Vol.65, Issue 8

$87

million student housing project could affect parking space

Students, faculty and staff head to Austin for UTSA Day at the Capitol

By Gauri Raje News Editor

Last month, students, faculty and staff had the opportunity to visit the Texas Legislature in Austin on the occasion of UTSA Day at the Capitol.

“UTSA Day at the Capitol is an opportunity for the university to share its rapid, upward trajectory with state leaders and decision makers by showcasing the positive impact UTSA has on our local and state economies,” Jason Hassay, associate vice president for government relations, said.

By Gauri Raje News Editor

The UT Board of Regents recently approved UTSA’s plan to construct a new residential complex. The $87 million Student Housing Phase IV project was announced over a year after the university opened Guadalupe Hall.

The university currently offers five on-campus housing options — Guadalupe Hall, Alvarez Hall, Chisholm Hall, Laurel Village and Chaparral Village. Students also have the option of University Oaks, which is operated by Campus Living Villages, a private thirdparty company.

Spanning 162,500 square feet, the new residence complex will feature 600 beds, with a mix of “single and double occupancy units.”

The project is expected to be completed by June 2025. Upon its completion, the Main Campus will have a total of 5,183 beds — satisfying 95% of the university’s goal to add 5,400 beds on campus by 2025.

“The new residence hall will be similar to Guadalupe Hall and will be designed with

student success in mind,” Josh Gerken, assistant vice president of Campus Planning, said. “It will house first-year students and will include community amenities such as study spaces, multi-purpose classrooms, conference spaces and prayer and meditation rooms. Also, because students voiced a desire for single room options, there will be a mix of single rooms and double rooms in the new residence hall.”

According to Gerken, the complex is being designed for the first-year student experience. It will house freshmen and sophomores and will include “common spaces for study and community-building activities,” UTSA Today stated.

The new residence hall will be located at the intersection of Barshop Blvd. and Tobin Ave., potentially affecting existing parking in the area.

“The new footprint will displace some existing parking spaces, but resident parking in front of the new residence hall will remain for the convenience of our on-campus residents,” Gerken said.

For more information about UTSA Housing, visit https:// housing.utsa.edu/.

New grant will help support first-generation Latino students

By Gauri Raje News Editor

On Monday, March 20, UTSA announced that it would receive a $2.4 million grant from the Hector and Gloria López Foundation to “provide full tuition assistance for 15 Latino first-generation college students” at the university. The announcement was made at an event in the Student Union attended by President Taylor Eighmy, Provost Kimberly Andrews Espy, UT

System Board of Regents Vice Chairman James C. “Rad” Weaver, UTSA Student Gov-

ernment Association’s Executive Director Zachary Nepote and Sergio Rodríguez, CEO of the Hector and Gloria López Foundation.

“Beginning in the Fall of 2023 and for the next five years, López Scholars will receive support for tuition and fees, as well as other resources including mentorship, tutoring, housing, study abroad programs, paid internships, leadership development and more,” the university’s official press release stated.

ture, it is important for the university to “engage with the legislative process and for elected leaders to understand the value UTSA brings to Greater San Antonio and to Texas.”

“We wanted to highlight the transformational research being conducted, shine a spotlight on the amazing faculty and staff that help the university to achieve academic accolades and introduce some of our exceptional students,” Hassay said.

Some of the university’s accomplishments highlighted

this year included its recent R1 designation and the opening of the new School of Data Science. Student Government Association (SGA) President Jasmin Paquet-Durand Ford was one of the student body members that participated in the trip to Austin.

“ This was definitely one of the top three moments of my entire presidency ”

See

Photo courtesy of UTSA

Traffic signs along Brenan Avenue signal shared roads

By Mason Hickok Editor-in-Chief

Among several ongoing initiatives underway at UTSA, the Office of Sustainability has begun work to encourage alternative transportation efforts on campus. As a result, Brenan Avenue, which connects Brackenridge Avenue to the Loop 1604 access road, will see significant changes in the coming years.

Brenan Avenue used to sit on the Main Campus’ exterior, but now, it more or less divides the campus. While primarily a two-lane road, it grows to four lanes as it bends between Alvarez Hall and Laurel Village. The current proposal, put forth by the Office of Sustainability, would eliminate vehicle traffic on Brenan Avenue and reserve space for pedestrians and alternative transportation methods such as bicycling, skateboards and scooters. In addition, the Office of Sustainability placed signs along Brenan Avenue warning drivers of pedestrians and bicyclists.

Last semester, the Sustainability office hosted several place-making events to garner

public opinion on the proposed changes to Brenan Avenue.

Assistant Vice President for Campus Planning Josh Gerken described some of the reception.

“The workshops had a great turnout from UTSA students, faculty and staff, and we were able to identify numerous themes from these conversations,” Gerken said.

feedback is being utilized to help inform future university placemaking opportunities, and Brenan Avenue is included in these areas.”

Gerken further explained what the next step in the Brenan Avenue proposal process would look like.

“Our next step is to present this information to university leadership and share opportunities for promoting safety and walkability on Brenan Avenue,” Gerken said. “Our goal for this year is to utilize the remaining grant funding for the installation of additional features in order to emphasize pedestrian safety.”

“Some of the most common ones for future placemaking included space types for all kinds of people for socializing and studying, relaxing spaces with comfortable amenities with a wide choice of food and drink, and shady, cool green spaces that are more rural feeling. This

Dr. Greg Griffin, an associate professor of urban and regional planning at UTSA, described the need for a democratic approach to decision-making around sustainable projects.

“What I envision [and] hope for is a future that is fundamentally democratic,” Griffin said.

Approximate location of the new residential complex at the intersection of Barshop Blvd. and Tobin Ave.

Map courtesy of UTSA

A “bike friendly campus” sign sits on the North entrance to Brenan Avenue. Mason Hickok/The Paisano

Continued Grant

There is no application, and the 15 scholars will be selected at random from first-generation Latino students who have demonstrated financial need.

The Hector and Gloria López Foundation was started by its namesakes — Hector and Gloria López. Upon their passing, the couple left nearly all of their assets to the foundation for “the purpose of educating first-generation Latinos [in] Texas.”

Sergio Rodríguez, their nephew, who was in charge of running their ranching business, took over the foundation after their passing and serves as the foundation’s CEO.

“Last year, the Hector and Gloria López Foundation began our journey to support colleges and universities who were intentionally — and I say that very purposefully — serving first-generation Latino students,” Rodríguez said. “This grant continues the legacy of my aunt and uncle — Hector and Gloria López.”

“We are investing in communities like San Antonio, El Paso, South Texas, the Rio Grande Valley and Austin. Our foundation is perpetual, and our goal is $11 million in annual giving,” Rodríguez added. “We are Latino founded, Latino led and 100% Latino-focused in our giving.”

