variety of board games to play with: Life and Scategories just to name a few.

“I think the layout is pretty cool,” Roxanne Herandez, junior education major said, “I saw the board

Megan Lovelady/The Paisano

Rango is Gore Verbinski’s latest film. The lizard protagonist is voiced by Johnny Depp.

Megan Lovelady

Suck It offers plenty of different hookah flavors and bubble tea. games walking in and now I want to come back and play board games.”

During the evening hours it can be hard to find a seat, especially if you come with a large group of friends, because it can get packed quickly.

“Wednesday through Saturday are our busiest nights for hooka and there are up to 80 people a night [coming in],” Hoang said. “One of our most popular [bubble tea] flavors is honeydew-avocado, and I can go through up to 20 avocadoes a night.”

I must say that being local matters in this case. Suck It opened its door just seven months ago and with its laid back, best friend’s living room

vibe and helpful, friendly employees, you instantly get the feeling you are a regular from the moment you walk in.

Whether you have an hour between classes and want to grab a bubble tea, or you are out on a Friday night and want to smoke some hooka while playing some board games with your friends, Suck It is the place to go for a wide variety of music, good drinks, and a friendly atmosphere.

So, take the short drive from UTSA on over, and believe me, once you have had the bubble tea you will want to go back.

Burk Frey/The Paisano

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

great bu bb l e te a a n d ho o k a h

Check out the full interview online at paisano-online.com

This week online...

• Pamela’s Picks: Florence and the Machine • A review of the Call of Duty First Strike Map Pack • Dyan Lofton previews the upcoming Poetry Jam featuring Shihan • UTSA’s Wind Ensemble keeps the Classics Alive; a Review

UTSA’s drumline practices outside of the art building.

UTSA Drumline marching to an upcoming beat Katy Schmader

paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net

When you create a football team, a marching band will come. They’ll also really know how to make some noise.

With bright uniforms, instruments blaring and exciting halftime shows they are sure to grab some attention.

With new cheers and catchy songs, the bands primary goal is to get the audience off their feet. They create the energy that makes up a football game. But what would a band be without the drum-line.

“The drumline’s primary goal is to support the band, but they also have a lot of additional responsibilities along with that,” said Sherry Rubins. Rubins, head of the percussion department at UTSA, will also be in charge of the drumline next semester.

In addition to playing with the band

during halftime, the drum-line create their own cheers and cadences.

They are in charge of keeping the audience loud and on their feet.

Being part of the drumline is more then just beating on a drum. They are a close-knit family of their own.

Spending that much time together, they have to be.

Rubins herself keeps in touch with members of her band back in college; in other words, it’s a really great way to make friends. And just like any group sport there is a lot of inner camaraderie. Being so close only allows them to push one another to become better. It’s a great way to get involved with the school.

Dr. Ron Ellis, the band director, came from the University of Central Florida, and everyone seems to be excited about the creativity that he will bring to the program. He aims

to create shows that will sure to keep an audience.

Drumline sessions begin in the spring and will continue right up until football season. Spots in the marching band are open to all students, not just music majors. Rubins is hoping to have about 40 students on the drumline alone. With 10 snares, six tenors, six bass drums, 10 symbols and a large ensemble, the band is sure to get loud.

The games promise to be exciting with a drumline that large. With halftime shows always changing, there is more to watch at games then just the football team. When going to your first UTSA football game next semester, you might want to save that concession trip until after the halftime show.

P8

SPORTS

The Paisano

February 22, 2011

UTSA outlasts Nicholls in double-overtime thriller Stephen Whitaker

An almost certain win nearly became a crushing loss for UTSA’s women of the hardwood. Saturday at the Convocation Center.

The Nicholls Colonels took advantage of 26 turnovers to stay with the Roadrunners enough to make things interesting.

The game began with the Roadrunners (12-13, 8-4 SLC) jumping out to the first of many 10-point leads with a 12-2 advantage four minutes into the game. As would be the case for the rest of the day, the Colonels (8-17, 3-9 SLC) would use Roadrunner turnovers and the hot three-point shooting of guards Ricshanda Bickham and KK Babin to stay in the game.

Early on, it became apparent that the game would be decided by turnovers. In the first half alone, the Roadrunners coughed the ball up 11 times to the Colonels’ three.

