11.05.19 by The Paisano

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

Fact or fiction?

XC competes at conference championship

Vol. 60, Issue 11

Est. 1981

November 5 - November 12, 2019

The Paisano

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

/ThePaisano

@PaisanoMedia

@ThePaisano

www.Paisano-Online.com

San Antonio to host TEDx By Joseph Torres Co-News Editor The city of San Antonio will be hosting TEDxSanAntonio at the Charlie McCombs Empire Theater Nov. 9, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. The theme for this event is “re:frame,” where speakers from all over the country will take turns speaking on topics such as psychology, blogging, environmental conservation, music and more. The TEDxSanAntonio website (tedxsanantonio. com) explains, “TED means Technology, Entertainment, Design with one mission in mind – Spreading Ideas.” Unlike the global outreach associated with TED events, TEDx specializes in local communities. This enables communities to provide their members with an opportunity to promote dialogue and stimulate conversations locally. TEDxSanAntonio has produced 151 talk videos that have collectively acquired over two million

views on the TEDxTalks channel. San Antonio has hosted TEDx since 2009 and will be celebrating their 9th conference experience this weekend. The event is hosting the following 10 speakers: Kierra Alderman, CEO of BOL Empowerment, author and minister, will be discussing female leadership within the ministry. Her talk will focus on large-scale gender inequality in the church. “If our goal is to reframe our thought process on gender equality in relationships, education and employment opportunities, we must be willing to identify and be willing to call out gender inequality in the church and explore the ways in which such inequality contributes to societal gender bias,” Alderman said. Graham Conway, principal engineer at Southwest Research Institute, aims to address the contradiction of battery-operated vehicles. Conway plans to highlight the negative implications of rushing

battery-powered vehicles onto the market. By challenging the idea that battery-operated vehicles are environmentally friendly, Conway will discuss the use of fossil fuels and the CO2 emissions associated with the production of the vehicles’ battery packs. Dan Cooper, creator of the leadership development program at Southwest Research Institute, will provide tips and tricks that individuals may use if they become creatively stuck. Cooper will provide new techniques, based on modern research, that may be implemented to overcome creative blocks. Elizabeth Crawford, chief executive officer at Sendero Wealth Management and Sendero Family Enterprise, will be speaking about children’s financial literacy. “Nearly half of American parents would rather talk with kids about the birds and the bees than about dollars and cents. And while sex talk can be shocking to adults and kids alike, talking about money

Graphic by Lindsey Thomas

is often just as shocking,” Crawford said. Hector Garcia, psychologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center, has published many works on the research of PTSD in combat veterans and will be discussing

the gender of war. Garcia The Bloggess, is most takes a look at the comrecognized for various monalities associated with writings on her struggles the origins of conflict and with mental illness. She concludes that wars are will examine the impor“almost exclusively started Continued on page 2 and prosecuted by men.” See “TEDxTalks’ 9th anJenny Lawson, writer nual event held at Charline and blogger, known as McCombs Empire Theater”

Student success research receives grant

By Josh Peck Assistant Managing Editor

By Joseph Torres Co-News Editor UTSA will host a Bexar County polling station inside the HEB Student Union on Nov. 5. Students will be able to vote on: the Joint Constitutional Amendment; the General, Special and Bond Election on

Graphic by Jacqueline Cantu

the State of Texas Propositions 1-10; General Elections for San Antonio River AuthorityDistrict; the General Election for Green Valley; the General Election for City of Converse; and the Special Election for City of Castle Hills.

Dr. Guan Saw, UTSA assistant professor of educational psychology in the UTSA College of Education and Human Development, was recently awarded a $350,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for his research on student success in the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field. Saw seeks to learn what drives student participation, motivation and achievement in STEM education and training, particularly for underserved and underrepresented student populations. He received the NSF grant after a seed grant of $20,000 from UTSA’s Office of the Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise. Saw emphasizes social capital in his research. Social capital is a

UTSA architecture team wins competition

By Ethan Gullet Assistant Photo Editor

The student architecture team at UTSA competed in an event held by the Texas Society of Architects and brought home the victory against teams from Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Del Mar and Rice. The team consisted of Mauricio Garza, Rachel Henkes, Armando Arazia and Jesus Alfonso. The four are currently graduate students, some of which with a focus in green design — a subfield of architecture dealing with environmental attributes as design objectives aimed at improving performance and functionality without com-

promising quality and the useful life of a product. The Texas Society of Architects was founded in 1939, and its members elected their first officers out of 47 architects. Currently, the organization consists of 18 different regional components and has over 7,000 members. This year, the society invited several teams to find a solution to Galveston’s diminishing shoreline as a result of climate change and rising sea levels. The UTSA team came up with a solution that would not only keep Galveston Island habitable, but it would also preserve decades of architecture and culture on the island as

well. Their solution, consisting of three phases, was to raise the sidewalks and build on top of preexisting buildings. The students’ website states that phase one is to “introduce floating modular palettes to Galveston before significant flooding occurs.” Phase two consists of physically assembling the palettes and introducing them to the public. The final phase will be their application of the palettes into everyday life, while building the new city on the foundations of the preexisting one, making cars obsolete within twenty to fifty years into the future.

term referring to instrumentally valuable social networks that provide increased professional and educational access to people in the networks. In the case of STEM, social capital involves aspects such as having a family member who works in the STEM field or a STEM teacher who provides extra support. Saw uses social capital in his research in part because there has yet to be a standard set of techniques to measure it in STEM. “For this particular NSF research project, my goal is to eventually develop and validate new survey scales for measuring students’ STEM social capital, which are currently not available,” Saw said. “Current studies on explaining and addressing the disparities in STEM education tend to focus on the psychological or motivational factors

of students. This project will advance and expand the use of concepts and measures of social capital — a prominent sociological theory — in improving the STEM outcomes of underserved and underrepresented students.” Saw is working alongside the UTSA Pre-freshman Engineering Program, a STEM program meant to prepare middle and high school students to pursue degrees and careers in the STEM field, to develop new scales to measure STEM social capital. Saw believes understanding STEM social capital is key to improving STEM outcomes for underserved students. “The concept of social capital offers me a powerful theoretical lens to understand and analyze Continued on page 2 See “Assistant professor studies STEM education”

Students celebrate Dia de los Muertos

Students display ofrendas in the Student Union in celebration of Dia de los Muertos.

