9.05.17 by The Paisano

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

The shadow enters

Young squad aims wto keep winning tradition going

Vol. 56, Issue 3

Est. 1981

The Paisano

September 5 - September 12, 2017

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Roadrunners respond to Hurricane Harvey students and administration quick to aid relief efforts By Sam De Leon Co-News Editor & David Wenske Contributing Writer

Students, faculty and administrators are supporting victims of Hurricane Harvey’s destruction by starting donation drives, volunteering with cleanup efforts and raising money. In a recent email addressing students and faculty, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy outlined UTSA’s efforts to provide relief to those affected by Hurricane Harvey. “The devastation that Harvey brought to Texas this past weekend is of unparalleled dimension,” said Eighmy. “Many families of our students, faculty and staff were directly impacted by this terrible storm and the severe flooding in South Central and Southeast Texas and the Houston region. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who will spend weeks, if not months, recovering from this tragedy.”

Rescuers gather on a flooded highway in Houston, Texas.

Eighmy called Roadrunners to action and stated some relief efforts are already underway at UTSA. From housing for refugees to support services to those who were directly affected by the tragedy, UTSA faculty and students were directed to campus resources for assistance. One organization that responded quickly was the Black Student

Leadership Council (BSLC). The BSLC is leading a month-long donation drive. “As a council of Roadrunners, we truly believe in the spirit of giving to those who need it most,” said Terralyn Wilburn, senior political science major and president of Women of Honor. “We feel this drive will make a significant contribution to the

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons

fresh start our fellow Texans are seeking.” The support of the Texas community has been huge. Jon Onstead, Houstonian and owner of The Block SA, provided a detailed account of the situation facing Houston residents. “Houston turned into Venice; the traffic was in boats,” said Onstead. “It was almost like be-

ing on a lake with buildings. The feeling was surreal.” Onstead recalls his mother’s house being under water. Onstead decided he wanted to aid the relief efforts and took his kayak to paddle down Memorial Street, Continued on page 2 See ‘Hurricane Harvey’

UTSA prepares students for CLASS

Dean of University College retires

UTSA modifies institutional policies to improve grduation and retention

Dr. Lawrence Williams says farewell to UTSA

Orientation students tour the UTSA campus. By Vivianne Guillen Contributing Writer

This story is the second in a two-part series explaining UTSA’s initiative to address graduation and retention rates. The Coordinated and Linked Approach to Student Success (CLASS) is an institution-wide initiative, focusing on key elements affecting low rates of student retention and graduation. In order to address these issues, UTSA is revising several sources of student success. In a previous article, three of the six areas (Onboarding, Leadership and professional development and First Year Experience) of CLASS were discussed. The remaining three — Advising, Focused Academic Support and Fi-

nancial Aid — are sectors of the CLASS initiative also being revised. In an effort to improve UTSA’s advising system, advisors will go through several operational changes to achieve efficiency. To relieve congestion of appointments, advisors will adopt an 8-5 p.m. on-call schedule. Advisors on call will assist walk-in students with less critical needs such as picking up an “add or drop” slip, creating a wider window for more in-depth advising appointments. Advising will also make “data driven decisions” and direct communication to other sources of student success: instructors and financial aid. With the help of EAB Campus, a student-success management company, UTSA is implementing a software from EAB called Student

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons

Success Collaborative (SSC), which creates student profiles. SSC collects and compiles previous and present data to configure problems. Advisors use this data to preemptively address issues students might have and direct a student to the right resources. Dr. Tammy Wyatt, associate vice provost for student success, describes SSC as an “Advising platform tool that helps advisors utilize and better manage caseload, that will serve as a support care network.” Another area growing through the CLASS initiative is focused academic support. The “math emporium” model, the first CLASS program to be trialed, looked at classes Continued on page 2 See ‘Class in session’

By Briyah Phillips Contributing Writer

Former Vice Provost and Dean of the University College Dr. Lawrence Williams retired on August 31. Throughout his academic career, Williams pushed students to follow their passions. During his undergraduate career at Texas Southern University, Williams was constantly in the physics lab. So much so, that his professor made him a TA and occasionally asked him to lead class. It seems Williams was destined to be dean, but young Williams couldn’t imagine being a dean so early in his career. When Williams started college, he never considered attending graduate school. One day, when he was working in the math lab, the math department chair suggested he should apply to a graduate program. Williams attended the University of Michigan where, post graduation, he decided to teach. For Williams, being a professor isn’t just a job; it’s a passion. But when he started graduate school, being a professor wasn’t in his plan. In his graduate program, teaching undergraduate courses was a requirement at the University of Michigan. Williams discovered his passion while teaching and advising students in undergraduate courses. Williams first began at UTSA in 1976 as an assistant professor in the mathematics department in 1976. He started his first day as

a faculty member of UTSA in 1983 and gained tenure status in 1986. Williams began his administrative career in 1987 as the associate dean for academic affairs for the college of sciences and engineering. In 2001, Williams was hired as a member of the central administration of UTSA, this position evolved into vice provost and dean of University College. Williams has seen the college grow from a com-

“Follow your dreams. You have to be passionate about what your major is, what you’re studying, and work hard to achieve that.”

-Lawrence Williams muter college to what he calls “a real university”; a college with a distinctive campus culture where “you can see the pride.” Williams takes pride in being an administrator; he also relishes in his ability to advise students and share in their successes. In one exchange with a student,

Photo Courtesy of The UT System

Dr. Lawrence Williams

Williams made clear that a student’s parents should not be the ultimate driver in choosing a major. “I’m a math professor. I had one student come to me and say, ‘I don’t like calculus, I don’t like engineering, I like music.’ I said, ‘Why are you in calculus?’ (The student) said, ‘Well, my parents told me to.’ I said, ‘Well I think if you love music, if that’s your passion, you have to follow that.’” Williams guided students by expressing the importance of choosing what they love, not what another person hands them. Williams’ career was driven by his love of mathematics. That love carried him through his academic career. “Follow (your) dreams,” he says.”You have to be passionate about what your major is, what you’re studying, and work hard to achieve that.”

