Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio
{SINCE 1981}
Halloween Special pg. 6 & 7
Volume 52
Issue 11
October 27 - November 3, 2015
UTSA Approximately $50,000 has been designated to replace all of the broken clocks on campus with a wifi based system. The initiative will take place over the next 4 years; however, 20 percent ( 633 clocks) will be replaced in the Engineering and Frio buildings in 2015. Report inaccurate clocks to workcontrol@utsa. edu.
Texas
Three presidents of private universities in Texas have announced that their schools will opt out of the state’s campus carry legislation. Guns will remain banned at Trinity University (San Antonio), Austin College (Sherman) and Paul Quinn College (Dallas).
U.S. According to health surveys conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, marijuana use among adults in the U.S. has doubled over a decade, rising to almost 10 percent, or 22 million people, who identify as recreational users. Researchers attribute this shift to changing cultural attitudes and permissive views.
World In the face of the United Nation’s deadline for its global climate deal, 150 countries (representing 85 percent of global carbon emissions) have reported their post-2020 policies and pledged different amounts of money to address climate change. Island states and tropical countries that are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change have voiced their frustration with larger economies like the U.S. and Russia for not pledging more funds.
A group of Syrian refugees wait at the Keleti Railway Staion in Budapest, Hungary.
Alexandre Rotenberg, shuttershock.com
Refugees emigrate from Syria to San Antonio
Alex Birnel
News Assistant
Lindsey Revel
Contributing Writer @ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com After pictures of 2-yearold boy Aylan Kurdi’s body washed up on a Turkish shore went viral, the Syrian Refugee Crisis finally
reached a tipping point and gained international attention. Escalating violence in Iraq and Afghanistan accounts for a large percentage, but the largest number of people are fleeing war-torn Syria. In Syria, long reigning dictator Bashar Al Assad has insulated himself from the threat of an Arab Spring style democratic revolution by various tactics – includ-
ing militarily supporting pro-regime forces, granting amnesty to jailed terrorists – who, upon release, staged a counterrevolution against the country’s democratic aspirants, buying Assad time. Further, the regime violated the Geneva Conventions by barrel bombing its own citizens, and allegedly using Sarin gas, a deadly chemical nerve agent, against noncombatant populations.
WHO IS ZEDD?
He’s here to PINK Party Sonia Mata Staff Writer
@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com Students can stop guessing. Victoria’s Secret representatives have finally answered a very pressing question: who will be playing at the campus party? Russian-German DJ and electro-house music producer Zedd will headline Wednesday’s PINK party, as announced on the event’s Facebook page.
You’ve probably heard his hit song “Clarity” featuring Foxes, which won him a Grammy for Best Dance Recording in 2014 and peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. Other popular tracks are “I Want You To Know” featuring Selena Gomez, “Stay The Night,” featuring Hayley Williams, and “Beautiful Now,” featuring Jon Bellion, peaking at numbers 17, 18 and 64 respectively. Victoria’s Secret PINK models Jessica Strother
and Rachel Hilbert will also be present at the bash. The party will begin at 5 p.m. in Lot BK5 behind University Oaks on Oct. 28. Remember, ‘Runners, to bring your current student I.D. Pink UTSA’s twitter account advises students to add snapchat: utsapink to “stay in the loop on all the things PINK/ Game On Bash related.”
These acts of state-sponsored violence, civil war type conditions and climate stresses, such as Syria’s prolonged drought, have become factors in migration, forcing mass displacement. Widespread instability leaves thousands of Syrian refugees with no choice but to seek permanent resettlement. “Refugee” is a legal designation – an important one. According to the United Na-
tions High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Refugees are “persons who have fled extreme violence, war and human rights violations in their countries of origins and seek asylum in a neighboring country.” In most cases, they cannot return home because of safety concerns, according to the UNHCR. Of the four million Syrians See Crisis , page 3
Armed Robbery in Lot BR1, suspect at large Alex Birnel
News Assistant
@alexbirnel news@paisano-online.com At 10:10 p.m on Monday, a male UTSA student reported being robbed, having his wallet and wristwatch taken by a suspect with a “handgun in his waistband” in the BR1 parking lot of UTSA’s Main Campus. In an emergency message sent out by the UTSA alert system, the suspect was described as being a “white male, 5’8, 30 years old, wearing a white shirt, dark pants
and a ball cap, with a slim build.” According to the 2014 Safety and Security Report provided by the UTSA Police Department, there were three robberies in 2011 and one in 2013 within the last four years. By 11:30 p.m., police sent out an alert stating, “Investigation continues and police have cleared the scene.” UTSA PD advised students to “be aware of surroundings,” and requested that, “if you have any information regarding this case, please contact police immediately.”
Luminaria, rained out or still shining? See Arts & Life page 8
Health
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer, bacon, ham, sausage and other processed meats are now ranked alongside alcohol, arsenic and tobacco as a major cause of cancer and are now Group-one carcinogenics. The report also stated that red meat “is probably carcinogenic to humans” and may be linked to pancreatic and prostate cancer.
Christopher Breakell , The Paisano Even with torrential downfalls of rain this past weekend, San Antonio still held their annual art festival, Luminaria, last Friday, celebrating the beauty of lights and art from around the city.
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NEWS
October 27 - November 3, 2015
Green Fund: Ask and you shall receive Alyssa Gonzales News Assistant @ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com
Has anyone ever actually logged onto ASAP and looked at his or her tuition and fees? For those that are emotionally stable enough to go down the long list of charges, they will find one small fivedollar charge labeled “green fee.” In 2010, this charge was tacked onto UTSA’s tuition and fees —the idea being that five dollars from every UTSA student will provide the finances necessary to promote campus sustainability. Where does the money go, and has it really made UTSA greener? The UTSA Green Fund Committee is neither a student registered organization, nor a subcommittee of SGA; however, this independent, student-led committee is in charge of $170,114.38 from “green fees” designated to make UTSA a
more eco-friendly campus. The committee brought the Big Belly Waste and Recycling Stations to campus and funded the hydration stations in the UC, JPL, Flawn Science and the business buildings. The Green Fund enabled the fountain in the Sombrilla to flow again, using recycled condensation from the school’s air conditioning units. The Green Fund Committee cannot spend the money they are in charge of; they must wait for the student body to propose an idea for them to fund. Committee Chair Ashley Pollock said that only three proposals have been presented to her this semester, even though every student at UTSA pays the Green Fund. “We have not funded any proposals this semester because the process takes a while for the money to get funded due to feasibility issues, questions, concerns, and by
the time the money can be available to a person, they’ve decided to go somewhere else. It’s a matter of getting the word out,” Pollock said. The Green Fund’s purpose is to spend money in a manner that promotes campus sustainability, with over $170,000 to do so. However, the committee’s bylaws force the Green Fund to be dependent on the voice of the student body, which, at the moment, is silent. Vice Chair and Secretary of the Green Fund, Chris Adkison, says that educating the student body is key. “Obviously, getting actual tangible stuff on campus is better (when promoting a green campus) because it’s actually having an impact,” Adkison said. “But at the same time, if people aren’t talking about something, then it’s not going to happen. Everything starts out with an idea. You get sustainability on the students’ minds, then, I believe,
that there will be change.” The Green Fund emphasizes that promoting sustainability is more than just recycling or installing solar panels. Bringing awareness to the committee through events such as Recyclemania in late November and funding activities during Earth Week in April are crucial in spending pre-existing money set aside for eco-friendly efforts. Pollock said, “The suggestion that I have is (funding) research. Can we help fund student research that are pertaining to sustainable efforts on campus? Because I think that would show students that the money that is being taken from them, so to speak, is being put back into their pockets.” In 2012, a Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) report was released with UTSA receiving the lowest rank compared to UT Austin, UT Arlington, The
University of Houston and the state wide average of Texas institutions. According to Adkison, the Green Fund Committee is looking toward further improving UTSA’s sustainability. “One really big thing that UT Austin has is a Director of Sustainability, and we are finally getting one. They will start, hopefully, by next semester. Once we have a head person who’s actually in charge of things like (the STARS report) on campus, then it’ll be a lot easier to get things finished,” said Adkison. Committee member Andrew Sposato feels that, regardless of how long it takes a proposal to be passed or
Fabian DeSoto, Paisano
how many proposals there are, it is nonetheless evidence of students caring about their community. “We (the Green Fund) are the liaison between current student’s fees, bills, proposals and the high school students who will one day be attracted to UTSA. That makes me feel good, and I rejoice in helping people fine tune their proposals until it will pass the feasibility study,” Sposato stated.