Donald Escamilla/ The Paisano

N o ve mbe r 5 - N o ve mbe r 12, 2019

2 | news@paisano-online.com

UTSA The UTSA College of Engineering and the Student Success Center hosted the “Monster Mash Pumpkin Smash,” on Nov. 2. The annual pumpkin-launching contest was held at the STEM Fair, which included food and activities for participants. Five teams competed to determine whose trebuchets, medieval catapulting devices, could launch their pumpkin the farthest. The Vectorious Slingers, a team from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, won first place at this year’s contest.

Texas Beto O’Rourke, former U.S. Congressman from El Paso, announced his decision to drop out of the U.S. presidential race on Nov. 1. The former 2020 democratic candidate attributed his decision to not having the financial means to move forward.

U.S. The House of Representatives voted, on Oct. 31, on the rules for President Donald Trump’s impeachment inquiry hearings. Even though democrats are leading the process for the president’s impeachment inquiry, republicans will be able to call witnesses and cross-examine them during the hearings publicly. The impeachment inquiry process is set to continue for the next few weeks.

World Amelie de Montchalin, a minister of European affairs, said the Jan. 31, 2020 Brexit date is non-negotiable, but it is still possible for Brexit to cancel. The Jan. 31 date is a three-month extension of the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s promise to secede Britain from the European Union by Oct. 31. While Johnson’s plans were blocked, the results of Britain’s Dec. 12 election are expected to help determine whether or not Brexit is implemented.

Business Saudi Arabia officially started offering Aramco stock, a staterun oil company, on Nov. 3. The state hopes to receive billions of dollars in exchange for the company, which produces around 2-3 billion barrels of crude oil each day.

Science Researchers at Penn State University have reduced the charging time of lithium-ion batteries to 10 minutes. The research on lithium-ion batteries aims to progress on electric vehicle production.

TEDxTalks’ 9th annual event held at Charline McCombs Empire Theater Continued from Page 1

tance of sharing mental health stories. “Despite centuries of scientific studies and progress, mental health remains a topic that many still find uncomfortable to discuss. Nevertheless, it’s only through sharing our stories and struggles that we can break the stigma and find progress,” Lawson said. John Myers, a postdoctoral researcher at Baylor College of Medicine, is working to understand how brain cells work together on abstract mental representations. Myers will discuss how the brain’s rhythms are crucial to cell communication. Neuroscientists have discovered that brain cells respond in sync and rhythm with one another to sensory information. This has led Myers to research the implications of the brain’s patterns becoming out of sync. Allison Schrager, an economist and journalist at Quartz, will be addressing risk management in the real world. Schrager will convey the differences between risk management and risk avoidance. Schrager uses her research from a trip to a Nevada brothel to better understand negotiation skills. Because the possibility of failure still applies to risk management, risk avoidance tends to be the go-to option. Alex Bailey, executive director and founder of Black Outside Inc., is speaking about the topic of recoloring the outdoors. The lack of diversity in outdoor space has drawn Bailey to engage with communities of color to promote spending more time in nature. With concerns related to safety, representation, access and relevancy, the African American community’s participation in outdoor activities is at the forefront of Bailey’s talk. DJ Boskind, also known as Question, will be performing freestyle. Question was the first hiphop artist from San Antonio to sign a major record deal with Epic/Sony records. He has since opened his own managing company, ARTOFFICIAL, and continues to help other artists explore their musical aspirations. Question has partnered with Davies Entertainment to open a recording facility called the BOOMBOX.

Assistant professor studies STEM education Continued from Page 1 the patterns, trends, causes and outcomes of ‘hidden inequality’ in social networks and resources accessed by privileged and unprivileged groups,” Saw said. “I have always been interested in observing, learning and studying ‘hidden inequality’ in education settings since I was an active member of community service organizations in college and later when I was working as a high school teacher and administrator in a remote area in Malaysia.” Saw’s personal and professional backgrounds helps explain why the field of education inequality has been one of his primary research topics for much of his career. “My research, teaching and service are informed by my experience as a first-generation college student with three degrees, including STEM and non-STEM majors, completed in three different countries (Malaysia, Taiwan and the United States) and languages (Malay, Mandarin and English),” Saw said. “I had worked as a high school vice principal and math teacher in a low-income rural area in Malaysia [and] a department director in the largest non-profit educational organization in Malaysia.” Saw has spent 13 years studying educational inequality, the sociology of education, STEM education and quantitative methods. This new NSF-funded research project will be the latest addition to his work on improving educational outcomes for underserved and underrepresented students.

Q&A: TEDx Speaker Hector Garcia

By Breahna Luera Assistant News Editor

Clinical psychologist, private consultant and Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Dr. Hector Garcia, will speak at TEDxSan Antonio on Nov. 9.

How did you become a speaker for TEDx?

I’m a big fan of TED, so I applied to speak and got chosen. I have a main stage TED talk prior to the current TEDx — the War and Peace series in NYC — called “We train soldiers for war. Let’s train them to come home, too.”

What is your main focus of study for psychology?

