Meet UTSA’s Sixteen Sexiest Scholars see page 6
Indoor Track and Field wins seventh straight championship see page 9
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio
February 28, 2012
Issue 7
File Photo
Brianna Cristiano / The Paisano
Volume 47
UTSA Print Spots are going green with new default.
The Institute of Law and Public Affairs.
AP Photo
SLSPA: Helping send Roadrunners to law school Daniel Crotty Staff Writer
“It was beyond amazing!” is how junior sociology and Spanish major Eliana Briceno described her experience at the Academy last summer. The purpose of the Summer Law School Preparation Academy (SLSPA), hosted by UTSA’s Institute for Law and Public Affairs is to prepare students interested in attending law school. For this summer’s program students can apply for early review and admission by March 23 as well as admission based on availability by April 2. Admission into the program is competitive; students must submit the program application, a personal statement and one letter of recommendation from a faculty member. Students with 39 earned credit hours may apply for Phase I (first summer session) of the program and students with 60 credit hours can apply for Phase II (second summer session). Dr. Ana Alvarez, the ILPA’s Program Coordinator, explained: “The program provides a strong academic foundation for legal education.” Students take 12 hours of intense courses, such as constitutional analysis, legal research and writing, law school studies and torts. These courses count toward the program’s Certificate of Legal Reasoning as well as a minor in legal studies offered by UTSA’s Honors College. The program also features a weekly series of speakers including law school professors, admissions counselors, politicians and former SLSPA students to offer their advice and knowledge about law. “The institute prides itself on its faculty and staff, who advocate for each one of the SLSPA students and help with the process of applying to law school, getting scholarships and obtaining letters of recommendation,” Alvarez said. Dr. Jerry Polland, a professor of political science at UT-Pan American, shared some information about the history of the SLSPA. “Subsequent to the Hopwood v. Texas decision, eliminating the use of affirmative action at UT Law School, the UT System created the Law School Partnership Task Force,” Polland said. Polland explained that the goal of the task force is to increase the number of minority applicants who apply to law school. In 2002, the task force created UTSA’s SLSPA in partnership with UT Law. Students who attended the program have been admitted into Harvard, U.C. Berkeley, Chicago, Columbia, Minnesota and UT Law, some of the most competitive law schools in the country.
Workers install solar panels on the roof of a school in an effort to help supplement the school’s energy needs.
Madelyn Garner Intern
news@paisano-online.com As the United States pursues its goal of exploring sustainable energy sources, San Antonio is taking the lead by partnering with clean technology companies to create a “new energy economy.” The goal of pursuing clean energy technologies is focused on reducing carbon emissions produced by coalfired energy plants, such as San Antonio’s CPS Energy plant near Calaveras Lake. In January, the Department of Energy announced that CPS Energy would purchase 200 megawatts of electricity annually from the Texas Clean Energy Project (TCEP), a clean coal power plant, soon to be built near Odessa, Texas. What sets the TCEP apart from other coal-fired plants is its carbon capture technology that is projected to capture 90 percent of the carbon emitted from the plant.
Sarah Gibbens Staff Writer
When completed in 2015, the TCEP is expected to be the cleanest coalfueled energy plant in the world. At a cost of $2.4 billion, the TCEP will receive $350 million in federal funding. Carbon capture technology is a process that captures and compresses carbon dioxide and then transports it through pipelines to long term or permanent storage sites, such as rock formations located deep underground. Another contender in the field of emerging clean technologies is energy storage. Many international companies already provide utility companies with the technology and resources to store energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar. “Developing technology to store electrical energy so it can be available to meet demand whenever needed would represent a major breakthrough in electricity distribution. Helping to try and meet this goal, electricity storage devices can manage the amount of power required to supply customers at times when need is greatest, which
is during peak load. These devices can also help make renewable energy, whose power output cannot be controlled by grid operators, smooth and dispatchable,” according to the EPA’s website. CPS Energy has partnered with UTSA’s Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute to research clean energy technologies, such as wind and solar power, as well as energy storage. “For (CPS) to engage with a university is unprecedented. All the business partners CPS is engaging with today are actually engaging with the university through the institute. This brings opportunities that the university would never have had otherwise. Companies and national laboratories wouldn’t come to UTSA if we didn’t have that (partnership) in place,” Dr. Juan Gomez, a research associate professor with UTSA’s Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute, said. See TCEP, Page 3
2012 Diploma Dash biggest ever Matthew Duarte News Assistant
news@paisano-online.com Waking up early on a Saturday is hard enough for any college student, but waking up and running more than three miles can be extremely challenging. That didn’t stop over 2000 UTSA students, alumni and other casual and competitive runners from making the 2012 Diploma Dash the largest ever. Around 2200 people preregistered, with an estimated 200 more registering the day of the race. The race is hosted each year by UTSA’s Alumni Association. Participation in Diploma Dash has been growing steadily since its inception 28 years ago, when only a couple of hundred people attended. The race has taken off in popularity in the past few years as the Alumni Association has made greater strides to appeal to students. An estimated 900 students participated this year, compared to about 600 last year. The Alumni Association has also taken steps to appeal to San Antonio’s military community by charging them the same low $10 fee as students. Attracting students and the military has helped the Diploma Dash more than double its attendance in the past six years.
Ray Perez / The Paisano
news@paisano-online.com
UTSA continues efforts to go green with new printing policy
Diploma dashers gather after the what turned out to be the biggest turn out since the event began.
