10.29.19 by The Paisano

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

Mala Luna 2019

Athlete of the week: Carl Austin III

Vol. 60, Issue 10

Est. 1981

The Paisano

October 29 - November 5, 2019

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

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UTSA proposes tuition and fees increases By Joseph Torres Co-News Editor

UTSA plans to increase tuition and fees for fiscal years (FY) 21 and 22, starting Fall 2020, with another increase set for Fall 2021. The university has consistently offered the lowest tuition and fees increase among the University of Texas (UT) System institutions. UT System institution increases have ranged from $592 to $2,414 over the past five years compared to UTSA’s $511 increase per academic year. With a deadline of Nov. 1, President Taylor Eighmy will be the final authority on which proposals to send to the UT System Board of Regents. The UT System Board of Regents will make the final decision on the proposed tuition and fees increase. UTSA is proposing a tuition increase ranging from $134.68 to $387.89 (2.5% to 7.2%) per academic year for two consecutive years. The Academic Council, University Leadership Council, President’s Cabinet and various student organizations have contributed to the tuition and fees proposal process. Due to critical needs and added services to improve students’ experiences, the following fees have been adjusted

Graphic by Jacqueline Cantu

SGA proposes budget reallocations By Heather Montoya Co-News Editor UTSA’s Student Government Association (SGA) discussed budget reallocations during their General Assembly (GA) on Oct. 24. Following SGA’s Leadership Summit and homecoming activities, SGA Chief Executive Assistant Kaitlyn Law presented a proposal for budget reallocations since some line item budgets were not completely used while others went over budget. “Going into summit, we overspent in some areas, but we have a huge chunk of money that we are able to move around in this area, in these line items, so that we can zero them out, and then we can spread the leftover money to

certain areas as well,” Law said. Some of the proposed reallocations in Law’s budget presentation included moving funds to a new directors’ line item, $1,000 to an Academic Affairs line item, $1,000 to a Business Affairs line item and $1,000 to a Student Affairs line item as well as reallocating summit and homecoming funds. College of Liberal and Fine Arts Senator Taylor Edwards also proposed to move $1,000 from the University Life Awards line item to the Judicial Branch’s elections line item. Proposals for budget reallocations can be made at any time. A second reading of the budget reallocation proposals is set to be presented at the next GA on Nov. 7.

to be included in the final proposal: Library Resource Fee increase from $5 per semester credit hour to $17 per SCH; Technology Service Fee increase from $28 per SCH to $32 per SCH; Medical Services Fee increase from $32.70 per semester to $34.25 per semester; Counseling Services will implement a $25 service extension fee; Transportation Fee increase from $20 to $35 per semester and $20 for the Summer term; Advising Fee increase from $120 to $130.80 per semester; Teaching and Learning Center Fee increase from $5 to $10 per student; and Student Data Management Fee increase from $10 to $15 per semester. Additionally, in an email to students sent on Oct. 22, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Kimberly Espy said, “Because we understand the challenges that families face, our FY 21/FY 22 tuition and fees proposal promotes affordability by further setting aside substantial aid funding to benefit UTSA students who are less advantaged financially.” This allows students to receive financial aid that covers an average of 80% of the cost of attendance if their median household income is less than $50,000 per year.

Active Minds hosts suicide prevention exhibit

By Josh Peck Assitant Managing Editor

Active Minds hosted the Send Silence Packing exhibit on Oct. 28 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Sombrilla for destigmatizing mental health and bringing awareness to the issue of college suicide. The exhibit featured 1,100 backpacks donated from friends and family members of people lost to suicide. The backpacks represent the number of college students who die from suicide each year. Many backpacks included personal stories from the friends and family of those who were lost. Visit paisano-online.com to read the full story on the Suicide Prevention Exhibit.

Student organization assembles suicide prevention display.

Josh Peck/ The Paisano

Students express opposing views Man throws on abortion unknown liquid on UTSA students By Breahna Luera Assistant News Editor

Love of Truth Ministries volunteers displayed images of fetuses to aid in explaining their views on abortion in the Sombrilla Plaza on Oct. 23. “We think it’s an atrocity that so many babies are being killed through the act of abortion,” Kristi Chandler, volunteer at Love of Truth Ministries, said. “We would like to ultimately prevent abortions from happening.” #ChangeRapeCulture, UTSA Spectrum and UTSA’s Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter held a counterprotest against the ministry and their message about abortion. “[The counterprotest] was a good effort to turn this pro-life atrocity of an event into a pro-choice rally,” Xenia Flowers, co-leader of UTSA Spectrum, said. “I think the effect of [the counterprotest] is to effectively distract [Love of Truth Ministries] from being able to talk to students who would be more susceptible to their propaganda.”

By Heather Montoya Co-News Editor On Oct. 11, two UTSA students reported separate incidents to the UTSA Police Department in which a man threw a liquid on them while on campus. The suspect was identified and is not associated with UTSA. The suspect was issued a citation and a criminal trespass warning prohibiting him from UTSA property. Since the students did not press charges against the suspect, the liquid was not analyzed to determine the type of substance. Students gather and exchange viewpoints.

