03.26.19 by The Paisano

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

We’re still here

Track defends Roadrunner invitational

Vol. 59, Issue 9

Est. 1981

March 26 - April 2, 2019

The Paisano

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

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UTSA partners with VIA for free transportation By Alejandro (AJ) Lopez Co-News Editor In a partnership with VIA Metropolitan Transit, UTSA will be providing free bus passes for the entire university. Beginning in the Fall 2019 semester, VIA will provide free, unlimited access to bus services located throughout San Antonio for current students, faculty and staff. All VIA buses include 4G LTE Wi-Fi and instant access to the Bexar BiblioTech e-library, allowing students and employees to stay connected while traveling. The VIA U-Pass program will be a cost saving option for the community. The program does not include charter or special event services. “With easy transportation between campuses and around the city, the VIA U-Pass will allow our campus community to fully take advantage of the educational, professional and social

opportunities at our campuses and in the city,” Clay Haverland, UTSA assistant vice president for campus services, said. In a survey conducted by the Downtown Campus Task Force, students, faculty and staff indicated strong interest in alternative transportation options between the Main and Downtown campuses. The feedback led the university to negotiate a new partnership with VIA. The VIA U-Pass program will be fully funded by the university. Campus Services’ existing budget will assume the additional expenses without increasing student fees. Currently, the Student Union (SU) sells VIA bus passes at the Roadrunner Express. According to DeShanna Rider, associate director of business operations for the SU, the Roadrunner Express will no longer sell passes due to the new partnership. “This collaboration between UTSA and VIA has given the students, staff and faculty the

UTSA and VIA partner to help students travel between campuses.

opportunity to move more fluidly between the UTSA campus and all of San Antonio with no financial impact on students,” Rider said. With the program in place, the university expects vehicular

Students for Justice in Palestine hosts vigil

traffic on and around campus to be reduced. Haverland stated that having fewer vehicles on the road will lead to reduced emissions and a smaller carbon footprint over time. Victor Rangel, a senior

Kimiya Factory/The Paisano

By Kimiya Factory Assistant News Editor On March 21, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a UTSA student organization, hosted a vigil for UTSA’s Muslim community to honor fallen victims of the March 15 massacre in New Zealand that claimed 50 lives, and injured 50 more. UTSA activists and community organiz-

ers gathered in front of the McKinney Humanities Building (MH) at noon. Students held flowers, and gathered in a circle as the president of SJP, Moureen Kaki, welcomed and thanked members of the community. Student members of other organizations came forward to ask those attending the vigil to join them in prayer and a moment of silence for the fallen victims.

Professor implements Restorative Justice Initiative

By Ryan Houston-Dial Staff Writer

UTSA criminal justice Professor Robert Rico is at the forefront of proposing the implementation of the Restorative Justice Initiative within UTSA and campuses nationwide. The Restorative Justice Initiative aims to provide peaceful conflict resolution between opposing parties before violence erupts or traditional disciplinary actions occur. Furthermore, it is increasingly used within schools to lower the risk of violence among youth minority and disability students entering the school-to-prison

pipeline. The school-to-prison pipeline involves students who get into trouble within schools and are often times met with disciplinary policies and practices leading to potential expulsion or alternative school placement. Rico expressed his concerns about the dangers of the school-toprison pipeline. “Students then have a higher chance of getting into trouble with law enforcement and being a part of the juvenile criminal justice system. Once they are exposed to the system the likelihood of the student returning back to school is very slim and

the cycle continues,” Rico said. Rico feels the Initiative will further support President Eighmy’s Initiative on Inclusive Excellence. “Building the UTSA community with an inclusive process as well as building relationships on campus [is important],” Rico said. “Often times, conflicts are a misunderstanding between groups that can be solved through peaceful dialogue.” Rico suggested that the Continued on page 2 See “Proposal aims to incorporate peaceful conflict-resolution”

criminal justice major, believes the program will be great and essential for students who lack Continued on page 2 See “Students will receive unlimited access to bus services”

Town Hall focuses on funding in Texas public schools By Joseph Torres Assistant News Editor

Students name fallen victims.

Jack Myer /The Paisano

UTSA and the San Antonio ExpressNews hosted a town hall meeting to discuss education funding in Texas at the Buena Vista Street Building Theater located at UTSA’s downtown campus on March 21. The town hall meeting addressed Texas’ school funding via property taxes and Texas’ new legislation, House Bill 3, which aims to improve the relationship between the increasing taxes that communities pay, relative to Texas’ school funding. The town hall consisted of a threemember panel: Kara Belew, senior education policy advisor for the Texas Public Policy Foundation; Representative Diego Bernal, vice chair of the house committee on public education; and Dr. Brian Woods, superintendent of the Northside Independent School District. Dr. Francine Romero, UTSA associate dean of faculty,

was the moderator. With school financing being one of the top priorities for the 2019 Texas Legislative Session, Dr. Romero emphasized that a combination of citizen demand, with the will of elected officials, should result in significant change to the current education funding system. The panel began by discussing their concerns with the relationship between education funding through property taxes that citizens pay, versus the state’s contributions through their education budget. “Many people across Texas are feeling like they are being property taxed out of their homes. So one of the things that we’re trying to urgently address is how do we lower tax burdens for Texans?” Belew said. Continued on page 2 See “Panel discusses new house bill hoping to lower property taxes for Texas residents”

Diasporic sounds across borders

Ximema Violante speaks to UTSA students.