The proceeds from the race go to the Alumni Association to fund scholarships and other alumni programs. Through the Diploma Dash and other events, the Alumni Association is able to raise over $100,000 each year, and its endowment exceeds $1 million. The Diploma Dash, which is held on UTSA’s campus, rolled out a new course for this year’s race. In previous years, the race has taken runners underneath campus through a series of tunnels usually reserved for main-
tenance vehicles. However, this year’s Diploma Dash took runners around campus, starting and ending at the Convocation Center, giving them a view of the entire campus, including the new construction on the northeast side of campus. Participants enjoyed music by Elijah Zane and the Experience and several student organizations—including The Movement, UTSA Ambassadors, and FTK—staffed information booths.
news@paisano-online.com Many universities around the nation are taking initiatives to promote greener campuses. UTSA is no exception. Beginning in Summer of 2012, UTSA printers will automatically print double-sided pages as opposed to traditional single-sided printing, effectively reducing the amount of paper used by nearly half and yielding significant economic benefit. Initially, the issue was brought up by UTSA’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) as a way to save money without creating a hindrance for students. However, in order to implement the change—which would affect students’ day-to-day lives—OIT had to seek the blessing of the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Faculty Senate. With the consent of these two organizations, OIT made sure this was a favorable change among students and faculty. The bill was written by SGA members Travis Jourdan, Merced Carbajal and Kort Jackson. Jourdan and Carbajal also serve as presidents of two campus environmental groups, The Movement and The Green Society respectively. The bill was sponsored by SGA member Anthony Herrera, who is also a member of the Green Society. The green resolution was passed by the SGA in the last general assembly of the fall 2010 semester, and it did not encounter any negative feedback as it was being examined. SGA President Xavier Johnson signed the bill into place under the official title, “UTSA Transition to Standardized Double Sided Printing.” Rather than sit on an SGA committee to await approval, the bill was an independent project led by Jourdan and Carbajal. Jourdan felt personally motivated to see the bill pass. “When an institution is thoroughly devoted to market its Tier One goals, that entail a sustainability oriented plan, even the small details are necessary,” Jourdan said. “The small transition yields not only economic savings, but severe environmental benefit.” Carbajal considered the decision to transition to double-sided printing to be about resource efficiency. “Resource efficiency is being economically smart, and in this case, lessening our impact on the planet,” Carbajal said. “It is our responsibility as an academic institution to maintain a clear path towards sustainability.” See GREEN, Page 3
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The Paisano
February 28, 2012
The Paisano
February 28, 2012
News
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TCEP: San Antonio looking into new energy technology From Page 1
Created in 2010, the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute is led by Les Shepard, who came to UTSA from Sandia National Laboratories. Under the direction of Shepard, the institute’s mission is to provide solutions in technology that reduce costs and promote “responsible environmental stewardship.” With an aggressive goal of leading the nation in clean energy research, city leaders expect the partnerships to grow the local economy with new businesses that will bring hundreds of jobs to San Antonio. “San Antonio can be for the New Energy Economy what Silicon Valley is to software and Boston is to biotech,” Mayor Julian Castro said. So far, this economy boasts partner-
ships with Consert, an energy management company that relocated its headquarters from North Carolina to San Antonio last August. Greenstar, maker of LED streetlights, is currently planning to relocate its manufacturing plant to Alamo Downs and expects to employ 38 people. Other companies that have joined forces in San Antonio’s drive to pursue green technology are OCI Solar Power, which will build solar farms from panels built by another CPS Energy partner, Nexolon. Both companies will open their headquarters in San Antonio and plan to hire at least 800 people. OCI Solar Power Board Chairman, Kirk Milling, told the Express-News in January 2011 that the project is expected to be “the corner-
stone of our emerging green business in North America.” Currently, the majority of the electricity produced in the U.S. comes from coal and natural gas; however, wind and solar power are promoted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as viable alternatives. The challenges facing industry leaders include integrating green technologies with current energy sources while also providing efficient delivery without increasing costs for consumers. “Most (energy) solutions that were technically based used to be good enough, but now [solutions] need to be technologically sound and economically feasible,” Dr. Gomez stated. The push towards green technology seems over aggressive to many in Congress who disagree with using tax dol-
lars and government backed loans to support clean energy companies. The bankruptcies in 2011 of solar panel manufacturer, Solyndra, and energy storage company, Beacon, prompted investigations by the justice department and spawned congressional hearings in connection to Solyndra’s ties to the Obama Administration and its mismanagement of tax-payer’s dollars. Collectively, these companies received loans totaling $578 million. What appears undisputed, however, is the higher cost of utilizing renewable sources. Costs include building the infrastructure and distribution networks, as well as land resources needed for wind farms. Proponents argue that over time, the costs will be reduced as more renewable energy technologies are adopted, and that
wind and solar costs do not fluctuate with market prices as oil and gas do. Critics charge that energy independence should remain the country’s primary objective and that the U.S. should ramp up its efforts to capitalize its gas, coal and oil resources. To advance the mayor’s vision for a new energy economy, city leaders and CPS Energy will rely on Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute for input on what it deems “critical areas” – energy, water, education, housing and water. “(These areas) will make San Antonio a more clean energy environment (and ultimately) more sustainable,” Gomez said.
as possible. Wenk strongly supports the idea, “as long as there is an option to also print single-sided, which sometimes is necessary for professional printouts.” Some students voiced their concerns about double-sided printing, saying it would create an inconvenience when professors require the traditional printing of one page per sheet. OIT stalled the transition under the assumption that the faculty would not
be interested in facilitating the change. While some professors will continue to require single-sided printing, Wenk cited that, “there was no real objection [in the Faculty Senate] to switch the standard settings to double-sided as long as there is an option to select single-sided.” Single-sided printing will still be an option available to students. Jourdan and OIT Print Spot Managers Leonard Williams and Almond Dillard worked to create a timeline for
implementing double-sided. They decided that the weeks before the 2012 summer session would cause the least inconvenience for students, as the change will have to be put in place for over 100 printers. Students that use Print Spot from their laptops will need to reinstall the drivers provided by OIT. The push to attain Tier One status at UTSA has been often described as not a sprint, but a marathon. Double-
sided printing can be seen as taking UTSA one step closer to the finish line. Printing two pages per sheet will free up funds that the school can repurpose and, as written in the bill, UTSA can progress to Tier One status through such facets as, “sustainability and university operations.” Tier One aside, the environmental benefits of double-sided printing holds altruistic value for UTSA and the surrounding community.