Breahna Luera/The Paisano

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opinion Stop glorifying “busyness” Editorial Some students often unnecessarily describe themselves as busy to the point of it encompassing their personality. Seemingly never-ending to-do lists, overwhelming course loads and struggling to maintain an active social life can be very trying on one’s mental health and general well-being. Despite your major or classification, being a college student is challenging for everyone. Yet, students battle over whose to-do list is longer and who has accomplished the most in the least amount of time. However, this behavior inhibits our capability to maximize our productivity, and it ultimately holds us back from accomplishing our goals while taking care of ourselves. By comparing our “busyness” and competing with each other to discover who is busiest, we inevitably engage in social comparison. American psychologist Leon Festinger coined social comparison theory. Better Help defines it as determining “our own social and personal worth based on how we stack up against others. As a result, we are constantly making self and other evaluations across a variety of domains (i.e., attractiveness, wealth, intelligence, success, etc.).” Social comparison establishes an unrealistic expectation for individuals who compare themselves to others’ accomplishments and failures. When students engage in competitive social behaviors like comparing course loads, schedules and employment, they are striving for a goal that is not always achievable. Social comparison can be harmful by making these comparisons and letting our inner-saboteur critique us too harshly. Setting aside time for ourselves is necessary and should not be viewed in a negative light like it often is. Ideally, we should treat being busy as a shared struggle, and not as a competition. “Busyness” should not be glorified, as each of us is carrying a different and unique weight. Knowing our limits, being responsible, and, most importantly, taking care of and being gentle to ourselves are the keys to mental health. Competition is part of life, but unhealthy self-imposed competition benefits no one — especially college students, who may be facing some of the most daunting challenges in their young lives.

Illustration by Amber Chin

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When will UTSA intervene? Commentary

By Xavier Richardson Copyediting Coordinator In an environment where college students desire to express their views on controversial topics and practice free speech, rallies and protests are common occurrences on campus. Often, these public displays happen the same way: an organization takes a controversial stance, students get upset, an opposing organization arrives to protest, and it peters out after a few hours. The event disrupts campus for about a day, but the consequences can stay in the minds of those involved forever. College students have become conditioned to constant involvement in an ideological war with one another. Unfortunately, UTSA gives little regard to those who are stepping foot on campus for the first time, especially minors. On Wednesday, Oct. 23, Love of Truth Ministries, an outside, pro-life organization, displayed graphic images of aborted

fetuses captioned with the trimester in which the abortion occurred, obstructing many students’ paths on their way to class that afternoon. Kristi Chandler, a volunteer with the organization, offered justification for these images by saying, “A lot of students will not engage with us, and so if they walk past a sign and they see the truth of what abortion really is, that’s a way for us to get the truth to them without speaking because some just walk away; they don’t want to hear what we have to say.” These images captured the attention of many people on campus, including that of touring middle school students passing through the Sombrilla. As part of UTSA’s Institute for P-20 Initiatives, students from grades K-12 are led across campus in guided tours to show them what UTSA has to offer. However, some tours did not go smoothly. Love of Truth Ministries’ members approached a group of middle school students and even attempted to distribute flyers to them.

I researched university policies regarding obscene content. This search brought me to Section 9.37 of the UTSA Handbook of Operation procedures, which states, “No person, including a student or university employee, shall distribute any petition, handbill, object or piece of literature; post or carry any sign, placard or banner; or engage in speech or conduct on property or in buildings or facilities owned or controlled by UTSA if it is obscene, unlawfully defamatory, or directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action.” Thus, the display of the previously referenced images is in direct violation of this policy because any reasonable person would identify the images as obscene. That a group like Love of Truth Ministries is allowed to table and display obscene content on campus is concerning enough. However, the involvement of minors who are on campus is completely unacceptable. Children should not be

subjected to enlarged photographs of bloody fetuses, much less engage with the individuals responsible for providing those images. UTSA administration should step up, abide by their policies and shut down obscene displays by groups such as Love of Truth Ministries to protect the minors visiting campus and the university from the consequences of future obscene displays.

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Battle of the holidays Commentary

By Jacqeuline Cantu Contributing Writer Aren’t October, November and December the greatest months of the year? When they roll around, we are gifted with holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas — each taking place one after the other. Many people feel that these holidays make the last quarter of the year fly by. They are incentives to finish the year strong. However, these months bring a lot of tension as people fight over whether Halloween or Christmas is the better holiday. I find both holidays really fun! As the old Twitter proverb goes, “Why pit two powerful women against each other?” If you think about it, Halloween and Christmas share a lot in common — there’s no contest! But if there was a contest, it would consist of three categories: sweets, outfits and decorations. Let’s start with sweets: Halloween and Christmas-themed treats take over market shelves when the two holidays are in season. Obviously, Halloween allows the chance for trick-or-treating, and there’s no escaping the fact that candy magically appears everywhere the second September ends. As for Christmas, who doesn’t go crazy when fancy chocolates are suddenly at the entrance of grocery stores? You’d be a liar if you said you’ve never gifted or received sweets as Christmas gifts. I’d say when it comes to sweet treats, Halloween and Christmas tie for first place. Up next is the outfits category. I know what you’re thinking: There is no reason to dress up for Christmas. Think again. You mean to tell me that you consider your outfit for Christmas dinners, par-