According to Rodríguez, while Texas has the secondlargest Latino population in the country, only 39.9% of Latinos

Texas

On Friday, a Texas appellate court ruled that the Public Utility Commission overreached its authority during the February 2021 winter storm by raising the cost of electricity to the maximum. Although the price of electricity in Texas fluctuates according to demand and production, the state’s electricity market monitor estimates that Texas overcharged retail electricity providers by $16 billion for the power used during the storm, according to The Texas Tribune.

U.S.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a new law on Friday allowing a privately funded “monument to the unborn” to be constructed on the Capitol grounds. The monument, which will be designed with input from anti-abortion groups, will mark the number of abortions performed in the state before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. According to Associated Press News, a similar law was passed in Tennessee in 2018, but the monument has yet to be installed.

World

In Paris and other cities in France, protests broke out after President Emmanuel Macron instructed his prime minister to invoke a special procedure and abandon a parliamentary vote on an unpopular pensions bill last Thursday. Macron’s overhaul would increase the retirement age by two years to 64, which the government claims is necessary to keep the pension system afloat. According to Reuters, approximately 1.3 million protesters rallied against the measure.

in Texas have some sort of college degree compared to 70.1% of non-Hispanic White people. Rodríguez also referenced the state’s 60x30 plan, which “calls for 60% of working-age Texans to receive a degree, certificate or some kind of post-secondary credential by 2030.”

“To reach that goal and close that gap, at least 285,000 Latinos must complete a degree or certificate each year,” Rodríguez said. “And in 2021, only about 132,000 completed that

Continued Sustainability

degree or certificate and fewer than half — 52,000 — were baccalaureate degrees. That’s a very sobering statistic. We have to do better than that, and we have to work hard to ensure that Hispanic serving institutions like [UTSA] are leading that way.”

Given this shared goal to serve Latino students, the partnership between UTSA and the Hector and Gloria López Foundation came about when

Paquet-Durand Ford explained that the event is one that universities commonly partake in. It provides opportunities for representatives from the university to engage with state lawmakers.

“Part of it is kind of teaching students the legislative process [and allowing them to] witness that first hand,” Paquet-Durand Ford said. “As a state school, we do rely on funding from the state. And so, it’s the opportunity to really put a face to the name [and] for legislators to have the opportunity to see who these students are. Because, ultimately, that’s what it’s all about. There’s a lot that goes into it, but at its core, it’s all about students.”

The event was planned by the Office of the President and the Governmental Relations Department at UTSA in collaboration with Student Affairs and Student Activities. Applications for the event were released and interested students had the opportunity to apply within a certain time window. The organizers also reached out to certain departments to have students from these departments apply specifically.

“They wanted to get a wide, diverse range of students, and that was taken into account,” Paquet-Durand Ford said.

Paquet-Durand Ford, along with the SGA Vice President Shaca Sweet, was requested to go as student body representatives. Apart from this, around 10 SGA members were selected to go, and many of them attended because they were a part of other on-campus activities and organizations.

During the event, UTSA was recognized by the Texas House in HR 266 and by the Texas Senate in SR 211. Both bills recognized Feb. 22, 2023, as UTSA Day.

Paquet-Durand Ford was recognized on the House floor, along with President Eighmy and UTSA’s two legislative scholars. She also had the

Rodríguez met with Eighmy to learn more about UTSA.

“[Rodríguez] wanted to learn more about us, who we are, what we’ve been doing and where we were going as an institution,” Eighmy said. “He wanted to understand our deep commitment to the trajectories of the students we serve, especially from South Texas, and he wanted the impact of this opportunity to be profound for the students that it would benefit.

“Here we are today, one of the proud recipients of this grant from the Hector and Gloria López Foundation and it’s so transformational for the students it will impact, but it speaks explicitly to who we are as an institution, what we do as an institution, who we serve and how we go about doing it,” Eighmy added. At the event, Provost Espy also talked about the importance of “classroom to career experiences” like undergraduate research, study abroad and industry internships. Students who benefit from the grant will also be provided the opportunity to participate in these careerrelated experiences.

Read the full article at https://paisano-online.com

“An approach that says people should decide what these best solutions are, and that we need to work together to figure it out.”

Griffin expanded on the different approaches that could be explored regarding transportation. “For a lot of people, that means different things,” Griffin said. “I am interested in health [and] the environment, so that points us toward small, lightweight vehicles, sometimes electric. That might be bicycling, walking [and] scooters, that sort of thing. But we also have to recognize that does not suit everybody’s needs.”

Last fall, the Office of Sustainability launched its BeakCycle bike share project. A grant from the Texas Department of Transportation aided the program’s launch. Currently, there are 21 BeakCycle racks across the Main Cam-

pus. For Griffin, bike share programs in partnership with universities allow for greater accessibility.

“I’m excited about the prospects for bike sharing that the campus sustainability office and others have offered and envisioned as a good solution, particularly for the university,” Griffin said. “Bike sharing solves multiple problems at the same time.”

Griffin also serves as one of the co-principal investigators with ScooterLab. Murtuza Jadliwala, an associate professor in the computer science department, leads the project. Recently, the project was awarded a $1.7 million National Science Foundation grant to assist with the first phase of the project. The scooters will be available on both the main and downtown campuses.

Read the full article at https://paisano-online.com

State of the City— Week of March 21

opportunity to go on the Senate Floor accompanied by President Eighmy, Chancellor Milliken and two legislative scholars when the aforementioned bill declaring Feb. 22, 2023, as UTSA Day at the Capitol was being read.

Following lunch, PaquetDurand Ford had the opportunity to interact with senators. She was part of a group of eight students who were split into four even groups. Each group was accompanied by a governmental relations person and one of four UTSA vice presidents in attendance. The groups had scheduled meetings with legislators.

“What that looked like was sitting down with the legislator, presenting them with materials about UTSA’s legislative priorities, and above all else, just sharing our experience and asking any questions they may have specifically for students,” Paquet-Durand Ford said.

At the same time, the rest of the students were given packets and lists so that they could walk around the Capitol, giving the materials to all the other legislators that were present in their offices.

Other events that took place during the day included a cybersecurity showcase, miniconcerts conducted by student musicians and a research showcase.

“This was definitely one of the top three moments of my entire presidency,” Paquet-Durand Ford said. “As students, sometimes, it can be frustrating because we want to have our voice heard, and we want to make sure that [the] conversations in higher [education are] really centered around students. So, UTSA Day at the Capitol [was] really about making sure that the conversation is ultimately focused on students, and it was just such an honor and a privilege to be a part of that.”