I am a clinical psychologist and a researcher. My empirical work has focused on treatment issues related to post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans, along with professional burnout among PTSD specialty care providers. I have also published two books examining the evolutionary psychology and biology behind religious violence and political partisanship: “Alpha God: The Psychology of Religious Violence and Oppression” and “Sex, Power, and Partisanship: How Evolutionary Science Makes Sense of Our Political Divide.”

What geared you towards that focus?

We are often told to not discuss politics or religion in polite company. But often, those things we’re told not to discuss require the most intensive scrutiny. Human behavior can be so perplexing and can seem so irrational, particularly religion and politics. What I love about the evolutionary sciences is that they go way beyond surface-level explanations. They provide incredibly clear insights into the evolved purpose, the ‘why’ of a particular behavior — our likes, dislikes, why we worship, what evolved function our political psychology serves and how half a nation can be repelled by the words of a president while the other half inspired.

Hector Garcia to speak for TEDxSanAntonio

Photo Courtesy of Hector Garcia

What inspired you to want to speak for TEDx?

I am greatly inspired by TED’s mission to bring an understanding about so many topics related to creating a better world. TED accomplishes this with grace and spectacular focus.

What impact do you hope to make on college-age students who will listen to and watch your TEDx talk?

To think critically about the causes of warfare. To promote the evolutionary sciences. To organize, to become politically active and to join in my humble efforts to create a better future for the generations that come.

What message do you plan on giving when you speak for TEDx?

The evolutionary psychology of war and how to rise above our ancestral past to create a more rational, peaceable world.

No vem b e r 5 - No v em ber 1 2, 2019

editor@paisano-online.com | 3

opinion Not all fees are bad Editorial UTSA will propose several student fee increases to the UT Board of Regents for Fall 2020, including a $3 increase for the Library Resource Charge and a $3.10 increase for the Medical Services Fee. While fee increases are historically unpopular among students, these fees are worth the extra dollars. For the proposed library and medical fee increases for next year, students have no power to decide whether or not to approve them. However, the proposed Library Resource Charge and Medical Services Fee increases will provide a set of tangible resources and services that students want and will appreciate. These two fees will fund services and resources that will result in immediate benefits for students. The Library Resource Charge increase will extend John Peace Library (JPL) hours to 24/7 and the Downtown Library’s hours will be extended to 24/5. Students will have access to the libraries’ resources with resources and more studying convenience. These new hours allow students to use library resources that are flexible with their schedule and will be valuable to students who rely on the JPL and Downtown Library for a reliable internet connection,

access to computers, programs and a safe and quiet place to work. The Medical Services Fee increase will result in various resources for students on campus, including flu vaccinations, a preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program, as well as low-cost testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI). Receiving a free flu shot can prevent students from dealing with a miserable illness and putting other students at risk of catching the flu. The fee will also implement a PrEP medication program at UTSA that will be a powerful tool to help prevent and control HIV among students. Additionally, low-cost STI testing will further students’ understanding of their sexual health and promote safe sex. While increased tuition is not appealing to most students, the additional costs will not be in vain. With the proposed library and medical fee increases, the university will provide services that will directly benefit students. However, UTSA must make the effort to adequately educate students on what their money is going towards in order for them to take full advantage of what the university plans to offer. Illustration by Amber Chin

The Paisano

The Independent Student Newspaper for the UTSA Community

Have Something to say?

Join us!

Write a letter to the Editor!

Send your letters to Editor@paisano-online.com We encourage you to communicate with The Paisano through letters to the editor. These letters are a way to express your views about The Paisano’s content or UTSA. Names can be witheld upon request. This is another opportunity for your voice to be heard in Texas’ only independent student newspaper.

Time: Every Wednesday 6 p.m. Location: The Paisano Media Arts Center 14526 Roadrunner Way

Your liberal arts degree matters Commentary

By Ryan Houston-Dial Staff Writer Studying for classes, participating in student organizations and maintaining relationships contribute to the fatigue college students experience daily. As college students, we face plenty of adversity, which leaves most of us exhausted by the end of the day, only to repeat it all over again tomorrow. However, the stigma of obtaining any liberal and fine arts degree has been one of the greatest troubles for many students I have spoken to this past semester. The stigma involves problems centered around the STEM versus Arts conversation. Typically, individuals who pursue STEM career fields are very successful; however, there is not only one path to success. The stigma begins with the notion that if a STEM degree isn’t obtained, a student will not have any real success beyond college. I asked some of my friends who are looking to obtain STEM degrees about their choice, and most are doing it for money rather than passion. Their parents push the degree on them because

they think that their children need goodpaying jobs whether they enjoy them or not. The stigma also suggests that an Arts degree student is limited to minimal achievement and is taking an easier route to graduation. This led many students I spoke with to question their ability to make good decisions for their futures. Peers told them, “How are you going to get a job with an Arts degree? You aren’t going to be very successful. Maybe you should reconsider your degree.” These comments anger me beyond measure because most of these stigmas are based on societal assumptions. What are we defining as success in our world? Is it money, and if so, does it truly solve all of our problems? It scares me because individuals are giving up their passions to chase society’s idea of ultimate success: money. Rarely have individuals observed the countless opportunities Arts degrees can provide graduates, which, in fact, can take them anywhere in the world. As an undergraduate psychology student, I have encountered similar questions throughout my college career. People tend to ask me what I am study-

ing in college, and after I tell them, my answer is followed by, “Oh, you want to be a therapist?” or “You must want to help the crazy people in the world.” Statements like these make me feel there is a common belief that I am only able to operate within certain confines and limited to pursue only one career. When I respond with “No, I plan to become a neuropsychologist,” their eyes suddenly get big and they realize they were wrong to assume my career plans. I also believe these comments do a disservice to the importance of mental health because we all go through troubling times. The phrase, “crazy people,” is also wildly inaccurate because anyone can face mental health issues. Instead of creating an assumption about my future, I would have appreciated a genuine question about my career plans and passions related to psychology. To any individual pursuing an Arts degree, continue to let your artistic expression flourish and lead you to success. If someone attempts to disregard your ability to creatively express yourself, amplify your ideas to new heights. Your