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UTSA

CLASS in session

UTSA alum Dieter Cantu’s program, Cantu’s Books for Incarcerated Youth, in collaboration with the College of Public Policy and Terry Scholars Program, is accepting book donations at the 1604 and Downtown campuses. The program is attempting to improve the literacy rates for incarcerated youth across Texas. Donations will be accepted until the end of the fall semester.

Texas House Bill 62 went into law on September 1. The statewide texting-whiledriving ban creates a misdemeanor offense for the operator of a motor vehicle who uses a cell phone to read, write or send an electronic message while operating the vehicle, unless the vehicle is stopped. Firsttime violators could be fined up to $99 or $200 for a repeat offense.

U.S. The Justice Department confirmed in a court briefing filed late Friday that neither it nor the FBI has evidence that Trump Tower was wiretapped by the Obama administration during the 2016 presidential election. The motion confirms that neither the FBI nor the Justice Department’s National Security Division have records documenting wiretaps as alleged by President Trump in a series of tweets earlier this year.

World In response to North Korea testing a hydrogen bomb, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis issued a warning saying the country would be met with a “massive military response” if it threatened the U.S. or its allies. Mattis and President Trump met with an advisory council to discuss other options to curb North Korea’s threats.

Hurricane Harvey continued from page 1

Photo Courtesy of Chase Otero

First-Year students tour UTSA campus.

continued from page 1 with high DFW rates. In summer 2016, one section of MAT 1073 (Algebra for Scientists and Engineers) was chosen to test the unique environment and teaching style. Students enrolled in this course were

“We want to hold them to the right standards and assist them in reaching those standards.”

-Mauli Agrawal subjected to limited lectures and online learning, while receiving multiple sources of assistance from instructors, peer tutors and online assistance. According to Dr. Mauli Agrawal, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, the goal of the math emporium was to “change the pedagogy of math fundamentally.” Agrawal goes on to say, “we want to hold them to the right standards and assist them in reaching those standards.” The results of this trial proved to be effective, as 67 percent of students in the emporium model course earned either an A or B, compared to 14 percent in a nonemporium model course. The trial extended into the fall semester, adding four sections of MAT 1073. The results showed 46 per-

cent of students in the emporium model classes earned an A or B, compared to 33 percent for the non-emporium model classes. With high success rates and UT system funding of $2,972,077, CLASS is expanding this teaching model to more high-risk courses, reaching more than 3,000 students a year. UTSA awards $240,000,000 worth of financial aid to students on a “first come, first serve” basis every year. Administrators of CLASS saw this system of awarding monies as one of the key elements of student retention. UTSA will prioritize financial aid awards to students on the basis of need and merit. Financial aid will rework aid awards so incoming students with high academic merit (top 10 percentile) will be guaranteed financial aid for four years. In-need students will also have the option to apply for emergency funds. If those students qualify, they will be awarded based on their need. Agrawal believes, “It goes back to the principal, what would you do if this was your child? You help them.” While CLASS is being rolled out slowly over the next few semesters, students can expect larger changes in learning styles and campus resources. The success of the program relies heavily on the retention and four-year graduation rates of students.

handing members of the sheriff’s department cases of water for victims of the flooding. Other Roadrunners continue to help with efforts and hope to bring relief to those affected by the tragedy. Austin Espiritu, junior general business management major, continues to help the Houston community with an HEB crew. Espiritu is one of 100 HEB partners from San Antonio to provide relief to other HEB partners in Houston. “We had (HEB) partners working around the clock. Stores were overrun and the shelves were empty. We knew our associates needed to get home and worry about their own property and damages,” said Espiritu. He and other HEB associates helped people during their breaks. “The hotel we are staying at is in walking distance of a neighborhood. While it is difficult to get clearance, we knew we had to help the people who had no water. We brought snacks

Technology The Domino’s pizza chain plans to start testing deliveries using a self-driving Ford Fusion sedan outfitted with enough sensors, electronics and software to find its way to customers’ homes or offices in a section of Ann Arbor, Michigan this week. For the Domino’s trial, Ford is providing a selfdriving Fusion that scans the road with radar and cameras. It uses lidar–a radar based on laser beams–that can be found in a rooftop unit featuring distinctive spinning canisters. The images are compared with detailed digital maps to reach its destination.

“Unity of people helping others is compelling. It makes you happy to be alive and happy to be human. ”

-Jon Onstead others is compelling. It makes you happy to be alive and happy to be human. The compassion and sensitivity we saw, not just Houstonians, makes you think ‘this is how life should be.’” UTSA is advising students and faculty to continue giving. The Roadrunner Pantry is taking donations and offering emergency kits of food and hygiene products. The Honor Student Leader-

Photo Courtesy of Isabella Beltri

Lorelle Jackson and Terralyn Wilburn sort through donated goods

for their children and water for as many as we could; it was the least we could do.” Espiritu described his experience as eye opening. “Seeing everything that has happened has put everything into perspective. Be thankful for what you have, people here have it tough.” Onstead was moved by the amount of love and support he had seen from the community.

ship Council will be hosting a Fill The Truck campaign through Sept. 8, where students can drop off non-perishable items at the Honors College student lounge in the MS building. According to Eighmy, The Student Government Association and Student Affairs are discussing a coordinated relief effort and will soon have details to share with the rest of the community.

Racing into sustainable energy

UTSA organization designs electric race car for upcoming competition

Science The Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever treatment that genetically alters a patient’s own cells to fight cancer, a milestone that is expected to transform treatment in the coming years. The new therapy turns a patient’s cells into a “living drug,” and trains them to recognize and attack the disease. It is part of the rapidly growing field of immunotherapy that bolsters the immune system through drugs and other therapies and has, in some cases, led to long remissions and possibly even cures.