GREEN: Double-sided default for printers by summer From Page 1
Jourdan worked with Faculty Senate Chair and Dean of the College of Sciences Carola Wenk to gain approval and eventually pass the bill through the Faculty Senate. Wenk felt it was important to switch the printing default to double-sided. “[It] helps the environment. I always print double-sided myself,” Wenk said. Wenk also prints multiple pages per sheet in order to save as much paper
New roundabout causing parking problems for faculty Richard Rowley Intern
news@paisano-online.com On Jan. 24, The Paisano reported on the Mar. 10 closure of the Peace Lot, and its subsequent conversion into a roundabout. The change will mean
the loss of 295 parking spaces and is intended to beautify the north end of the campus and ease the flow of traffic. However, the closure is having some unintended consequences for faculty members displaced by the changes. Although measures are being implemented to ease the financial strain of the parking upgrade, including prorat-
ed passes and a 50 percent discount, those who purchased parking permits prior to March 1 will not automatically receive those discounts. Assistant Director of Parking Shelley Deats says that the discounts will be available to those who purchase permits between March 1 and March 16.
“Anyone who bought a permit (before March 1) is eligible to upgrade or downgrade back to their original permit type and wait to purchase a garage permit at the time of the discount,” Deats said. There is a way for those who purchased a permit early to take advantage of the discounts; it’s just not automatic according to Deats.
Grandfathering the discounts is a problem because there are a limited number of spaces available. (to continue reading the rest of this story go to paisanoonline.com)
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Paseo
The Paisano
February 28, 2012
UTSA’S Sixteen Sexiest Scholars
Meet the hottest and smartest upperclassmen of 2012 (you will miss them when they graduate). You know you’ve seen them on campus; now here they are. We’ve interviewed the sexiest and smartest upperclassmen at UTSA, and asked them thirteen personality questions selected by our staff. Nominations for this contest were done by student organizations and a few members of The Paisano based on intellectual and personal appeal. In addition to the personality questions, applicants had to answer trivia, to test their smarts. A committee of five students, unrelated to the nomination process, were asked to select the top sixteen from our poll of applicants based on their responses to both trivia and personal questions. And they chose well. Try to catch these Roadrunners before they graduate! QUESTIONS 1. What do you look for in a guy/girl? 2. Where can one find you on a Saturday night? 3. What is your sexiest physical trait? 4. In 15 minutes you will be: 5. In 15 years you will be: 6. What is one thing in your bucket list? 7. If your house caught on fire, which three things would you save? 8. If you could be any world leader from any time period, who would you be and why? 9. Which of your achievements are you most proud of? 10. What keeps you up at night? 11. What was the last book you read? 12. Have you ever had a crush on a UTSA professor; if so, who? 13. What do roadrunners dream of?
ERICA SHACKELTON Junior international business major from Houston, Texas 1. “Nice teeth, honest, caring, trustworthy and selfless.” 2. “Houston (home) or studying/ hanging with friends.” 3. “My long hair.” 4. “In the library studying for a test.” 5. “Living in New York or Dubai working in fashion or having a family.” 6. “Hot air balloon into the sunset above the Grand Canyon.” 7. “My cat, a scrapbook my friends from the Middle East made me and my computer.” 8. “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., because he was important in the civil rights movement.” 9. “Being a founder of Zeta Tau Alpha and delivering school supplies to kids in India.” 10. “The future and not accomplishing things I need to accomplish.” 11. “‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzann Collins.” 12. “No.” 13. “Winning a football championship.”
JACOB PALACIOS Junior kinesiology major from Houston, Texas 1. “Down-to-earth and intelligent.” 2. “With my Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers.” 3. “My eyes.” 4. “In the library studying for an astronomy test.” 5. “Head coach of a 5A football team heading toward a championship.” 6. “Skydiving.” 7. “My birth and baptism certificates and my Nike shoes.” 8. “President Eisenhower.” 9. “Starting a fraternity and being a founding father of Alpha Tau Omega.” 10. “My roommates.” 11. “My anatomy and physiology textbook.” 12. “No.” 13. “Becoming Tier One and a force in football.”
KAIRAVI PATEL Junior biology major from Sugarland, Texas 1. “Tall, dark, and handsome, with a sense of humor. I’m one of those girls.” 2. “Sixth Street. Sometimes in the library studying.” 3. “My legs; I have extremely long legs.” 4. “In the library reading for my organic chemistry lab.” 5. “Own my dentistry practice.” 6. “To skydive.” 7. “My cell phone, wallet and some clothes.” 8. “I would be someone like Michele Obama or Oprah, from this day and age.” 9. “Working at a dentist’s office since I was 15 and participating in several beauty pageants.” 10. “Twitter! Or E! News.” 11. “‘Water for Elephants,’ by Sara Gruen.” 12. “No. Science professors are so ugly!” 13. “To get out of here as fast as they can and a better football team.”
MICHAEL PINNELL Junior mechanical engineering major from Austin, Texas 1. “Someone that I can talk to and good looking.” 2. “At home playing ‘League of Legends’.” 3. “My hair.” 4. “In the library studying for a test.” 5. “Working or studying in Europe; teaching at UTSA.” 6. “Free water soloing.” 7. “My computer, pictures and roommate.” 8. “Alexander The Great.” 9. “Being part of the DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) club in high school.” 10. “Fear that I haven’t done my work and ‘League of Legends’.” 11. “‘The Hobbit,’ by J.R.R. Tolkien 12. “I have a man crush on Dr. Christensen.” 13. “Escaping violent coyotes.”