By Gauri Raje News Editor

Voting and Elections:

Last week, the Texas Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of San Antonio voters getting the chance to vote on a charter amendment, also known as Proposition A. The amendment, proposed by the San Antonio Justice Charter, aims to decriminalize abortion and marijuana, among other topics. The City Council voted to place the amendment on the city’s May 6 general elections ballot; however, this move was legally challenged by Texas Alliance for Life, an anti-abortion group. The Court’s ruling did not address the legality of the proposition — it only stated that the election should proceed as planned with the amendment in question on the ballot. Therefore, any challenges to the legality of the charter amendment will have to wait until after the election has occurred.

Crime:

A San Antonio man and woman were sentenced for their role in a SIM card swapping fraud scheme on Wednesday, March 15, at a federal courthouse in San Antonio. According to the Department of Justice, the individuals in question, 24-year-old Zena Elisa Dounson and 22-year-old Andrew Percy Trujillo, “conspired to access and transfer assets from victims’ cryptocurrency accounts via SIM swapping.” Trujillo was sentenced to 33 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay “approximately $282,000 in restitution.” On the other hand, Dounson received a split sentence of two months in prison and five years of probation while also being ordered to pay $282,000 in restitution.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in relation to a deadly car crash that killed three San Antonio natives. Isaac Munoz faces three counts of Failure to Stop and Render Aid – Death, News4SA reports. The incident occurred when Munoz’s Ford F-350 slammed into a Hyundai, killing 23-year-old Matthew Lindsey, 23-year-old Daniella Harris and 24-yearold Spencer Jandreau. Munoz’s bond has been set at $500,000.

Misc:

On Wednesday, March 15, a tree limb unexpectedly broke and fell on a family at the San Antonio Zoo, resulting in seven individuals being hospitalized. One of the family members, an eight-year-old girl, is in critical condition.

Tim Morrow, president and CEO of the San Antonio Zoo, explained that the cause of the breakage is under investigation. The family’s loved ones have since created a GoFundMe to help the family with their medical expenses.

A San Antonio resident has won $1 million after purchasing a Powerball ticket from a convenience store located in the city’s Northside. The drawing for the ticket took place on March 4, and the winner has chosen to remain anonymous.

After being mostly closed for three years due to the pandemic and construction, the Central Library is set to reopen on April 1. The opening will be commemorated with an event, which will begin with a speaking ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by a ribbon cutting.

According to Texas Public Radio, three floors of the library have undergone “major renovations.” Renovated areas include the children’s library and the first and third floors.

Chloe Williams/The Paisano

Continued Capitol

Nepote speaks at Monday’s event. Eric Treviño/The Paisano

Texas oversteps, tramples parents’ rights OPINION

State takeover of HISD draws criticism from parents, educators and state representatives

Editorial

Vast restructuring of Houston Independent School District (HISD) will take place in the coming months, as the State of Texas, and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced their intention to replace the elected school board officials, as well as the Superintendent, with stateappointed managers.

According to an article from Houston Public Media, the state-appointed managers will have “immense power. They can control the budget, school closures, collaborations with charter networks, policies around curriculum and library books, as well as hiring or firing the superintendent, among other important decisions.”

The district takeover occurred due to “poor academic performance” and “allegations of misconduct,” said TEA Commissioner Mike Morath. The takeover is being credited largely to the failed TEA evaluations of Wheatley High School.

Many parents and teachers are worried about the ramifications of the state takeover, with educators telling ABC News that they fear the takeover will re -

Commentary

By Luna Infante Staff Writer

On March 2, Tennessee passed HB 9, a law restricting adult cabaret performances from taking place in public spaces or in the presence of children. This law bans these shows from taking place within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks and places of worship. This law intends to ban something which can be perceived as harmful to minors and is considered obscene. According to NPR, anyone who breaks these laws could face misdemeanor charges, which are punishable by a fee of up to $2,500, and/or one year in jail. In contrast, those guilty of subsequent violations could face felony charges, which are punishable by up to six years in jail. This law has impacted individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, many of whom see the law as restrictive for numerous reasons. Not only will this law prevent drag shows from taking place in various spaces, but it is also vague. Many drag performers worry that the lines of this law are hazy because drag shows are not always obscene or sexually explicit. Stella Yarbrough, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, states her concern, “government officials could easily abuse this law to censor people based on their own subjective viewpoints of what they deem appropriate.”

It is understandable why the state

sult in school closures and other unforeseen reforms.

Many representatives are criticizing the move as well, speculating that the takeover is not the result of authentic, meaningful action but rather that HISD is the latest victim of Texas’ partisan politics. According to WFAA, Representative Ron Reynolds, chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, says the takeover is “nothing more than the state taking over a majority Black and Brown district run by Democrats to be replaced by folks who support GOP legislative efforts, such as vouchers, private schools and the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.”

Bigotry is a drag

has bans on sexually explicit performances such as exotic dancing or performances involving nudity, as minors should not be exposed to these kinds of shows. But to ban drag shows in public spaces is taking steps backward in inclusivity. According to the bill, this ban includes “male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest, or similar entertainers, regardless of whether or not performed for consideration.” This section of the bill is extremely unclear, as it is subjective whether something can be seen as prurient or not, and

not be a crime. With this law, the lines are beginning to blur, and many see this ban as a subtle attack on trans people.

After the Governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee signed this law into action, a yearbook photo of him resurfaced online. The photo shows him in drag, wearing a dress, on a football field. Lee says there is a huge difference between wearing a dress at a football game and drag queens wearing a dress on stage. Hella Skeleton, a drag performer in rural Middle Tennessee, states how that line is not clear. “For Bill Lee to say, ‘You know, that was lighthearted when I did it,’ that is absolutely absurd when a lot of drag is extremely lighthearted.”

The bottom line is that with the state’s takeover of HISD comes a forced replacement of elected officials, which is undemocratic in nature. The parents of HISD have the right to elect officials they feel represent their children’s best interests and promote the educational values of the parents that elect them. These state-appointed officials will have vast influence and power over the lives, curriculum and academic quality of Houston students, and they must be held accountable for their decisions.

The right of parents to choose what they feel is best for their children is being stripped from their hands, and we, as citizens, cannot allow this to continue. This state takeover is occurring in the largest school district in Texas, which means that it can likely happen anywhere. We must find an alternative solution to the educational problems at hand that does not involve authoritarian actions by the state.

You can find the contact information for your local representative’s office at https://house.texas.gov/members/ and https://senate.texas.gov/members.php.

Our right to the Texas coast

Commentary

By Chloe Williams Web and Social Editor

In 2009, the 1959 Texas Open Beaches Act (TXOBA) was codified into the Texas Constitution with support from 77% of voters. This act ensures public access to the 367 miles of coastline bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, despite citizen support for over 60 years, the right to our beaches could be threatened by SB 434 and HB 3114.