Gun-free organization forms on campus, hopes for increased student input on campus carry Matt Frost Staff Writer
@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com With the arrival of the new campus carry law and the announcement that classrooms would not be gun-free zones, some students on campus were upset and demanded action be taken. That action has arrived in the formation of a new group on campus. This group, yet to be named, will become an official campus organization next semester. In the meantime, it is welcoming new members and has already made its presence known, most no-
tably by holding a gun-free rally last week protesting guns in an academic setting. One of the founders of the new group Kevin Hernandez explains the group’s mission stating, “We are concerned mainly about allowing guns in classrooms and faculty offices; we don’t feel they need to be there.” Another group founder, senior political science major Lorenzo Garcia claims that the free exchange of ideas and controversial conversations might suffer if guns are allowed on campus. Garcia stated, “When you invite guns into that situation (the free exchange of
ideas and controversial conversations), there will be less conversation because people will be worried about possibly being injured.” Garcia continued, saying fear is, “not something we would like students and faculty to worry about.” The group is hard at work planning its next event to bring awareness to their cause, and will be hosting a rally this Wednesday at the downtown campus. The rally will be held in the Bill Miller Plaza at 12 p.m. and will be conducted similarly to the last rally, as the group strives to educate students on the new law.
LAW SCHOOL FAIR
McKinney Humanities Galleria
Monday, Nov 2, 2015 2:00pm - 4:00pm Hosted by UTSA Institute for Law and Public Affairs (ILPA) & Southwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors (SWAPLA)
ilpa@utsa.edu, (210) 458-2990
Hernandez says the event will be a peaceful rally, stating, “We just want to get the information out there; we will have our laptops and tablets just like last time in case anyone wants to sign the petition (against guns in classrooms, offices, labs and dormitories).” The rally is not their last planned event, though. “We are attempting to schedule a debate that would be moderated by the Graduate Political Science Association, but there is nothing official yet,” Hernandez said. The group is hoping to schedule the debate for some time in November.
They believe a discussion with those who have different beliefs would be beneficial for all parties. They also believe that the students deserve more time than the task force is allowing to discuss the issue and voice their opinions to the task force. Garcia has, “Unlike UTSA, been telling students, faculty, and staff, there is no strict deadline on when recommendations need to be made to Romo.” “In fact,” Garcia continued, “UTSA doesn’t have to send formalized recommendations on what should be done for the University until early February.”
Garcia points out, “The University itself is sending recommendations a whole two months early on December 18th, so there is a lot room between early February and December 18th where continued discussion could occur.” The group feels that allowing the students to discuss the issue and voice their opinions should be a top priority for the university. “At this time,” Garcia stated, “we (supporters and opponents of gun free classrooms) are both still fighting for the right to just have a discussion about it (the issue of gun-free classrooms).”
NEWS
Q&A: REPRESENTATIVE
TREY MARTINEZ FISCHER
Member of the Texas House of Representatives (District 116) and author of the provision in S.B. 11 (campus carry legislation) that affords university presidents the ability to determine gun-free zones
Q:
The language in S.B. 11 is pretty vague in allowing university presidents to “amend the provisions necessary for campus safety.” Was this intentional?
Photo courtesy of Trey Martinez Fischer’s office So, the provision was written to grant university presidents discretionary powers in designating gun-free zones on campus?
I think it gives them options, yeah. I think options is really more appropriate; but yes, discretion, too, because the president is writing them. It actually empowers the president, which is not what the original S.B. 11 intended to do. This sends a very strong signal that local control should drive the adoption of the policy.
Q:
The bill says the president “may not establish provisions that generally prohibit or have the effect of generally prohibiting license holders from carrying concealed handguns on the campus.” Can you clarify what this means?
The best way that I can explain that, is that the prohibition of weapons on campus is defined and is stated in SB 11 to include a campus, which is the entire environment around the college or university, or a premise, which is defined in the penal code as a building or structure. So, if the legislature never intended for a weapons ban to be achieved inside a classroom, then we wouldn’t have ever given these presidents the authority to adopt restrictions on a premise. Every academic hall on UTSA’s campus would meet the definition of a premise.
Q:
Are some universities within the UT system more enthusiastic about the implementation of campus carry than others? How do the cultures vary at different universities in relation to guns?
You know, I don’t know. This rewrite was done in the final days of the session, so there was a small opportunity to take a bad idea and make it better. I’ll admit, I voted against campus carry, and even after rewriting it, I voted against it, because I think it’s bad policy. I said this in a letter to Dr. Romo, “I understand that this law places a certain amount of pressure on you, and I want you to know that that was intentional. I intended for you to have this pressure, so that when you’re in a coffee shop or at a community event in San Antonio, I expect members of the greater San Antonio community to share with you their thoughts and views on this. We want to make sure that there is a process for those individuals to voice their concerns, and at the same time, give the president something that he or she can do about it. This law not only gives people a voice, it gives the president a tool to act, and that’s what I hope will happen when UTSA adopts its campus policy.
Q:
Would determining classrooms as gun-free violate “the spirit of the law”?
I would say that it’s the law itself and not the spirit that matters. It’s difficult enough to argue over the merits of a law as it is written and drafted. As to the spirit, that gives people more of a subjective opportunity to inject what they think the spirit is, and quite frankly, the only spirit that really matters is from the writers that rewrote it. And I don’t think that I was rewriting it, putting in all of that work to be flushed down the drain. What’s important, I think, is this: After visiting with Chancellor McRaven and other top deputies of the UT System last week, I am convinced that everybody sees the law on the UT System side as giving the university presidents the authority to ban guns in classrooms. I actually said that in a letter very recently to President Romo. If people on the Task Force believe that that is not the case, I would urge them not to make any preliminary judgments. Every word the legislators put into the law has a meaning. And if there was never an intention to ban guns inside the classroom, we would never have given the regulatory powers to premises. The only reason why you’d even use the word premise on a college campus is to send a signal to the president that the campus is up for regulation as are premises located on the campus.
Q:
Has anyone from UTSA’s Campus Carry Task Force reached out to you to get a better understanding of the law?
No, but I have actually offered that opportunity, so it’s my hope that they would, and I certainly would appreciate it. I’m a 1992 graduate from the university, and the district that I represent includes the 1604 campus. As the author of the rewrite, I could certainly tell them with first-hand knowledge what I meant when I chose those words. I want to make sure that all of the campus community stakeholders know exactly what’s there (in the law), and one thing that I’ve been surprised that hasn’t been discussed more is the fact that, the process, as its been rewritten, is meant to be a local one. The collaboration is supposed to be organic and the policy should
Q:
After President Romo submits his decision to the Board of Regents, only a twothirds vote could overturn it. Is it likely that the Board of Regents, who were appointed by a conservative governor, overturn his decisions?
I think that, while they were appointed by the governor, there have been very limited instances where you have seen the hand of politics play a role in the deliberation of the regents. My sense is that the regents might not have the appetite that people think they’re going to have. When you set a bar as high as a two-thirds vote to overturn a president’s decision, I think that weighs in favor of the campus president to do his or her best work. The law itself is designed to afford that president a good amount of deference.
Q:
Crisis continues in Syria Refugees welcomed in Alamo City continued from page 1
Interview conducted by Caroline Traylor
I think the language is very instructive, allowing university presidents to adopt reasonable rules regarding guns on the campus itself, or on the premises located on or around the campus. This tells the presidents of universities that you need to convene the campus community and you will then direct the writing of a gun policy that takes some things into account. This puts all the local control, as well as the local pressure, on campus presidents to be very, very mindful when crafting a policy, and I think we’ve given these campus presidents more latitude (with the provision) than they originally had, which was none.
Q:
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October 27 - November 3, 2015
What advice do you have for the Task Force? What would you like them to consider before submitting their recommendations to President Romo as their deadline approaches?
In talking with Chancellor McRaven last week, those aren’t deadlines. That was a suggested timeline to follow. I think that some people are wanting enough time to print signs and put disclaimers in admissions catalogues, and that is not more important than getting the policy right. I think that there needs to be a recalculation of the timeline and afford more opportunity for deliberation, dialogue and collaboration to make sure that faculty is heard and that students are heard. If there’s a member of the Task Force who thinks that you can’t have a gun ban in classrooms, that’s a clear example that maybe we need to take a break here and recalibrate and make sure that everyone knows the limits of the law.
