Can’t get enough of that ‘Bad Breath’ see page 6
UTSA men’s hoops starts conference see page 9
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio
January 31, 2012
Volume 47
Issue 3
Report reveals UTSA GPA info: Not too bad Ryan Branch news@paisano-online.com A report obtained from UTSA’s Office of Institutional Research reveals that UTSA increased its undergraduate population over the last five years, but the average GPA by college remained relatively flat. In other words if UTSA had a report card, it would be a “Bs and Cs” student. Overall, the average GPA for UTSA undergraduate students rose from 2.66 in 2007 to 2.69 in 2011, a slight increase. This means that the average full- time student makes mostly Bs, one or two Cs, and the occasional A. The report is divided into three sections that reveal the average GPA and exact headcount by college from fall to fall over the last five years for each student classification, the percentage of students who obtained a 4.0 from fall to fall by college over that same time period, and the average GPA of fall 2011 graduates by college. All data obtained was for undergraduates. The first part of the report reveals several interesting trends. The undergraduate class grew from 24,434 in fall 2007 to 26,332 in fall 2011, or about 8 percent. All colleges showed that the average GPAs for freshmen hovered around 2.54 and 2.78 for seniors. This
Fall 2011
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Ryan Branch / The Paisano
News Editor
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A graph of UTSA’s average GPA for undergraduates shows that the number has remained relatively flat for the last five years. statistic shows that student GPAs tend to increase throughout a student’s undergraduate academic career. Undergraduate population change from 2007 to 2011 by college: Architecture: - 0.3 percent Business: 1.4 percent Education: 18.5 percent
Engineering: 32.8 percent Liberal and Fine Arts: 8.9 percent Public Policy: 23 percent Science: -1 percent The next part of the report covers the percentage of students by college from fall 2007 to fall 2011 who obtained a 4.0 GPA. This report shows
one of the most interesting anomalies of the data set. For all colleges, the average percentage of 4.0 students from 2007 to 2011 ranged from 4 to 9 percent except for one, the College of Education and Human Development. The percentage of 4.0 students who are education majors ranged from 17 to 19 percent year over year. This raises the
question of whether or the high GPA is due to the College of Education being a model for the university as far as GPAs are concerned; the college being guilty of severe grade inflation; or the curriculum not being particularly difficult. See GPAs, Page 2
Catholics, Evangelicals and Mormons campaign for GOP nod Sarah Gibbens Staff Writer
paseo@paisano-online.com In a cut-throat race to the Whitehouse, the remaining GOP candidates seem willing to play on any and all emotions held by their potential voters. The issues addressed by each candidate are no longer exclusive about government control and regulations, but now explore the role of faith in a secular government. To many, these issues should more appropriately be addressed in a church, instead of in government halls. Rick Santorum, self-described “Champion of Faith and Family,” is perhaps the candidate who has most invested in the religious ticket. Santorum, who practices Catholicism with his wife and seven children, often ex-
ploits his religion to discuss topics of abortion and same-sex marriage. On gay marriage, Rick Santorum asserts that same-sex marriage is “politically fashionable” and that it has no real place in the government. Santorum believes marriage is sacred between a man and a woman because it creates life. “These unions are special because they are the ones we all depend on to make new life and to connect those new lives to their mom and dad.” However, following this logic, a man and a woman that cannot conceive a child would be violating the sanctity of marriage with their inability to produce life. Santorum has promised that if he becomes president, he would criminalize abortion. Santorum believes same-sex marriage and abortion are violations of the first amendment
right to freedom of religion, what he believes to be the most important amendment, while some argue he purposely neglects other rights, such as a right to privacy. While Santorum is losing steam in his run for the presidential bid, Mitt Romney has consistently been the leading candidate among voters. CNN’s reporting on the most recent Florida polls show Romney to have the support of nearly half of all Republican voters. Romney is a practicing Mormon, as well as his wife and their five children. Mitt Romney, who received criticism for drastically changing his views from a pro-choice governor to a pro-life candidate said, “I am pro-life and believe that abortion should be limited to only instances of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.” Romney also says that
his pro-life views stem from the belief that, “unborn children… are capable of feeling pain from abortion.” Romney believes that people should not be discriminated because of sexual preferences but does view marriage as a “sacred institution between a man and a woman, marriage is first and foremost about nurturing and developing children.” Newt Gingrich runs his campaign as a seemingly morally sound Catholic aiming to protect, “life and religious liberty.” However, recent allegations against Gingrich have painted him as anything but ethically pure. In an interview with the Washington Post, Marianne Gingrich, Newt Gingrich’s second ex-wife, claims that she was asked by her former husband for an open marriage. In her interview Marianne tells the Post, “He said the prob-
lem with me was that I wanted him all to myself.” Marianne then goes on to claim that when asked about his then mistress and now wife, Callista Gingrich, Newt claimed, “She doesn’t care what I do… In a few years I’m going to run for president. She’s [Callista] going to help me become president.” Callista Gingrich is the third wife of Newt Gingrich who is said to have cheated on both of his former wives. Surprisingly enough, Gingrich still defends marriage as a sacred entity and is opposed to “non-traditional,” same-sex marriage. Gingrich also incorporates faith into his views on abortion, as do many of the GOP candidates. As a potential presidential contender, Gingrich would remove funding from programs such as Planned Parenthood that provide assistance to pregnant women. See RELIGION, Page 4
Juvenile delinquency study to measure advocate effectiveness Matthew Duarte Staff Writer
File photo / The Paisano
news@paisano-online.com UTSA professors J. Mitchell Miller, Michael Karcher and Holly VenturaMiller received a $280,000 research grant from the US Department of Justice to work in conjunction with Youth Advocate Programs (YAP). Their research will seek to determine if youth advocacy is an effective way to treat juvenile delinquency when compared to the current model of pairing at-risk youth with volunteer mentors. While a mentor would spend an hour with the youth every week for a year, “there’s a much higher frequency of contact” with a youth advocate,” Miller said. In a state such as Texas—which is
known for its high prison population and enforcement of the death penalty—it is not hard to imagine jails full of hardened criminals. Controversy surrounding the American criminal justice system is common considering that the U.S. imprisons more people than any other country and at a higher rate. Juvenile delinquents are often not mentioned when discussions of the criminal justice system arise; although, they are the most at-risk to someday be numbered among the thousands of convicted felons in Texas. Studies have shown that minors who commit a crime are more likely to be arrested as adults, and it is not uncommon for that same minor to be arrested more than once before turning 18. See DELINQUENCY, Page 2
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January 31, 2012
Delinquency: Researchers to evaluate social support theory Recidivism—the act of offenders relapsing into criminal behavior—poses a large strain on the criminal justice system, and it is estimated that at least half of juvenile delinquents in the US will be rearrested within one year of being released. While a youth advocate spends only six months with the juvenile, compared to a year the volunteer mentor contributes, the quality of time spent is more valuable, and the youth advocate is in contact more often. Miller notes that “it’s also much more intense [the support received]…they’ll go with the youth to court to advocate and represent them.” Additionally, the youth advocates must first go through a thorough background check and extensive training with Youth Advocacy Programs. The study itself is built on a theory
in criminology known as Social Support Theory, which, according to Miller, suggests that “if at-risk youth can receive a greater degree of social support, then this will increase their chances for preventing their involvement with delinquency.” However, there is little research into this topic as it relates to juvenile delinquents, a fact that the study aims to change. As Miller notes, the study is “going to give us greater information as to the extent to which social support matters.” With operations in 16 states in addition to its international work, YAP targets the most at-risk youth, the ones who are on the verge of being institutionalized. Working with YAP in Ft. Worth, Las Vegas, Toledo, Atlantic City and Mobile, the study hopes to determine how effective youth advocacy is in all parts of the country with juveniles from a variety of backgrounds.