Sofia Meija/The Paisano

because “similar entertainers” is not a clear enough definition of what is legal under this bill. Many see Drag as prurient or sexual, while others see it as an expressive art form. Tennessee’s law intends to protect its minors and the public from witnessing sexually explicit performances, but drag itself is not something sexually explicit. Publicly performing in dramatic makeup and cross-dressing should

Drag is a form of expression and entertainment. To ban it from public spaces, especially in such a subjective way, is harmful to the LGBTQ+ community, as it serves as an outlet for many to experiment with gender identity and expression in a safe space. With this new law, Tennessee is becoming a place where drag is tainted with stereotypical labels and is still surrounded by stigma.

This law is not keeping minors’ best interests in mind, as it is allegedly intended to do. This law is pushing discrimination toward drag, moving us away from the inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ community. Is this the kind of world we want our children to grow up in?

Condemn Miller but release ‘The Flash’

Commentary

By Cesar Soto Staff Writer

No actor has drawn as much controversy as Ezra Miller has over the last few years, with separate incidents and accusations of grooming, harassment, assault and burglary.

As the lead star of Warner Bros’ highly anticipated DC blockbuster, “The Flash,” Miller is also in trouble with the studio’s leadership. Despite calls to release the film on streaming platforms or to cancel it altogether, the right move for Warner Bros. is to move ahead with its theatrical release despite the actor’s problematic behavior.

Unfortunately, it is not a simple solution for Warner Bros. to abandon the film and move on with another iteration of the Flash character. Prior to Miller’s allegations going public, the film had already been shot and completed. Reshoots would be costly for the $200 mil-

lion film, as Miller is present in nearly every scene. Furthermore, canceling its theatrical run would result in the studio losing a substantial investment in the project.

Some have compared the idea of canceling the movie to Warner Bros.’ cancelation of “Batgirl” last year, but they are under entirely different circumstances. “Batgirl” was originally intended solely for an HBO Max release, and while it had already finished production, it had also already exceeded its small budget by $20 million. It was now unfeasible for streaming and still lacked the production value that would make it suitable for a theatrical release.

“The Flash” is also important for DC’s cinematic universe, especially with new leadership from “Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran. Gunn himself has shown confidence in the film, citing, “it’s

one of the best superhero movies I’ve ever seen.” With the franchise not having had a concrete plan for years, the multiversal storyline of “The Flash” is pivotal in setting up a complete reset of the DC Universe. There were many artists that worked on the film besides Ezra Miller, and they should all be recognized and celebrated for their work. Hired earlier in 2019, “It” director Andy Muschietti took the reins to get the movie made and deserves to see his vision come to life. Along with Muschietti, the other actors, writers, editors, visual effects artists and everyone else involved behind the scenes tirelessly put this movie together for audiences worldwide to experience. The actions of one should not ruin the hard work of all.

According to the Texas Legislative website, these bills relate to the “burden of proof in a suit or administrative proceeding to establish that an area is subject to the public beach easement.” While bill sponsor, Senator Mayes Middleton of Galveston (R), states, “Senate Bill 434 does not in any way take away our open beaches or limit them,” many argue that at its core, this bill will affect our rights as Texans to enjoy the coast. The Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit grassroots organization, is working with former Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson (R) to put an end to the bills. In a guest commentary for the Galveston Daily News, Patterson, along with other former Texas Land Commissioners David Dewhurst and Garry Mauro, openly opposed these bills and coined them as the “End of Texas’ open beaches.” The three go on to state that with these bills, property owners could deny access to public beach easement between the vegetation line and the mean high tide mark. In other words, beachgoers would only have access to the “wet” area in between that is washed away during high tide.

With TXOBA in effect for over 60 years, beachgoers and property owners alike seem to be opposing the bills. Ronald Smeberg, a commenter on LegiScan’s page for SB 434, states, “What makes Texas beaches unique is the free access to its beaches. I have two properties in Port Aransas, one in North Padre and am planning to do more development in North Padre on two more acres on North Padre that I currently own. In my time preparing to develop on the coast I have come across people who have taken the elitist position

that they should own the beach and want to exclude others. We need to protect the right to free access to the beach for all people, rich and poor.”

Other commenters expressed concerns about the bill’s effect on tourism. With Corpus Christi alone welcoming over 10.61 million visitors annually to experience the Texas coast, this concern seems more than necessary.

As a Texan that grew up a short drive from the coastline, the freedom to access our diverse beaches should be protected and cherished. Contact your local State Senators and Representatives at https://capitol.texas.gov/ to oppose SB 434 and HB 3114. Now and always, we must fight for our right to enjoy the Texas coast.

Kara Lee/The Paisano

“We need to protect the right to free access to the beach for all people, rich and poor”

Ticketmaster is ruining the live music industry OPINION

The Paisano

Editorial Board

Mason Hickok | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com

By Amber Serio Contributor

Ticketmaster, the American booking and ticketing service that fuels the entertainment industry, is facing immense scrutiny after the events of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour ticket sale. This incident, which occurred in mid-November, was the result of the Ticketmaster Verified Fan System’s insufficiency.

Ticketmaster created the Verified Fan System to ensure bots and professional scalpers are restricted from the ticket-buying process. At the same time, fans are supposed to gain presale access to tickets upon registering and being accepted as verified fans. Fans who register, but are not accepted into the pre-sale, are still supposed to have fair access to purchasing tickets during the general sale.

According to an article published by the New York Times, Ticketmaster sent out 1.5 million presale codes but was overwhelmed with 3.5 billion system requests on the day of the pre-sale. This demand — which Ticketmaster claimed they would be prepared for — caused many problems for verified fans, such as prolonged wait times and app crashes that resulted in fans either being dis-

Commentary Commentary

satisfied with their tickets or receiving no tickets whatsoever.

Unfortunately, the fiasco did not end on the first day of sales. Fans with Capital One cards received exclusive access to Swift’s tour but faced the same problems as fans the day before. After this, Ticketmaster completely canceled the general sale, leaving fans who did not receive pre-sale access in the dust.

Swift fans were outraged and disappointed by the fiasco. Millions of fans spent hours of their time and energy attempting to receive tickets to no avail. This presale disaster received global attention and resulted in the intentions and domain capacity of Ticketmaster being questioned not only by users of the platform but also by lawmakers and state authorities.

As a result, Ticketmaster is now being sued by more than two dozen Swift fans who have filed class-action lawsuits against Ticketmaster and its corresponding event promoter and venue operator, Live Nation. The lawsuits accuse the ticketing service of fraud, misrepresentation and antitrust violations as a direct result of the Eras Tour ticket sale mishaps.