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ties or cards as everyday attire? These holidays are a perfect excuse to dress up. Similarly, there’s Halloween, which everyone knows is the prime time to dress in costumes. So these two types of outfits aren’t necessarily the same thing — who cares? These two occasions call for dressing up in a way that you normally wouldn’t. Once again, Halloween and Christmas tie in this category. Last but not least is the decorations category. Anyone who is a true fan of either holiday knows that this category is the most exciting and important. No one has a better reputation than someone who can deck out their home with the scariest Halloween decorations or the coziest Christmas decorations. Target’s dollar section reaches its peak when October and December come around, and you can’t convince me otherwise! I think the most interesting part about Halloween and Christmas decorations is how similar they are. They both share inflatable lawn decorations, LED/string lights and themed household knick-knacks. With the exception of the famous Christmas tree and a few key characters, decorating your home for Christmas or Halloween is roughly the same thing. You hate to see it folks, but we have another tie. Spooky season and winter season are both fun in their own ways, but they share many similarities. If you want to go all out for Halloween, go for it! If you’d rather give your energy to Christmas, do it! Why make everything a contest? And to those of you who don’t celebrate either holiday, forgive those of us who take them a little too seriously.

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In the largely uncontested debate of whether or not college students should still trick-or-treat, with most on the side of “not,” students with disabilities aren’t considered. Last Halloween season, a Facebook post by Alicia Plumer went viral as she announced her 21-year-old autistic son BJ would be trick-or-treating with a blue pumpkin bucket to indicate his neurodiversity, a difference that plays a factor in his timeless love for Halloween. While Plumer did not disclose if BJ was a student, it would be incorrect to assume college students with disabilities don’t exist. More universities are beginning to develop infrastructure for these individuals such as, sensory rooms, which are specialized areas where various stimuli engage an individual’s senses to be engaged in a safe, personalized way. In March of this year, Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, became one of these universities when its Student Government Association passed a resolution to create a sensory room for its campus. These rooms are especially helpful for students with autism as the overstimulation of senses is inevitable in a high-stress college environment. The push towards the creation of sensory rooms on college campuses indicates the existence and prevalence of students with autism in higher education. Similarly, for the Fall 2019 semester, Texas A&M University launched Aggie Academic Courses in Higher Inclusive Education and Vocational Experiences (ACHIEVE), Texas’s first inclusive, fouryear postsecondary education program for young adults with intellectual and

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Trick-or-treating for all

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developmental disabilities, or IDD. There are currently five students involved in this new program who live in A&M’s residence halls and have access to all campus activities. That means that those in the Aggie ACHIEVE program interact with their peers without IDD daily. Currently, there is no program specifically for people with IDD at UTSA, but with Aggie ACHIEVE leading the way in Texas, there’s no telling how many similar programs will appear throughout the state. All of this is to say that many people with disabilities affecting their cognitive function are already college students, and more will pursue higher education as programs, facilities and resources improve and become more readily available. A student with a disability that makes learning difficult may overcome that challenge and now or one day be one of your peers, and some of them may want to trick-or-treat. Of course, everyone, disability or not, has different interests. BJ loves Halloween because it excites him, not because he has autism. His neurodiversity may influence his level of enthusiasm and desire to trick-or-treat, but it’s not the cause of his passions. During this Halloween season, you may see a blue pumpkin bucket used by some trick-or-treaters, young or old, students or not, to indicate their autism diagnosis. There also may be some individuals with autism who don’t use a specific candy tote, so their disability won’t be immediately apparent. And, yes, there may be some neurotypical college students looking to relive their younger years and cash in on the opportunity to grab some free sweets. In any of these cases, you can’t be sure of these trick-or-treaters’ backgrounds, so in the interest of inclusivity, let college students trick-or-treat judgment-free. If it were socially acceptable, you’d dress up for the free candy, too.