Arts degree matters and carries hard work and dedication just like any other degree. Stand strong and remember your passions are what led you to explore the things you love. Do not let the stigma society has created delegate you to only one space you can become successful within. Arts degree graduates exist fluidly outside of any “box” we are placed in, and we will continue to prosper within society. The knowledge and teachings of any art are important to our cultural advances. Not to mention all the brands we cherish in clothing, food and pop culture originate from artistic expression. Arts degree graduates are composed of a large portion of individuals who critically analyze social issues in unique and important ways. We ask that you respect us and remain genuine in your questions and conversations. We deserve a seat at the table.

N o ve mbe r 5 - N o ve mbe r 12, 2019

4 | editor@paisano-online.com

How studying abroad can change your life Commentary

By Katrina Clements Editor-in-Chief In college, we all try to figure out what our purpose is. As young adults who feel lost in our career paths, our studies and in finding ourselves, we seek adventure and new opportunities. How can we escape the madness of being a busy college student without wasting precious time and money? Studying abroad is the answer. In Summer 2018, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Annecy, France, through UTSA’s French language program. As I was already enrolled in elementary French courses, I saw this as a way to continue learning French through

immersion of language and culture. I had no idea what to expect from this experience except that I would be staying with a host family, attending classes and spending time with locals and other study abroad students. Annecy is a small town located in eastern France which borders Switzerland near the Alps. Annecy offers a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains, a city that looks like it’s straight out of a fairytale and locals who embrace the myriad of American students who visit each summer. I was assigned to a host family whose apartment was just a scenic tenminute walk to the city’s center. I strolled along the Thiou River each day during my walk to class, gazing at the crystal blue water and swans that would swim by me. I would attend class in the morning then get out around lunch time to sit in the park with my classmates to practice our French, drink wine and eat cheese to fully immerse ourselves in the local culture.

My home life in Annecy was the highlight of my study abroad experience, and my host family quickly became an extension of my own. My host mom Hélené did not speak a word of English, but thankfully, her son Maxime was fluent and guided me through the culture and language shock I was experiencing. Each night, Hélené would cook us French cuisine, followed by a cheese platter, dessert and cigarettes on the porch. French dinners are centered around conversation and bonding with loved ones. It is common for meals to last multiple hours due to lengthy conversations and several courses. These dinners allowed me to become more skillful in my French and to feel loved and accepted by my host family. After a month of this routine, the goodbyes were so painful because these people had become a second family to me. I cried, Hélené cried and Maxime cried as we held each other in a long embrace when they left me at the train station.

The students I met through study abroad have become lifelong friends because of the unique bond our shared experiences formed. I now have friends who live across America and in South Africa, France and the Netherlands. We even have plans to return to Annecy and reunite once we graduate. My study abroad experience is easily the most exciting and soul-igniting experience I have had thus far, and I highly encourage every student to take the risk and travel for their education. The two-month trip cost a total of around $10,000, which is a high price-tag, but the experiences and education I gained were worth every penny. UTSA has a number of unique study abroad opportunities available, which also apply to your graduation credit hours. Ask your professors and advisors about which trip would best suit you because I promise you will come back changed and enlightened in the best ways possible.

UTSA Emergency Alerts are not ‘all clear’ Commentary

By Xavier Richardson Copyediting Coordinator In the early morning hours of Sunday, Nov. 3, UTSA students, faculty and staff received a notification from the UTSA Alerts System. The alert stated, “An offcampus incident has been reported near Main Campus. Avoid perimeter roads and seek shelter in a safe location.” As you can see, little information was provided

pertaining to what the actual emergency was or where it was happening. First, we must address how UTSAPD gave no information in regards to what alleged crime occurred near the Main Campus. There was no clear indicator of whether there was an assault, a shooting, a robbery or another crime that could pose a possible danger to those residing in the area. For the alert to be effective, it must provide more details about the incident so that those nearby can quickly identify either the suspect or signs related to the reported activity when seeking safe shelter. The area’s size is also an issue. The Main Campus consists of 104 buildings on 600 acres of land, which is a large area

to encompass in an alert. Referencing an area “near Main Campus” is virtually useless unless a specific building or part of campus is mentioned. Additionally, telling people to “avoid perimeter roads” near Main Campus is trivial without referring to a specific street. Perimeter roads could refer to any of the streets bordering campus. Does that mean we should avoid Loop 1604? The lack of a specific location places those in the area in even greater danger because they could end up passing through the place where the incident is occurring when trying to escape. While this alert may have ultimately failed in getting its message across, there is still time to amend the messaging system, and it needs to happen soon. Keep-

la Godoy Per

ysa Vazquez Ed

1 99 7

TWO SIDES PODCAST

Katrina Clements | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com Rudy Sanchez | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com

Josh Peck | Assistant Managing Editor

News Heather Montoya | Co-News Editor News@paisano-online.com Joseph Torres | Co-News Editor News@paisano-online.com Breahna Luera | Assistant News Editor

Arts & Life Alex Hanks | Arts & Life Editor Arts@paisano-online.com Sofia Garcia | Assistant Arts & Life Editor

Sports Ryan Garza | Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com Julia Maenius | Assistant Sports Editor

Photo Lindsey Thomas | Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com Ethan Gullett | Assistant Photo Editor Ellyson Ortega | Assistant Photo Editor

The Two Sides podcast kicks off with Edysa and Perla talkingand aboutEdysa mental health. Perla break

down debate issues in Watch the first episode at the Two Sides podcast. YouTube.com/PaisanoOnline or listen at Paisano-Online.com Listen to their differing opinions at YouTube.com/ PaisanoOnline

1 99 5

The Paisano

Online

Copyediting Board

Kat Joseph | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com

Dawson Fagan | Copyediting Coordinator

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 Ellyson Ortega | Distribution Manager

ing people in the dark about a dangerous situation can cause more panic than necessary and place them in more danger. The UTSA Alerts System is meant to be a crucial resource for distributing timesensitive details about incidents that may jeopardize the safety of UTSA students, faculty and staff; it cannot go to waste by neglecting to include information that could potentially prevent injuries or save lives.