“Minus all the devastation and minus all the loss of materials, everything is okay,” Onstead said. “With catastrophe, you see unity. Unity of people helping

Velox Racing UTSA poses together for a club photo. By Elaina Suarez Contributing Writer

Founded in April 2017 by Peter De La Cruz, Donald Perez, Sam Schraff, Nikki Kalt and Michelle Longsworth, the Velox Racing club is on a fast pace to compete in their first competition in June 2018. Velox Racing UTSA will design and manufacture a fully-electric race car. The club is made up of mostly mechanical and electrical engineering students but welcomes all disciplines. Next June, Velox Racing UTSA will compete in an international competition hosted and organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Since July, Velox has been designing their race car. The design portion of the project is computer-based and involves teaching the software skills members will use. Once design is

Photo Courtesy of Velox Racing UTSA

his new organization; he envisions a tremendous amount of growth and professional development. “Freshmen joining this organization could potentially see internships as soon as the summer of 2018 at companies like SpaceX, Tesla or GM,” he said. De La Cruz, Perez and other members made the executive decision to transition their original organization, Roadrunner Racing, focusing on internal combustion engine vehicles, to the advanced electrical side, Velox Racing. The organization focuses on recruiting underclassmen because they “are our future, we can’t exist without them,” and they are one of the main components to keeping this club around. De La Cruz is ready to leave a legacy by taking risks and gaining sponsorship and maintaining the desire to improve. “We welcome students of all majors and have a place for everyone,” he said. “No car knowledge is needed because we are always willing to teach; and if any member knows something we don’t, then we are always willing to learn. “New opinions and approaches to problems make engineering an exercise in teamwork, and we could always benefit from more teamwork.”

“Myself and Donald identifinished in December, members begin to manufacture the car with fied the need at UTSA for an engineering organization that raw materials. combined electrical and mechani“Those are our major goals, cal engineering,” De La Cruz and we encourage all members said. “Currently, we do not have to participate,” De la Cruz said. the option for interdisciplin“What is so interesting about us ary work within the College of is that students in this organizaEngineering, so we decided the tion get the experience they need to work for companies like Tesla, best way to combine these into one project was to form a team the “Big 3” of Detroit and many solely concerned with building other automotive giants.” electric race cars every year and This will be the first time a competing.” UTSA organization competes in De La Cruz sees potential in Formula SAE Electric in Lincoln, Nebraska. Velox Racing will rely on their devoted members, their faculty Free Book Discussion advisor Dr. August Thursdays in September Allo and their 7:00–8:30 PM, UC Magnolia Room, 2.01.30 corporate sponsors as they take • Better recall and interpret your dreams on an international • Learn about how dream guidance can help you solve daily stage in an up-andlife challenges and grow spiritually coming industry: Info: Mitziani: rbo233@my.utsa, Justin: 832-244-6502 electric cars. www.Eckankar-Texas.org Sponsored by the Eckankar Student Org.

The Art of Spiritual Dreaming

S EPTE M B E R 5 - S EP TEMBER 1 2, 2017

opinion Misinformation during disaster Editorial Disaster can drive the lives of the general public into a wall, and for many here at UTSA, that was their fate—a car in park, an empty fuel tank and no means of moving forward. Perhaps Hurricane Harvey was instrumental in San Antonio’s woes but the root cause was something else. Rumors promulgated by social media and the local news fueled public panic. The disinformation was born from truth: refineries along the Gulf Coast shut down during Hurricane Harvey. The result was an estimated 3 million barrels of fuel offline. Perhaps if Texas was its own nation and cutoff from international commerce, we’d be in trouble, but the U.S. has a storage of 230 million barrels of fuel. Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton urged people to stop panic buying. “We have gas in TX, just have to get it to pumps,” he said in a tweet. Despite the call for calm, the public responded out of fear. That

fear infected the city. Panic purchases at the pump drained gas stations and long lines clogged streets and commercial entries. As the line grew, more opted to “play it safe” and fill their tank. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg described the resulting problem. “Demand has not decreased, with our city consuming more fuel than average largely due to panic and hoarding,” he said. During times of disaster the media must ascribe to a heightened responsibility. They must disseminate the truth and distinguish it from hype—regardless of how it affects the ratings. News outlets who fail to measure up deserve criticism. Hysterical headlines fuel hysteria: “Roughly 72 percent of San Antonio gas stations out of fuel as panic continues,” “San Antonio gas stations out of fuel climbs to 270” subscribers to mySA.com’s HurA line forms outside a gas station near UTSA. ricane Harvey text alerts received updates of growing lines “as San cal news sites were at this month’s those most vulnerable are harmed. Antonio gas stations run low after high, but at what cost? When social When the public seeks answers Harvey.” responsibility is set aside for gain, the news must educate and emSurely, online traffic on these lo-

‘You, my darling girl, are beautiful' Commentary

By Leah Feneley Staff Writer

On Sunday, Aug. 27, MTV hosted the 2017 Video Music Awards. Performers from assorted music genres attended the event and many left with an award that represented their years of dedication and musical process. P!nk received this year’s coveted Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, which recognizes her prestigious career accomplishments in music and video. During her acceptance speech, P!nk recounted a conversation she had with her daughter, Willow Sage, on their way to school. The six-year-old girl explained a concern to her mother: “I’m the ugliest girl I know; I look like a boy with long hair.” P!nk was confused and upset about the opinions her child had about herself so she did what any responsible parent would do–she went home and made a PowerPoint presentation. Within this presentation, P!nk displayed androgynous artists and musicians “that live their truth, are probably made fun of every day of their life and carry on, wave their flag and inspire the rest of us.” P!nk then explained that whenever she is verbally attacked by the media, they comment on her “masculine” features and the fact that she has too many opinions for

a woman. She lives as an example for her daughter, and she never conformed to society’s gender rules, despite the hate she receives from expressing herself in a nontraditional feminine way. She concluded her speech by saying “So, baby girl, we don’t change. We take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl. And we help other people to change, so they can see more kinds of beauty. And you, my darling girl, are beautiful.” P!nk’s message was powerful and awe inspiring, and I would be lying if I said it did not bring me to tears. A six-year-old girl should not feel as if she is not beautiful. No little girl should have a negative body image and be afraid that she looks too androgynous. P!nk’s speech succeeded in making a point about gender presentation; she also revealed how stunted our society has remained. Young girls are being subjected to society’s form of beauty standards at a younger age than ever before. The current generation is excellent at denying our desires in the name of a more slender and perfect body type. We only eat kale; we don’t touch grease. We buy bath bombs to fill the gaps in our souls. Images of us have to be photoshopped. We are exploited because we are easy targets. We do not belong. P!nk showed women the proper way to treat and see themselves: as someone’s beautiful daughter. Don’t comment on other women’s bodies, and don’t say you hate your own. We might have thick thighs and wide ribcages; I know it is easy to hate and see these parts as imperfect. But the best thing we can do with our bodies is to use them to mobilize our beautiful souls.

