Editoral: Thinking green is good for UTSA, Page 6
Softball: Scores big in SLC Page 12
Comic: Rowdy freaks over finals, Page 6
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio
Page 6
April 27, 2010 Volume 42 • Issue 14 • 16 Pages
Page 10 Story Updates
Photo Courtesy: UTSA SAE
Communication chair steps down
UTSA’s Society of Automotive Engineers has built a Formula Series race car. SAE will be taking the car to the Formula West Series Competition in Fontana, California, on June 16-19. The event will feature an acceleration competition. The students will also be judged on their business presentation as well as on the car’s design and cost.
Budget cuts threaten departments’ funding COLFA may face larger classes, fewer courses, less full-time faculty and heavier courseload for existing staff
Krystal Bordner
paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net
Some apartments pay $10,000 for shuttle Seven apartment complexes near the UTSA Main Campus have agreed to pay $10,000 to provide off-campus shuttle service for the 2010-2011 academic year. The agreement was reached with the Broadstone Ranch, Highlands, High View Place, Hill Country Place, Maverick Creek, The Outpost and The Reserve apartment communities. “UTSA appreciates their support, and we look forward to serving students who reside in these communities with reliable shuttle service in the coming year,” said Jane Wilcox, director of UTSA Business Auxiliary Services. “This strategic alliance is mutually beneficial for students, UTSA and the apartment communities. Chase Hill, Blue Bonnet Hills and Las Colinas did not pay the shuttle fee, so UTSA cut them from the shuttle routes.
Think Green Fund approved by 52 percent
COLFA majors are more likely to be affected by the budget cuts than Science, Technology, Engeneering and Math majors.
He has created the Spring 2011 schedule without any reduction in courses or staff. Several of the departments in COLFA will be left with little development. “What is certain is that we will not be able to hire any new faculty for next year,” Dr. Steven Kellman, English professor, said. “That will mean some combination of the following: larger classes, fewer course offerings, increased use of part-time instructors, heavier load by existing faculty for curriculum planning, dissertation supervision and other academic responsibilities,” Kellman said. “My department and a few others in COLFA are two or three new hires away from national prominence, and the freeze on new positions will delay UTSA’s elevation in accomplishment and prestige.” The music department, however, may grow. “Our department is getting this incredibly exciting degree proposal, and it’s currently being reviewed at the UT System,” Eugene Dowdy, associate professor of music and the conductor of the UTSA Orchestra, said. “It’s a doctorate of music; it’s a pioneering initiative of combining music and science in vocal health especially. “We’re proposing this degree, but we’re also being told at the same time no new music degrees are going to be approved right now.”
On the other side of campus, Dr. Robert Fuhrman, psychology department chair, has positive plans for his department as well. “We have the same number of sections of classes. In fact we’re expanding them a little bit, at least a little bit based on some of the non-tenure types of instructors,” Fuhrman said. It seems that all of the plans are still in place; some of them will just be delayed until the economy improves. Fuhrman doesn’t expect the hold to delay UTSA’s progress for more than a year, but without knowing the future of the economy and the toll it will take on the UT system, it is impossible to say for sure. “[Dean Gelo] is looking to not only not cut budgets but to expand. There is talk of having a dance program, and they are talking of hiring a few dance instructors. The other thing that everyone wants is a theatre department, which UTSA does not have,” Mark Brill, professor of musicology, said. UTSA is striving for tier-one status, and many universities in that catagory have a theatre department. However, the problem for UTSA is lack of space.
The Think Green Fund, a proposal for a $5 increase in fees, to support green initatives at UTSA, passed on the March 22- 23 ASAP vote. Of the 29,000 UTSA students only 980 voted. The proposal was supported by Young Democrats, Green Society, ReEnergize San Antonio and Students for John Sharp. The proposal was strongly opposed by UTSA Republicans and Young Americans for Liberty at UTSA. The resolution will now be sent to the UT System Board of Regents for approval. UTEP also passed their Think Green Fund on March 22-23. A student lead Bi-law committee will determine the distibution of funds. Students interested on being on the committee should contact Pardeis Heidari at pardeis.heidarisga@gmail.com
Students deliver 1000 cranes to hospital The UTSA Office of Student Activities will deliver 1000 Origami Cranes to the Children’s Hospital at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in celebration of Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month on Tuesday April 27. UTSA students will read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, a book that tells the story of a young girl who becomes ill, and is told that if she folds 1000 Paper Cranes she will be granted a wish for good health. The UTSA students will then teach the children how to make their own origami cranes.
Source: Associated Press, local interviews, UTSA Today and other sources.
Burk Frey/ The Paisano
UTSA’s College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) may experience tough times if an anticipated budget cut occurs. The UT System has recently proposed a five percent budget cut for its 15 institutions. If approved, $175.3 million will be deleted from available funds. The universities in the system are divided into two separate groups; academic institutions and medical institutions. The academic portion will lose $78.1 million, and the medical $97 million. The UT system employs over 84,000 people, as one of the biggest industries in the state. The budget cut will not only affect students and faculty, but a large percentage of those employeed by the state. Although the cut has not been approved, the institutions affected have already begun budget adjustments. UTSA is already reallocating funds that were originally planned for the Master Plan. If budget cuts continue, UTSA will have to halt construction projects slated for the next fiscal year. “We should be able to proceed without any noticeable changes. In the long run, some of the benefits that we would like, we will not get,” Dr. James Schneider, history department chair, said. Schneider made it clear that Texas, UTSA specifically, is experiencing minimal consequences as a result of the troubled economy. “The state government would say that we’re not facing the kind of catastrophic cuts that California and some other places are facing, precisely because they have been more conservative in their spending,” Schneider said. UTSA has been preparing for the budget cut. Schneider said that the university is striving to keep the students uninvolved, but will be demanding more of the faculty. Schneider also said that none of his budget for the next year will be affected.