Sydney Jensen | Copyediting Coordinator Xavier Richardson | Copyediting Coordinator

Staff

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.

No vem b e r 5 - N o vem ber 1 2, 2019

arts@paisano-online.com | 5

Arts & Life Between the lines: Catch and Kill Column By Paris Cantu Contributing Writer “Catch and Kill” is a ruinous account of powerful men and the toxic system that has protected them and prolonged coverup culture for decades. During his two-year investigation involving more than 200 sources, Ronan Farrow uncovered subplots of espionage, the dangerous culture of nondisclosure agreements, and victim blaming. The title derives from an old phrase in the tabloid business, which describes “the practice of purchasing a story in order to bury it.” After preying on, assaulting and silencing women for decades, Harvey Weinstein was finally arrested in May, 2018. He will be in court on Jan. 6, 2020, facing two new allegations of predatory sexual assault among the already present allegations of rape, sexual harassment and a criminal sexual act. Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Ronan Farrow, in his book “Catch and Kill,” documents the events that led

up to Harvey Weinstein’s long-awaited arrest. Before his arrest and during Farrow’s investigation, more than 80 women accused Weinstein of some form of predatory sexual assault or sexual harassment. These accusations range from workplace misconduct to violent rape. Along with the exposure of Weinstein, Farrow tells the crimes of powerful men who protect powerful men. Although Weinstein is the predator with the most detailed account, Farrow mentions the following men who have also been accused of sexual harassment, assault or misconduct: Andy Lack, Dylan Howard, Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, Matt Lauer, Bill O’Reilly, David Corvo, Mark Halperin and Chris Matthews. These men were involved in the obvious efforts to protect one another when moral accountability was placed upon them. Farrow paints the rationalization of acceptance and forgiveness of predators as unacceptable. He was unwilling to accept what others so easily could. By naming all that he uncovered, Farrow is justifiably unsparing in his reporting on sexual assault and the institution that continues to protect predators at the cost of justice for women. Weinstein hired a private investigative firm, Black Cube, to spy on accusers and journalists. This private detective agency was part of a larger system Weinstien created to suppress and silence his accusers. This system involved nondisclosure agreements, payoffs, insistent legal threats and Black Cube. Among the pages, Farrow calls upon his sister Dylan Farrow, who accused their father, Woody Allen, of sexual abuse, for advice and courage in approaching victims. These retellings are possibly the most powerful sections of the book because he acutely describes his process in understanding his sister as a victim. By including his personal growth, Farrow capitalizes on the importance of supporting victims, rather than oppressing them. Harvey Weinstein is one thread among many that make up the fabric of a system that protects powerful men from accountability. Money, power and fame colluded in the formation of an unforgiving system that favors sexual predators and continues to silence women. Many of the men named in this book are not behind bars and remain in their positions of power. Ethan Gullett/The Paisano

Column: Big sis Owe you one By Kimiya Factory

Mythical Creatures: Fact or fiction?

Witte Museum explores cultural mythology

Staff Writer

By Kasandra Parker Staff Writer Fact or Fiction: Exploring The World’s Most Popular Mythical Creatures For years, The Witte Museum has hosted some of the most fascinating and educational exhibits San Antonio has ever seen. Their recent exhibit, “Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids,” strays away from reality and steps into the world of fables and tales. The exhibit displays an array of creatures such as the Eastern and Western imaginations of majestic dragons, the mermaid and its origins and creatures like the beautiful unicorn, whose magical horn in Greek mythology is said to purify and heal. The exhibit explores fantasy, mythology and religion. The Witte then mixes mythology with reality, displaying bones from ancient dinosaurs, apes and giant squids, providing potential evidence for these mythical creatures. These mythical creatures’ cultures and regions vary. The origins of the Ojibwa Lake

Monster, Mishepishu, the Asian Phoenix and the Sedna from Inuit mythology are all on display. P.T. Barnum’s famous faux mermaid is even on display, revealing how willing people are to believe mysterious creatures exist, despite being debunked. The exhibit also offers interactive displays and touch screens where museumgoers can create their own virtual dragon. Eastern and Western versions dragons can be created, and the Witte provides a small blurb of historical information with each body part. The coolest thing about The Witte’s exhibit is that it shows the varying origins of mythical creatures, challenging legends with real-world explanations and allowing people to draw connections across cultures. This exhibit reveals how similar human beings are in their need to make sense of the world and all of the creatures that exist within it. The “Mythic Creatures” exhibit will continue through Jan. 12, 2020.