Isaac Serna, The Paisano

power the community’s first step forward—not send them spiraling into hysteria.

Refuse to die Commentary

By Kenyatta Battle Staff Writer

Aug. 14, 2016, the first NFL preseason game is set to begin. The announcer says, “Will everyone rise for the National Anthem.” Every father, mother, child and player rises except for one: Colin Kaepernick. In that moment Kap refused to die! He decided to take a stand against police brutality. After the game, Kaepernick said he could not stand for the National Anthem because he would not support a country that oppressed people of color. Today he is no longer employed as an NFL quarterback. It has been said that NFL owners blackballed Kap, and the main reason he does not have a job is his protest. Kap knew protesting could cost him his job, but he still took a stand. Athletes in all sports have defended him and even have joined the National Anthem protest (including a white NFL player). There has even been a protest to help Kaepernick get his job

back, but what’s important is why Kaepernick is protesting. Kap’s protest is not about desecrating the flag as Jim Brown claims. Kap is fighting to make the flag fly higher than ever. To reach this height, police brutality must end; Kap wants our nation to see this. To end police brutality and injustice (or bring attention to it) we must hold everyone—institutions, governments, police officers—accountable for their actions. America has failed to live up to the standards of liberty, justice and equality for all. Today people in marginalized groups continue to be oppressed. According to mappingpoliceviolence.org, at least 309 black people were killed by police officers in 2016. Black people are also three times more likely to be killed by police than white people. Crime is not always the issue either. In 2014, fewer than one in three black people killed by police in America were suspected of a violent crime and allegedly armed. We can’t wait for oppression to end on its own. If we wait and do nothing, victim’s such as Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland and 12-year-old Tamir Rice will continue to be murdered. Kap kneels for the victims of the oppression he calls attention to. If you still don’t believe in Kaepernick’s protest or don’t believe

injustice still plagues America, then listen to this story: 16-year old Kalief Browder was arrested for allegedly stealing a backpack. He spent three years in prison at Rikers Island waiting to prove his innocence. Browder was denied trial, abused and held in solitary confinement. His incarceration was nearly a death sentence. According to Browder, a guard told him once (when he was contemplating suicide) to “go ahead and jump; you got it ready, right, go ahead and jump.” On May 29, 2013, at 20 years old Browder was released from prison. Though he was free, he was never the same. On June 6, 2015, Browder committed suicide. People wonder why Colin Kaepernick protested the National Anthem. It’s because of what people of color go through. We are degraded and destroyed constantly. Every day our parents fear we will be killed or imprisoned. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.” Be like Colin Kaepernick and refuse to die. Fight when no one else will. Take action to make the world a better place.

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SE P T E M B E R 5 - SE P T E M B E R 12, 2017

The Paisano Editor in Chief: Isaac Serna Managing Editor: Ethan Pham News Editors: GaigeDavila Samuel De Leon Arts & Life Editor: Enrique Bonilla Sports Editor: Frank 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, Kenyatta Battle, Leah Feneley

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

CONTRIBUTORS

Their eyes were watching Lakewood Commentary

By Briyah Phillips Contributing Writer

Houstonians struck by Hurricane Harvey found Lakewood Church closed to those seeking shelter. The moment word got out via Twitter post by the church’s pastor Joel Osteen, the Twitterverse exploded in rage. Many were appalled that a Christian, of all people, would turn away the needy. But, he wasn’t in the wrong. From outside of the church, Osteen’s actions seemed nothing short of unethical, hypocritical and unchristian. Video shows the church empty, dry and secure. Evidence shows the freeway leading to the church unflooded and accessible. Viewing this video and knowing that Christians are meant to emulate Jesus—the man who fed the needy and showed mercy to those who wronged him—it’d be easy to see Joel Osteen, a man who turned those in need away from his

ADVISOR

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.

sanitary, the place quickly became a madhouse. Thieves took the few personal items evacuees had brought and at least two people, including a child, were raped. The chances of Lakewood facing the same fate were probable. Lakewood Church has no means of maintaining the necessary supplies for human survival. The church has no kitchen which means there’s nowhere to store perishable goods. They had the choice to keep non-perishable goods, but their supply was low. Additionaly, Osteen had no volunteers to supervise the amount of people his building could accommodate. Members of his church were busy fighting for their own lives and property, and officers were busy out on the streets helping those in need. This whole scenario brought to

light an issue that social media has exacerbated. Humanity has stopped looking for the good in people. The moment we see a headline or a tweet stating that some big name has done wrong, we’re quick to jump on it. We scrutinize people and magnify their mistakes. There’s no definite answer as to why we do this. Maybe it’s because we need to justify our mess-ups. Maybe it’s because tearing people down is the way we build ourselves up. I don’t have the answer; all I have is this: we need to be better. We need to stop jumping to conclusions whenever someone makes a decision we don’t understand. We need to stop educating ourselves with 140 character statements and take time to find the truth.

Commentary

By Kimiya Factory Contributing Writer

ADVISORY BOARD

Steven Kellman, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Stefanie Arias, Diane Abdo, Red Madden

doorstep, as a fraud. In response to the video, employees posted photos from within the church’s flooded basement. These photos were taken at a time when flood waters were still rising. If Osteen were to open his doors, there was a chance he’d be putting those people at risk if the waters rose to a dangerous level. The weather was still unpredictable. Osteen took the building’s past into consideration. In 2001, when the building was used as a sports stadium, games had to be cancelled due to Tropical Storm Allison. With consideration to the effects of storms in the past, let’s examine the Louisiana Superdome’s use as a shelter after Hurricane Katrina. With a lack of volunteers to mediate the situation, limited energy to keep food fresh, and a shortage of running water to keep people

Black girl magic Write anyway

Josh Zollicoffer, Diego Lopez, Eric Pitty, Cade Brashear, Vincent Valdez, Vivian Guillen, Ricky Galindo, Connor Zimmerlee, Karen Gracia, Briyah Phillips, Kimiya Factory Diane Abdo

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository

Joel Osteen is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston.