To continue reading, visit www.paisano-online.com
who have fled the civil war, 95 percent of them traveled to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. These countries currently recognize incoming arrivals as migrants, not refugees. This distinction means they are not able to work legally. Desperate refugees who choose to trek on highways between neighboring European countries are met with the same no-employment problem. Others pay smugglers to reach Europe and risk dangerous boat trips, often crowded vessels and barely buoyant dinghies that have killed thousands when large waves capsize them. For those that survive these risks, the journey is regularly punctuated by governments whose policies it is to send them away. This 95 percent needs a systematic way to relocate to another country for the long term. Germany has raised their refugee quota by the thousands in the past few months. The news that Germany would raise their quota of 800,000 starkly contrasts to the US’s comparatively meager quota of at least 85,000 refugees in fiscal 2016 and 100,000 in 2017 (including a minimum of 10,000 Syrians). According to the UNHCR’s 2013 statistical report, prior to this crisis, the U.S. accepted more refugees than all other nations combined, and many of them emigrated to Texas. At 12,000 a year, the Lone Star State receives more refugees than any other state - over 12,000 each year. Last year, 969 of these refugees were resettled in San Antonio. These numbers are expected to increase dramatically in the face of the Syrian refugee crisis. Currently, there are very few Syrian refugees in the US but that is expected to change in the months to come as San Antonio is prepared to accept an additional 700 Syrian refugees in the coming year. For refugees, the process of migrating to another country and beginning their lives as legal residents. The process starts when the United Nations (UN) screens applicants to determine which individuals are qualified candidates for resettlement in another country.
If the UN commissioners for refugee services refers the individual to the U.S. for resettlement, the next step is an interview by U.S. immigration. Having relatives who are already U.S. citizens increases their likelihood, but some are allowed without family ties. Refugees then receive a brief cultural orientation, including whirlwind English lessons. In San Antonio, the role of resettlement is assigned to Catholic Charities, which has a contract with the State Department and Department of Homeland Security. Refugees are given government assistance for three months. Through Catholic Charities, the federal matching grant program covers another three months. But after the six month period, the financial assistance times out, although other social services are made available to the refugees for up to five years. During the next five years they are also expected to repay the federal government for the airfare from their home country or lose government assistance; however, extensions for repayment are relatively easy to attain. Refugees are expected to hit the ground running, mastering a new language whilst finding employment. Groups in San Antonio ban together to support refugee’s complex needs. “Refugees in Texas receive limited case management services and financial assistance for rent and utilities for only six months. After that time they are supposed to be “self sufficient”. CRS understands that that is not realistic,” said Margaret Costantino director of the San Antonio nonprofit Center for Refugee Services. “Our mission is to facilitate the successful community integration of resettled refugees with emphasis on educational support, health and wellness, and employment. We serve the local refugee communities by providing social support for the long term,” Constantino continued. The challenge is connecting refugees, often with little knowledge of English or US
bureaucracy, with the appropriate social services. “Our volunteers teach English, US Citizenship classes, we assist with correspondence, renewals of SNAP and Medicaid applications” she added. CRS also recently co-sponsored a flu shot drive with the UT Medical School, UT Nursing School and other local organizations, where 300 refugees were vaccinated. Additionally, a free refugee health clinic run by students and faculty from the UT Health Science Center and funded by the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics at the UTHSC runs twice a month at St. Francis Episcopal Church. In bringing together students and faculty from nursing, medicine and dentistry the Refugee Health Clinic further demonstrates the diverse cooperation to provide free care to refugee families in San Antonio. “The primary goal of this clinic is to serve as an initial trustworthy location for refugees to overcome their inhibitions and adequately address their health care issues,” stated Refugee Health Clinic Coordinator Fadi Al-Asadi. Students can volunteer to tutor children, help refugees read their mail, fill out job applications and even serve as English conversation partners. Refugees can feel disconnected from United States culture, but local organizations like CRS have provided some ways to help. Interested students can contact CRS through their website for additional information.
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{The Paisano} Editor-in-Chief: Jakob Lopez
Managing Editor: Mia Cabello
News Editor:
Caroline Traylor
Arts & Life Editor: Brayden Boren
Sports Editor:
Shabazz I. Dawkins
Web Editor:
Michael Turnini
OPINION
Changes loom for the Texas Constitution Editorial
The Texas Constitution may change soon. The polls will open on Nov. 3 — and not all of the propositions are beneficial for Texans. Specifically: Proposition 7- SJR 5. The proposed amendment reads: “The constitutional amendment dedicating certain sales and use tax revenue and motor vehicle sales, use, and rental tax revenue
Interim Photo Editor: Fabian De Soto
Business Manager: Lizzette Rocha
Distribution Manager:
Marketing Director: Randi Gilmore Advertising and Marketing Liason: Jenelle Duff
{Assistants} Kat Joseph, Anelia Gomez-Cordova, Claudia Jimenez, Annette Barraza, Christopher Breakell, Alex Birnel, Brady Phelps, Andrea Velgis, Alyssa Gonzales, Urub Khawaja, Allison Gayda, Diego Ramirez
{Staff} Robert Avila, Darryl Sherrod, Robert Allen, Gaige Davila, Matthew Frost, Marina Vences, Quentin Hemphill, Adrian Bermudez, Amanda Camacho, Sonia Mata, Cindy Hurtado, Madeline Harper, Samuel Tak, Brian Nacu
{Contributors} Katie Sanchez, Jacob De Hoyos, Matthew Gil, Max Edelman, Lindsey Revel, Sabrina Perez, Bryant Andrade Meza, Anusha Huissain, Sushmita Gorantala
{Adviser}
Diane Abdo
{Advisory Board}
Steven Kellman, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Stefanie Arias, Diane Abdo The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a nonprofit, 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
funds will undoubtedly leave forthcoming Texas Legislatures with budget issues. In addition, the use of such a tremendous amount of money can and should be funneled into areas of immediate need, rather than Texas highways. With the Texas Department of Transportation budget already at $12 billion for the 2016 fiscal year, would adding another $2.5 billion
MRS. KATHY FUNK-BAXTER Mrs. Funk-Baxter is the Vice President of Business Affairs and was appointed by President Romo to chair of UTSA’s campus carry task force. Interview conducted by Mia Cabello and Caroline Traylor
Patrick Martinez
Senior Copy Editor: Kate Kramer
to the state highway fund to provide funding for nontolled roads and the reduction of certain transportation-related debt.” While mending the state’s highways may be a reasonable objective, the allocation of over $2 billion is best distributed elsewhere. Not only will this proposition use an extraordinary amount of funds for the foreseeable future, the
Q&A:
Special Issues Editor: Jade Cuevas
October 27 - November 3, 2015
Q:
How are the recommendations, which the task force will present to President Romo, compiled?
We have had listening sessions, in total we had nine of them. We had the email address set up for campus-carry feed back ... probably about 100 to 150 emails we have received from that. We share that feedback with the task force, as far as what locations people are requesting to be exclusion zones and their reasoning and rationale. No decisions have been made. Our task force’s still meeting, and will
Q:
If someone has a CHL, regardless of any rules and regulations imposed by the university, he or she, because of the campus carry legislation, will ultimately be able to carry somewhere on campus?
The president still has the authority to make rules and set rule-making policy for the campus to ensure the campus is safe. For example, one of the areas that we have looked at, and I think has a pretty good consensus already, is those labs that have
Q:
continue to meet until we come up with a recommendation for Dr. Romo. It’s basically a balancing between listening to what people have to say and considering the campus to be a safe place. ... But we know that the intent of the law is that we cannot generally prohibit the carrying of handguns on campus.
materials that are dangerous, in case there was an accidental discharge.; The fact that (in the labs) people have to put on protective gear, taking on and off clothing influences this as well.
The state doesn’t provide funding for campus-carry and the university cannot legally raise fees, how will the school fund some of the changes needed to comply with the law?