By Jack Myer Distribution Manager Ximena Violante, a queer MexicanAmerican musician, UTSA students last week about her experience with Mexican music and culture and its fusion with other genres and cultures. Originally from Philadelphia, Violante recalled her disillusionment with music school and its academic focus on western music. As a result, Violante immersed herself

Jack Myer/The Paisano

in Latino and LGBTQ paradigms and strove to create music that combined the two to create a shared space for people of all genders and backgrounds. Much of her focus is on dismantling “machismo” -- the social construct of manliness and masculine pride that is pervasive in Latin American culture. Through music and storytelling, Violante gave the students a new perspective and blended experience of Mexican culture and inclusivity.

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UTSA The National Security Agency (NSA) named UTSA as a featured school in celebration of their partnership of over 16 years. UTSA is designated as a Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) which means the university promotes higher education and cybersecurity research. In the past year, UTSA formed the National Security Collaboration Center which increased research in cybersecurity. UTSA and the NSA are currently working on projects such as augmented reality and high-speed computing.

Texas The state of Texas sued a Houston-based company, Intercontinental Terminals, for air pollution caused by the company’s petrochemical facility catching on fire. The fire at the petrochemical facility, located in Deer Park, burned for five days. In the lawsuit, the state of Texas alleges that the fire released air pollution violating the Texas Clean Air Act.

U.S. A student who attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the school in Parkland, Florida where a mass shooting occurred last year, committed suicide on March 23. The student, a survivor of the shooting, is the second suicide reported from the Parkland high school within the last week. Sydney Aiello, whose mother reported that she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, committed suicide the previous weekend. The second death is still being investigated.

Panel discusses new house bill hoping to lower property taxes for Texas residents Continued from Page 1 Woods followed with a breakdown of how this has affected local citizens. “The way we chose, many years ago, to primarily fund schools, was via the vehicle of property tax and that has not changed in quite some time. So, back at the time when the state and local property tax payers roughly shared a 50-50 share of the cost of educating a student; that share has gone out-ofbounds significantly in recent years,” Woods said. Bernal added, “I don’t think there’s any secret that the states been divesting in public education. So, state shares have gone

from between close to 50-50, to 45, down to like 36 percent; which is why your property tax payments have gone up so much.” Texas has not been seeing the education results they expect on placement exams, so their funding has been decreasing as a result with the state cutting approximately $4.5 billion in 2013 from public education. “The other problem that we have is that we have declining student results. Right here in Bexar county, 123,000 students read below grade level, or 54 percent,” Belew said. As a result, the taxpayers have been covering approximately two-thirds of the cost of educat-

ing students, while the state covers the remaining one-third. This has created the issue of property taxes increasing across the state, forcing taxpayers to cover more of the education cost for public school students. The panel evolved the conversation into the details of the proactive measures that the state is currently taking. The introduction of House Bill 3 aims to correct the current inequality of public education funding with three measures. The first will add funding to special education programs, with rollover options that extend funds to pre-kindergarten. Next, an increase in the weight of funding on generational and geographical poverty,

based on where the students live and not where the school is located. Lastly, an increase in dual language program funding for students who speak both Spanish and English. “It’s going to be a challenge to implement but we’ve never done this before. Which sort of answers the question: should you meet the most need with the best help? Yes, you should,” Bernal said. House Bill 3 is currently on the State Legislative agenda and a decision can be expected at the end of the 2019 Texas Legislative Session.

Proposal aims to incorporate Students peaceful conflict-resolution will receive unlimited access to bus services Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1 transportation needs. “College is expensive as it is, and with providing free transportation, UTSA is taking steps in the right direction in making a student’s life and cost of attending much easier,” Rangel said. U-Pass riders must be currently registered UTSA students or full-time or part-time paid employees of the university. To board a VIA bus, riders will use the VIA goMobile ticketing app as their credential. UTSA enrollment is expected to increase to 45,000 within the next decade. Haverland states the agreement with VIA will support the university’s growth and San Antonio’s sustainable transportation goals. “UTSA is excited to move into a new era of expanded transportation,” Haverland said.

initiative will help individuals at UTSA and around the nation that aim to settle disputes between citizens and improve relationships with law enforcement. “I was a police officer for 20 years. One thing Restorative Justice did for me was it helped me build relationships a lot easier. I believe right now between law enforcement and individuals in the community there is a misunderstanding of each other. Restorative Justice is a tool to be able to have hard conversations and not be judgemental to one another,” Rico said. Several students feel the Restorative Justice Initiative will be beneficial to themselves and peers. “Restorative Justice allows a situation to receive closure on both sides. It benefits my peers and I because it allows us to see things from one another’s viewpoint,” Noah Flach, UTSA

sophomore said. “Restorative Justice will ensure student safety because diffusing a situation before it gets extreme can help avoid physical conflict,” Jené Rigaud, UTSA junior said. Rico hopes to have the program implemented within about a year. Upon implementation, student volunteers will become Restorative Justice facilitators through training. The volunteers will develop skills such as adept listening, empathy for individual’s issues and understanding of different cultures. Rico is optimistic that UTSA faculty will also be trained by the program to ensure situations in classrooms are diffused before conflict erupts.

World Protestors in Algiers, Algeria call for their current president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, an 82-year-old man who is mute and paralyzed, to step down from his position. Bouteflika has been president for about two decades and has offered to not run for a fifth term, but protestors want him to immediately leave his position. According to reports, Bouteflika has not spoken in public since 2013 when he had a stroke.

Business Tyson Foods recalled over 69,000 pounds of frozen chicken strips. According to the Federal Department of Agriculture, two people reported finding pieces of metal in their frozen chicken strips. In January, Tyson Foods also recalled about 36,000 pounds of chicken nuggets when pieces of blue rubber were found in them. The investigation on the metal in the frozen chicken strips is ongoing.