“YAP is intent on “delinquency prevention towards the deinstitutionalization of the youth, that is to keep youth out of confinement and incarceration settings,” Miller said. Recent data show that three-fourths of Texan juvenile delinquents relapse into illegal activity, and the findings of this study could have substantial impacts. Determining how effective a youth advocate is compared to a traditional mentor has the potential to influence juvenile treatment that will not be limited to San Antonio or to Texas. Although the state could certainly benefit from a lower recidivism rate, the biggest impact would be on the youths themselves. While studies look to find patterns in approaching juvenile rehabilitation, there is no way to measure the benefits for a former delinquent whose life no longer includes run-ins with the law.
File photo / The Paisano
From Page 1
GPAs: UTSA students improve grades as they progress Percentage of students who achieved a 4.0 for fall 2011
4 3.5 3.07
Architecture: 4 percent Business: 6 percent Education and Human Development: 16 percent Engineering: 7 percent Liberal and Fine Arts: 8 percent Public Policy: 7 percent Science: 7 percent Finally, when it comes to the graduating class of fall 2011, the average overall GPA was 2.93 among 1,538 students. In comparison, the average freshman GPA in the fall of 2007 was 2.50. This means that, hypothetically, the average freshman who entered UTSA in 2007 and graduated in four years increased his or her GPA by almost half a point.
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A g r a p h o f U T S A g r a d u a t e s ’ a v e r a g e G PA s b y c o l l e g e f o r s t u d e n t s r e c e i v i n g t h e i r u n d e r g r a d u a t e d e g r e e f o r f a l l 2 0 1 1
Ryan Branch / The Paisano
From Page 1
The Paisano
January 31, 2012
News
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Frontrunner Mitt Romney Texas tweaks tuition rule
for illegal immigrants Associated Press
news@paisano-online.com Texas colleges must send illegal immigrants who pay in-state college tuition rates reminders that they promised to seek legal status in exchange, a tweak in state law officials unanimously approved Thursday. The tuition break was a flashpoint issue that helped doom Republican Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign for president and the rule change by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is a small step toward putting more pressure on those students to follow up on their pledge. The change will not end the tuition break or the student’s ability to qualify; only the Legislature can do that. But the board will require schools to be more active in pushing students toward gaining legal status by sending them annual reminders and encouraging them to contact federal authorities. Advocates for immigrants say the reminders, which students could start seeing as early as this summer, are unnecessary and could prompt students to place themselves in jeopardy of deportation if they contact authorities without first seeking legal advice. Since 2001, Texas has allowed students who are in the U.S. illegally to qualify for cheaper, in-state tuition rates at public universities if they attend high school in Texas for at least three years before they graduate. Those students must also sign an affidavit saying they plan to seek legal status. Perry’s refusal to backtrack on his support for the law during his campaign angered conservatives and tea party activists in the state and nationally who consider it a benefit reserved
for illegal immigrants at the expense of U.S. citizens. According to the higher education board, more than 16,000 students qualified under the law in the 2009-10 school year, the most recent year for which complete data were available. Of those, about 4,400 attended a public university and about 12,000 attended community or technical college. The rule change requires schools to keep the affidavits on file and remind the students of their pledge every year they are enrolled and upon graduation. Students are not required to respond.
“Its not about immigration, its about education” Ainee Athar
University of Texas student and Pakistani immigrant Board spokesman Dominic Chavez insisted the rule change is not because of the flare-up over immigration politics in the Republican primaries but acknowledged the issue got “white hot” when Perry was still in the race. The issue has come up several times since the law passed in 2001, and the board began considering the change last summer, Chavez said. Luis Figueroa of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund said advocates for immigrants are concerned universities will encourage students to contact federal agencies about their status before consulting a lawyer. “They need legal guidance,” Figueroa said.
Ainee Athar, a third-year anthropology student at the University of Texas, moved with her family to Texas from Pakistan 15 years ago and has qualified for the lower tuition rate. She said the yearly reminders about a student’s legal status are unnecessary. “No one forgets that,” she said. Supporters of the tuition law say the thousands of students taking advantage proves its worth. Those are students who might not be able to afford a college education without it. The average cost at a four-year university for Texas residents is about $7,000 in tuition and fees and about $17,000 for nonresidents. At community colleges, the average cost is about $1,400 for residents and $4,800 for nonresidents. “It’s not about immigration,” Athar said. “It’s about education.” State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, a San Antonio Democrat who helped write the law, considers the rule change a minor one that won’t change the intent of the law or its impact on those who use it. She also said she isn’t worried that it’s the first step in an effort to eventually repeal the law. “They’ve been trying to repeal it every year since I passed it,” Van de Putte said. The latest effort was in 2011, when Perry was flirting with running for president but was not yet a candidate. Legislation by Sen. Brian Birdwell, a Republican from Granbury, to repeal the tuition break was defeated by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the Republican-controlled Senate. Birdwell called the rule change a “step in the right direction ... (but) these rules do nothing to solve the core problem of nonresidents unfairly receiving discounted tuition rates.”
