Vol. 65, Issue 7

By Gauri Raje News

UTSA’s Academy of Distinguished Researchers hosted Dr. Nicholas A. Peppas, a professor of cellular and biomedical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin on Thursday, March 2.

“As a part of [the] Academy, we have the Distinguished Speaker Series [where] we invite top-notch researchers across the nation to come here and give us a talk,” Dr. Hemid Beladi, chair of the Academy, said.

Peppas, who serves as the director of the Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery and Regenerative Medicine, discussed the future of biomaterials in improving the quality of life for patients.

“It is a great honor for me to be here and discuss with you some of my thoughts about a very important subject,” Peppas said. “[Biomedical engineering] is a field that will give you the opportunity to go back home and help patients, help citizens, be proud that you [came up] with a better solution.”

Peppas started by talking about the history of the biomedical field, including the first heart transplant performed by Christiaan Barnard in 1967; however, Peppas pointed out that despite advances in the

Women’s rights march held in downtown

By Laynie Clark Managing Editor

On March 7, Mujeres Marcharán Coalition (MMC) organized a march and rally in celebration of International Women’s Day. The march took place in downtown San Antonio at Milam Park. Assisting MMC were members of San Antonio’s chapter of the Party of Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and Autonomous Brown Berets de San Anto. The rally supported organized and independent speakers.

Ruby Jimenez — a member of PSL — spoke on the importance of International Women’s Day and its impact on her.

“International Women’s Day is something that shows that the struggles that affect so many different people in different regions have a root because there’s an underlying theme of oppression, of being treated as a secondclass citizen,” Jimenez said.

“It’s usually a revolution in women that are the trailblazers for civil rights movements. I see people banding together to protect not only ourselves but the future of this planet.”

Krystal Howard — an independent local organizer — described that the term “women’s rights” is problematic. For Howard, rights should be universal.

“I don’t really like the term ‘women’s rights,’ I think it’s problematic in itself. I feel like

fundamental values are what’s really important,” Howard said. “Every person that is born should have fundamental rights. Women’s rights, to me, are just everybody’s rights — it shouldn’t even be a discussion.”

Howard details how youth voter turnout is important. They believe that active participation is needed for the future.

“I predict, and I would hope for a future where people just don’t feel left out anywhere,” Howard continued. “We just all get to exist in peace and happiness and not have to worry about not being allowed to be who you are. We just kind of get rid of all the bigots and fascists. I really have a lot of faith in the younger generation that we are reaching. I’m hoping the kids will change it.”

As speakers started sharing their stories, the UTSA chapter of Students for Life showed up to counterprotest. Galaxy Acton — president of UTSA Students for Life — shouted a variety of statements regarding abortion and the dangers it poses to women.

“28 women have died from legal chemical abortions in the United States,” Acton said. “Abortion is violent.”

PSL and the Brown Berets linked arms and circled the protesters to create a barrier and minimize the distraction from the rally. The speakers continued on, ignoring the protestors, and the march began.

field, there was a lack of understanding of the biomedical properties of materials used.

Today, the field of biomedical sciences looks very different, with the emergence of “advanced biomaterials, modified biological structures, intracellular delivery [systems]” and bionanotechnology.

immediate effects, the patient’s health can deteriorate over a period of months.

Drawing on his own experience of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Peppas recounted taking intramuscular injections as a treatment for the disease. While the diagnosis was incorrect, the experience impacted his research approach.

“I submit to all of you that what we learn in undergraduate and graduate [school] is one possible solution,” Peppas said. “It doesn’t mean we have to stop there and say, ‘Because we have a way to [treat a disease], there is no better way.’”

PERIOD partners with SGA to stock bathrooms with menstrual hygiene products

By Naydine De La Fuente Staff Writer

Peppas then shifted focus to discuss autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and macular degeneration.

In an autoimmune disease, the body’s immune system attacks its own cells. For all of these diseases, treatment is administered through an injection which can be painful for the patient, sometimes making the patient reluctant to receive treatment.

In the case of multiple sclerosis, treatment involves an intramuscular injection once a week. While skipping an injection for a week does not lead to

“For me, better ways are important because it [helps] patients lead a better life,” Peppas added.

Peppas highlighted the importance of treatments available for autoimmune diseases while also discussing the importance of how these drugs can be administered.

“Don’t tell me [the best way to administer these drugs] is by shots [or] an IV in a hospital once a month,” Peppas said.

“We are active citizens [and] we want to continue being active. We are sorry that we have the disease, but you can not tell us that your best solution is [an IV or similar methods].”

PERIOD at UTSA and the Student Government Association (SGA) collaborated to provide accessible feminine products in various restrooms across campus. SGA is a sponsored student organization that serves as the official advocate and voice of the student body, and PERIOD is an established group that plays an integral part in the menstrual movement— its main focus is to bring awareness to menstrual inequity and destigmatize menstruation in San Antonio.

A lack of access to necessary menstrual products was the motivation for SGA and PERIOD to collaborate in an attempt to provide students with the feminine hygiene products that they need.

Since the project began in 2019, some of the many obstacles members faced included the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the scarcity of funds required to obtain all necessary products needed to fulfill the project’s main objective.

“It was halted, of course, because of COVID[-19],” Yobana Solorzano, former President of PERIOD at UTSA, said. “People weren’t coming to cam-

pus; therefore, the dispensers weren’t being filled because, at the time, it didn’t feel like they needed to be because no one was there.”

Once students were back on campus almost a year later, PERIOD continued its work to provide students with access to menstrual products on campus.

PERIOD partnered with Womxn in Leadership to create surveys for students to get feedback about the placement of future dispensers on campus. They were even able to have multiple dispensers placed in different restrooms, including the Student Union women’s restroom on the second floor and the family restroom on the building’s first floor; however, a monumental change in this project occurred when SGA reached out to PERIOD and informed them of the Leader Fund grant.

PERIOD was awarded the grant, which gave the organization approximately $3,300 worth in funds to purchase menstrual products to be distributed in various restrooms around campus.

“There has been a lot of communication in seeing who will be filling what dispens-

“Every person that is born should have

Editor

“It is a great honor for me to be here and discuss with you some of my thoughts about a very important subject”

‘For me, better ways are important, because it [helps] patients lead a better life’

UTSA hosts renowned researcher Dr. Nicholas Peppas

Andrew Christianson/The Paisano

UTSA

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded UTSA’s ScooterLab $1.7 million to deploy the university’s first set of data-collecting e-scooters on both the Main and Downtown campuses. The battery-operated scooters will include sensors, remote communication enhancements and control capabilities that will help researchers gather data related to the riders’ mobility, context and environment. The project aims to transform how we think about micromobility and create new opportunities for sustainable transportation.

Texas

A woman from Forney, Texas, was taken into custody on Friday night for the alleged murder of three children after a Child Protective Services caseworker ordered that the children be removed from the home. The New York Times reports that the 25-year-old suspect, Shamaiya Hall, was charged with three counts of capital murder in connection to the killings of a six-year-old boy and two five-yearold twins. Two additional children were wounded during the incident and were taken to the hospital.

Texas Tech University has suspended the head men’s basketball coach, Mark Adams, after an “inappropriate, unacceptable and racially insensitive” comment during an incident with a player. According to a press release from the university, Adams encouraged the player to be more receptive to coaching while referencing Bible verses about workers, teachers, parents and slaves serving their masters. CNN reports that athletic director Kirby Hocutt decided to suspend the coach in order to conduct a more thorough investigation into the matter.

U.S.

On Monday, federal agriculture officials proposed a set of new requirements for labels on meat, poultry and eggs that would limit the use of the phrase “Product of USA.” Currently, this label can be used on products from animals that have been imported from a foreign country and slaughtered in the United States. The proposed changes, however, would require that the product come from animals “born, raised, slaughtered and processed” within the United States. The label proposal is open for public comment before it becomes final, ABC News reports.