WHAT WOULD

KOLLEEN GUY

SAY IF IT WERE HER

LAST LECTURE? How to Live BIG

(by starting small) Tuesday, March 26 6 P.M. Retama Auditorium

Science Anne McClain and Christine Koch, the first all-female astronaut crew, are planned to conduct a spacewalk on March 29. The astronauts will be stepping outside the International Space Station to replace the solar array’s nickelhydrogen batteries with lithiumion batteries. Mary Lawrence, lead flight director, and Jackie Kagey, lead spacewalk controller, will guide McClain and Koch’s spacewalk.

(SU 2.02.02)

Sponsored by the UTSA chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi DR. KOLLEEN GUY

UTSA Associate Professor of History

PKP@UTSA.EDU

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editor@paisano-online.com | 3

opinion Set an expectation that really matters Editorial On March 20, UTSA posted on its Twitter account UTSA student athletes pledging to stand up and out against sexual violence, abuse and assault. Signing a piece of paper will not hold student athletes accountable for commiting physical and sexual violence, nor will it encourage student athletes to come forward to speak out against other athletes. Many student athletes may be afraid to speak out against a fellow athlete for commiting sexual violence, and signing a form to “#SetTheExpectation” will not change that — predominantly because speaking out could be cultural and career suicide. Being an athlete means being part of a team, and speaking out against a teammate for being a sexual abuser could make teammates believe that the person speaking out is a snitch. Once a person is labeled a “snitch,” he or she is not reassimilated into the team dynamic, which can cause the player to be shunned or even kicked off the team. Having student athletes sign a form about standing up against sexual violence is pointless because this form may be asking alleged abusers to call out other abusers. If a student athlete has actually abused other students, it is unlikely that they will come forward; therefore, asking an abuser to call out another abuser is hypocritical, contra-

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dictory, and counterproductive. That would be equivalent to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) pouring toxic waste into the ocean. UTSA adminstrators should focus their efforts on changing rape culture on campus, rather than focusing on requiring student athletes to sign meaningless forms. Rather than promoting catchy but meaningless slogans, such as “#SetTheExpectation,” and having athletes take a pledge, UTSA should put its efforts into meaningful educational awareness programs and campaigns to change campus culture concerning sexual assault. Decades ago the “D.A.R.E.” and “Just Say No” campaigns did not result in social change—neither will “#SetTheExpectation.”

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If not Beto, then who? Commentary

By Alex Hanks Assistant to the Editor in Chief After much speculation, former U.S. Congressman Beto O’Rourke has decided to throw his hat in the ring. This comes as no surprise, as the El Paso native had been teasing the public with announcements of exploratory committees and public appearances across the U.S. prior to the announcement. With a stacked roster of career politicians in the democratic primary race, what does this mean for Trump, and does Beto really stand a chance against the current POTUS’ impenetrable base of die-hard supporters? First, we should start off by considering the plethora of candidates the Trump presidency has created. Trump isn’t an establishment republican, and this has ignited a fire in the Democratic National Com-

mittee (DNC) and brought out some of the biggest names in modern politics. From Elizabeth Warren to former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, the roster is stacked in comparison to the 2016 race. One of my issues with Beto is his ability to spark a revolution without any substantive legislative ideas behind him. The El Paso native can brilliantly ignite a crowd in the first moments of a speech, but where he falls short is his ability to give hard facts and a full-scale plan on how he could pave a better path for the nation. Beto is young in his career; for him to really stand a chance he needs to be transparent in his plans for the first 90 days in office in addition to continuing to touch base in the rural communities Hillary Clinton neglected in 2016. Candidates Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg have been adamant about what their legislative intentions are, and are laying them out for voters

with real numbers and projections. Personally, I love Beto, and I believe he could be a good POTUS. But I am going to need to see tangible legislative plans. I love a nice feel-good story, but I won’t feel very good if Donald Trump gets a second term because certain Democratic candidates refused to give substance behind their speech. What policies would he enact to ensure women have representation and the right to make choices for their wellbeing? Is he going to work on criminal justice reform to ensure minorities aren’t targeted and sentenced for non-violent drug crimes at an increasingly rapid rate? I think you get the point. As of right now, so many Americans are scared of the future, and in this moment we need unity and a plan of action, not just one or the other. Although we, the UTSA community, already know Beto very well, it will be very interest-

ing to see the opinions formed about him from the rest of the nation. The 2020 race has birthed a new generation of “younger” faces in the Democratic Party including Cory Booker (49), Pete Buttigieg (37) and Beto (46). So it goes without saying, the Democrat who will stand the best chance to win will be the one who can create momentum behind their rhetoric and get the 18-22 age range to actually show up to the polls. Even though Bernie Sanders is making waves in the DNC, for Democrats to win this election they can’t be divided into the “Bernie or bust” and “I’m with her” movements that polarized the Democratic Party in 2016 and arguably diminished their chances at the White House. Regardless of who is facing off against Donald Trump less than two years from now, it is incredibly crucial that someone is able to unite everyone on the

left side of the political spectrum. If you thought 2016 was an important election, this time around the very fabric of American society and civility is on the line. It’s still early though, so be vigilant about each individual candidate, and make sure we get things right this time around.