PROFILE ON THE LEADING GOP CANDIDATE
Matthew Duarte
Staff Writer
paseo@paisano-online. Since the beginning of the 2012 election cycle, many Republicans have viewed former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, as the victor of the party’s primary race and eventual opponent of Barack Obama in the general election this November. With an impressive business record, professionalism on the campaign trail, and high fundraising totals, Romney is seen by many in Washington as the most logical choice to be the Republican nominee once all the dust from the spring primaries has settled. Even Obama, who faces no real competition in the Democratic primaries, began preparing for a showdown with Romney over a year before Election Day. But for every Republican who believes that Romney is the prime candidate to beat Obama in November, there is another who is skeptical of a Republican ticket with Romney at the top. They note that the former Massachusetts governor has flip-flopped on issues including abortion to immigration and global warming. Many staunch conservatives also believe that Romney is too moderate to represent the modern Republican Party. There are many factors that can help explain why Romney has not caught on with the most conservative wings of the Republican Party, not least, of which would be his Religion. Romney, unlike most Republicans, is a Mormon. In a party known for the heavy influence of Evangelical groups some consider a Mormon candidate as a far cry from the ideal candidate. Although the Republican Party has begun to reach out to minorities and non-Christians, it remains a party whose base is historically rooted in Christian ideology. This may help explain why Romney has been less successful with the evangelical vote so far in the primaries. That’s not to say that Romney has been ineffective in the primaries—he leads all candidates in primary votes thus far—but it remains to be seen if Romney can broaden his base to include the most conservative Republicans and members of the Tea Party. Romney took a pro-abortion stance as governor of Massachusetts and has also expressed support for the theory of global warming. He must also defend a health care law he signed as governor, a law that heavily influenced “Obamacare.” It’s not just his work as governor that’s giving Romney a hard time on the campaign trail; recently he has come under scrutiny for his work in the private sector. Romney’s supporters have often cited his private sector experience as a reason to get behind the candidate and with good reason. As a successful hedge fund manager and founder of Bain Capitol he amassed a huge fortune, estimated to be as high as $250 million. Additionally, after weeks of indecision and convoluted responses whenever the topic arose, he released his tax returns for 2010 and estimates for 2011, which revealed that he makes over $20 million a year from investments and his Bain retirement package. Although he has said that he won’t apologize for being successful, it’s not difficult to understand how a typical American would find Romney out of touch with his or her working class status. See ROMNEY, Page 4
The Paisano
January 31, 2012
The Paisano Editor-in-Chief: Allison Tinn
News Editor: Ryan Branch
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Madelyn Garner, Carly Cirilli, Richard Rowley, Melissa Lopez, Erica Cavazos 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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Opinion
Editorial
Altered photo questions health department’s integrity The New York City Department of Health did not violate any ethical boundaries when they altered a stock photo to show the effects diabetes can have on a person. Several years ago, inspiring actor, Cleo Berry, participated in a photo shoot where he received $500. Berry admits to signing a waiver before the shoot which allowed for alterations to be made to the photos. The distribution of the photos to the New York City Department of Health
was also an agreement in the waver. The health department then changed the photo for an anti-diabetes campaign by cutting the overweight man’s leg off. Since amputations are common for people who have diabetes, the campaign was only trying to show the long-term effects of the disease which could be hereditary, but can also be caused by having low amounts of activity, poor diet, and being overweight. If the advertisement is an issue for
being misleading, then the popular Food Network Star, Paula Deen should also be held accountable for not disclosing her having developed Type 2 Diabetes when she is overweight and promotes a poor diet. Berry wanted to have publicity to get his career in gear, and he did. He should just be proud that his picture is being used all over New York City to promote awareness of a very serious disease in the United States.
Commentary Poor working conditions leads to suicides This American Life (an NPR radio program) recently aired an excerpt from a one-man show performed by Mike Daisey called “The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs.” In the show, Daisey details a trip he took to Shenzhen, China, to investigate the working conditions of a manufacturing plant named Foxconn. Foxconn is known for manufacturing a third of many of the consumer electronic devices from companies like Apple, Dell, Nokia, Panasonic, HP, Samsung, Nintendo, Sony and Lenovo. At the plant, there are 430,000 workers. Daisey tells story after story of first -hand accounts from inside this factory, which are alarming and tragic. Daisey finds kids as young as 12years -old working at the plants. There are not any large machinery producing these goods. All are made by hand. Although the standard day of work is 12-hours, most people interviewed work 14-16 hours a day, seven days a week. Last year, a Hong Kong newspaper, Mingpao, reported that a 27-yearold man died of exhaustion after working 34 hours straight. Death became a common thing around Foxconn. In 2010 alone, there were 18 workers who committed suicide by throwing themselves off the top of one of the Foxconn buildings. In response, Foxconn installed nets around their buildings to keep people
from jumping. Most recently, at the beginning of January, 150 workers went to the top of one of the buildings and threatened to jump in unison as a protest to the terrible working conditions. They were eventually talked down by Foxconn and local Communist party officials (The Telegraph). The New York Times also recently published a report about working conditions at Foxconn in Chengdu, China. According to the Times, “two years ago, 137 workers at an Apple supplier in Eastern China were injured after they were ordered to use a poisonous chemical to clean iPhone screens. Within seven months last year, two explosions at iPad factories, including in Chengdu, killed four people and injured 77.” Many people are completely unaware of these conditions. A survey of the UTSA campus shows that many people are connected to these products and use them in their everyday lives. Apple plays a huge part in my daily life, as I have an iPhone, iPad, and this article is being typed on a MacBook Air. When I see this machine, I hardly ever think that there may have been a human cost for the convenience of my shiny toy. I wanted to highlight this story because I think it’s relevant to the current election, especially with the Republican Primaries. According to the frontrunner Mitt Romney, he wants to “reduce taxes, spending, regulation, and government programs.”
Newt Gingrich’s website says that he wants to “remove obstacles to job creation imposed by destructive and ineffective regulations, programs and bureaucracies.” Deregulation is all the rage from the Republican Party, fueled by the view that our country has gone to hell in a hand basket, because corporations are not allowed to operate free of regulation and all the mean government rules that they have to follow. Allowing companies to be free of regulation or to be less regulated may be great for those companies, but it is not great for the humans who do work for these companies. Businesses will always operate on the principle that profits come before people. No matter how nice a company is to their employees, the employees are just commodities that must be retooled, fixed, and sometimes cut. Regulation is in place to help protect people from the inevitable goal of the company to increase profits at all costs. The stories of Foxconn and China, although extreme, are an example of what companies are capable of when not properly regulated. As much as people would like to think that companies will always do the right thing, remember that history has proven that companies are more likely to do the wrong thing. Cliff Perez Contributing Writer
Photo Poll
5
What is your favorite Super Bowl commercial?
Elliot Jones
Junior/ communications “The series of Doritos commercials.”
Laura Seymour
Sophomore/ computer science “The little kid in the Darth Vader costume for the KIA commercial.”
Jose Puente
Freshman /mechanical engineering “The Camero commercial where the guy thinks he is getting a Camero but instead it is a fridge.”
Letter to the Editor Troubling prison statistics
I enjoyed the opinion piece by Cliff Perez, who wrote about the distortion in the rates of African American/ Black incarceration versus Caucasian/White incarceration. Being of African descent and currently studying law, I found this article touched on a subject matter that is not often discussed. Although most of my life I grew up in suburbia, this past summer I had the pleasure of studying law with an attorney that succeeded in overturning the sentence of Anthony Graves, a wrongly convicted black male on death row. Anthony Graves served
18 years for a crime that he did not commit. When most people hear stories like this, they wonder how did the judicial system fail so woefully? The truth is bias and ignorance. It is not hard for an overly determined prosecutor in the south to paint to a mostly white jury that another black man should be convicted of a crime. Even though Anthony was wrongfully convicted, one must wonder how an employer would react to an 18year gap in employment. What kind of job would Anthony be able to get with an 18-year lack of work experi-
ence? Should these store-owners give Anthony a job because his sentence was overturned or should they allow a formerly convicted man a chance on their payroll? Let’s be honest. Society is taught to presume initial guilt not innocence. Upon release, society gives these prisoners a scarlet letter that warns them they will never be accepted. They will always be animals.
Monica Stricko
Sophomore/ nutrition “The Doritos commercial with the pug.”
Chizoba Onyeise
Letter to the Editor Got an eye for design?