Additionally, the Justice Department opened an antitrust investigation into the owner of Ticketmaster. This investigation concerns whether the company has been abusing its power as the primary driver of the live music industry. The DOJ has since been actively appointing members of their antitrust division staff to contact music

artists and venues to decipher whether or not Ticketmaster and Live Nation are authentically upholding the image they paint to the public eye.

Though Ticketmaster and Live Nation both have expressed their apologies and taken full responsibility for the fiasco, live music lovers feel their access to the entertainment industry is being attacked. It is evident that a change is vital for the live music industry to continue to thrive.

Laynie Clark | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com and Gauri Raje | News Editor News@paisano-online.com

Jake Mireles | Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com

Riley Carroll | Arts & Life Editor Arts@paisano-online.com

Luke Lawhorn | Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com

Chloe Williams | Web and Social Editor Web@paisano-online.com and Socialmedia@paisano-online.com

Dustin Vickers | Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com

Grace Robinson | Graphic Editor Graphic@paisano-online.com

Music is a gateway for people from all walks of life to feel understood, express themselves and escape from reality. For most people, music is personal and should be taken seriously with careful thought. Unfortunately, Ticketmaster and Live Nation have made it clear that their commitment to customer satisfaction could easily be broken, just as it was on the day of this disaster.

If music lovers are unable to rely on the only booking and ticketing powerhouse of the live music industry, disappointment and failure are practically inevitable for the future of the live music industry’s ticketing services. A change is long overdue.

The mighty have yet to fall

By Jada Thomas Staff Writer

When “Iron Man” released in 2008, no one could have predicted that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) would become what it is today. After that first film, 20 more movies would help build the MCU, all of them leading up to the release of “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019, which was one of the biggest releases of the decade and temporarily became the highestgrossing movie of all time. During the 11 years between the two movies, the franchise found a home in the hearts of millions of fans — from general audiences simply wanting to see the newest blockbuster to the most diehard comic book connoisseurs. Still riding off the high of “Endgame,” fans were eager to see if Marvel Studios’ future releases could be just as impressive. However, they could not witness much of the post-“Endgame” MCU because a year later, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which left audiences no longer feeling comfortable in movie theaters. Given that the studio was unable to release content during quarantine, they took advantage of the Disney Plus streaming service. They ventured into making content for television, which was the perfect distraction for an audience that was stuck inside their houses with the world on fire around them. To make up for the lack of content for over a year, once the studio noticed crowds starting to make their way back to theaters in the summer of 2021, Marvel put out “Black Widow,” their first theatrical release in two years, and they have

been throwing everything they could on our screens ever since. Out of the seven TV shows, two TV specials and eight movies that Marvel has released post-quarantine, some of the content has landed extremely well with fans, but a lot of it has not, which raises a single question: why?

For about the past year, fans across the internet have been vocal about the fact that they think the MCU is falling off — losing its quality as well as the public’s interest — and the sound of this dissatisfaction reached its peak with the most recent Marvel release, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantama-

movie, “Endgame” was an event, one that set a high bar — so high, that people have struggled to go into the films following it with realistic expectations. There have been several complaints about the MCU’s phase four, a slate of content beginning with “WandaVision” and ending with “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” most of which fall along the lines of there not being any appearances from other characters, that the new stories are boring and that they are not connected to the overarching MCU.

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nia.” While the film was admittedly one of the MCU’s more lackluster productions, that does not mean the franchise is losing its spark. Audiences becoming less impressed with Marvel’s releases can be attributed to two main things, each at the fault of both the fans and the studio. Firstly, the fans are expecting too much following “Endgame” by wanting every story to be just as colossal. Secondly, Marvel was seemingly trying to put out everything they possibly could to make up for the pandemic, so much so that they began leaning toward quantity over quality.

“Endgame” was the culmination of over a decade of storytelling; it was an ending to the journeys of some of our favorite heroes. It was also a film that left both devoted fans and general audiences feigning for more. More than a

Realistically, a crossover event on a scale like “Endgame” takes years to develop, and since that has taken place, the MCU has to go back to square one. Looking back at phase one, the movies released from 2008 to 2012, they were introductory stories that familiarized general audiences with heroes they had likely never heard of before. Only in hindsight is it clear where those earlier movies were leading, that they were the building blocks that allowed for a story like “Endgame” to take place. So, it makes sense that most recent movies that Marvel has released have been fresher, smaller-scale stories with heroes that we are unfamiliar with. If fans are willing to ground their expectations in reality and absorb the new characters and unique stories that Marvel introduces us to, the journey leading up to the next large-scale crossover event will undoubtedly be more fun.

In this conversation of whether or not the MCU is falling off, the studio itself is not entirely absolved of blame and the reason is simple: they are putting out too much content. When Marvel puts out four movies and four TV series in seven months, it overcrowds the consumption pool and becomes too much for fans to keep up with.

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“Live music lovers feel their access to the entertainment industry is being attacked”

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ARTS & LIFE

Tuesday, March 21:

“Blood Alcohol Content and You” — 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Student Union Window Lounge (SU 1.02.00C)

“SRS’s Vegan Bake Sale” — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Central Plaza

Food Tabling 1

“Art Picnic with Zine Club” — 6 to 7 p.m., Central Plaza

South Lawn

Wednesday, March 22:

“Rebuild Your Credit” — 12 to 1 p.m., online

“Taste of Success: Dr. Chris Packham” — 3 to 4 p.m., Loeffler Room (BSB 3.03.02)

“Guad-A-Lympics” — 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Guadalupe Hall

Lawn

Thursday, March 23:

“Eating Recovery Group” — 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Recovery Center (JPL 4.02.08)

“Guest Recital: STR3TTO” — 5 to 6 p.m., Recital Hall

“MCAT Study Session” — 7 to 8:30 p.m., Student Union Oak (SU 2.01.20)

Friday, March 24:

Top three local book stores

By Laynie Clark Managing Editor

Thanks to TikTok, people who have never been interested in reading have started branching into the world of words. This is exciting for seasoned book lovers because they now have a new pool of people to share stories with and to go on book-shopping trips with. While Barnes & Noble is a go-to spot for books and novelty items, it is important to explore and support local alternatives.

1. Nine Lives Books

Located at 7959 Fredericksburg Rd. Ste. 119, Nine Lives is nestled in a crowdless strip ready to be ventured upon. Nine Lives offers a variety of items besides books, such as pins, stickers, local authors and films. Their hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 12 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

By Laynie Clark Managing Editor

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for “YOU”

As “YOU” season four comes to an end, so do the hopes for a redemption season. After the fiery mayhem that engulfed Madre Linda in season three, the show’s title character — Joe Goldberg — escaped, yet again, to London. As always, he changed his name and now goes by Jonathan Moore, a professor of American Literature at a fictional university. While the show used to be exciting and thrilling, it has now become a chore to watch and a burden to bear.

