8.29.17

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

Latinx Experiences Visualized at Guadalupe Arts Center

Vol. 56, Issue 2

2017 C-USA Football Preview

Est. 1981

August 29 - September 5, 2017

The Paisano

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

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DROPPED Graphic by Chase Otero, The Paisano

Instructor-initiated drop policy may cost students money and course credit

By Samuel De Leon Co-News Editor

Beginning this semester, any UTSA faculty can drop students from a course for non-attendance as long as drop requirements are clearly stated in the syllabus attendance policy.

The instructor-initiated drop is an effort to curve low attendance in classes with high rates of drops, failing grades and withdrawals (DFW). According to Dr. Steven Levitt associate dean of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA), class attendance is positively correlated with the grade a student receives in a course, meaning the less often a student attends class they are more likely to earn a lower grade for the course. Some professors encourage attendance in their classes by making participation impact students’ grades which is a new initiative to increase the

severity of the consequences for not attending class.

In the spring of 2017, 13 COLFA instructors piloted a program in which they could drop students from their courses for non-attendance. This program spanned over 22 courses with a total enrollment of 1,708 students. Currently, the program has rolled into more classes, and is set to take a larger, more detailed analysis of an instructor-initiated drop.

The pilot program for the instructor-initiated drop had a positive impact on attendance for the classes. Of the 13 original COLFA instructors, only six dropped students from their courses. According to Levitt, 196 warnings were sent out to students not attending classes. Of those warnings, only 46 students were dropped from the courses by their instructors. Respectively, 11.4 percent of students were sent warnings and 2.7 percent of

students were officially dropped from their courses.

“Students have a responsibility to help UTSA maintain top-tier status by achieving and maintaining high academic standards. If students attend classes regularly as required, then the instructor drop policy should be of no impact on them,” Levitt said. “The instructor drop policy is simply another way to enforce existing policy.”

The policy Levitt refers to is the class participation policy in the Catalog Information Bulletin and Section 5.09 of the UTSA Handbook of Operating procedures. The Catalog Information Bulletin states, “Students are expected to regularly attend and participate in all meetings of courses for which they are registered.” The UTSA Handbook says, “Unless otherwise stated in the instructor’s syllabus, or unless an absence is excused in accordance with this policy,

(students) should attend and participate in all scheduled class meetings.”

UTSA policy requires students to attend class as scheduled, but student reactions vary on the new enforcement.

Some students believe the policy is unfair, noting that every student has different needs and should therefore not be required to attend class.

“I have mixed feelings about it,” senior physics major Gilberto Garcia said. “On one hand, professors are given more control over who passes and who fails their course. On the other hand, students who enroll and pay for the course have less freedoms concerning their decisions to participate in a way of their choosing.”

Some students are concerned about this policy affecting nontraditional students, including students who must work or take care of their families while at-

tending school.

“I am wary of the possible unintended side effects that this may cause,” sophomore biology major Lee Gonzalez said. “(The policy) may unfairly affect non-traditional students that have obligations outside of the classroom.”

For professors to institute this policy, it must be clearly written in their syllabi. Faculty were given notice that any professor looking to include the policy in their syllabus had to submit the written portion in which the instructor-initiated drop was mentioned to their department chairs prior to the start of Fall classes.

If students are dropped by their instructors for non-attendance, students must still pay for the course; however, students can appeal to financial services and ask for the money back. If students choose to appeal, Fiscal Services require professor approval for a student refund of any kind.

UTSA attempts to improve graduation rates with CLASS initiative Programs aimed at incoming freshman and transfer student success

By Vivian Guillen Contributing Writer

This is the first article of a two-part series on UTSA’s initiative to address graduation and retention rates.

In 2016, UTSA’s overall six-year graduation rate was 35 percent, according to a report by the Office of Institutional Research. According to the National Center of Education Statistics, the national six-year graduation rate was 59 percent, based on students enrolling in 2009 and graduating in 2015. First year student retention rates at UTSA were around 76 percent and ranked from average to below average.

The Coordinated and Linked Approaches to Student Success Initiative (CLASS), was announced by Dr. Mauli Agrawal, vice president of academic affairs, set to evaluate and resolve issues of overall student success.

“We measure student success in terms of how many students we retain every year and ensure they graduate successfully so they can go get jobs,” Agrawal said.

The CLASS initiative is modifying and implementing six key elements that Agrawal believes are essential to raising retention and graduation rates as well as to achieve “student success focus.”

These are: Advising, First Year Experience, Onboarding, Focused Academic Support, Leadership and Professional Preparation

and Financial Aid. Of the six elements, three will have direct impact on freshman and first-year transfer students. One priority of the CLASS initiatives is reworking the first-year experience for UTSA’s students.

Complaints about the Academic Inquiry and Scholarship(AIS) course were frequently heard from those who enrolled via course evaluations. AIS was intended to give first-year students an introduction into research writing. To address the AIS complaints, the First Year Experience (FYE) looked outward to other universities with similar demographics to UTSA. Georgia State mirrored UTSA most similarly; through its minority-majority campus and socioeconomic challenged student body, the demographics of UTSA and Georgia State clicked.

UTSA is currently trying Georgia State’s “meta-major” system to improve UTSA’s first-year experience, or an academic path for students that permits flexibility in core courses, while ensuring their early course credits will count towards their final majors.

“What we are working towards over this next year is trying to identify curriculum that would apply to all or most majors within that academic pathway,” Dr. Tammy Wyatt, associate vice provost of student success, said.

“While there is still a choice, it helps to focus the choice for the student so they aren’t taking classes that won’t be applicable to their major.

“Now, there are ten academic pathways ranging from architecture, social sciences, to arts and humanities. However, UTSA plans on expanding in the near future.”

To better assist FYE, AIS is being revised to create a “signature experience.” AIS will tailor students’ education in critical thinking, communication, leadership and career exploration, based on that student’s academic pathway.

One example is the business studies pathway. In this pathway, students will compete against other business studies section for a booth at Best Fest. However, the competition will require students to create a marketable idea and explore the items needed in sustaining its “business.”

Students in these sections will fall into marketing teams, finance teams, management teams and other categories of study in the College of Business.