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Anti-vaxxers and their false beliefs Commentary

By Donald Escamilla Jr Staff Writer Vaccinations have always been a priority for parents when it comes to the health and safety of their children. But, times are changing. Parents read anything on the internet and think it is true. For instance, there is a consistent belief among anti-vaxxers that if children are given vacci-

nation shots, they will get ADD or ADHD. It is interesting how there are parents who believe their children will get a neuropsychological disorder if they receive a vaccination. Many hospitals and universities have conducted numerous studies and confirmed that vaccines do not cause these mental disorders the parents are afraid of. A study done at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has stated that, “Parents can be reassured that vaccines do not cause ADD/ADHD or related conditions.” It is thanks to vaccines that diseases such as polio, rubella and tetanus are uncommon in school environments, keeping

children safe and disease-free. State governments are taking immediate action to oppose the rising community of anti-vaxxers. Some states are beginning to implement laws that prevent kids who have not received vaccines from entering into public schools. Many parents who are antivaccine are not happy, but it is hilarious seeing how ignorant they are. They forget that if their kid was sent to school along with other kids who aren’t vaccinated, their children are put at risk. Not to mention that most parents were vaccinated their entire lives since childhood and they were not diagnosed with a neuropsychological disorder. There have also been argu-

The implications of the New Zealand Massacre

ments that vaccines can cause autism. Anti-vaxxers believe that their ingredients such as mercury cause autism. Well the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is happy to inform the parents that mercury does not cause autism at all. The CDC states that mercury has “no link between thimerosal-containing vaccines and ASD, as well as no link between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and ASD in children.” Children have been exposed to mercury ever since they were babies; the CDC states “Babies are exposed to mercury in milk, including breast milk. Seafood also contains mercury” (CDC). People on the sidelines of

these stories see the various memes on social media. Twitter users quote anti-vaxxers and show how they feel about what they say. “We didn’t need a vaccine for the black plague because it went away.” Then someone replied, “But… it killed one-third of Europe.” This just proves that anti-vaxxers do not think before they act or speak. Vaccinate your future children everyone, or you will come to regret it.

Ballin’ on a budget Commentary

Commentary

By Cate Niegos Contributing Writer On March 15, a tragedy befell the town of Christchurch, New Zealand: 50 people were slaughtered in two different mosques by a man named Brenton Tarrant with an assault rifle. As a result, a ban on all semiautomatic weapons, high capacity ammunition magazines and parts that could modify a gun into being a semiautomatic rifle, was implemented in the country. These guns serve little purpose outside the ability to kill a mass amount of people. New Zealanders are willing to forfeit these types of guns to the government except for a few farmers who use them for hunting feral pigs that cause damage to their farms. Many New Zealanders believe that only special license-holders should carry these dangerous weapons. If only the U.S. followed New

Zealand’s lead, then maybe we could address widespread issues of extremism in our country. The videos Tarrant made of the shootings and his manifesto are also being censored by the New Zealand government. His name is not being mentioned by either the media or the New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Although extremist propaganda is being heavily censored due to fear of its ideology spreading to impressionable young people, there are still New Zealanders questioning why Tarrant’s manifesto is being censored considering they can get a copy of “Mein Kampf” at almost any bookstore in New Zealand. With various radical beliefs all around us, the question of whether to censor information from the citizens of a country is an interesting debate. Considering my beliefs, I feel I should be allowed to acquire any knowledge that I would like to have. The fact that most countries attempt to ban certain extremist

The Paisano Kenyatta Battle | Editor in Chief Editor@paisano-online.com Katrina Clements | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com Alex Hanks | Assistant to the Editor in Chief Rudy Sanchez | Assistant to the Managing Editor

News Heather Montoya | Co-News Editor News@paisano-online.com Alejandro “AJ” Lopez | Co-News Editor News@paisano-online.com Joseph Torres | Assistant News Editor Kimiya Factory | Assistant News Editor

Arts & Life Kirkland Luther | Arts & Life Editor Arts@paisano-online.com

Photo Ricky Galindo | Photography Editor Photo@paisano-online.com Ellyson Ortega | Assistant Photo Editor Jack Myer | Assistant Photo Editor

propaganda, but not all forms of extremist propaganda, leads to the question of what developed nations consider acceptable. It seems that most places find strong political beliefs acceptable while strong religious beliefs are not, as seen in the increasingly secular Western culture. The U.S. is actively against Jihadist terrorism but won’t denounce radical right-wing propaganda for fear of alienating an entire voting base—despite the rising terrorist attacks from right-wing extremists. According to a study from the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism, right-wing extremism accounted for 73 percent of extremist-related murders in the U.S. from 2009-2018. After the New Zealand mass shooting and subsequent legislation, something needs to be done in the U.S., and we can’t continue to ignore this severe problem for political reasons.

By Anish Rao Contributing Writer Whether you’re a big baller with deep pockets or a college student, everyone is looking for ways to save money. I, like most people, try to look for good food at a good price. Coupons or Groupons, it doesn’t matter as long as it saves a few bucks. Think of a date night you’ve recently had, did you spend $45, $30 or $10? The idea of spending $10 for a date on a late Thursday night doesn’t sound ideal but it’s one of the best ways to have an experience on a college budget. Recently, I went to Kona Grill with my girlfriend during happy hour and I have to tell you, it was a blast. The music was popping, a waitlist was forming and to top it all off: $1 margaritas. When I found out about this happy hour, I didn’t think it would fly with my girlfriend; however, after she ordered some drinks and an appetizer, she had a great time. When I got the check I couldn’t help but think, “That’s crazy, 10 bucks for dinner and drinks.” I think so many college students think they have to take their dates to a very luxurious place or it really doesn’t count as a night out. In my opinion, this could not be further from the truth. You both live on a college budget, so there’s really no need to go all out on a date night. In addition, you just need a good atmosphere and a place where both of you can talk to each other, since the conversation is the only thing that matters anyway. However, happy hour dates only apply to regular date nights, not birthdays, anniversaries or other major events. Although,