“You’re pretty for a black girl!” …Um thanks. “You’re the prettiest black girl I’ve seen!” …Cool, I guess. “You know I don’t usually date black girls, right?” …Are you kidding me? I mean, come on, how many of us have either asked, been asked or even over-heard these uncomfortable yet familiar conversations? Is this okay? When did I–a black woman–become conditioned to thank someone for a half-empty compliment on my beauty, under the strict classification of “for a black girl.” The ultimate reply that defeats every one of these socially and intellectually unacceptable remarks is such a free-ing truth: Black Girl Magic. Is my tinted and glowing skin not enough? The chemical in my scalp straightens the kinks because straight hair has been socially expected of me. Isn’t that damn near selling my cultural soul? No one directly told me to do these things; however, it was always implied. It was implied on the rainbow carpet we sat on during story time when other little girls tugged on my wavy pigtails with their nose wrinkled in disgust, or when I was repeatedly asked, “Why don’t you ever wear your hair straight? Your hair would look much prettier straight.” In third grade, waiting in line for chicken nuggets in a predominately white school, I may have not been able to answer that, but now, thanks to CaShawn Thompson, creator of #BlackGirlMagic, I am completely aware of my own. What is this hashtag that captures the attention of millions who casually scroll on social media? It is a movement. It is a counter-

action. It is everything beautiful and radiant about black culture. This simple hashtag recognizes and eliminates any negative stigma that black women face everyday. According to Bené Viera from Essence Magazine, “it’s the sway in our hips, the way our melanin glows in the sun, how our coils grow upward, how we intuitively understand the difference between a ‘girl’ and a ‘girrrrrrrl’ response, how we feel like a win for one is a win for all.” Essence Magazine defines Black Girl Magic as a connection that black women cherish and share without even having to know each other in a world that constantly tells us that we aren’t enough. Therefore, one can imagine how CaShawn Thompson’s slogan took the internet by fire when black women and supporters alike added a hashtag to the phrase and poured out thousands of likes on Twitter and Instagram Even Michelle Obama–humanitarian, Harvard law school educated and former first lady of the United States–has been compared to an ape because of her full lips, sharp jawline and darker skin. That’s right, darker skin. Shaming a woman because her skin is slightly darker than another person’s is an actual thing. I vividly remember hearing “Damn, you got too dark this summer.” Meanwhile Malibu Barbies make the cover of Seventeen magazine for being “totally tan.” Seriously? Dark skin shines, dark skin shimmers, just like any other tint of the rainbow, and Black Girl Magic agrees. The next time you scroll across #BlackGirlMagic, absorb the meaning and like or double tap the movement behind it. Oil up that curly spiral kink. Brush that Brazilian hair you paid for. Let that deliciously dark skin shine in the sun. Capture your culture in a candid photo and don’t complain about the size of your nose or lips. Be voluptuous. Be unapologetically black. Be woke. Be poppin’. And be you.

Commentary

By Ben Shirani Staff Writer

As often as civil rights issues make headlines, they still tend to affect our daily lives in ways that are difficult to explain in the news. The constant media attention focused on Muslim bans and violent non-state actors (terrorists) changes the way people think about Arab Americans, and this limits our access to justice. My best advice for anyone whose civil rights have been threatened is to write. Write honestly and write immediately. Write without listening to the voice in the back of your head telling you that no one will believe you. Ignore the feeling you will get into trouble for saying what you feel. Ignore the feeling people will call you crazy. Write all the details. Write hard. Write often. When I was sexually assaulted, I wrote to be an example to young men and women who are afraid to report abuse. I published my writing on my blog, and I sent my writing to the police. I discovered the stigma associated with being a victim of sexual assault and the stigma associated with being an Arab American are real. Write anyway. Online campaigns like #BlackLivesMatter do a great job of raising awareness for civil rights. Fighting for rights means raising the right kind of awareness, directing our energy in meaningful ways and dominating the information space with inclusive, supportive and universal ideas. Write. Whether we like it or not, this year, supporting civil rights means

supporting each other. Supporting our elected officials, law makers, law enforcement and yes, even our president. Supporting civil rights this year will take courtesy and respect. For everyone. It will take relationship building. Civil rights means waiting peacefully and patiently through four years of suffocating oppression just to cast another vote. It means constructive criticism and throwing out language relevant to violence, emotional violence included. It means collaboration and cooperation. It means acting in ways that unite people even in the face of challenges to our First Amendment right to speak about what hurts. It means writing anyway. Civil rights means getting permits before demonstrating, cooperating with the public safety officials and being respectful in public spaces. When courtesy and respect fail, civil rights activism takes a pen and paper, stamps, a computer and an internet connection. It takes effort and time. It takes letters. Letters to the Department of Justice, to the FBI, the DOD inspector general, the CIA inspector general, senators, the American Civil Liberties Union, the International Committee for the Red Cross, Amnesty International and to newspapers. Civil rights means waiting endlessly for a phone call or a letter acknowledging that the almost 100 letters you wrote to the Department of Justice were read by a person. It means the heartbreak that comes with their response saying there was nothing they can do to help you. Civil rights means writing again anyways.