The bad news is that there isn’t a budget to procure a lot of lockers, and ones that would have to be pretty costly to be secure. And then there’s the issue of passive storage and active storage , where there would be a person there to check it (the weapon) in with. That could be very costly and space intensive. But really, there is no budget for providing for campus carry on campus, other than
that we will have to provide signage for those areas that President Romo deems exclusion zones .... (Determining funding) would probably be a decision that the university would have to make with existing resources , maybe reallocate resources from something to something else.
Read part of this interview next week and at paisano-online.com
I’ll just sit here by Christopher Breakell
— dependent on state sales and use tax revenue — really make a difference? Perhaps Governor Greg Abbott should redirect his focus on the health and well being of Texans. Gov. Abbott, having already vetoed Senate Bill 359 — legislation that would have given hospitals a modicum of power to hold a patient for four hours if doctors consider that patient
to be a danger to himself or others — should reassess and prioritize the needs of Texans. Proposition 7- SJR 5 is a horrible amendment for the Texas constitution, and is crippling for Texas’ future. Throwing money at a situation doesn’t solve an issue — Gov. Abbott should know that; and his voters should hold him accountable.
Ignorance isn’t bliss Commentary
Colton Hveem
Contributing Writer More than two decades since the birth of the Internet, civilized humanity is well into the information age. A significant faction within the civilized populous, Americans, can now, better than ever before, access the vast expanse of easily obtainable knowledge by a few clicks on nifty technological devices that we all so much adore. One might reason American citizens would, therefore, have a firm grasp on the basic topics surrounding everyday existence. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth. Whether the topic is religion, politics, cosmology, geography or history, there persists a substantial portion of the American populace who suffer from the misgivings of the con artist that is ignorance. Since the founding of our country, religious beliefs have consistently played a major role in lives of individuals within the states. With religion’s regular presence among the people, it may come as a surprise that the majority of U.S. citizens are unaware of what the constitution states in regards to religious affiliation. In a 2007 survey, 55 percent of Americans believed the constitution intends for a Christian nation, even though our first amendment specifically grants the right to religious freedom. In fact, only 1 in 4 Americans can name more than one right granted by the first amendment, and an astounding only 1 in 1,000 can name all five, according to McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum. Given our constitutional ignorance, our announced belief of the U.S. being a Christian nation may reflect the majority, who claim religious devotion to some sect of Christianity and therefore infer a national association to this particular faith. If this is the case, then it seems logical to conclude that our nation would be knowledgeable in regards to the realm of Christianity. However, only half of American citizens were able to accurately deduce that Judaism preceded Christianity, even though Judaism is the very origin of the Christian faith. So far it seems that many Americans would not win
in a jeopardy contest that revolved around politics and religion; What about in regards to some other form of revolution, say our planet, which orbits the sun? Of the seemingly infinite bodies that inhabit our universe, one would hope that humanity have at least some inclination of the one in which we call home, earth. Yet, 20 percent of Americans actually believe the sun revolves around the earth, even though the geocentric model died centuries ago with the emerging of, get this, science. Still, Americans are rather optimistic about the cosmos, with 80 percent believing life to exist elsewhere in the vast universe. This progressive optimism is arguably deflated when we acknowledge that 1 in 5 Americans claims that aliens have probed someone she or he knows. With the American population consisting of over 300 million people, these aliens must have some probing fetish to amass such a percentage of the population. We aren’t done yet; Americans do not cease to impress statistics with their affiliation to ignorance. In 2006, a mere five years after 9/11, 30 percent of Americans could not recall the year in which this tragic event took place, according to a poll published in the Washington Post newspaper. Further into historical tragedies: according to most polls, about 30 percent of Americans remain unaware of what was the Holocaust was; 73 percent did not know why we “fought” the cold war; 25 percent are unable to identify from which country we gained our independence — a proud moment of American history. More into geography, 29 percent of Americans cannot point to the Pacific Ocean, the giant blue thing on the map to the left of our country. We are an intelligent species, no doubt. The deceptive character of Ignorance entices the American populous with idealistic poison, leaving a trail of evidence within the minds of many. Like a virus, ignorance will continue to thrive within the hospitable. One can only hope that the American people will subject themselves to becoming informed, and allow the readily available vaccine — the Internet — to aid in attempt to conquer this virus once and for all.
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OPINION
October 27 - November 3, 2015
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Campus Carry Task Force: The opinion of UTSA matters
Op-Ed
The November 1 is an important date for all UTSA students, faculty and staff. It is the deadline set by President Romo for his appointed Campus Carry Task Force to submit their recommendations for any special provisions on the enforcement of SB 11, which will allow concealed handgun license holders to carry on campus next August 1. The recommendations of the task force will determine what areas of UTSA’s campus President Romo designates as “gunfree zones” when SB 11 goes into effect. According to SB 11, the president of a Texas university should only make these decisions, “After consulting with students, staff,
and faculty of the institution.” After seven meetings, only two of which were with students, I believe President Romo’s Campus Carry Task Force has neither truly made an effort to communicate with the UTSA population, nor been transparent about the status of their recommendations. Many students, including myself, left the final scheduled student forum over campus carry—held on October 21—with more questions than answers. Additionally, no section of SB 11 mandates a November 1 deadline for the task force to submit recommendations to President Romo. Under the law, the UT System Board of Regents will convene on Feb-
ruary 10, 2016 to review the submitted plans for campus carry for each of the UT campuses. However, under UTSA current plan President Romo will submit his recommendations on December 18, almost two months in advance of the deadline. Moving back the deadline for the UTSA Campus Carry Task Force even two weeks at minimum would allow for at least one more student, staff and faculty forum to take place. This is a university, a place where the discussion of controversial topics should be encouraged, not suppressed. Lastly, UTSA has demonstrated resistance to an organized effort to gauge student opinion on SB 11 through
an opinion poll circulated through UTSA’s email system. Dr. Walter Wilson of the university’s Department of Political Science and Geography created a poll designed to measure student opinion on campus carry, which he believes could be invaluable to the university’s effort to comply with SB 11. When he contacted the Office of External Affairs to ask for his poll to be distributed to the student body through email, as he had done five years prior for a different poll, he was told initially that it would most likely not be an issue, but would need review from a higher official. Upon review from a higher official in the University Communications
Phantom professors attracted to student spirit Satire
Robert Avila Staff Writer
In his annual State of the University address, President Romo pledged to hire 200 new faculty members in the next five years, along with the 40 new faculty members added this year. This is a process in line with UTSA’s tier-one message which seeks to add five additional doctoral degree programs and hopes to see the ranks of master’s degree and doctoral students expand to 5,000 within the next five years. While this increase in faculty is beneficial, issues with current faculty limit the expansion of the university. Unaddressed and often overlooked by the university, over a dozen tenured ghost professors haunt the school hallways and continue to teach irrelName:evant and often unintelligible Date: material. These translucent,
formerly alive faculty members create tension and fear, not only among the students, but to generally any living person they come in contact with. Dr. Theodore “Headless” McDougal, who worked at UTSA from 1975 to 1981, until he took a short break after a car accident to attend his own funeral, returned to UTSA in 1982 to continue teaching American politics. The professor, who spends his evenings haunted the MH’s third floor men’s room, is unable to recall any current events in American politics. “Ronald Regan is the best president this country has ever had,” repeats Dr. Headless in his lectures. The issue is not just with these tenured phantoms teachings. Many students report feeling discomfort when attending these classes. “He doesn’t just walk around the classroom, he walks right through us,” explains student Jackie Lantern, whose ghost English professor has been cited by officials for his spookiness. “If a student falls asleep in class, he possesses them and makes them float in the middle of the room,” stated Lantern.
“It’s not cool.” Many non-tenured professors, have spoken out against these ghoulish instructors. “They get health benefits and better pay, and have neither a functioning body nor bills,” stated a university adjunct professor who asked to remain anonymous for fear of ghastly repercussions. “They need to be let go, and I mean to the other side.” The university has looked into many of the paranormal professors contracts however, due to their tenure status, it is difficult for them to be removed from their position despite the excessive amount of heebie-jeebies those around them receive. Many officials fear even attempting to remove them from their position as neither séance nor exorcism have had any effect on the instructors. “We cannot remove these professors,” ended President Romo in his address. “The last time we tried that, Dr. Moody haunted my office for two months and made fun of my ties. I’m not about to go through that again.”
and Marketing office, Dr. Wilson was informed that “Some time ago it became necessary to cease sending emails regarding research requests for participation in surveys or other related activities because of the exceptionally large quantity of requests we receive — many of which may not be relevant to the entire campus.” As a senior at UTSA, not once in the three years of my attendance have I felt overburdened or known anyone else who felt overburdened by e–mail requests for survey participation from the university. More importantly, a poll like Dr. Wilson’s would provide important information to the Campus Carry
Task Force about the opinion of the student body on the issue they are advising President Romo on. It does not make sense to me that the university would deny a request to discover such pertinent information, unless the administration was purposely avoiding controversy due to the potential results of the poll. If that is the case, I am deeply disappointed in President Romo and his administration. Sincerely, Lorenzo Garcia UTSA Class of 2016
l l o P o t o h P
How you define a monster? Give an example.