The Paisano needs graphic designers and Indesign fiends! Contact: editor@paisano-online.com
Is there a solution to rising tuition? Rowley’s take on the increasing of tuition for public universities in Texas hits on some very interesting points. The mention of deregulation of tuition was very interesting; I had no idea that the state legislature had considered deregulation since the 80’s and had only addressed the issue in 2003. Now, when looking at the numbers-- the $10 billion budget shortage to be more precise-- you can understand that they had to do something. Even the fact that they chose to risk only upsetting a small percentage of voters, i.e. the students, rather than
risking upsetting millions of voters makes sense in a way, but when will it stop? As the article states, “Children of current freshman will be expected to pay four times what their parents paid in tuition when they are old enough to attend college.” It would seem that, for the time being, the legislature has painted themselves into a corner. A $10 billion shortage is no laughing matter, and as I stated above, something, obviously, had to be done. What I find interesting is out of all the information given as to why the increases are necessary and why deregulation was
allowed and all the stats and numbers given to prove that this was the best plan of action, there are no signs of a better solution being considered. All the data shows that tuition is going to continue to increase with no signs of stopping like a runaway train with a full head of steam. They came up with a “solution” of sorts to the budget shortage, but now it seems they have no way of stopping it.
Sara Vera
Freshman/ biology “I am not really sure. I don’t watch the commercials.”
Justin Lopez
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Frankie Shairali Sophomore/nursing
“The Godaddy.com commercials.” Photo poll: Brianna Cristiano
6 4
Features Paseo
The Paisano
January 31, 2012
paseo@paisnao-online.com
Courtesy of Ron Paul
GOP candidate Ron Paul is no ordinary politician. Since last fall, he has entertained audiences during the previous 18 Republican primary debates with humor, passion for his beliefs and stinging one-liners such as his comment during the most recent Florida debate that aired Jan. 26, 2011 on CNN about the need to send some politicians to the moon. Of the issues that set Paul apart from the remaining GOP presidential candidates, three stand out: foreign policy, government spending and personal liberties. Paul’s stance on these issues, along with a loyal following of young adults and military supporters, may just propel him, along with the Libertarian movement, into the political mainstream. Paul’s appeal to America’s youth this election season is rooted once again in his libertarian ideology that advances the rights of personal freedoms and rejects government over-reach into citizens’ private lives. “The founders were Libertarians. They didn’t want to regulate the market, nor did they want to regulate personal lifestyles. And they had a non-intervention foreign policy,” explained Paul to Scott Simon of NPR on Jan. 7, 2011.
Paul’s 47 percent support from 18- to 29-year-olds was the strongest level of support for any candidate by any age group.
Paul’s strong allegiance to libertarian values, such as non-intervention and respect for civil rights, have galvanized young Republicans, as well as many independents. The momentum among young Republicans and independents swelled during the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary in January. Paul won 48 percent of the vote among Iowa caucus-goers under 30, and 47 percent of the youth vote in New Hampshire. “Paul’s 47 percent support from 18- to 29-year-olds was the strongest level of support for any candidate by any age group,” according to Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. A strong opponent to America’s war against terrorism in Afghanistan and proposed sanctions against Iran for building nuclear weapons, Paul introduced his own Golden Rule at the South Carolina debate that aired Jan. 16, 2012 on Fox: “Don’t do to other countries what we would not want done to us.” Critics warn that Paul’s stance on foreign policy is naïve and dangerous. During the GOP debate that aired on Dec. 15, 2011 on Fox, former presidential candidate Michele Bachman defended America’s need to guard against Iranian intentions. “Look no further than the Iranian constitution, which states unequivocally that their mission is to extend jihad across the world and eventually set up a world-wide caliphate.” Paul also levied heavy criticism of the U.S. tax code during his Oct. 18 CNBC interview. “Our current tax rates are a symptom of too much spending,” he said. A fierce opponent to the personal income tax, Paul has been called a “tax hawk” by his peers. If elected president, he plans to rein in government spending by cutting $1 trillion from the budget by eliminating five federally run departments, cutting foreign aid, ending foreign wars and ending corporate subsidies, just to name a few. In addition he promises that his annual salary will not exceed the median household income
Mitt Romney has consistently done well in debates, and his campaign has yet to encounter a major pitfall.
“I never vote for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution,” said Ron Paul.
in America, which, according to Paul, is just over $39,000. A stalwart for the U.S. Constitution, Paul explains on his campaign website, that he “never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution.” Paul further believes that the Obama administration, like others before it, side steps the Constitution when it comes to government over-reach. On www.paulhouse.gov, Paul writes that the “Obama administration, like so many administrations in the 20th century, chooses to ignore the Constitution entirely.” In Paul’s view, recent measures taken by President Obama subvert the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution. Many political pundits don’t give Paul much of a chance of winning the Republican nomination, but as long as this race continues to offer Paul a voice for freedom, he’s likely to tough it out at least through the Florida primary on Jan. 31, 2012.
Read our full coverage of Ron Paul at paisano-online.com WEB EXCLUSIVE: Mormon Candidates
ROMNEY: The richest man in the room From Page 3
Through three primaries in the 2012 Presidential race, Romney has only won in moderate New Hampshire and is still struggling to demonstrate his ability to lead the Republican Party. He has long run his campaign as if he was the frontrunner, but recently many have begun to wonder if he is indeed the inevitable nominee. His religion, inconsistency, moderate ideology and inability to identify with the average voter will likely continue to pose problems for his campaign; however, he remains the candidate with the strongest organization, the most money and, according to most polls, is the Republican most likely to beat Obama in November. He has consistently done well in debates, and his campaign has yet to encounter a major pitfall. By maintaining front runner status for so many months, he has avoided taking unnecessary risks but has at times seemed more like a CEO than a man of the people. Only time will tell whether his campaign will crumble under the constant scrutiny, but thus far Romney has demonstrated that he can take heat better than any other Republican candidate.