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ARts & Life

The Shadow Enters Remembering the people, life and culture along the missions in San Antonio

By Carlos Hughes Staff Writer

eginning Sept. 6, San Antonio will host the second annual World Heritage

Festival. The citywide event is a collaborative effort to promote culture surrounding the San Antonio Missions: Mission San Jose, Mission Concepción, Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Espada. The event is kicked off by “Entre La Sombra: Life Along the Missions” at Plaza de Armas Gallery. “Entre La Sombra” showcases San Antonio’s artistic talent and portrays themes involving life, culture and people along the San Antonio missions. Founded by Franciscan missionaries in 1718 as a way to spread Christianity to the indigenous people, the missions have had a

Courtesy of World Heritage Festival

long and compelling life. The Spaniards who lived in the missions looked to them for hope and shelter. The natives viewed them as an oppressive force pushing them from their home and towards assimilation. Life here was difficult for the Spanish and the natives. The settlers did not thrive and flourish at first, as the Spaniards struggled with food, drought and attacks from Native American tribes defending their rightful land. The missions have endured everything the city has gone through and have seen the city evolve into the diverse and culturally rich city it is today. The missions are an essential part of understanding San Antonio’s story and culture. “The exhibition is designed

“We hope it will strengthen the collective knowledge of who we are.” - Javier Flores

“Restored by Light” projection show at Mission Concepcion

Dept. of Arts and Culture

Courtesy of World Heritage Festival

Above: Art displays recreation along the missions. Left: Authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex food brings life to Courtesy of World Heritage Festival the culinary traditions of the missions’ past.

to encourage viewers to connect and share the unique aspects of their own lives by experiencing a selection of stories about life lived along the San Antonio missions interpreted by local artists through

drawings, paintings, printmaking and photography,” said Javier Flores, the assistant marketing manager for the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts of Culture.

“We hope it will strengthen the collective knowledge of who we are,” Flores elaborated. Continued on page 6 See “Shadow”

Tapping into the Garden

Brews & Blooms brings craft brewers to scenic Botanical Gardens

egardless of your passion or indifference towards craft beer, San Antonio’s Brews and Blooms festival provides a unique and eclectic experience that is sure to wow even the rare gastropub enthusiast. As the festival’s fifth year comes underway, the San Antonio Botanical Gardens and the grassroots San Antonio Cerveceros organization align yet again to introduce a new generation of people to the beauty of the gardens and educate the community

By Ryan Thompson and Devin Deleon Staff Writers

on the fairly simple process of home brewing. Festival attendees are given sample tickets that are exchangeable for eightounce pours of their choice. The festival will feature 17 different breweries and over 35 local Texas beers, seven of which are “premier” exclusive beers that most cannot find at their local dive bar. This nontraditional beer festival provides a revitalizing experience of nature blended with the cool and crisp flavors of natural brew. “There is no better location in all of San

Photo by Devin De Leon

Pete Alanis, President of SA Cerveceros.

Antonio for a craft beer festival,” gushed SA Cerveceros President Pete Alanis. “The beers are what attract the people, and the garden is what wows them.” As smells of sage and rosemary permeate the air, it is hard to ignore that statement. In recent years, San Antonio’s brewery community has become very competitive, with each brewery offering unique pints to their consumers. The Brews and Bloom festival provides a non-competitive and open environment for local San Antonio breweries to not only showcase their beer but also connect with the community in a fun atmosphere. “There are a lot of reasons why San Antonio’s craft beer community is unique,” said Alanis. “A lot has to do with the people who make the beer. There is a lot of love and authenticity in the people behind that beer making process, and they are in love with this city and are contributing to this city’s overall identity. I see San

Photo by Devin De Leon

Antonio becoming a craftbeer city. At the heart of that movement, lies SA Cerveceros. SA Cerveceros was founded by home-brewer Dan Gomez, who was committed to showing others a hands-on process of home brewing. SA Cerveceros has evolved into a local nonprofit organization that supports the local San Antonio craft beer community by teaching classes in homebrewing, facilitating beer shares, sampling and providing support to local breweries. SA Cerveceros began its Brews and Blooms journey

Lush views await at The Botanical Garden.

with the Botanical Gardens in 2012 with about 500-600 guests. Now, five years later Brews and Blooms expects to welcome well over 1,200 visitors. Cerveceros has even become a gateway for past members and current members to evolve into local Brewery owners, such as its former vice president Vera Deckard who will be opening Kunstler Brewing Co. this fall. For those who plan to drink more than usual, Brews and Blooms offers a designated driver program that includes unlimited water and soft drinks to selected

festival goers who volunteer their time to facilitate safe rides home for attendees. The Brews and Blooms festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 16. According to Connie Swan, director of marketing athe botanical gardens Brews and Blooms is the perfect time to enjoy sitting outside, sampling delicious food, listening to music and spending time with friends. “Butterflies, blossoms and the beautiful setting are included,” Swan said. Don’t forget to dress to impress and prepare your palate for all the wonderful and select beers that await. Cheers!

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September, Frame by Frame 23rd annual Foto Septiembre continues to foster the art of photography in San Antonio Brandon Armstead Contributing Writer

Photo by Brandon Armstead

Rebecca Dietz’s work observed on opening night at the Presa House Gallery Exhibit

Courtesy of Foto Septiembre

Diagonal: Al Rendon (San Antonio, TX) will be displaying his San Antonio influenced works at his private studio until December 31st. Above: Rodolfo Choperena (San Antonio, TX) will be displaying his experimental abstract photography at Musical Bridges Around The World Gallery until December 31st. Left: Jennifer Shaw (New Orleans, Louisiana) brings her fleeting observations of the tangible to the Foto Septiembre online gallery. Courtesy of Foto Septiembre

On September 1, the much-anticipated photography festival Foto Septiembre returns to San Antonio, a month-long photography festival that celebrates the art of photography. Entering its 23rd year, Foto Septiembre brings together photographers and non-photographers alike, introducing people to the visual wonders of photography. The festival began in 1995 in San Antonio. Today it has spread far beyond the Alamo City to places like Austin, Kerrville, New Braunfels and the rest of the Texas Hill Country. The event officially kicked off the first Friday of September at the Presa House Gallery in the Blue Star Arts Complex. At the Presa House Gallery, the first room featured Rebecca Dietz’s work with the exhibit “Chimeric Daydreams & Aperol Suns.” Street photography has had a considerable influence on her work. “The great Henri Cartier Bresson’s ability to transform a street into something more really inspired me to take up street photography,” Dietz said. Many of Dietz’s photos were taken during a recent trip to Italy. “I use my photos to find magic in the normal world,” she said. Each image captures the wonder and beauty of Italian life while creatively distorting quintessential