The Colonels turned the Roadrunners turnovers into 10 of their 24 first half points. The Roadrunners would not be able to capitalize on the few times the Colonels offered up the ball.

The Colonels got to within three with 6:01 left in the half but a few minutes of cold shooting coupled with the Roadrunners knocking down everything in sight pushed the advantage back up to 10, 26-16, with 2:53 remaining in the half.

With 1:03 left before halftime, the Roadrunners’ lead grew to 11, 3019. However the Roadrunners went cold while Babin used a layup and a long three point field goal at the buzzer to cut the Roadrunner lead down to six, 30-24.

“I said at halftime we would lose if we had 20 turnovers,” RippetoeBlair said. “You usually don’t win

Brianna Cristiano/ The Paisano

paisanosports@sbcglobal.net

Ashley Gardner sent the game against Nicholls to overtime via free throws.

games with 25 turnovers.”

The Roadrunners showed no ill effects from the buzzer beating three as seniors Ashleigh Franklin and Amber Gregg pulled the Roadrunners back up by 10, 34-24. The Colonels cut it back down to single digits on a LiAnn McCarthy jumper. Again the Roadrunners went back up 10 but back-to-back threes by Bickham cut the lead to four.

The Colonels would continue to chip away at the Roadrunners lead every time it seemed the Roadrunners would put in the buckets to pull away. The Colonels would get within four yet again at 40-36, but the Roadrunners went on a 10-2 run over three-and-a-half minutes to hold their biggest lead of the game at 12 points, 50-38.

Just when it seemed the Roadrun-

ners might pull away for the victory, the turnover troubles came back as the Colonels erased the 12 point deficit and took their first lead of the game with 20 seconds left, 54-53.

The final 20 seconds were chaotic at the Roadrunner basket before Ashley Gardner would draw a foul with one second left to play. The case was simple for Gardner, two free throws, only one needed to tie.

Gardner would miss the first one, but after a huddle with her teammates, she hit the second one and the Roadrunners forced overtime.

“When I missed that first one I got really nervous,” Gardner said. “I calmed down and made the second one.”

The first overtime looked like the rest of the game. The Roadrunners jumped out to a lead on a three

point field goal by Jermini Malone and then spent the rest of the fiveminute period trying to hold off the Colonels. The Colonels weren’t going away as they stayed within range of the Roadrunners and eventually forced a second overtime on two Cassie Hearon free throws.

Almost a year to the day since their last double-overtime game, the Roadrunners found themselves in that situation yet again. The second overtime period would be all Roadrunners as they outscored the Colonels 11-1 in the period to pull out an ugly 73-63 win.

“Sorry you had to watch that,” Rippetoe Blair said. “They hit some big threes; we acted a little bit like we were in slow motion.”

The Roadrunners outplayed the Colonels in every area except the turnover battle.

“It was a crazy game,” RippetoeBlair said. “I am frustrated; it doesn’t feel like a win.”

The Roadrunners will hit the road to face the Texas A&M Corpus-Christi Islanders (2-22, 0-11 SLC) Wednesday and return home for the I-35 Rivalry with Texas State Saturday.

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SPORTS

The Paisano

February 22, 2011

Time out with the coaches: Brooks Thompson

Men’s Basketball has

Men’s basketball coach brings NBA experience to job

The Roadrunners basketball team sits at 6-6 in the Southland conference after a week in which they knocked off East Division leaders McNeese State and fell to Nicholls State.

UTSA 65 McNeese 61 The Convocation Center was the site, Wednesday, for a shootout unlike any since the siege of the Alamo. The combatants were the UTSA Roadrunners and the McNeese State Cowboys.

UTSA (13-11, 6-5 SLC) entered the game trying to shrug off a two game losing streak. The visiting Cowboys (15-9, 8-3 SLC) were riding high in first place in the Southland Conference East Division. Something had to give.

The Cowboys won the opening tip but it would be the Roadrunners who fired the first shot of the night as they took an early 3-0 lead on a Devin Gibson three pointer. The Cowboys had the answer as guard Diego Kapelan knocked in a three at the other end to tie the game at 3 early.

Gibson then put in a layup and drew a foul to put the Roadrunners up 6-3. The Roadrunners would never relinquish the lead as they built it as big as 10.

The Roadrunners held off a McNeese run near the end of the half, and went into the intermission ahead by eight, 31-23.