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 At the heart of Gold

Our insight on Larry Nassar and the cost of success

By Sofia Garcia & Christina Troy Assistant Arts & Life Editor & Staff Writer To increase sexual violence awareness, UTSA’s Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Consultation and Empowerment Center hosted a screening of the HBO documentary “At The Heart of Gold.” The documentary shared stories of over 150 brave women who made the choice to come forward about the abuse they endured for years by Larry Nassar, the official trainer for USA Gymnastics. The film’s screening plays an important role in the process of dismantling rape culture and the stigma surrounding sexual abuse on college campuses. The system undoubtedly failed these innocent women by allowing an antiquated narrative to influence those in positions of authority. Denied, shamed and dismissed by deplorable people like Kathie Kages, a former coach, the gymnasts persisted and their voices were finally heard. Knowledge of Nassar’s abuse became public when Rachael Denhollander, former Michigan gymnast, shared her story with “The Indianapolis Star.” “The Indianapolis Star’s” investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against gymnastics coaches across the country sparked this accusation and USA Gymnastics’ neglect of these allegations. Denhollander saw an opportunity to be believed about her abuse, as did another former gymnast who also came forward anonymously. They both contacted The Indianapolis Star, and their testimonies turned into the first public article about Nassar’s abuse. “Over a 10-year period, USA Gymnastics compiled sexual misconduct complaints on 54 coaches. They refused to release those files,” Tim Evans, narrator of The Indianapolis Star investigation video “Out of Balance,” reported. But these weren’t the first accusations. Many gymnasts talked amongst each other and to their coaches and parents about Nassar’s pseudo-medical procedures. Most of the girls reassured each other that these procedures were being performed on them as well, forcing them to think that what they were enduring on a daily basis was “normal.” Often, elite gymnasts practice upwards of 30 or 40 hours per week. Because of this, many gymnasts spend more waking hours with their coaches than their own parents. This workload can make it especially difficult for these gymnasts to return home and share their trauma incurred at practices. Those who did usually received

parental support, but this support amounted to little. One unnamed former high school athlete, with the help of her mother, reported Nassar to police in 2004, but to no avail. No charges were ever filed. In fact, police forced the athlete to meet with Nassar, who blamed her for not being comfortable enough with her body to endure his “well-known” medical procedure. Abuse in gymnastics is not only common; it is rampant. And it’s not limited to sexual abuse. Verbal and mental abuse are routine coaching tactics that produce a handful of elite-level athletes at the expense of hundreds of other gymnasts who aren’t able to cope. I Christina Troy, former acrobatic gymnast, experienced first-hand the effects of abusive authorities in the sport. My personal story provides another perspective on the abuse acrobatic gymnasts undergo during their careers and how often neglect occurs, which is similar to the situation the artistic gymnasts faced. The culture of gymnastics is selfless. When I say ‘selfless,’ I mean you’re never working for yourself. You’re working for your coach and their athlete track record. You’re working for your parents who are financially and emotionally invested in your success. You’re working for your younger self and their dream, though the passion behind that dream was crushed after years of abuse. My coach’s abuse included name-calling, yelling at athletes across the gym, neglect of athletes who weren’t performing optimally due to physical injury or an off day and constant surveillance through the gym’s security cameras. In addition, my coach had talked at length with his athletes about how they wouldn’t reach their goals because they weren’t trying hard enough. All of these experiences caused me to develop severe anxiety and orthorexia, an eating disorder that causes the person to only eat foods they’ve deemed “healthy.” This list of “healthy” foods tends to be extremely short and specific. At a few competitions, I received a score deduction for being overweight. I was told by a different coach, my coach at the time, to lose weight, and so I did, but it was in a healthy way. When I switched gyms and started training under an abusive coach, I took losing weight too far. It was the only thing I could control.” Not only did the documentary shed light on abuse in gymnastics of all realms, but it allowed its viewers

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to make note of what an abuser can look like. Nassar’s grooming process was mentioned frequently. His “charming personality” was simply a ploy to lure in young gymnasts and continue his abuse in secret. Many women referred to Nassar as their friend; he was the only “nice guy” around. There were also women who reported they texted Nassar daily and he knew exactly what was going on in their personal lives. Being verbally abused by their coaches every day cultivated a hostile environment, pushing gymnasts into his office and further perpetuating this vicious cycle of abuse. Nassar denied any wrongdoing and against a highly-revered Olympic trainer’s word, and these girls’ testimonies did not stand a chance. Many of the abused gymnasts joined the #MeToo movement by tweeting the hashtag, publicly sharing their stories of abuse at the hands of Nassar or becoming an advocate against sexual abuse. “Believe women” has become a rallying cry for this movement. These athletes were believed — only after over 150 of them gathered in a courtroom to share their testimonies of abuse. The documentary’s screening fostered a conversation about an underrepresented group of athletes and the disgusting dismissal of their voices. Audience members were astonished by the situation’s severity. The PEACE Center at UTSA serves a similar purpose. They are “a dedicated resource on campus to provide information, resources, training and advocacy for members of the UTSA community who may have been impacted by sexual misconduct, relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment and/or gender-based discrimination.” Students need not worry about any private information being stored into a database or publicly shared, as all conversations at The PEACE Center are kept confidential. The Center is located at the Rowdy Wellness Center and is available to all UTSA members.