Italian scenes into a dreamy atmosphere. Lights and shadows transform an ordinary scene into a fantastical moment. In the adjacent room, photographer and UTSA alumna Melanie Rush-Davis showcased her work, “Road Trip.” Davis utilizes a pinhole camera to capture her photographs, which is a lens-less box, with a pin-sized opening on one side. When light enters the camera, the light is captured on paper inside the box and thus forms an image. Many of Davis’ photos feature elements of movement. Whirls and wisps surround the subject while itt remains in full focus. “All of my life experiences led up to the moment that I captured with my camera,” she said. Dietz and Rush-Davis showcased their unique styles of photography in the opening exhibition. Both captured day-to-day activities, but with their genius, they altered landscapes and portraits into fanciful realms. The exhibition was one of many that will be shown throughout September. On Sept. 9, the Lone Star Art Place will feature works by Courtney Campbell and on Sept. 15, Chuck Ramirez’s photos will be shown at the Ruiz-Healy Art exhibit. Foto Septiembre is an international event that attracts

photographers from across the globe. This year Mexican photographer Pedro Valtierra will be featured. Festival director and creator of Foto Septiembre, Michael Mehl, formed the festival from a desire to provide photographers a larger platform to showcase their work to the city of San Antonio; to allow their work to have a lasting impact beyond the exhibit. “The best way to create context and achieve critical mass for photography exhibits in San Antonio was to produce an annual festival, a festival that would engage the community at large and would foster a community of photographers and photography enthusiasts,” Mehl said. The idea behind Foto Septiembre is to offer a forum for local photographers and to share their perspectives through their art to the community. Exhibits will be held across the San Antonio and the hill country throughout the month, at St. Mary’s University starting Sept. 7, the McNay Art Museum Sept. 13, Intermezzo Gallery Sept. 1, Digital Pro Lab Sept. 1 and various art spaces. To find out more about upcoming Foto Septiembre exhibits, visit facebook.com/ FotoseptiembreUSA/ and fotoseptiembreusa.com.

Shadow

Continued from page 5 This is especially important in a time when Hurricane Harvey, the removal of confederate statues and protests relating to immigration are testing the strength and community San Antonians share. The exhibit will feature art from local and regional artists including Fernando Andrade, David Blancas, Joe De La Cruz, Jenelle Esparza, Dan Guerrero, Patricia Guerrero, Jacinto Guevara, Joe Lopez, Christopher Montoya, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ed Saavedra, Jose Sotelo and Allison Valdivia. The “Entre La Sombra” exhibit has its opening reception on Wednesday,

Sept. 6 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will be free and open to the public through Nov. 24.While Entre La Sombra is the longest running part of the festival, there will be more events throughout the week. Friday’s event brings light to the walls of the aged missions through a restoration of fresco art projected against the walls during the Restored by Light event at Mission Concepcion. Saturday during the World Heritage festival also offers something to the active and music-loving attendee. During the morning, Mission Park Pavilion will be host to the Tour de las Misiones 5k and 10k walk as

well as the organized Bike Tour, which is divided into seven, 14 or 22 mile rides. As the evening sets a different atmosphere on the mission trail, local artists and musicians move into the picture to bring Mission Pachanga to life. Mission Pachanga, a free family-friendly event highlights the food and m,usic of San Antonio. Chulita Vinyl Club, a local latina DJ collective will be present among electro-cumbia Grupo Frackaso and other artists. The festival is closed out by a celebratory mass Sunday at Mission Concepcion. All events are free and open to all ages.

Courtesy of World Heritage Festival

Bikers take selfies as the sun rises at last year’s Tour de Las Misiones.

Courtesy of World Heritage Festival

Live music at Mission Pachanga 2016.

Courtesy of World Heritage Festival

#WorldHeritageFest bikers smile for a quick snapshot.

S EPTE M B E R 5 - S EP TEMBER 1 2, 2017

Sports Young squad aims to keep winning tradition going What to expect from UTSA volleyball in 2017

Amanda Gonzalez sets up one of her teammates. By Jose Bouquett Contributing Writer

Winning is a habit for head coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff. The Roadrunners have been a volleyball powerhouse since entering ConferenceUSA in 2013, and they will look to repeat their 2013 championship season this year. Neugebauer-Groff has led her teams to 20 wins in every season since 2013 but may be facing her toughest challenge yet. UTSA has two seniors going into their 2017 season after losing four seniors from last year’s team. Senior Marijeta Runjic was named to the 2017 Conference USA volleyball preseason team and will look to lead this team in kills. The second senior is no slouch either; Megan Slan will secure the middle for UTSA and attempt to climb

UTSA’s all-time block assist leaderboard. Slan currently sits at eighth best in program history with 105 block assists. While the seniors lead, the predominantly underclassmen team will look towards their sophomores and freshmen to step up. Freshman Hannah Froeschl could play a large role this season for the Roadrunners. In their game against Coastal Carolina, Froeschl added 12 kills to their team total. The UTSA offensive three-headed monster is rounded out with Sophomore Brianna McCulloch. The San Antonio native currently sits at 22 kills, making her second in kills through the first two games. Runjic will be the focus of UTSA’s offensive game plan, but we all know the saying about defense and championships. UTSA’s young team must play stellar defense to compete for a championship

Ethan Pham, The Paisano

this season. Sophomore Emily Ramirez has been the defensive star thus far, leading the team in digs in both contests. Not far behind and flying under the radar is junior Shelby Williams. The team began their 2017 campaign with two defeats at the hands of Costal Carolina and TCU. Their strength of schedule has increased in difficulty in the past years. They will travel to three more tournaments before their conference schedule begins. These opponents include: Minnesota, Tennessee, West Virginia, SMU, Baylor and their I-35 rivals, Texas State. These tournaments will serve as excellent measuring stick games for Neugebauer-Groff and her team as they have been tabbed to finish third in the preseason conference standing polls. The Roadrunners have a lot of potential

in their young team and senior leadership, but there are a lot of unknowns with this team. We won’t know how good this team is until they face their first true conference road test. All of the team’s underclassmen have to rise to the occasion and help both seniors to yet another 20 win season and tournament run. Realistically, their season could go in two extremely different ways. If their inexperience shows, then the team’s 20-win season streak could be in danger. However, if their youth develops into the next wave of stars for NeugebauerGroff and their star outside hitter Runjic continues to dominate, they could win the regular season, the conference tournament and claim their first NCAA tournament berth since 2013.