Sports Ryan Garza | Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com Lindsey Thomas | Assistant Sports Editor

Online Kat Joseph | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com Maha Qadri | Magazine Editor Magazine@paisano-online.com Jose Chapa | Web Editor Web@paisano-online.com

Business Will Stransky | Business Manager Business@paisano-online.com Jenelle Duff | Advertising Liaison Paisano.ads1@gmail.com Brysen Streeter | Advertising Sales Executive Ads@paisano-online.com Adrianne Kristianto | Social Media Coordinator Jack Myer | Distribution Manager

Garry LeDay | Assistant Web Editor Josh Levario | Senior Copy Editor

Advisory Board

Robin Molina | Assistant Copy Editor

Diane Abdo | Advisor Diane.Abdo@utsa.edu

if you just want to take someone out for a nice evening, then pick a place with a great happy hour and tell them they’ll love it. As an added bonus, you can spend 10 bucks on dinner and put the savings towards a movie or another activity you can both do together. So, why not make the date during happy hour?

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 Tri-point 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 © 2019, 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.

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Arts & Life We’re still here Centro de Artes gallery hosts Nuestra Latinidad artist exhibition By Sydney Jensen Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of Sydney Jensen

“Tres Flores,” 2015, Joshua Perez

he current exhibition at the Centro de Artes Gallery, “Nuestra Latinidad,” consists of artwork from four solo shows which explore identity and connection to one’s heritage and Latinx culture through photography, paintings and drawings. These shows feature pieces from artists of Mexican descent such as Delilah Montoya, Joshua Perez, Gabriel Villa and Jake Prendez. On March 21, the gallery held an artist discussion panel featuring Perez, Villa and Prendez. Additionally, this event marked the official release of the exhibit’s catalog, which contains photos of some of the pieces from each solo show and information about each artist, all written by Elda Silva. Perez is a San Antonio-based artist who began creating in high school through painting and street art. “The graffiti world was sort of like a free art school … I learned a lot about resourcefulness and just trying to take on large projects. I was really lucky to have a mentor that was a really active muralist and graffiti writer in San Antonio for a long time,” Perez said. Later on in college, street photography greatly intrigued Perez, and what started off as taking photos for class during his commute from the southside of San

“Mexican Partridge Family,” 2015, Gabriel Villa

Photo courtesy of Sydney Jensen

Antonio to downtown, soon became his passion. His exhibit, “Todo Está Bien, Everything’s Good,” features photos taken over the course of three years and are shot on 35mm and medium format black and white film. These pictures depict daily life in predominantly Mexican-American and African-American communities throughout San Antonio. Perez’ goal is to “illustrate the feeling and spirit” of the people in his photos and the community as a whole. While taking these photos, Perez learned that although the areas he was in had high crime rates and bad reputations, the people there did not mind him taking photos or having conversations with them. “I found that it was really exciting that people were willing to share themselves with me,” Perez said. Villa, another panelist, was born in El Paso and is a Chicago-based artist. He currently lives in Pilsen, a neighborhood in the lower west side of Chicago where the majority of the population is of Mexican descent. This community gave Villa most of his inspiration for his series “Human Dive.” This exhibit showcases paintings and mixed media drawings that were created over the last ten years. “I moved to Chicago … but I started to see a lot of the same issues that had to do with class and divisions. Those kinds of things began to speak to me and then I started to really focus on things that had to do with people who are marginalized,” Villa said. Villa’s exhibit also features autobiographical mixed media drawings from his “Flayed” series, which chronologically depict his journey as an artist as well as his connection to his family and environment. “When I think about vision, I don’t think artists really create necessarily with their eyesight … it’s a tool, but really it’s your brain and it’s your temperament that’s driving the overall works of art,” Villa said. Prendez was born in California and is now a Seattlebased artist. His work focuses primarily on Chicanx identity and ancestral connection. His exhibition, “Ge-

netic Memory: Xinachtli to Xochitl,” shows paintings that represent ancestral influences to the modern-day Chicano life. The name of the exhibit references the development of a seed to a flowering plant. “I get frustrated when people talk about the Mayans, the Aztecs, and the indigenous communities as extinct people. We’re not. We’re still here … We might not dress like our ancestors, but our culture survives in the way we sing, the way we dance … that’s genetic memory and it’s passed down generation after generation,” Prendez said. Prendez also uses his paintings to discuss political issues in America. For example, his art often makes references to the Dreamers and the political administration, which provoke thought and discussion about some of the issues minorities face. “Nuestra Latinidad” is free to the public and closes June 1 at the Centro de Artes Gallery, located at 101 South Santa Rosa Street by Market Square. The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. More information about this exhibition as well as other events can be found at getcreativesanantonio. com.