A profession of creativity Solidifying a career in graphic design By Kasandra Parker Staff Writer Graphic designer and marketing major Rachel Catalano is a recent graduate of Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Just shy of two years graduated from college and immersed in her career field, Rachel has seen much success in her ability to find full-time jobs. She currently works as a graphic designer for The Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas. Throughout her undergraduate career, Catalano worked hard at honing and perfecting her craft and pending much of her college career in a competitive program building experience and making valuable connections in the marketing and graphic design field. Catalano’s first major job outside of college was an unusual experience. “I was lucky enough to be a part of a degree program that dedicated the final semester to what was called an ‘Exit Review.’ This is an event where the graduating class at the time is tasked with building their own website and showcasing a digital portfolio to potential employers,” Catalano said. This program, while difficult to manage during her final semester, spurred Catalano to success, helping her unlock confidence in her ability to create. “Had I not given it my all ahead of time, I don’t believe my portfolio would have been as successful. I knew at the time that the position I had just accepted was not the dream, nor did it sound all that stimulating, but I knew I had to start somewhere, and turning it down would have been a missed opportunity to gain experience in my field,” Catalano said. Catalano has learned a lot outside of college and acknowledges most people’s experience will not come from what they learn from their professors but

from the resilience and fortitude found from within oneself. “I was taught a lot of things in my program that don’t necessarily always apply to my experiences, and I will catch myself getting upset because of it. It can feel like a broken promise. But even though my experiences have not been what I expected, I have learned to adapt because of them,” Catalano said. Rachel’s experience in the job field has been an unexpected blessing. She was given the opportunity to establish herself as an individual outside of college and figure out who she is as an artist and a professional. I love what I do. I love that it keeps me on my toes, lets my creativity breathe, and that is what matters to me at the end of the day,” Catalano said. Finding a job outside of college can be a scary and frustrating process, but it is important to leave most of the progress up to chance. “Go with the flow! Take what you can get. You never know where it might lead you. You don’t have to get it right the first time. I definitely didn’t, but I truly believe had I not taken that job that was less than ideal, I wouldn’t have gained a specific skill set that then gave me the opportunity to apply for a better job,” Catalano said. Rachel’s let-it-be attitude comes from a couple of years of practice searching for jobs as a post-grad student. “Never feel like you have to stay in a situation you don’t thrive in. Never once while I was at school I was told to look into the museum world for an opportunity. I was told a design firm was my only ticket to love my job and that definitely is not the case,” Catalano explained.

From one student to another, Catalano’s advice comes from a place of experience and collaboration with her peers. Through her post-grad journey, she has learned many lessons and taken many valuable steps in her undergraduate years that have equipped her with the tools for surviving in the career field after college. “Something that I never thought would be as valuable as it was, was communication with my peers. Conversation with one another ended up being one of the most valuable lessons I learned. Without conversation, connections will never form,” Catalano said. Catalano’s story is not a way of idealizing her as the model for success since success looks different for everyone. Instead, students can look to Catalano’s journey as a personal testimonial to what is possible when hard work, determination and thoughtful choices are made. Life after college does not have to be scary or intimidating. Students do not have to resign themselves to the belief that jobs are not out there for them, because like Catalano and her job at The Witte, students are the future of many businesses and institutions. Instead of letting fear lead the way, we should rejoice in the knowledge that great things, big or small, can be achieved. Work hard, celebrate each victory and remember: We are the future. Check out Rachel’s Instagram to see her retro designs with a modern twist: @rcatalanoo

Photo Courtesy of Rachel Catalano

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Crossing over

Midnight Paranormal Society Investigates Spaghetti Warehouse By Kimiya Factory Staff writer It is no secret that college students have regular occurrences with hauntings in student apartments. Do you have a friend who needs help and thinks that no one will believe them? San Antonio’s Midnight Paranormal Society will. On Oct. 26, San Antonio’s top non-profit paranormal investigative team, Midnight Paranormal Society, hosted a live tag-along paranormal investigation at the historic Spaghetti Warehouse. “Spaghetti Warehouse was opened in 1972, but before it was a restaurant, the building was a shoe factory,” Shelby Ramzinski, service manager of five years, commented. “I’ve seen orbs in camera monitors when I’m closing; I always feel like something’s watching me.” Ramzinski and other employees report seeing the spirit of a child who plays between the barstools and resides in the front restroom. MPS is composed of field investigators and clairvoyants that use technology such as team live streaming video, a spirit box used to communicate with the paranormal, EVP sessions and other electronic tests to survey energy levels or temperature changes in order to rule out any scientific explanation for strange phenomena that occurs. Founded in April 2008, Mike Cardenas makes one thing clear about the organization: they are here to help anyone who needs it. “The reason I founded MPS was because when I was younger, my family was visited by the

paranormal when a neighbor of mine came over and played with a ouija board in my home, leaving a portal open. After that occurred, it made me want to found MPS with like minded individuals who can help those who have experiences with the paranormal, bringing awareness and being there to show people that we are a walking testimony of these things existing,” said Cardenas. Having investigated over 40 cases in the San Antonio area, MPS investigates their clients’ locations and offers cleansings for those seeking answers for unprecedented occurrences. On Saturday, MPS hosted an evidence presentation, Q&A panel and a tag-along investigation at midnight for curious attendees of the event. The five-hour investigation revealed more than one spirit’s presence, including live evidence of the reported child’s spirit. Cardenas wants to remind San Antonio residents, “If you’re ever in need of our assistance, it’s free of charge. Know that no matter how severe the experience, we’re going to be there from beginning to end.” Contact information: Email: paranormalmps@gmail.com Facebook - Midnight Paranormal Society Youtube - Midnight Paranormal Society Kimiya Factory /The Paisano