The Paisano
August 26,28, 2008 February 2012
KAYLA PRATT Junior public relations major from Del Rio, Texas 1. “Christian, good morals and values. Tall, dark hair and funny.” 2. “Hanging with my family.” 3. “My eyes.” 4. “Getting ready for track practice.” 5. “Married with kids and devoting my life to my family.” 6. “Travelling to Ireland.” 7.“My cell phone-just to call Mom!” 8. “Cleopatra because she is sexy.” 9. “Having 4.0 GPA and being Southland Conference 5K.” 10. “Facebook and Twitter.” 11. “The Bible.” 12. “No.” 13. “Success, and a happy future.”
PAIGE PIENZAEK Junior business major from San Antonio, Texas 1. “Trustworthiness, good communication skills and faithfulness.” 2. “Studying.” 3. “My eyes.” 4. “Lunch.” 5. “In a corporation. Hopefully, I’ll have two kids: a boy and a girl.” 6. “Becoming a professional dancer.” 7. “My grandmother’s quilt as well as my social security card and birth certificate.” 8. “Marilyn Monroe.” 9. “Going to college.” 10. “My phone ringing.” 11. “How to Restore Sanity.” 12. “No.” 13. “Graduating.” ANDREW ALVAREZ Junior accounting major from El Paso, Texas 1. “Intelligence, the ability to keep up the conversation, but not looks.” 2. “I spend some Saturdays at home. I do things with Investment Society.” 3. “My smile.” 4. “In class: marketing with Miguel Hernandez.” 5. “Master’s program in accounting. Law school. Tax attorney. Retire young. Stock broker.” 6. “To go to Amsterdam.” 7. “My family (including the cat), iPad and Xbox.” 8. “Johnny Patton.” 9. “Campus CEO of Zarrly.” 10. “Stressing out about the future.” 11. “‘The Da Vinci Code,’ by Dan Brown” 12. “No.” 13. “Getting somewhere fast!”
EKOW ACQUAAH Junior kinesiology and information systems major from Vacaville, California 1. “Intelligence, motivated to be something in life and goal-oriented.” 2. “At the gym.” 3. “My abs.” 4. “In Chemistry with Dougherty.” 5. “President of my own gym.” 6. “Skydiving.” 7. “My social security card and pictures with family.” 8. “Kofi Ann An.” 9. “Making the dean’s list twice in a row.” 10. “Studying.” 11. “William P. Young’s ‘The Shack.”’ 12. “Professor Dilley, from the History department.” 13. “Success.” DEREK MARTINEZ Senior finance major from Houston, Texas 1. “Personality, compatibility and humor.” 2. “Sigma Phi, with my fraternity brothers.” 3. “My smile.” 4. “SI session.” 5. “Working for a bank as a loan officer or manager.” 6. “Backpacking in Brazil.” 7. “My dog, camera and laptop.”
Features Paseo
WILLYAM “BJ“ WINSTON Junior communication major from Austin, Texas 1. “Outgoing, eyes, lips, body, goaldriven and has an out-of-the-box mentality.” 2. “Any type of event.” 3. “My eyelashes and eyebrows.” 4. “Meeting UTSA Ambassadors.” 5. “I’ll be an icon at Triple Threat Entertainment.” 6. “Skydiving or bungee jumping.” 7. “My laptop, suitcase, and Playstation 3.” 8. “Barack Obama.” 9. “Winning Mr. UTSA and Orientation Leader of the Year.” 10. “Stress and deadlines.” 11. “Hireme” 12. “No.” 13. “National recognition with other big-name schools.”
NICK ROMANO Junior accounting major from Friendswood, Texas 1. “Comedy, confidence, personality and doesn’t put on a show.” 2. “Working at Perry’s Steakhouse.” 3. “My smile.” 4. “Eating some dinner and teaching a dance lesson.” 5. “Having a family with two sons and a successful career.” 6. “Skydiving and going to Italy.” 7. “My bible, box with special things and my phone.” 8. “George Bush Sr.” 9. “Staring Alpha Tau Omega.” 10. “Noise.” 11. “Robert Kiyosaki’s ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad.’” 12. “No.” 13. “Being recognized as a large university.”
ASHLEY YONG Senior international business managment major with a marketing and economics minor 1. “Respect, being funny, good looking, athletic, polite, smart and goal-oriented” 2. “At a friend’s house.” 3. “My legs and my lips.” 4. “Going home!” 5. “Rich and famous, working for a well known international company” 6. “Travel to as many countries as I can.” 7. “My passport, my laptop and my cellphone” 8. “Napoleon, for conquering Europe” 9. “Speaking Spanish, English and French fluently, with some knowledge of Chinese and German.” 10. “Competition in the workplace and my stude abroad memories.” 11. “‘The Alchemist,’ by Paulo Cohelo.” 12. “No.” 13. “Success and money”
NATHAN MCDUELL Junior communications major from Pearland, Texas 1. “Honesty, a great attitude and can make me laugh.” 2. “Anywhere! I’m all over the place.” 3. “My eyes and body.” 4. “My finance class.” 5. “Successful with a family.” 6. “Scuba diving.” 7. “Childhood memorabilia, my computer, and whatever else I can find.” 8. “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., because his movement influenced a lot of people.” 9. “Coming to school and making it this far.” 10. “Homework.” 11. “A book on Tiger Woods.” 12. “My politics professor, Aleman.” 13. “Success.”
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SHAYNA BUTLER Senior business major from Johnson City, Texas 1. “Intelligence, strong demeanor willing to take charge.” 2. “Dinner with friends.” 3. “My smile.” 4. “In computer modules for applications.” 5. “Working for the Federal Reserve in Virginia.” 6. “To visit the Elvis Presley memorial.” 7. “My laptop, picture of my grandmother and a bottle of water.” 8. “Nelson Mandela.” 9. “Making the dean’s list every semester and being in For The Kids” 10. “Homework.” 11. “Nelson Mandela’s biography.” 12. “Dr. Keaires – Geology.” 13. “Tradition!”