World

On Saturday evening, nations reached a historic agreement to place 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030, as reported by BBC News. The High Seas Treaty was agreed upon at the UN headquarters in New York after years of negotiations which had been previously delayed over disagreements on funding and fishing rights. The agreement, which aims to protect marine biodiversity and international water access, will limit how much fishing can take place and the routes of shipping lanes and exploration activities.

State of the City— Week of March 7

In order to come up with alternative ways to deliver these drugs, which include antibodies, knowledge of the isoelectric point of the molecules is important. The isoelectric point is the pH at which a molecule does not carry a net charge and helps determine the pH at which these different molecules tend to dissolve. Molecular weight also plays a role when it comes to the delivery of drugs to cells.

All of these factors add a lot of nuance to drug delivery systems. An example of this would be the oral administration of drugs that are otherwise delivered via injection. In this case, the acidic pH of the stomach and absorption of the drug in the GI tract are some of the issues that need to be addressed. On a molecular level, drugs need to be absorbed and enter the bloodstream to work.

By Lauren Hernandez Staff Writer

San Antonio faced thunderstorms, strong winds and quarter-sized hail on Thursday night, March 2. Downtown San Antonio took most of the hail damage and heavy winds caused power outages for thousands of people in the San Antonio area. CPS provided an update stating that crews worked through the night to trim trees surrounding power lines and repair fallen ones.

On March 1, a man was arrested and charged with intent to deliver a controlled substance and the unlawful carry of a weapon. Luis OliverasSantiago was pulled over for a routine traffic stop during which a Bexar County sheriff’s officer smelled marijuana in Oliveras-Santiago’s vehicle. The officer stated that a small bag of marijuana was in plain sight, and during a search of the vehicle, five grams of marijuana, 260 grams of cocaine and a handgun were found. Oliveras-Santiago was arrested but has now been released from jail after paying a $40,000 bond.

At 9:48 p.m. on Friday, SAPD responded to a shooting in the 5100 block of NW Loop 410. Rifle and pistol shells were found on the ground outside the open apartment

door. After searching the apartment complex, SAPD located the victim and suspect, both 18 years old, who had fled the crime scene. During the investigation, officers concluded that the suspect had shot at the apartment and pried open the door when the resident returned gunfire.

At around 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, a vehicle veered off the highway and rolled over, causing another car to crash into a wall near 1604 and Bulverde Rd. The driver was taken into custody for suspected drunk driving, and the passenger of the second car was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

Construction along N. St. Mary’s Street has negatively impacted local businesses.

Bars and shops have been cutting their hours of operation and letting employees go to stay afloat. Many of these busi nesses have applied for the city’s COVID-19 Construction Recovery Grant, which recently closed. This grant will reimburse businesses with a maximum of $35,000, and this money comes from COVID-19 relief funding and American Rescue Plan Act funds. Businesses should begin receiving grants as early as March 20.

List of candidates for 2023

local general election released

By Gauri Raje News Editor

The City of San Antonio has released the ballot order for the city’s general election in May.

Candidates had the opportunity to file for the elections until Feb. 17. In order to run for a municipal office, candidates have to be a U.S. citizen of at least 18 years of age and a qualified voter of the City of San Antonio by the filing deadline, among other requirements. Candidates also have to submit two different documents as proof of address.

According to an article by mysanantonio.com, none of the offices are uncontested, with a total of 58 candidates running for the different positions. A full list of candidates can be found at https://www.sanantonio.gov/

ElectionsCampaignFinance/ City-Elections. here.

The 2023 general election is set to take place after the city’s redistricting process in 2022, which redrew the City Council districts. The current City Council approved the new district boundaries on June 16, 2022. Residents can utilize a new interactive mapping tool to verify their city council district.

Early voting begins Monday, April 24, 2023, and will run through Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Election day is scheduled for Saturday, May 6.

The last day to register to vote is Thursday, April 6, 2023. For more information about voter registration and polling locations in Bexar County, visit https:// www.bexar.org/1702/Registerto-Vote.

paracellular transport. Since the latter can increase the risk of infections like cholera, the team has focused on the transcellular mechanism.

He also presented another application involving the delivery of proteins in the body to treat other diseases using a hydrogel to deliver molecules like insulin, human growth hormone and calcitonin. With respect to Crohn’s disease, Peppas presented research on an approach to treating it using siRNA molecules, which need to be delivered directly to cells. Finally, Peppas presented information and research on macular degeneration treatment.

Peppas’ team is also working on alternative ways to establish early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

In 2021, Peppas, along with colleagues and students, published a paper titled “Engineering precision nanoparticles for drug delivery” on this topic of precision medicine. The paper has been cited 1871 times.

“I want to tell you how important it is to publish the right paper in the right journal at the right time,” Peppas said. “People read it. It’s changing lives. It teaches them how to come up with better ways to treat.”

Peppas first presented research relating to the development of pH-sensitive selfassembled polymers, prepared using RAFT polymerization, that can be used to administer treatment for rheumatoid arthritis orally. His team also started working on the oral delivery of molecules like interferon beta, which is used to treat multiple sclerosis using transcellular and

Furthermore, through their research, Peppas’ team has created new biomaterials that are “responsive to the environment,” including factors like pH, light and temperature.

“These are the applications that lead to intelligence,” Peppas said. “We use [this word] because we truly believe that we can recognize what happens to the surrounding medium and we can lead to better solutions.”

Peppas also highlighted the health disparities worldwide as it relates to autoimmune diseases, healthcare checkups and screening. According to Peppas, autoimmune diseases often tend to appear in individuals that do not have “regular medical background treatment.”

Concerning multiple sclerosis, Peppas explained that the disease tends to appear “dominantly” in women, adding that autoimmune diseases are the eighth leading cause of death in women ages 15 to 64.

Furthermore, Peppas pointed out the lack of early detection and treatment of severe diseases. This can occur due to a lack of understanding regarding the early signs of disease, making health disparities affecting women and minority populations even more apparent.

“[As engineers], we have to give answers,” Peppas said. “We have to come up with better biosensors that will recognize certain biomolecules [allowing for better detection of diseases or its tendency in individuals].”

“I seriously believe that quality of life with intelligent materials is a must,” Peppas concluded.

Chloe Williams/The Paisano

Photo Courtesy of Vanessa Velazquez Photography

Chloe Williams/The Paisano

A heinous step toward intolerance OPINION

Editorial

This legislative session, Texas has become ground zero for more anti-LGBTQ+ laws and policies, joining the nationwide push against LGBTQ+ rights by the Republican Party. While state-level Republicans have tried to draw eyes toward their more flashy and controversial bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community, they are also working behind the scenes to ensure the systematic oppression of the community.

House Bill 2889, proposed by East Texas Representative Bryan Slaton (R), would ensure that “qualifying couples,” which the bill defines as couples involving “a man and a woman who are legally married to each other, neither of whom have ever been divorced,” would be eligible for massive property tax cuts. The tax relief would be dependent on the number of children the couples have, per the Midland ReporterTelegram.

The amount of property tax reductions a qualifying family may receive directly corresponds to the num -

Kara Lee/The Paisano

ber of children they have. Families with four children would qualify for a 40% reduction in property taxes. Families with 10 or more children would qualify to pay no property taxes.

Although this relief may benefit some working families with the need for increased household income due to the number of children they have, it is

inherently discriminatory that sexual orientation and marital status are determinants to qualify for these reductions. While the burden felt by property taxes is high statewide because Texas has one of the “highest effective property tax rates in the nation,” per the North Texas Property Tax Service, all couples feel that pressure across the board, not just the heteronormative couples of Texas.

This clear and brazen attempt by the Texas Legislature to systematically oppress LGBTQ+ parents and couples who do not conform to traditional marital standards is heinous and absurd. Texas should be taking steps toward acceptance and expanding rights for the LGBTQ+ community, not taking steps back toward intolerance. We cannot let this oppressive bill become law, and we must demand its end. Discrimination of any kind has no place in Texas.