Aside from the first year experience, the CLASS initiatives will also focus on leadership and professional preparation. To enhance this key element, Dr. Rhonda Gonzales, along with other key faculty and administrators, focused on “onboarding.”

A plan to help students successfully navigate the university.

One key component is LEAD

Continued on page 2 See ‘CLASS program’

Peer mentor meeting with first-year students.

Photos courtesy of UTSA First-Year Experience

Student signs up for mentor meeting.

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UTSA Groundbreaking will begin on a new large-scale testing facility on UTSA’s main campus Wednesday, August 30th. The 15,000 square feet facility will feature a floor with the capacity to test loads up to one million pounds and up to four million pounds in thicker regions of the floor, providing researchers the ability to test large-scale systems and full-scale buildings. This building addition to the College of Engineering will allow researchers to simulate a wide range of problems including high cycle fatigue, earthquake, and blast loads.

Texas Cities along the Coastal Bend region and Houston have experienced catastrophic damage and flooding over the weekend, as Hurricane Harvey (eventually downgraded to a tropical storm) made landfall in Texas. In warnings issued

by The National Weather Service, the storm was considered “unprecedented.”

U.S. U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered a tunnel near the Mexican border near San Diego that was used to smuggle people into the country, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

The discovery was made after CBP agents arrested 30 people who were in the U.S. illegally near the “Otay Mesa” port of entry.

World North Korea’s military fired three short-range ballistic missiles in response to U.S. and South Korean military exercises. Two missiles failed mid-flight, and the other exploded before flight. North Korea recently claimed they had upgraded their weapon capabilities, prompting increased surveillance from the United States.

Science University of Florida researchers calculated that from 2011 to 2015, the sea level along the American coastline south of Cape Hatteras rose six times faster than the long-term global increase rate. The researchers claim that two large-scale atmospheric patterns had intersected to push up the water off the Southeast coast causing the sea-level rise.

This new mechanism might give researchers the ability to predict tidal flooding more accurately and warn communities what to expect months in advance.

Technology Facebook unveiled the only Latin American training center for coders and entrepreneurs. The facility opened in Sao Paulo and encourages young Brazilians to fight the most recent economic crisis through the development of a healthy tech-centered atmosphere.

The 1,000 square meter space is set to open in December and will offer free coding courses, career guidance, entrepreneur training and digital marketing workshops for those willing to learn these skills.

UTSA is not a sanctuary campus Designation uncertainty in lieu of SB 4 becoming law

By Benjamin Sharini Staff Writer

Sanctuary campuses are universities which abide by similar rules as sanctuary cities; on sanctuary campuses, students rights are prioritized over the desire of federal agencies like ICE to query the immigration status of detainees.

The “#SanctuaryCampus” campaign is in large part a result of the efforts of The Cosecha Movement: a national initiative “working to win permanent protection, dignity, and respect for the 11 million undocumented people living in the United States,” and a driving force behind the “Sanctuary Campus” or “#SanctuaryCampus” campaign.

The UTSA Student Government Association’s 40th General Assembly met during fiscal year 2016-2017 and raised the question of the university’s sanctuary status.

During SGA’s 40th General Assembly no measure was passed to make UTSA a sanctuary campus.

According to a representative from the UTSA SGA, “Resolution GA 103 regarding UTSA as a sanctuary campus was considered during the 40th General Assembly, however, the sponsoring senator has rescinded his support, and the resolution has not come to a vote. Therefore, at this time, SGA does not have an official stance on this issue.”

Dr. Francine S. Romero, associate dean of the College of Public Policy, believes the status might not be entirely relevant, in accordance to state and federal regulations.

“Keep in mind that some of the things UTSA does or does not do are already governed by state and federal law.” Romero said.

“It is more constructive to understand choices we make within our areas of discretion then to talk about labels.”

Joe Izbrand, associate vice president for communications and marketing, notes that UTSA is not a sanctuary campus, as protections for student information exist under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which prohibits disclosure of student information in many cases.

“We have not identified UTSA as a sanctuary campus because there is no legal standing or protection that comes from that designation,” he said. “In fact, it could draw unwanted attention to the university. Instead, we have focused on who we are and what we stand for. Two core values of UTSA are inclusiveness and respect. We are committed to a safe and welcoming environment for all our students, where they can achieve educational excellence, and we are enriched by diversity.

“The university does not release personal information that is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.” Since president Trump was elected, several bills, including H.R.483, and H.R.6530, have been introduced into the House which would terminate or prohibit funding to “sanctuary campuses.”

“This bill amends Title IV (Student Aid) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make an institution of higher education (IHE) that is a sanctuary campus ineligible for funds under Title IV.” The pending legislation has not deterred students from voicing their opinion about protections for students. Abakar Baraka, a UTSA student and recently naturalized American Citizen from Sudan, believes some students within the university would benefit from a sanctuary campus status.

“A college student already has so much to worry about. They have a job, and then classes to go to, if they have to worry about getting deported for every single

CLASS program Continued from page 1

Academy, a program with two subsets, each targeted towards a specific group of students, with the common goal of improving retention and achieving student success. This program is targeted towards incoming freshmen, and providing these students with academic and financial advising, as well as a group learning experience. Each student is enrolled in a blocked schedule which includes two core curriculum courses. Lead I was implemented this summer yielding promising results, as students earned 6 hours of college credit and participated on campus.

Lead I received more than $635,000 funding from the UT System.

LEAD II summer program targets students who end their freshman year in academic distress. Lead II provides academic, financial, and peer advising to these students, attending a 3-hour course set to improve overall student success and GPA. Lead II will begin its pilot in summer 2018.

Gonzales worked with faculty and administrators to improve the Leadership and Professional Preparation aspect of the CLASS initiatives. She believes

a work study job should be more than just a paycheck for students.

“The skills students need when they leave the university can be interwoven into jobs on campus. Students should leave with an understanding that they are employable and their skills are marketable,” Gonzales says.

She believes giving student employees the skills recruiters are looking for is a large piece of increasing the professional preparation at UTSA. CLASS’s purpose is to increase firstyear retention rates of students from 76 percent to 85 percent within five years, and to improve graduation rates from 38 percent to 60 percent, within ten years. With over $3.6 million worth of UT System funding, and “steady success” from reforms, administrators of CLASS such as Wyatt are optimistic about reaching their goal: expanding to further assist student success and establishing a family-oriented culture at UTSA. “To date, we have the highest enrollment we’ve seen, last year’s students have retained a much larger number,” Wyatt said. “We started to see that immediately after these advising outreaches were going on.”