SALINA CRAM Junior civil engineering major from San Antonio, Texas 1. “Intelligence, maturity and a sense of humor.” 2. “Volunteering and studying.” 3. “My waist.” 4. “Studying with friends.” 5. “Working for the FBI’s behavioral science unit.” 6. “Skydiving.” 7. “My phone, cat and laptop.” 8. “President Obama, there are some things I’d like to change.” 9. “Being selected as a 2010 Bank of America Student Leader.” 10. “School.” 11. “My psychology textbook.” 12. “No.” 13. “Being successful and making a difference in the lives of others.”
JESSICA PERRY Junior civil engineering major from San Antonio, Texas 1. “Personality.” 2. “Out with friends in San Antonio.” 3. “My eyes.” 4. “Tutoring a friend.” 5. “Becoming an environmental engineer.” 6. “Go to a foreign beach or tropical place.” 7. “Cell phone, wallet and shoes.” 8. “George Washington.” 9. ”My AP classes.” 10. “Thinking about pollution.” 11. “The third book from the Hunger Games.” 12. “Sorry, but I’ll pass that one.” 13. “Being better than UT.” To see the complete photoshoots keep an eye on our Facebook page, “The Paisano,” later this week.
8. “ Che Guevara.” 9. “I’m fluent in Spanish and English.” 10. “Issues regarding the fraternity.” 11. “Gruen’s ‘Water for Elephants.”’ 12. “No.” 13. “Greatness.”
INTERVIEWS Victor H. Hernandez Victoria Garcia Victoria Reyna Paseo Editor
Staff Writer
Contributing Writer
Valeria Perez
Katy Glass
PHOTOS Ray Perez
Staff Photographer
paseo@paisano-online.com
Daniel Crotty Staff Writer
Contributing Writer Arts & Life assistant
Burk Frey
Web Editor web@paisanoonline.com
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Arts&Life
August 26, 2008
The Paisano
February 28, 2012
Wish upon the Stars:
San Antonio awaits reconstructed planetarium Dylan Bynum
Contributing Writer
Favela Barragan / The Paisano
arts@paisano-online.com
Volunteers gather to discuss the future of this abandoned plumbing supply warehouse.
Can art find a home?
Favela Barragan / The Paisano
Favela Barrangan / The Paisano
at Broadway and E. Jones
Residents gather around the block to prepare for final installment on March 4. The final project will include one fourth of a mile of new bike lanes.
Sean Matthew Viña Katy Glass Contributing Writer Life&Arts Assistant
arts@paisano-online.com Sunday, March 4, will mark the conclusion of Better Blocks’ hard work as they temporaily transform a desolate San Antonio block into a thriving business community. Creative minds have met over a series of months to discuss what the future holds for San Antonio and its residents. Within this discussion, the city has begun a new urban revitalization initiative to condense, consolidate and rebirth our current stagnate economy. Better Blocks, an organization created to help communities around the United States see the potential of their
Volunteers work hard Saturday, Feb. 25, morning cleaning the street and giving the block a new coat of paint.
surroundings, will take a single overlooked city block and temporarily turn it into an urban paradise, made up of a coffee shop, Espumosa; local businesses, such as Fresh Urban Flowers and realty by SA City Home. Once the location of a rundown, abandoned warehouse and office space, the block at Broadway and E. Jones Avenue will host five pop-up shops. Each business, in its designated area, will refurbish the building and streets with the help of local artists and volunteers, set up for the weekend, then close down and turn it back over to the city. After realizing how hard and strenuous the process to obtain all the correct building and construction permits is, Better Blocks’ key focus is to knock out the hurdles that could pre-
vent many people from making the big changes they would like to see in their community. If successful, new businesses will then have the initiative to make the investment to permanently set up shop in the location and transform the dead space to a commercial hotspot. Additionally, Better Blocks will host a kids’ art gallery, community garden, book store and one of the most unique ideas, a beer alley, which is sure to bring in curious, parched customers. Once an overgrown jungle, the narrow space will be turned into a tavern hosted by San Antonio’s own microbrewery, Alamo Beers.
Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to see stars when you look up at night? If you’re on campus, or pretty much anywhere near downtown, the light pollution drowns out all but the brightest stars. There is, however, one spot in the middle of San Antonio that offers an unparalleled view of outer space, in addition to having comfortable seating and air conditioning. The Scobee Planetarium, on the San Antonio College campus, has been opening the skies to people of all ages for the past 50 years. Until now, a handful of staff has been accommodating over 20,000 visitors per year in a building that only consists of a theater with seating for 70 to 85 people at a time. Starting in March, however, long awaited renovations will begin to expand the theater and add room for more space-related fun. Sadly, the planetarium will be closed for about a year while the construction takes place, but the wait will be well worth it. Current plans include replacing the theater bench seats with comfy individual seating for up to a hundred people, a museum, a gift shop and an observatory on the third floor. Another addition will be a
Campus Calendar Tuesday, Feb. 28 7:30 p.m. Slacker 2011 (*editor’s choice)
In order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Slacker,” a group of directors have gathered to freshen up the movie. The original “Slacker” arguably opened many doors to the independent movie scene, proving anyone with a credit card could make a movie. The film will be sponsored by the Austin Film Society at the Bijou.
Everyone has a reason to party at the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center, for the beginning of the highly anticipated Contemporary Art Month.
1 p.m. “Life and Time of Rosie the Riveter”
film screening
The story is told by five former “Rosies” who movingly recall their histories working in Detroit, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco during the war. Downtown FS 3.402
3 p.m. Women’s History Month reception (*editors choice)
Wednesday, Feb. 29 6 p.m. “Great Conversations!”
Featuring Keynote speaker, Linda Sue Warner, and women’s advocate of the year, Mary Agnes Rodriguez. BB 2.06.04
Now in its 12th year, UTSA’s “Great Conversations!” is an excellent way to meet important community leaders and UTSA professors. At the Institute of Texan Cultures. $65-$85.
Sunday, March 4
6 p.m. Meet the Curator!