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.

By Dr. Kerry Sinanan Assistant Professor Department of English

In “A Talk to Teachers,” written in 1962, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, James Baldwin noted it was “a dangerous time.” It seems timely, now, to try to assess where Texas higher education is, especially in regards to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ), and academic freedom. Republican policies and legislation in this state and across the U.S. have placed these aspects of university education to the fore. In 2021, The University System of Georgia “eviscerate[d] tenure” for academic faculty. Tenure, states Irene Mulvey, the American Association of University Professors President, has always protected academic freedom to “pursue research and innovation and to draw evidence-based conclusions free from corporate, religious, or political pressure.” In Florida, a swift succession of 22 laws passed in 2022 has led to the outlawing of teaching Critical Race Theory and the emptying of libraries under the “Stop WOKE Bill.” Now a new Florida bill, HB 999, would give the state full control over university curricula and hiring, ban DEIJ altogether and end tenure. The question now is if, and how far, will Texas follow suit?

In 2022 SB3 was passed in Texas covering K-12 and removing provisions for teaching topics including the history of Native Americans, the writings of Frederick Douglass, the Indian Removal Act, the Chicano movement and the history of white supremacy. The Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) notes in a guide for teachers that the bill “limits the teaching of accurate, comprehensive and truthful accounts of U.S. history, current events and society.” Texas now has 800 bans on books — more than any other state — including titles that deal with gender and sexuality, race, LGBTQ+ issues and reproductive justice. On Feb. 7, Gov. Abbott sent a memo to state agencies announcing that DEIJ initiatives in hiring are considered to be “illegal” be-

cause they work to correct historic systemic racial and gender inequities. Under this new decision, only merit is a valid metric in hiring decisions. The UT System’s current statement on DEIJ recognizes systemic inequity: “Underpinning this philosophy is a belief that talent is universal — distributed evenly regardless of gender, race, national origin, ethnicity, age or anything else — but, unfortunately, opportunity is not.” A focus on merit alone, arguably an ableist construct that privileges white people, would discount efforts to redress unequal opportunities that affect minoritized candidates.

On Feb. 22, the UT Board of Regents announced a freeze on DEIJ and stated: “We welcome our elected officials in this legislative session looking into DEIJ policies throughout higher education in Texas we will certainly implement any new policies the Legislature puts in place.” This position raises clear questions about ensuing directives. The statement comes alongside HB 1006, that would explicitly, as Dan Solomon notes, “prohibit the funding, promotion, sponsorship or support of ‘any office of diversity, equity, and inclusion,’ or any office that operates under another name but which supports the goals of diversity, equity and inclusion,” if passed.

This week alone, Texas A&M, Texas State University System and the University of Houston System have all issued statements pausing DEIJ initiatives in hiring. In an email, Renu Khator, chancellor of the University of Houston System, stated, “we stand against any actions or activities that promote discrimination in the guise of diversity, equity and inclusion.” This is the general thrust of these moves, which combine to rearticulate DEIJ, a long-understood remedy for addressing discrimination, as itself discriminatory.

All of this raises questions for UTSA, in particular, a Hispanic Serving Institution with a stated commitment to inclusive excellence. As UTSA President Taylor Eighmy recently briefed at the State Capitol, many of UTSA’s successes are based on graduating, employing and keeping UTSA students in Texas. The UTSA mission states: “UTSA places a focus on advancing prosperity and opportunities for Hispanic communities, and on preparing underserved populations to achieve their dreams

of a college education.”

However, a central irony of defending DEIJ programs is that they have not been shown to work particularly well, especially to address intersectional underrepresentation in hiring in terms of race. UTSA’s own figures show a large discrepancy between the UTSA Hispanic student population of 57% and the people teaching them: Hispanic faculty hover between 19 to 20% over the years, while Black faculty remain at 4%, and Indigenous faculty at a worrying 0% in a region where many people are Indigenous. Texas has a higher number of Black people than any other state, at about 13%. In Texas overall, 40% of people identify as Hispanic. In 2020 the San Antonio City Council passed a Resolution declaring racism to be a public health crisis. The head of IDRA, Morgan Craven, noted the link between racism and education: “We continue to see this negative and persistent impact of the long history of racism today because education is a key social determinant of health.” Race is the vector along which other inequities are articulated, affecting disabled people, veterans, LGBTQ+ and lower-income groups. What might these statistics look like without DEIJ in place? The need to ensure that students learn from people like them, and that these students could themselves become professors, are reasons why some might wish to keep DEIJ initiatives.

Education, Baldwin tells us, is always a target of state authority:

“The purpose of education, finally, is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions, to say to himself this is black or this is white, to decide for himself whether there is a God in heaven or not. But no society is really anxious to have that kind of person around. What societies really, ideally, want is a citizenry which will simply obey the rules of society. If a society succeeds in this, that society is about to perish.”

Baldwin, whose books have been subject to bans in the past, warns that the danger is to society itself. It is always in the interests of capitalist state power to limit what we know, who we learn from and what we can say and think. This is because education is, as bell hooks tells us, fundamentally a practice of freedom. Yes, this is a dangerous time: when has it not been?

Gauri Raje/The Paisano

Out from it’s online curtain

Commentary

By Mason Hickok Editor-in-Chief

It is one thing to prepare for the future, but what about embracing the past? Do you know who the “Father of UTSA” was? What about the traditions that bring about student passion?

Frank Lombardino, a former Texas House Representative, is the one who was given the name the “Father of UTSA.” Lombardino’s role in the late 1960s was integral in helping to secure legislative funds for establishing UTSA.

There are several avenues where UTSA’s history is displayed online, such as the 50th-anniversary website. Of course, in this day and age, online accessibility is a practical option; however, physical objects can foster inspiration and education. The Spring 2019 issue of the Sombrilla Magazine celebrated UTSA’s 50th anniversary. In that edition is a section called “The Story of UTSA in 50 Objects.” Of the pieces of history — many of which are housed in UTSA’s Special Collections — is the lead architect of UTSA, O’Neil Ford’s hand-drawn mockup for what the university should look like. Imagine a growing display of images and drawings of what the main campus looked like through the years. A space where new students could see into the beginnings of their

university while alums can visit and see what has changed. Traditions help bolster engagement and honor significant parts of the university. For UTSA, these include traditions such as the mariachis that play during graduation and the “Milagros” hearts that adorn the Downtown Campus.

In the midst of UTSA’s Campus Master Plan, and as the “one university mindset” takes shape, the university should consider a physical space — a dedicated museum of sorts — inwhich you could place the very objects that helped to create UTSA. Likewise, UTSA’s history deserves to be brought out from its online curtain.

“Traditions help bolster engagement and honor significant parts of the university”

A dangerous time

A new Texas bill may act as a systematic oppression of LGBTQ+ parents Discussing the ramifications of Texas’ moves to curb DEIJ

Commentary

One size will never fit all OPINION

The Paisano

Editorial Board

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

The fashion industry has always struggled to be inclusive with sizes, but in recent years, people have stepped up and advocate for change.

Body positivity is about supporting acceptance and respect towards all body shapes; it is about pushing for societal change and helping everyone feel confident about their appearance. Unfortunately, to this day, some brands have not grown with this movement, as they continue not to be size-inclusive and continue to keep quiet about it. A prime example is Brandy Melville.

Brandy Melville is an Italian fashion brand marketed towards teenage girls and young women. The brand was established in 1970 by Silvio

Marsan and his son Stephan Marsan. Brandy Melville was launched in the U.S. in 2009, gaining significant popularity in 2014 after competing with well-known brands and ranking number one in up-trending brands, according to LDNFashion. The brand became popular through social media, being known for its “cool” and “relevant” fashion. While the brand has –– what seems to be –– good quality basics and trendy items, it has always been problematic because it carries one size.

worldwide. Why is that?