1. Every season is formulaic

Much like a sitcom, “YOU” follows a very specific seasonal pattern. “YOU” is not a sitcom, which means the formulaic seasons it follows do not have the same effect as they do in sitcoms. Watching 10 episodes, each being 45 minutes long, of the same thing that was seen last season gets old quickly. Rather than creating a cohesive, wellplanned storyline, the writers scrap the events of the previous season and place Joe in a new city with a completely new cast.

2. The supporting cast in season four was weak and, at times, distracting

Each season, the supporting cast has lacked more and more. The first two seasons started strong with fervent and impactful supporting characters, but the fourth season’s supporting ensemble slowly dissolve

2. The Twig Book Shop

Located at 306 Pearl Pkwy Unit 106, The Twig is housed in the Historic Pearl, surrounded by good eats and activities. Much like Nine Lives, the Twig offers pins, stickers, local authors and magnets, but they do not stock films. Their hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

3. Nowhere Bookshop

Located at 5154 Broadway, Nowhere is a place of books and beverages, which makes this shop different from the others. In the back of the shop, a beverage bar can be found along with an array of knick-knacks like socks, tote bags, stickers, magnets and local authors. Their hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 12 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

“UTSA Memorial for Dr. Thelma Duffey” — 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Buena Vista Street Building Aula Canaria (1.328)

“Opioid Overdose Prevention: Narcan Use Training” — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Guadalupe Hall Lobby

“MAC Spring 2023 Clothing Drive” — 12 to 1 p.m., JPL

CMAS (Floor 1) and Veteran Lounge (Floor 4)

Saturday, March 25:

“Mental Health First Aid Training” — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Multidisciplinary Studies Building Academic Classroom (MS

2.02.53)

“San Antonio Roasted Corn Festival” — 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7701 FM 1346 Event A

“Leon Valley Jazz Festival” — 3:30 to 8 p.m., Raymond Rimkus Park (6440 Evers Rd.)

Sunday, March 26:

“Free Vaccine Clinic” — 12 to 5:30 p.m., Rolling Oaks Mall (6909 N Loop 1604 E)

“New Braunfels Kite Day” — 1 p.m., Cypress Bend Park (503 Peace Ave.)

“The Foreign Arm, Andrea ‘Vocab’ Sanderson and George Garza Jr. Trio” — 6 to 9 p.m., The Echo Bridge (2617 TX-536 Spur)

Monday, March 27:

“Building Confidence in Your Career: Impostor Syndrome

Workshop” — 12 to 1 p.m., University Career Center (SU

2.02.04)

“HCaP Student Success Center: Mellow Mondays” — 1 to 4 p.m., HCaP Student Success Center (MS 2.02.36)

“Student Recital: Alexis Ortiz” — 5 to 5:30 p.m., Recital Hall

Tuesday, March 28:

“Women’s History Month Presentation- Women in Public Health and Technology” — 10:15 to 11 a.m., Student Union Willow (SU 2.02.12)

“Understanding Leasing Contracts” — 3 to 4 p.m., Guadalupe Hall C133 Multipurpose Room

“Low Brass Studio Recital” — 5 to 6 p.m., Recital Hall

Five reasons to stop watching ‘YOU’

into a heap of dull individuals. Replacing the supporting characters each season takes away from the overarching plot and leaves a disconnect between the

tant to mention Love Quinn — Joe’s lover in seasons two and three. Love was a fan favorite, so you can only imagine people’s frustration when Joe

though the show is lifeless without Love, and killing her off was the biggest mistake yet.

4. Plot holes from existing seasons leave the audience

major plot holes. For example, in season two, Joe protects a teenager named Ellie and sends her off on a train with a promise to consistently send her money for her silence. After season two, Ellie is hardly mentioned again. This has happened with four other characters, so tell me this: If all of these people are alive and know Joe’s truth, why has no one spoken up? Joe continually gets away with his horrific crimes, though multiple people could put him behind bars, and yet he still walks free.

5. Joe’s character traits are inconsistent

To give one final reason, let us dive into Joe’s characteristics. Joe is the most inconsistent character ever to be written, which may be a controversial statement, but the facts are there. In the fourth season, Joe learns that he is followed by a shadow: his own. He develops some sort of personality disorder, which is a fascinating way to move the show along, but the audience is not shown what the disorder is or how it came about. It is not shown what triggered the ripple effect of the disorder, just the aftermath, which makes the storyline feel rushed and unnecessary.

audience and the characters.

3. Writers killed off the fanfavorite character

On the topic of switching characters around, it is impor-

killed her. Many hoped that she somehow survived and would reappear for vengeance in the new season, but sadly, that was not the case. Many feel as

wondering

As aforementioned, the seasons of “YOU” usually start with a brand new cast and scenery, which causes some

While fans still hold out hope that things turn around for the once sensational “YOU,” doubt is in the air. If the show takes another hard hit in the coming season, it will be hard to recover. Ultimately, it does not matter what you watch; these are just a few reasons to venture into new shows and leave the old ones behind.

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Storm Goodman/The Paisano

Arts & Life

Beloved San Antonio artist dies at 76

Remembering Jesse Trevi ño , notable Chicano artist

Andrew Christianson/The Paisano

This Day in History

By Marcela Montufar Soria Multimedia Editor

Arte de San Antonio

By Amber Serio Contributor

Jesse Treviño, the beloved and acclaimed Mexican-American artist of San Antonio, passed away on Feb. 13 at 76 years old. Treviño was receiving hospice care before his passing, but his cause of death has not been confirmed. Treviño was a prominent figure in San Antonio for decades, as his art embodies the Chicano spirit of San Antonio. His paintings and murals are distinguished by their photorealistic nature, which evokes the daily ups and downs that Mexican Americans endure.

Born in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1946, Treviño and his family migrated to San Antonio when he was four years old. He began showcasing his natural talent from a young age by winning school art competitions and prizes throughout his adolescence. This artistic drive resulted in Treviño being awarded a scholarship to attend the Art Students League of New York. It was while he was studying here that he received his Vietnam War draft notice in 1966.

In February of 1967, Treviño was severely injured on a mission in the Mekong Delta when he stepped on a mine while attempting to board a helicopter that was under attack. This incident caused the loss of Treviño’s dominant right arm, as it was amputated due to being paralyzed by severed nerves.

Despite losing mobility in his dominant arm, Treviño did not let this stop him from pursuing his passion as an artist. He was ultimately forced to change everything he had learned about art. At first, this was challenging for Treviño, as he developed depression and had to come to terms with being physically disadvantaged. He spent about a year in rehabilitation before he began adapting to using his left arm so that he could continue to evoke his artistic talent in the world.