Media Conference
Join the Witte for an interactive evening of questions and answers about evolution, in accordance with their newest exhibiton, “Darwin: How One Man’s Theory Turned the World on Its Head.”
Thursday, March 1 See BETTER BLOCK, Page 8
Challenger Center for Kids (similar to one at NASA in Houston and several other centers around the country) that will have a control room where kids can do mock space missions as well as other fun, interactive ways to learn about outer space. These changes should bring in new visitors. Before the upgrade, the planetarium was only open to the public for shows on Fridays, while the other weekdays were reserved for school trips. The extra space will allow for a greater variety of times for public shows throughout the week. The improvements will also help better accommodate the regular visitors. Kids on field trips will have more to see and do in the museum and Challenger Center. The observatory will be a nice addition for groups like the San Antonio League of Sidewalk Astronomers, who usually set up their telescopes on, well, the sidewalks. If you have never been to the planetarium, it’s a theater where the screen is above you; it’s like you’re looking up at the sky. The shows all center around the space theme, but they vary from black holes to the Aurora Borealis to space pirates. So get your fill of the starless San Antonio sky while you can, once the new Scobee Planetarium is finished you will never look at the sky the same way again.
6 p.m. Contemporary Art Month Kickoff Party (*editor’s choice)
8 a.m. Black and Brown Feminism in Hip Hop, The conference will feature unpublished work on women in Hip Hop to initiate conversation about women in Hip Hop media. Featured speaker will be Dr. Gwendolyn Pough. UC III Ballroom I
Want an event in our calendar? Email your event to arts@paisano-online.com
Opinion
The Paisano
February 28, 2012
The Paisano
Editorial Top 10 percent rule has a flaw in system
Editor-in-Chief:
When Texas high school students are deciding to which colleges they should apply; the “Top 10 percent rule,” or Texas House Bill 588 becomes a factor. The purpose of this law was to grant the top 10 percent of high school students automatic admission to statefunded universities. The top 10 percent law has the potential to provide for equal opportunity; however, when we place emphasis on statistics without paying attention to the factors that put a student in the top ten percent of his or her respective school, then equal opportunity for all students is lost. The problem with HB 588 is that it assumes that all high schools are the same regardless of size, but that as-
Allison Tinn
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sumption is incorrect. A student who graduates from a school like Cleveland High School, where the graduating class is 180, has a better chance of achieving top ten percent than the student who graduates from Cypress Fairbanks, where the graduating class is 750. A school that is in a more financially stable district will have more funding to focus on smaller classes. These classes will have more teacher-student interaction and the grades will more than likely be higher, as opposed to a school district with less funding. The students who attend schools with less funding will have less of a chance of achieving the top 10 percent. Graduation size is not the only problematic element. Students who are in the top 10 percent do not have
to worry about their SAT scores because they have automatic admission to the university of their choice. In addition, students in the top 10 percent of their graduating class do not have as much riding on their SAT scores as their classmates in the 90 percent below them. Ignoring the results of an objective test such as the SAT violates the spirit of HB 588 because it doesn’t hold all students to the same objective standards. Schools like UT Austin are flooded each year with automatic admissions from top ten percent students from high schools all around Texas. If top ten percent law was enacted to create equal opportunity, then ignoring the objective factors is the fatal flaw in the system.
Commentary The Paisano has a right to freedom of expression I am writing this letter in response to a letter to the editor written by Dr. Bennie Wilson (College of Business) in the Feb. 21 issue of The Paisano. First, I would like to give a disclaimer: I am a staff writer for this newspaper, and in writing this response, I am not representing the paper in any way. I am merely refuting the flawed logic of Dr. Wilson because it conflicted severely with my personal beliefs. Dr. Wilson was expressing disapproval that this newspaper published expletives in a quote. The reason (yes, only one) behind his opinion is expletives are “trash” words, and to be an effective communicator, you must not use them. After repeatedly insulting the professionalism of The Paisano’s volunteer staff, Dr. Wilson argued that it is not appropriate for the newspaper to contend that publishing expletives (in quotes) is within our constitutional right to free press. However, I think the constitutionally granted
right can’t be dismissed just because Dr. Wilson doesn’t agree with it. In fact, this right is so important, the Supreme Court has to apply “strict scrutiny” any time the government tries to infringe upon it. First, only certain people and groups define controversial words as “trash.” Some people, including me, see these words as a way to express one’s true feelings about a situation or idea. Dr. Wilson, and others, have every right to disagree with the use of these terms; however, these people cannot tell the rest of us how to speak. Personally, I argue that because The Paisano is geared toward an adult audience, there is no need to censor words in this manner. Second, The Paisano’s duty is to report facts, which is true of all newspapers. By quoting people, we factually report what they said to us. One cannot say that we shouldn’t publish any words or content simply because she or he dislikes it. Perhaps the quote Dr. Wilson is referring to struck up a more vivid understanding for people reading the quote. Maybe the quoted person could not have said what he said in any other way because that is how he chose to express himself:
Photo Poll
7
What would you do for Mardi Gras beads?
Kyle Bush
Sophomore / fine arts “I would dance like a buffalo bill from Silence of the Lambs.”
a quote, by definition, is someone’s personal expression. Because The Paisano has a duty to report facts, including someone’s personal expression, as shown in quotes, the newspaper was doing what it is supposed to in this instance. Staying true to our own beliefs about writing is also a duty of journalism, which is why I contend that the newspaper acted as it should have in publishing the expletives. Lastly, I would like to address the independence of The Paisano. Perhaps Dr. Wilson prefers this newspaper to be independent from the university because he would like to have the ability to censor what goes in here. Maintaining this independence is imperative to successful journalism about the UTSA community. If we were university-supported (and censored), then many of the articles you read today might not have been printed. The independence allows us, as student volunteers, to print what we want without fear of someone telling us what we are saying is too “controversial” or “trashy.”