Brandy Melville is a brand that most prominently features thin, blonde, White girls in their advertising, and also includes very limited sizes, yet it continues to sell. Because their market is aware of who they are, their market is okay with being part of a small population and having a store exclusive to their size and style. However, another reason brands like this continue to be successful is that they include petite sizes of good-quality clothes, which can be difficult to find at the reasonable prices Brandy Melville offers...

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

Although Brandy Melville has received heavy criticism from the public for its lack of size-inclusivity, it has also gained popularity for the same reason. For many who are able to shop at Brandy Melville, it gives a sense of coolness and exclusivity, the same feelings Abercrombie & Fitch gave to teens in the early 2000s. Brandy Melville continues to be shamed by many, but it also continues to be a very successful fashion brand with hundreds of stores

Children do not yearn for the factory

Commentary

During high school, almost everyone had some sort of job — many people were fast food workers. Almost every person working at your local Whataburger drive-thru window is a child. While child labor is not inherently toxic and cruel, the violation and exploitation of children through labor is. Ensuring the safety of children in the workplace is extremely important; without government regulations and laws protecting young workers, they will be taken advantage of.

The quality of working conditions for children is declining at an alarm-

ing rate, with a 37% increase in child labor law violations in the 2022 fiscal year. The problem here is not that children are working, it is that adults are taking advantage of them. In a society so focused on productivity and profit, it only makes sense that children are exploited for the gain of another.

Paisano

Instead of protecting children with harsh laws against corporations using child labor, the United States has decided to start rolling back the laws that protect and look out for them. There are reasons that these laws were

By

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

Marcela Montufar Soria | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com

Jenna Taylor | Magazine Editor Magazine@paisano-online.com

Genevieve Vega | Distribution Manager Distribution@paisano-online.com

Luke DeMario | Buisness Manager Buisness@paisano-online.com

created. Without them, the safety and security of young children are being put in jeopardy. There are jobs that children should not have, for example, working in a Kia factory or cleaning a JBS Meatpacking plant. These are just a few examples of the dangerous situations that children experience while on the job. When the health of children is blatantly jeopardized for a profit with no intervention from the government, it is clear that the youth is not a priority. When child labor is the only solution to no one working for minimum wage, the problem is not a labor shortage. Finding willing and ablebodied teenagers to fill positions and seats at jobs should not be the answer. Yet instead of raising the minimum wage or addressing inflation, state governments are finding ways to roll back the laws protecting children from exploitation. This can not be the solution.

Will it end with Willow?

have a lasting impact on the migratory movements and habitats of indigenous wildlife within the American Arctic.

As a result, areas like Teshekpuk Lake could be in danger of ecological decline or collapse if oil development continues.

reduce emissions by approximately 50% within the next decade. Besides the planned cut in emissions, the

Staff

By Luna Infante Staff Writer Advisory Board

Diane Abdo | Advisor Steven Kellman | Advisor

Jack Himelblau | Advisor Stefanie Arias | Advisor Sandy Norman | Advisor Sofia Garcia | Advisor

John Helton | Advisor Corey Franco | Advisor Imelda Robles | Advisor

Environmental activists nationwide are rallying together in opposition to a proposed oil operation in Alaska’s National Petroleum Field. The Willow Project is a six billion dollar oil and natural gas proposal by ConocoPhillips — Alaska’s largest oil producer — estimated to produce approximately 180,000 barrels of oil per day and upwards of 600 million over the project’s lifetime.

The impact of the Willow Project could lead to devastating ecological decay as well as a massive negative effect on climate. According to EvergreenAction, over the 30-year lifetime of the project, an estimated 287 million metric tons of greenhouse gasses would be leaked into the atmosphere — the equivalent of 76 coal-based power plants, a third of the total of coal plants across the U.S.

For the project to be built, ConocoPhillips would have to disrupt the habitats of local fauna. Drilling sites, roads, bridges and more would all

The damage to the caribou population would harm native populations, especially in the village of Nuiqsut.

According to activist and city Mayor Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, “The animals are no longer in areas where your grandfather taught your husband to hunt and where he taught his son,” she said. “Now there’s a gravel mine related to the oil and gas development.”

Much of the town lives off of hunting caribou during their migratory seasons, and new oil developments put this at risk, as they have already seen a decline in local wildlife. In January, Mayor Ahtuangaruak issued a statement in an attempt to halt the project on behalf of Nuiqsut or, at minimum, to increase the regulations on the project. The statement mentions the possible adverse effects of drilling runoff on the Nuiqsut, the change in caribou migratory patterns and more.

If approved, the project would destroy President Joe Biden’s plans to

project goes back on what Biden has promised since taking office — a total stop on new oil developments on federal land as well as his “stance” to take on global warming.

Environmentalists and the American public have made their voices heard; we oppose the ConocoPhillips Willow Project. The impact on the Alaskan environment, global warming and Alaskan natives will go against everything the Biden Administration has attempted to build within the past two years. The final decision on whether the project is greenlit will likely be the president’s, so he had better stick to his guns.

For more information on how to oppose Project Willow refer to www. protectthearctic.org/stop-willow.

The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed by UTSA. New issues are published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays and exam periods. The Paisano is distributed on the UTSA Main Campus. Additionally, Paisano publications are distributed at a variety of off-campus locations, including Tri-point and a variety of apartment complexes near the UTSA Main Campus. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed to: 14526 Roadrunner Way Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78249

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© 2023 The Paisano

The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Handbook of Operating Procedures states in 5.03 that: The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) will not exercise control over the format or content of Student Publications, but will regulate distribution on campus. Student Publications will be free of censorship and advance approval of copy, and their editors and managers are solely responsible for editorial and content policies and decisions. Editors and managers of Student Publications will not be subject to arbitrary suspension/expulsion or removal from their positions within a Registered or Sponsored Student Organization (Student Organization) by the University because of student, faculty, administrative, or public disapproval of editorial policy or content. Student Organizations that distribute Student Publications are afforded the same rights and privileges as Student Organizations that do not distribute Student Publications.

Malaki Lingg

Assistant Web Editor

“If approved, the project would destroy President Joe Biden’s plans to reduce emissions by approximately 50% within the next decade”

“People tend to forget body positivity and inclusivity are for all bodies, and yes, this includes thin women”

This Day in History

By Marcela Montufar Soria

Multimedia Editor

March 7, 1936: Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact under the authority of Adolf Hitler.

The Treaty of Versailles was signed by the Allied Nations and Germany in 1919 and formally ended World War I. Under the treaty, the German territory known as the Rhineland, which bordered France, Belgium and the Netherlands, was demilitarized. The Locarno Pact was made in 1925 as a guarantee of peace between European powers. Adolf Hitler violated both in 1936 when he sent German troops into the Rhineland as a prologue to his invasions of Austria and Poland.

March 8, 1892: Uruguayan Poet Juana de Ibarbourou was born.

Juana de Ibarbourou’s poetry mostly focused on love and nature. She was known for the erotic, passionate works of her youth as well as her later works, which drew on her life experiences to comment on age, despair and loss. Ibarbourou passed away in 1976 at age 84. She is remembered as one of Latin America’s greatest writers.

March 9, 141 BCE: Emperor Wu of Han ascended to the throne of China.

Emperor Wu of Han, also known as Wudi, was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty, ruling from 141 BCE to 87 BCE after ascending to the throne at age 15. He is remembered as one of ancient China’s greatest rulers, best known for his expansion of Chinese territory and foreign influence, as well as for sponsoring Confucianism. The Han Dynasty went on to govern China until its fall in 220 CE.

March 10, 1913: Abolitionist Harriet Tubman died.

Harriet Tubman’s exact birthdate is unknown, as she was born into slavery on a plantation in Maryland. The general consensus is that she died at around 90 years of age, surrounded by friends and family. During the American Civil War, Tubman was a part of the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved people escape to freedom in the northern United States — as she did in 1849. Her work with the Underground Railroad was perilous and exhausting, yet she led an estimated 100 to 300 people to freedom. She is remembered as a hero and African-American icon.