At the end of the summer, Dr. Steven Levitt will step down as chair of the Communication Department after completing his third consecutive 3-year term. Prior to his role as chair, Levitt served four years as Assistant Division Director in the Division of English, Classics, Philosophy and Communication from 1997 to 2001. “In 2001, the Department of Communication became a seperate department when the university underwent its restructuring,” Levitt said. Levitt came to UTSA in 1991 from the University of Kentucky. “I am very proud of my accomplishments,” Levitt said. Levitt helped establish the new degree program in communication. Since its inception in Fall 1994 the Department of Communication has grown to over 1,000 majors and in 2005 added a Master’s degree program. Levitt said that 13 years is a long time to serve as head of a program, and it is now time for him to pursue other teaching and research interests. “I will be on research development leave during the next academic year working on projects in the areas of cause-related marketing effectiveness and international teamwork dynamics and networks,” Levitt said. During his leave, Levitt plans to publish in peer-review journals, write short stories and a cookbook as well as play his guitar. “I also hope to collaborate with colleagues from the department here and with faculty at other universities, hopefully from Eastern Europe,” Levitt said. Levitt will return to normal faculty duties in Fall 2011.
See COLFA, Page 10
Students at the Downtown Campus present their Design I final projects .
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News The Paisano Exceptional students raise the bar 4
April 27, 2010
paisanonews@sbcglobal.net UTSA students Benjamin Holler, who has been distinguished as procuring the highest number of honors in the UT system, and Maya Gonzalez, who has also obtained a record number of honors at UTSA, will graduate this spring and bring UTSA to statewide attention. Upon their graduation, Holler will have earned 6 and Gonzalez 4 honors consecutively. Both are College of Business (COB) students and eligible for Department Honors. Benjamin Holler, a management major, has earned six consecutive honors including his summa cum laude status, Business Honors, Leadership Honors, Highest Honors and international distinction. Holler is also in the process of procuring Department Honors in Management, which will be determined based on the approval of his senior thesis by the Undergraduate Program Committee for the department. Holler will graduate with a B.B.A. in management. Holler asserts that he did not initially plan to pursue additional honors.
“The accomplishments of my goals always came first. I did not go out of my way simply to gain the honor. For all of them (except Business Honors) it was not until after I had completed the course work that I realized the requirements also satisfied for an honor.” Holler plans to attend graduate and medical school with hopes for attending Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University. Holler will attend Augustine College in Ottawa, Canada for one year this fall to study classical education. Maya Gonzalez, a marketing major, will graduate with a total of four honors to her name including magna cum laude status, Business Honors, Leadership Honors and Highest Honors. Gonzales was also eligible to apply for international distinction and Department Honors in Management but chose not to apply. Gonzales professed that the decision to pursue so many honors was a gradual one throughout her college career. “My freshman year I applied to be in the honors college and I was just going to do General Honors. Two years ago I decided that I wanted to do Leadership Honors
and last April I decided to do Highest Honors.” Gonzales will be applying to graduate school this summer and taking a GMAT preparation class. Her top two choices for graduation school are the University of Texas at Austin and Stanford University. Both Holler and Gonzalez have been UTSA students for their entire college career, with Holler completing several hours worth of Dual Credit prior to fully enrolling at UTSA. Holler and Gonzalez both report studying vigorously for more than 25 hours a week during the semester. “This semester has been very intense because I am finishing my thesis. I have been studying and working on my thesis about 25 hours a week this semester.” Gonzales said. Reflecting upon their undergraduate experiences, both students have plenty of advice to give to new students. “Aim big. Do not settle for mediocre. Anyone can do what I have accomplished; after all, we live in the greatest country on earth. It only takes a dream, a goal, a passion for learning, hard
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Holler and Gonzalez will be two of the most highly distingushed graduates UTSA has ever produced.