Charlie Ferris
Daniel Crotty Staff Writer
“What wouldn’t I do for Mardi Gras beads?”
Courtney Otis
Freshman / communication “I would flash my tig ol’ bitties.”
Junior / marketing
Letter to the Editor S tudent st ands behind claims In response to the two letters published in last week’s issue, entitled “Education major stands behind name’” and “Standing up for fellow education major,” I must first offer my sincerest apologies for the assumption that the name used by the initial writer was a pseudonym. I took a gamble when I chose to bring that up, and I lost. That said, the meat of my conclusions still stand. I feel that it is relevant to state that only the introductory two paragraphs addressed Ms. Mars’ name. Ms. Michael states that “[I] spent a good portion of [my] article belittling [Ms. Mars for her name].” However, following the first two paragraphs, the rest of my letter addressed the complete lunacy of any claim that the College of Education has the most difficult curriculum in our university, with no further mention of my (incorrect) presumption of
an alias being used. As stated in my first letter, I have no disrespect for the College of Education or the students who chose to major in that much-needed field. Many of my friends and associates are working for a degree in that very same college, and I respect them for that. In her response, Ms. Mars states that “[she] did not imply that the College of Education is the most difficult”; however, the inverse (that the College of Education is the easiest college) was also not my claim. My logic-based claim is that, if any college, education or otherwise, has the highest GPAs by a staggering margin then there are only three possible ways that this could happen. The first is that the College of Education has the most brilliant minds in the entire University. I mean no disrespect when I state that this is simply not true. I do not claim that these stu-
dents are not intelligent, but they are not MORE intelligent than any other college’s students by that margin. I provided some counter examples in my previous letter to this effect, but I believe that this point should stand without proof. Second, the College of Education is inflating the GPAs of their students. This should not imply that this is a conscious decision on the College’s part, only that it is happening (and any number of non-malicious reasons could cause this result). Finally, the College of Education curriculum is not challenging its students at the same level as other colleges. I leave it up to the reader to determine which of the above is true.
Jasmine Simon
Junior / accounting “I would dance and shake a little something.”
Dan Rossiter
Sudoku
Ross Grothues Freshman / nursing
“I would run through the streets naked.”
The Paisano encourages new comic submissions! Send to
Editor@paisano-online.com
Join us! The Paisano has meetings every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. near The Cantina.
Staci Alanis
More articles and media content at: paisano-online.com
Junior / information systems “I would show off a little skin....on my ankles.”
Photo poll: Alyssa Gonzales and Charles Horvilleur
Arts&Life
Melissa Lopez/ The Paisano
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Topsy-turvy Darwin turns man on his head at Witte Melissa Lopez Intern
arts@paisano-online.com The evolution of species by natural selection has always been a controversial yet fascinating topic of discussion. At the newest exhibit, “Darwin:
How One Man’s Theory Turned the World on Its Head,” at the Witte Museum, visitors can see many collected specimens and journals of Charles Darwin on display. The internationally acclaimed exhibit is sponsored by The American Museum of Natural History, located in
Better Block: fixing the city block one piece at a time From Page 6
Volunteers and innovative minds alike hope the deserted San Antonio block will thrive like the original Oak Hill, Texas block, which is now a center with galleries, bike shops, coffeehouse and happy people. At least one investor, Overland Partners Architects, has already made the leap. Set to open this summer, the modern architects will invest in the old plumbing supply warehouse found on the corner. Their goal is to “keep the historical character of the building intact,” while creating, “a really
cool street presence.” The plan is to divide the warehouse into four quadrants. The front corner is set to become a coffee shop; Overland will take the middle space for a new office and the two remaining spaces have yet to be determined. But the most impressive part is that one large section in the front will be renovated to create a shared courtyard with new trees to merge nature and invite people to the warmth. With all these steps, committed businesses, help from the city and hearts of volunteers, can art find a home at Broadway and E. Jones? For one volunteer, this could be his only shot. Riding the bus to a job interview, Joseph “Jae Special”
The Paisano New York. Beetles, large and small, skeletonized fossil remains of primates and a bat remain frozen in time as they are exhibited behind glass. A snake with every bone intact seems to move continuously in its display. All the ancient fossils on display are excellent learning tools, to better understand the influence of animals and plants on his theory. Displayed throughout are large replicas of giant turtles and birds discovered in the Galápagos Islands when aboard the Beagle. In Darwin’s exhibit, spectators see the process of evolution displayed. The specimens are encased in glass and organized from smallest to largest to pin point where “transmutation”—or evolution— occurred. The Witte Museum showcases this magnificent exhibit beautifully using recorded audio about Darwin’s life in the background as viewers tour the encompassed area. The space set aside for this exhibit is isolated and visitors feel as if they’ve entered another world. Once through the tinted double doors, visitors disappears into Darwin’s world. His insights on evolution, geology, his own peculiarities, his hobbies and, most importantly, his contributions to science are all on display. Whether or not one is religious, an appreciation for natural selection takes precedence. Darwin’s studies can be appreciated thanks to his ability to constantly question the environment around him. This opened the doors to the discovery of genetics and hereditary traits. Darwin wondered how it was possible to inherit genes from family members and proposed a weak theory to explain the phenomena. It wasn’t until the 1900s that scientists understood how genetic traits were passed from generation to generation, the same ques-
Zamarripa simply stumbled upon volunteers working on the project one morning. He noticed another graffiti artist hard at work. All it took was one question: “Can I paint?” Zamarripa was given a six by twelve foot canvas to express himself. Unfortunately, he didn’t have enough paint to completely finish, but this Sunday, March 4, his work will be proudly displayed for thousands of San Antonians to admire. For the longest time, Zamarripa thought, along with many artists, in order to be successful, especially in this new expression, an artist would have to escape San Antonio for a more liberally progressive venue. This may be one of the most important factors of the rejuvenated space, the fresh jumpstart the city needs to bring people of all types together. To see what the Better Block project is all about, visit the corner of Broadway and E. Jones this weekend, Sat. March 3 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun. March 4 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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February 28, 2012 tions that left Darwin puzzled. Darwin’s revolutionary views pertaining to “survival of the fittest” became more important to him after he read Malthus’ ideas about “natural selection.” This theory can be put to the test within the exhibit as children are invited into an interactive experiment. Kids can create their own environment on computers and watch as animated species adapt to survive. Darwin also believed that man descended from monkey— his most radical view— and explains how he came to this conclusion in his book. Included in the exhibit are Darwin’s publications, “Origin of Species” and “Descent of Man.” After discovering another man had come out with similar ideas about natural selection, Darwin locked himself away to write these accounts and vigorously worked to finish. Darwin’s other unpublished works can be seen while touring the exhibit and many surprising facts, such as Darwin’s feelings concerning letting the public know about his theories, are brought to light. To him, it was “like confessing a murder,” as it is inscribed on an informational panel at the exhibit site. The exhibit will run until Sept. 3, and the charge to view is $13, including museum admission; however, the Witte is free on Tuesdays, making the exhibit $5. While the museum usually closes no later than 5 p.m. daily, it remains open on Tuesdays until 8 p.m. For more information, call the Witte Museum at (210) 357-1900 or visit the website (http://www.wittemuseum.org/index.php/ component/content/article/9-geninfo/195darwin) for further details.