Lindsey Thomas/The Paisano

Fun fact: the game of debate and argumentation is the ex-girlfriend I just couldn’t break up with. Debate is that thing that I can’t shut up about on first dates and a discipline that challenges me to be better. The UTSA Debate Team has been the home I came back to over the past three years of college. Yet, as graduation nears, I’ve come to realize that the hardest thing about debate that I will have to let go of is my coaches. There were days I would go into the squad room and rant. My coaches would listen until I was finished, only interjecting to tell me to incorporate that energy into my case. There were tournaments when I didn’t believe in myself, but they would stop time by looking into my eyes, summarizing a theory I knew nothing about and making me believe I could do it. The best days though, are hearing their voices in my head when I need to hear them the most. The game of debate is important, but the people who truly believe in it and use theory to instill values in black and brown kids lives like mine, is something I owe my life to. I owe my education to a coach who had a zombie arm hanging from the ceiling in his high school English classroom, who always told me I had a fire within; for my coach, whose anthem is “Good As Hell” by Lizzo, who has never made me feel bad about doubting myself for a moment; for my Boricuan coach who is a human flash drive of knowledge, who gave me the assurance I needed before every debate round; for a coach who told me to imagine my own future and to really think about it before I asked one more time. You’ve planted seeds of reassurance in myself and others who really needed them — I think we all do, to a certain extent. You rooted for me, even though sometimes losing debates made rooting for myself hard. But you still did. And I’ll never forget. -For my debate coaches Xoxo, Big Sis

Max Aguirre/ The Paisano

6 | arts@paisano-online.com

Defining defiance Famous Artist’s work showcased at UTSA By Sofia Garcia Assistant Arts & Life Editor Curated by David S. Rubin, Salvador Dalí’s Stairway to Heaven is being displayed in UTSA’s main gallery. A welcoming aura surrounded Dalí’s exhibit despite the heavy topics, such as the dangers of obsession and evil, displayed on the walls. The artist is known for his affinity for surrealism, centering his life’s work around surpassing the principle of reality and subjecting viewers to a profoundly transcendent experience. From the beginning of Dalí’s life, he was not one to conform to societal norms, and the ostracization he faced was projected through his art. Although he gravitated toward a nonpartisan approach to his artwork, Dalí was very interested in Dadaism, the avant-garde, post-war art movement. His ability to provide meaningful juxtapositions in each of his pieces, like “The Divine Comedy,”

perpetuated his influence on today’s artists. Dalí’s exhibit is only one of many that have been displayed throughout the years, and it plays a major role in promoting the informational aspect of UTSA’s main art gallery. The exhibition serves as a testament to Dalí’s deviance and ability to extend his curations into a sociological paradigm. The art gallery offers an accessible platform for artwork by students and faculty members, ensuring that every exhibition is educational as well as inclusive. The UTSA art department values inclusivity and the consummation of precious artwork. Students can view the Dalí exhibit Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., until Nov. 15.

Photo Courtesy of UTSA Art Department

N o ve mbe r 5- N o ve mbe r 12, 2019

Finding your way through Autumn

Corn Maze becomes staple in Fall celebration By Sofia Garcia Assistant Arts & Life Editor San Antonio’s only corn maze has been open since Oct. 5, and it has already brought in a plethora of curious adventure seekers. Packed with vendors, a petting zoo and three different kinds of trails, this family-friendly event is a hit with the San Antonio community. Before entering the maze, one could enjoy roasted corn, pickles or an ice-cold lemonade from the concession stand. The enthusiastic atmosphere of the event came from the laughs of children and the smiles of those taking pictures in the pumpkin patch. The petting zoo was a sight to see; people were lined up to pet ponies, goats, chickens, ducks, sheep and alpacas. “My favorite part about tonight was seeing an alpaca spit in my mom’s face!” a young girl said. After an eventful visit to the petting zoo, guests were greeted by maze employees with a clue book, which included games that helped participants navigate the twists and turns of the trails. Decorated with “easy, medium and hard” signs, each trail was created for different groups of people, meaning that the children would gravitate towards the easy trail that offered games and props for pictures. Maze trails were not the only attraction; a pumpkin painting station offered an artistic approach to Halloween festivities and an opportunity to take home a specially crafted souvenir. The inclusive activities provided a welcoming atmosphere and allowed for Sofia GarciaThe Paisano the cultivation of a night full of joyous moments. With such a versatile arrangement of activities, staying busy and entertained was easy. Ten acres across, the corn maze provided an opportunity for children to play and for college students to build bonds with their fellow classmates. A student from UTSA described her time at the corn maze: “We got the chance to see the corn maze and we laughed the entire time. The food was delicious and I was really happy that I got to attend. I will definitely be coming back soon!” Serving as a ground for new friendships, celebrations and ventures, the San Antonio corn maze is a tourist attracting event that is open until Dec. 1, at Traders Village. Sofia GarciaThe Paisano

No vem b e r 5 - No v em ber 1 2, 2019

sports@paisano-online.com | 7

Sports Men’s basketball looking to build off first victory Roadrunners set to face off against the Sooners

By Julia Maenius

Assistant Sports Editor

he UTSA men’s basketball team began their 2019-2020 season with an exhibition game against the Texas A&M International University Dustdevils. After welcoming many new standout freshmen to the team, the Roadrunners are preparing for a long season with plenty of games on their home court. Junior guard Keaton Wallace claimed the first points of the season within the first 30 seconds of play. The ‘Runners took advantage of the Dustdevils’ slower defense and forced 28 turnovers. The Dustdevils ran a sporadic offense, which allowed the ‘Runners to take advantage of their defense resulting in their 43% shooting from the field. The ‘Runners began the game with a fastpaced 9-0 lead. The Dustdevils answered by taking advantage of the lack of ‘Runner coverage in the paint, which resulted in a 15-6 run. Junior Jhivvan Jackson and Wallace ran the offense with large glass coverage on defense. Almost all of the ‘Runners’ 14 players scored, including freshman Jacob Germany, whose presence assisted the ‘Runners as he recorded multiple glass slaps

Head coach Steve Henson looks at his team from the sideline.