work, and the ability to learn from your mistakes and not to let failure keep you down. Do not be afraid to fail: remember they (people) cannot eat you. Some of the most successful people in our country failed early in their career,” Holler said. “My advice to new students is to always seek help. Whenever I had a problem in any of my classes, I always went to my professors for
help or went to the TRC for tutoring. Also, I always sought advice from my advisor, Ann Eisenberg, who always pushed me to do my best and achieve my goals.” Gonzales said. For more information about UTSA’s honors programs visit http://www.utsa.edu/honors
paisano-online.com Organs needed Senator encourages donation Senator Judith Zaffirini
Contact Carolyn Bagnetto, RN at 567-7575
Photo Courtesy: Maya Gonzalez
Robyn Lorkovic
Photo Courtesy: Benjamin Holler
Graduating student will earn more honors than any other in UT System history
In 13 minutes another name will be added to the national waiting list for an organ or tissue transplant. Within the next 24 hours 77 persons in our country will receive a potentially lifesaving transplant, but at least 17 others will die because they did not receive one. Sixty seconds, however, is all it takes to register as an organ, tissue, stem cell or blood donor via the Glenda Dawson Donate Life-Texas Registry web site. April is Donate Life Month, the perfect time and reason to renew our commitment to saving lives via organ and tissue donation. More than 690,000 Texans (myself included!) have added their names to the Texas registry, named after the late Rep. Glenda Dawson (R-Pearland). Rep. Dawson was a passionate advocate for organ donation because she had first-hand knowledge of its life-saving power. In 1987 a transplanted kidney lovingly given to her by her younger sister extended her life. Fifteen years later (2005) we collaborated to author and pass House Bill (HB) 120, establishing the official Texas organ and tissue donor registry, so that more Texans could donate life and more recipients could benefit from their generosity. As a result of our legislation, it takes only 60 seconds to enroll via www.DonateLifeTexas.org. Sadly, Rep. Dawson died 12 days after the official launch of our registry in 2006. In 2007 it was my honor to author and pass Senate Bill (SB) 1500, renaming the registry in her memory. The need for donors is urgent and growing: The national waiting list for transplants includes more than 100,000 persons, more than half of
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whom are racial or ethnic minorities. Because successful transplants are enhanced if the donor and the recipient share a racial or ethnic background, having a diverse pool of donors is critical. Awareness is crucial. In 2009 I authored and passed SB 1803 to increase donor registrations by Texans and hope for potential recipients. My bill requires Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) employees to ask customers one question: "Would you like to register as an organ donor?" This is amazingly simple, but it works—and saves lives. Since January, when DPS began asking every customer the question, registrations at DPS offices increased from 32,929 last December to 62,317 last March— nearly double! What a difference one question makes! My SB 1803 also requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to include information about organ and tissue donation with auto registration renewal mailings. What's more, it eliminates the unwieldy twosignature requirement for persons who register via the department’s website, As a result, the number of online registrants increased substantially. Unfortunately, interest in donating life typically is limited to those who need or needed a transplant for themselves, family members or others; to living donors and loved ones of deceased donors who generously and courageously made donations possible; and to health care professionals, law enforcement personnel and advocates who understand the importance of its power and potential. Those interested in learning more about organ donation can visit the Health and Human Services donor website at: http://www.organdonor. gov.
August 26, 2008
The Paisano
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Campus&Opinion
The Paisano Editor-in-Chief: Mansee Muzumdar News Editor: Christopher Connell Features Editor: Arianne Evans Assitant Features Editor: Ruben Mercado Arts Editor: Joseph Tidline Assitant Arts Editor: Krystal Bordner Sports Editor: Vanessa Elizarraras Assistant Sports Editor: Noah Ramirez Interim Photo Editor: Burk Frey Web Editor: Robert Torres Ads Manager: Kevyn Kirven Business Manager: Fidelity Gomez Interns: Nicole Beltran, Eloy DeLeon, Meagan Hernandez, Noah Ramirez
Staff: Kevin Won, Robert Calcagno, Jonathan Nomamiukor, Annalise Perry, Megan Lovelady, Misha Yurchenko, Judd Messer, Itza Carbajal, Jose Vasquez, Steven Ordaz, Bradley Banks, Robyn Lorkovic, Ariel Alvarez, Christopher Thomas
Contributing Writers:
Anna Bryant, Michael Gardiner, Ana Bartlor, Veronica Salinas, Marium Ayyad, Jenelle Duff
Advisor: Diane Abdo Advisory Board: Steven Kellman, Mansour El Kikhia, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Matt Stern 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. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed towards: © The Paisano 14545 Roadrunner Way San Antonio, TX 78249 Phone: (210)690-9301 Fax: (210)690-3423 E-mail: paisanoeditor@sbcglobal.net
April 27, 2010
Editorial
Vote for a reason
Well, here we are again. The end of the semester and the beginning of finals is upon us. While most of us will probably spend the next week burying our noses in books and sleeping at the library, this might be a good time to look back at the semester and the decisions we’ve made regarding our university. Just last week, students voted to add a Green Fund to the fess already paid. The fund, which was passed with 53 percent, will add on a $5 fee for each student during fall and spring semesters plus a $2.50 charge during the summer. We’ve elected a new Student Government Association president. We voted “No” on a raised parking and transportation fee. We saw the opening of a new resturaunt, Chilis Too, on campus, and now we’ve approved a Green Fund. Even though voting statistics high as they should be it is still nice that the university allows us to be a part of their decision-making process. Just like the students who are studying right now instead of reading this editorial are probably closer to an A than the rest of us, we have to put in work to get the results we want. Sure, individually we can bring our grade point average up, but we can’t save the world by ourselves. According to House Bill 3353, the UTSA Green Fund will provide environmental improvements through services related to recycling, energy efficiency and renewable energy, transportation, employment, product purchasing, planning and maintenance, irrigation and other sustainability issues. A campus committee with majority student representation will oversee the Green Fund. In the long run, this extra fee will help the university. It will make UTSA a more environmentally conscious campus, and even those who would rather not pay the fee can’t argue with that. Whether or not you think it’s right that students pay extra for this service is beside the point. Instead,
The Bird Seed by Megan Lovelady
Campus Calendar Tuesday, April 27
Saturday, May 1
7:00 AM Pesentation for Design I Final Review
7:00 PM UCinema Night: Legion
UC 1.102 (Bexar Room)
Wednesday, April 28 7:00 AM Pesentation for Design I Final Review UC 1.102 (Bexar Room)
4:00 PM Darwin’s Gift to Science and Religion
Photo Poll What summer concert are you looking forward to?