After becoming comfortable with his skills, Treviño enrolled in San Antonio College and then finished his bachelor’s degree in art at Our Lady of the Lake University. He later decided to pursue his master’s degree and attended graduate school at UTSA, where he finished his education.

Throughout his career, Treviño had a tremendous amount of worldwide recognition and notable art pieces. For instance, he presented a painting of the Alamo to President Ronald Reagan in 1987. Additionally, one of his most recognized pieces, “Mi Vida,” was presented in an exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in 2019. This 14-by-eight-foot mural was painted in 1972 while Treviño was battling depression and defeat after enduring severe injuries from serving in the Vietnam War. “Mi Vida” serves as an autobiographical mural that is a reflection of Treviño’s identity and struggles during this time. The painting contains an array of objects, such as a Purple Heart medal, a pill, a can of Budweiser beer, a pack of cigarettes and an image of Treviño during the war.

Despite the fact that Treviño is recognized globally, it is almost impossible to deny that the heart of his ambitions and most well-known art lies within the city of San Antonio. His mural, “Spirit of Healing,” is a prime example of him channeling the city and its Chicano culture into his work. This

mural, which stands nine stories tall and depicts an image of a boy holding a dove as an angel watches over him, is made from hand-cut tiles that decorate the outside of the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

Treviño’s “La Veladora” is another instance of him utilizing his artistic talents to bring the Mexican-American culture in San Antonio to life, as it illustrates an image of a votive candle displaying the Virgin of Guadalupe. This three-dimensional piece of art stands 40 feet tall and is displayed on the side of the Guadalupe Theatre.

Treviño has truly left a lasting mark on San Antonio and the way we choose to acknowledge and celebrate the Chicano culture that is so deeply rooted within the city. With his impact on the city and Mexican-American representation, it is evi

dent that, even after his death, his legacy will con

tinue to live on. To view his artwork, visit https:// www.jessetrevinoart.com or follow his Instagram @jessetrevinoart.

Eight side-hustles for college students

Spare Change

By Chloe Williams Web and Social Editor

It is no secret that college is expensive, and a part-time job is not always enough to cover bills while also enjoying university life. So whether you want to pursue a side hustle as a part-time job, passive income or on an as-needed basis — follow along to discover eight ways you can earn more with little effort.

1. Redbubble Redbubble offers a quick and efficient way to sell artwork; all you have to do is upload any artwork and the items you want to sell it on. You control the price and profit margin. The artwork does not have to be in-depth — most best-selling stickers contain words and require few design elements. Visit Redbub ble’s selling website for more information.

2. Dog walking and pet sitting Companies like Rover and Wag! provide easy signup and flexible schedule options. Both sites offer dog walking and petsitting services. This

is an excellent option for animal lovers and involves minimal effort or planning. Visit each company’s website for more information.

3. Freelance

Regardless of your hobbies, major or interests — there are freelancing options catered to you. The most popular freelancing website is Fiverr. Fiverr allows you to choose your service and price. If you are looking for odd jobs like furniture assembly, painting, moving or more. Taskrabbit is a popular option as well.

4. Food delivery

While this may seem like an obvious choice, working in food or grocery delivery can provide an extra source of easy income. Popular options include DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart and

Grubhub.

5. Sell stock photos For those experienced in photography, selling your photos to stock websites is a low-effort option. Popular websites include Shutterstock, 500px, SmugMug and Getty Images.

6. Website testing Websites like usertesting.com will pay you to provide your honest perspective on products and services. Usertesting pays $10 for each 10 to 15-minute test you complete.

7. Sell your notes

Instead of trashing your old notes, sell them instead. A popular website is Stuvia, where the average earning per document is $8.50. Another option is Nexus Notes which offers payment options by views or free access to study material.

8. Edit essays you are proficient in editing and writing, this is a solid option. A specific way you can market yourself is by helping with college admissions essays. Useful places to advertise your services can be the library, prospective student groups and freelancing websites.

March 21, 1806: Benito Pablo Juárez García, the 26th President of Mexico, was born.

García was born in Oaxaca on March 21, 1806. He was the first Indigenous president of Mexico from 1861 to 1872. During this time, Napoleon III set out to conquer Mexico and put Maximilian of Austria as head of government. Juárez led the Mexican resistance movement, and Napoleon retreated in 1867. Maximilian was executed by the Mexican forces afterward. García was reelected to the presidency twice but faced much opposition from political rivals and was burdened by Mexico’s financial hardships and tense foreign relations. His presidency ended with his death in Mexico City on July 18, 1872. For his service against France, he is considered a national hero.

March 22, 1873: The Spanish National Assembly abolished slavery in Puerto Rico.

While other Latin American territories were in the process of gaining independence from Spain and building their societies, Puerto Rico was still under Spanish control in 1873. The new law was a result of a growing anti-slavery movement in Spain and freed nearly 30,000 enslaved people — five percent of Puerto Rico’s population at the time. Newly freed persons remained the lowest class in the social hierarchy, and per the law, they still had to work on their owner’s land for three years without gaining any political rights until five years after their emancipation. Further, slave owners received generous payments as compensation for the loss of their “property.” The last territory in the Americas to abolish slavery was Brazil in 1888.

March 23, 1971: 26th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was passed by Congress.

Passed by Congress on March 23, 1971, and ratified on July 1, 1971, the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age in the United States from 21 to 18 years old. The promotion of this amendment came from the Second World War, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. A popular sentiment was that if Americans were old enough to die in a war, they were old enough to vote. It was promoted by President Richard Nixon ahead of the 1972 presidential election.

March 24, 1199: Legendary King Richard I the Lionheart was fatally wounded.

Perhaps best known today as the king featured in the tales of Robin Hood, King Richard I of England reigned from 1189 to 1199. He left the rule of England to others while he set out to join the crusades in the Holy Land, modern-day Palestine and Israel, in an attempt to recover the Kingdom of Jerusalem from Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, who had captured the city in 1187. While his army did defeat Saladin’s in the Battle of Arsuf, he never managed to take Jerusalem and eventually returned to England. He spent his last years in France in open war with Philip II, the first king of France. He was fatally wounded by a crossbow in France while in battle and died April 6, 1199, at age 41 after the injury became gangrenous.

March 25, 1655: Astronomer Christiaan Huygens discovered Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.

Christiaan Huygens was a Dutch mathematician, astronomer and inventor of the pendulum clock. Titan was the first discovered moon of Saturn and the sixth moon to be discovered, following Earth’s moon and the Galilean moons of Jupiter. Titan is the only known moon in the solar system to have a substantial atmosphere and liquid on its surface in the form of rivers, lakes and seas of methane and ethane sustained by rain. Beneath its surface, Titan has an ocean of water, suggesting the possibility of life.