Ellyson Ortega/The Paisano

in the second half. The ‘Runners’ offense rallied in the second half with many dunk attempts. The Dustdevils claimed multiple fouls during the home stretch of the game. Senior Atem Bior stole a pass and followed up with a breakaway dunk which set the tone for the remainder of the game. The upperclassmen ran the offense as redshirt junior Adrian Rodriguez forced a turnover and recorded a putback, followed by senior Byron Frohnen with a fast break score after a block and multiple baskets to increase the score. Germany shined on offense after taking assists from Wallace to put up two dunks. The ‘Runners ended the game, 89-60, and looked towards the official start of their season against the Oklahoma University Sooners. The ‘Runners will be on the road for the next few weeks as they travel to Norman, Oklahoma, to face the Sooners on Tuesday, Nov. 5. After the trip to Norman, the ‘Runners will be headed to Florida to compete in the Sunshine Slam where they will face the Southern Illinois University Salukis, the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies and the University of Delaware Blue Hens. The ‘Runners will be back in the Convocation Center to face the Wiley College Wildcats on Nov. 22.

Soccer’s season ends with a loss to UTEP By Tyler Pakulak Staff Writer This past Friday night, the UTSA soccer team finished their season with another heartbreaking loss to the University of Texas at El Paso Miners. Tessa Carlin scored the only goal of the game, with a shot from right outside the goal box that slipped past the keeper to give the Miners the lead and capture the win. With the loss, the ‘Runners finished the season 8-8-1, 4-6-0 C-USA record, while UTEP improved to 10-6-2, 5-4-1 C-USA on the season. Despite the loss, the ‘Runners finished the season with a .500 winning percentage for the first time since joining Conference-USA in 2011. This season was marked by several close games, with the ‘Runners losing hold of them in the final 10 minutes. Friday’s game marked the last time Nicole Galan, Katieann Lochte, Jordyn Lacy, Sarah Bayhi, Harper Luczka, Camrynne Hoover and Sophie Millich

will wear the orange, blue and white. This season saw numerous freshmen and sophomores crack into the first team and make immediate impacts. The ‘Runners look to build off the season and ahead to next year with key players Lexi Bolton, Kendall Kloza, Isa Hernandez, Ellis Patterson and Deja Sandoval. Sandoval and Kloza were crucial this season for the ‘Runners’ backline, and Abby Kassal made her presence known in the midfield alongside Sarina Russ. Karlee Willey proved to be a viable attacking winger, while Alex Granville demonstrated that she’s capable of holding her own among the older and more experienced players. Additionally, Maci Bakarich showed flashes of her hustle and excellent footwork on the ball. With returning players like Patterson, Bolton and Hernandez, as well as the younger players we saw glimpses of this season, the ‘Runners will be a strong team going into the 2020 season.

Deja Sandoval kicks the ball up the field.

Julia Maenius/The Paisano

Softball dominates the Saints in fall game By Dalton Hartmann Contributing Writer

Victoria Villarreal prepares to steal third base against the Saints.

Ethan Gullett/The Paisano

The Roadrunner softball team continued its fall season at home on Friday, Nov. 1, with a 9-0 victory over the Our Lady of The Lake University Saints. The ‘Runners came out swinging and hit a home run on the very first pitch, with a total of four home runs hit in the first three innings. On the other side of the plate, the ‘Runners’ pitching staff had seven shutout innings, which only allowed the Saints two hits. The ‘Runners’ starting pitcher, junior Madison Nelson, started off strong on the defensive side with two strikeouts and an easy pop fly to bring the top of the first inning to an end. Feeling Nelson’s energy, senior Celeste Loughman hit a homerun on the ‘Runners’ first receiving pitch of the day and led the teams to an early 1-0 lead to finish out the first inning. The second inning seemed like déjà vu with Nelson pitching well and preventing any hits. Junior Victoria Villarreal hit a home run on the first pitch given in the bottom of the second, leading to a 2-0 lead for the ‘Runners. The third inning allowed for more team involvement with the Saints getting their first hit, but third basemen Madison Washington picked up a bunted ball and made a quick pitch to first base to close the top of the third, allowing no runs. Washington’s energy did not stop there as she hit a home run to start the third inning off, soon fol-

lowed by sophomore Riley Grunberg hitting another home run. Sophomore Kindell Brooks scored a run after Villarreal hit a ball to the outfield which brought the score to 5-0. In the bottom of the fourth inning, freshman Gabby Leggington stole a run after a bad pitch was made by the Saints and the return of Loughman, who would also make a fast break for home plate, extending the ‘Runners’ lead to 7-0. The fifth inning continued the streak of not allowing the Saints to score and saw the return of Villarreal, who unfortunately had to take a walk due to the Saints’ pitcher hitting her in the head, but senior Paige Pacher had Villarreal’s back, hitting a home run to bring the ‘Runners their final run, 9-0. At the top of the sixth inning, sophomore Marena Estell stepped in for Nelson as pitcher, and much like Nelson, she only allowed one hit and no runs. The remainder of the sixth inning had no point value shifts, and the same applies to the seventh, with the ‘Runners not having to take the field in the bottom of the seventh due to their lead over the Saints, which would conclude the game 9-0. The ‘Runners then faced the Texas State Bobcats in their fifth fall game of the season. The ‘Runners claimed the game with three runs to conclude the game, 3-2. The ‘Runners can be seen again taking on the Alvin Community College Dolphins at Roadrunner Field on Nov. 9.