Retama Auditorium - UC 2.02.02
Monday, May 3 6:30 PM UTSA Official Ring Ceremony Convocation Centert
Main Bldg 1.124 - Academic Classroom
Wednesday, May 5 8:00 PM Coffeehouse UC Ski Lodge
Brittney Malloy Freshman/Undecided “Rihanna.”
Friday, May 7 11:00 AM ICE First Friday 8:00 PM Coffeehouse
UC 1.102 (Bexar Room)
Ski Lodge - UC 1.01.00
Thursday, April 29
Saturday, May 8 8:00 PM 15th Annual La Despedida UC 2.01.28 (Denman Room)
4:00 PM Evolutionary Origin of Malaria Lecture Richard Liu Auditorium - BB 2.01.02 - Academic Classroom - Large Lecture Hall
8:00 PM Poetry Jam UC Paseo
Sunday, May 9 8:00 PM 15th Annual La Despedida UC Ski Lodge Patio
Carlos Garcia Senior/Architecture
Friday, April 30 9:00 PM UCinema Night: Legion
Retama Auditorium - UC 2.02.02
Monday, May 10
“Kings of Leon.”
8:00 PM 15th Annual La Despedida Buena Vista St. Building 1.326
Saturday, May 1 7:00 PM UCinema Night: Legion
Retama Auditorium - UC 2.02.02
it’s important to realize the fact that we had the chance to vote on an issue like this, an issue that really will affect every person at this university. We vote on athletics. It is because of the students vote that we will have a football team in less than a year. We vote on parking. It is because of our voting that we are not paying extra parking and transportation fees. We vote on SGA president, a student who represents all 28,000 plus of us. And hopefully our vote on the Green Fund will prove to be an important one.
Good luck on your finals Roadrunners!
Doug Fisher Sophomore/Chinese & Honors “Andrew WK.”
Jacksonville Serrano Junior/ Mexican American Studies “Deadweather.”
Shelby Aleksejczyk Freshman/Undecided “Lady Gaga.”
Victor Rosas Senior/ Architecture “Chevelle.”
Features
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The Paisano
April 27, 2010
What professors think about you Kevin Won Paisanofeatures@sbcglobal.net Ever wondered what your professor is wondering? Ever sought to seek your teacher’s surprised look after being caught doing something you weren’t? Gaining insight about your teachers can help immensely in your class and meet people with interesting personalities. Knowing your teacher’s perspective on some classroom details can really help you become a better student and even surprise you a little bit.
Sleeping in class Ever been woken up by your teacher in class? You probably think you’re a sneaky napper. Sorry to hurt your pride, but it has nothing to do with your skills in subtleties. Most teach-
ers think that students should be accountable for their own learning. Essentially learning comes down to the student’s own personal responsibilities, so professors feel it isn’t their job to wake up students. Sleeping is rude! However, it’s hard not to wonder what exactly teachers are thinking during these inevitable moments! Andria Crosson, history professor, said, “That’s just going to further drive them away from my office hour, or forever approaching a teacher, so I try not to (wake up sleeping students).” Even though Crosson will never try to wake a student up directly, she does try to speak louder hoping she’ll “jolt” them awake from their classroom slumber. Michael Cepek, an anthropology professor, has a different perspective in class. “I know what it’s like sometimes to get no sleep, or be bummed out or something. So I have a
little bit of sympathy for students who sleep in class.” Cepek said. He also said that students don’t fall asleep in his class too often, but what’s different from Cepek from Crosson is that he recognizes that the students nap because of their personal situation rather than the subject of his lecture.
Exam Grades Sometimes teachers find their students doing worse on their exam than they expect them to. How do teachers justify this? Do they place most of the blame on themselves or do they continue to hold their students accountable for their own grades. Cepek believes that when someone gets a “seventy it is a seventy” and there is “no way to go around that”, but he thinks grades are “just a number.” Crosson says she feels a little disappointed because the subject is something she believes to go over very well, but she reassures herself by attributing the low grades due to low attendance in class. In an attempt to fix this she has had experimental attendance quizzes. Surprise: the ones who show up in class do better on tests than those who don’t show up! John Morris, a professor in geography, takes a
summative societal view on students rather than looking at it from a classroom perspective. He says “it’s very discouraging for our country” and that he uses it to see how “american youth are doing in general.” He also makes it clear that the numbers don’t affect his own perceptions of his ability to teach when he says “I don’t take it personally.” Morris isn’t trying to completely look down on our society as he also mentions that students today are expected to work as they study. Students today pay such a large amount of tuition fee that they never get to go to SIs or have time to study “leisurely.” “I think employers of these students who use cheap labor should recognize that they need more flexible hours so that they make or attend SI sessions as opposed to putting the interest of ruthless capitalist exploiters of youth ahead of the actual long term interest of the students,” Morris said.
Office hours Office hours. The purpose of this is obvious. They are there so students can beg for extra credit and late assignment exemptions or postponements. From a student’s point-of-view, the teacher’s perspective is different, maybe outlandish. Cepek likes that students come in and drop by to talk about their major or whether they should transfer and other personal issues with his students. He’s very open minded about his teaching especially how
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he expresses how he enjoys hearing constructive criticism on how he teaches, that way he knows how to accommodate needs for his students. Crosson greatly expressed the importance of visiting office hours. She shared a story how one student used to come in everyday to talk about the chapter and the lectures for her class, and she reminds us that going to visit will help the student immensely and professors want to see us improving. Crosson makes a point that students don’t start to show up until the end of the semester when assignments aren’t completed or they need extra credit. She expresses discomfort that she can’t show her students “favoritism” and it becomes the worst part of her job to reject their favors after hearing a long, pitiful sob story. On the other hand, Morris takes a different perspective on students visiting him in his office. Morris recognizes the importance of student’s assertiveness which will force professors to “have no choice but to start to think about students and figure out who they are.”