March 11, 1426 BCE: Pharaoh Thutmose III died.

Thutmose III was king of Egypt from around 1479 to 1426 BCE and is remembered as one of Ancient Egypt’s most legendary Pharaohs. During his reign, he led military campaigns that greatly expanded the territory and power of Egypt. He sponsored the building of many temples and monuments essential to archeologists today. Thutmose III is also remembered for his hatred of his predecessor Hatshepsut, Egypt’s only female Pharaoh, and for attempting to destroy all evidence of her reign and existence.

March 12, 1946: American Star Liza Minnelli was born.

Liza Minnelli was born to Judy Garland and Vicente Minnelli on March 12, 1946. She went on to lead a spectacular career as an actress, singer and dancer. A star of the stage and the screen, she is perhaps best known for her role in the 1972 film “Cabaret.” Minnelli most recently appeared at the 2022 Academy Awards. She is among the few artists awarded an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.

March 13, 1781: Astronomer William Herschel discovered Uranus.

William Herschel was an 18th-century German-born British astronomer. King George III of Britain appointed him court astronomer following his discovery of the seventh planet, Uranus. Originally, Herschel believed he was observing a comet, but after identifying it as a planet, he sought to name it after George III. However, the planet was named Uranus after the Greek god of the sky — the only planet besides Earth to not be named after a Roman deity.

March 14, 1879: Theoretical physicist

Albert Einstein was born.

Albert Einstein was born to an Ashkenazi Jewish family in Ulm, Germany, which was then part of the Kingdom of Wurttemberg in the German Empire. Einstein’s work in relativity and quantum mechanics was essential to the development of modern physics. He is perhaps best known for his General Theory of Relativity and his mass-energy equivalence formula, E=mc^2. However, Einstein received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the photoelectric effect. He passed away on April 18, 1955, in Princeton, New Jersey, where he had lived since becoming a U.S. citizen in 1940.

ARTS & LIFE

Nonprofit

exhibit awarded $500,000

Contemporary at Blue Star awarded largest grant in its history

Arte de San Antonio

By Lauren Hernandez Staff Writer

Fueled by the cancellation of the first contemporary art exhibition in San Antonio, six art enthusiasts and artists formed the Contemporary at Blue Star, a grassroots art exhibition that is now the longest-running nonprofit space for contemporary art in San Antonio.

Recently, the Contemporary received a $500,000 grant from the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation. This is the largest financial contribution in the nonprofit’s 36-year history.

“The grant will have a transformative impact on the organization and will help the Contemporary at Blue Star plan for an endowment and the next 36 years,” Press Representative of the Contemporary, Daniela Oliver de Portillo, explained. It will also be used to grow the program’s technological infrastructure, organizational capacity and youth arts education programs.

Additionally, the grant will be used to renovate the MOSAIC Student Artist Program’s studio and gallery to make it a more welcoming space with an ever-increasing amount of opportunities for young artists. MOSAIC is an after-school, tuition-free visual arts program that provides high school students with the opportunity to build their careers as professional artists.

Brianna Berlanga, a San Antonio artist who was a part of the MOSAIC program in high school explained that “what the Contemporary at Blue Star does for young artists is not only needed but inspiring.”

As a result, this capacity-building grant will allow the Contemporary to continue to grow and engage the public in discussing critical, cultural and social issues through its exhibitions, educational programs and public events.

Welcome to ‘Cracker Island’

Reviews

By Malaki Lingg Assistant Web Editor

Gorillaz, the virtual band portrayed by digitally animated characters, formed by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and cartoonist Jamie Hewlett, released their eighth studio album, “Cracker Island,” on Feb. 24. The album has a playtime of 37 minutes, contains 10 tracks and boasts features from artists such as Bad Bunny, Tame Impala and Stevie Nicks. The opening track, “Cracker Island,” perfectly introduces the listener to the LP. The song gives off the exact sound that Gorillaz has become increasingly known for since their 2017 album, “Humanz,” with droning lyrics and diverse electronics. While it is nothing new or refreshing, longtime fans of Gorillaz should be excited for more of their classic sound.

The features on the album are somewhat noteworthy. Gorillaz has always been known for its ability to take various artists and mesh their genres together; this album is no exception. Each collaboration brings

alternative sound of Gorillaz.

Overall, “Cracker Island” is a great album. It takes the themes and sounds that Gorillaz has been known for in the past two decades and presents them with a new selection of features. However, the album does not do anything innovative for the band, which could be viewed as hit or miss for some.

something unique and interesting to each song. “Tormenta,” featuring Bad Bunny, is a great example of this. Bad Bunny leads the track and perfectly blends reggaeton with the

Some listeners may be happy to hear what they expect from Gorillaz while others may be disappointed in the lack of a new sound and thematic development. Stand-out tracks from the album are “Cracker Island,” “New Gold” and “Tarantula.”

As of Feb. 24, “Cracker Island” is available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.

KylarRoyer/The Paisano

Morgan Francis/The Paisano

Arts & Life

Five spring break activities that will not break the bank

By Chloe Williams Web and Social Editor

Spring break is quickly approaching, and whether you are from San Antonio or visiting here for the break — there are many inexpensive ways to have fun this coming week. Below are five ways to enjoy the outdoors this spring break.

1. Lost Maples State Natural Area — $6

Located around two hours northwest of UTSA, Lost Maples is a state natural area with hiking, camping, fishing and bird watching. The natural beauty of the park serves as a great place to spend a day or night this spring break enjoying nature. Lost Maples is located outside of Vanderpool at 37221 RM 187.

2. Boerne City Lake Park — $10 to $15

Boerne itself is a fun and close destination to explore this spring break. If you are looking to escape the heat, Boerne City Lake Park is an inexpensive and fun place to visit. For $10 Monday through Thursday and $15 Friday through Sunday, you have access to the picnic area, the volleyball court, fishing, swimming and more. Hill Country Paddle Sports also operates out of Boerne Lake and offers paddleboard and kayak rentals. Make sure to bring water shoes though, the bottom of the lake is covered with sharp rocks that can hurt your feet. Boerne Lake is a 25-minute drive away at 1 City Lake Rd.

3. Texas State Tubes — $17

Tubing is a Texas spring break necessity; it is also not very expensive. Tubing with Texas State Tubes costs students $17, including a rented tube and bus ride back to the car. If you have your own tube, it is even cheaper at $15. The ride is listed as three hours

long, but from my experience, it takes closer to four. During spring break, Texas State Tubes will be open March 10 to 12 and March 17 to 18 in San Marcos at 2024 North Old Bastrop Hwy.

4. Aquatica Water Park — $34.99

Aquatica is open during spring break and has day passes starting at $34.99. They also offer veteran and active duty discounts. While waterparks are more expensive than visiting local pools, Aquatica offers a large range of water slides and pools. A waterpark is a great way to escape the heat but still have fun and get your adrenaline pumping. Aquatica Water Park is 15 minutes from UTSA at 10500 SeaWorld Dr.

5. La Cantera Resort & Spa — $50 to $75

If you are willing to splurge this spring break, purchasing a resort day pass is a great way to experience the best parts of a resort without spending the night. Day passes for many local resorts are available for purchase at ResortPass.com. La Cantera Resort & Spa is the closest resort to campus and offers day passes ranging from $50 to $75. The passes include access to all their pools, hot tubs, pool food service, fitness center, arcade, waterslides, tennis courts and more. While this is more expensive, it allows for an escape from the usual college experiences while still staying close to campus. La Cantera Resort & Spa is six minutes from campus at 16641 La Cantera Pkwy. Whatever you decide to do this spring break and wherever you go — enjoy the break from school and stay safe.

Feeling the ‘Timesheet Blues’

Retro Cowgirl plays show to celebrate upcoming single

Reviews

By Cesar Soto Staff Writer

San Antonio band Retro Cowgirl put on a show on Friday, March 3, promoting the release of their upcoming single, “Timesheet Blues.” Accompanied by special guests Floats and Flight by Nothing, Paper Tiger hosted a night of premier retro feels.