Mala Luna 2019 Miguel and others light up San Antonio By Ellyson Ortega Assistant Photo Editor

Veteran R&B artist, Miguel, headlined Mala Luna for the first time. His performances were sonically pleasing with the tracks “Criminal,” “How Many Drinks,” “Do You,” “Coffee,” “Adorn,” “Waves,” “Pineapple Skies” and “Sky Walker.” During his performances, he spoke about his background and how he became an entertainer. Miguel was also kind enough to remind the crowd to stay safe and responsible. Towards the end of his performance, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to Miguel as he turned 34 years old on Oct. 23. Miguel even came down to greet the audience and finished his performance alongside his fans.

Ellyson Ortega /The Paisano

For exclusive Paisano coverage on Dababy, Playboi Carti, Diplo, Megan the Stallion and more — visit paisano-online.com/arts

Column: Between the Lines The Haunting of Hill House By Paris Cantu Contributing Writer Like most women writers in the 1950s, Shirley Jackson was shoved under the literary rug for most of her lifetime. Since then, her shorter fiction has gained traction in the standard English studies curriculum. Although most of her short fiction and novels remain unread and unstudied by the masses, new editions of her work have been published in the last few years. Throughout her writing career, she wrote six novels and more than two hundred short stories. Mother of the American gothic, Jackson’s fiction fixates on horror and mystery. Often considered the inception of the haunted house story, Jackson’s 1959 novel, “The Haunting of Hill House,” is damp with horror and vague paranormal happenings. Jackson manages to riddle the reader with fear and anxiety without explicitly identifying the sources of terror. She relies heavily on the humanistic aspects of paranormal activity and capitalizes on the feelings that the haunting induces, rather than the haunted events themselves. Jackson writes in third-person omniscient to tell the story of Hill House and the four people who briefly reside within its rotting walls. It is written in gothic tradition but only in its sensibilities, and it lacks the overwritten drama associated with most horror novels spawned from Jackson’s influence. The hauntings orbit Jackson’s protagonist, Eleanor Vance, who “could not remember ever being truly happy in her adult life.” Jackson introduces Eleanor with a lack of mood associated with her duty as protagonist. Eleanor is reserved and appears to be

missing a stable emotional position within the world. The storyline focuses on Eleanor’s insanity and her descent into complete madness throughout the novel. She lies about her age and repeats the same few lines from Shakespeare’s “The Twelfth Night, or What You Will.” Eleanor often finds herself in trances of reassurance, focusing on her individuality or what she calls, “a complete and separate thing…individually an I, possessed attributes belonging only to me.” As Eleanor burgeons into a new individuality, she quickly loses it as her and the house oscillate between identities and consciousness. Jackson’s opening paragraph sets the tone for the rest of the novel. It serves as a warning to the reader, by putting forth all that Hill House is, including its existence as “not sane.” In the first sentence, the paragraph foreshadows Eleanor’s inability to “exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality.” Despite the use of foreshadowing, Jackson leaves much to question, even upon reaching the end of the novel. The paragraph consists of three clauses, each one ending with a semicolon. It is widely regarded as the greatest opening paragraph in literature. The novel ends with the beginning; the opening and ending paragraphs are nearly identical. Jackson leaves the reader to question this: Was the haunting brought to Hill House, or had it been there all along?

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sports@paisano-online.com | 7

Sports Men’s Basketball on the brink of new season Roadrunners set to face off against the Dustdevils

pete for regular season Conference-USA championship, which is more difficult than the conference tournament.” The ‘Runners will face the University of Oklahoma early this season before settling into a streak of small school matchups prior to their C-USA debut against the Florida Atlantic University Owls. “It’s always the next one,” Henson said. “This is the third year we are playing Oklahoma, and they have a lot of excitement around their program, but then the next one will be the most important game at that point.” After saying goodbye to multiple crucial players last season, the ‘Runners are looking to incorporate their new players into their routines to achieve their conference goals. “We have recruited high-character guys, and it makes it a pretty easy transition for the new guys coming in,” Henson said. “We have a pretty diverse group. We have some international students, some Texas kids and kids from all over the country, but our culture is good right now. The returners have done a great job of helping those new guys feel comfortable.” The ‘Runners will be facing the Dustdevils at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, for their season premiere in the Convocation Center.