Check out our special College Living Guide, on stands March 2.
What are you listening to? Dylan Crice Staff Writer
arts@paisano-online.com Music is an inseparable part of a college student’s social experience. The intricate beats, deep lyrics and original ideologies expressed in modern day music can have a profound influence in shaping an individual’s unique perspective and emotional state of mind. Check out the broad range of musical genres that UTSA students listen to: David Guetta, LMFAO and M83 “It’s different, catchy and gets me pumped!” Brian Smith Junior marketing major The Josh Abbot Band “I love his voice and listening to the fiddle in the band. His new release song, ‘Touch’ just came out on Valentine’s Day, and it’s awesome!” Natasha Nguyen Junior psychology major Skrillex “I like how he blends hip-hop and metal together. He’s won three grammys, and he is evolving the Dubstep genre!” Mario Diaz Senior accounting major The Mars Volta, “Cicatriz Esp” “It’s an amazing song and the Mars Volta blows my mind. The rhythm is original, definately a song that a music lover can appreciate! “ Victoria Villarreal Junior psychology major
Sports
The Paisano
February 28, 2012
SEVEN!
9
Indoor track and field claims record Seventh Southland Championship in a row Stephen Whitaker Sports Editor
Photo Credit / The Paisano
File Photo
The Roadrunner men’s indoor track and field team has made winning conference championships as common an occurrence as the Texas heat. At least for each of the last six seasons, the Roadrunners winning the conference has been as guaranteed as the summer heat. Make that seven consecutive seasons after the Roadrunners completed the 2012 Southland Indoor Championship with 134 points, besting the runner-up by 35 points in Norman, OK, on Feb. 24-25. The championship moved the Roadrunners out of a tie for longest run of championships with Lamar, who won six consecutive Southland championships from 1980-85. The Roadrunners seventh came in the school’s final season of competition in the Southland before moving to the Western Athletic Conference in July. “I want to thank the Southland Conference for everything they’ve done for us,” Head Coach Aaron Fox said. “I’ve really enjoyed being part of the league.” The Roadrunners won the championship thanks to 60 points earned from six gold medals. On Saturday, Feb. 25, junior Richard Garrett Jr. won gold in the shot put, sophomores Keyunta Hayes won gold in the 60-meter hurdles and Chrishunn Jamerson won gold in the 800-meter race.
Brianna Cristiano / The Paisano
sports@paisano-online.com
The Roadrunner track team, shown here at an outdoor event, have made a habit out of winning the Southland. It remains to be seen if that success will carry over into the Western Athletic Conference next season.
Friday’s gold medalists included juniors Keith Benford in high jump, Phil Steinert in weight throw and Tyler Williamson in long jump. For Benford, it was his third straight gold medal in the conference championship. For Steinert and Williamson, it was their second straight victory. The Roadrunners’ next closest competitor on the final points board was UT Arlington with 99 points. Third place went to Stephen F. Austin. “It’s been a combination of really hard work from staff and athletes,” Fox said. “It’s great for UTSA, great for the city.”
In the women’s championship, UTSA finished in fourth place with 71 points, 11 points off a podium finish and 46.5 points short of first place. The track and field Runners will be back in action on March 9-10 when they travel to Nampa, Idaho, for the NCAA Championships.
Final Results of 2012 Southland Indoor Championships 1. UTSA.....................................134 pts 2. UT Arlington................99 3. Stephen F. Austin.........85 4. Lamar..............................75 5. Texas State.....................69
Head women’s basketball coach Rae Rippetoe Blair, shown here during a recent conference game, recently became the first coach ever to win 200 games while at UTSA.
Rippetoe-Blair wins 200th, Runners win one, lose one Carly Cirilli Intern
sports@paisano-online.com The UTSA women’s basketball team broke out of their seven-game slump and beat the A&M Corpus Christi Islanders Wednesday, Feb. 22, at home. It was the fifth straight win against the Islanders, and the fourth straight series sweep against them. The win also solidified Coach Rae RippetoeBlair’s 200th win at UTSA, but it’s not her numbers she’s concerned with. When asked what she thought about
her triumph, Blair turned the focus to the team’s chances in the Southland Conference Tournament. “I’m more concerned about us getting a win and trying to make that tournament right now,” Blair said. “So 200 I’ll take, of course, because that means we still have a chance to play in the tournament.” One player who was a huge influence on the win was junior forward Cori Cooper, who contributed 17 points, while making 60 percent of her shots. Continue reading at paisano-online.com
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The Paisano
February 28, 2012