Opening the night was Flight by Nothing, who traveled from just outside of San Marcos. Composed of Braydon Houston on keys, Sam Morales on drums, Conner Redden on vocals and guitar, Porfii Rubio on bass and Pacco Salinas on lead guitar. The indie-rock band set a perfectly upbeat tone for the evening, jamming out to every track with exceptional instrumentation that encompassed funky guitars and thick basslines.

As an unexpected addition, they threw in a cover of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” and picked up the pace towards the end of their set, shifting to a rock sound with rapid drums and fantastic guitar riffs. Considering they are located relatively close to San Antonio, we can only hope to see the band make more appearances in town soon.

The other supporting act was the hometown staple, Floats, which frequently makes appearances at various venues in town. Fronted by guitarist and lead vocalist Mark Perez, the surf-rock band did not seem as prepared as they usually are, but the bassist made admirable efforts to keep the fans amused while technical issues were resolved.

Despite it not being a tight set, Floats generated the right energy at all the appropriate times. The fans that were there to see them appeared to have a great time moshing and cheering on all the band members.

When it came time for Retro Cowgirl, the room was packed with fans sporting mini sparkly cowboy hats as they showed excitement for every song. The band started with “Honey,” a throwback to the 2000s rock sound on which the band puts a skillful modern spin.

Singing into a microphone adorned with flowers, lead singer Lucky Steele took full control of the stage with

her presence. She immersed herself in the music with the way she moved around on stage and displayed wonderful vocal inflections that matched the emotions of the songs. The band also features Jonluca Biagin on drums, Luis Fiallos on lead guitar, Luis Garcia on rhythm guitar, and Lexi Ortega helping out on bass. Ortega is a recurring figure in the local music scene, playing in Aztec Eagles and Daphne Kills Fred.

There were plenty of lighthearted moments, with the band performing a cover of Miley Cyrus’s “See You Again,” while playfully donning Hannah Montana-type wigs. Steele also threw light-up bracelets into the crowd and started a loud chant of “Retro motherf—kin’ Cowgirl,” which kept the fans engaged.

But of course, they could not finish the show without playing “the most important song of the night,” their upcoming single, “Timesheet Blues,” releasing March

Tuesday, March 7:

“Alvarez SSC Career Kit Workshop: Let’s Chat About

It” — 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Alvarez Student Success Center (BB 2.01.08)

“COLFA Taco Tuesday” — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., COLFA Student Success Center (MH 376)

“Downtown Stress Down Day” — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bill Miller Plaza

Wednesday, March 8:

“Be the Match: Donor Registry” — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., McKinney Humanities Portico, Sombrilla North and Flawn Sciences Building Portico East

“Anxiety and Depression Toolkit” — 1 to 2 p.m., Student Union Magnolia (SU 2.01.30)

“College of Sciences - Karaoke Night” — 5 to 6:30 p.m., Student Union Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28)

Thursday, March 9:

“The Art Of Color” — 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., McNay Art Museum (6000 N New Braunfels Ave.)

“COLFA Conference & Showcase - Oral Presentation Workshops” — 1 to 2 p.m., COLFA Student Success Center (MH 376)

“HISTORY MAKERS: Celebrating Black Women in San Antonio” — 7 to 8:30 p.m., online

Friday, March 10:

“Children’s Hospital Trail Ride BBQ Cook-Off” — March 10 to March 11, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio (333 N Santa Rosa St.)

“Morning Mixer on the Rooftop” — 8 to 10 a.m., Artpace San Antonio (445 N Main Ave.)

“March Blood Drive at Jon Wayne Service Company” — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jon Wayne Service Company (9272 US Hwy 87 E.)

Saturday, March 11:

“Cajun Fest 2023” — March 11 to March 12, Traders Village San Antonio (9333 SW Loop 410)

“Basilica Heritage Tour — Little Flower Basilica” — 1 to 3 p.m., Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower (1715 N Zarzamora St.)

“3rd Annual Soul Food Celebration” — 5 to 9 p.m., Second Baptist Church (3310 E Commerce St.)

Sunday, March 12:

“The Artists of San Antonio Fine Art Show” — 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (13715 Riggs Rd.)

“Soy de Tejas: A Statewide Survey of Latinx Art” at Centro de Artes Gallery” 12 to 5 p.m., Centro de Artes Gallery (101 S Santa Rosa Ave.)

“San Antonio Area - Pop Up Picnic Park Date for Couples (Self-Guided)” — 3 to 10 p.m., (13102 Jones Maltsberger Rd.)

Monday, March 13:

“Disney Animation: Immersive Experience” — 10 a.m., Lighthouse Artspace (221 Burleson St.)

“Family-friendly Paint Your Pet” 2 to 4 p.m., Painting with a Twist (555 W Bitters Rd.)

“Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking” — 5 to 6 p.m., online

Tuesday, March 14:

“Scavenger Hunt at the Botanical Gardens” — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., San Antonio Lighthouse (2305 Roosevelt Ave.)

“Exhibition - A Legacy in Clay: The Ceramics of Tonalá, Mexico” — 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., San Antonio Museum of Art (200 W Jones Ave.)

“Spring Break Family Day: Roman Landscapes” — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., San Antonio Museum of Art (200 W Jones Ave.)

17. It is easy to see why the band is excited to release it, with its exuberant drums complementing excellent guitar rhythms. Steele finished out the song with powerful vocals as the band expressed their delight over how much everyone in the room loved it.

Retro Cowgirl is a band that has made a genuine connection with those following the local music scene. In addition to their music, the band put tremendous effort into getting involved with their fans, setting up a colorful installation with merch and even a small retrostyle TV that played their music videos – all details that everyone loved. It is this kind of effort that grows a legitimate fanbase, and it is a show like this one that certifies them as one of the more exciting bands to look out for in San Antonio.

Chloe Williams/The Paisano

Riley Carroll/The Paisano

UTSA wins crosstown matchup

against UIW

By Rylan Renteria Contributor

SAN ANTONIO –Roadrunners defeated cross-town

rival UIW 2-1 Wednesday evening at Roadrunner Field.

The Roadrunners had a tough first inning as Pitcher Ryan Ward gave up a home run in what ended up being UIW’s only points of the night.

“I just kind of settled in, started throwing my slider a lot more, they’re a big fastball hitting team. Just throwing the slider made a big difference,” said Ward.

In the bottom of the second, Garrett Poston came up to the plate with the bases loaded.

With UIW pitcher Micah Berens feeling the heat, he walked Poston, allowing Tye Odom to score and tie the game at 1-1.

From then on, it was a pitching battle between the two teams. UTSA pitchers Ruger Riojas and Simon Miller pitched six scoreless innings.

With the match seemingly destined for extra innings, UTSA scored on a stolen base from Antonio Valdez, thanks to some confusion in the UIW infield.

“I knew, with the game was going, it was hard to swing the bat runs. We were going take advantage of them mishap,” Valdez said after the game.

UTSA is now 3-2 in games decided by two runs or less this season.

“Pitching and defense is always the key. We pitched well today and have all year in this game, [and] if you pitch and play defense, you got a shot, so it worked out,” coach Pat Hallmark said.

Jacob Germany records doubledouble in final regular season game

By Haley Aguayo

SAN ANTONIO – Jacob

Germany recorded his 25th career double-double in his final game as a Roadrunner en route to a 78-73 victory over Charlotte Thursday evening at the Convocation Center. With a 4-16 conference record and sitting 10-21 overall, there has been little to cheer for as a UTSA basketball fan. Perhaps motivated by his final two games in the orange and blue uniform, Germany scored 17 points with 10 rebounds on senior night.