Gingrich: Old salt from Washington
Matthew Duarte Staff Writer
paseo@paisnao-online.com No one on the campaign trail knows what it’s like to be down and out quite like Newt Gingrich. The former Speaker of the House has been written off by pundits time and again. Although he has been considered down for the count on multiple occasions, he has managed to outlast much of the competition, including Texas governor, Rick Perry, and Michelle Bachman. He has suffered his fair share of setbacks, and has a personal history that is at odds with the social conservatism that many Republicans hold dear. Nonetheless, after some impressive debate performances and a commanding win in South Carolina, it has become clear that Gingrich has his sights set on being much more than just a thorn in the side of his opponents. Although he became a champion of conservative ideas as Speaker of the House in the 1990’s, Gingrich still struggled to gain traction in the polls months after he entered the race for the Republican nomination. His own staff even quit on him, many of them leaving to work for other candidates. However, Gingrich still managed to run his campaign on a shoestring budget and played the role of the elder statesman in the fall debates. During the last debate in South Carolina, Gingrich was asked by moderator John King to address comments made by his second wife, who alleged that Gingrich had asked for an open marriage. Gingrich called the accusations false, but only after calling King “despicable” and attacking CNN for asking such a question. Gingrich received roaring applause from the audience and carried that momentum into a landslide victory in South Carolina. It is well known that Gingrich is on his third marriage, and in the family-oriented Republican Party many social conservatives have been hesitant to throw their support behind Gingrich. Additionally, during his time in Congress he was forced by the House Ethics Committee to pay a fine after it was determined that he broke House rules by violating federal tax law and lying to the committee. For this and other reasons, Gingrich often collides with Washington Republicans, who regard him as too controversial. Gingrich has played his falling out with Washington to his advantage by portray-
ing himself as a Washington outsider; someone who will come in and change what many feel is a broken political system. This, however, has also come with accusations from his opponents. Especially after it was reported that Gingrich received payment from Freddie Mac as a consultant. Although Gingrich claims that he was merely acting as a historian for the Washington group, his opponents have called Gingrich a lobbyist who profited from his Washington connections, not surprisingly, considering the average wage of regular historians. Although Gingrich has faced strong adversity from his primary opponents, he consistently defends his conservative values, which cannot be said of Gingrich’s fiercest rival, Mitt Romney. While Romney must defend himself from accusations of being a moderate, Gingrich has no such history to his name. Gingrich, to his credit, has remained very consistent in his positions throughout his political career. The consensus among his supporters is that, although he is flawed on a personal level, Gingrich is a fierce conservative who has done an excellent job in contrasting himself with the current administration.
Courtesy of Newt Gingrich
Intern
Courtesy of Ron Paul
Maddison Garner
Courtesy of Mitt Romney
Ron Paul: Constitution man
On the same day that Gingrich blasted John King on national television, Rick Perry admitted defeat and suspended his own presidential campaign, and in the process, endorsed Gingrich. Perry reminded a very Christian audience that although Gingrich has an unusually polemic personal history, a central theme of Christianity is forgiveness. Perry urged his followers to overlook Gingrich’s flaws and throw their support behind the former Speaker. Many people have counted Newt Gingrich down and out in several occasions during the past months of campaigning, but, as Rick Perry and others have realized, you count Gingrich out at your own risk.
Religion:The candidates as believers From Page 1 Ron Paul is one candidate who can be seen as not overtly religious. He has said, “My faith is a deeply private issue to me… I want to avoid any appearance of exploiting it for political gain.” Paul was the only candidate who didn’t sign sign the Marriage Pledge, a pledge that publicly commits candidates to oppose same sex marriage. He does pledge that he will neither support nor oppose legislation for the advancement of marriage equality. The National Organization for Marriage, who drafted the Marriage Pledge, warns conservatives to vote against Ron Paul , describing him as a, “non conservative.” for a “God given right to life- for those born and
unborn.” Paul worked as an OBGYN before delving into politics and claims his pro-life beliefs are based on science and medicine. Paul believes life begins at conception. Ron Paul has also made it publicly known that, as president, he would reverse the court case of Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion as a woman’s right to privacy, as well as removed funding from family planning programs like Planned Parenthood. The 2012 presidential election cycle is viewed by many as one of the most critical elections in our nation’s history. The next president will likely be obligated to appoint Supreme Court justices who will shape what it means to have freedom and equality.
6
Arts&Life
Bring back the ‘Bad breath’ Casey Lee
Contributing Writer arts@paisano-online.com The name alone, Cryin’ D.T. Buffkin & the Bad Breath, is distinctive. However, it is their authentic swing/ol’ timey sound that you will remember them by. The local band delivers jazzy beats, excellent piano tones, along with rustic vocals. The lead singer is reminiscent of Tom Waits in his vocal approach, while the rest of the sound is similar to Squirrel Nut Zippers. Made up of two guitar players, a bassist and a clarinet, the sound of this rag time sextet will transport its back in time, while the audience hangs back, or maybe even dances along. Influenced by such artists as Nat King Cole and Benny Goodman, this band serves as a tribute to big bands of that era. They do a few cover songs from that time, but a lot of their songs are originally written by the lead singer and current UTSA student, Daniel
Travis Buffkin. Not only does the band offer an authentic sound that speaks of the times where Jazz and Swing rocked the nation, but they put a lot of soul into their music. There is a refreshing sincerity to their work that you just don’t find often amongst the local bands in this town and for that. Recently the Paisano had an opportunity to interview the lead singer/pianist Daniel Travis Buffkin (DTB) and bassist, Andrew Maley (AM). PAISANO: Your band has a really interesting name. Part of it is from your own name, but where did you guys come up with “The Bad Breath” part? DTB: My friend, Duff and I used to play together in a band. We were just kind of doing this jam session, talking, throwing out names and we thought of “the dead family.” I just thought that was pretty cool and hippie like, you know. It was Grateful Dead-ish though, so we decided that was pretty lame … so … I don’t know how it hap-
The Paisano pened, really. I think Duff was probably just talking and so I could just smell his breath or something. [laughs] And so, I was just like, ‘Oh, that’s perfect!’ PAISANO: How did the band come to be? DTB: Well, I grew up here, but I moved to Austin for a little while. I wanted to move back to San Antonio. I was in a band in Austin and it’s like, everyone is in a band there. It’s a bummer, you know? It’s like, an L.A. sort of thing, where everyone moves there to do music and you’re surrounded by assholes who think their shit is going to make it just because they moved to Austin, as if that means they have more invested in their dream. So, I was just getting really sick of it and San Antonio has more genuine people. PAISANO: How would you categorize your band? DTB: Yeah, I just say Ol’ Timey. AM: Or Classical American. AM: We pretty much have roots from all of that. We like to bring a lot of different things to the table. It kind of just makes it what it is. DTB: We’ve even played some Honky-Tonk. It depends where we play sometimes, too. If we play somewhere with more of a jazz vibe, we’ll emphasize more of our jazzier stuff. Not everyone, believe it or not, likes Hank Williams. PAISANO: I heard you guys are going to be coming out with an LP soon.
January 31, 2012 DTB: Yeah, we haven’t ever recorded anything officially. We’re gonna do a single with this tune we have called “Ain’t it the Truth.” PAISANO: Do you have any other plans for the future? AM: Gigs. DTB: We’d like to throw more beats into our sets, just get a beat machine. How many rag time bands have beat machines? We like the idea of getting a steady gig at one place. That’s our goal. It can be tough doing these random gigs in different bars all time because we have to fit to the standard of the bar sometimes, like their typical business model, and we really want to stray away from that. We want to play the strip clubs, actually. That’d be so great. Stripping to Chamillionare isn’t as classy as stripping to Bad Breath. There was a lot of laughter and smiles, while girls shout “Play it again!” right after their second song. This band invokes a feeling of comfort, good times, and everything you’d ask for of old Southern style. Crying DT Buffkin and the Bad Breath have a Sound Cloud, on SoundCloud.com where you can listen to their music for free. The band plays at The Mix every Tuesday night and every other Friday night.
Campus Calendar Wednesday, Feb. 1 7 p.m. Anthony Green and Deer Hunter The two bands will be playing at the Korova. Admission is $16.