April 27, 2010
The Paisano
Baby mama drama
The Child Development Center on campus provides help for students raising kids while getting their degree.
Itza carbajal Paisanofeatures@sbcglobal.ne Being a college student is difficult. For the average student, it can consist of 12-15 hours of class time, three to four hours of study time and an unlimited amount of stress. To add to that workload, there are students that involve themselves around campus, sometimes committing five to seven hours of their time. Whatever the activity the student chooses, the student knows that once they are at home they can choose to either continue working or just relax. What about those students that do not possess the choice? Those students are bound to their responsibilities. Those students are what I call full time UTSA baby mamas. Fifteen hours of courses, four hours of study time, two hours of student activities and endless hours of childcare. That sounds difficult. No, difficult is an understatement. Imagine having to study chemical composition and feed a two year old. How about reading the complete work of Milton's Paradise Lost and playing peek-a-boo with a one year old? How does one do it? According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, only about 1.5 percent receives a college degree by the age of 30. Graduating communications major, Alex Joseph, is one of those in the 1.5 percent. Joseph knows that it was not easy to finish her college education while raising an 11 month old child. It is very stressful. “I can only find time to study when she is napping, which is not often. I try to after she has gone to sleep, but by then I am tired too. It feels like there are not enough hours in the day,” Joseph said. At times, Joseph must bring her daughter to school when the father does not arrive home in time to take
Features care of the baby. “She is full of energy; sitting in the stroller is like being in prison to her. I try to keep her entertained with snacks and toys but by the end of class she is pretty restless,” Joseph said. Having to choose between dropping out of college to take care of a baby or continuing college despite the difficulties in store can stress out any expecting college student. In regards as to why she chose to continue college, Joseph said, “I wanted to set a good example for my daughter. I want an education, and I wasn't going to let anything s t a n d in the way of that. I want t o give
h e r the best life possible, and having a college education is a big part of being able to do that.” Another dedicated student is junior communications major Catherine Ann Edmonds. She also struggles with balancing school and a child. Edmonds has a five year old boy whom she enrolled in the Child Development Center at UTSA. One of the best ways Edmond deals with studying and dedicating time to her little boy is always showing him a good example. “I try to manage balancing spending time with my child and school by studying while he is with me, and showing him what I have to do. When it is time to go to the park, I take my book with me.,” Edmonds said. The Child Development Center has also greatly helped Edmonds
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cope with being a full time student. “I have a discounted rate at the CDC because I am a student. I pay a lot less at the CDC on campus then I would at any other day care. I also was offered a scholarship through the CDC the first two years at U.T.S.A. They have made it possible for me to continue my education by providing affordable child care,” Edmonds said. Edmonds stresses to other mothers that by giving a good example to the child, it will create great habits for the future. A child learns by imitating his or her parents. ‘I think other mothers should know that if your child sees you studying it will teach the child good study habits,” Edmonds said. The Child Development Center has been credited with aiding parents in coping with the daily strains on school and childcare. According to the Child Development Center website, “The UTSA Child Development Center provides child care services for UTSA students, staff, and faculty. The Center is licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and accredited by The National Association for the Education of Young Children.” In order to become eligible to enroll a child at the center, the student must be full-time student, staff, or faculty at the 1604 or downtown campus, or the Institute of Texan Culture. The perspective parents must sign up on the waiting list at the Center’s website. Students receive discounts and are able to choose from three payment options: payment in full, monthly payments, or bi-monthly payments. These students are amazing. They manage to handle schoolwork and a child. Next time you consider complaining about the single childless life being difficult, imagine dealing with it all and raising a child.
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Arts
The Paisano
Tough t i m e s for COLFA m ajors
Competitive job market leads COLFA majors to seek alternatives for the future Eloy Deleon
paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net Graduation raises many questions: How will I pay off my student loans? What will I do next? And most importantly, where will I work? Some students have made the switch from degrees such as math, philosophy and psychology, to practical degrees such as accounting, business, engineering and science. If you are a college of liberal fine arts (COLFA) or architecture major then here is some helpful information. Even though the economy is in poor condition, there are still plenty of job opportunities for students pursuing a degree in music, art, humanities, English and architecture. Those in the COLFA majors might consider a profession outside of their field. For example, it might be wise to pursue a teaching certification since the hiring of new teachers is on the rise. According to www.bls.gov kindergarten, elementary school, middle school and secondary school teachers held 3.5 million jobs in 2008. Of those positions, 179,500 were kindergarten teachers, 1.5 million were elementary teachers, 659,500 were middle school and 1.1 million were high school teachers. The job opportunities for teachers are expected to grow by 13 percent by 2018. The average salary for a teacher in San Antonio is $45,000. “I think you have to be as competitive as you can be,” senior political science major Erin Allred said. “Also having an additional language is necessary. You have to be able to market your degree to wherever you’re applying. Any degree is good, but knowing how to express what
you learned is a plus.” Those majoring in fine arts might want to consider more commercial jobs in advertisement, design, illustration, film or television . Other job opportunities for the college of liberal and fine arts include: painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking and crafts. Some students are reluctant to enter the job market because of the economic situation. Instead, students are deciding to pursue a masters degree or even a Ph.D. hoping the job market will get better while they are in school. Deciding to stay in school is what students like senior Elizabeth Martinez are doing. “My plans after graduation are to get my masters in Student Affairs Higher Education Administrations and work with various aspects of the field before I head to work on my Ph.D.,” Martinez said. “I feel the job market is not doing so well for those with higher degrees because it becomes expensive to hire people. However, I plan to work with education, which is fortunately a more secure career path.”