Senior Erik Czumbel, along with Germany, were honored for their contributions to the team over the last four years. The two were accompanied by loved ones as they were honored on the court before fans packed into the Convocation Center for the game. As the regular season comes to an end for some upperclassmen, Germany and head coach Steve Henson reflect on the season and their experiences from the last four seasons. Germany largely credits learning virtues such as honor and integrity from his family and role models in his life, such as his coaches.

“A big part of that is that I didn’t want to quit on my team,” Germany said. “I committed here, and I wanted to play all four years here. I also promised my grandma that I’d get a degree here.”

“Our assistant coach, [Scott] Thompson, he’s a big figure in my life,” Germany said. “I made a promise to him as well that I’d stay here and really just stick it out through thick and thin. He helps me in so many ways, and if I would’ve left, I would’ve been heartbroken.”

Men’s tennis breaks top 50 in the nation

By Nate Henneke Staff Writer

UTSA tennis is having a historical season this year by being the first men’s tennis team to break the top 50 in the national ranking. A season filled with tough opponents has tested the team and they have proved that they deserve their national ranking of 47. Playing against universities like UT Austin and TCU, ranked No. 2 and No. 1, respectively, has shown that UTSA can be competitive with the best schools in the nation.

Senior Sebastian Rodriguez has played with UTSA since he was a freshman and has found a family away from home alongside his teammates. He has high aspirations for the remainder of the season.

“We can beat any team in the country, no matter, we can beat number one or number 50, it is the same,” Rodriguez stated. Rodriguez and his doubles partner Alan Magadan are finding massive success together on the court.

“We won regionals, it is the most important tournament in Texas,” Rodriguez said. “We were number six in the country, but we are now, I think, number 18.”

The men’s tennis team is relatively young, with Rodriguez being the only senior. However, the sky’s the limit for these talented athletes as they continue to push themselves and UTSA’s ranking. Head coach Sergey Avdeyev feels that ranking among the top 50 was only a matter of time.

“Whatever success we are having is basically the groundwork,” Avdeyev said. “We put the last three years, and Sebastian, like he said, we always had [that] caliber in terms of players. We were just always a little short in terms of ranking.”

The hard work of the players and coaches in the tennis program is finally paying off, and with UTSA defeating Texas A&M this past weekend, it truly seems that the team has no intention of stopping its journey through the national ranks.

The start of the spring semester has brought on more matches for UTSA tennis. The ‘Runners will try to continue their win streak with an upcoming match at the UTSA Tennis Center against ODU on March 9.

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

The coaching environment Thompson, Henson and assistant coaches Mike Peck and Adam Hood bring helps build up seniors like Germany and Czumbel and motivate them to stay at the university.

“We have a good coaching staff, and I imagine that they will do a good job recruiting the right players to fit this program,” Germany said. “They are big on bringing in good people. That’s half the game right there, practicing with people you want to be around all day with. I’ve seen Erik the last four years of my life every single day. He’s one of my best friends, and if they can recruit people like that, then they will definitely have

a shot.”

“Those two guys in particular [Czumbel and Germany] have just been terrific teammates and terrific members of this program,” Henson said.

“They’ve been here for four years,” Henson said. “They are loved by their teammates, and they’ve had a huge impact on the program. “The record books will be all over [Germany] with statistics, and Erik was the ultimate teammate. He’s [Czumbel] been on the starting lineup his whole career. That guy would just do anything we asked of him; he played four different positions for us, [and] all he cared about was helping his team. I’ll miss those two a lot.”

Before the fall season, Henson came up with an acronym for process, accountability, consistency and excellence — PACE. He wanted his players to utilize it to help keep their spirits high and remind them to maintain good teamwork.

“The P in PACE is trusting the process, and that message has continued to be hammered home all year long, and they definitely did that,” Henson said. “On the court, they wanted to be held accountable, and they wanted to be challenged every day, so those two things were terrific.”

“Consistency, we may not have gotten an A in that category, and with the results, it’s hard to say that we were excellent, but I think trusting the process was outstanding. There are good leaders in that locker room,” Henson said.

Despite the season not having the outcome that the team or UTSA would have liked to see, Germany and Henson were very hopeful for the team’s future and in high spirits after their win.

“We didn’t like the results this season, but I love this team, I love the players, I love the way they handle the losses,” Henson said. “We try to keep our guys engaged, try to keep practicing in the right way, try to keep their spirits up. We’ve done that, and we’re not done yet.”

Germany had some parting wisdom to share with the underclassmen entering March Madness for the first time, and that was to “be ready for that jump” and made one last comment to his team; “thank you for the last four years.”

Jeff Traylor speaks ahead of spring practice

SAN ANTONIO – Three springs ago, UTSA handed the keys of the program to a high school football coach in hopes of leading the team out of the weeds in their ninth year as a collegiate program.

Now heading into his fourth season as head coach, Jeff Traylor is ready to take the back-to-back Conference USA Champions onto a new journey in the American Athletic Conference.

UTSA football has gained national attention over its last three seasons with Traylor at the helm. Amongst landing on national rankings and making three–straight bowl appearances, the Roadrunners managed to set the precedent that the rest of C-USA would have to run through them.

In the new 2023 season and now joining a new league, the last three seasons of success are reset.

The path to dominate the AAC like the Roadrunners did C-USA will not be an easy task. Though there were supposed trials and setbacks in the 2022 season, a new face of competition and unfamiliar environments will stand to test UTSA come late August.

Along with the new league, UTSA opens up its season with four out-of-conference games, which — much like last season — will give the Roadrunners little air to breathe in the competition.

“There are no easy ones on that schedule.

I mean, there’s zero,” Traylor said.

UTSA’s first contest is on the road against Houston, who gave UTSA a triple overtime season-opening loss in 2022. Then, after playing both I-35 rival Texas State and Army in the Alamodome, the Roadrunners close their non-conference schedule against college football powerhouse Tennessee in Knoxville, who will give UTSA a run for its money.

“I’m not sure my [athletic director] wants to keep her coach very long,” Traylor jokingly said of the upcoming season’s schedule. “It went to me that she’s trying to get rid of me [with that] schedule.”

The first four out-of-conference games will resemble the 2022 season.

The Roadrunners get a chance to redeem themselves for its triple overtime loss in the season opener, though the game will be played in Houston this time. UTSA then plays Army, who UTSA defeated in a double overtime effort. The extra game time carried over to the

Texas game, which is practically highlighted on the UTSA schedule as the only game with UTSA as a significant underdog.

This season, the ‘Runners will take their toughest test in Tennessee, which spent time as the No. 1 ranked team in the College Football Rankings.

Traylor just wants to get out of the non-AAC portion of the schedule healthy to avoid the onslaught of injuries the team faced last season.

“After that Texas game last year, I think our injury list was like around 30,” Traylor said. “My common sense says when we’re not as big as they are and we’re running into them a whole bunch, we probably need an extra week to recover, especially all four of those games in a row.

“I hope we don’t start off like last year where you go into triple overtime, double overtime to add another couple quarters to your play.”

Much to the athletes’ chagrin, injuries can be random. Instead of focusing on what playing tougher opponents can do, the team can look forward to the travel in the new environments.

Courtesy of Vashaun Newman/UTSA Athletics

Andrew Christianson, Jonathan Porter/The Paisano

SPORTS

UTSA dominates game three, takes series win against Utah

By Rylan Renteria Contributor

SAN ANTONIO – After Utah snapped UTSA’s 5-game winning streak in the series opener, the Roadrunners outscored the Utes 25-8 in games two and three, winning the series 2-1.

After winning Sunday’s game against Utah, the Roadrunners are 3-1 against Power Five opponents this season (Utah, Baylor).

Star pitcher Luke Malone gave up an uncharacteristic five hits in Friday’s series opener, allowing Utah to score four runs in the fifth inning, setting up for the 5-3 loss.

The Utes opened Saturday’s game at the same pace. Utah scored four runs in the top of the first to take an early 4-0 lead.

“We’re pitching good, we gave up five runs and three of them were on the infield,” coach Pat Hallmark said. “We just gotta continue to work on defense.”