Graphic by Chase Otero, The Paisano

mistake that they make then they won’t have time to focus on the classes and their jobs,” Baraka said.

Nigerian UTSA student Nnenna Akabogu echoed Baraka’s sentiments, questioning decisions

to violate student privacy laws: “Someone that works as hard as everyone else, has to be scared about every move that they make?”

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opinion The monumental debate of erecting statues Editorial Overnight, the confederate statues at the University of Texas Austin disappeared from campus. In light of a wave of protests against memorials to the failed confederate state, citizens in cities across the nation are fighting to cast the spotlight of honor away from the United States’ dark history.

Included in that wave are San Antonio’s demonstrations in Travis Park, but UTSA’s campus is not part of the equation. Our lack of such memorials represent a clear slate.

UTSA does not yet have a statue of a historical figure.

Therefore, we have the opportunity to memorialize someone, and we ought to.

A statue erected on campus says more about the university than it does about whom it’s in memory of. A

young university grows into its identity; erecting a statue can spur UTSA’s growth in a monumental way.

This past summer, parents and incoming freshmen were charmed by our young university’s atmosphere and opted into our community. As they toured our halls and met our members, they began to understand what makes this university special.

Our ‘Runners take pride in UTSA’s modern architecture, paired with art installations like the “border crossing” statue by renowned artist Luis Jimenez and our iron Roadrunner by artist R.G. Box. What incoming students don’t see is a statue memorializing a figure in our history. Someone who embodies what this university aspires for or

admires most; that is what a statue should mean and what UTSA should seek.

Before we set forth on our search for a figure that captures the Roadrunner spirit, we need to grapple with what that is. Much of our welcoming and engaging atmosphere is in thanks to our city—we should start there.

San Antonio is often described as a big-little city, and UTSA captures that description. We have the sheer numbers of a major city’s university, with our largest incoming class yet, but we also promote a welcoming environment that you typically find in smaller sides of town. UTSA has character that deserves to be characterized. Who can accomplish that?

Photo poll

“If UTSA were to erect a statue of someone, who should it be?”

Chyna Francis Senior “Maya Angelou. She was a writer, poet, civil rights activist, motivator, and she has inspired so many across the world to have faith and believe in themselves.”

Agustin B. Pena Junior “Two people graduating (male and female) handin-hand because graduating feels far away, yet it’s so close. One African American girl and one Asian man to show that anybody can do it.”

Natalie Guzman Senior “Another Roadrunner to add to our school spirit and pride.”

Cole Curtis Freshman

Sheriff Arpaio:

“I think UTSA should erect a statue of Plank.”

Take control ‘America’s toughest sheriff ’ of your living situation Satire

By Cade Brashear Contributing Writer

President Trump has delivered on few promises spoken on the campaign trail and in his short yet glorious tenure as our Commander in Chief, but on Friday he has finally come through.

President Trump has officially pardoned one of his earliest, outspoken and patriotic supporters - ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio, clearing him of criminal contempt in regards to following the orders of the alt-left Federal District Judge G. Murray Snow to stop racially profiling likely illegal immigrants in Arizona.

The pardon came as a relief to many Americans who were hoping for the pardon of this 50 year veteran to our nation. Throughout Arpaio’s 24 years as the safeguard to Maricopa county, he has made tremendous strides in the defense of our nation.

Such accommodations to his illustrious and often aweinspiring resume include putting over 400 reported

sex crimes from 2004 to 2007 on the back burner to focus on the real threat of illegal immigration.

He has put so-called “minimum security” inmates in his now infamous (but sadly soon to be closed) “Tent City” to endure temperatures regularly exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit, reaching the point of melting their shoes. This pet project of Arpaio’s is an outdoor extension of Maricopa County Jail, in which he served molded, expired, and otherwise deteriorating food to detainees, reflecting their true character.

While many left-wing extremist groups including the United States Department of Justice, Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union have all condemned and even tried to stop the heroic actions of Sheriff Arpaio, he has continuously ignored their advances, instead choosing to ensure the safety of the United States. Safety, as all Americans know, is of utmost importance.

In the defense of his country, Sheriff Joe has shifted at least $50 million over five years away from the “Restricted Detention Fund,” which is used specifically for rewarded luxuries such as food, clothes and detention officer salaries. This was done in attempt to crack down on hopeful immigrants

traveling to our country by putting more officers on the streets of Maricopa county.

Unfortunately, this was found to be illegal as some of these funds were used to pay for trips to Alaska, the Disney World Yacht Club Resort, upgraded flight seats, upgraded rooms in hotels and the alleged political surveillance of the Sheriff’s rivals. What the fake news fails to mention, but we must remember, is that these trips and amenities were used to boost the morale of Sheriff Arpaio’s officers so they could better identify, profile and subdue illegal immigrants while on duty.

For all of Sheriff Joe’s hard work and dedication to his county, he was awarded with an assasination attempt at the hands of assailant James Saville for simply doing his duties to maintain the peace. Of course, Mr. Saville has since been released on the grounds that the entire thing was a hoax to get Arpaio re-elected, but this does not change the fact that this Sheriff has put his life on the line.

I believe all of us, especially in the vibrant culture and community of San Antonio, can rest a little easier knowing that this American hero will continue to risk his life repressing immigrants because of the efforts of President Trump in ensuring a safe and unified America.

Commentary

By Vincent Valdez Contributing Writer

Imagine stepping outside one morning with a cupof-joe in hand, only to see your neighbor watering your grass in his underwear— that’s what living with roommates is like.

Living with people can be stressful, especially if you prefer clean kitchens over roommates that manufacture dirty dishes in their spare time. Nothing is worse than trying to study for a test amidst a black light beer pong challenge conveniently located in your dining room.

My time with roommates was short-lived, and I’ll never forget the unpleasant experience. One of my roommates, John, showered irregularly and slept on a sheetless mattress; he also had a cat named Patrick. His room had a lingering stench.

Then, there was Jason, the party-animal who loved to host social gatherings.