April 27, 2010 Creative Corner
Poetry category contest winner: Jessica Burich
“Plain ol’ Bill” Plain ol’ Bill has a choice to stare Down the woman to the left, Who is bending slowly down, Or look away and wonder Of the sight he will miss. The simple choice of looking left or right. The difference between wrong and right Has never weighed Bill so heavily down, Because the wife, whom he has come to miss, Is not sad that she has left Him to sit and stare And wish he could not wonder About her body moving up and down To the rhythm coming from the right Speaker. (Because in his car it is busted on the left.) Now is when Bill begins to stare Off into the splendid wonder Of that first movie date they chose to skip and miss Because the hotel room, first hallway on the right All the way down To the last door on the left, Was calling them to make other guests wonder About the sounds no one could miss. The next day other guests tried not to stare
Some of the best tips for getting a job after graduation are researching the job as much as you can, knowing company statistics and knowing background information on executives, etc. Companies will be impressed that you have taken the time to find out background information of their company. It is also wise to rehearse your interview. Also cover the most common questions asked during an interview such as your strength and weaknesses are.
But Bill has no room to wonder; For every thought other than her is a hit or miss. His eyes locked on hers in love stricken stare Led them through a year which ended down On Center Street, in the white church on the right And then back to the last hotel room on the left. Then three years pass right By without one thought of a miss In the love; but there she is down At the last hotel room on the left With Bill’s boss, and the whole town to stare And Bill is only left to wonder About wrong and right, and why she left; And how to bring justice down, and stop this space-out stare. In all this wonder, Bill’s view of the bending woman is another miss.
The Paisano
April 27, 2010 Water Cooler
Brianna Johnson
paisanosports@sbcglobal.net
Music and
Freedom
The country of Somalia has been severely divided for the past 20 years because of the lack of a central government and two opposing forces: A growing radical Muslim militia and a moderate Muslim transitional government. According to Politics Daily, a radical Muslim militia group known as Hizbul Islam has issued a decree banning music in Somalia. Hizbul Islam claims that music of any kind is “un-Islamic” and warns that anyone who violates their decree will have to deal with “serious consequences.” Radio broadcast stations across the country complied and have stopped playing music. Another powerful radical group, the Shabub, said it is also prohibiting radio stations like Voice of America because these types of stations are “western propaganda that violates Islam” according to the New York Times. By prohibiting songs from western civilization, the citizens are being denied their individual human rights of freedom and the opportunity of obtaining a temporary peace in the war-stricken country. The basic freedoms that come with being an American are ones that we should hold dear. The people of Somalia deserve a government that promotes the ideology of democracy; it should be in our interest, as Americans, to promote democracy in countries where unnecessary cruelty – like banning music— exists so that people around the world can experience the matchless concept of freedom.
Arts
10
The Losers is action-packed winner
Long-awaited graphic novel adaptation is the perfect mix of action and comedy Jenelle Duff
paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net I’m sure that like myself, when you hear “The Losers,” most of you simply classify it as the most recent action movie to hit the box office. Yet, for those of you diehard comic book fans, “The Losers” is the long-awaited movie form of Andy Diggle’s DC graphic novel. Scores of its fans from the comic book series flocked to movie theatres nationwide in hopes that the movie lived up to the hype of its predecessor. For those not familiar with the comic book series, “The Losers” has an action-packed plot centered around its main characters - Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Jensen (Chris Evans), Pooch (Columbus Short),
Roque (Idris Elba), Cougar (Oscar Jaenada) and the super villain Max (Jason Patric). The movie begins in the jungle of Bolivia, where the cast of“good guys” and “bad guys” are on a CIA mission. Unbeknownst to the ‘‘good guys’’, they are double-crossed by an unknown figure within the CIA, which not surprisingly turns out to be Max. Fighting desperately to stay alive, the team is awarded another chance at life and a chance at revenge when the beautiful operative, Aisha (Zoe Saldana), comes to their rescue. Although initially reluctant to trust their mysterious ‘‘savior,” the team is eventually in cahoots with her as both Aisha and the team have it out for Max. After sneaking back into the United States, the team, with Clay serving as commander, unleashes
their individual, impressive abilities as the movie rolls into action mode. Scene after scene Clay and his team are found in hot pursuit of the wealthy but seemingly psychotic Max. To sum it up, “The Losers” was a good attempt at living up to its predecessor. Although promised to be an action flick, I can see why it started off as a “comic” book, since the movie’s comic scenes were far more entertaining than the action scenes. The movie’s plot contained many “seen it before moments,” but it was nicely cemented by the intense chemistry between Clay and his team. The movie’s director, Sylvain White, best-known for his bloodrushing, heart-pumping, foot-stepping, movie “Stomp The Yard,” gets
two thumbs up for the rollercoaster ride that “The Losers” provided. There wasn’t a dull moment in the movie, even during the times I found myself totally lost by several details that made absolutely no sense. “The Losers” is definitely a good movie to see; whether you’re one of those people who’s highly anticipating the release of “Iron Man 2”, or if you’re simply looking for an actionpacked movie that’s not filled with a lot of bloody, gory scenes. For “Iron Man” fans, it’s the ideal appetizer before the mouth-watering, hold on to the edge of your seat main dish “Iron Man” that hits the box office next week. Overall, I give “The Losers” a rating of B+ as the movie is the perfect combination of action and comedy.