Never soy never

“Genetic Memory: Xinachtli to Xochitl,” 2018, Jake Prendez

Photo courtesy of Sydney Jensen

Dr. Travis Batts lectures at Main Campus on living affordable plant based diet By Julia Maenius Staff Writer The Animal Rights Club hosted a lecture with one of the Top 10 New Faces in Cardiology, Dr. Travis Batts, on March 21. Dr. Batts has been known to promote healthy living through a plant-based diet, and the main goal of his lecture was to provide a way for college students to understand their health and show how to live a vegetarian lifestyle on a budget. “[The Animal Rights Club] helped put on a vegetarian cuisine cooking class and Dr. Batts spoke at one of the classes, so we contacted him and asked if he would speak to our club about the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle,” Katie Schreiber, junior environmental science major, said. During the lecture, Dr. Batts showed

Julia Maenius/The Paisano Dr. Batts introduces a cookbook of affordable recipes

the benefits of a plant-based diet, which include cardioprotective properties such as inhibiting inflammation, boosting blood flow, reducing stress and a leaner body mass. “College students aren’t immune to the things that affect the average American,” Dr. Batts said. “The rate of diabetes has been increasing along with the intake of sodium, contributing to high blood pressure, and as [a] physician, I can’t turn my head. This is my way to indicate prevention.” Having begun his vegetarian lifestyle four years ago and lectured on plant-based diets the last two, Dr. Batts offers tips for those looking to transition into a plant-based diet. Dr. Batts suggested “Changing the Face of Your Plate,” meaning a larger incorporation of vegetables and the lessening of lean protein while still including whole grains and starch. “Often times it is the illusion of health that holds us in the mirror,” Batts said. “When I look at what is promoted to students today, I don’t think they know what damage they are doing to their bodies.” According to Dr. Batts, the implementation of a plant-based diet has been proven to increase cognition, assisting the average college student in their studies. Caffeine and energy drinks, the first things college students reach for as they pull an all nighter to study, are the leading contributors to heart disease. Incorporat-

ing a plant-based diet not only increases performance, but fuels the body. “If you have personal well-being and knowledge of where your food comes from, then you can find a certain level of comfort with [your] food,” Dr. Batts said. Dr. Batts’ main topic of the lecture was how to live comfortably on a plant-based diet as a college student. His most useful tool for students to live affordably is a cookbook for vegetarians that contains

recipes for under $5 per meal. Dr. Batts’ lecture proved that a plantbased diet can be beneficial for students; all they have to do is decide to take the jump. “I have an acronym called ICAN: insight, understand what you are doing before you do it (I); create a community (C); active, become more active within your community (A); now, you put nutrition to work (N),” Dr. Batts said.

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Big Sis Advice: Spring Cleaning

Putting the petal to the metal Badflower performs at the Aztec for “the Truth” tour

By: Kimiya Factory

By Alex Hanks

Staff Writer

Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Photo courtesy of Dominique Beltran

Alternative-indie rock band “Badflower” took over the Aztec Theatre this past weekend in a packed lineup ranging from “Nothing More” to “Of Mice and Men.” After seeing each band play, “Badflower” stood out to me in more ways than one. Aside from their instrumental skills, the lyrical depth of their songs are second to none. Their performance of their hit song “x ANA x” spoke on mental health and drug use and was backed up by exquisite drumming by Anthony Sonetti. One of the qualities that can make me a fan of an artist or band is the balance of lyrics and musicianship; this is something that Badflower manages to do considerably well. They kept a strong pace throughout the entire set. One of my biggest criticisms of live performances is the artists’ lack of stamina to sustain the energy from the first song to the last. Whether it is because the performer gets tired, or the crowd loses interest, it requires skill to keep good energy and ensure the crowd’s interest does not deplete. “Badflower” had a magnetic aura of energy that ignited and engaged the crowd in the music from start to finish. The vocals of the band’s singer/guitarist, Josh Katz, were on point and embodied the emotions behind the deeper meanings of some of the songs being performed While Katz and his guitarist counterparts, Joey Morrow and Alex Espiritu, weren’t necessarily playing the most intricate chords, the simplicity felt right and it seemed like the classic “less is more” scenario that a lot of bands have trouble grasping nowadays. Morrow is incredibly skilled and he definitely stood out as one of the most entertaining members out of all of the bands that night. Typically, when I see the show’s opener perform, it is

incredibly hard to watch them try to energize the crowd, but “Badflower” managed to do so with ease. For me, what did it was the balance of Katz’ storytelling abilities and substantial stage presence. This balance seems like it would be hard for even some of the biggest names, so I commend the band for this. While “Badflower’s” music was definitely a bit out of the realm of my usual preferred music taste, they still managed to put on a great set overall. If you are a fan of alternative-indie rock, I would encourage you to give them a listen. I would not be surprised to see them playing in arenas in the future.

Graphic courtesy of Creative Commons

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The sun finally sets later, bees are back to chasing me for my Cantu hair products and heavy coats are no longer needed; springtime has officially arrived. For whatever reason, spring is accompanied by a commercialized incentive to “spring clean.” I witnessed countless church sermons, TV commercials and casual conversations all focused on spring cleaning in a quite literal way. The socialized concept of spring cleaning is cool and all—people should dust their living spaces anyway—but after a very interesting winter, I’ve become convinced that spring cleaning shouldn’t be categorized exclusively by physical spaces around us; spring cleaning our lives, friends and partners are healthy means of self-care. In the most poetic sense I can articulate, just like the trees bloom in the spring after being unpollinated and dead all winter; our relationships with others can easily become the same. I had an amazing winter; a lot of the relationships that I maintained and found absolute comfort in, made me just that: comfortable. They were cozy, warm and familiar. I neglected my own social concept of mental cleaning, testing my boundaries and getting out of my comfort zone. I was around people a lot and never really gave myself time to listen to or laugh at my own thoughts. I even bought more pairs of shoes, knowing I had enough already. Now, I’m not saying that springtime came and I hopped out of bed with some kind of emotional awakening that made me reevaluate my 20-yearold life or anything, but nonetheless, life threw me some absolute torpedoes that made me think a little harder after recently seeing a spring cleaning commercial. So what did I do? I spring cleaned mentally, held myself accountable for my mistakes and became at peace with relationships that ended because nothing is wrong with loving somebody from a distance. Grab your metaphorical Clorox bottle and spray the corners of your mind, deep clean your life—I heard it’s worthwhile. For those of you who have a pile of clothes on your bed, Xoxo, Big Sis