Brittany, Jason’s girlfriend, had a poodle named Ramona who was rarely remonstrated for her “accidents” on the carpet.

There was also a couple who lived in the studio

apartment in the backyard.

They frequently used the house kitchen because their kitchen was “too small.” In addition to my five roommates, we also had a guest room that was a popular attraction among our frequent visitors.

My roommates and I had a lot of dirty dishes and plenty of disagreements.

The household-rules posted in the front hall eventually became a futile wall ornament and opposition fueled a repulsive dissolution. It’s not that we weren’t capable of living together, what drove us apart is that we lost respect for one another. It doesn’t have to be the same for you.

Dealing with vexatious people is an inevitable part of life. Sooner or later someone will test your patience and how you respond could determine your future. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, once said, “Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.”

There’s a chance you might end up working for one of your smelly roommates, so you should be nice to them, too.

I’m not suggesting that you should be fake or deceitful. I’m simply proposing that you should practice self-control because it could come in handy the day your roommate, or anyone for that matter, pushes you to the limit. If my former roommates and I would have practiced self-control we

probably wouldn’t have said such hurtful things to each other. All people are entitled to some degree of respect, even if you don’t like them.

Plus, disrespecting others is not attractive.

If you want to live peacefully with roommates, you should never disclose your pet-peeves with them because they may eventually use them against you.

Beware of free-loaders; they will thrive and survive off of your hard work if you allow them to cajole you.

If you can’t trust your roommates don’t let it keep you up at night, but be mindful about the things you choose to share. You don’t want your roommates to suspect you don’t trust them because it could lead to an awkward conversation.

If you have a set of household-rules expect them to be violated, but continue to reinforce them. Clean up after yourself and always wash your dishes. Be mindful of your roommates even if they are not mindful of you. Never let your roommates take advantage of you, but it’s always good to lend a helping hand. If you don’t have anything nice to say, it’s better not to say anything at all. And perhaps most importantly, if you ever come across your roommate watering the grass in his underwear, let it go.

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The Paisano Editor in Chief: Isaac Serna Managing Editor: Ethan Pham News Editors: GaigeDavila Samuel De Leon Arts & Life Editor: Enrique Bonilla Sports Editor: Frankie Leal Web Editor: Ricardo Rodriguez Photography Editor: Chase Otero Magazine Editor: Samantha Ceballos Multimedia Editor: Kat Joseph Senior Copy Editor: Jessica Salinas Business Manager: Will Stransky Marketing Director: Valery Assad Social Media Coordinator: Kristy Olson Advertising Marketing Liaison: Jenelle Duff

STAFF

Aidan Watson-Morris, Benjamin Shirani, Carlos Hughes, Danielle Throneberry, Justice Lovin, Helen Stransky, Wylie Kurkendall, Raquel Zuniga, Sofia Trevino, Ryan Thompson

— MARKETING TEAM — Ethan Pham, Will Stransky, Jenelle Duff, Ray Hagimoto, Mikayla Cooper, Kat Joseph

CONTRIBUTORS

Josh Zollicoffer, Jess Thomas, Diego Lopez, Kenyatta Battle, Eric Pitty, Cade Brashear, Vincent Valdez, Vivian Guillen, Ricky Galindo, Connor Zimmerlee, Karen Gracia

ADVISOR

Diane Abdo

ADVISORY BOARD

Steven Kellman, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Stefanie Arias, Diane Abdo, Red Madden The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization.

The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed by UTSA. New issues are published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays and exam periods. The Paisano is distributed on all three UTSA campuses — Main, Downtown and the Institute of Texan Cultures.

Additionally, Paisano publications are distributed at a variety of off-campus locations, including Tripoint and a variety of apartment complexes near the UTSA Main Campus. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations.

Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed to: 14526 Roadrunner Way Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78249 Phone: (210)-690-9301 © 2017, The Paisano The University of Texas at San Antonio's Handbook of Operating Procedures states in 5.03 that: The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) will not exercise control over the format or content of Student Publications, but will regulate distribution on campus.

Student Publications will be free of censorship and advance approval of copy, and their editors and managers are solely responsible for editorial and content policies and decisions.

Editors and managers of Student Publications will not be subject to arbitrary suspension/expulsion or removal from their positions within a Registered or Sponsored Student Organization (Student Organization) by the University because of student, faculty, administrative, or public disapproval of editorial policy or content. Student Organizations that distribute Student Publications are afforded the same rights and privileges as Student Organizations that do not distribute Student Publications.

Who should be able to drop students from the class?

Point

By Isaac Serna Editor-in-Chief

A new policy found its way into many UTSA students’ syllabi this fall semester—the instructor-initiated drop. We students have ample reason to gripe over inconvenient policies, but the instructor-initiated drop is not one of them.

Behind every rule, there is reason. A problem faced our instructors; students failed courses they should have withdrawn from.

Whether one is overwhelmed by new subject matter or struck by tragedy, students with a potential F on their transcript would be better off with an instructor-initiated W. The argument for the drop can be as simple as that, but of course there is more.

What are the consequences for not having the drop? It depends on who you ask. I’ll reveal my past foolishness and admit that I am guilty of taking an F over a W. My mistake has no justification, I registered for a Spanish course and discovered how little I retained from my high school courses. I gave the class some effort, but eventually I stopped going. Now, I’m paying for it.

An F doesn’t go away. Sure, you may pay to retake the same course when it’s available again, but even after all that effort, you’ll notice on your full transcript the poor mark you retook is still in full view. Lingering poor marks aren’t received favorably no matter your GPA; recovering is an uphill battle.

Addendums, advisory visits and an urgency to raise one’s marks lie ahead for anyone who wishes to keep options open. Internships, scholarships, graduate school, law school and others are at stake and it all can be avoided with the instructor-initiated drop. I know firsthand.

If you ask a professor what the consequences are, you’ll receive a different answer. No professor enjoys dropping a student, because no matter how insufferable some students may be, any drop, withdrawal or fail counts against an instructor’s DFW rate.

The instructor-initiated drop policy allows faculty to drop students who exceed the absence or missed assignment limit in their classes. Some students find this practice unfair, while others believe it is a requirement for students to participate in their education by attending class. This point-counterpoint explores the two perspectives of the issue.