COLFA: Music department running out of room From Page 1
“Our department can’t thrive if we don’t have space to practice. As it is, we don’t have spaces to teach. I share an office with somebody right now, then I have to teach within a room with somebody else,” voice teacher and recruiting coordinator, April Hufty said. “We can’t grow as a department as it is right now. Our quality is getting better because we accept only the very top students. But we can’t grow and have bigger productions, and we
can’t have a bigger program because we are out of space.” The music department, which demands more space than all the other COLFA departments, will feel the cut the most. They could not go on without practice and performing areas. “Dean Gelo has vowed to protect us as much as he can, to make sure we don’t have any budget cuts that affect the arts particularly,” Brill said. There is a battle between all of the arts departments and the STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) departments. The arts need not just performance arenas; they need basic amenities like classrooms and office
areas for the teachers also. UTSA orchestra conductor, Eugene Dowdy said, “This music department was designed and built for 100 music majors. We have 300 music majors. We’re bursting at the seams. I saw one music teacher teaching a trumpet lesson on the stairwell because he didn’t have anywhere to teach.” But the university still sides with the STEM in Dowdy’s opinion. “I think it’s a wise move from the global standpoint. I understand that those tier one aspirations in sciences and mathematics will put UTSA on the map. But every tier one institution
that I know, every one, has leading arts programs,” Dowdy said. “People want the arts, they want culture, they want all this uplifting activity, but at the same time you see two new engineering buildings going up and they’ve even said every new degree program, every dollar coming in, is first going to the STEM.” An important factor in this situation is trust. Some faculty trust that the University will provide for the arts. “Dr. Romo is an artist himself, a photographer, so he gets it,” Dowdy said.
The Paisano
UTSA captures Southland Conference Tournament Championship, automatic berth to NCAA Regional goUTSA.com The No. 2 seed UTSA men’s tennis team captured the program’s second-ever Southland Conference Tournament Championship with a 4-0 win against top seed UT Arlington on Sunday afternoon. The Roadrunners improved to 13-9 on the year and earned the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Regional, the program’s first since 2002. The Mavericks wrapped up their season with a 9-11 overall record. UTSA served up the doubles point for the 1-0 lead. Junior Max Stratmann and freshman Tyler Brown needed just 30 minutes to win their match, 8-1, against Adam Srkala and Gonzalo Bienzobas at the No. 3 position. UT Arlington then won at the top spot, 8-2, but the Roadrunners secured the point when the tandem of freshman Martin Ayala
Sports
11
Strongman craze hits campus
and junior Daniel Moreiras posted an 8-5 victory at No. 2. UTSA carried its momentum into singles play, as Ayala put the Birds up two when he rolled past Brieuc Hamon in straight sets (63, 6-2) at the No. 3 slot. Senior Jorge Delgado then followed suit with a 7-5, 6-1 win against Jason Lateko at No. 6. Moreiras clinched the conference crown with a three-set triumph at No. 5. The San Antonio native dropped the first set, 6-2, to David Subirats, but he evened the match after he collected a 6-1 victory in the following frame. Moreiras then took care of Subirats, 6-3, in the third set. The Roadrunners will find out who their first-round opponent will be at 4 p.m. on Tuesday on ESPNews. Joseph Tidline/ The Paisano
April 27, 2010
Contestant at the fourth annual Strongest Man Competition participates in the Yoke Squat.
That’s it for us this semester, but we’ll be back in August with more sports coverage!
Joseph Tidline
paisanosports@sbcglobal.net The Fourth Annual UTSA Strongest Man Competition took place April 24 in the athlete’s gym. The competition was comprised of seven separate events that tested each contestant’s strength, endurance and spirit. The competition began indoors with a 225-pound Bench Press, 550-pound Yoke Squat and the Iron Cross. The competitors were split into three
different groups and each group rotated between events. “We split them by height to save time on adjusting the equipment,” Assistant Facilities Coordinator Luke Johnson said. The Yoke Squat seemed to be the most challenging event of the morning. Each contestant had to lift over 550 pounds of a weighted safety bar until their legs locked out. The average was around 30 squats, but contestants Daniel Johnson and Adrian Frausto broke 70 squats with ease.