7 p.m. Jay Parini
Professor of English and Creative Writing at Middlebury College Parini will be discussing the books that changed America. In BB 2.06.04
10 p.m. El Valiente, the Grasshopper Lies Heavy, and Sohns
All three local noise bands will be playing at the 1011. You’re in for a wild ride at this show. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Thursday, Feb. 2 3 p.m. Jay Parini
Professor of English and Creative Writing at Middlebury College, Parini will discussing the film “the Last Station,” in the Retama Room.
6 p.m. “Movement into Form”
This new exhibit at UTSA’s Satellite Space hosts artists Katy Heinlein and Daniel McFarlane. Exhibit continues until Feb. 19
Friday, Feb. 3 2 p.m. Jay Parini
‘Baroque to Bauhaus’: McNay covers time in new exhibit Alyssa Torres Staff Writer
Burk Frey / The Paisano
arts@paisano-online.com
Korean dancer performing during the Asian Festival at the Institute of Texan Cultures last Saturday, Jan. 28
Web Exclusives: Check out our web exclusives this week on paisano-online.com: the Paisano’s review of the Asian Festival on Jan. 28 Video games you might have missed last year. A preview to the last weekend of the Beethoven festival. Scan this code (on the right) with your smart phone and a QR app, to read these articles online!
Eye-catching burgundy and ivory garments drape and glisten in soft light as “The Marriage of Figaro,” performed by the London Philharmonic illuminates the ambiance of the “Baroque to Bauhaus” exhibit at the McNay Art Museum. The “Baroque to Bauhaus” exhibit is comprised of several displays which include titles such as “Baroque: Mozart’s School for Lovers” and “Bauhaus: The Mechanized Stage.” The term “Bauhaus” is used to describe the clean lines and geometric forms of the post World War I art movement. Between 1919-1938, students of this style included Laszlo Moholy-Nagy with his 1923 print, “Konstruktionen III (Construction III)” and Alexandra Exter’s “Decors de Theatre” (1930). Oskar Schlemmer was a major figure associated with the Bauhaus school. He believed that theatre was significant for the Bauhaus style. Schlemmer once stated that the “human body is a physical structure—not an emotional being” and that “theatre means to reveal second nature” and not the single reality. In the exhibit, “Baroque: Mozart’s
School for Lovers,” the contrasting Bauhaus and Baroque styles become one. Mozart’s operas “Cosi fan tutte” and “The Marriage of Figaro” are transformed from the extravagant and ornate Baroque fashion to the slick style that is Bauhaus. Baroque art was the new art movement of the 17th century and was made popular for its dramatic and emotional appeal. Mozart’s opera scenes are redesigned to take place in modern settings such as in lofts overlooking a city skyline. One of the artists who made this transformation possible was Adrianne Lobel with her graphite drawings. At this display, a video is available for viewing with modern reenactments of “Cosi fan tutte.” Other parts of the exhibit include drawings and sketches of Georges Bizert’s “Carmen,” and ink on paper costume designs by Tazeena Firth and Timothy O’Brien for Benjamin Britten’s opera, “Peter Grimes.” A looping projection of acts I, II and III of “Peter Grimes” also accompanies the displays. At the end of the exhibit is a section titled “Recent Acquisitions,” displayed in this area are two costumes from the 2006 Broadway musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone.” The designs for these cos-
Professor of English and Creative Writing at Middlebury College, Parini will discussing why poetry matters., in BB 2.06.04
8 p.m. Caitlin Rose
Admission is $20. Gruene Hall. Look for the Paisano’s exclusive interview online. Want an event in our calendar? Email your event to arts@paisano-online.com
tumes are just as extravagant as the costumes themselves. Gregg Barnes created the costume designs with gouche, metallic paint and graphite on paper. An audio track sung by the cast of “The Drowsy Chaperone” titled “Show Off” can also be heard. Across the room is an area titled “The Chinea Festival” which mostly consisted of 1772 etchings by engraver Guiseppe Vasi. Hung in the back wall of this room are oil paintings by Natalia Gontcharova, which portrays characters from the Russian fairy tale turned play, “Snegourotchka (The Snow Maiden).” Among these oil on canvas paintings are depictions of “The Queen of Shemahkan” (ca. 1922) and “The Astrologer (ca. 1922)”. Setting the mood for the exhibit are richly colored walls, featuring dimly lit quotes from “Carmen” and “Peter Grimes,” among others. The best element to the “Baroque to Bauhaus” exhibit is the multimedia experience. Not only is there a modern audio/video aspect involved, but the actual costumes, designs and small-scale sets from the operas add to the variety of visual treats, a feast for your eyes. The “Baroque to Bauhaus” collection is on display at the McNay until June 10, 2012.
The Paisano
Photo Courtesy of REM Gallery
January 31, 2012
“Black Torn Clouds” by Larry Leissner that is exhibited at the REM gallery.
RON&LARRY
Madelyn Garner/ Katy Schmader Intern/ Arts Editor
arts@emailaddress.com French Dadaist Marcel Duchamp not only turned heads in 1917 with
his “objet trouvé” – French for found object, a urinal turned upside down, signed under a made-up and called it “Fountain.” UTSA art professors Ron Binks and Larry Leissner once again showcase
found objects in their new photo exhibit “Ron & Larry: Passageways Into the Sky and Restrooms in Berlin”, currently on display at REM Gallery on East Park Ave. Binks’ “Public Places” photos were taken with a point and shoot camera, in public restrooms during an annual visit to Berlin. In his artist statement, Binks says he was “intrigued with the décor involved in designing these spaces and how this reflects the attitudes toward the prospective clientele.” In each photograph, Binks’ urinals take center stage, but the juxtaposition of each image is equally as striking. “Public Places”, number three, four and five are manipulated in a way that enhance their geometric design creating lines that lead in and out of the photograph, guiding its viewers eye throughout the image, eventually landing on the glistening urinals. Despite that these images have a serious context, an aire of comedy is undeniable. Binks travels to Berlin each spring break with UTSA art students and fellow UTSA art professor, Larry Leissner, to explore the city through a photographer’s lens. Leissner’s photographs, depict water, earth and fire. Images of clouds layered with ink
Arts&Life and paper media, add depth to each photograph. Set against vivid blue skies, the clouds become intertwined with the media, creating the illusion of water. Without giving the audience much context, viewers will find these images more desirable if they forget to search for meaning and instead admire the bright colors and how the details come together to create a whole. Leissner’s “Olympia,” references the original painted in 1863 by Édouard Manet. “Olympia,” the photograph renders a beautiful young woman reclining on a chaise lounge holding a large fan. Leissner brings depth to “Olympia” by positioning her image repetitively within layers of fans. Perched on the mantle of a fireplace in the gallery, earth is represented by a photograph of gray and black marble. Another fan, bearing the same gray and black marble sits in front of the photograph, adding dimension to Leissner’s portrayal of earth. Both artists’ manipulated photographs seem to be influenced by the remnants of the dada movement. Like Duchamp, these artists ridicule the pedestal of menial objects in the modern world. The exhibit will be on display every Friday and Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. until March 2.