A professor’s performance is measured by the university in a variety of ways. There are the student course evaluations we all ignore (unless rewarded with extra credit) and there is also a measure of how many students dropped, withdrew or failed a professor’s course (the DFW rate).

This measurement is one indicator of a professor’s success, but if a student is failing due to lack of attendance rather than from poor teaching practices, one can anticipate skewed results. Therefore, the punitive actions that follow are unfounded.

The new policy can reconcile university wide issues with student success. An instructor-initiated drop can serve as a viable substitute to the “weed out” strategies professors use to ensure they have meaningful participation once the semester is underway. Instead of scaring inept students away with a strenuous opening to the semester, professor’s may drop those students who won’t attend class until it’s too late. The students’ time and the professor’s time won’t be wasted, leaving both parties better off.

More importantly, the instructorinitiated drop may boost what UTSA lacks most—a high graduation rate. My F is a burden I must bear, and for many, it’s burdensome enough to make a student drop out of school altogether. Law school, medical school, graduate degrees and other opportunities are much farther from reach with every F accumulated. When hope for more is stripped away, so can the will to continue a pursuit of higher education.

Any measure to prevent students from suffering the consequences of a failing grade is welcome in my opinion. I certainly would have benefitted, and I know I’m not alone.

UTSA’s has new policy for the fall semester—the instructor-initiated drop—has found its way to some classes. This policy will not foster a better education for students. In fact, it has the potential to hinder an education.

The drop can be initiated for a variety of reasons, but I have only seen it used to reinforce attendance and participation policies. I understand that instructors want to see students succeed and grow, but an instructor-initiated drop may not be the answer.

The instructor-initiated drop is used to reinforce mandatory attendance. For example, I used to suffer from insomnia and depression.

I tried to attend all my classes, but showing up was almost impossible on certain days because of my lack of sleep or mental state. When my body decided it was finally able to sleep or needed a mental break, class was not a priority; my health was at risk. That is not to say that my education isn’t important, but being forced to attend class to save me from a drop would have been a nightmare for my sleep-deprived body or depressed mind. Instead, I made up the lost days with extra study. It would’ve been much more difficult to make up a dropped class.

I’ve had to drop classes before, but it was a decision I made for myself after thinking about what was best for me. It serves no purpose to strip important choices away from students.

That is my personal experience with class attendance. Some students feel that because they are paying for their education, they should decide how they will go about earning their grades. If a student is succeeding in class without needing to attend regularly, why

Counterpoint

By Ethan Pham Managing Editor

should they suffer? Why shouldn’t students be able to allot that time to other aspects of their crazy college lives? Whatever the reason is for the student’s attendance (or lack of), they should be able to decide the route they take towards their degrees.

Just forcing students to attend does not guarantee their success in the classroom. Students may attend class, but they may not focus if they’re not interested. The instructor should work to make their class worth attending, not a class that students are attending because it’s required. Dropping a student from a course due to momentary shortfalls can destroy the student’s ability to make-up dips in their performance.

If an instructor-initiated drop policy is to work, it should be used in ways that help students, not hold them back. It shouldn’t be used to reinforce mandatory attendance.

Students are adults and should decide for themselves how they learn best. For some, attending class every day is not the answer. That doesn’t mean class time is not important—it very much is. However, instructors should advise students on whether they should drop a course, not make the decision for the student. We should be given the opportunity to navigate our own education. Having important decisions made for the student will not help them grow; it is a glorified, unsolicited hand-holding.

Give students the chance to think and decide if they should remove themselves from a class.

If education is truly important to students, they will decide if they should drop the class.

Avoid the instructor-initiated drop: Don’t be late to class

By Karen Gracia Contributing Staff

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ARts & Life

Latinx experiences visualized

Artists define communal experience for latinx families through the ‘Eastside Westside’ and ‘Narratives Invented’ exhibits at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

By Ryan Thompson and Raquel Zuniga Staff Writers

W

hat happens when two women inspired by the strength and complexity of their community’s narrative collide?

An instillation of spirit and untold narratives of truth and complexity through a bicultural lens.

Two local Latino artists, Ana Fernandez and Ruth Buentello, have collaborated on an installation that includes Fernandez’s “Eastside Westside” exhibit, and Buentello’s “Domestic Narratives” exhibit at San Antonio’s Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

Both Ana and Ruth are hard-working, sought-after artists with strong voices that come through in their works,” said Cristina Ballí, executive director of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

“What we consider mundane, everyday occurrences are brilliantly captured in still life through their Latina perspectives.”

Fernandez was born in Corpus Christi, but grew up in San Antonio where her passion for art started.

Fernandez began her visual studies education at San Antonio College and went on to receive her BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her MFA from the University of California Los Angeles.

Courtesy of Ruth Buentello

Ruth Buentello, “The Last Supper”

“What we consider mundane, everyday occurrences are brilliantly captured in still life through their Latina perspectives.” - Cristina Balli, executive director of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center After completing her education, Fernandez returned to the Alamo City where her immediate surroundings inspired her to create streetscapes in paintings and works on paper.

Fernandez has been exhibited at the Institute of Texas Cultures, the McNay Art Museum, Women and Their Work Gallery and will also be exhibiting in Los Angeles within

the coming months.

Fernandez is also the founder and owner of Chamoy City Limits. One of her pieces can be found on the second floor of UTSA’s Rec Center.

Buentello, a high school art teacher, began her career as an artist at the San Antonio Cultural Arts Center as an apprentice, painting

murals with other artists.

Now, she is on the brink of what she calls “one of her first true breakthroughs throughout her art career.”

Continued on page 6 See “Latinx”

See you space cowboy

Carmens de la Calle’s programming merges jazz with anime as San Japan approaches

O

utwardly unassuming, Carmens de la Calle is a downtown jazz club that’s as cool and laid back as jazz has ever been.

Inside, you’ll find an environment that is simultaneously eclectic and complete.

Red Christmas lights, hanging lanterns and various lamps about the inside provide an intimate light to see by, while long curtains cover the front windows, keeping the hot Texas sun and the outside world at bay.

There is a well-supplied bar at the front door, along with a regularly updated menu of recipes from around the world.