“I think we played pretty good defensively,” Head Coach Brooks Thompson said. “Offensively I think we shot ok.”

The Cowboys would get closer in the second half but the Roadrunners would respond each time by rebuilding the lead.

File Photo

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of stories on UTSA coaches.

Basektball coach Brooks Thompson

Stephen Whitaker

paisanosports@sbcglobal.net Brooks Thompson knows basketball. In a four year career, Thompson experienced the life of an NBA player. In his tenure with the Orlando Magic from 1994-96, Thompson reached the NBA finals as a rookie and set a franchise record, since broken, for points in a quarter with 21. After the Magic, Thompson would play for the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks before hanging up the sneakers in 1998.

Following a career in the NBA, Thompson got into coaching.

Thompson has climbed the ladder of coaching, starting out as head coach at Yavapai College in Prescott Arizona. While at Yavapai, Thompson won 79 percent of his games which set a Yavapai school record. Following two years at Yavapai, Thompson

became an assistant coach at Arizona State for two years before being hired as the fifth head coach in the history of UTSA basketball.

What is the best part about being a coach at UTSA? I think there is alot. This is a university that is growing imaginatively.

It is a great community to recruit to.

There is so many intangibles to this university, so much upside that we are so excited about. This is a great place to be a part of and its only going to get better.

When did you decide to become a coach?

When I was a high school athlete going through the recruiting process and seeing the coaches coming in. I thought what a great profession to be able to go out and let young men experience your university.

When not coaching, Coach Thompson is____?

Restless.

If you couldn’t be a coach, what profession would you have chosen?

In college, I majored in broadcast journalism but got my degree in political science. I knew in high school I wanted to be a college basketball coach but if there was something else I was interested in, it was broadcast journalism.

Where is the best place you have ever visited, as a coach, player or just to visit?

The best place I have ever visited is Sydney but I would consider San Antonio one of the best places to [live].

What is your favorite moment in sports that you were a part of?

Beating the Chicago Bulls in the 1994-95 Eastern Conference Finals to go to the finals against the Houston Rockets. I wish I had that ring but the Rockets deserved to win.

Thompson File: 126-89 record as Head Coach 71-75 record at UTSA 33-43 conference record Back-to-back 19-win seasons (200809 & 2009-10) All-Big Eight player at Oklahoma State 27th overall pick in 1994 NBA draft

by Orlando Magic Member of 1995 Orlando Magic team that won Eastern Conference Played for five NBA teams in four year career.

Next Week: Baseball Coach Sherman Corbett

In the Week Ahead:

Men’s Basketball Wednesday Feb. 23 UTSA vs. A&M Corpus-Christi 7 p.m.

Women’s Basketball Saturday Feb. 26 UTSA vs. Texas State 2 p.m.

Baseball Friday-Sunday UTSA vs. Saint Joseph’s Monday Feb. 28 UTSA vs. Oregon State 12 p.m.

Tuesday March 1 UTSA vs. Houston All upcoming baseball games will be played at Nelson Wolff Stadium

up and down week Stephen Whitaker

paisanosports@sbcglobal.net

Read the rest of the Men’s Hoops at paisano-online.com

P9

Work in Progress It’s the most wonderful time of the year Stephen Whitaker paisanosports@sbcglobal.net

Things are picking up.

The basketball season is winding down. March Madness is just weeks away.

The three weeks of March Madness are the closest this country comes to completely shutting down. Other countries shut down for the world cup every four years; America closes shop for March Madness.

The Madness will be even greater this year as every game will be available everywhere. In previous years the tournament games were played in windows, and if you wanted to watch a game out of your area, you had to fork over hundreds of dollars.

Now you can watch every game without having to buy a special package.

Elsewhere in sports, the days are getting warmer and it’s time to take a pilgrimage to your local ballpark.

This weekend marks the home debut of the Roadrunners on the diamond. The games, which will be played at Nelson Wolff Stadium, begin on Friday at Six with the Saint Joseph Hawks making the trip down from Philadelphia.

Also coming into town this weekend will be Oregon State, who will battle the Birds Monday at noon. The home stand ends March 1 at 6p.m. when the Houston Cougars pay a visit to the Alamo City.

Get on out there and see the Birds in action.

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The Paisano

February 22, 2011

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