The etymology gives some foresight into the meaning of the term: with Latin roots, monster links to the Latin word ”montrare,” which means “to demonstrate” and “monere,” which means “to warn.” “A monster is something that lives under your bed, like the boogie monster.” Aaron Wing Sophomore, Civil Engineering
“A monster is something you fear. I’m afraid of heights so that’s a big monster to me.” Marcos Ponce Junior, Finance
Crossword: thisInweek This Week Print in print “Something that is scary makes a monster. Flannels and my G.P.A. are huge monsters.” Mary Tiggr Senior, Biology
“A monster is someone who ruins your life, like an ex-boyfriend.” Audrey Hamilton Freshman, Digital Communications
“I define a monster as scary. An example of a monster would be Frankenstein” Brianna Davis Junior, Public Relations
Across
Down
1. community-based organizations affiliated with 1. working to make a difference in the civic life the anti-rape movement that work to help rape of our communities and developing the combiAcross victims and victims of sexual abuse and sexual nation of knowledge, skills, values and motivaviolence tion to make that difference 1. community-based organizations affiliated with the anti-rape 2. movement to helptovictims of and rape, 2. a statistic in football that records the total a person that whowork is adverse change holds sexual abuse, and sexual violence number of yards gained to traditional values and attitudes, typically in 2. A statistic in football that records the total number of yards gained relation to politics 3.College The College of Liberal andArts Fine Arts 3. The of Liberal and Fine of UTSA 3. to place in a position of marginal importance, influence or power 4. the “campus carry law” 5. A new dining location in the Business Building to be completed by 2016 6. a climber of mountains 7. a device that demonstrates conservation of Answers online! momentum and energy with a series of swinging paisano-online.com spheres, named after Sir Isaac Newton 8. a glass globe containing a low-density gas and a central electrode that creates streams of light similar to lightning
Crossword designed by Annette Barraza, The Paisano
“Something you fear makes a monster. Failure is a monster to many” Jaden Kelly Freshman, Undeclared
Photos and quotes by Claudia Jimenez, The Paisano
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October 27 - November 3, 2015
Spooky Zumba for pediatric cancer Sushmita Gorantala Contributing Writer To kick off the year, For the Kids (FTK), one of the largest student led nonprofit organizations in San Antonio, hosted its annual Zumbathon at the HUC. The theme of the Zumbathon was Spooky Zumba and encouraged participants to dress up in their
best Halloween costumes and dance the night away. The event was in recognition of pediatric cancer. In addition to the financial support of this event, FTK took measures to ensure that the children had their very own Spooky Halloween party since patients could not participate at the Zumba for health reasons, providing the children
HALLOWEEN BY THE NUMBERS 12.4 MILLION hundredweights of pumpkins produced in the United States each year 600 MILLION pounds of candy for Halloween purchased each year
and their families ways to celebrate. With ghoulish fiends, pretty princesses, superheroes and a variety of the strange creatures of the night, this event was a means to illustrate to these families that they are not alone and that there is a strong community willing to fight alongside them. FTK will host a Children’s Fashion show, with
the theme Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, on November 13, at 7 pm in the Liu Auditorium, an opportunity for the children to simply enjoy showing off their own styles. The children will be escorted by UTSA student athletes and campus leaders.
Alyssa Gonzales News Assistant
Ghost Cookie Balls 1.
2.
3.
4.
Ingredients: two packages of Oreos, two packets of Philadelphia cream cheese, red food gel pen and two packages of white baking chocolate
Grind up two packages of Oreos into a fine dust and pour into a bowl with two blocks of cream cheese (defrost to room temperature).
Knead the cookie dust and cream cheese until it is one solid block of cookie dough.
$2.8 BILLION spent on Halloween costumes in 2014
Melt the white chocolate into a bowl. Grab a spoonful of melted chocolate and cover the white chocolate over the cookie balls. Wait for the white chocolate to dry and then place two little dots on the middle of the balls, to form two little red eyes.
Creepy Queue
Ryan High Contributing Writer
It’s a dark and stormy Halloween night, and you’re browsing the Internet for a movie to watch. Then, out of the depths of your darkest fears; out of the deep unknown blackness filled with unimaginable monsters, right in the corner of your eye, comes The Thing! mosphere of the film. If you’re simply looking for a fun film to put on in the background, this is not the movie. The film is so tight a n d i n tense that if you stop paying attention, you will miss a lot of the atmospheri c buildup of the film. Atmosphere is what “The Thing” thrives on, and it doesn’t put much time into traditional character arcs or action. If you’re looking for a film to scare and disturb you during the Halloween season, “The Thing” is a great choice.
Pick a quarter shaped piece from the bigger block and roll into a small ball. Place the ball onto wax paper and repeat this until there is no more cookie dough left.
5.
Sources: National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Chegg Blog, Google Frightheist, F.B.I., Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
John Carpenter’s “The Thing” (1982) is a Sci-Fi horror film based on John W. Campbell Jr.’s 1938 short story “Who Goes There?” The film is set in a research facility in Antarctica and is a film flowing with paranoia, distrust, and tons of snow as the “thing” from outer space consumes, transforms and imitates the shape, memories and personality of any form of life that it comes into contact with. The film, made before the days of CGI and computer animation, uses brilliant practical effects that still look good to this day. The design of the “thing,” when in its original terrifying form, is creative and frightening in a way that would not have worked as well if it were in CGI. The lack of CGI forced Carpenter to be thoughtful about his filming, which really shows when you watch the movie. The close-ups of the monster are frankly amazing, and there’s one gruesome autopsy scene that felt surreal and realistic. The film relies on slow buildups and large payoffs, and is able to make its audience feel the same paranoia and unease that the characters in the film are feeling. Just like the characters, the audience is constantly made to feel suspicious towards everyone in the film. We are never quite sure who is human, and who has been consumed to become the “thing.” During the moments the thing reveals itself, the film is intense and disorienting. The acting, while not perfect, is quite good and goes well with the paranoiac at-
Haunting at the Emily Morgan Hotel
Homemade Halloween
HARLEY QUINN is the most Google-searched costume of 2015 41.2 MILLION potential trick-or-treaters ages 5 to 14
SEASONAL
A horrifying affair Recipe and photos by Alyssa Gonzales
Annette Bazzara Editorial Assistant Why can being scared feel good? Studies conducted on this question coined the expression, “horror paradox” that strives to understand why terror, horror and gore can be so enjoyable to watch. These films commonly produce disgust or fear, and yet they are extremely popular, especially around
Graphics by Randi Gilmore, The Paisano
Halloween. Supernatural or psychological suspense themes combined with increasing tension combine for the perfect recipe for a frightful evening. Fear is a natural response to threats or stimuli interpreted by the amygdala, the body’s control center for autonomic responses associated with arousal, fear and emotional stimulation. Thus, even watching a horror movie can cause heart rates to increase, palms to sweat and knees to shake. Despite the biological similarities of fear people share, every person will react differently to the horror genre because of the different responses to shock value horror films hold and because tolerance levels vary. There’s always that one person who attends the movie theater religiously and exclusively for horror movies; but we also know that person who will run out of the room at the first sight of blood. Horror affects people differently. One possible explanation for why horror can be enjoyed is that, however real the film and its effects may seem, people realize that it is simply a movie. At the end of a horror movie, an enjoyer can have his or her thrill without the actual danger of an axemurderer stalking you. Another possible explanation is the fictional factor. The monsters we see in movies are not real, hopefully, and therefore can safely produce curiosity and fascination. Rest assured, a possessed doll or a monster raised from the dead won’t enter your walk to the parking lot.