In the other section of Carmens, tables and chairs surround a low stage where, depending on the night, there are jazz combos, flamenco dancers and spoken word poets plying

By Justice Lovin Staff Writer

their respective trades.

There is also a bring your own vinyl night on the third Thursday of every month that fosters music discussion and discovery within jazz and blues history.

While Carmens makes space for history, it is by no means stuck in the past.

On Thursday, Aug. 31, it will be hosting a contemporary jazz event featuring music inspired by the anime Cowboy Bebop—a space western that integrates music and plot.

This anime themed jazz show happens in anticipation of San Antonio’s anime convention, San Japan, this weekend.

The show produced a popular soundtrack, which was recorded by The Seatbelts. The song “Tank” is probably their most well-known.

“We’re always looking for creative ways to keep jazz relevant to younger generations,”

said owner Paula Sullivan.

“This event was not only a way to connect with anime fans about our jazz venue but also a way to hip the jazz musicians about another genre featuring the music they love.”

Carmens is a place with a sense of community. It’s also a great place to go with a date.

It’s the sort of place that as soon as you step out of the door you want to go back again.

This sense of community can be intimidating, but have no fear; it is a welcoming and inclusive environment.

The venue is located at 320 North Flores Street and is open Thursday from five p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from five p.m. until midnight.

The Cowboy Bebop event is on Aug. 31; it begins at 7:30 and continues until 11.

Courtesy of Carmens de la Calle

Carmens de la Calle boasts a globally inspired menu alongside an impressive programming schedule ranging from jazz and flamenco to spoken word poetry.

Student Services Fee Advisory Committee Meeting August 31, 2017

11:30 am

UC 2.01.20 (Oak Room) The SSF Advisory Committee established by the Texas Education Code chapter 54.503 shall conduct meetings with a quorum present in a manner that is open to the public to review general expenditures and make recommendations on the type and amount of fee to be charged the following year.

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This week on stage: Vol II Shameless? Ambitious? Lacking in ability, but still hungry for power?

F

By Eric Pitty Contributing Writer

or just $20, you, dear student, can learn to manipulate your way to the top as the Pulitzerwinning musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” busts onto the Woodlawn Theatre mainstage from Aug. 25 to Sept. 17.

The story orbits two rivals, J. Pierrepont Finch and Bud Frump, as they jockey for position atop the World Wide Wicket Company’s corporate ladder. Frump is related to J.B. Biggley, the Wicket Company president.

But Finch, a former window-washer, has an ace up his sleeve.

Unlike Frump, Finch’s ambition is tempered by the wise if cynical advice of his eponymous guidebook, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”

Over two acts, Director/Choreographer Christopher Rodriguez lines this meat-and-potatoes comedy with impressive song and dance numbers executed by an able chorus.

A live orchestra led by Musical Director Josh Pepper scores the piece.

Costume, scene, lighting and sound designs

meld into a convincing portrayal of a gaudy and intimidating 1960’s New York City.

But apart from its spectacle, this critic recommends “How to Succeed” as a way to meditate on how American civic culture has devolved into what was considered absurd in 1961.

I quote from the play’s final moments: FINCH: Rosemary, I’ve got a big decision to make.

They want to make me chairman of the board.

What do you think?

ROSEMARY: Darling, I don’t care if you work in the mailroom or you’re chairman of the board or you’re president of the United States, I love you. […]

BIGGLEY: Miss Jones… take a wire to the White House: “Watch out!”

From the perspective of 2017, the rise to power of a manipulative businessman to public office is no longer absurd.

Evidenced by the rise of Donald Trump to leader of the free world last November, what was laughable in 1961 has today become a painful reality.

When asked about

Courtesy of The Woodlawn Theatre

From left to right: Crystal Vera as Hedy; Brian Hodges as Finch; Mark McCarver as Frump; Kate Ragan as Rosemary

the production’s connection to current political events, director Christopher Rodriguez suggested the play’s mid-century setting veils contemporary significance. “(Today) the jokes have a different meaning than they did in 1961,” said Rodriguez.

“And I think a lot of people will connect to that more because of Trump, because of the way he has risen from reality star to now president of the United States.”

Rodriguez, a graduate of San Antonio’s North East School of the Arts, took over as executive and artistic director of the Woodlawn Theatre in 2012.

Indeed, Rodriguez’s boot-strap biography parallels the drama his cast and crew have brought to the stage.

“I started working in a box office volunteering, and started here (at the Woodlawn) in the kid’s program, and now I’m in charge of the company,” said Rodriguez.

“I kind of look at it like I’m Finch. I’m living my dream.

“Ultimately I feel like (the play) is about the American Dream. You start with nothing but you can become something,” Rodriguez continued.

“How you do that, whether you are more of a Trump way or Finch

way or Chris Rodriguez way, it just depends on what path you choose.”

But for this critic, understanding “How to Succeed” as the can-do, American-made fairytale it purports to be means falling into the same trap that we as a nation fell into last November.

Last November, Donald Trump convinced millions of Americans that he was just like them—that he was a fallible outsider, an underdog chasing a dream.

But of course, Trump isn’t like any of us. He isn’t an outsider. He has moved in both Democratic and Republican circles for decades.

He isn’t an underdog.

He is the billionaire heir of a billionaire father.

But Trump is like the rest of us in one very important way.

He is chasing a dream of success in anything, no matter the cost.

The uncanny parallels between the fictional ascendancy of a character like J. Pierrepont Finch and the real-life ascendancy of a man like Donald J. Trump faces Americans with the grim possibility that things are going according to plan.

Or, in the words of Finch, the protagonist

himself: “You see, Wally, even though we’re all part of the cold corporate setup … deep down under our skins there is flesh and blood. We’re all brothers.”

So maybe corporations are people after all.

Maybe American civic culture and the global corporations it champions—companies like Ford, McDonald’s, Apple, Microsoft, Nestle, Walmart, Coca-Cola— have at last, perhaps permanently, become indistinguishable.

But I think not.

Rather than affirming notions of the American dream, “How to Succeed” confronts audiences with an opposite, even unAmerican moral.

By refusing us a proper feel-good, rags-to-riches hero, “How to Succeed” challenges Americans to stand against the cultural crisis it predicted 50 years ago in the fictional presidency of a corporate man like Finch.