Send your suggestions for Big Sis Advice to arts@ paisano-online.com

The Weekend Sherwood Forest Faire’s 10th Season! Weekends March 2 – April 21 plus Friday, March 22

March 29 - CAMMIE Awards/ Free 6 - 8 p.m. at Chris Park at Ruby City Every year, CAM recognizes excellence and diversity throughout the city’s rich landscape with the presentations of the CAMMIE Awards. March 30 - Blood Drive / Free 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Texas A&M University - San Antonio Help save three lives by donating blood to those in need. March 30 - Music: A Gateway to the Spiritual Experience / Free 1 - 4 p.m. at Retama Auditorium - UTSA Main Campus Exclusive talk and workshop with Jazz-Guitar legend and Professor Emeritus, Rodney Jones.

Less than 2 hours from San Antonio. Camping available. Contact: (512) 222-6680 www.SherwoodForestFaire.com

March 31 - Book Launch: “Michael + Josephine” / Free 2 - 4 p.m. at Galeria E.V.A Join local author, Jo Reyes-Boitel, in celebrating her first book which centers on the love between a disaster relief worker and the Archangel, reimagined as a queer woman. To feature your event in “The Weekend” email the arts editor at arts@paisano-online.com

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

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Sports Track defends at Roadrunner Invitational Roadrunners jump-start their 2019 outdoor track season

Jack Myer/The Paisano

Jake McDaniel clears the high jump pole.

By Julia Maenius Staff Writer

he outdoor track season has officially begun for the ‘Runners. Sprinting into the 2019 season, UTSA track hosted the annual Roadrunner Invitational at the Park West Athletic Complex from March 21 to 23. The ‘Runners welcomed the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, the University of

Oklahoma, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, Texas State University, Stephen F. Austin University and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The women’s team had a multitude of ‘Runners on the podium. Orla Brothers snagged the ‘Runners first gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of one minute and 0.44 seconds. The 4x400meter relay team of Erin Wilson, Brothers, Sierra Andres and Darionne Gibson reached the finish line in third with a time of 3:46.10. All-American Danielle Spence

landed her triple jump with a gold medal and the title of longest outdoor triple jump in UTSA history; Maia Campbell threw her way into third with a 53.56-meter hammer throw; Gabby Torres won the silver medal for the ‘Runners in the heptathlon. The men’s team matched the women’s, putting multiple athletes on the podium and increasing the points for the ‘Runners. Kaleb Campbell secured the first medal for the Roadrunners, placing third in the 100-meter, followed by Va-Sheku’s

bronze in the 400-meter race; Luca Chatham earned a silver in the 800-meter run and Andrew Pirog followed suit with a bronze in the 400-meter hurdles. The ‘Runners then went on to sweep the decathlon, placing Jacob McDaniel and Justin Wright on the podium in gold and silver, respectively. The ‘Runners will be racing back at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, hosted by the University of Texas from March 27 to 30.

Baseball takes series win over Rice

Jack Myer/The Paisano

Bryan Arias takes a swing at a pitch.

By Jose Bouquett Staff Writer In the 26-year history of the baseball program, UTSA had a record of 6-22 against the Rice Owls. Only two of those wins came on the road. Houston natives Karan Patel and Dylan Rock led the Roadrunners into Reckling Park and came away with their first series win against Rice in program history from March 22 to 24. Patel pitched six shutout innings for the Roadrunners and kept the game scoreless long enough for UTSA’s offense to capitalize. In the seventh inning, following a Bryan Arias triple, Rock drove in Arias with a single to open the scoring and gave UTSA a 1-0 lead. A bunt moved Rock to second where Griffin Paxton crushed a ball to right field and stretched out a triple. A wild pitch punctuated a three-run inning for the Roadrunners and gave them a 3-0 lead. Rice responded in the seventh inning with two runs, but Patel closed the door before they could tie and turned the game over to the bullpen with a narrow

3-2 lead going into the eighth inning. Hunter Mason stepped on the mound and responded with a 1-2-3 eighth inning and secured the 4-2 victory. With a 1-0 series lead, Rock made his presence felt in game two and headed a terrific offensive performance for the ‘Runners. UTSA scored in each of the first five innings and broke open a 9-1 lead. Every player ended the game with at least a hit, run scored or run batted in. Rock extended his hitting streak to 23 games by recording three hits along with two runs scored and an RBI. Left fielder Ryan Stacy gained three hits, including a double that led him to score after two wild pitches to give UTSA a 1-0 lead. Three runs in the second and two in back-to-back innings gave the ‘Runners a lead that would not relinquish behind the arm of Slater Foust. Foust worked his way out of early trouble in the first inning and retired nine of the next 11 hitters and continued to dominate as the game wore on. Jake Harrison was called upon in the sixth inning with two outs and pitched

another scoreless inning before giving way to captain Bradley Griggs to close the game. Shortstop Aldo Buendia and catcher Garrett Moon each drove in two runs and the series clinching win was never in doubt as UTSA cruised to a 9-3 win. However, the weekend did not go unblemished for the ‘Runners as Rice avoided a historic sweep at home with an 8-6 victory in game three. Fatigue set in for the UTSA pitchers and the Owls pounced on the weakened players. Mason started for the Roadrunners after his game one performance and struggled in the inning. Mason would only record one out in the third inning as Rice scored two runs before coach Jason Marshall went to his bullpen. He called upon Zach Griggs, who finished the third inning but gave up a run in the process and put Rice in the lead 3-1. Rock responded with a historic lead-off single in the fourth inning, extending his hitting-streak to 24 games. Rock has recorded a hit in all 24 games this season for UTSA and is now the holder of the second longest hitting streak in program history.