October 27 - November 3, 2015 SEASONAL Pumpkin spice, not nice Making your
pumpkin love last
Satire
Quentin Hemphill Staff Writer I am Pumpkins United (PU) President Jimmy Kinpump. October 31 is the main day of the year when humanity illustrates its blatant disregard for pumpkin life. Millions of innocent pumpkins are murdered throughout the year; however, more than 625 million of us are killed in the month of October alone. An increase in pumpkin deaths during this specific month is due to the humans’ disgusting and disturbing holiday,
Halloween. Every year, my family and friends are taken from our home, The Patch, and mutilated for food and decoration. My parents were slaughtered and their essences were utilized for petty foods and drinks. My mother is now a pie, my father a milkshake. I have witnessed my wife and kids be carved into and disfigured so that they can be created into, what the humans call, “jack-o’lanterns” the sick Halloween tradition of cutting different types of faces into the bodies of innocent pumpkins, and then placing a lit candle inside so that their insides can be illuminated to the public. For too long, my pumpkin brethren have been brutalized and tortured.
As the president of PU, I am writing to inform and explain why these cruel and unusual practices must end. We are constantly exploited and belittled in marketing advertisements regarding new pumpkin flavored products. We receive no royalties for the multitude of Starbucks’ pumpkin spice lattes. Many seasonal human treats are created from the skin and guts of pumpkin men, women and children. Every day — especially during October — we fear for our lives, haunted by the circumstance of one day being home with our families and then the next day be taken and used for human consumption. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cocktails, pumpkin spice lattes — no
7
more! I have even heard rumors of women using our insides as exfoliating face masks! When does the madness end? Why does Halloween have to involve us? Stop the murder and degradation of pumpkins. Do not carve ridiculous faces into our bodies; do not chunk live pumpkin bodies for sport. Go ahead humans, dress up in your silly outfits, but stop killing innocent fruits. One day, I will be taken from the patch and utilized for one of their sick, Halloween fetishes. But until that day, I will continue to advocate for the rights of pumpkins around the world. We are not just fruits to be used for commercial and ornamental custom. We are fruits with feelings that deserve to be treated fairly.
by: Claudia Jimenez, Editorial Assistant After Halloween, you may find yourself wondering what to do with all the pumpkins bought and decorated. Instead of just throwing them away, consider trying these five ways to reuse and re-purpose your pumpkin!
1.
Create a pumpkin planter
For this, you’re going to need to cut off the top and remove the pulp, (save the seeds to roast in a recipe below) cut a drainage hole and put a coffee filter over the hole to prevent soil from spilling
2.
Roast pumpkin seeds
First, clean the seeds and remove all the pulp (or don’t, for a real pumpkin taste.) Next, boil the seeds with a teaspoon of salt. Once they’re done, drain the seeds in a colander and pat them with a paper towel. Spread the seeds on a baking sheet and drizzle olive oil, roast them at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Let cool and enjoy!
3.
Have a pumpkin spa day
You’ll need a small pumpkin, half a tablespoon of honey and some milk. Rid the pumpkin of its seeds and combine the insides with honey and milk to make a mask. Apply the mask to your face, allowing it to set for 20 minutes. Then gently wipe the mask off with a warm, damp washcloth.
Illustration by Christopher Breakell, The Paisano
4.
Why celebrate?
Add two cups of milk, four tablespoons of pumpkin puree, two tablespoons of sugar, two tablespoons of vanilla extract and a half a tablespoon of pumpkin-pie spice to a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir constantly; do not let it boil. Then combine the mix until it begins to froth. Divide the mixture between two mugs and slowly, on the side, add half a cup of coffee. Top with whipped cream and a touch of more pumpkin spice then enjoy with friends or family!
Halloween is a popular secular holiday throughout the world, popular for trick-or-treating, costumes and candy. The holiday is thought to have originated from an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain, in which people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off wandering ghosts. The Celts celebrated their new year on Nov. 1 and celebrated Samhain, a night when spirits of the dead supposedly came back to life, the night before. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III deemed Nov. 1. All Saint’s Day and the day before was known as Old Hallow’s Eve (and later, Halloween). Over time, Halloween became a holiday less concerned about warding off ghosts by wearing costumes and more concerned about wearing ghost costumes. It became community-based and centered around activities such as trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving.
5.
F ive Events to Treat Your Halloween Tastes Thirteenth Floor Haunted House
If you really like to get frightened, then this is the best haunted house for you. Just $24.99 can get you in for one of the worst scares of your life.
2.
Bud Light Halloween Fest at The River Walk
The best FREE party, including a $1,000 costume contest and a spooky river parade. Make sure you get there at 7 p.m. when the festivities begin!
3.
Make a bird feeder
Cut a three to five pound pumpkin in half and scoop out the insides, leaving a half-inch thick wall. Next, make a half-inch deep groove in the brim for pumpkin seeds. Last, fill with birdseeds and watch as the birds come!
Annette Barraza, Editorial Assistant
1.
Enjoy a pumpkin spice latte
4.
Espiritu de la Noche Masquerade Ball
The world famous Victoria’s Black Swan Inn is one of the top ten most haunted places in Texas, and it’s holding a Halloween masquerade ball on the night of Halloween. Buy your tickets if you dare!
5.
Six Flags Fright Fest
Alamo Ghost Hunt Tours
On this tour you will visit thirteen different haunted locations all throughout San Antonio. You could even use an EMF detector to see if there is a “change” in the atmosphere!
After 7 p.m. Six Flags turns into the eeriest experiences with scare zones, chilling rides and horrifying haunted houses.
Claudia Jimenez, Editorial Assistant
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ARTS & LIFE
October 27 - November 3, 2015
Events Calendar:
Wednesday 10/28 5 p.m. UTSA PINK Party Don’t forget to get your pink on this Wednesday! After extreme tapping earlier in the semester, the time to sow the results is here! The Pink Campus Showdown 2015 is happening at Lot BK5, featuring a guest performance by Multi-Platinum, GRAMMY® winning artist Zedd, along with appearances by Victoria’s Secret models Rachel Hilbert and Jessica Strother. Don’t forget to bring your ticket and student ID; check out UTSA Pink on Snapchat for your ticket. Friday 10/30 9 p.m. Ghost Hunt Ever wanted to go on a ghost hunt? Now’s your chance! The Ghost Seekers of San Antonio will be hosting their last Ghost Hunt for the month of October this Friday. If being locked inside a location with true paranormal activity for one and a half hours sounds like fun to you, don’t miss this event. There will be real equipment on hand for participants to use. The event will take place at the Masonic Lodge (212 City Street), with tickets $20 per person. Call (210) 316-2177 to reserve your spot.
Photo Courtesy of University of Notre Dame
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Actors from the London Stage visit UTSA Mia Cabello Managing Editor
@miacab_ manager@paisano-online.com The rich, fruity voices and the vibrant personae of the five-member cast of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” thrilled the audience on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 24. Saturday’s performance was the last of three performances sponsored by the UTSA Friends of Shakespeare group and
delivered by the Actors From The London Stage at the university. Actors From The London Stage (AFTLS) is a cohort of five British actors from prestigious acting companies in England, such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The acting of Patrick Moy, Claire Redcliffe, Samuel Collings, Ffion Jolly and Chris Donnelly was exceptional, amazing, electric. The choreogra-
phy was creative; the timing superb; the stage never static, every moment as precise and sacred as a ballet. Despite the forte of the artists, I experienced the performance fixed in my red-cushioned plastic folding seat of the Arts Building Recital Hall, not able to complete the journey into the realm of Shakespearean comedy. Every cast member played at least four parts — some roles overlapped and many appeared (and disappeared) on stage at the same time. Considering the duration of the play, following the switch from role to role, especially if not familiar with the play, was like chasing an agitated horsefly with a dishcloth for three hours. The play opens in a operatic dissonace Athenian Court: Duke Thesus (Patrick Moy) announces his marriage to Hippolyta (Ffion Jolly); Hermia (Clarie Redcliff ) and Lysander (Samuel Collins) are in love, but Hermia’s father Egeus (Chris Donnelly) forbids their union and insists that Hermia marry Demetrius (Chris Donnelly) who also loves Hermia; Athenian law mandates that Hermia must obey her father by punishment of death or cloister; Hermia and Lysander deRoy Maas Youth Alternatives is currently accepting applications for Residential Specialists. Please call Janet, 210-340-8077, ext.1112 for more information.