The defense snapped back to reality, only allowing one run the rest of the game to UTSA’s 11.

The Roadrunners’ run was ignited with a Leyton Barry RBI groundout to bring in a baserunner.

Antonio Valdez smashed a home run in the third inning to tie the game at four runs.

“You can tell these pitchers are getting exhausted; they’re going through arm after arm, it’s just a full team effort. Eventually everybody is going to be hitting like this,” Valdez said after the game.

UTSA would tack on three scores in the fourth thanks to an RBI triple from Valdez to bring in two and an RBI single from outfielder Caleb Hill.

Two innings later, Hill slashed a triple into right-center field. An errant throw from the Utah infield would send the ball

Spurs win second-straight game in return to San Antonio

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

SAN ANTONIO

–

spite the all-time winningest coach in NBA history being out with an illness, San Antonio managed to win its first game back at AT&T Center after the an nual month-long rodeo trip.

The Spurs outscored the Pacers by 15 points in the third quarter, result ing in the 110-99 victory on Thursday night.

The win came without star forward Keldon Johnson due to a foot injury and with both head coach Gregg Popovich and top assistant coach Brett Brown out with illnesses. With both coaches removed from the bench, Mitch Johnson stepped into the role and may have inspired inspiration in the Spurs’ second-straight win.

“The young guys are making strides,” Johnson said. “There’s an adjustment for them, physicality-wise, size-wise, schematically. I think you’re just starting to see some incre mental games on that side of the floor.”

Though the circumstances were not ideal, Spurs’ guard Devin Vassell made his return to the court after missing the last 25 games due to injury.

The full-team effort included five players scoring in double-figures, including Vassell’s 18 points in his first game back since Jan. 2.

Devonte’ Graham, who the Spurs acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans while on the month-long road trip, also added 18 points in his debut in San Antonio.

“I was excited,” Graham told the media after the game. “It was like playing my first game; I was a little nervous, to be honest.”

The nerves did not seem to affect the new addition to the team as he shot 5 of 10 from beyond the arc.

After trailing by two points at halftime, the Spurs came out of the break on a 15-3 run to take its first lead of the game.

After a Jeremy Sochan layup to take the lead, Graham kicked the ball down low to Sochan on the team’s next possession. Drawing two defenders, Sochan passed the ball back out to Graham for an open three.

Graham took a contested 3-pointer on his next shot attempt, drawing the foul and making the shot. The 6-foot-1 guard made the free throw to complete the 4-point play.

Graham pulled up for another three, though it bounced off the right side of the rim which led to a put-back slam dunk from Sochan.

Vassell scored 10 points late in the quarter to keep San

Antonio’s offensive momentum rolling. leading by 13 points after three quarters, the Spurs managed to withstand a Pacers fourth-quarter comeback and hold on for the double-digit win.

“Winning definitely gives you credibility and a feeling like the hard work has paid off,” Johnson said. new year has not been so kind to the Spurs. After losing a franchise record 16 straight games, San Antonio has now won back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 10. recorded his first career double-double in the victory, finishing with team-highs of 22 points and 13 rebounds. The reigning ninth overall pick in last year’s draft, who also participated in the Rising Stars Challenge on Feb. 17, is more proud of the team win than his personal stats.

“It feels good,” Sochan said of his first-ever double-double. “But, you know, the win is way more important, so that feels good.”

Each of the team’s last two victories has come after the Spurs trailed by double-digits.

Pacers guard Buddy Hield had 13 firstquarter points to guide Indiana to lead by eight after the first quarter. After finding themselves in an 11-point deficit, San Antonio sparked a 13-2 scoring run in the second quarter to bring the Spurs within striking distance.

Malaki Branham grabbed a defensive rebound to lead the fastbreak, kicking the ball to Sochan, who cut to the basket and slammed it home, igniting the crowd and closing the scoring run.

Branham again found a teammate cutting to the hoop — this time Vassell — who went for a dunk. The ball bounced around the rim and eventually fell in with eight seconds remaining in the second quarter.

After returning to AT&T Center for the first time since Feb. 2, the Spurs are set to host seven of their next eight games at home.

out of play, allowing Hill to advance home. UTSA led by four with three innings to play.

The ‘Runners took care of business Saturday evening, 11-5, to tie the series 1-1.

After a scoreless first inning, UTSA would score three in the second inning thanks to a home run by Caleb Hill that would bring in two. A couple of hits later, an error by the Utah infield would allow Josh Killeen to advance home.

Three innings later, both Utah and UTSA would score two a piece. Utah pitcher had walked Shane Sirdashney, a mistake he would come to regret as Antonio Valdez would hit a homerun not long after, giving UTSA a 5-2 lead.

In the sixth, the Roadrunners would score a whopping six runs thanks to RBI’s from Leyton Barry, Valdez and Hill and a home plate steal from Killeen. This would give UTSA a nine run lead with three to play.

The final nail in the coffin would come the very next inning as Valdez would slam one over the right-center field wall and bring in three baserunners.

This would be Valdez’s second home run of the game. “What you saw today was the result of all the hard work we’ve been putting together,” Valdez said.

A Utah solo home run would make the score a little closer, but UTSA would come away with the win 14-3 and take the series 2-1.

“It means a little bit; certainly the guys know who they’re playing, but we don’t talk much about it,” coach Hallmark said.

The Roadrunners will travel to San Marcos to take on the Texas State Bobcats. The single-game series begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7, at Bobcat Stadium.

Continued Traylor

“I think they’re excited about going to new places,” Traylor said. “I think they’re excited about going to Temple, and I think they’re excited about going to New Orleans. Going to Tennessee. Going to Houston. They’ve been to Denton, you know, quite a bit. I think those trips have just got those guys excited instead of just going the same places all the time.”

Aside from the season’s anomalous schedule, UTSA is returning its key offensive weapons. Quarterback Frank Harris, who battled minor injuries throughout the season, just needs rest.

“We gotta get him, you know, where his body feels really good,” Traylor said. “He doesn’t like to hear that because he wants to go all the time. And I’ve gotta protect Frank from Frank. Frank doesn’t want to miss a rep. He doesn’t want to miss anything.”

The reigning C-USA MVP remains as the tiller of the Roadrunner offense, along with receivers Zakhari Franklin, Joshua Cephus and De’Corian Clark, who were at one point 1-2-3 in C-USA for receiving yards.

“[Clark] is a freak, and I mean that in the most complimentary way … Zakhari, he’s had a great mindset … Cephus has had a great mindset,” Traylor said. “These guys are old, they’ve been playing with me a long time, and their bodies are, you know, they’re not broken down for sure.”

With the veteran offensive returners, Traylor is not worried about the players missing out on practice in the spring.

“They’re great athletes, but they’re just getting fixed and cleaned up. They don’t need to practice that much. They’re good. They know all of our plays very well.”

As a head coach in modern-day college football, the job never stops. For Traylor, going into a new conference and playing new teams will present a challenge, but the schedule portion of his job is only from August to December.

Traylor’s job consists of a full year of recruiting, traveling to players’ homes, managing practices and keeping his coaching staff up to date. But, understanding the non-stop grind is just a part of the game.

“There’s no doubt I am tired. It’s because it never stops,” Traylor said. “But it’s a great tired. It’s a very rewarding tired, because of my players. They’re that unique to me, and how much we love being around them every day.”

Many challenges will present themselves between the start of Monday’s first spring practice to the season opener against Houston on Sept. 2. Traylor is making sure the team continues on its historic run in the new conference.

“We’ve had a great three-year run here. And still, a lot of things left to get done,” Traylor said.

“There’s just a great camaraderie; a buy-in to our culture, our brand and our triangle [of] toughness. You just see it every day. It’s a really smooth running operation with those kids.”

“They’re good. They know all of our plays very well.”

Edgar Zamorano/UTSA Athletics

Stephen Saenz/The Paisano

Courtesy of NBAE/Michael Gonzalez