March 26, 1827: German composer Ludwig van Beethoven died.

Born December 17, 1770, to a family of musicians, Beethoven is often considered the greatest composer of all time, best known for “Piano Sonata No. 14” — also known as the Moonlight Sonata — and his nine symphonies. He worked during a period of musical transition, as styles changed from Classical to Baroque, accompanied by the introduction of Romantic music. He dealt with growing hearing loss most of his adult life and was completely deaf during the last ten years of his life, during which he composed his “Symphony No. 9,” containing the famous “Ode to Joy” hymn. His revolutionary work was the first to include voices in a symphony, which were traditionally orchestral-only pieces.

March 27, 1513: Spanish Explorer Juan Ponce de León first spotted the Florida Peninsula.

Juan Ponce de León was born into Spanish nobility around 1460. He was the first Spaniard to settle Puerto Rico and was its first governor, founding the settlement Caparra, now called San Juan. While on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth on the island Bimini, which he supposedly heard about from the Indigenous people of the Caribbean, his expedition took him to mainland North America. He first believed he had sighted an island, which he named “La Florida.” However, they did not go ashore until April 2 of that same year. Ponce de León would go on to be fatally wounded in a skirmish against a Native tribe when he returned to Florida to colonize their territory.

March 28, 1913: Japanese artist Toko Shinoda was born.

Born in Manchuria to a Japanese family and raised in Gifu, Japan, Toko Shinoda acquired a passion for art when she was very young. She started studying calligraphy at age six and made a living as an acclaimed calligrapher in the early stages of her career. After the second world war, she gained international popularity and managed to travel to New York City, where she connected with artists of the Abstract Expressionism movement. When she returned to Japan, she began to blend traditional calligraphy with Expressionism. Shinoda went on to become a beloved and renowned artist, with her work being displayed in galleries and museums worldwide. She died on March 1, 2021, at age 107.

enjoyed his best season so far at UIW, where he had 65 hits, 31 RBIs, four home runs and slashed a .302 batting average.

After one successful season at UIW, Valdez decided to transfer to Baylor, where he could further showcase his talents against Power Five opponents. However, things did

Despite his newfound success at UTSA, Valdez is still very grateful for his time at UIW and Baylor. “It was extremely valuable getting to see the guys who succeeded and what they did to prepare, coaches who have been there and done it. It was truly an honor to be a part of those programs and see how

it, knowing that this is my last season in college baseball, so I’m taking it one game at a time; any game could be my last,” Valdez said. “I’ve seen guys who’ve worked very hard to get where they are going down … I’m just trying to take advantage of every

Aston, Jenkins break records in final six games of the season

By Haley Aguayo Staff Writer

After the Roadrunners started 2-8 in their first 10 conference games, the UTSA women’s basketball team closed its season in the semifinal round of the Conference USA tourna ment, closing a 6-game winning streak, including two post-season victories.

The final games included some record-setting occurrences. Coach Karen Aston made her 300th career win as a head coach over North Texas on Feb. 20. Forward Jordyn Jenkins also broke the single-season scoring record with 33 points in the win against FIU on Feb. 28.

The 6-foot junior has made highscoring games more of the norm in UTSA’s home stretch of the season. Jenkins scored 40 points in the Road runners’ victory over North Texas in the same game Aston claimed her 300th victory.

“That was pretty cool,” Jenkins said. “The game before that we played UAB, we just didn’t play up to our potential. We knew that would have been her 300th win, so playing North Texas, coming in and winning was great for her and the 40 plus points was the cherry on top.”

There was a point in UTSA’s season when playing three games was not expected, let alone a single victory.

The players, of course, were aware of where they stood in the league standings, though they knew what they could be capable of.

“We’ve definitely been in the bottom two or three, I think, for a lot of the season,” Jenkins said. “Just climbing up, it was cool to see. It was cool to hear coach tell us all the different placements that we’re in and hear about defensive rebounding and offensive rebounding.”

After years of experience as head coach, Aston knew that it would take time for a team to find its rhythm.

Jenkins shared a piece of advice her coach offered the team at the start of the season.

“Coach would say to us at the be

certainly get looks from major league scouts.

Antonio Valdez will look to continue his historic start to the season against UTRGV at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.

Has UTSA become too complacent with Henson?

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

For the second straight season, UTSA men’s basketball lost in heartbreaking — yet fitting — fashion in the Conference USA tournament in the lowest-seeded matchup.

For the second straight season, UTSA men’s basketball went 10-22 in the regular season. It is almost a night-and-day difference between the cultures set in Roadrunner football and basketball. Head football coach Jeff Traylor has positioned his team as the “team to beat” in conference play, while coach Steve Henson’s basketball team has become the “easy game” on opponents’ schedules.

And increasingly, baseball and soccer’s success at UTSA have put themselves in a better position for competitive play than the school’s men’s basketball team.

Henson, who has been at the helm of the men’s squad for seven seasons, has been confirmed by UTSA athletic director Lisa Campos to return for an eighth season, despite the outcry for a replacement.

“After careful evaluation of our men’s basketball program, including candid and open discussions with Coach Henson on the team’s performance and his leadership, he will remain as head coach for the 2023-24 season,” Campos said in a statement on March 10.

Henson is under contract through the 2023-24 season and would take a $400,000 buyout if the university had decided to go

in another direction at head coach.

“Coach recognizes that we have high expectations at UTSA for all of our athletic teams and that this year’s men’s basketball season did not meet those expectations.”

Despite Campos’ optimism about returning Henson for an eighth season, Henson has led the team to a 99-123 overall record in seven seasons as the Roadrunners coach.

The most jarring, not-so-fun fact is that UTSA men’s basketball is 48-74 in its last four seasons, appearing to head in an even worse direction.

Since the news of Henson’s return for what seems to be his final season, there have been seven different Roadrunners to enter the transfer portal.

The list of players includes DJ Richards, Japhet Medor, Lachlan Bofinger, Azavier Johnson, Aleu Aleu, Jacob Germany and Lamlin Sabally.

Though it can be unfair to speculate reasons why studentathletes may leave a program, it is safe to say that if the players were on board with where the program was heading, half of the roster would not want to jump ship.

However, it may be wise to keep Henson for his final season under his current contract. As UTSA joins the American Athletic Conference in the fall of 2023, the Roadrunners can use the first season as a trial run.

The new, uncharted territory will give UTSA an evaluation of the new opponents and environments. With a coach who may have nothing to lose, along with basically a new roster, the Roadrunners can simply feel out the 2023-24 season.

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