“I think the hardest event for me was the bench press,” Johnson said. After the first three rotations finished, the athletes took a break, and then the outside events took place. The four events for the afternoon were the Tire Flip, Truck Pull, Farmer’s Walk and Keg Relay. The Tire Flip and Farmer’s Walk proved to be the most difficult. “I’m one of the smaller people here so I’m not looking forward to the Truck Pull as I am the Farmer’s Walk,” David Noell said. “The Truck Pull is more of competition where size makes a difference.” After the scores were tallied, Michael Cox, strength and conditioning coach, announced that there was a tie between fourth and fifth place in overall performance. Johnson and Noell faced off for the fourth place spot in a hanging contest. Noell managed to best Johnson and took fourth. Prizes included trophies to the top five overall and top two in the Poundfor-Pound category. They also awarded gift sets from Freebirds, coupons and gift cards, Schlitterbahn tickets, Six Flags Fiesta Texas tickets, Power Bar products and variety of other sponsored goods. Mike Onyejiaka won first place in the overall category. Onyejiaka placed no less than fourth in every event, and laid a huge gap in the final tally between first and second. “This is my third competition. I got first place overall and first place Pound-For-Pound in my first competition,” Onyejiaka said. Onyejiaka is also one of the walkon players for the new UTSA football team. Players nedd to have determination and discipline to win this,” Onyejiaka said. “I think this competition is great for athletes and getting UTSA’s name out.”
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Sports
The Paisano
April 27, 2010
Softball closing in on SLC tournament
Burk Frey /The Paisano
ing the complete game, with no earned runs and four strikeouts. Texas State 6, UTSA 4 In the nightcap of Friday’s doubleheader, Texas State and UTSA carried a tie game all the way to the top of the tenth inning before the Bobcats unknotted on a two-run inning. After trailing 4-3 headed into the bottom of the seventh, UTSA pinch runner Beeson—running for Ivy who doubled —scored on a Holmes single up the middle. The game stayed 4-4 until the Bobcats plated two runs on two hits in the front half of the tenth inning. Bobcat pitcher Chandler Hall earned her fifteenth win of the season in what would be Texas State’s only success of the weekend.
Junior pitcher Emily Humpal helps the Roadrunners secure two wins against Texas State. The team travels to Natchitoches, Louisiana to face off against Northwestern State.
Noah Ramirez
paisanosports@sbcglobal.net The UTSA softball team is hitting their stride, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Winning 12 of the last 16 games, including eight Southland Conference (SLC) victories, the Roadrunners finish the regular season at Northwestern State before setting their sights on San Marcos and the SLC tournament, scheduled for May 13-15. This past weekend at Roadrunner Field, UTSA won the regular-season series against Texas State– the first
since splitting the series in 2005. Since 2006, the Bobcats have owned the I-35 rivalry, securing 11 wins out of 12 games. In the weekend series, UTSA held the second annual Strike Out Leukemia Day—in honor of former Roadrunner Hope Ortiz who passed away after an eight-month battle with leukemia—and senior day—recognizing Kelly Cato, Chelsey Chapman, Kristin Sitka, Rudi Cantu, Cassie Miller, Kim Gonzales and Celeste Carruth— in the final home game of the season. UTSA 3, Texas State 1 Junior pitcher Emily Humpal took
the mound for the Roadrunners on Friday’s opening game of the doubleheader. After drawing a four-pitch walk, sophomore Nikki Goff advanced to third base after a sacrifice bunt by Cato and a bunt single by Cantu. Goff eventually scored on a throwing error to give UTSA a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. The orange and blue struck again in the bottom of the sixth, after a pinch two-out single by sophomore Kristin Kappler scored Caitlyn Ivy and pinch-runner Samantha Beeson. The Bobcats plated one run in the top of the seventh, courtesy of two UTSA errors. Humpal finished the day throw-
UTSA 7, Texas State 1 Humpal continued her stellar performance against the Bobcats, flirting with a no-hitter all the way until the top of the seventh. The Roadrunners wasted no time getting on the board, plating four runs in their first at bat. Ivy began the inning by drawing a twoout walk and advancing to third on a bloop single by Holmes. Kristin Kappler drove Ivy in on a single to left, but Humpal did the majority of the damage in the inning—aiding her own cause —by delivering a three-run home run over the left-center field wall. UTSA put one-spots on the board in the bottom of the second and third innings, and Holmes added a run in the bottom of the fifth on her seventh homer of the season. Humpal, who has consistently improved since a March 9 game against Baylor, finished the day going seven innings, allowing only one hit and one unearned run while striking out three. “We’re playing really well right now
down the stretch,” Head Coach Lori Cook said. “Our last 10, 11 games have been really great games, and we’re firing on all cylinders. Everything is working.” Cook has seen her team go through the ups and downs standard to playing the 52-game regular season. “We struggled all year,” Cook said. “And I kept telling them it matters where we’re at in the end. There’s no reason for us not to go to the conference tournament. And we can beat anyone that’s there. I look for us to keep this momentum going.” Leading the SLC in numerous offensive categories including batting average (.399), hits (57), home runs (12) and total bases (101), Ivy continues to be a threat for opposing pitchers in her breakout season. “I’ve worked really hard with some of the things I struggled with last year,” the sophomore slugger said of her success at the plate. But not overlooking the ultimate goal of an SLC tourney championship and an automatic NCAA tournament qualifier, Ivy humbly acknowledged the benefit of defeating rival Texas State. “It was great,” Ivy said. “It’s a great part of our stride going into the conference tournament. It was a big win for us, puts us in a great spot.” The ‘Runners meet the Lady Demons of Northwestern State in the final SLC series of the season May 8-9. All Roadrunner highlights, including scores and statistics from the SLC tournament, can be found at goUTSA. com.
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Carol Scott Michael L. Lafferty Bill & Diane Workman Kim and Jack Palmer Stephen and Eva Brown Gary and Jennifer Wright Jesus Noel Santos Ryan Lambrecht Ryan Boettger The Florence and John Newman Foundation The Amy McNutt Trust Donations In Memory of: George Stern Ernst Hoessly Joey Teague
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