N o ve mbe r 5 - N o ve mbe r 12, 2019

8 | sports@paisano-online.com

XC Competes at Conference

NCAA Play Number One: False Hope Commentary

Championship By Kennedy Caskey Staff Writer

The men’s and women’s cross country teams returned to action on Saturday morning, competing in the Conference USA Championships hosted by Western Kentucky University. Leading the men’s team, freshman Harrison Wade placed 15th with a time of 24 minutes and 43.6 seconds. Behind Wade was senior Martin Luevano, who finished 46th place with a time of 26:12.9. Just seconds behind Luevano was sophomore Jake Smith, who earned 53rd place with a time of 26:26.9. Senior Josh Rodriguez (57th, 26:38.8), senior Pedro Sepulveda (59th, 26:38.8), junior Mathew David (70th, 27:41.3) and junior Zack Kovar (72nd, 27:51.0) finished out strong for the Roadrunners. The men finished 8th place overall in the tournament. Tying rival Western Kentucky with a 118 point score, the ‘Runners fell short when Hilltopper, Jacob Steppe, bested David and placed just four above David in the 8-kilometer race. The ‘Runners competed with determination and vigor, barely losing to Western Kentucky. Middle Tennessee State University was victorious, with a score of 31 points. Meanwhile, competing in the 5,000 meters, junior Amber Boyd was the first across the finish line for the women’s team, and placed 47th with an 18:55.0 run. Just behind her was fellow teammate sophomore Briana Gonzalez, who finished 48th with an 18:59.0 time. She was followed by senior Gabby Gonzales (67th place, 19:26.2), sophomore Marissa Martinez (75th place, 19:46.6), senior Colleen Gilbert (77th place, 19:54.6) and senior Sarah Estrada (80th place, 19:57.2). Finishing up the scoring for the ‘Runners was sophomore Abby Balli, who finished in 91st place with a time of 20:34.7. The women compiled 297 points, placing 11th overall and finishing behind Florida International University. Next, the ‘Runners will compete in the NCAA South Central Regional hosted by Arkansas on Nov. 15, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

By Jose Bouquett Staff Writer The bumbling and baffling National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has seemingly decided to take a step in the right direction towards paying athletes. However, after a closer look, the NCAA is back to its old tricks to gain positive publicity. On Oct. 29, the NCAA surprised the world by announcing via press release that they would allow student-athletes to “benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness in a manner consistent with the collegiate model.” This raised many red flags as no further details were given to explain what a “manner consistent with the collegiate model” even means. The only reason this abrupt change occurred was because of new legislation signed by California

Graphic by Emma Reeves.

Governor Gavin Newsom allowing collegiate athletes to profit on their likeness. This put the NCAA on the defensive and instead of allowing lawmakers to make the rules, they decided to create the rules themselves. The NCAA has tied itself in knots. The concept of paying players is in direct opposition to what they originally intended to do. The only way a truly free market on athlete advertisements could be established is if the NCAA was disbanded. With that solution being near impossible, fans

paisano-online. com for podcasts, blogs, photo galleries and more.

blessed with another college football and basketball video game? Yes, but who really trusts the NCAA to handle a task this large perfectly? No one. Be prepared for more positive press releases that lead to nothing because that is the first play NCAA president Mark Emmert relies on in time of need. Do not fall into their trap because the day athletes start being paid is the day the UTSA football team records a winning record.

Looking forward to the Monarchs

Roadrunners stop the Aggie offense.

Visit

and athletes alike are left wondering what this all means. According to the NCAA press release, “The working group will continue to gather feedback through April on how best to respond to the state and federal legislative environment and to refine its recommendations on the principles and regulatory framework. The board asked each division to create any new rules beginning immediately, but no later than January 2021.” Are we closer to being

By Ryder Martin Staff Writer Coming off a 45-14 defeat in College Station to Texas A&M (6-3), UTSA football saw their record fall to 3-5 for the 2019 season. The Roadrunners will look to bounce back as they visit Norfolk, Virginia, to take on the Old Dominion Monarchs (1-8). This will be the third all-time meeting between the ‘Runners and the Monarchs. The ‘Runners have never

Emma Reeves/The Paisano

beaten Old Dominion, with their most recent meeting occurring in 2016, which ended in a 33-19 defeat in Norfolk. Old Dominion comes into the game in free-fall, losers of their last eight games with their only win for the year coming in their opener against FCS Norfolk St. The ‘Runners will face an upcoming schedule which includes the leaders of Conference USA (C-USA) West, Louisiana Tech, and C-USA East, Florida Atlan-

tic. This is an opportunity the ‘Runners must capitalize on to have a chance at a bowl game. The ‘Runners’ ability to do so may hinge on the availability of quarterback Lowell Narcisse, who exited last week’s game against Texas A&M in the 3rd quarter with an injury to his non-throwing hand. After the game, coach Frank Harris was optimistic about Narcisse’s availability but would not fully commit to Narcisse playing against Old Dominion. Narcisse has been a bright spot in the ‘Runners’ offense since taking over for the injured Frank Harris, and he flashed his athletic talent against the Aggies, generating 144 yards of total offense and punching in a two-yard touchdown run. If Narcisse is unable to play, the ‘Runners will turn to redshirt freshman Jordan Weeks under center. After a week in which the ‘Runners’ defense allowed 45 points and 505 yards of total offense from Texas A&M, they will look to right the ship against

an Old Dominion offense that comes into the week ranked last in the nation in total offense, averaging 237.2 yards per game. Specifically, the ‘Runners’ rushing defense, which ranked 119th in the nation surrendering 217 yards on the ground per game, will face off against an Old Dominion rushing attack averaging only 89 yards a game which is good for only 125th in the nation. If Narcisse is able to suit up this week, he may be asked to continue to throw the ball down the field as he has done the last two weeks, since a stingy Old Dominion defense comes into the game only allowing 134.4 yards on the ground, which ranks 39th nationally. The ‘Runners enter the final third of their season ranked 122nd in the nation in passing, only averaging 141.9 yards per game — a number they look to improve on as they do not face a team the rest of the season ranked worse than 51st nationally against the run. The ‘Runners will take on the Monarchs on Nov. 9.