By Julia Maenius

Assistant Sports Editor

he UTSA men’s basketball team will begin their 2019-20 season on Oct. 30, in the Convocation Center against the Texas A&M International University Dustdevils. The Roadrunners will welcome back seven of their players from the 2018-19 season, including stand-outs Jhivvan Jackson and Keaton Wallace. With a predominantly upperclassman team, the ‘Runners will be focusing on the Conference-USA championship. “We got a lot of our scorers and talent back,” head coach Steven Henson said. “We do have quite a few newcomers as well, but we are putting a big emphasis on defensive rebounding right now.” The ‘Runners are welcoming five newcomers to the team this season with multiple freshmen and junior college transfers. “The two guards will bring something different to the team,” Henson said. “You’re going to have some great days and some tough days too.” The team’s goals have remained consistent from last season, competing in the CUSA tournament and ultimately winning a championship. “We’ve got so much talent,” Henson said. “We want to be competing for a conference championship. We want to com-

Keaton Wallace drives to the basket around the St. Edwards defense.

Lindsey Thomas/The Paisano

Soccer keeps tournament hopes alive

Jordyn Lacey brings the ball up the field.

By Tyler Pakulak Staff Writer The ‘Runners looked forward to continuing their winning streak this past weekend when they traveled to the East Coast to take on Old Dominion University and the University of North Carolina

Julia Maenius/The Paisano

at Charlotte. The soccer team entered Friday’s game against ODU (8-3-4, 2-3-2 CUSA) riding a three-game win streak in an attempt to make a final push towards qualifying for the Conference-USA (CUSA) tournament in Denton. The game, however, did not go according to plan.

The ‘Runners fell 3-0 to the Monarchs and 7-7-1, 3-5 in C-USA. The first half was quiet for the ‘Runners, who only put up two shots, while ODU managed to get off 15 shots — luckily, no goals were allowed. However, the wheels came off in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Allie Brimmer put ODU on the board with a goal from the top of the box that found the far corner. Seven minutes later, Kyra Ricks added the second goal for the Monarchs when she took the ball from the ‘Runners and smashed the ball over Sophie Millich, off the crossbar and into the back of the net. The Monarchs sealed the victory with a goal in the 77th minute. The Runners looked to bounce back on Sunday when they traveled to Charlotte (12-3-0, 7-1-0 C-USA). In the 15th minute, the ‘Runners used excellent teamwork to pass the ball around in the box and get a shot off, but luckily, the rebound off the keeper’s save was not cleared and Isa Hernandez pounced on it and gave the ‘Runners the 1-0 lead.

The 49ers would tie the game in the 74th minute, from a corner kick that was not cleared when Maddie Bragaw flicked the ball into the net. A minute later, the ‘Runners scored the game-winning goal. Lexi Bolton fed a corner kick into the box, and after a series of touches, Harper Luczka got a foot on the ball and found the net for her first goal of the season. The Roadrunners improved to 8-7-1, 4-5-0 C-USA and handed the 49ers their first loss since week one of C-USA action, snapping the 49ers seven-game winning streak and keeping the ‘Runners’ hopes for a birth in the C-USA tournament alive. The ‘Runners return to action for their final game of the year on Friday when they travel to El Paso to take on the University of Texas at El Paso. A win against the Miners would put UTSA ahead in the standings to secure the final 8th spot in the C-USA tournament. A win against UTEP, followed by losses or draws from both Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech, would all but guarantee UTSA a spot in the tournament.

Looking towards the Aggies By Lindsey Thomas Photo Editor The Roadrunner football team (3-4) will make their way to College Station, Texas on Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. to play against the Texas A&M Aggies (5-3). The last time these two faced off was back in 2016 when backup quarterback Jared Johnson threw for nearly 200 yards in a 10-23 loss against the No. 22 Aggies. First-round draft pick defensive end, Marcus Davenport, recorded 11 tackles and a sack while safety, Nate Gaines, added 10 tackles as well. The ‘Runners are coming off a good win for their homecoming game against the Rice Owls (0-7, 0-3) 31-27. Lowell Narcisse passed 212 yards and two touchdowns. Narcisse completed 19 of 29 passes (64.5%), posting his season high. At the half, Rice held a slim 1-7 advantage over the ‘Runners. Zakhari Franklin added in four interceptions for 26 yards. Carl Austin III paced the ‘Runner defense with six solo tackles. The Aggies faced Mississippi State Uni-

versity on Oct. 26. The Aggies found their groove playing offense. Since the Southeastern Conference play, the Aggies ended the game with 441 total yards, 234 passing and 207 rushing. The Aggies converted eight of 11 for 72.7%. They won 49-30 over Mississippi State. The ‘Runners are currently averaging 180 yards rushing this season and have 1,261 yards total through the first seven games. A big part of that has been attributed to running back Sincere McCormick who was recently named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Midseason Watch List. He has accounted for 567 yards on 97 touches and has found the end zone six times this season, a team high. On the defensive side of the ball, the ‘Runners defense currently ranks fourth in Conference USA and 19th in the nation when it comes to passing yards allowed in a game. Through seven games, they have only allowed 1,286 yards and averaged 183 yards per game.

Nick Locken energizes the crowd at the start of the fourth quarter.

Ethan Gullett/The Paisano

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Athlete of the Week: Carl Austin III

Carl Austin III enters the field prior to kickoff.