Simply put, go see “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” because it challenges us to worry less about success and more about what it means to succeed.

Latinx

Continued from page 5 Buentello received her Bachelors of Fine Arts at the Art Institute of Chicago in 2008.

Since graduating she has exhibited her work in group exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago; Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin, Texas; Museo Alameda in San Antonio, Texas; Self Help Graphics in Los Angeles, Calif.; Slanguage Studio in Los Angeles, Calif.; Unit B Gallery in San Antonio, and University of Texas at San Antonio Fine Arts Gallery.

In 2009, Buentello founded the Más Rudas art collective with likeminded Chicana artists whose work explores the socio-cultural examinations of Chicanx identity and the cultural representations of gender through the creation of installations and murals.

This installation was birthed to give viewers an inside look into the Latino experience on both the East side and the West side of San Antonio.

Both women created their exhibits separately, but their ties to their community are the strings that hold the two exhibits together.

Buentello wanted viewers to see just how complex these communities are from the eyes of a San Antonio native.

In her instillation, Buentello takes you inside a traditional Chicano household.

In her most inspired piece, “The Last Supper,” she illustrates her very own family, whom she feels sometimes don’t understand her art.

This piece was first imagined two years ago after the diagnosis of both of her parent’s sickness.

Photo courtesy of Ana Fernandez

Ana Fernandez, “Claudia’s”

Photo courtesy of Ana Fernandez

Ana Fernandez, “The Party,” on display on the 2nd floor of the UTSA Rec.

She set out to illustrate the process of coping that her family endured.

The painting depicts a couch, lined with members of her family all strategically facing the right.

She places special emphasis on the foods her family has chosen to indulge in, some of which she feels contributed to her parent’s illness.

Buentello describes it as her own way of critiquing the

coping mechanisms of Chicano households.

Looking deeper into the painting, viewers can see the house lined with paintings and candles that one would find in her grandmother’s house in the most spot-on Chicano household that Ruth could’ve dreamed.

In her instillation, she uses both small scale and large-scale scenes to show the tension within these

Latino households.

It was an exhibit that took a lot for Buentello to create, however, throughout her career she plans to continue on a path toward unapologetic vulnerability.

Viewers will finally get the chance to view the instillation during its first Friday opening, September 1 until October 6th, 2017 at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center for free admission.

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Sports 2017 Conference-USA football preview Where UTSA football stands in the C-USA West Division

UTSA celebrates after scoring a touchdown on Southern Miss.

By Connor Zimmerlee Contributing Writer

Louisiana Tech: 2016 record: 9-5 (6-2 C-USA) Coming off a strong 2016 campaign, Louisiana Tech looks to follow up with another West Division crown. However, they will have to accomplish this with new quarterback J’Mar Smith. Smith started only one game last season, before handing the reigns over to senior Ryan Higgins. Because of this, the Bulldogs will rely heavily on senior running back Jarred Craft. During the 2016 campaign, Craft rushed for 1,074 yards and nine touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, LA Tech is led by Jaylen Ferguson, who totaled an impressive 14.5 sacks, along with 49 total tackles, 16 of which were for a loss.

Overall, Louisiana Tech looks like the favorite to repeat as the Western Division champs in C-USA. If they can get solid play from Smith at quarterback, it will free up Craft to be explosive out of the backfield. This, paired with a stout defense, has to have Bulldog fans excited for football season this year.

UTSA: 2016 record: 6-7 (5-3 C-USA) For the first time in the history of the program, the Roadrunners made a bowl game in 2016. Despite losing their inaugural bowl game, UTSA has a promising season to look forward to this fall.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Roadrunners have plenty of weapons to choose from. Dalton Sturm will be taking the snaps this season, coming off a 2016 season in which he completed 169 of 299 passes for a 56 percent completion rate, 2,170 yards and 20 touchdowns to six interceptions. Next to Sturm in the backfield will be backs Jarveon Williams

and Jalen Rhodes, who rushed for a combined 1,727 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. The ‘Runners defense will be led by Josiah Tauaefa, who led the team with 115 total tackles. UTSA is a team to watch this year, and they are a dark horse pick to win the C-USA West Division over LA Tech.

Southern Miss 2016 record: 7-6 (4-4 C-USA) Coming off a solid 2016 season, the Golden Eagles made yet another bowl game. They will be led by sophomore quarterback Keon Howard, who put up mediocre numbers in the limited playing time he saw. Howard completed 22 of 50 attempted passes, a 44 percent completion rate for 365 yards and threw one touchdown to four interceptions.

Howard will have two reliable weapons returning; running back Ito Smith and wide receiver Allenzae Staggers. Smith rushed for 1,459 yards and 17 touchdowns, while Staggers had 63 receptions for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles must replace six starters and will rely heavily on Picasso Nelson Jr. to be a vocal leader on the defense. Along with Nelson, Southern Miss. will count on Cornell Armstrong.

The duo finished 2016 with a combined 95 tackles, and they will seek to anchor the defense. Southern Miss. is in a strong position to make another bowl game, but with a new quarterback and losing half of their starters on defense, it does not seem to be a year they will contend for the C-USA crown.

North Texas 2016 record: 5-8 (3-5 C-USA) 2016 was a poor season for North Texas, as they finished their season with a losing record. Despite this, the Mean Green has reason to be optimistic. They return 15 of 22 starters from last year’s team who will only be better than they were last year.

Offensively, they’ll be led by

David Guel, The Paisano

quarterbacks Mason Fine and Alec Morris, who threw for a combined 2,698 yards, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Elsewhere, kicker Trevor Moore comes into the 2017 season having made 99 consecutive extra points.

North Texas may not contend for the C-USA title this year, but they will make definite improvements.

UTEP 2016 record: 4-8 (2-6 C-USA) It is no secret that UTEP is not a football powerhouse and will more than likely not contend for a C-USA title in 2017. One of the lone bright spots will be quarterback Ryan Metz, who last season threw for 1,375 yards, 14 touchdowns and a 64.7 percent completion rate.

Keeping Metz safe will be offensive lineman Will Fernandez, who helped the offensive line give up only 22 sacks all season. On the defensive side of the ball, the Miners will rely on linebacker Alvin Jones, who finished the 2016 season with

93 tackles. Coming off their 2016 season, UTEP has nowhere to go but up, so Miner fans must remain optimistic for the 2017 season.