UTSA women’s soccer suffers fourth straight loss By Ryan Garza Contributing Writer

After three straight losses, the Roadrunners came into Sunday’s match against Oklahoma State looking to turn their luck around. However, the Cowgirls entered the contest with a no-loss 4-0-1 record. The nationally ranked Cowgirls stood in the way of a Runners’ victory. Throughout the early stages of the game, the Cowgirls were in control. The Cowgirls earned themselves two corner kicks and a shot that just missed wide left in the first ten minutes. Oklahoma State had UTSA on their heels and were able to drive near the goal several times early on in the match. The Cowgirls kept the pressure up by having repeated possession of the ball. In the 19th minute, the Cowgirls came close to a goal yet again. Anna Beffer rattled a shot off the top of the crossbar. The Cowgirls were close to scoring shortly after, but the ball was deflected by some Roadrunner defenders. Anna Beffer scored the first goal of the contest with 15 minutes left in the first half. The ball sailed through the top left

corner of the goal and UTSA goalie Michelle Cole couldn’t touch it. With time winding down in the first half, UTSA saw an opportunity to score. Roadrunner forward Harper Luczka put a header towards the goal that just missed to the right. With under a minute left in the first half, UTSA goalie Michelle Cole managed to get her hands on two of the Cowgirls shots to keep them at bay. With the many opportunities the Cowgirls saw, UTSA was lucky to find themselves down by only one at halftime. During the secong half, UTSA could no longer contain the Big 12 power-house. Right away, Claire Gantzer of the Cowgirls scored a goal off of a corner kick to push their lead to two. Minutes after the first goal of the second half, Cowgirls forward Marlo Zoller scored the third goal of the game off an assist from Anna Beffer. That goal pushed the Oklahoma State lead to three. As the match rolled along, Oklahoma State continued to dominate possession of the ball. They had a chance to increase their lead to four but the shot by Haley Woodard was saved by goalie Michelle Cole.

In the 74th minute, Woodard was able to make something happen. She dribbled the ball between two defenders and dished a nice pass to Taylor Olson who then scored for the Cowgirls, increasing their lead to four. Shortly after, UTSA’s Luczka saw a rare opportunity, but the ball was taken from her as she approached the goal. After the change of possession, the duo of Woodard and Olson struck again to further increase their lead. Woodard faked out a couple UTSA defenders on her way to assisting Olson on the goal. With under ten minutes

left to play, Taylor Olson scored her third goal of the game to earn a hat-trick. UTSA was able to hang around with Oklahoma State for the first half of the game, but Oklahoma State was in control for most of the match. The Cowgirls’ offense proved to be too much for the Roadrunners in the end, with UTSA giving up five second half goals. The match finished with a lopsided final score of 6-0. The Roadrunners (1-4) look to bounce back next Friday, when they travel to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to take on the Islanders.

UTSA defender Sarah Bayhi clears the ball.

Chase Otero, The Paisano

SE P T E M B E R 5 - SE P T E M B E R 12, 2017

Photo Courtesy of Erik Drost/Flickr.com

Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor celebrates with teammates.

MLB playoff chase heats up as season hits final stretch By Frank Leal Sports Editor

As fall approaches, so does the special time of the year where major league baseball heats up and the playoff chase gets serious. It’s the final month of the MLB season, and baseball fans everywhere anticipate plenty of action come playoff time. With less than a month of the season left, teams on the bubble of making the cut are running out of time for a playoff run. Meanwhile, top dogs such as the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers are already expected to be the number one seed in their respective leagues once October rolls around. In the American League, things are about as tight as they could possibly get in the race for the second wild card spot and last playoff berth. Although the Minnesota Twins have ahold of the spot for now, there are currently six other teams in the American League that are within four games of the Twins. Among those six are the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners and 2015 World Series champions Kansas City Royals. These teams will be coming to dethrone the Twins from the wild card spot before the season ends. Aside from the wild card spot, the three division leaders in the American League are the Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox. The Astros have the best record in the American League and are almost a lock to win the AL West division. Since their hot start to the season, fans pegged the Astros as potential World Series champions. The Astros lost their

fire midway through the season but they still look solid as of late. With the return of shortstop Carlos Correra from the disabled list, they will have a dangerous and fully healthy roster going into the final weeks of the season. As you may remember, the Indians lost to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series after seven games. At one point, they led the series three games to one. Then the Chicago Cubs stormed back to win the crown and their first championship in an incredible 108 years. After coming out on the losing end of one of the most exciting World Series of all time, Cleveland is looking to return to baseball’s biggest stage. The Indians are red hot and have won 11 games in a row. Led by all-star pitcher Corey Kluber and young shortstop Francisco Lindor, the Indians seem to be peaking at the right time. If anyone is going to challenge the Astros for the top spot in the AL, it just might be the Indians. The talk of the National League has been the Los Angeles Dodgers. With 92 wins on the season and nearly an entire month of baseball left, they are projected to finish the season with well over 100 wins. The Dodgers have the best record in baseball, and there is a unanimous agreement around the league that they are the

Photo Courtesy of Keith Allison/Flickr.com

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve slides into home.

team to beat. After a mediocre start to the season, the Dodgers exploded onto the scene and left baseball fans around the world with their jaws on the floor as they went on an incredible 44-7 stretch throughout June and July. Such a feat had never been done before, and it led many to believe that the Dodgers were well on their way to a World Series Championship. However, as the old addage goes: “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” The Dodgers have lost eight out of their last ten games and suffered their first sweep of the season at the hands of the red-hot Diamondbacks.

Although the Dodgers have cooled off considerably, they are still regarded as the team to beat. If they can return to their July form when the playoffs come around, they’ll be tough to beat. Baseball analysts and fans alike are anticipating an Astros vs Dodgers World Series matchup. But as everyone knows, once you’re in the playoffs, it’s anybody’s game. Whether you’re the number one seed or a last minute wild card spot, you have a shot. The next few weeks in the baseball world will be fun to watch as the race for the playoffs unfolds.