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cide to elope and marry in the forest; Hermia’s friend Helena (Ffion Jolly) loves Demetrius and tells him of Hermia’s elopement. The Athenian love quadrant then stows out of Athens, into the woods and into the crosshairs of the Fairy Queen Titania (Clarie Redcliffe), King of the Fairies Oberon (Samuel Collins) and Oberon’s sidekick Puck (Patrick Moy). For a casual observer, the opening scenes were hard to follow: Who’s who, who loves who, who’s father did what, where are the subtitles, what are they saying now, why are there chairs on the stage, why is everyone laughing, should I have brought my No Fear Shakespeare? While Ffion Jolly played the role of Hippolyta, Amazon Queen, as masterfully as she played the love-scorne d- then- tangled Helena, only posture and vocal tone marked the changeover. The rapid character swaps — compounded by Shakespeare’s distinct syntax, vernacular and slap-stick pace — left some audience members relying on the, fortunately, grandiose movements of the actors and their character-specific accessories. The pinnacle of comedy, performance highlight and ironically least confusing of the show was the play ‘Pryamus and Thisbe’ within the play. Granted, Shakespeare is not for the easily discour-
aged, and perhaps part of the triumph of playgoer is the self-affirmation that accompanies catching some of the bard’s quick wit. Following the intermission, an exodus of student patrons introduced the problem accessibility; relevant, as The Oregon Shakespeare Festival recently announced its commission of 36 playwrights to translate Shakespeare’s plays into modern English. The question of accessibility is a query to the crux of Shakespeare’s talent — whether the heart of the master is his singularly light turgid language or in his imagination of complex themes and tragic, classical and historical characters? The length may deter modern audiences too. Without betraying the original language, reducing the length of performances (perhaps 90 to 120 minutes) may be a way to pacify purists while still holding the attention of millennials. Nevertheless, as the Actors From The London Stage’s performances this semester attest, when married with expert acting, Shakespeare needs minimal introduction and is enjoyed and lauded by modern audiences. But perhaps we think too much of those retreating patrons who exit at before the dance off and, rather, should pity their bear of poor humor and too much black bile. MODELS WANTED!
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Free Discussions (booklets included!) and Community HU Chants
Each Thursday in October 7:00-8:30 p.m., UC 2.01.30 (Magnolia Room)
Info: Mitziani (e-mail): RBO233@my.utsa.edu or call Justin: 832-244-6502 www.Eckankar-Texas.org Sponsored by the Eckankar Student Organization
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ARTS & LIFE
9
October 27 - November 3, 2015
Luminaria illuminates the darkness Christopher Breakell, The Paisano Artist SCOTCH! uses stencils to create a massive mural that streches across a warehouse wall on Avenue B for this year’s Luminaria. The mural’s bold colors and creative use of line attracted a large crowd, bringing a much needed energy to the gloomy industrial walls that line the street, accompanied by the downpour of rain across the city.
Christopher Breakell Arts & Life Assistant @ThePaisano arts@paisano-online.com
Big crowds, loud music and vibrant works of art were just some of the many features of Luminaria, San Antonio’s annual contemporary arts festival. However, the overflow of rain kept the water pouring and the festival’s activities and attendance to a trickle. Luminaria was scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 from 7p.m. to midnight. Unfortunately, quite a few artists were unable to participate due to inclement weather on Friday, and Luminaria was flat-out canceled on Saturday. The event was not a complete loss, though. The wet ground’s reflective surface even enhanced the effects of the illuminated works. The event stretched across the River North neighborhood along West Jones Avenue, from Dallas Street to Broadway Street. The crowds accumulated around the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) and the music stage, which was located across from Rosella Coffee Company. SAMA’s façade was dancing with streams of bold LED lights by South Korean artist Siyon Jin. The array of colors deemed “Flow & New Forms” was commissioned for Luminaria through the International Relations Office of San Antonio and was a focal point of this year’s event. SAMA’s doors remained
open for the festivities, and its gallery walls sheltered some of the performances and pieces that were initially supposed to occur outside, even if they had to hand out comical little cards that read, “Any person suspected of having rain on their person will be asked to leave.” The auditorium featured performances throughout the night as crowds squeezed in to see the works. It was here that the second part of Siyon Jin’s work was presented. Jin filmed two dancers affixed with LED lights as they performed, and the light patterns the dancers created were the colorful array of lights projected onto SAMA’s façade. Also in the auditorium, experimental film creator Ronnie Cramer debuted an animated film titled “SA” that toured viewers through San Antonio by means of four thousand watercolor paintings. Under the pavilion behind SAMA, artist Ari Gold presented his interactive video piece “I Love You, Keep Going.” Surreal and sometimes-horrific natural landscapes were projected onto a white screen. Behind the screen, two stationary bikes waited for viewers to jump on and enliven the scenes with their silhouettes. Some people passively pedaled the bikes while others were much more animated. Their playful excitement created an odd juxtaposition at times, especially when the scene flashed more dramatic images, such as forest fires.
Christopher Breakell, The Paisano Comfortably settled in their swings, Luminaria attendees get twirled around by Spare Part’s members, as they fling paint in every direction across the array of canvases. By the end of the night, the chaotic canvases perfectly expressed the participants’ excitement.
Spare Parts, an organization that supplies reused and creative art materials to schools in Texas, also gave attendees the opportunity to participate in the art-filled night. Setting up shop in a crossfit studio, Spare Parts hung large hammock-like tarps from the ceiling and spread an assortment of reused canvases all over the ground. Participants laid belly down in the tarps and slung paint across the canvases with a variety of odd tools as members of Spare Parts moved them around. These displays, reminiscent of Jackson Pollock, drew
a decent crowd, and the time slots for participants quickly filled. Some lucky muralists were able to beat the weather and showcase their massive works on Friday night. Stencil artist SCOTCH! created a mural, titled “Camera Guys,” on one of the many vacant walls of Avenue B. People gathered around to admire the creative use of color and line, depicting three diverse cameramen in action. The weather left only Stage 2 open for musicians, but the artists’ acts definitely kept the night lively. Alyson Alonzo’s soulful
voice, accompanied by her synthesizer, filled the tent early in the night. Her unique and creative sound recently earned her Critic’s Pick at the 2015 San Antonio Music Awards. Another band native to San Antonio, Femina X, roused the crowd with their electronic dance pop. Lead singer Daniela Riojas wore a lavish gown of colorful fabrics blown into a playful dance as she sang.
Lumianaria 2015 wasn’t the extravagantly-packed two-day event that San Antonio has come to expect, but perhaps, the rain’s presence helped spread the wealth. Luminaria’s website explains, “There will be further arts events to showcase the work of the extraordinary artists in our lineup.” Left with a nice taste, San Antonio will have to anxiously await a second helping.
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Christopher Breakell, The Paisano Fabrics flow during Luminaria’s music performances, as Daniela Riojas, lead singer of Femina X, rouses the crowd with her passionate voice and unforgetful style. The bands energetic sound kept the crowd swaying as the night progressed.
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October 27 - November 3, 2015
SPORTS
Roadrunners prepare {Sports Events} for UNT Mean Green UTSA FOOTBALL Thursday, Oct. 29 UTSA soccer (away) The Roadrunners, tied for last place in Conference USA, will face off against the 4th-seeded Rice Owls in their final match of the season.
Friday, Oct. 30 UTSA volleyball (away) The volleyball team will visit Florida Atlantic for a Conference USA matchup.
UTSA softball (home) The UTSA softball team will give Roadrunner fans a glimpse of the team in a home exhibition with St. Mary’s at 6 p.m. on Roadrunner Field.
Saturday, Oct.31 UTSA football (away) The Roadrunners return to action after the bye week. The team travels to Denton to play a North Texas team that has yet to log a win this season.
UTSA cross country (away) The men’s and women’s teams will travel to Bowling Green, KY to compete in the Conference USA Championships.
Sunday, Oct. 18 UTSA volleyball (away) The volleyball team will complete its Florida trip with a match against the Florida Int’l Panthers.