Rice 2016 record: 3-9 (2-6) After a lackluster 2016 season, Rice will be looking to bounce back in 2017.

However, the chance of Rice being a threat in C-USA is extremely low. They will be led on offense by a new face in quarterback Jackson Tyner, who saw limited playing time during the 2016 season and threw for 318 yards and a 48 percent completion rate.

One of the lone bright spots for Rice this upcoming season may be their defense, that return with eight starters. Amongst those returning is Emmanuel Ellerbee, who led the team with 118 total tackles.

Nonetheless, Rice is likely to finish last in the West Division once again and is still years away from being a legitimate contender.

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UTSA women’s soccer falls to SFA to start the season 1-2

By Frank Leal Sports Editor

With Hurricane Harvey bearing down on the Texas coast, UTSA women’s soccer faced off against the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks on Aug. 23, a day earlier than scheduled, to avoid the impending storm conditions.

After a victory in the regular season opener, UTSA came up short with a score of 5-0 in their second game of the season at TCU. The ‘Runners entered the game with a regular season record of 1-1.

Stephen F. Austin is coming off a phenomenal 2016 campaign in which they took home the Southland conference title. However, they have had a rough 0-2 start after a tight 3-2 loss against Southern Mississippi.

Both the Roadrunners and SFA came into the game looking to bounce back from a loss.

Early on, both defenses looked aggressive, and neither team could possess the ball for long, let alone get off a shot. With neither team giving an inch of ground, the opportunities to do something with the ball were few and far between.

UTSA saw an opportunity in the 19th minute of the game when a shot saved by SFA’s goalie Allyson Smith, bounced right back into the possession of UTSA’s Harper Luczka. With Smith still

Ladyjack defenders scramble to clear the ball as UTSA threatens.

on the ground, Harper fired a shot that was miraculously saved by a desperate Ladyjack defender.

The unlikely save drew groans of disbelief throughout the stadium and a few stray cheers from the SFA fans that had made the trip to San Antonio.

The Roadrunners’ defense continued to look stellar; In the 37th minute, UTSA got another golden opportunity. Forward Olivia Nicholls dribbled between two defenders and suddenly had the goalie one-on-one. However, Smith won the battle and made a diving stop on Nicholl’s shot. The score remained deadlocked at zero. However, that wouldn’t be the case for much longer.

Just two minutes later, UTSA’s Channing Machen gained pos-

session of the ball outside the right corner of the box and fired a beautiful hooking shot towards the top left corner of the goal.

This time, Smith couldn’t do anything about it. The ball sailed over the outstretched hands of a diving Smith, and UTSA fans from around the stadium erupted in cheers as the ball hit the back of the net. The ‘Runners took a 1-0 lead and would hold onto that lead heading into halftime.

Once the second half got underway, Stephen F. Austin wasted no time getting even. Before two minutes had passed in the second half, Madison Hall gained possession of the ball on the right side of the penalty box. Hall lobbed a pass into a crowded area where SFA’s Hannah Barker was

Shocking moves and trades continue throughout 2017 NBA offseason

By Ricky Galindo Contributing Writer

This past NBA season, we witnessed the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers clash in the NBA Finals for the third year in a row. The Warriors came out on top by winning the series four games to one. Many believed that the Warriors were a lock to win the finals since the beginning of the season with the signing of former Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant in last year’s offseason.

This NBA off-season was one for the books as we saw many star players go to different teams. Chris Paul teamed up with James Harden in Houston, while Gordon Hayward chose to play for his former college coach Brad Stevens in Boston.

The Oklahoma City Thunder acquired some help for MVP Russell Westbrook by trading away Victor Oladipo and second year big man Damontas Sabonis to the Indiana Pacers for all-star Paul George.

All-star Jimmy Butler was also traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a couple of young players and draft picks.

One of the most surprising moves currently on hold is the swap of two all-star point guards in Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas. This blockbuster trade would also send small forward Jae Crowder to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Although this trade has yet to go through due to Thomas’ lingering hip injury, many aspects of this trade make it one of the more intriguing moves.

Surprisingly, Kyrie Irving was the one who initiated the trade-talks by requesting the trade. What is even more surprising is that the Cavaliers agreed to a trade with their new rival Boston Celtics after the Celtics had acquired the top seed in the East this past season while the Cavs took second. Even though the trade has yet to go through, fans will no doubt be keeping an eye on the situation.

While many teams were stressing on acquiring new players to develop, the San Antonio Spurs remained quiet through the off-season process while making some moves of their own under the radar.

The Spurs brought back Patty Mills for another four years, and also convinced Manu Ginobili to return for another two years. The Spurs also acquired a new face in free agency — Rudy Gay. The Eastern Conference invested in their future by picking up young talent, whereas the Western Conference is fostering a “win now” mentality. For the 2017-2018 NBA season, the Golden State Warriors are still the team to beat.

Photo Courtesy of Kevin Meyer/SFA Athletics

somehow able to get a shot off.

The ball got through a couple of UTSA defenders and went up and over goalie Gabriella Mariello for the score. Just like that, it was a brand-new match with the score at 1-1.

In the 63rd minute of the game, UTSA’s Olivia Nicholls threaded the needle on a pass to freshman Ellis Patterson who quickly took the shot and came painfully close to a goal. The ball rattled off the post and bounced right back into the goalie’s arms. Shortly after, another opportunity arose as sophomore Katieann Lochte had the ball in close to the goal. Once again, it was inches away from a score as the ball sailed just over the crossbar.

With time winding down and

the score still knotted at one, SFA’s Hannah Barker struck again. Barker got the ball and fed a nice pass to Katelyn Termini just in front of the goal. Termini put it in easily, and the Ladyjacks took a 2-1 lead with just ten minutes to go.

Patterson had an opportunity to tie the game in the 89th minute with a header, but her valiant effort was squandered by SFA’s goalie Madeline Talbot as she corralled the ball.

Despite countless opportunities, UTSA fell to Stephen F. Austin by a tight score of 2-1.

The loss is no doubt frustrating for the ‘Runners, but they’ll look to bounce back on Friday Sept. 1 when they travel to Waco to take on Baylor.