Bryan Sturges did not allow UTSA to fade away with a two-run home run to tie the game at three after four innings. Rice retaliated with a run in the fifth and sixth inning before earning a comfortable lead in the seventh inning. Three runs scored via a two-out single, which scored two and another hit scored the third run of the inning that secured a 8-3 lead which was insurmountable for the Roadrunners. UTSA showed new life in the eighth inning after a two-out RBI hit by Paxton, but a great play by Rice shortstop Braden Comeaux halted the scoring at three and UTSA went into the ninth inning with hope, only trailing 8-6. An error and walk put two men on for UTSA with one out in the ninth inning, but closer Garrett Gayle struck out the next two batters and earned a save for Rice as they took game three from the Roadrunners. UTSA, coming off a 3-1 road trip, will come back for a four-game home stand that begins with SEC titan Missouri on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.

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Athlete of the Week: Luca Chatham By Emma Reeves

Contributing Writer

Luca Chatham is graduating December of 2019, making this season his last for UTSA track. Since joining the team in 2015, he has made a name for himself with three top finishes this year. As the 2019 season continues, Chatham has nothing but high hopes and big aspirations for the future. Chatham was always an athletic child. Growing up, he loved competition and being active in any way he could. Chatham is from Dallas, Texas, where he attended Woodrow Wilson High School and ran on the track team his sophomore, junior and senior years. Originally, Chatham played basketball for his high school. He was prompted by his coach during his sophomore year to run cross country due to his excellence in the conditioning training during basketball practice. “For conditioning, we actually ran a lot more than even the track team ran,” Chatham said. “I was always beating guys like crazy on my basketball team, so they told me to go out for the cross country team, so I did that and I did well my first week.” It is not a coincidence that Chatham is an amazing track athlete, it runs in his blood. His mother, Suzanne Chatham, was inducted into the Texas

A&M Athletic Hall of Fame for her performance in the 800-meter; Chatham ran the same distance and placed at this past Saturday’s 2019 Roadrunner invitational. When asked who inspires him, Chatham said he was greatly influenced by Olympic runner Jeremy Wariner, a Texas native with three gold medals for the men’s 400-meter. “There’s an athlete named Jeremy Wariner who did the 400-meters who I really look up to. He inspired me a lot,” Chatham said. Choosing UTSA was an easy decision for Chatham. He started his freshman year with a scholarship and the opportunity to continue competing in the sport he loves at the collegiate level. He plans to graduate this December with a degree in kinesiology. The most stand-out memory of his time in track here at UTSA was traveling to Sacramento, California, for regionals last year. Chatham said it was an amazing time and something he’ll remember for a long time. One of Chatham’s favorite things about running for UTSA track has been the amount of traveling he has done. Track has allowed him to tour the U.S. free of charge. Among the places he has visited, San Francisco, California, has been his favorite so far.

When Chatham is not running for UTSA he enjoys doing anything outdoors. When he gets the chance, he can be found riding motorcycles with his father. As much as Chatham enjoys being active he also leaves time for lounging on the couch after a long day of practice. “[I’m] on my feet a lot, so sometimes it’s nice to just come home and chill out,” Chatham said. After graduation, Chatham plans on using his degree in kinesiology to continue being involved in track by coaching. Ideally, he plans on coaching at the collegiate level, but Chatham wants to share his enthusiasm for track in whichever career he chooses. In his last season at UTSA, Chatham does not plan on slowing down and aspires to make it to the final round of nationals this year. His ultimate goal is to become an AllAmerican, which would require placing in the top eight at national level. Chatham has performed very well in the 2018-19 track season and has much to look forward to. Watch him continue on his path at nationals this week, from March 27 to 30, at the University of Texas’ Invitational.

Luca Chatham runs towards the finish.

Jeff Huehn/ UTSA Athletics

THE ECKANKAR STUDENT ORGANIZATION OF UTSA PRESENTS

MUSIC—A GATEWAY TO THE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE An Uncommonly Inspirational Blend of the Spiritual and Creative

• Discover timeless tools for your artistic, personal, and spiritual development. • Gain access to unlimited creativity, guidance, love, and inspiration. • Quicken your journey of spiritual awakening for a richer, more adventurous life!

Featuring Rodney Jones, Jazz Guitarist and Professor Emeritus at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School

EXCLUSIVE PERFORMANCE, TALK, AND WORKSHOP WITH A SOUND OF SOUL PROGRAM SEGMENT

Saturday, March 30 1:00–4:00 p.m. UTSA (1604 Campus) Retama Auditorium Student Union, North Bldg., 2.02.02 Event website, including venue map and directions

Eckankar-texas.org/p/ HigherMusicInsights

A free event that includes a copy of ECKANKAR’s Spiritual Experiences Guidebook & CD Rodney Jones celebrates a long, distinguished career as a professional musician, composer, producer, and music director. He tirelessly champions the use of spiritual tools for creative living, meanwhile embracing music for its creative expression and its ability to launch musicians and non-musicians, alike, on personal, sacred journeys. Visit the link to the left to learn more about Jones. Info: 210-326-5720 or e-mail Mitziani at rbo233@my.utsa.edu