Lindsey Thomas/The Paisano

By Lindsey Thomas Photo Editor

Safety for UTSA football Carl Austin III grew up in Austin, Texas and played football for St. Stephen’s Episcopal School. Austin graduated in 2014 and was instantly recruited to UTSA. “St. Stephen’s prepared me for life in general, especially for college,” Austin said. “Writing skills at school and the skills to excel in the classroom as a student and in football — that prepares any player for life.” Football has been a part of Austin’s life since he was four years old. He believes it to be the best team sport because it teaches resilience and team-building. “High school ball and the coaching staff prepared me for college football and life in general,” Austin said. His heroes are his family. Austin relies on his dad for support on and off the field, and he goes to him for everything. His little brother is someone he looks up to because he still teaches Austin new life lessons. Last year, Austin was recovering from a torn ACL, which was mentally tough on him. His family and teammates helped him through this injury the most. They supported him through the healing process and pushed him to keep succeeding in school as his body recovered. “Sometimes those days being injured were tough, but

Commentary

they helped me out to get me to where I am right now,” Austin said. Austin’s first visit to UTSA was with former UTSA football coach Larry Coker. When he came to visit, Austin said the university felt like home. “It wasn’t too close to Austin, but it wasn’t too far,” Austin said. UTSA’s biggest draw was its close-knit football team. The coaches and players opened their arms to Austin. He stated that he felt only love when he met them. The biggest challenge Austin overcame was becoming a self-sufficient adult. Everyone has a different experience transitioning from high school to college, but Austin found his home at UTSA. “You’ve got to figure out how to do things on your own. Being at St. Stephens helped me out because its a college-prep school, and I think that prepared me well,” Austin said. Austin has already graduated with a bachelor’s in business management and is currently pursuing his master’s in public administration and in communication. He chose this route for his education because of his brother who is currently studying kinesiology at Texas State University. Once they both graduate, they want to open a gym and physical therapy facility together. “I will run the gym and the business side of every-

thing, and he will manage the physical therapy,” Austin said. Aside from football and schooling, Austin also enjoys writing. He is currently in the process of getting some of his work published. In one of his upper-level classes, his professor pushed him to submit his work for publication. Austin is also starting a nonprofit for children with diabetes because he has Type I diabetes. When Austin was diagnosed, he went to a lot of different doctors, and all of them told him different things. Some told him he would never be allowed to play sports again, and some told him he would be perfectly fine. As a child, this was confusing. He wants to start this nonprofit to help children and guide them through this process so they will not experience what he and his family went through during his diagnosing process. “I want to be an ear for kids that are going through this,” Austin said. “I don’t want anybody else to go through that. Seeing my mom break down in the doctor’s office was tough for me.” He drew strength from his mom. This process took an emotional toll on his mother because of the conflicting information from different doctors. He wanted to be strong for his mom. His family is the reason he survived and came out better and stronger than before.

The culture of good enough

By Jose Bouquett Staff Writer It appears as if ‘good enough’ is the favorite phrase of UTSA athletics as Rowdy Jam impressed students but left them wanting more. UTSA announced that they would be hosting an event called Rowdy Jam, where the players from both women’s and men’s basketball teams would compete in events and a student could win Whataburger for a year. At first, it sounded like

a good event to build hype for each of the teams, and the students would get free shirts for attending. All of that was ruined when UTSA decided that the event would be hosted in the Recreation Wellness Center (RWC). There is a basketball arena less than 500-feet from the RWC where this event could have been hosted and executed perfectly. Instead, UTSA athletics determined the RWC to be good enough for the team and fans. There were students wrapped around the RWC hallways, lined up ready for free pizza and a shirt. However, when the action began on the court, half of the students were missing. The amount of people in line previously could have filled the Convocation Center, but they stood

watching the unorganized mess take place on the court. While the basketball team inhabited the main court, students continued to play basketball on the surrounding courts, making it almost impossible to hear anyone speaking through the microphone. The music in the background did not allow anyone to hear the emcee or players introduce themselves. It looked like a high school pep rally instead of a kickoff event for one of the most important seasons in UTSA basketball history. To the emcee’s credit, the event became an enjoyable experience when the basketball hit the court. The event started with knockout between four players from the men’s and women’s team which freshman Erik Czumbel, from Italy, won. “Mama Mia” chants echoed through the RWC and continued to leave me with thoughts of what could have been in the Convocation Center. Student knockout was the event that could have garnered the most excitement due to each team’s ability to shoot. Later, racks were used for the final student three-point shootout and made my frustration with the event escalate. The final event of the night was the dunk contest, which was always destined to be the most exciting event. Jacob

Germany and Keaton Wallace soared, performing impressive dunks that made the crowd erupt. Overall, the night was entertaining. Students like freshman Chris Freeland enjoyed the night. He labeled it as a “pretty good” event, but when asked where this event should be held next year, he said, “For sure the Convo.” UTSA athletics took one step forward and two steps backward. We treated our basketball teams as if they were a high school team and stuck them in the RWC. ‘Good enough’ began on the football field and is creeping into basketball.

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