Adrian Bermudez Staff Writer @bermudezmedia sports@paisano-online.com
UTSA Football comes out of their bye week on Saturday with a game against instate Conference USA (CUSA) opponent, the North Texas Mean Green. At 0-7, UNT is the only school in C-USA’s Western Division with a worse record than UTSA. The game falls on Halloween night in Denton, exactly three weeks after North Texas fired Head Coach Dan McCarney following a 66-7 blowout in their homecoming game. UTSA hopes to find some momentum this season after a rough 1-6 start. The team was banged up going into the bye week, with injuries on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Blake Bogenschutz remains sidelined as he continues to follow concussion protocol, and Dalton Sturm will remain the starter. “Dalton gives us a chance to win because he’s got good feet and he can run, and that’s what we need right now,” commented UTSA Head Coach Larry Coker. “But we’ve got to protect him.” This is the second year in a row UTSA has had costly quarterback injuries — a situational first for the UTSA Football program. The offensive line has struggled to protect the backfield, allowing 22 tack-
les for losses in conference games. Through the last two games, the unit has failed to reach 100 yards in any first half and has given up a total of 10 sacks. On the other hand, UTSA’s defense has been excellent in conference play, forcing 11 turnovers in three games against opponents. If UTSA’s offense can maintain possession longer than UNT, the Roadrunners have a good chance of earning their second win. “We’ve got to be more hungry than they are,” Coker said about the matchup. Although the Mean Green have no hopes of salvaging their season, that doesn’t mean they won’t be an easy opponent; they’re playing for pride at this point. The Roadrunners are 2-0 against North Texas since joining C-USA, including a UTSA win in last season’s final game. “We had the same kind of psyche: nothing to lose…at home, a rivalry game,” Coker commented about the previous matchup. If UTSA can win, they will remain unbeaten in CUSA Texas, with only the Rice Owls left to play at home next month. Watch the Roadrunners take on North Texas on Saturday, Halloween night at 6.
UTSA defense: A midseason review
Shabazz I. Dawkins, The Paisano
UTSA FOOTBALL Shabazz I. Dawkins Sports Editors @shabazzvs sports@paisano-online.com
For UTSA Football, last year’s defensive unit was arguably the most special in the history of the program. It boasted the likes of defensive back Triston Wade and defensive lineman Ashaad Mabry, both of whom were All-Conference standouts for the Roadrunners. Mabry and Wade both made history last year by being the first two players in the history of the UTSA program to ink deals with NFL franchises — Wade with the Seattle Seahawks and Mabry with the New Orleans Saints. With the departure of talented players such as Wade and Mabry, it is understandable that the UTSA defensive unit is experiencing some growing pains in 2015. At the midpoint of the season, UTSA ranks 102nd in the nation in total defense, allowing 436.7 total yards per game — good for ninth in Conference USA (C-USA).
For a unit that has looked dominant at times this season, the Roadrunners have struggled to establish a consistent pass rush, evidenced by their last-place C-USA ranking in sacks. Despite playing behind a lackluster pass rush, the UTSA secondary has played admirably all season and has definitely been a bright spot for the Roadrunners throughout the first half of the season. The UTSA secondary has collected nine interceptions through seven games this season — two of which were returned for touchdowns. Those nine interceptions place UTSA at fifth in the conference. One member of that secondary unit who has been particularly impressive in the first half of this season is sophomore safety Nate Gaines. Through 10 games in 2014, Gaines managed to record only one tackle. Through six games in 2015, Gaines leads the Roadrunners with 50 tackles — placing him at sixth in C-USA. In addition to his gaudy tackle numbers, Gaines’ breakout campaign has fea-
tured six passes defended (third on the team), two interceptions (tied for second on the team) and one fumble forced. Another great story for the UTSA defense has been the emergence of senior cornerback Bennett Okotcha as a legitimate shutdown corner. Okotcha has been assigned the difficult task of shadowing the opposing team’s best receiver on multiple occasions this year, but has responded with impressive production. Okotcha is currently leading the Roadrunners in passes defended with nine and is tied for second on the team with two interceptions. The Coppell, Texas native is on pace to record personal bests in every major defensive stat this year. If UTSA can figure out how to complement their deadly secondary with a competent pass rush, there is no reason the 1-6 Roadrunners can’t make a push toward a .500 season.
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SPORTS
October 27 - November 3, 2015
{Recent Results}
Rampage dominant in home-opener
Tuesday, Oct. 20
Rantanen, Bigras lead San Antonio to victor y
UTSA golf (women)
RAMPAGE HOCKEY
12th/14 at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
Wednesday, Oct. 21 UTSA volleyball W, 3-0 vs. Charlotte
Friday, Oct. 23 UTSA soccer L, 2-3 vs. Old Dominion
UTSA golf (men) 8th/15 at Price’s Give ‘Em Five Invitational
Sunday, Oct. 25 UTSA volleyball W, 3-0 vs. UTEP
UTSA soccer T, 1-1 vs. Charlotte
Brady T. Phelps Sports Assistant
@bradytphelps sports@paisano-online.com On Saturday, Oct. 24, a San Antonio Rampage team that experienced complete roster turnover this summer took the ice at the AT&T Center for the first time this season. In an impressive home debut, the Rampage defeated the Stockton Heat by a score of 5 goals to 1. The dominant first outing gave Rampage fans hope that the five-year partnership with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche will be fruitful. Trouble with the ice surface delayed the game’s start by an hour, but did not prevent the Rampage — who had not played in a week — from a strong start. According to Head Coach Dean Chynoweth, the coaching staff expected unfavorable ice conditions and planned accordingly. “We’ve been preparing them for potential bad ice,” Chynoweth explained. “We played in here last year, so we know there are some challenges with it.” Finnish 18-year-old Mikko Rantanen — who the Colorado Avalanche selected with their tenth overall pick in the most recent NHL draft — kicked off the goal-scoring almost seven minutes into the game with a shot from the blue line. A strong net drive by Colin Smith threatened
BIJOU EXCLUSIVE
Heat goalie Jon Gillies just enough for Rantanen’s shot to become his first goal as a professional in North America. With about a minute and a half remaining in the first period, the Rampage’s forecheck pressure paid off; center Sam Henley picked up a loose puck in the slot and immediately fired it into the top-left corner of the net for his first goal of the young season. Eight minutes into the second period, a strong effort by Rantanen set up forward Chris Smith for his first goal of the season. Rantanen carried the puck half the length of the ice, skated behind the Heat’s net and generated a wraparound chance that left the puck in the crease for Smith, who was in the right place to put the rebound in the net. Four minutes later, rookie defenseman Chris Bigras scored the first goal of his professional career on a shot from the blue line. Bigras, who finished the game with a goal and an assist, was named the second star — an accolade given to the game’s most outstanding player — and praised by Chynoweth for his all-around game. “He’s working at both ends,” said Chenowyth. “He doesn’t shy away from contact, he makes plays with the puck, he breaks us clean out of our zone…and that’s important as a defenseman.” Marc-Andre Cliche became the fourth Rampage
player to score his first goal of the season in the game when he sent a wrist shot cleanly past Gillies off the rush. The short-handed tally came just 13 seconds after Rampage defenseman Duncan Siemens was sent to the box on a tripping call. That goal would be the last surrendered in the game by Gillies, who was replaced by Karri Ramo at the beginning of the third period. Ramo joined the Heat on Oct. 22 after clearing waivers and being sent down by the Calgary Flames, Stockton’s NHL affiliate. The Heat’s Freddie Hamilton scored a power play goal in the final period, ending Rampage goaltender Calvin Pickard’s shutout bid. But the Rampage stayed diligent defensively, and Pickard finished the game strong, with 12 saves on 13 third-period shots. “It’s your home opener… there’s pride…you want people to talk about you,” Chynoweth said about the team’s excitement heading into the game. “But more importantly, this needs to be a building that’s tough to come into. You’ve got a chance to be physical, set the tone, and I think we did that…and we had the backing of the fans, so it was exciting.” The next chance to see this new Rampage squad in action at home is on Friday, Nov. 6, when they face off against the Chicago Wolves.
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT
B U R N T GISELLE BOLSHOI BALLET
STARTS OCT. 30
OCT. 31 @ 7:30PM AT SELECT THEATRES
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Shabazz I. Dawkins, The Paisano San Antonio outshot Stockton 31-26, including a 13-6 advatage in a second period in which the Rampage scored three of their five goals.
Shabazz I. Dawkins, The Paisano The Rampage are among the top three teams in the league in scoring, averaging four goals per game.
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT
The Met Opera
TANNHOUSER NOV. 5 @ 11AM AT SELECT THEATRES
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GO ROADRUNNERS, GO!