Magical mystical ‘Cats’ arrive at the majestic Dylan Crice Staff Writer
arts@paisano-online.com “Cats” is a thrilling Broadway musical that has left countless audiences spellbound, garnered massive critical praise, and also holds the achievement of being the second longest running Broadway musical of all time. San Antonio residents and UTSA students will finally get an opportunity to experience the magical intrigue of “Cats” when it opens at the Majestic Theater on Jan. 31. “Cats” features dazzling costumes, intricate dance moves, a spectacular
light show, extreme feats of athleticism, a colorful cast of characters, and an operatic score that can be appreciated by people of all ages. The musical is split into two acts, the first of which provides audiences with the background for the mysterious universe of “Cats” while also introducing many of the major characters in the play. The second act deals with the aftermath of the Jellicle Ball contest culminating in a musical finale that will stay with viewers long after the curtains close. The plot follows a diverse group of Jellicle cats as they celebrate the Jellicle Ball. Individual cats and feline ensembles each audition to win a chance
at being reborn into a new life. However, only one feline contestant can be chosen by the cat patriarch, Old Dueteronomy and journey to the fabled Heaviside lair to start life anew. Will the magical Mr. Mistoffelees enchant his way to a new beginning? Will the evil Macavity steal the show? Or will the extravagant tomcat Rum Tum Tugger prevail? Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” is based on T.S. Elliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.” This simple children’s book quickly exploded into a pop culture phenomena when many of the book’s verses were accompanied by music, song, and dance when the Broadway play was first released.
The song “Memory” is one of the only original pieces of music created for the play and is arguably the standout performance of the entire show. “Cats” premieres at the Majestic Theater Tues. Jan. 31 and will show at 8:00 p.m. everyday until February 3. The February 4 show is at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The final day to catch a performance of “Cats” is on February 5, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Majestic theater is located at 224 E. Houston Street. Individual tickets can be purchased online for only $17.50. “Cats” the Broadway Musical is the purrrrfect way to celebrate a long weekend at the Majestic Theater.
7 Superbowl Recipes
Sylvia Alejandro Staff Writer
arts@paisano-online.com This year, there is one thing the super bowl can’t go without and that’s food. Nothing brings together a group of raging football fans than easy food that can be cooked in minutes. Living in San Antonio, Mexican food is one of the first ways to go at it. Here are a few, easy, and simple ways to make your football arena a better place. Shrimp Bacon Wraps 1. Take already cooked shrimp without tails and wrap with uncooked bacon 2. Place a toothpick in center of shrimp to hold bacon and shrimp together 3. Put desired amount of butter in a skillet at a medium temperature 4. Do not let butter evaporate 5. Once butter is melted, place the shrimp bacon wraps in skillet 6. Cook until bacon is fully cooked Shish kabab 1. Purchase long wooden picks at your local grocery store 2. Place a tomato shrub at one end of the wooden pick followed by uncooked chicken pieces, white onion, pineapple chunks, and green bell pepper 3. Repeat step 2 until the pick is filled to the end 4. Using a cooking brush, brush on oil onto the shish kabab 5. Place the shish kabab on a grill and cook until chicken is fully cooked and the vegetables and fruit has turned a golden brown
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August 26, 2008
Sports
The Paisano
January 31, 2012
Roadrunners rolling along with defense UTSA improves to 6-1 in conference with 78-66 win Richard Castillo
Assistant Sports Editor
Brianna Cristiano/ The Paisano
sports@paisano-online.com
Judy Jones draws a foul during action against Texas State on Jan. 21. Jones had five points and nine rebounds in a losing effort against Sam Houston State Saturday Jan. 28.
Women’s hoops swept by Sam Houston in 2012
Rippetoe-Blair remains one win shy of 200 at UTSA with 10 games left Sports Editor
sports@paisano-online.com The Roadrunners gave a valiant effort against the Sam Houston State Bearkats but it was not enough as the Bearkats outscored the Roadrunnners 14-2 over the final three-minute stretch to win 67-55 Saturday in Huntsville. The loss to the Bearkats means that head coach Rae RippetoeBlair remains at 199 career wins at UTSA. Even though the Roadrunners only shot 23 percent from the field in the first half, they held a 24-23 advantage at halftime. The second half saw multiple lead changes before the Bearkats went on their victory-sealing run. Kamra King pitched in 13 points
in the losing effort. No other Roadrunner was able to score in double figures. The Bearkats were led in their victory by Britni Martin’s 17 points followed by Sequeena Thomas with 16. The victory over the Roadrunners gave the Bearkats their first season sweep of UTSA since the 1999-2000 season, which was also the season before Rippetoe-Blair took over the Roadrunners. The Roadrunners fell to 3-3 in conference play with the loss. They will attempt to get back in the win column when they travel to face the Mavericks of UT Arlington Wednesday Feb. 1 in the grandopening game of UT Arlington’s new College Park Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Upcoming Home Games:
Women’s Basketball
Comments or Questions? Write to sports@ paisano-online.com
Brianna Cristiano / The Paisano
Stephen Whitaker
The Roadrunners faced off against the Sam Houston State Bearkats in the Convocation Center Saturday Jan 28. The Runners won their fifth game in a row, 78-66 behind a dominating defense. UTSA improved to a 14-7 overall record and 6-1 within the Southland Conference. Head coach Brooks Thompson credits the maturity of the returning players to their success in the beginning of the season. “They are really focused in and I think they are really growing as a unit,” Thompson said. “We got a lot more experience. We got other guys that have played in big games.” Sam Houston State never looked comfortable against the complicated San Antonio defense. The runners forced 22 turnovers from the visiting Bearkats. At the end of the game, Sam Houston State shot 45.1 percent from the field and only 25 percent from three point range. “The guys are working hard and
they are getting better at (the defense) every day,” Thompson said. “I think now the guys are really getting comfortable with it.” UTSA’s offense has been powered by sharp shooting Melvin Johnson III (18 points, two steals) and sophomore forward Jeromie Hill (11 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal). Hill was awarded Southland Player of the Week last Monday. Against Sam Houston, Hill had a very slow game after averaging 18 points and 7.5 rebounds in the victories against Northwestern State and Texas State. But Senior center Alex Vouyoukas had a stellar performance in the Roadrunners’ home victory. “I know that I’m not the first offensive threat on the team,” Vouyoukas said. “Tonight I had some open looks, and I was able to take full advantage of them. I’m not a guy that looks for the spotlight, but if things work out then I’m happy.” In the first half, the big man scored 10 points, that included one three pointer. Vouyokas’ performance help set a very high tone for the home team, and he finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Vouyokas’
Jordan Sims brings the ball up court during action against Sam Houston State. Sims was 8-8 earlier in the week in a non-conference 115-49 victory over Jarvis Christian.
efforts were appreciated by a standing ovation from the home fans and also by his parents in Greece watching the Roadrunners online. UTSA’s intense defense fueled their offense. Eight players scored in the game, five of those players in double figures. Junior transfer guard Michael Hale III had (12 points, three assists, one steal) and has been a perfect fit so far for Coach Thompson’s team. “The transition has been great. Coach Thompson is a great coach, one of the best in my eyes. The team is really close together. We know each other in and out and we starting to come together,” Hale said. In his first season playing at the Division I level, Hale is very optimistic about the future of the team. “In my eyes, the only people that can stop us is us. We just have to stay together, stay composed and play together and we’ll be fine.” Coach Thompson has also been very proud of his new weapons this season. “It just shows their character. We obviously knew they were gifted athletes because we recruited them to play here, but their character shows that they knew they had to come in and play major roles. It usually takes a little bit longer to be honest with you, from junior college or high school to the division one level. That has a lot to do with our experience, and the other guys helping those guys along the way.” Going into the second half the Roadrunners had a commanding 4329 lead. The Roadrunners defense forced another eight turnovers for Sam Houston State, but the Runners also gave up eight turnovers of their own. The visitors were able to score 10 points off these turnovers and at one point cut the lead down to 9. The Runners kept their composure and never panicked, sticking to their defensive scheme which eventually led to the fifth consecutive win. Those last few seconds showed a maturity of this basketball team that will become vital down the road. The Roadrunners’ next game will be on the road against the Southland Conference’s number one team, the UT Arlington Mavericks on Feb. 1st. The Mavericks are perfect in conference play and with their recent 82-79 win against Texas State, are currently in the middle of an 11 game winning streak. First place in the Southland Conference will be on the line in Arlington Wednesday.
vs. Lamar, Saturday Feb. 4, 4 p.m. Convocation Center
Women’s Tennis vs. Midwestern State, Friday Feb. 3, 4 p.m. vs. Laredo Community College Saturday Feb. 4, 1 p.m. UTSA Tennis Courts
FORGET THE CLASSIFIEDS. YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE. Careers For Everything You Are
For complete team schedules go to www.goutsa.com
Life’s journey is about achieving your goals and helping others achieve theirs. That’s what we believe. And that’s why we’re coming to your campus. Visit us at our Wireless Wednesday booth for a chance to fulfill one of your dreams, and to help The Buried Life fulfill one of theirs. You’ll also put yourself in the running for a $500 Dream Bucks gift card. We’ll be at your school the first Wednesday of select months through April 2012. And we can’t wait to tell you how Verizon Wireless has a career for everything you are. To learn more, visit vzwcampus.com/ut
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The Paisano
January 31, 2012
Sports
9
Returning Runners spark historic start to Southland campaign Richard Castillo
Assistant Sports Editor sports@paisano-online.com
Brianna Cristiano / The Paisano
The Roadrunners’ men’s basketball team is off to another fast start to the season with a 14-7 overall record and the program’s best start to Southland play in 20 years at 6-1. The Southland start has the Roadrunners in a good position to win the conference and earn consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. For a team that lost only one player to graduation last season and entered this season with three new players, it is a credit to the returning players
who have stepped up this season. Sophomore forward Tyler Wood believes that the previous experience has been extremely valuable to this year’s squad. “We’ve learned what it actually takes to be a championship team. We learned how hard it is. All the hours that you got to put into to get there. So, we are able to learn from that and take from it and help prepare for this season to repeat what we did last year,” Wood said. A huge challenge for this year’s team was replacing the production of guard Devin Gibson, who graduated last spring. However, Wood believes other players have risen to make up
In his first season at UTSA Michael Hale has led the Roadrunners with 3.1 assists per game.
for such an explosive player. “This year we have more people contributing on a nightly basis,” Wood said. “You just never know who’s going to come at you that night.” Melvin Johnson III is second on the team in scoring average (13.4 points per game) and first in three-point field goals made with 41. Johnson credits the team’s chemistry as one of their strengths. “Most teams in our conference, they change teams almost every year. Right now, we are building a program, bringing in a bunch of young guys that can play,” Johnson said. “We know how to play together and how to adjust to each person’s game.” Some of the newest players to Coach Thompson’s team haven’t wasted any time making an impact. Junior transfer guard Kannon Burrage is the Runners top scorer early in this season, with 13.8 points per game and he is number one in made free throws with 71. Another Junior transfer guard Michael Hale III has adjusted very well to the tempo of Division I basketball. He currently leads the team in assists with 3.1 per game. Hale has also contributed with his defense averaging 1.2 steals per game, ranking him second on the team. “They have gelled in perfectly,” sophomore forward Igor “Iggy” Nujic said of the new players. Another strength for the Runners this year is their shooting touch. The Runners are shooting a respectable 44 percent and scoring an average of 73.5 points per game. “We have a lot of good shooters,” sophomore forward Jeromie Hill said. “Even all our big men can shoot. No one lacks confidence to shoot, and that’s one thing that this team thrives on.” Hill has continued to be a strong offensive presence for the Runners this year by leading the team in field goals made per game (five) rebounds (6.5 per game), and third on the team
with a scoring average (12.7 points per game). The Runners have also shown up on the defensive side of the ball. This year’s squad has kept opponents to an average of 67.5 points per game through the first part of this season. “At first the new defense was tough. It was complicated and the coaches were expecting a lot from us,” Nujic said. “But once we all bought into it, now it’s starting to click like it should,
and we are getting really good results.” Nujic has also credited the defense as key factor in the win against Texas State. The Runners seem to have all the right tools for another successful season. They have an efficient offense, a relentless defense and the trust in each other to perform at their best. “You are going to have a great time if you come to the game,” Wood said.
Work in Progress Super Bowl rematches Stephen Whitaker Sports Editor sports@paisano-online.com Another year, another Super Bowl without one or both of the Texas teams. Eventually they will get there but it won’t be at least until Super Bowl XLVII. For now, football fans in Texas will have to get through Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, or Super Bowl XLII 2.0 as the national media has christened it. Yes, this Super Bowl is a rematch, but then again many previous Super Bowls were rematches. In honor of the Super Bowl having yet another rematch, let’s take a look at some of the matchups that have happened more than once. The first time two teams ever met in a Super Bowl for a rematch was in Super Bowl XIII when the Pittsburgh Steelers took on the Dallas Cowboys in a reunion of Super Bowl X. Just like Super Bowl X, the Steelers defeated the Cowboys en route to their fourth Super Bowl victory of the 1970s.
The Steelers and Cowboys would play each other again in Super Bowl XXX with the Cowboys avenging previous defeats to the Steelers en route to their last title to date. Four years after Super Bowl XIII came another rematch when the Miami Dolphins faced the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVII. The two teams had met in Super Bowl VII with the Dolphins winning to complete a perfect 17-0 season, the only time that has happened in the Super Bowl era. In XVII the Redskins got revenge by knocking off the Dan Marino-led Dolphins. The next rematch in a Super Bowl came in XXIII when the San Francisco 49ers knocked off the Cincinnati Bengals in a rematch of Super Bowl XVI, also won by the 49ers. The early ‘90s would see a historic run from the Buffalo Bills as they made four Super Bowls, including XXVII and XXVIII against the Cowboys. The Bills would lose in all four trips. Now comes the fifth rematch in Super Bowl history. It remains to be seen whether the Patriots will do as the Redskins did in XVII and avenge a previous loss or whether the Giants will do as the 49ers and Steelers did and prevent a familiar opponent from winning the Super Bowl.
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The Paisano
January 31, 2012